Present Time.
"This is Universal Subspace Network News, bringing you breaking news we have just received from Fenix Nest. I'm Sinead Quintana," Sinead said with a smile as she stared into the holocam that floated before her, while behind her, numerous holographic screens were showing different images.
Phoenix Empress Revi has just announced that the Ashes Galaxy will be holding a celebration to welcome the arrival of White Dragon Tephe.
As I'm sure everyone is aware from universal history classes in school, white dragons are especially revered in the Ashes Galaxy because of one that suddenly appeared two thousand years ago, when it, along with the famous Black Knight, helped save the Phoenix race from possible extinction.
Due to this, the Ashes Galaxy already holds a day of celebration and mourning each year in memory of their victory at the Siege of Fenix Nest and the loss of many phoenix lives, including the late emperor, Empress Revi's father.
In Empress Revi's public announcement, she noted that White Dragon Tephe's arrival will be a time of celebration for the entire Phoenix race, since this is the first time a white dragon has visited the Ashes Galaxy since the Siege of Fenix Nest.
When asked why White Dragon Tephe had never visited Fenix Nest in the past, even though she is Empress Revi's goddaughter, Empress Revi responded by saying that in the past, her goddaughter was too much of a troublemaker and hadn't earned the right to visit Fenix Nest.
As I'm sure our viewers are aware, after the events of the Phoenix Hunts, the Ashes Galaxy became very isolated, with the Phoenix race only allowing a certain number of foreign individuals into their borders. In fact, the only race that is truly free to come and go is the Dragon race since they were the first race to answer the Phoenix races' call for help during the Siege of Fenix Nest, as the Draco Galaxy is the closest galaxy to the Ashes Galaxy.
Even still, Empress Revi has never once allowed White Dragon Tephe to visit the Ashes Galaxy until now and this has been a topic of some speculation and discussion over the past five hundred years, since White Dragon Tephe's birth. Many of the Phoenix race had hoped that she would visit their planet, with some influential phoenixes voicing dissatisfaction that Empress Revi had not allowed White Dragon Tephe to do so.
We at the USNN are hoping to be able to bring you live coverage of this event when it happens; however, as already stated, the Phoenix race is very strict regarding who they will allow into the Ashes Galaxy, so our team are currently trying to negotiate coverage rights with them.
We will bring you more updates as we receive them."
"So what's the deal, Revi?" Pevaphio, Tephe's mother, asked from a holographic screen that was above Revi's desk.
"Whatever do you mean, Pevaphio?" Revi asked with an innocent smile.
"Why have you only now decided to allow Tephe to visit the Ashes Galaxy? You always forbade it when she wanted to visit in the past," Pevaphio asked.
"Because the current Tephe is no longer the same one we knew from her childhood. She is no longer as spoilt as she was and is now more polite and playful," Revi replied happily.
"Are you talking about how she and Adam supposedly went back in time?" Pevaphio asked doubtfully.
"You still have doubts about your own daughter's claims?" Revi asked.
"It's not the easiest thing to believe, I mean, time travel of all things," Pevaphio replied before adding, "Even Lord Omniel and the Demon King are incapable of that."
"Or so we believe," Revi replied before asking, "Does anyone other than those two actually know their full capabilities?"
"Have you not received a report regarding my summons to appear before the Universal Senate?" Revi asked.
"I have, I was most surprised to read its contents, especially the part where you claimed not to know the identity of the black knight," Pevaphio replied with a smirk.
"Well, I wasn't lying, I never saw who they were since they always had their mask up," Revi replied while winking.
"Uh-huh, sure," Pevaphio said with a chuckle.
"What about you then? You know that Adam is the black knight and yet you haven't revealed that information?" Revi asked.
"Well, seeing as he is taking good care of my daughter and he agreed to act as my bodyguard in the future, I see no reason to reveal his secret."
"Speaking of him acting as your bodyguard. How do you plan to have him explain why he has a universal force staff when he is not a universal senator's bodyguard?" Revi asked curiously.
"It is a thorny problem for sure, but it's also not really a problem," Pevaphio replied with a chuckle.
"What?" Revi asked in confusion.
"Adam is not officially recognised as a citizen of the known universe and therefore does not fall under the jurisdiction of the universal senate. He's an oddity that we have never encountered before," Pevaphio replied before continuing.
"Oh, sure, on rare occasions, we have had members of new races arrive within the known universe; however, after seeing our advanced technology, they quickly decided to become members of the universal senate themselves.
Adam, however, has technology surpassing our own; perhaps only the new tech that Solarian Princess Liluth Solar is working on developing could match up to it. Unfortunately, it is highly classified that only the Solarian Royal family knows of its progress, though it is believed to be still in the experimental phase."
"That might be so, but we both know that the Universal Senate Security Headquarters won't let this slide just because he's not recognised as a citizen of the known universe. They will want to know how he managed to get his hands on one," Revi replied.
"I agree, that's why I'm going to suggest that he take the test to join the universal senator's bodyguards," Pevaphio stated with a smile.
"You're what?" Revi asked in shock before adding, "You know they only recruit the best from each race and even then, most of them don't pass the test.
How is Adam supposed to join them when he's not a citizen of the known universe?"
"There is no specific rule stating that they have to recruit from the citizens of the known universe; it's just that they have never done so," Pevaphio explained with a smile.
"Talk about a loophole," Revi said with a sigh.
"Indeed, but again, a situation like with Adam has never come up before," Pevaphio replied.
"Agreed, but I'm still doubtful that they will let him take the test," Revi stated before thinking of something and saying, "Unless you plan to…"
"Unless I plan to use my privilege as senator to recommend him," Pevaphio finished with a wink.
"You scheming dragon," Revi remarked with amusement before asking, "Are you trying to help Adam make a name for himself?"
"Well, he has been taking care of my daughter and I can't have her future mate being a nobody now, can I?" Pevaphio replied as she covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled.
"Future mate? You're planning to have Adam become Tephe's mate?" Revi asked in surprise.
"You know as well as I do that Tephe is attracted to Adam and wants that, so why wouldn't I help my daughter?" Pevaphio asked.
"I'm surprised that Tephe told you that. I thought it was only me she spoke to about it," Revi remarked.
"Well, she called me to complain about how you played an evil trick on her. She claims that Diva Lorelie ended up lecturing her after she stormed into Adam's room, proclaiming her desire to mate with him under your guidance," Pevaphio explained as she continued to laugh.
"She didn't?" Revi asked in surprise before smirking and saying, "I only wanted to use her to tease Adam, tell me everything."
One week and five hours in the past, Milky Way Galaxy, Earth.
As the trio descended from the shuttle's entry ramp, they looked upon a medium-sized mansion that was surrounded by green lawns.
"So, shall we go in?" Tephe asked excitedly as she hooked her arm through Adam's free arm.
"Why are you grabbing his arm?" Stacey asked.
[Superhearofangirl (Earth): Woah, woah, woah. Look at Tephe making moves.]
[HackerSu (Trillion): Stace is getting jealous, lol.]
"Why not? You're grabbing one?" Tephe replied.
"I'm his girlfriend," Stacey replied.
"So, I'm not doing any harm, am I? Plus, he has an arm free," Tephe replied.
[HackerSu (Trillion): Yeah, come on, Stace, she's not doing any harm.]
[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): You're enjoying this, aren't you?]
[HackerSu (Trillion): Damn straight. It's rare to see Stace like this.]
Stacey glanced at Adam and, seeing that he had decided not to comment, she clicked her tongue before saying, "Fine."
"Yay," Tephe cheered happily before tugging Adam's arm even deeper into her cleavage.
"That doesn't mean you can take advantage," Stacey snapped, causing Tephe to stick out her tongue.
Adam turned to Stacey and gave her a peck on the cheek before saying, "Calm down."
"Fine," Stacey nodded with a small smile while Tephe tried to ignore their action since she didn't want Adam to think less of her.