First things first, don't read if you don't like , so I just had to edit this first chapter, I couldn't help feeling that Anya's character wasn't that great at the beginning so I'm adding things this makes it better.I'm adding characters from Valkyrie profile 2-it's ok, you don't have to know the VP2 story for this so I don't own the first few characters except Anya. Please please,bear with any mary-sueness if u find,just notify me about it!!!I'm trying to make her as normal as possible!Just read till a few more chapters and see if u like her character!!T_T
Chapter one
Take me somewhere far, away from here to find something i've been looking for all this time
His red eyes were clouded with concern, a distressing thought crossing his mind every time he looked at the young boy infront of him. Something about Luke's mention of memory loss was unnerving. Not a lot of things could get Jade Curtiss this way but when you knew about the darker side of a lot of things, even something like a simple amnesia could get to you. Familiar disturbances caused him to keep an eye out for the redhead ahead of him who was now shouting at Mieu in an angered manner.
"Keep your eyes focused on the opening princess", came a female authoritative shout from the direction of a young woman in an all black uniform, complete with the badges of the Academy and a crest of Garnet City.
The blonde princess of Midgard stopped in her tracks in the process of practicing her fight with a young student, Rufus who kept getting frustrated at the ease with which he defeated her.
"I'll take over" the instructor dismissed Rufus, her student who seemed more than grateful.
Princess Alicia looked downcast, "I'm no good am I Anya?" The other woman considered this and decided not to let the princess who had sneaked out to practice down.
"I wouldn't say that" Anastacia said softly, taking out a light blade that she usually tried not to use but when it came to students like that….even she had to compromise.
They began their practice like every other Undineday. True it took the princess a considerable amount of time but when she did, she was adept at it. They continued for quite a good fifteen minutes and Anya only smiled every time the princess became annoyed as the older woman blocked all her strikes.
"You should try to avoid doing this" she told her as she blocked yet another attack, "See, you always leave yourself open to strikes after every move" with that she turned around and Alicia drove her sword downwards instead of getting her and looked up. Anya brought down the sword close to the princess's neck from up.
"You need to recover fast from your attacks" Anya told her getting in position again, "We'll try once more".
A few minutes later the two were suddenly interrupted by a student who had apparently been sent by someone. Anya didn't take her eyes off her opponent and Alicia imitated her.
"Instructor Loire, Head Master Valeth asks for your presence in his office right away". At the mention of the name, Anya's ears pricked up and she looked at the student immediately.
"I'll be there right-" she was cut off when she heard Alicia's voice close by.
"Keep your eyes focused on the opening" she repeated Anya from earlier and held her own sword at the instructor's neck who seemed slightly astonished and then started laughing.
"Well, bell's about to ring for the day over any way" she told the princess, "I'll see you later. And that was quite-" she hesitated if she would make the girl feel way too happy if complimented, "-an admirable strategy. But mind you, opponents don't always tend to lose their concentration". The princess looked slightly upset but smiled and wore her long cloak again. Anya accompanied her to her own office from where the princess climbed down to the ground using a ladder and was then accompanied by one of her trusted servants.
Anya sighed and pulled her dark hair into a loose ponytail and headed straight for Lezard Valeth, the principal of Goldpine Academy where she taught. She sailed by the Academy on the first floor receiving many salutes from the students and sighed before climbing the steep stairs of Garnet City.
Garnet City, a seven leveled building that was possibly the largest structure to ever exist on Midgard apart from the Royal Castle, was home to every soldier and cadets that lived in the continent. It was where the people were trained and those who were good enough were promoted to the level of Mercenaries, a division which Anya had recently been proposed to command. When all of that was over, then it was like every other military regiment.
Anya reached the head master's room and knocked. She was admitted in and a young female student was dismissed who looked slightly in tears as she brushed by Anya.
She frowned at the young man of thirty five sitting on his chair. He looked up from the papers with a beautiful smile carved into an immensely handsome face reaching his cerulean blue eyes and brushed away his ash blonde bangs that was closer to a shade of chocolate brown.
"Take a seat." he told her and she sat with her arms crossed across her chest.
"What were you doing with the girl Valeth? She didn't seem too happy-" she began with a doubtful frown but he interrupted.
"Come now Anya, I merely informed her about her exam results. Too bad she didn't pass so she was all disappointed"
"What's that?" she asked him, noticing a gadget like device on his table. He took it up and showed it to her.
"It's a locator" he told her, "Mind you, it's not a very good one but it's a start to inventing something big".
"Wow!" she commented and examined it, "You're a genius". He smiled.
"Actually, another man helped me a bit. Someone who kept calling himself the Rose and well, he kept saying things about how he's beautiful and so on".
Anya wondered why any man would be such a …narcissist was the word in her head but dismissed it, "So what makes the head master Valeth call for me?" He laughed at her words.
"Your grandfather has told me, well, it's not supposed to be out yet but I'll let you know any way. You've been made the commander of the Squads A and B of the mercenaries". He paused to see her reaction which was priceless.
"M-me? Are you sure-" she would have continued had Lezard not taken her face in his hands and whispered ever so softly, "Don't underestimate yourself". His bangs brushed against her eyes and a blush crept up her cheeks. Even after weeks of the break up, he still managed to make her feel this way. It was…nice in a way she couldn't describe.
"Valeth" she whispered, removing his hands and straightening up. She felt better this way, the restraint and control made her feel much much better, "Shouldn't I get going now?"
He shrugged, "I was wondering if you were in a celebrating mood today." In other words....was he asking her out? Again?
She pondered on this, "I could keep my schedule free whenever I wanted to. How about seven?".
"We have to go for that practice you decided last week about our little princess" he reminded her, "In the Crawsus forest?"
"No" she said, "Serdberg Mountain ruins". He looked at her questioningly.
"Why there? The place looks like it would crush us anytime".
"Scared, Valeth?" she teased him.
"Of course not. I've got you" he told her, winking behind the spectacles. She smiled and left. Really, the little flirtatious words and tones directed at her still made her feel so girlishly happy. Just a little too much. It was the way he could make a woman feel special. Heh, he was born with it, that infidel bastard.
She headed towards the higher levels where the staff accommodations were to get a change of clothes fast for their special training with the princess. There was hardly an hour left. She changed out of her damned uniform and headed outside taking her light sword along just in case. The moment she was outside the portal of the area, her grandfather, a soldier of the Garnet City who now was the head of the entire City came face to face with her. He looked at her clothes disapprovingly as to why she wasn't dressed a little more formally. But nothing was about to ruin her mood today and she hugged him tightly. Some onlookers muttered darkly about favoritism. With a small kiss on his cheek, she left leaving a slightly irritated but pleased grandfather behind.
Her mother had once comforted her saying that Yulia's apology for not bestowing her with extravagant beauty was to give her brains. Hell, she would rather choose being brainy over the belle any day and was glad for whatever she had made herself into today. A world famous, well almost famous Instructor and now a commander….Even the generals of somewhere around the Rugnican continent had trained under her three years back when they had been here for some kind of visit. Her heart fluttered happily at the thoughts.
The monsters had ambushed them and were everywhere. She cried out as a spectral knight slashed her right arm with its lance. She could hear Alicia and Leone trying to fend off the uncountable vampire bats; Arngrim performed a wrenching swing and proceeded to finish off the knight with a total end. Blood flowing freely she tried to focus on the enemy about to attack her ex, Lezard who was busy muttering a spell making a pearly glowing circle beside him. Anya took a step back and unfortunately into the circle before the spell was over. Lezard stopped abruptly and last thing she remembered was the fear in his blue eyes and she realized she had made him mess up the spell. The dull walls of Serdberg mountain ruins disappeared as a second later darkness pressed upon her forcing her to close her brown eyes. Anastacia fell face forward on the green grassland and passed out.
"Hey thing", Luke shouted out to Mieu who was trotting behind him. "Burn those tree roots", he told the cheagle.
"Yes Master", the blue cheagle replied and spat fire at the rotten tree roots to fell the tree to make way over the water.
"I wouldn't have thought of you to come up with something like that", the ruby eyed Colonel, Jade Curtiss told the seventeen year old red haired boy, his lips curving to a smile.
"You four eyed son of a-"
"Luke", Tear the only female in the party, a brunette scolded him, "Don't forget that he is a Malkuth military officer", she hissed at him.
"Any troubles?", Jade asked from behind the two teenagers.
"N-no, not at all Colonel", Tear replied with an expressionless face. Really, the faster she got the duke's son home, the better. Even though at a first sight he had seemed rather…cute, NO! She wasn't thinking anything of the sort. She was an oracle knight for Yulia's sake. At the moment however, all she had been dealing with was boundless whininess and was more than willing to get away from this. But the arrival of the colonel was…disturbing in a way, a gut feeling anyhow.
"There's someone there", the Fon master Ion, a naïve young boy not more than sixteen suddenly exclaimed.
"What?", Luke asked confused as Jade's lance appeared out of nowhere in his hand.
Mieu scampered forward on his tiny legs, "she's asleep", he told them and they relaxed.
Cautiously, Jade made his way to the fallen figure on the grass with the others following behind. He kneeled down beside the fallen figure, checking for the pulse on her neck that beat feebly.
Anastacia stirred slowly as she heard voices and felt a strong pair of arms under her back. She opened her eyes only to look up to a pair of ruby red eyes framed with glasses.
"You-you have red eyes?", she asked the man in a distracted voice and cursed herself inwardly for the stupidest comment she had ever made. What the hell were you thinking saying that?
Jade stared with his usual impassive face as he helped her to sit up.
"Do you think you can walk? I have my ship waiting nearby.", he informed her, "Or Luke here can carry you-"
"It's alright", Anastacia interrupted blushing at the good looking stranger who looked to be about not more than twenty seven or so, "Really, there's no need for the concern", she told him standing up on weakened legs and wincing slightly at the sight of a trickle of blood on her wrist. She probably had scratched herself in the fall and sure saw a thorny bush closeby.
"So who exactly are you?", Luke asked her before anyone else.
"Anastacia", she answered without giving her last name. If there was something she had taught herself, it was to never give out a real name. Unfortunately, Mr. Red Eyes didn't look convinced but let it go anyway.
"So do we like have to protect you too or what?", Luke asked rudely acknowledging her lack of any weapon and glancing at Ion who looked downcast at the comment.
Glaring at Luke, Tear stepped forward to introduce herself, "I'm Tear.
"And I'm Fon Master Ion", the dark haired girly looking boy introduced himself.
"Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third division of the Malkuth Imperial forces", Jade shook her hand.
"Colonel Curtiss?" she asked in slight disbelief. Was this the Jade Curtiss? What ever were Lady Luck's intentions today? But if he was here…where exactly was she?
She looked at the red head and he grudgingly answered, "Luke, just Luke".
Anya realized that she wasn't the only careful one today.
"Shall we proceed?", Jade asked them.
"To the Cheagle's tree then?", Ion reminded them.
Anya's eyes widened a little.
"Ch-cheagles?", she asked disbelievingly. Sure she did know they were sacred beasts but again, religion wasn't the first thing on her everday list, not that she was an atheist but things like that just didn't seem imporatnt.
"Cheagle. Me", a cute little blue creature with extraordinarily large ears jumped up and answered her, "Hi Anastacia, my name's Mieu". It was so cute, Anya wanted to pull its cheeks but Luke interrupted.
"Shut up already Thing", Luke shouted out to Mieu and kicked the creature…wait was it female or…
"You're all getting to me now", he told them frustrated, "First Ion and now some other helpless girl arrives so I have to-"
"I am not helpless; you don't have to be my knight or anything." she told him with a smile, "I am capable of taking care of myself", Anya added. Luke was just a little immature. That was all. She could deal with this.
"A little girl with no weapon?", Luke scoffed.
"Honestly Luke." she sighed, "I'm a woman", she told him as if he didn't see that.
"Right. I saw that already", he told her after a glance at her chest which wasn't revealed at all but the form-fitting sleeveless white shirt did add a nice effect.
"Hey Red-", she started and then simply decided to leave with a smile she hoped looked creepy and headed off ahead where the Colonel was leading the rest of them.
Out of nowhere a wood golem lunged at Ion who dodged slightly but still fell from the impact. Luke started battling it. 'Havoc strike' Luke shouted and Anya was off in a second to join the fight. She threw a kick at it from behind so that it growled in pain and turned to her instead. It hadn't been a great idea though she realized when she felt the after effects of teh punch. Aiming a roundhouse kick at the pathetic creature she smirked slightly as it hit the golem full in the face. Tear began casting nightmare leaving the monster drowsy and at Jade's cry of 'Prism sword' pink crystalline structures fell from upwards during which everyone took advantage and Anya tried everything she could think of and then resumed their walk to the cheagle's tree with Tear complimenting Anya's skill; Ion thanking her and then explaining about Cheagles being sacred beasts.
Everyone except the Colonel went inside the gigantic tree at which Anya 'oohed' and 'wowed'. For beasts, Anya expected something larger and scarier thinking maybe Mieu was still a new born. Within two minutes they were out walking towards their next destination.
Jade spared the newcomer a few moments' glance. Shoulder-length dark hair curled at the ends framed a face which wasn't to be called beautiful yet it was pretty enough not to be plain. Her attire with gave her an air of care-free spirit. Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Anya turned to look at the Colonel whose name she had heard so , this was one man she was sure anyone in the world would know.
"Thanks a lot for all the 'saving me' and all that but shouldn't you be a little more-" she hesitated, "-cautious?", she asked him, "I could've been an enemy for all you know". She hadn't expected the usual careful colonel; very well known for his punishment methods to be so comfortably travelling with teenagers who weren't handcuffed…Did he have any other intention?
He tilted his head to a side, "You seemed like a civilian to me. Besides, would you rather spend your time here looking for the exit yourself? If so, be my guest", he told her motioning with his gloved hand.
She stared at the man incredulously, "Never mind. Where are we headed to anyway?", she asked him politely trying to keep up the conversation.
"The 'Tartarus', my battleship", he informed her once they reached the exit, "Ah, Anise. Everything okay? What's the status of the Tartarus?", he was talking to another dark haired girl with two large ponies on either side of her head who looked about thirteen.
"Just as you ordered. It's in the front of the forest. You said to hurry so we came as fast as we could", she informed the Colonel with a proud smile.
"As for being the enemy", he turned back to a startled Anya, "we'll see onboard".
Before anyone could say another word, Jade ordered the two knights to arrest Luke, Tear and Anya, "Restrain those two, they are the ones emitting the seventh fonons and take her along", he pointed to Anya.
"Hey!" Luke shouted in protest as two guards held him tightly, "What the hell is this supposed to be?" Anya didn't even speak as she realized that Jade had indeed taken preventive measurements. Serves me right i guess.
"Please don't do anything to hurt them", Ion pleaded the Colonel.
"Not unless they want to resist. Be good now kids", with that they all made their way to 'The Tartarus'.
So, what do ya think?Is this better?I certainly find this are always appreciated, I don't mind criticisms and ways to improve but I'm sure you've got better things to do than flame me.