---
Firehair sat calmly in the palace garden, staring at the glowing Houses when she finally asked
"May I know how you even *know* about Earth? And how do you know I'm the host of the Phoenix Force?" as she floated mid-air like a goddess on vacation.
Aethonix half-lying on a Linuar-lit chair, shrugged like a chill scholar. scratched his head, grinning. "Uhh... I kinda have this weird skill where I see a person and then... boom—info just appears in my brain. Not just their face, but like, their aura, past, power levels—kind of like a divine magical Wi-Fi." Also, I've read some weird glowing scrolls. Don't ask. Universe be trippin'."
Firehair narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious. But intriguing."
Firehair raised an eyebrow. "So basically, you're the universe's nosy neighbor?"
"Correct," Aethonix said proudly.
Aethonix leaned back in his stone chair, sipping his tea like a chill monk. "So, how's Asgard? Still full of overly dramatic dudes with shiny armor and long speeches?"
Firehair rolled her eyes. "Let's just say… Asgard's still dramatic. Odin's still overconfident. Let's not talk about that. I kinda left Earth for... reasons. I'm more interested in *you*. And your people."
She gazed at him.
"You Aurorians… you look like humans, but your biology is different. I tried to read your molecular structure—and it *glitched* my cosmic senses. What even are you?"
"Oh? Well, we're the Aurorians. We're like humans... but not? Stronger, shinier, and we age like fine enchanted wine. Apparently, our molecules are on vacation from science."
Firehair smirked. "You really don't know where you came from, huh?"
"Nope," Aethonix replied cheerfully. "We just popped up and started farming and fighting. It's been a vibe."
We just kind of *exist*. We work, eat, build palaces, invent light rocks, and occasionally fight giant beasts. We don't even know where we came from."
Then he leaned in, curious. "Wait—you said we're the *only* sentient race on this planet, right?"
"And yes," Firehair added, "I scanned the planet. You're the only sentient life here."
Aethonix leaned in dramatically. "So... we're the *main characters*?"
Firehair laughed. "Seems like it."
"Nice. I'd love to visit Earth someday—when you're there, maybe we can go on a date... I mean tour! TOUR!"
She blinked. "You're 13."
Firehair laughed. "Sure. Just travel 50 light-years, survive solar flares, punch through some wormholes, and voilà! Welcome to Earth—where the sky's always falling."
"In Aurorians years. But I'm like 54 in Earth years. That's basically middle-aged."Aethonix said
She laughed again. "Alright, tour boy. Let's eat."
"Also," Firehair added, "Earth and Asgard? Not the friendliest neighbors. I wouldn't mention the word 'diplomacy' unless you like dodging hammers."
---
**Two Weeks Later…**
Aethonix had introduced Firehair to his twin siblings, Aetheria and Terraka.
"She's shiny," Terraka whispered.
"I ship them," Aetheria giggled.
Firehair, awkwardly sipping soup: "What's a 'ship'?"
---
**COLISEUM BATTLE: EPIC BUT WHOLESOME EDITION**
Aethonix grinned nervously. "Okay, Firehair. Be gentle. I still need all my limbs attached."
**Battle Start:**
—Firehair launched a column of flames: **FOOOOOSH!**
—Aethonix blocked with an ice shield: **SHHHHHK!**
—Shield cracked. Firehair smirked.
—Aethonix rolled, summoned dual ice swords, and yelled: "**Awosshh! Swosshh!**"
—Firehair laughed: "What kind of battle cry is *that*?!"
Firehair launched a streak of flame.
Aethonix: "WAAAH—ICE WALL, GO!"
The flames melted the barrier instantly.
"Okay... maybe more ice? DOUBLE WALL!"
Firehair floated above him. "You're cute when you're panicking."
Aethonix, turning red, tripped over his own sword: "Th-thanks?"
In the crowd, his mom whispered to Kraelos, "They look good together, huh?"
Kraelos: "He better not try to marry a god without a proper cow offering like I did for you."
Aetheria shouted, "WOOO! Brother, swish-swoosh-ice-blast her heart!"
Terraka: "Bro got rizz!"
---
**Later That Night**
As they watched the stars from the palace balcony:
"How long are you staying?" Aethonix asked.
Firehair smiled softly. "Long enough to remember what peace feels like."
---
**A Year Later**
Life changed. Again.
Firehair had stayed and helped them build new technologies. Together, they discovered a mysterious glowing ore: **Griorite**.
One scholar said:
> "It contains atomic particles vibrating faster than light, emitting quantum energy levels unknown to our current primitive science. So basically... it's magic rock."
No one knew how to harness its energy. They used it as paperweights for now.
Meanwhile, vibranium was now being used for **armor**. Not Iron Man tech-level, more like "medieval bling." Aethonix *tried* making a vibranium sword, but it exploded.
"Turns out slapping a magical rock doesn't make a weapon," he said while picking pieces of ceiling out of his hair.
They began wondering:
> "Just how much vibranium *is* in this place?"
If the United States existed in this timeline, Aethonix was sure they'd already be orbiting the planet with nukes by now.
---
**Firehair and Aethonix: The Slow Burn**
They trained together. Ate together. Shared stories. Sometimes Firehair would just watch the Aurorians laugh, play, and live.
"This place... it's so full of life," she whispered one night. "Earth is... chaos. Doom. Endless battles. You get five minutes of peace, and suddenly Galactus is hungry again."
Aethonix chuckled. "Here, we just worry about running out of soup and keeping the twins from setting things on fire."
They both laughed.
He offered his hand. "So... you staying for a while longer?"
She took it. "I might. This place feels like... home."
---
**And so...**
Peace reigned. The city was now filled with 27,000 Aurorians. "We reproduce fast," Aethonix once said, "like rabbits... but with better hair."
The people thrived, Firehair smiled more, and Aethonix? He kept dreaming of stars, of fire, of future adventures... and of one day kissing a goddess under the moon.
But for now, dinner.
And maybe a sparring match.
With fewer fireballs.
---