Rocki could tell at least two of the valicara recognized her. They slowed their flight, staring at her in confusion. "I need you to stop for a minute," she said loudly, keeping her hands up as if calming an animal.

Aley struggled a bit more. The sariun just looked angrier when they saw her. "Drat, I look like a valicaran, don't I?" she muttered. "Umm, okay." She threw out a blade towards them, along with a prayer that she didn't hit anyone. It was small, but strong enough that it didn't shatter when it stuck in the sand. That caught their attention. "Listen, I'm not a valicaran. I mean, I kind of am, but that's not important right now. I'm one of the savioresses and you have to stop."

They seemed to recognize her now.

"Is she really a savioress, general?" One of them shouted in their language. "Or is this a trick?"

Xinn responded back immediately. "She is. I've been guarding her for the past two weeks. Listen to her."

Now they all looked interested. Confused, but at least paying attention.

"Listen," said Rocki. "We don't need any sort of protection. Everything is fine."

One of them pointed behind her. "But the sariun..." His voice trailed off as the sariun also stopped to talk with Aley. "They're here to take you."

"We won't let them win this war!" said another valicara fiercely.

"I know." Rocki rose a little higher so she was more eye-level with them. "I know that you can't lose the war. I understand. But right now is not a good time for a fight. We're trying to negotiate."

"Negotiate? With the sariun?"

"With each other. We're trying to figure everything out. Just... give us more time. Let us talk to each other and the both of you."

Aley was having a similar conversation with the sariun. "The valicara aren't going to take me away and we're not going to let them destroy you."

"Then why don't you bring the other savioress to us?" called one of the soldiers. "We can have this war over in minutes."

"Because that's not how it's going to work," she said, narrowing her eyes at him. "The valicara don't want to be destroyed either."

"What do we care what those heartless monsters want?"

She clenched her fists. "Because they're not heartless monsters. Rocki spent a lot of time with them and didn't have any problems. They're just people—or whatever the equivalent is—like the rest of us. Just... let us talk together. I don't know how all of this is going to end, but I am going to do my absolute best to make sure the sariun are kept safe. Please, listen to us for just a bit, let us try to talk all of this out. This could be the thing that ends the war."

The soldiers seemed skeptical, looking to their general.

He glanced at Aley. She is something. "Listen to the savioress."

She smiled at him. Thank everything that I have him. This would have been... interesting otherwise.

"Can we stand?" said Rocki to the valicara. "On the ground?" I want to be more level with the sariun while we're talking, otherwise it'll send the wrong message. "My wings aren't particularly strong yet."

The soldiers sent each other skeptical looks, but complied, gently touching down. Rocki glanced back to see Aley already waiting with her band of sariun.

"Now what?" her sister whispered.

Rocki gestured for Kofi and Xinn to come closer. "Can the two of you make sure no one starts a fight? I want Aley and I to be able to talk to them, but I don't think we'll be able to focus on that and making sure they are staying settled. Just... you stand here." She positioned Kofi to stand in front of the group of valicara. "And you stand here." She pointed Xinn over to a spot in front of the sariun. "And keep an eye on them." She grabbed Aley's hand and pulled them back a few steps so they could easily see both groups. "Thank you for..." A bolt of nerves hit her when she made eye contact with one of the sariun. It was so weird to see one up close again. "For letting you... us talk to you." She glanced at Aley, then leaned in to whisper to her. "It might be better if you do more of the talking."

"I don't know what to say!" she hissed back. "This was your idea. I'm not even sure what we're doing."

"Trying to convince them that they can have peace. It's inconceivable for both of them to let the others live. They think the war has to end with one of them being destroyed. But maybe it can end in a way that lets them live peacefully."

Aley snorted. "Yeah right."

"I've seen it before. There is a planet where the sariun and valicara live together and they seem to do fine. Just... tell them we think there is a way to end the war peacefully. But it can only happen if they are really determined to end it."

Aley nodded, then swept her eyes over the group. "I know not all of you are familiar with us. I am Aleyis and this is my sister, Roxanne. We've spent the last two weeks among you after we found out we are the savioresses meant to end this war between you." She licked her lips. It still sounded so weird to say it. "We think there is a way to end the war in a peaceful manner. But that can only happen if you are really determined to finish it." She hesitated, not sure what else to say.

Rocki leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Ask them if they are ready to commit to that."

She tilted her chin up slightly. "Are you willing to do anything to end all of this?"

The valicara glanced at each other, while the sariun looked to their general.

He shrugged. "This is your decision to make." He locked eyes with Aley. "But I am willing to try whatever it takes to end this war."

"As am I," said Kofi, earning him a slight glare from Xinn.

The other soldiers nodded and murmured their agreement.

Hopefully they're ready to commit to that because I'm about to drop a bomb on them, Rocki thought. Metaphorically of course. She whispered to Aley again. "Good. Because what it takes is stopping the fighting and making peace."

"Good," repeated Aley, pausing for a moment of dramatic effect. "Because what it's going to take is ending the fights and making peace with each other."

The sariun snarled and the valicara threw their wings open indignantly, their protests rising loudly in the air.

Xinn and Kofi glanced at each other.

Never. They thought.

Aley held up her hands. "Hey. Hey!" The soldiers quieted enough to listen to her. "Settle down. Let us finish." She looked at Rocki. "You're sure about this idea?"

She raised an eyebrow. "It's either make peace or destroy each other. The war is going to tear them to shreds if they continue."

"Fair enough." She turned back to the seething group. "I know you don't get along. I know you've been fighting for a hundred years. But what have you gained from it? The war has been chipping away at your lives for a long time."

"What will happen to the ecosystem if they destroy an entire species?" Rocki said under her breath.

"What about the planet?" Aley asked them. "What would happen to this place if one of you destroyed the other? Obliterating a species is no small impact on a world. What would happen to the forest? To the mountains?"

"The kids. Think of the generations of children who have been raised on war. What has that cost them? The other side has lives too."

"And what about the generations that have been raised on war? You have children and even adults who have never known anything but war." She locked eyes with Xinn. "People who otherwise might have built a home by the ocean and never worried about the next battle. This war has cost lives, the lives of childhoods, family members, and futures. It has to end. And peace is the only option. Your enemies are not monsters. They have souls, they have fears, they have dreams. They have mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children. They have family that they'll never see again. You all want to end the war. Not one species wants it more than the other. So please... let it end."

Xinn was awestruck as her blue eyes swept across the group. The pain in her voice, the ache in her eyes. Even if he was already devoted to her, he would have followed her anywhere, done anything. He could sense the others felt the same way. She was practically melting a century of hatred away with empathy that spread like a raindrop when it hit the ground.

Kofi was equally captivated, although his gaze was locked on Rocki. Even though he couldn't hear what she whispered to her sister, he was sure that it was the backbone of everything Aley had said. That's my blue eyes.

Rocki squeezed Aley's hand. "They said they would do anything to end the war. Are they still ready to commit to that?"

"You told us that you would do anything to end the war," Aley said firmly. "This is how we're going to do it. Are you still willing?"

Kofi looked at Xinn. It has to end. He nodded.

I've been fighting the valicara my whole life, Xinn thought. But maybe they're right. The cost is too high. He slowly extended his hand. When Kofi reached out his arm, Xinn grabbed him by the wrist and locked eyes. "I am willing."

"I am also willing," Kofi replied.

Seeing the general and a close friend of the sovereign's agree with each other was all it took for the rest of the group to reach out friendly arms and concur.

Aley grinned, looking at Rocki, who was also smiling. "I think we just ended a war."

Rocki huffed a laugh. "Not quite yet."

It wasn't hard to convince two messengers to send for the leaders. They raced off eagerly, one taking to the sky and the other to the sands.

Aley dashed over to Xinn, grabbing him in a tight hug. "Thank you for your help," she said, a thin line of tears coating her eyes. "I know it was hard. You did the right thing."

He squeezed her. "No, I think you did the right thing. Maybe peace isn't the worst idea." She giggled as he nipped her neck.

Kofi approached Rocki a bit more cautiously. "That... was amazing," he said, taking hold of her elbows. "You and Aley make a great team." Rocki and I would make a great team too. If only she would let me.

"Thank you," she said, a smile unable to leave her face. "I really think that we can make this work. The valicara and sariun can get along, I'm sure of it. Just like on Bey-Ark."

"Well, Bey-Ark isn't always the most peaceful planet."

"It isn't perfect. This won't be either. But it's a start, and the more time they spend together—the longer the peace—the easier it will be." She impulsively grabbed his arms. "Thank you for your support. It really helped."

"Anything for peace," he said.

She nodded, glancing towards Aley. "Let's just hope—what on Earth?!" She had looked over just in time to see Aley grab Xinn's face and kiss him straight on the lips.

Aley couldn't help it, she was too excited about their success. She had almost forgotten other people were present until she heard Rocki's exclamation. She jerked back, then laughed at her sister's expression, linking her arms around Xinn's neck. "Relax, Rocki. Your face might get stuck like that."

"Well I'm sorry that I'm surprised to see my little sister kissing an alien," she said indignantly, putting her hands on her hips.

"We just ended a war, I don't think that should really be your main focus." Aley laughed again. Rocki's always been so funny about PDA. Maybe I would understand if I was a big sister, but I'm not so who cares?

Rocki wrinkled her nose. We are so talking about this later. "Can we pick another activity to do while we wait for the leaders?"

"Oh, come on, blue eyes," said Kofi playfully, putting a wing around her. "You might enjoy it."

She pushed him away. Don't say stuff like that in front of Aley! She'll think we're a thing and I made sure to leave anything out of my story that would make her think that! "Definitely not."

Aley raised her eyebrows. Oh ho, Rocki. What's this I see? Looks like someone else had a little starship romance. "Fine. What do you want to do while we wait?"

"I want you to stop touching him." She scowled. "But whatever." The baby. She should know about the baby. I don't think she's inherited the valicara's ability to just tell, but someone else might accidentally let her know before I do. It's high time she knew. "Um... there actually is one thing that we should talk about."

Aley dropped her hands, but kept her shoulder pressed against Xinn's. "Oh yeah?"

Hesitantly, Rocki stepped over to her, taking her hands and pulling her slightly away from Xinn. This is an important moment. I want her close to me. "I'm... I... Uh... I don't know the right way to tell you this..." She bit her lip. Do I just say it? Should I start from the beginning? Yeah, that's probably a good idea. "You know how I wouldn't tell you much about Kahinu and I's breakup?"

Aley's eyes softened. "Yeah." She was so heartbroken. I'm surprised that she's done so well about it. He really hurt her.

"That's because... I... well..." Rocki huffed out a breath, simultaneously frustrated with herself for not just spiting it out and too afraid to actually do it. "The night before we broke up... Kahinu... a-asked me to sleep with him. And I did." She couldn't look at her sister's face, keeping her eyes glued on their hands.

He what? And she... what?! Aley stopped breathing. But Rocki would never... She did like him an awful lot. Could he really have convinced her?

"He broke up with me the next day because he didn't think we were the right partners. I... And... well, I found out later... that I was pregnant." She winced.

Aley gasped sharply. "Pregnant? What?" There is no way. "Rocki... are you serious?"

She blinked hard, tears starting to blur her vision. "I made a mistake. It was the wrong decision, and I couldn't bring myself to tell you sooner because I was embarrassed. I was stupid, I know I was. I really thought that he was the right guy, and our wedding wasn't that far away... I'm sorry I didn't tell you." She sniffed, trying not to sob.

Aley hugged her tightly. "Oh my gosh, Rocki... That's... I'm so sorry. So, so sorry." She rubbed her back. "Did you tell Kahinu? Or Mom or Dad?"

Rocki shook her head. "I couldn't. Every time I thought about it I... I freaked out. I was going to tell everyone eventually, but I was just so embarrassed and then all of this happened and all I wanted to do was find you and tell you about it because I knew you would have wanted to know."

"Of course I would want to know!" Aley squeezed her. "You're having a baby!" She gasped. "I'm going to be an aunt! That's insane! Wait, wait, wait... you're going to be a mom! That's even crazier!"

Rocki choked out a laugh as a small thrill dodged through her stomach. "Yeah, it is."

The next two hours were spent trying to convince Faish and any one of the sariun heads to venture out to the desert for a meeting. Even if they had convinced a small group of soldiers to quit fighting, it would take the leaders to actually put an end to the war.

Finally, both parties could be seen approaching. Aley pressed her shoulder to Rocki's, sharing a nervous glance.

"Well, we made them believe," said Aley, nodding at the soldiers. "Now we just have to convince everyone else."

Rocki sighed. "Sure. No problem."