On the island in the Inbetween, the surviving bragons had been tending to their wounded. They occasionally peered fearfully into the sky at the Farthership looming over them.
“Do you think they’re still alive, by gosh?” said a bandaged Nigel, as he dressed the singed wings of Old ’n’ Graham.
“Man-Lor is usually optimistic,” said Man-Lor, refusing to take his eyes off the sleeping Kryl. “But Man-Lor thinks we’re doomed.”
“Nigel, look!” cried Susan, pointing up into the sky. “The Farthership is moving!”
“Bragons, to arms! Everyone on your feet, by gosh!” cried Nigel, grabbing his sunder-gun. “No more boasting … we take our last stand here on this island!”
The Farthership descended slowly towards them, until its shadow plunged them into darkness. Just as it seemed the Farthership would squash them, it stopped dead. Suddenly a section of the hull slid open. Smoke poured out and a long, oil-black tongue snaked out from inside, forming a stairwell as it touched the ground.
“Here they come! Don’t shoot ’til you see the yellows of their eyes!” Nigel cried, as the bragons’ weapons trembled in their hands.
“Don’t shoot at all!” cried a familiar voice. A moment later Frog emerged from the fog and limped down the steps, closely followed by Princess Rainbow and a bleating Sheriff Explosion.
“Frog! Princess! You’re… How… Look out!” cried Nigel, as a dozen white-clad Kroakan troopers began descending the steps.
“It’s OK,” Frog assured them. “I ordered the Kroakans to make you all better with their super-science doctor gubbins. I get to order them around, you see, ’cause it turns out—”
“Frog is the King’s clone?” came a cry.
General Kurg emerged from the Farthership in sunder-cuffs, led down the steps by Major Krung. “Why did no one tell me? I spent this entire invasion trying to destroy the heir to the Kroakan empire! I was doomed from the start! I was doomed to fail! I… I’m doomed.”
As it turned out, Kroakan “super-science doctor gubbins” was far in advance of bragon medicine. The troopers bathed the bragons’ injuries with strange green lights, which healed their wounds so quickly that anyone would think it was magic.
“So, you’re King now, by gosh?” Nigel said, as Frog treated his singed wings. “But you were only gone an hour…”
“Being an ay’lun invader space King still isn’t as good as being Princess of Kingdomland,” insisted Princess Rainbow.
“Baa,” said Sheriff Explosion, possibly in agreement.
“What are you complaining about, Princess?” Frog tutted. “They took the brain-slavery off your mum and dad and everything! Show Nigel!”
Princess Rainbow emptied her dress pocket, spilling her parents on to the ground.
“What’s all this? Invaders everywhere! Sound the alarm!” squeaked the tiny Queen.
“Pop me back in your pocket, would you, Rainbow?” pleaded the King. “I was rather enjoying the peas and quiet…”
“They’re the cutestest!” declared Princess Rainbow. “I’m going to make sure they stay teeny-weeny forever.”