Flew forever. Planet's light dimmed. Finally stopped at lake edge. Wandered around, found clearing, pulled tent, tapped wand. Familiar white tent assembled itself.
Guardians watched amazed. Years traveling universe—never seen this. Pretty useful!
Soon tent up. Called everyone inside, including antenna girl.
Seeing interior space defying exterior, Rocket's eyes lit. "Selling this? Worth 100,000! Calling it!"
Gamora didn't argue. Had ship, but nothing beat tent's comfort. And space!
"Get me Earth, I'll find someone modify your ship. Expand rooms without touching components—no problem." Said casually. Opened kitchen door, walked in. Spell-preserved food looked fresh as stored.
Waved wand. Household magic worked fine—Coby just never gave her space.
Soon, by dark, hearty Earth dinner on table. Star-Lord cried while eating. Way better than nutrition paste! Earth food best!
Everyone ate happily. No time talk.
Only after plates licked clean did everyone collapse by fireplace, watching flames, half-asleep.
Shivered. Felix wore off!
Exhaled deeply, silently grateful. Good thing drank beforehand. Otherwise small frame—how reach planet safely?
"Talk. Name? Who brought you?" Gamora struggled sitting up, looked at burping girl.
"Mantis. Been with him since earliest memories, living his planet. Never saw anyone else. Name's Ego. Said looking for son—Star-Lord, Peter Quill, from Earth." Said quietly.
"Why'd I feel bad intentions? Dangerous?" Asked.
Mantis looked surprised. "You have ability too? Sense emotions?"
Narrowed eyes. "No. Just diviner's intuition."
Mantis nodded half-understanding. "Always on planet, but purpose easing insomnia. Like flea on dog. Useful flea."
"Wait—said dog? Planet-sized dog? But used 'he'? Ego IS planet?!" Gamora stood disbelief. "Incredible!"
Everyone mouths hanging open, speechless.
Mantis glanced fearfully. "That's all know."
Raised eyebrow. "Better be honest. Have potions force honesty. Wouldn't want involuntarily reveal deepest secrets, would you?"
Mantis silently shrank, antennae curling. "My ability—sense emotions of people I touch."
"Mind reading?" Asked interested. Natural Legilimency? Requiring touch? Weak.
"No, not mind reading. Empathy. Sense emotions, soothe emotions, induce sleep." Said seriously. Looked at Star-Lord. "May demonstrate?"
Star-Lord shrugged. "Sure."
Mantis slowly placed hand on his. Closed eyes. Antennae glowed. "Sense love."
Star-Lord bad feeling. "Course. Everyone loves. I love all galaxy life!"
"No. Sense your love for her! Romantic love!" Eyes flew open. Finger pointed straight at Gamora.
Drax and Rocket doubled over laughing. Star-Lord jumped embarrassed. "Impossible! Definitely wrong!"
Mantis looked surprised. "Can't be wrong. And faintly sense—" Reached for Gamora's hand.
"Touch me—next thing feel's shattered jaw." Said flatly.
Mantis sheepishly withdrew. "Most useful ability for Ego—putting him sleep. Every night thinks about children, can't sleep."
Drax laughed, waved. "Give me that! Need this!"
Mantis obediently pressed his head. "Sleep."
Drax collapsed. Snores shook room.
"Cool!" Rocket whistled.
"So really cares about children?" Star-Lord felt moved.
Blinked. "Children? Star-Lord not only? Has other kids?"
Mantis nodded. "Those children all on Ego."
"Wait—said never saw anyone else on Ego. Where children?" Gamora caught inconsistency.
Mantis shrank. "Only skeletons. Before arrived, only skeletons. All children—none grew adulthood. Just children. Should be only one not on Ego who reached adulthood."
"What?!" Star-Lord stunned. Too much info today. Barely escaped Sovereign, chased, ship half-destroyed. Learned about father. Father bad intentions. Unacceptable.
"Don't know how children became skeletons. Bones already there before arrived." Curled smaller, wishing disappear.
"Aha, powerful enemy. Fighting planet?!" Rocket said sarcastically.
Star-Lord sneered. "Already enemies with planet! Because you!"
Man and raccoon faced off, arguing.
Calmly pulled Groot from pocket, took green potion, feeding spoonful by spoonful.
"What feeding him?" Gamora watched Groot eat happily.
Said excitedly, "Plant growth nutrient specially formulated. Added Earth materials. Figured since plant, should work. Didn't expect like so much."
Gamora ignored arguing pair—fought constantly. Watched interested as fed.
Visibly, Groot grew larger. Tender green leaves sprouted on head.
As two pointed at leaves, Rocket's shout startled them.
"Enough! I'll fix it! Fix damn ship! Happy?! You! Deal with enemy!" Angrily grabbed bag, headed out. Groot frantically jumped to follow.
"Advise against going. Something's wrong." Said, sealed door.
Rocket turned, bared teeth. "What doing?! Trying imprison me?!"
Gamora picked worried Groot, set on shoulder. Flicked Rocket's forehead. "Calm down."
Rocket resentfully dropped bag, squatted by door silently.
Gamora nodded. Waved hand. After time together, developed understanding. Left tent, began casting protective spells. After thinking, added Muggle-Repelling Charm. Who knew if aliens counted Muggles? Might work!
Returned—Gamora calmed arguing pair. Drax's snores still shook room, unaffected.
"Now need workable plan. Outside, planetary consciousness watching. Kidnapped his pet. Plus ship broken. Fixing won't happen overnight." Said steadily.
"Gemini, suggestions?" Turned ask.
Spread hands helplessly. "Tell clearly what help need. See if can manage. Zero experience both things. No idea handle."
"Can make Rocket undetectable? Then quietly repair ship?" Asked tentatively.
Thought, removed jade pendant, placed in Rocket's hand. Tapped head with wand.
"Hey! Why cracking eggs on head!" Said irritably, pawing head, feeling nothing.
Looked carefully at hand—saw floor through it. "Invisible?" Hopped to mirror. Nothing there.
"Disillusionment Charm. Without removing, lasts 8 hours. Jade pendant blocks presence—heat, scent, everything. Even instruments won't detect right away." Explained.
"So useful!" Rocket's voice from beside Drax. Everyone saw sofa impression, no person.
Gamora had Rocket hide. Even Mantis searching couldn't find. Only then satisfied.
"Settled. Rocket gets charm before going out. Return before expires. Plenty enemies. Don't get caught." Looked seriously, ensuring understood. Straightened. "Everyone rest."
Leaned sofa, spread blanket, prepared sleep.
"Wait—sleeping here?" Looked disbelief.
Star-Lord fluffed pillow on carpet. "What else? Lady, conjure bedrooms? This tent's best outdoor accommodation we've had years."
Covered face. "Thought noticed. Have stairs."
Star-Lord's hand froze. Jumped up. "Real stairs?! Thought decorative!"
Spread hands. "Pick rooms. Not many, but three or four. Enough!"
Star-Lord and Gamora exchanged glances, rushed stairs. Quickly reached second floor, checked rooms, smiled satisfied.
Levitated unconscious Drax and bound Nebula, brought Mantis upstairs.
"Picked rooms? Who rooming with prisoner and Mantis?" Waved wand.
Star-Lord looked at Gamora, then others.
"Don't worry about me. Room's third floor. Don't share." Gave polite smile.
Shrugged. "Drax gets end hall alone. Rocket and Groot together, watching Nebula. Gamora, take bug girl?"
Nebula glared furiously—ready bite if agreed.
Gamora looked. "Got anything stop escaping?"
Looked hesitantly at half-cyborg. "Not sure potions work cyborgs."
Shrugged. "No problem. Try. Doesn't work, make post. Tie up."
Suppressed laugh. Pulled modified Living Death, waved under Nebula's nose. Before could mock, head drooped. Soft snores.
Checked with spell, thought, laid flat, dripped three drops in mouth. Handed bottle to Gamora.
"Normal people—one sniff sleeps 8 hours. But half machine. Three drops should be enough."
Gamora blinked. "Didn't tell? Digestive system's organic."
Laughed lightly. "No problem. Three drops means sleeps three days. No side effects."
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