Disclaimer: I do NOT in any way own this anime nor did I take part in the production of this anime or its franchise.

Prologue –

Beneath the veil of starry sky.

As cold as winter's darkest night.

It's there you'll sleep, silent and deep.

You're all alone.

It was true that above them and amidst the array of stars Shinn and Kira Yamato stood beside each other. They had met after the second bloody war and after the destruction of Messiah. It had been his first words, Shinn's first words that had affected Kira the most, and had been the first thing he said to him in return. Or really replied to. Soon they became quick friends; wanting the same thing only one seemed to be more level-headed than the other. Or in Shinn's case his naive. It would be a lie to say that it was not cold, and Kira himself stood bracing the cold winds and was quite aware of the angry raven haired male beside him. The Asuka boy was neither cold nor chilled for his blood boiled with such a fury that even Kira could feel the heat radiating off the hot-headed teen.

"Why is this happening again?" Shinn whispered. No matter how beautiful the flowers are humans will just wipe them out. The words seemed to be but a whisper, a shadow of the male's previous words. "Why Orb? Why Again?" he asked, and from his despairing tone the brunette was unsure of whether or not he wanted an answer. The other teen hesitated, amethyst eyes turning to the dark-haired male beside him before again he turned to the ocean. It was a nostalgic scene, and it was as if he were standing upon the same spot as he had during the second war.

Someone is crying. Why is it, that again people find themselves feeling despair? Those had been his words during that painted scene. The gentle waves splashed upon the sandy beaches leaving streaked marks of where the water had wet the dry sand and its smooth surface glistened. And reflected upon the cool salty ocean was a mix of warm colors, a distorted imitation of the sunset painted across the sky. "Maybe in a sense, Chairman Durandal had been right," the brunette said though his face clearly held a frown. Shinn looked up then, gazing into the lilac eyes that refused to look at him as Kira was lost in thought. The rhythmic splashing of the waves consumed them for a moment, as if the ruby-eyed teen needed a moment to contemplate and to absorb the words that had been given to him.

"What are you talking about!? The guy was trying to control our futures! He was trying to make us into these little puppets, listen to everything he said so he would be living in his perfect fantasy world!" he exclaimed fully-facing the ultimate coordinator now, his hands clenched into fists and his knuckles white. "And the bastard used me to do that," he spat almost as if an after thought. But instead of launching into any explosion similar to the younger coordinator, Kira turned and shook his head almost sadly.

"They say their sorry and tell you that they'll never do it again. But people forget and make the same mistakes again and again," he whispered his voice seemed to be wavering as he bit his lower lip. He turned back to the ocean sunset and Shinn could see the way his eyes seemed to glitter all the more. And for once, it wasn't just its mesmerizing beauty that did so, but they were the beginning of tears. He'd heard Lacus tell him once that the male refused to let tears fall. And only once was she ever able to make the strong-willed man cry in front of her. Ruby-eyes seemed to fog and blur, that wasn't the right answer. It wasn't the answer Shinn had wanted to hear. Yearned to hear. There was no hope in his voice. But there will always be people to plant the flowers again. Where had that Kira gone? The one who had pushed away his cynical thoughts.

A single prayer's soft melody,

Across the lonely silent fields,

A little light begins to shine.

It shines on and on.

A single gust of wind blew past them ruffling their hair and Kira inhaled the fresh sea breeze. It was strange, that despite the blood shed the smallest of things still made him happy, and that nature would never be stained with blood as humans were. Shinn opened his mouth hesitantly, as if he had lost his voice for a moment. "Are you an idiot?" he asked, turning blood boiling at the idea of him losing hope. Kira turned to him a look of faint surprise. "You're the pilot of the strike freedom. Just because Orb is in a war doesn't mean you have to get all depressed! Idiot," he glared at him. How could he? How could he loose hope so easily because the country with the strongest ideas had suddenly found themselves amidst a war? Because of the countless sacrifices that had been made.

"Sorry…" Kira replied nonchalantly, his tone was flat and his expression unreadable as he spoke. And Shinn only frowned more at his reaction.

"Don't apologize you idiot! What the hell is wrong with you these days anyway!?" Shinn exclaimed angrily, glaring with such distaste at the ultimate coordinator though he seemed to take no notice of him as he did not cringe nor look at him. The brunette remained silent, an attitude that irritated him further as slowly, bright lights soared through the skies and landed upon the Earth. Each one erupting into such an amazing display that Shinn found it hard to turn away. The screams were silenced over the large explosions and Shinn cringed at the though of more people dying. And in Orb of all places. "We have to get to a shelter! Hurry!" he exclaimed and he pulled the tanned hand of Kira Yamato before the man blinked and began to run beside him. In the distance they could almost feel the cries of agony that came from those who became victims of the attack. A blonde girl twirled upon the cliffs, a serene smile upon her before she drifted off to heaven into the deepest of seas. A confused and distraught Allster, who fell in love was kidnapped and before being reunited with her man was killed just as she was about to reach safety. A young brunette smiling as she exclaimed the name of her older brother. A father and idealist of the great nation of Orb, sacrificing himself for the safety of his adopted daughter. A brunette who had flown onto the Fly Grasper to save his friend when he knew he could do little and died to save his vest friend. A green-haired pianist, gentle and kind in nature, sacrificing himself for the hope of a better tomorrow. All their past memories and loved ones flashed through their minds in the mere seconds. Everyone whom they had known and loved. Who had died right before their eyes, their memories seemed to continue to haunt their minds. And they knew that even if no one had even said they had to fight, that they would. To protect. They would stop them from killing.

I watched you as you so peacefully dreamed,

You laughed like a child happy and carefree,

It's so familiar and yet so far.

That's the future that's promised for you and me.

It was like a nightmare come to life. For him, for Kira, for Cagalli. For everyone. What we want to do. What you can do. And what you've got to do. They were brave words to say and Kira had once believed and followed those morals. But what if Orb plunged into darkness after its first war? Would he be able to take it down? Have the heart to destroy his sister's country? They ran into the shelters that were just below their orphanage. It was a shame that they had finally been given a break from the military, to relax and think courtesy of his sister. The inside was cold and bare. Though children sat all around them as the ground and roof shook. Lacus Clyne sat there and looked up at Kira, offering up a reassuring smile. Her pink hair tumbling over her shoulders and gray eyes softened as she watched the man she was infatuated with walk into the shelter before sitting. He seemed distressed and she turned to Shinn who only shrugged.

The children whimpered; the same children who had been so happy to play on the sandy beach had tears streaming down their faces. The second time. It was the second time they had witnessed such inhumane acts of cruelty. And this time, Lacus sang the same soothing song as her voice crept softly above the sound of the explosions. As Orb was hit with whatever the Earth Forces had thrown at them. They were lucky they were not Nukes. Kira frowned as a young child huddled up closer to him. Bringing and arm around the younger child it was Shinn who suddenly got up in an angry outburst.

"Why the hell are we just sitting around here!?" he exclaimed angrily watching them as they sat eyes and expressions sorrowful. Except Kira, it was always except Kira. Kira's face was unreadable. He could recall the songstress having once told him that Kira had long since lost his sense of humor after the war. Lost his innocence and it seemed that he was slowly losing hope. Three wars in a lifetime that was definitely a difficult thing to live through. "They've sent ships here, mobile suits! We have our own! Why the hell aren't you fighting!?" he exclaimed angrily, hands clenched into angry fists as he glared at the teen before him.

At that moment it seemed everyone turned their distraught gaze upon him. Everyone except Kira.

One day on a green and shining mourn,

One day we will finally make it through.

Cause in this night, so dark with winter,

We still have to believe that it's true…

Hope is a frail thing. The small light at the end of a tunnel, it was something everyone wished to have, someone could gather strength from. But could that strength disappear? Could someone lose hope, after too much blood is shed? Too many loved ones lost? And too many people killed by your own hands? "Kira…?" the silken voice was distressed as the Queen spoke. Brows furrowed. The songstress had a great effect on the male, the reason as to why Durandal had once nicknamed her so. She did not want him to fight, knew that the past terrors of hurting and killing others continued to haunt the teen though she also knew that it was not like him. To be so unwilling to protect whom he cared for.

"So, is that it? You've given up?" Shinn spat ruby eyes narrowing in such a way that it could easily be mistaken for actual hatred. But Shinn was always like that so it was always difficult to tell. "You won't act if it's against an Atha is it? Well you won't be able to protect anything like that. You'll only realize it when everything you have… Is gone." Memories pictures, everything seemed to whir through his mind. The experiments Dr. Hibiki, his father was gone. His real family and his old friends. They had suffered because of what he was. And then Rau Le Creuset. 'You should have never have been allowed to exist boy!' came the scornful and hating words of the cynical clone. Kira shook his head slowly.

"Shut up!" he snapped eyes glaring before he blinked and turned around eyes closing as he held his head between his hands.

"Fight to protect Orb! You have to!" Shinn exclaimed pulling one hand from his head so he was forced to look at him.

"If I fight again… What will be left of the future? After so many have died, I can't… I," Kira murmured unsure of himself. He did not want to fight; he had no desire to fight. And he knew now, that no one would make him fight.

Field of Hope

A/N: Well, yays! I got a new fan fiction up. I think Kira was a bit OC with his depressed attitude but I think Lacus was pretty in character. I sued the Song Fields Of Hope sung by Jillian Michaels in the English Dub Series of Gundam Seed. Since of course it would make much more sense. If you're wondering about the whole Orb thing that'll be revealed in chapter one! ^^ I'll try to update soon, especially my Crackified Pairings collection. And I have half of the next Full Metal Alchemist Fan Fiction Typed up. Sorry for the long wait guys! It'll be up soon! I hope! Ah yes, and thanks for reading, comments and constructive criticism are loved! NO angry ness please because that makes me sad ):