December 31st, 2446

"So! How about it! A big, New Years party!" Dani shouted out.

In the group of Arkians, that being Sky, Dani, Carl, Lia, Lily, Ren, Rin, Ellios, Tavian, Noboki, and Mandi, Dani wanted to discuss a party after overhearing some of the citizens of Alicas talk about it.

"New Years? A day that marks the start of the new year? We never had anything like that on The Pinnacle, did we?" Carl turned to Sky for the answers. At the very end of the year, 9 months after the fight with Quake, Sky had built up a good amount of muscle, growing an inch taller, and crossing his arms while leaning against the railing to the capitol building.

"Did we have the time to celebrate? I don't recall," Sky said. His voice remained the same, but his hair ended up getting shorter. The minimal amount of growth Sky had experienced in the last month alone had put him above all of the other Arkians. Although, he wasn't the only one to grow and develop.

Carl had longer hair now, and Dani started to tie hers back. The long hair was a nice, every-day thing to have in public, and wasn't a hazard to have because there was no more fighting going on.

The thieves had dispersed shortly after Sky took down their leader, and no mentioned of Finlis Vega had come up again.

"Not really at all, no," Dani answered Sky's question. Her motivation in having a party was now justified, reeling Sky in and convincing him.

"Sure, let's do it. We can host it here, can't we?" Sky asked his friends.

"Why make the celebration exclusive to us? Let's open up the entire city to a party. They are our family now, aren't they?" Ren asked Sky. It was as if she was reminding him to remember that he was the leader of Alicas, not of the Arkians anymore.

"This is my family, and I would've preferred to have it with us, enclosed. However, I'm not against the idea at all," Sky clarified. He started to look around the populated city, admiring the development of technology and architecture Alicas had gone through in just nine short months. Sky loved what his people were capable of.

The daily visits to his parents grave, along with Illya and Ellie's graves, were starting to be spaced apart due to how busy Sky was. He often spent at least an hour a day at the graves, explaining to Ali, Lucas, Ellie, Illya, Ullr, Red, Domin, Cody, and Robby how the city was developing. Although he couldn't see them, his talks with them were treasured in his mind, and he knew that they were listening.

"No... let's keep it between us," Carl suggested, siding with Sky. The Arkians listened reluctantly and all walked into the capitol building. Strands were created in Sky's hands that resembled streamers, balloons, and all kinds of colorful, stringy objects that looked like they fit in the dull room.

Sky watched as the Arkians, all united after a long period of living their own lives, worked on decorating the room together. It had been almost a full year since the Arkians worked together on a task that didn't involve the violence or death of others. Sky smiled, helping Mandi adjust the streamers and other decorations in the building for the party that would ensue.

"Alright! Finally! Now, let's get to it!" Mandi shouted out. She asked Sky politely to create some sort of device that would make noise when she blew into it. At first, Sky made a trumpet, but after a bout of insults and shaking heads from other Arkians, Sky made a kazoo for Mandi to mess with while looking toward the other Arkians for any requests.

Sunglasses, party hats, and other articles of strange, bright clothing was all Sky had created with strands in the past few months since his fight with the Thieves Syndicate. He felt that he had been turned into a party animal, and couldn't help but laugh.

The feeling of leniency was poisonous to Sky, as he forgot about the dangers of the outside world, succumbing the happiness that Dani and the others caused him to feel, and losing himself in celebrating with start of the New Year on December 31st, 2446.

And while Sky was celebrating, Cynthia was closely observing Alicas and its development.