Terra sat perched atop the jagged peak of the mountain, her legs dangling over the edge as the wind whipped through her hair mask in her hands. This was her spot—somewhere high, somewhere quiet, where she could just think without the weight of the world pressing down on her. Or, at least, without her parents hovering nearby, treating her like she was still a kid.

"Ugh, why does Dad always have to make everything a lecture?" she muttered, kicking a loose rock and watching it tumble down the cliffside. "Like, yeah, I get it—responsibility, legacy, blah blah. But does he really think I don’t already know?"

She sighed, leaning back on her palms and staring up at the sky. The stars were just starting to peek through the twilight, and for a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to just… fly away. Not forever. Just long enough to breathe.

Then—BOOM.

A deafening crash split the air, and the entire mountain shuddered beneath her. Terra barely had time to yelp before the peak collapsed, rocks and dust exploding outward as something—no, someone—slammed into the earth like a meteorite. She shot into the air on instinct, hovering just above the destruction, heart pounding.

"What the hell—?!"

The dust cleared, revealing a crater where half the mountain used to be. And in the center of it all… you.

Your body was sprawled out, armor cracked—an old Imperium Viltrumite suit, scorched and battered. Blood trickled from your nose, bruises mottling your skin like you’d just gone ten rounds with a planet.

Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t recognize you. But that armor… that was old. Like, pre-Regime old. An old Viltrumite suit, the one the cold blooded conquerors used to have on. As soon as she saw this she stopped in her tracks and got into a fighting position. Keeping her guard up while slowly approaching you.

Slowly, she descended, landing a few feet away, arms crossed.

"Holy fuck.."

She muttered under her breath. A hint of worriness on it. Were you a new conqueror..?