Timeless smiles

The duster lightly skimmed the surface of the wooden bed stand, catching the dust in its feathers and flicking the remainder to the ground. The silver-haired woman carefully brushed the dust off from around the wooden photo frame that had stood on the bed stand for a decade. The young woman's eyes lingered at the photo displayed in the frame and stopped, delicately setting down her feather duster. She picked it up, her slender fingers tracing the frame, leaving a trail where her fingers had caught the thin layer of dust that had collected over time. She had not taken notice of the photo for a while now; she had been terribly busy since she became a top agent in the Militia. The second of the Prophecies of Fatima had been causing the order great grief. The second war was indeed worse than the first - just as the Virgin Mary had foretold. Where was God when they needed Him the most?

She gazed at the photo, four faces, including her own smiled back at her. It was amazing how the pure happiness of the moment had been able to be captured on the single piece of paper. The carnival, where they had danced, played and laughed. The music and the laughter from that night still played so clearly in her mind. The area had been filled with light, even though the night was so dark. Their worlds had been filled with so much uncertainty, so much evil, and yet for that one night, they had been able to set that aside and enjoy themselves. It was truly their last moment of bliss together before the end. Satella…. Chrono and Rosette...

They had done everything, and it seemed that in their time of need she could do nothing. They had led her out of the darkness, only to be overcome by death themselves. Again the people around her that she had most cherished and loved were…It was too late now…

Gently touching the blank clock that hung around her neck, she wondered when she too, would just become the smiling face in the photo. A single tear dropped onto the glass, pushing through the thin dust that covered it and leaving a trail down the delicate glass.

Rosette, she is only sixteen – she was only sixteen. She will only ever be sixteen…

"Sister Azmaria! Sister Kate has requested your presence!" The voice woke her from her memories and thoughts.

"…Yes, I'm coming" she softly replied

The young woman wiped her eye and set the frame gently down, taking one last glance at it. The photo would last through the ages, and yet, they hadn't. She bit her quivering lip to stop herself from bursting into tears, as the waves of emotion from a decade ago passed over her again. They would never laugh, or cry, or love ever again. For eternity, never aging, they would smile. Even if the world around them fell apart. Even if everyone around them was suffering or in pain. They would keep on smiling, forever.

I finished watching Chrono Crusade not long ago, and absolutely loved it. Well I hope you enjoyed it, and reviews are appreciated!

I'd like to thank my beta, Adelle.