Remember, if it ain't mine, it ain't mine. I make mentions of Vai and the Golden Glocks…they ain't mine, ask Showstopper. In fact, if you miss the other half of the Star Posse, the likes of Creaig and Hikki and all the others, check out "THREE", by Showstopper.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Despite the resemblance of the O'ive to a certain religious group, and the mentions of Meir and Kahane and Rabbis, I am not trying to insinuate anything. Any words in any language based on any actual language cannot be guaranteed 100. Hey, I have to put all these warnings in!

It was the dawning of another lovely day at the royal palace out in the middle of nowhere, not that far from Le Tina train station, in the middle of thick rainforests on the moon Oava’ia’i of a gas giant in a stellar system in the Green Heaven. By "lovely day", this is strictly a reference to the weather. Things were anything but lovely for the royal family. The Ai’a’ive matriarch and masiofo (queen), Sina, was killed in cold blood by an enchanted sword wielded by the gang leader Vai on the planet Earth. What made things worse was that her husband, Kumere, had gone insane, and was now missing. Whether he was still around or not was unknown.

The most notable member of this royal family is the pink furred Afatasi-Muguri (half muguri or moogle, half Ai’a’ive) who goes by the name Kushi Ai’a’ive. She was about five feet tall and had feathery wings on her back. These wings were pink and feathery, and they were sparkling. On top of her head was an ike’u or stalk with a ball on it. Most muguri had the ball a solid color and furry, however, Kushi’s ike’u ball was shiny and resembled a red jewel, with a strange pink "star" inside of it. Kushi’s siblings and other half-Ai’a’ive also had this. A similar orb was at the end of Kushi’s tail. On Kushi’s head were several other things specific to Afatasi-Muguri, such as a pair of giraffe-like horns with star-shaped ends, and larger "star-horns" attached to her otherwise cat-like ears, not to mention strange star-like endings of her facial whiskers. Her face was generally catlike. Around her neck were the only things she was wearing, a bone and dark-flower "mourning necklace," and a chain necklace with a metal five-pointed star on it, a "Fetu Amulet."

She got up from her bedroom and walked down a long covered walkway. She sighed. She remembered when walking this way in the morning, she could here her mother and father laughing in the dining room in the main "house". This palace was set up as numerous Samoan huts (or fales) and larger houses (some with two or three stories) linked by covered walkways. Sadly, there’d be none of that anymore, with her Ai’a’ive mother, Sina, being dead and her Muguri father, Kumere, missing and unaccounted for. Tears were running down her cheeks, still damp from her last bout of crying. At the entrance to the dinning room itself she saw a reassuring face of a close friend.

"Hi Kushi!" cheerfully chimed the girl, named Teuila.

"Hi Teuila!" replied Kushi dejectedly.

"I’m sorry, sis!" mused Teuila, as she hugged Kushi.

"Thank you…for being here for me!"

"That’s what real good friends do, aight?" responded Teuila. The two "slammed fists."

Teuila Nuanua looked very human, but wasn’t. She had skin that was discolored by human standards. Her hair was brown and shiny and long. Her ears were pointed, showing her Nuanua (race vaguely similar to humans) heritage from her mother’s side. She was roughly Kushi’s height. She was wearing her favorite light yellow dress, the first cheerful looking piece of clothing she’d worn in days. Around her neck was another Fetu Amulet, but this one had eight points.

"You’re the first one here!" remarked Teuila, "It’s awfully early. Let’s sit down and wait for everyone else."

The two sat on a couple of steps leading to a courtyard. A few moments later Teuila’s mother Lara Nuanua and her step-dad-to-be Todd "Kerenge" Jackson surprised them from behind.

"So there you are, Sei Flower and Kushi!" remarked Lara, "I’m surprised you’re up and dressed so soon, Sei!" commented Lara.

"There wasn’t much else to do, Mom!" retorted Teuila.

"Soon we’ll be eating, are you girls hungry?" asked Kerenge.

"Yes we are!" replied Kushi, who was not crying anymore. Even looking at Kerenge and Lara wasn’t making her cry, even though it had in the past, as Kerenge was once Kushi’s fiancé until they broke up and Kerenge fell in love with Lara.

Lara Nuanua was of the race Nuanua, which means "Rainbow", but her aiga (clan) name was also Nuanua, because where she came from, the aiga took their names from colors, and from things in the sky, such as the rainbow. She had long peach-reddish hair that she had in three long braids. These braids, reaching down to her knees, were holding a silver ball with many strange small handles on it. This oddity was called a Silver Star. Lara had pointed ears, as all Nuanua do, and was wearing a purple dress. Around Lara’s neck were two necklaces. The first was a fancy looking "engagement necklace" that Kerenge had gotten her in Japan. It wasn’t advertised as an "engagement necklace", but Kerenge decided to call it that. It was taken from a Nuanua tradition of using a necklace rather than a ring to indicate that one is engaged. The second necklace was another Fetu Amulet. This one had only four points.

"I’m sorry you’re hurt!" Kerenge tried to comfort Kushi, "You’re not my girlfriend any more, but I see you as a good friend, and no good friend of mine deserves to have her mother torn from her life by a pig-headed power-happy ASSHOLE like Vai!"

"We shouldn’t think too much of revenge!" spoke Kushi matter-of-factly, "Mom wouldn’t have wanted us to go on a mission of retaliation. And besides, if we went all out against him, we might end up acting no better than he is!"

"You’ve got a point, Kushi!" answered Kerenge, "Just it’s hard to shake some of my…uh…cravings that come from my days as a gang-banger!"

"I know how you feel though, Kerenge, and how you feel, Kushi. I didn’t even get to say a final goodbye to my parents, they were killed at the same time I was abducted by the Steel-Men!" explained Lara. "Not to mention my husband who wanted to kill me!" Kushi hugged Lara at that moment, and Kerenge watched them. They then did a group hug.

Kerenge had brown hair that reached his shoulders. He only wore a charcoal oversized T-shirt that reached down below his knees, which was good because he didn’t wear any pants. Around his neck was another of the metal Fetu Amulets, this one being seven-pointed. He was rather tall and had fair skin.

The group walked inside, to where they sat on the floor around a low table. Kushi and Teuila sat on one side, Kerenge and Lara on the other. Soon another Muguri arrived, this one with grey fur and wearing a brown shirt, brown pants, and a brown hat with his ike’u sticking through it. Around his neck was a six-pointed Fetu Amulet. His fur was light grey, and he had brown bat-like wings on his back. His real name was Ludwig Cohen but everyone called him the Fiddler, and he always carried a fiddle with him.

"Shalom Alechaim!" said the Fiddler, "How are you all today?"

"Can’t complain!" said Kushi.

"Good! Today we’re going up to Poru with Kulia!" said the Fiddler.

Next came the Pororos. First there was Woo’oof Gigure, sometimes called "Wogi" for short. He happened to be incredibly stupid. He had brownish-orange fur, six limbs, and almost looked like a bulldog, except for his trumpet-shaped ears and his long tail with a cotton ball at the end. His eyes were yellow. He had a stupid grin on his face, which was normal, considering his intelligence, or lack thereof. His wife and their friend came behind, chatting to each other. Mia’aou, Woo’oof’s wife, had yellow-greenish fluorescent fur, and six limbs that all Pororos have. However, her head was more cat-like. Her eyes were bright blue. Her ears were not cat like, though, they were petal-like, and her tail was like a feathery fan. She wore a nine-pointed Star Amulet. Her friend, Loookie Hiare, who had bluish purple fluorescent fur, and another cat-like face, but ears shaped like clovers. Her tail was spring-shaped with a clover at the end. Her eyes were bright green. She wore a necklace of pearls.

"So, it is breakfast time?" asked Woo’oof, "I is so happy! I also is happy because…I found out I can breathe!" Mia’aou slapped her head in embarrassment.

"So," began Loookie, changing the subject, "When do we leave for Poru?"

"Right after breakfast!" uttered a female voice. In walked its owner, Kulia, Princess regent and acting Ai’a’ive Matriarch (as her formal coronation had not yet occurred.)

Kulia looked exactly like Kushi, except that her fur was blue, her "orbs" were dark blue, and the "stars" inside them were really bright blue. She wore a necklace of pearls and a silk cloak with the Ai’a’ive emblem in gold. "I’m almost at the end of my rope, being Matriarch isn’t easy. I have to deal with space freight companies to get more service here. I have to deal with the Oi’ves…sorry, Ludwig…because of their recent schism, all these factions that name themselves after headwear…Black Hats, White Hats, Grey Hats, Brown Hats…it’s annoying. Not to mention that the Fono (parliament) is once again bickering over the budget. HOW DID MOM DO THIS?"

"Take a deep breath!" said another voice. The nine other siblings of Kushi and Kulia walked in. They had their fur in many different colors. A group of muguri and Ai’a’ive (humans with wings) all walked in, most of them carrying the food on platters and the drinks in large pitchers.

Everyone tried making pleasant conversation to try to feel cheerful once more.

After breakfast the royal family and the Star Guardians all walked to the train station, where they boarded a ten-car train that had a locomotive with a triangular nose beneath its window at either end. (A/N think of a bird’s beak, but with the sides chopped off, and you’ll have an idea of the shape, or better yet think LRC locomotive if you know what that is) The train had the letters "LRC-ALS" in streamlined black letters on each car, as well as the Ai’a’ive Railways logo. The upper half of each car and the locomotives was bright white. The lower part was sky-blue, with a lime green stripe separating the sections.

"Welcome aboard train #22, the Afava’a Express, going to Poru, with stops in Igiwe, Amouli, and Mekere. I’m the conductor for this train, Lipele, our engineer is Mave’a-Kopu. Those in first class will receive lunch shortly, everyone else may use the café car. This train is powered by two high-powered Light, Rapid, Comfortable Ai’a’ive eLectric Series locomotives. We’ll arrive at Poru in about four hours. Have a nice trip!" announced a voice over the P.A. system.

The train started pulling out of the station. The entire group was in the forward-most first class car. The train was soon moving at the top speed of 125 Miles per Hour. Much was going through the minds of these passengers as the train rushed along.

Kushi was remembering her late mother. She was also hoping that her friends from Earth and her friends who were on Urea were safe. And, as things were getting back to normal, she was once again lamenting her lack of a boyfriend. Kerenge and Lara were thinking about each other, and about different ideas that they had for their wedding. But they were also thinking about all their recent experiences on the Earth and their fight against the Destiny of the Status Quo, Octopus-Mon and Vai in Jamaica, where Sina was killed. Teuila was remembering Sina, and she was also thinking about her life. She was happy that her mother had someone to love again, but she wondered how things would be when Kerenge permanently moved into the life of Lara and Teuila. Mia’aou and Loookie were very happy that they were free and had many new friends, but they were bitter because it seemed that everyone was after them. Loookie was upset that her former lover had declared war against all non-Pororos. Loookie, Mia’aou and Woo’oof had spent years as prisoners of Mr. Fish, the evil galactic multi-quintillionaire, and she saw that what her ex-lover was doing was basically copying Mr. Fish but in another direction. Mia’aou had similar thoughts, but was mostly thinking about her husband Woo’oof. She remembered when he actually had intelligence, before he became a simpleton as the result of terrible experiments performed on him by Mr. Fish’s goons. Woo’oof now sometimes had "relapses" of intelligence, and in his transformed battle form he had his intelligence, but that wasn’t enough. She wanted the old "Wogi" back. At least he now knew she was his wife. That was a start, she chuckled to herself. Woo’oof himself was thinking about all the sadness he had witnessed. Rather than four weddings and a funeral, he had witnessed the exact opposite. He was able to grasp the concept of death, and it scared him. He was also thinking about his idol Dwayne "Big Money" Wayne, who was now managing a wrestling duo on the planet Urea. But he didn’t think about either of those thoughts too much, as he had to listen to the noise of the wheels on the rails, he didn’t want to miss their "happy singing." Not to mention that he also wondered why there were reversible screw-drivers, but no reversible screws. And why, just WHY did he have to be something with a hard to pronounce name as "Pororo" instead of a life-form with a simpler name, such as an Ewok? Finally, there was the thoughts of the Fiddler to be considered. The Fiddler had witnessed so much death and sadness and misery in his lifetime that he was slightly insulated from the sadness of Sina’s passing. But now he heard that his people, the O’ive, after having been under the rule of the Steel-Men for so long, were now fighting each other. He believed he’d probably be talked into joining one of the "hat" groups. All he could say about that was "Oy Vey!" And then there was his girlfriend, who was killed years ago, so he put her into a coffin full of preservatives, and then, when he thought the coffin was no longer safe, he launched it into space. The coffin ended up in Russia, where this girlfriend, Rebecca, was resurrected. But she was now fiercely loyal to the Golden Glocks, the same gang (they were more of an international crime syndicate by this point, but as they started as a street gang, they insisted on being called one) that had Vai leading it. Rebecca could not be killed now unless her head was cut off. And he prevented it. Because he was sure there was a way to have Rebecca normal, and finally have SOME happiness in his life. "Oy Vey Izmir!" Kulia, who was now the acting Ai’a’ive Matriarch, had a mind full of turmoil. She still hadn’t gotten over the death of her mother, although that wasn’t surprising. But her father had gone insane and was now missing, and that disturbed her even more. Plus, as a world leader, "the world’s events become her events", so she was now dealing with numerous situations, most notably the O’ive schism. Then there were all the dedications and stuff. As soon as she stepped off that train she’d be formally unveiling a statue of Sina that towered between platforms nine and ten, and she’d officially rename the station "La’u Tina Sina" station. She wondered how her mother was able to cope with all of the responsibilities, duties and problems that were now on her shoulder, and still be able to raise the eleven children that she did so well. The point of exhaustion was approaching her, as she’d spent the past days riding countless trains and visiting nearly every corner of Oava’ia’i.

The train ride itself was generally uneventful.

Kulia was in utter tears after dedicating the statue at the newly renamed station. The statue was well carved and painted and covered in genuine clothes and protected from the elements by a canopy. It looked too much like her mother. As soon as it was unveiled she did her best to avoid looking at it. Words of comfort that she vaguely remembered her mother saying filled her head, but to little avail. Her teeth were gritted. She had to remain strong, she was the Ai’a’ive Matriarch after all. As an Afatasi-Muguri, she effectively symbolized the merging of two races, and therefore was an ambassador of both.

But that was relatively small compared to what she’d have to deal with when she had the meeting with the Prime Minister afterwards.

The Star Guardians were waiting at a penthouse apartment in Poru. Numerous intricate "fine mats" covered the floors, and all variety of wall hangings covered the walls. There were even lamps that were covered with sheer ie lavalavas, giving a new meaning to "lava-lamp." Woo’oof was cuddling up with Mia’aou, while asking "deep questions."

"Mia’aou," began Woo’oof, "Why is there reversible screw-drivers but not reversible screws?"

A wide-screen TV was the source of attention for everyone else. A movie about a fight between two Muguri clans was what was on. Suddenly the doors to the apartment flew open. Kulia barged in, followed by several Ai’a’ive soldiers.

"We need the Star Guardians!" sighed Kulia. The Star Guardians were the group that was Kushi, Kerenge, Lara, Teuila, The Fiddler, Loookie, and Mia’aou. Because he was now with them, Woo’oof was for all purposes one of them, although he didn’t have an ancient Star Amulet to wear on his neck. The Star Amulets or Fetu Amulets, Fetu simply meaning Star, contained pieces of the essence of Lagi’uli Ai’a’ive, and bestowed powers on their wearers. In the case of Mia’aou and Loookie it gave the most profound powers, for they were now able to merge during combat to become a more powerful Pororo known as Purula (named after the Pororo princess who brought peace to the land.)

"What’s happening, sis?" asked Kushi. Despite her new royal status, Kulia would always be a sister first to her ten siblings.

"Come with us, we have to show you some important maps and information!" yelled Kulia in a frantic manner.

The Star Guardians were now in an underground room that was lit with fluorescent lights and had several maps on one wall and star-charts on another. There were also a couple of rows of computers, and a conference table in the middle of the room. Kulia sat at the head, with her Minister of Defence Nifo’oti Ai’a’ive and her chief of staff General Mikuku Umerene.

"We have a situation here!" said General Umerene, a moogle with white fur and dark green wings, as he pressed a pair of buttons, and one of the maps came to life. Around the area formerly ruled by the Steel-Men the map was shaded in yellow. All of the sudden numerous purple, white, grey, and brown stars popped up everywhere. "I think we’re on the brink of a civil war. Numerous sides have appeared in the O’iveland Republic area. As you may know, defense of them is one of our responsibilities. However, we received a threat from one of the worst factions. Have a look for yourself!" A video recording appeared, and on the screen was a moogle with dark grey fur and a long grey beard. He wore a black rabbi’s outfit and a dark black cloak. In several places on his outfit was a red triangle.

"I am Kahane Kamogowitz, Grand Rabbi for the Ultimate Liberation, better known to you goy as the Black Hats. This is a warning to keep out of events. In addition, we demand that every Volk and every Goy be removed from our borders, preferably also from this planet. If you dare intervene, than you are no better than the Steel-Men. We have been oppressed long enough. NEVER AGAIN! The Ai’a’ive, Volk, and Goy all want to use us. That will not happen. We also order that all of your armies be immediately withdrawn, and that pathetic excuse for a government be broken up. I am the leader of all the O’ive, even if they chose not to acknowledge it, they will. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY. I hope to see you later, preferably in the obituaries!"

"Oy vey!" uttered the Fiddler.

"It gets worse!" added Nifo’oti, an O’ive with darkish skin and light blue wings. He was attired in a light orange shirt and an orange lavalava. "We found out they are stockpiling weapons left over from the Steel-Men. They are preparing for a confrontation with the Grey Hats!"

"This is what we know!" began Kulia, "There are many sides, but four main ones. They are identified by the color of hat they wear, since all O’ive males traditionally wear a hat or cap. The Brown Hats want a closer relationship between the O’ive, Volk (civilians left over from the Steel-Men), Goy, and Ai’a’ive. They believe, like us, that unity is the best thing for everyone, it makes us all stronger. The White Hats, on the other hand, wish for neutrality and isolationism. They believe that’s the only way to safeguard their culture. The Grey Hats and the Black Hats are the worst sides in this dispute." Kulia cleared her throat and looked around at everyone. "The Grey Hats and the Black Hats split apart just recently, when Kiri-Tina Sina died. The Grey Hats are led by Rabbi Meir Weir." Buttons were pressed and a switch flipped, and a picture was projected onto the map-wall. It was another Muguri-rabbi, this one with light yellow fur, and wearing a grey outfit. "His side wants the O’ive land cleared of all non-O’ive, all marriages between O’ive and non-O’ive disolved, and a massive armed force with which to impose his will. They even want to erect electrified barriers for ‘purity’, and they intend to replace their democratic government with a dictatorship. But if you think he’s evil, he’s nothing compared to Kahane of the Black Hats. The Black Hats have plans for bringing about war. They believe that all non-O’ive should be punished and even enslaved. They also have a superiority complex, thinking that somehow their race is chosen above all others. Worse, they and the Grey Hats are in an arms race for all of the weapons and technology left behind by the Steel-Men."

"Just what we needed!" commented Loookie, "Another Sombrero Via!" Mia’aou quickly explained to the bewildered leaders just how bad Sombrero Via is.

"We can’t risk provoking them!" said Nifo’oti, "That’s why we want you, the Star Guardians, to find out everything you can, and put a stop to this if you can!"

"What, us is stopping a war?" asked Woo’oof, "Gee, dat’s difficult!"

"He sounds a bit…slow!" commented Umerene.

"No, I is Woo’oof!" replied Woo’oof.

"I wish you all good luck!"

"Your mission," began Kulia, copying something from a movie Kushi showed her, "Should you chose to accept it, is to go to the O’iveland Republic. You’ll be staying in Anatevka. You will have to find out more about the different sides, and then stop this madness. You’ve liberated the O’ive before, now you’ll do it again!"

"It would be wise to not fly there, that may raise suspicions!" warned Nifo’oti.

Hours later two vehicles, a silver Impala driven by Kushi and a purple van, the "Laramobile", driven by Lara. Both were driving on train tracks, because they had high-rail and pantographs to save fuel, and because there were higher speed limits on the tracks than on the roads (the only high-speed highway, the 66, going nowhere NEAR their destination). Their destination was Anatevka, past the border. There was no real border checkpoint, as they had a free flow of goods between the places.

"We’ll soon be there again!" thought Kushi. The two vehicles were passing through thick rainforest. Little did they notice anyone behind the trees watching them.

"Roight boss, those Star Guardians are coming to ruin everything! Makes me bloody pissed!" said a red-haired man who was built like a bear. He was wearing camouflage and hiding behind the verdant foliage.

"Yes, it’s them, I recognize that silver shit-ass Impala anywhere, WORD!" said a jive-talking skeleton dressed like a gangsta-rappa, who was standing next to the man.

"Thank you for the advance warning, I’ll have surprises waiting for them!" came a voice over the cell-phone that the skeleton was holding. "Return to Schleisburg, Mr. Bones and MonkeyWrench!"

"Roightto, boss!" replied MonkeyWrench.

SHOUTOUTS: The Usual

Author's Notes: Ok, here's the start of the fourth series. Not sure which way to go at first, but I decided to go with the idea of the "Hat" factions in O'iveland. Not sure what's going to happen yet. Yes, MonkeyWrench and Mr. Bones have returned. Who they are working for is left undecided here…you'll find out soon.

Ra'akone