Chapter 2
A golden-pelted mustang was running across an open meadow of golden grass. The sun reflected shiny beams off its glowing mane.
As the mustang reached a small village of humans, it transformed into a young, light-tan girl with dark hair. She made her way through her village, passing by other humans and mustangs with the same golden belts and shining manes. She felt a wave of ease to be in her Birth Colony of the Sunbeam Mustang Genomorphs.
Then her sense of ease shifted into a feeling of dread as she approached two figures in front of a magnificent black-and-purple castle. Both were facing her with sinister smiles.
She stood before them, and bowed respectfully.
"Emperor Palpatine, Empress Umbridge," she addressed both of them.
Emperor Palpatine gave her a half-smile. "Hello, Rey."
Empress Umbridge was smiling creepily at her. "Hmph! Now where's the other Semi-elite?"
Rey looked around. Emperor Palpatine and Empress Umbridge-- leaders of the Toxicspot Leopard Colony-- had taken over two Genomorph colonies: her own Sunbeam Mustang Colony, and the Shadowbreath Wolf Colony. Rey herself was the Semi-elite in her colony, which meant that she had learned to transform into all animal species on the planet-- except for the animal species of the Five Elites. However, there was another Semi-elite in the Shadowbreath Wolf Colony who also learned to transform into all animal species on the planet. Today, Palpatine and Umbridge wanted both her and the other Semi-elite to meet them here.
Rey then saw a Shadowbreath Wolf racing up to them. The jet-black canine was panting, releasing black mist at each breath. The canine skidded to a halt beside her, and transformed into a tall, fair-skinned man with shoulder-length black hair. He was still panting, with his eyes staring at the ground. "Sorry I'm late…." he said quietly, sounding rather irritated.
Empress Umbridge raised her shoulders as she gave one of her quick, high-pitched giggles. "No worries, Ben." She suddenly transformed into a violet-furred leopard with black spots. Slimy black strands emitted from her black spots, and began whipping at Ben's face. Rey tried not to cringe as she watched Ben cringe from all the whipping. The slimy strands were also releasing a dark-green fume that made Ben cough violently. Then when the slimy strands drew back into her spots, Empress Umbridge transformed back into her short, human form. She raised her shoulders and gave another quick, high-pitched giggle again.
Emperor Palpatine chortled and spoke in his drawling tone. "Don't worry, dear Ben. The punishment for failing to please us will be even harsher after this meeting is over. Why? Because the two of you were brought here to be informed of a very important task we are expecting from you."
Rey and a bloody-faced Ben fixed their gazes on the two Toxicspot Leopard Genomorphs.
Palpatine went on, "As you already know, this planet of Hox is teeming with drastic environmental chaos. Each hoxian animal species on this planet is equipped with powers that could control the environmental regulations and resources in their particular habitats. But for us humans, the only way we were able to survive was by learning to transform into the hoxian animal species that dwell in each of the habitats. And to be able to transform into their species, we have to emotionally bond with at least one animal from their species. When an animal species of this planet emotionally bonds with you, it will transfer its blood to you-- either by biting, pecking, stabbing its tail, whatever means unique to its species. And when it transfers its blood to you, your genes inherit the ability to morph into the genes of the animal species itself, allowing you to morph into that animal species at your own will.
"Each human is born with the ability to morph into only one hoxian animal species at will, without needing to foster an emotional bond with that animal. The species you are born with the ability to morph into is the species of your Birth Colony. And if you want to morph into other animal species, you must develop an emotional bond with at least one animal of that species, so that it can transfer its blood to yours and grant your genes the ability to morph yourself into its species." Palpatine gave a mild grimace, then went on. "Once you have the ability to morph into a particular species, you keep that ability for the rest of your life. However….there are only five animal species on this planet that only grant you the ability to morph into their species for a temporary time, if they choose to transfer their blood to you. Those five animal species are known as the Five Elites. They dwell in the most dangerous environmental habitats on the planet-- but although such habitats are the most dangerous, they are loaded with the most powerful resources one could ever get their hands on. It's no wonder that, if we were to obtain the ability to transform into those animal species, we could only do so for a temporary time because the powers they withhold are so strong that our bodies and genes couldn't sustain the ability to wield such powers for long."
Empress Umbridge's smile widened. "Not to mention…it's hard to even obtain the ability to transform into those animals and use their powers. These Five Elites are the hardest animals to emotionally bond with. So there's the challenge of obtaining the ability to morph into their species because of how hard it is to get them to bond with you and transfer their blood to you…..and even when they do transfer blood to you, you can only morph into their species over a limited period of time, say, no more than a season."
Palpatine grunted. "But that's why when one goes out on the Elite Quest to track down the Five Elites and successfully bonds with them, they must take advantage of the time they have to use the powers of each of those animal species." He narrowed his eyes to Ben and Rey. "Now….the two of you are Semi-elites. You've emotionally bonded with at least one animal of every species on this planet, except for those Five Elites. Empress Umbridge and I are therefore tasking you with the Elite Quest. Bond with those Five Elites, gain their powers, and bring us this list of resources we want you to obtain in their ultra-dangerous territories." He handed each of them a pamphlet that had a photo and label of five orbs, each one a different color, each one from a territory of one of the Five Elites.
Rey widened her eyes at the list. These were the Boundless Orbs. Such resources would grant one the ability to transform into any animal species-- including the Five Elites-- without having to bond with any of them.
Palpatine chuckled sinisterly. "Of course, those powerful items cannot be obtained until you gain the ability to control the hazardous conditions of their locations. So you must bond with each of the Five Elites, gain their powers to control such conditions, and obtain those resources for us."
Rey and Ben exchanged glances.
"W-we can do it…." she said quietly.
Ben slowly nodded. "Of course…"
Palpatine sneered at them both. "I must add….whoever emotionally bonds with the Five Elites first, our colony will grant some healing herbs to cure the many illnesses I know we've caused many of you to sustain."
Rey gasped.
Ben suddenly looked both troubled, yet determined. "You will heal my entire colony if I bond with all Five Elites and gather the resources first?"
"Exactly." Said Palpatine.
Rey felt her heart wrench. Of course he would make us compete against each other….
Palpatine seemed to have read her mind. "Competition will make you both work harder….and we want those precious resources from the Five Elites' territories as soon as possible."
Empress Umbridge gave another high-pitched giggle. "So don’t disappoint! If we do not get our precious resources by the end of the month, we will destroy both your colonies!"
Palpatine chuckled. "The Elite Quest starts tomorrow for both of you. Be ready."
Then he and Empress Umbridge transformed into their Toxicspot Leopard forms-- Palpatine was black-furred with purple spots, while Umbridge was back in her purple-furred, black-spotted form. Then the two of them turned and raced toward their castle.
Later that evening, Rey was at the bedside of her childhood friend, Finn. The dark-skinned man was as sick as can be, as he was hit hardest by the toxic plants that had grown in their territory ever since the Toxicspot Leopards seized control over them.
"Rey…." croaked Finn. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Rey sighed. "I am not doing this for Palpatine and Umbridge. I'm doing this for you and the rest of our colony. Only the Toxicspot Leopards can address the mess they caused our colony-- so only they can heal you and the others who have been intoxicated by all the plants they've allowed to grow in our territories." She gave him a determined look. "Once I bond with those Five Elites and obtain the resources they need, I will let them heal you and the rest of our colony. But then I will do everything I can in my power to stop them from using the resources to takeover the other colonies of this planet."
Finn gave her a small smile. "If you can transform into any of the Five Elites, you should be able to defeat them before they get to use the resources you obtain for them. Especially if it's you doing it."
Rey smiled back. Finn always believed in her. And he had always loved her. She loved him too, though never in the same way.
When Rey stepped out Finn's room, she saw two Sunbeam Mustangs walking up to her house. They transformed into her two favorite people-- Luke and Leia. The twins opened the door and stepped in, seeming to be speaking in low voices. Leia was looking distressed.
And Rey knew why. Her heart began to ache, and she suddenly felt conflicted.
Deeper into the woods, where the Shadowbreath Wolves dwelled, Ben was anxiously pacing around a quiet room. Behind him was an empty bed.
A short, small-framed old man was in the room, with green, scraggly hair jutting out from the sides of his head. It almost appeared as if he had long, cat-like ears on either side. He was beside the bed, watching Ben pace around. "Anxious, do not be," he remarked in his old, somewhat-upbeat tone. "Drains the soul, fear does."
Ben grunted. "Don't bother philosophizing with me, Yoda. How can I not be anxious when--"
He was suddenly cut off as the door suddenly opened. A Shadowbreath Wolf limped inside. Its fur was bedraggled and it was wheezing, barely emitting any fumes.
Ben turned and clenched his fists. "Father, where have you been?!"
The jet-black wolf limped toward the bed, and slowly transformed into the figure of Ben's father, Han. He sat weakly on the bed.
"You know exactly where I was, son," Han wheezed, flashing Ben a wink.
Ben frowned. "If you wanna see mom, tell her to come visit you. You're too sick to be wandering around."
Han chuckled. "Not for long though, right?"
Ben was silent for a moment, then he turned and gave a determined frown. "No. Not for long. I will bond with those Five Elites before Rey does…..and ensure Palpatine heals you and the rest of our colony."
Han chuckled again. "Rey's on the mission too, eh? Boy….despite all the time I've spent with the Sunbeam Mustangs messing around with your mother, you never even bothered to venture there to meet Rey or any of their colony members."
He was right. Ben didn’t even know who Rey was until today-- he didn’t even know she was a Semi-elite like he was until today.
Ben gave a derisive snort. "I never noticed the girl, honestly. And now, she's just an obstacle in my way." He clenched his fists harder. "But nothing will stand in my way."
Yoda gave a scrutinizing look to Ben. His tone became more serious. "Ben….you say you're doing this for your colony, right?"
"Of course," said Ben quietly, yet determinedly. "There's no one better equipped for this Quest than me, the best Semi-elite the world has ever seen. Once I bond with all Five Elites, and Palpatine heals you and the rest of our colony, I'll have plenty of power to wield against Palpatine before he can use the Boundless Orbs I obtain for him. I will save, not just our colony, but all colonies of the world." He narrowed his eyes and added, "Because all colonies will be under my power."
Yoda raised an eyebrow. "Under your power?"
"With great power comes great responsibility," remarked Ben. "Only those who can handle such responsibility should have such power. I will be the better leader of all Genomorph colonies than Palpatine will ever be, once I bond with those Five Elites."
"Hmm," Yoda narrowed his eyes. "Did you even stop to think about why Palpatine is sending you and Rey on this mission, instead of himself? And why he isn't going after the Five Elites himself?"
"Simple," Ben said. "The man cannot bond with animals very well. He's powerful with his own powers of his Birth Colony's animal species, but he can't morph into other animal species, simply because he can't emotionally bond with them. That's why he's taking over our colony instead of emotionally bonding with one of our Shadowbreath Wolves." He clenched his teeth. "And that's why he wants these Boundless Orbs from the Five Elites' territories….so that he can transform into any animal species without needing to bond with them. He wants to be the most powerful being on the planet without any love to sustain such power." Ben felt his face grow hot with fury. "That's why I must stop him. I'm a Semi-elite who actually put in the work to be able to transform to all hoxian animal species on this planet, and once I do the work to bond and transform to the Five Elites, I will be most deserving and most well-equipped to rule all other colonies on this planet. The world will soon recognize me for who I am."
Yoda gazed at Ben, slowly shaking his head. "Ben…there's a deeper purpose Palpatine has for sending you on this mission. He wants you to fall into a trap. Please….do not fall in the trap."
"I won't," said Ben firmly. "Nothing can stop me."