For others, her life thus far could be summed up simply. To the public eye, it was war. Raging, endless, seemingly static conflict that brought the now accustomed feelings of suffering and pain. In her eyes, it was far from simple. Facets of experiences, mixed emotions, and timeless, forged friendships. Each sparkled more than the last within her youthful, cheery mind. It was these dots of happiness, even on a war front, that held back the tempting darkness of a pacing beast. So whenever she received looks, heard snippets of conversation, saw curious, delighted or resentful faces, she felt able to still know a surging rush of confidence.
"Oiii! Lucchini!"
This just happened to be another one of those moments that reinforced her hope.
"Shirley!"
Orange hair and blue eyes flashed quickly before crashing into Lucchini, securing her in a tight hug long in waiting. Pulling back after a moment, the two stared at each other with beaming smiles as Lucchini asked,
"How've you been! It's been way too long!"
Shirley smirked.
"Broke a few more speed records, easy as pie. I was lonely without you guys though. Europe was all I could think about, even if there were some good times in Liberion too."
"Heheh, same here! But I think I've got my squad under control, well at least before Commander Minna gave us all a ring again for old times sake."
Shirley's eyes widened.
"You're leading a whole squad now? You've definitely been movin on up eh Lucchini?!"
She proudly stuck out her chest, making Shirley gasp yet again as Lucchini replied,
"Yeah! It was a bit nerve racking at first, but then-"
"Holy crap! This...this can't be real. You have...boobs..."
Shirley stepped back dramatically. A gasp left her as Lucchini stared, smiling.
"Well duh! I'm almost as big as you now!"
Burying her face in her hands, Shirley mumbled barely comprehensible phrases like, "I can't believe this." and "She's all grown up.", much to Lucchini's confusion as she saw another figure approach them.
"Barkhorn?!"
Eyes widening as she took in the sight of her former Captain and comrade, Lucchini felt her mouth hang open slightly. Before her stood a woman with happily glowing eyes, full of affection as she glanced towards the crippled Shirley. She blushed lightly as she addressed the speed freak.
"Now now Shirley, it's to be expected, time has passed after all."
"I know but it's still so weird!" Shirley whined.
Barkhorn patted her back gently in comfort.
"Are...Are you really Barkhorn?!"
Brown eyes met her's, a raised brow accompanying them.
"What do you mean, Lucchini? Of course I am. Well, I no longer fight on the front but even so."
Pointing a stubborn finger at Barkhorn's chest, Lucchini demanded a proper answer from her old friend.
"As if! Since when have you been super close to Shirley? You even called her by her nickname just now!"
Keeping her cool, another small change that Lucchini burned into her memory, Barkhorn simply answered,
"Our relationship has, changed, much over the years."
Lucchini's eyes widened, dumbfounded.
"Huh? What is she talking about, Shirley?!"
Shirley shot up straight quickly. Her face burned scarlet but her words honest.
"We've been dating, Lucchini."
Chills ran up her spine as goosebumps raised on her skin. The words hit like bombs, dropping one after the other as she stood there frozen. A hand was waved in front of her face.
"Um, Lucchini? Lucchini? Hey are you alright?"
No response met playful, light blue eyes not too far from Shirley's own. Blonde hair fashioned shortly blew in the wind as the newcomer turned to ask the other two,
"What's going on with Lucchini here? She's not responding to anything. Did I miss something?"
Shyly scratching the back of her head, Shirley replied.
"Eh, it's nothing Hartmann. I just told her about Trude and I, then she went like this all of a sudden."
Warm laughter rang through the air.
"Well what'd ya know? I guess even Lucchini couldn't believe it."
Hartmann grinned as Barkhorn looped an arm through Shirley's gently.
"She really has grown though. I was surprised to see her like this when we got here."
Barkhorn's statement made Shirley nod in agreement.
"Yeah, she's not my little friend anymore."
Lucchini still remained unmoving, until a swift pair of hands grabbed at her chest from behind.
"Heheh! Looks like you're finally game for our old measuring contest Lucchini!"
She turned her head slowly to find a mischievous smirk glaring at her. A soft voice spoke up, almost as if fading away, yet reassuring and firm.
"Eila, you shouldn''t grab people like that. It's rude."
Snapping her head in a flash of sliver blonde tendrils, Eila winced as she saw her girlfriend staring at her.
"S-Sanya! This isn't what it looks like!"
She dropped her hands away from Lucchini's breasts, crossing her arms and tossing her head back dramatically.
"It's just how we greet!"
Pouted lips appearing made Eila cringe in shame. Sanya spoke again,
"But, I thought you only wanted to do that to me..."
Steaming red, Eila hugged Sanya, shouting ceaseless requests for her forgiveness, making Lucchini finally laugh as she watched them.
"That's something that hasn't changed for sure!"
She then sauntered up to the pair of them and whispered,
"Did you guys know that Shirley's dating Barkhorn?"
Eila stopped pleading as she and Sanya nodded in unison.
"Well yeah, they told us a little while ago. I'm surprised you weren't the first to know." Eila stated matter-of-a-factly.
Lucchini froze again. Though this time she soon snapped out of it and ran up to Shirley, who had been busy cuddling with Barkhorn as Hartmann scanned the skies nearby.
"Shirley! How come you never sent me a letter about you and Barkhorn?"
Her friend broke away from her lover, confusion clouding her face while Barkhorn frowned slightly.
"I did! You must not have gotten it in the mail. I guess it's understandable if you're base is in a critical area. But I did make sure to tell you Lucchini. We're friends!"
Slapping a palm to her forehead, Lucchini sighed.
"Damnnit, I knew one of the girls must have misplaced the deliveries again. No wonder I can't get news of anything these days. It's a miracle I'm even here now! Though the Commander did make a smart move by calling."
Hartmann's cheery voice cried out as the roar of an engine drew closer to them.
"Guys, look up! It's Perrine!"
"Flat chest is here?" Lucchini called out.
A set of darkly camouflaged Striker Units sped over their heads in seconds, it's engines grumbling as they slowly lost speed. Hitting the hard pavement of the runway below, the Strikers gradually came to a full stop, their pilot brushing windswept, golden hair casually with a hand before dismounting.
"I heard that, you groping troublemaker! Still up to your old ways? I swear you haven't changed from what it seems."
Perrine strode over to Lucchini, eyes running up and down her new body with a hint of jealousy as she passed over the other's formed chest.
"Neither have you, four eyed board!"
Perrine lit up with embarrassment and rage, shaking her fist and speaking hurriedly, growing louder until each sentence was almost a shout.
"Listen here you! Having a big set of, those, is not all that matters in life! I, Perrine H. Clostermann of the high Gallia nobility, have founded an orphanage for those abandoned by our war! Take that for an accomplishment!"
The last they had met was after freeing Karlsland, shortly after Yoshika Miyafuji's reawakening to magic. As such, Perrine hardly expected Lucchini to let up her teasing in the slightest. What reality showed her was an unexpected turn of events.
"Sorry Perrine. I guess that joke is pretty old. And you're right about there being more to life, I'm glad to hear you're helping kids now!"
Lucchini had scratched and lowered her head in embarrassment, finally finishing the sentence with a smile and thumbs up. Perrine's eyes widened behind her wire framed spectacles. She examined Lucchini more closely, peering at her from different angles before asking,
"Who are you and what have you done with the Ensign?"
Laughing brightly, Lucchini pointed another proud thumb at her chest.
"Nothing! It's still me, the great Francesca Lucchini here!"
"I-I can't believe this..."
"Believe what, Perrine-san?"
Startled by yet another old voice, the two of them shifted eyes to find more familiar faces.
"Yoshika! Lynette!"
Running up to them, Lucchini hugged the two briefly until she saw Perrine walk up beside her. Her lenses shone white with sunlight as she pushed them up further with a hand. Eyes once again peering carefully.
"Eh, what is it? Perrine-san?"
Yoshika's now chest length brown hair was ruffled by Lynette hugging her left arm close. Lucchini noticed that she no longer wore a braid, pale blonde hair free falling down her shoulders.
"Are you about to make fun of her, Perrine?"
The strength in that voice made both Lucchini and Perrine's eyes widen in shock. Lynette Bishop getting defensive so readily? What the hell was going on?
"No, not at all! I was just trying to see if there were any other changes I was uninformed of."
Perrine turned her back on the confused pair sharply, a hand under her chin in thought.
"What does this mean?" She mumbled under her breath.
"It's the change of the times, Perrine! Ha ha ha!"
"No way?! The Major's here too?"
Lucchini's outcry made Perrine snap out of her trance. Long black hair flowed gracefully down from where it once held in a combat ready ponytail. Grey eyes softened by wisdom away from the front met Perrine's, with cheery greeting.
"Major Sakamoto!"
She lifted a swift salute, no longer fawning or stuttering as she once did around this superior. Lucchini did a double take of the scene, looking over to find Shirley also spellbound by how out of character this was.
"Put that hand down Perrine. Since when have we of the 501st been so ridged?"
"Right. I apologize-"
"Sakamoto-san!"
"Ah, Miyafuji! And Lynette? What a surprise!"
The ex-major welcomed the kind embraces of her former students. Lucchini waited eagerly for a reaction, some kind of rise out of Perrine. Instead she found a smile gracing those lips, and she was practically floored on the spot.
"What is going on here?"
"A gathering of old friends and comrades."
She knew the motherly tone of that voice.
"Commander?!"
A gentle grin met her eyes with long red hair to match.
"Long time no see, Ensign Lucchini."
Shifting the papers on her clipboard, Minna scanned her eyes down and up again.
"Or should I say Flight Lieutenant and Platoon Commander Francesca Lucchini? You've done well for yourself in the military. And to think this is the same girl who only slept and teased the others most of her days!"
A soft chuckle left Minna, but Lucchini could feel the hint of pride in it. She smiled. Clapping her hands together, Minna took a breath before projecting her voice.
"Everyone! As you all know, we're here today for a reunion. However I would also like to make a second announcement."
Shifting around the clipboard again, Minna pulled away a single piece of paper. Holding it out in front of her, she read it aloud.
"Under orders from General of the Air Fleet, Adolfine Galland, I hereby reinstate the 501st Joint Fighter Wing or Strike Witches, for the purpose of training elite witches, sentry and surveying over the surrounding area, Strategical Council from our best aces, former witches or otherwise, and defense against Neuroi to be carried out by the remaining combat ready aces of said Wing. That is all."
With a salute, Minna beamed at them.
"Welcome back everyone!"