Fun fact: the fear and hatred Light-of-Mana users feel towards Norma is partially a result of the Light of Mana itself, tainting their thoughts. The psionic energies of an 'Awakened' Norma (and by Protoss) can nullify this influence within a certain radius. So, if somebody isn't completely rock-solid in their hate (as, unfortunately, many many people in this world are, especially adults), it can let them think a little clearer than 'normal'…

Also, I'd like to state my headcanon, which this fic operates on: the 'World of Mana' only really has any people on one continent, around mainland Europe's size or a little smaller, with the rest of the world damn near uninhabited; the five kingdoms/nations are all on that continent, with Arzenal Island being a ways offshore from the Kingdom of Rosenblum.

Now, let's see how good a student Angelise was in Prof. Artanis' "Empowering/Intimidating Public Speeches 101"…

SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS

PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES

-CHAPTER START-

Realm CA-R8

The quiet serenity of the countryside was disturbed by a D79 'Pelican' VTOL dropship, flying in low and stopping to hover about 5 feet off the ground. The rear hatch opened, and an M274 'Mongoose' All-Terrain Vehicle was rolled out, bouncing once as its tires hit the ground. Hildegard jumped out next, wearing a simple pale-pink dress given to her by Arika as a gift, along with a pair of armguards/gauntlets – one dull-gold with a circular green gem set into it, the other a faded silver with a red gem; she mounted the Mongoose, and then turned to look as Angelise & Momoka disembarked the dropship. Ange wore a suit of light armor in dull-blue and grey with bits of dull-red, with a pair of armguard/gauntlets, one in white & gold with blue lines and the other dark grey & black with red, and was carrying a UNSC M395 Designated Marksman Rifle, with a Sangheili T55 Storm Rifle slung across her back, and a pouch on her hip holding a few kunai and three M9 frag grenades; Momoka wore a modified version of her maid uniform, with some light armor plating, a Kig-Yar shield gauntlet on her left arm, her right arm with a white/gold & blue gauntlet similar to Angelise's, and a T25 plasma pistol affixed to her right hip. Still inside the Pelican, Misty sat and watched as her new friends prepared to go off on their respective missions, while the dropship would take her 'home' and drop her off there.

As they were about to head out, suddenly a strange aircraft in black & red flew in, slowing to a stop and hovering down. It looked like a paramail or something similar, and as the pilot removed his helmet to show a rather surprised expression, Angelise's eyes widened.

"Tusk?-! What are you doing here? …Is that a paramail?-!"

"Ange?-!" the youth known only as 'Tusk' said with similar surprise. "What's all this?"

"It's a long story – I mean a really long one. But I don't really have time to explain right now; we have to get moving!"

"So this is the boy from those memories of hers I saw…" Hildegard murmured, remembering her blonde friend's rather… awkward (and funny) experiences on that island.

"Ange, if you're planning to do what I think you are, it's too dangerous!"

"I'll be fine; this armor's energy-shielded, and if things go pear-shaped it has a teleport module built in."

"A… A teleport module?"

"We can explain everything in more detail while the 'princess' goes off to be a hero, kid" the marine Corporal standing by the exit of the Pelican's open hatch said. "Before you say anything, don't worry; we're on the Normas' side!" He hit a button, and magnetic clamps unfolded from the underside of the Pelican's tail section, behind the troop compartment. "Hook your ride up and hop in, kid; we'll give ya a lift! We'll get the bosses on the holo, and they'll explain everything to ya!"

"…Can it even carry this thing?"

"It can carry a 10-meter long, 66-ton tank; you're fine!"

Soon, Tusk's hovercraft was hooked up, and he jumped into the troop bay of the Pelican. After waving goodbye to the girls outside, the Corporal turned toward the cockpit. "We're all good, Sam! Seal 'er up and let's get movin'!"

The pilot looked back, giving a thumbs-up, and the Pelican began to fly away, its hatch closing, aimed to ferry Misty back to the Kingdom of Rosenblum while the Corporal set Tusk up for explanations. Hildegard started up the Mongoose, hearing the motor rumble.

"Good luck, Ange" she said.

"You too, Hilda. Be safe."

The redhead grinned, and then off she went, speeding down the road. Angelise turned to her loyal friend, who nodded, and the two of them started down the other road, toward her old kingdom.

-Break-

Later

Moving quietly and carefully through the building, toward where they remembered the hover-bike garage being, Ange led with her Storm Rifle at the ready (the DMR was not so good in these close quarters, if a fight did somehow break out), with Momoka close behind with plasma pistol out in one hand. As they drew close to the door to the garage, however, they heard soft noises from within; someone was in there.

Silently motioning Momoka to stay back, Angelise raised her right arm up. With a brief extension of her will, the gauntlet on that arm came alive, and a blade of brilliant blue psionic energy emerged. Holding her Khalai-style psi-blade at the ready, she cautiously stepped into the garage room, looking around. Inside was a lone girl, around her age, holding a Light of Mana lantern. Recognizing her, Ange relaxed a little.

"Akiho…" she spoke, a nowadays-rare softness to her tone.

"A… Angelise-sama?-!" The other girl looked frightened… which changed to astonished confusion as she saw Ange's psi-blade. "W-What is that? How… How are you using the Light of Mana… and why is it blue?"

"I'm not using the Light of Mana" Ange dispelled her psi-blade. "It's something else – something fundamentally different. A new power… A lot has happened to me; you wouldn't believe half of it if I told you. Und lara khar, Akiho; I mean you no harm."

She took a step forward, but then stopped as Akiho took a matching step back. Angelise sighed; Artanis had warned her that this might happen. Fortunately, he'd also suggested what she could say.

"You're afraid of me just because I'm a Norma," she said, "because of what society has told you we're like. Let me ask you something, Akiho, and I want you to actually think about it: have you ever actually been the victim of violence from a Norma, or even witnessed such a thing being committed?"

Akiho opened her mouth to respond… and stopped; she couldn't think of anything.

"I've been a Norma all my life; I just didn't know it until recently. If Norma are inherently violent and cruel… then wouldn't I have acted that way toward you, even if I didn't know that's what I was? Would I have called you my friend, treated you with the respect and kindness I did, been anything like what I was, who you knew me as?"

She watched as Akiho's eyes widened, the other girl's thoughts in a flurry, as prejudice went up against one of its mightiest foes: logic. The girl was silent for a long time, before finally, quietly, she responded, her voice filled with shocked realization:

"…No… Y-You're… You're right… All these years… y-you were a Norma all along, even if you didn't know it, but… you never…Oh God… W… What was I… "

Akiho's legs slid out from under her, sending her to the floor. Ange walked up, kneeling down in front of her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, into the same warm eyes and little smile she'd known for years. "Angelise-sama… How did all of this happen? How did events lead to all of this?"

"I intend to find that out, someday. But for now, I have something very important to do. I came here because Sylvia sent a distress call to me & Momoka. We came back to save her."

"…Sylvia-sama's in trouble?"

"Apparently."

"…What is… this 'new power' you have, anyway?"

"There is a psionic link, and a set of potent powers & abilities that comes with it, shared by everyone on this world. Those with the 'Light of Mana' can't access it, though; the energy interferes with it."

"There's something inherently wrong with the Light of Mana" Momoka spoke up. "Angelise-sama and I… we've discovered something big."

"True mana" Ange said. She held her hands together, and Akiho stared in awe as a spark of golden-yellow energy grew there. "True mana is generated from the planet, naturally drawn to and pulled into a person's body and 'soul', shaped by their life-force. The so-called 'Light of Mana' is a diluted corruption – a 'pale shadow', my teachers called it. Normas' bodies, our essences, are strong enough to reject it the same way white blood cells would fight against a pathogen, but we can still manipulate 'pure' mana the way it's supposed to be, drawn from the world itself."

"And if you're wondering," Momoka said, "it is possible for someone to be purged of the False Light, as our teachers called it, and learn true-mana manipulation."

Momoka called up her own 'true' mana, a deep blue color. Comparing what she felt from these two with what she was used to, Akiho couldn't help but deny that their mana felt… cleaner, purer, stronger, and more… more like it was uniquely theirs.

"It… It's not green…" she murmured, in a slight daze.

"True mana comes in all sorts of colors, depending on whose it is" Momoka said. "Some people have blue, or golden-yellow, or green, teal, red, white, orange, purple, silver, this one little girl Vivio has rainbow-colored…"

"We've even seen a few people whose mana is bright pink…" Angelise's smile turned to an amused smirk. "Including at least one boy… Poor kid…"

"Though, for whatever reason," Momoka murmured, thinking aloud, "it doesn't seem to be possible for a human to have a mana-color outside the human visual spectrum… I wonder if aliens with different visual ranges could have mana-colors invisible to us…?"

"We have to get going now, Akiho. You gonna be okay?"

The other girl nodded, still a bit in shock. The two 'visitors' turned to the Light of Mana-powered hoverbikes, ready to pull one out. Suddenly, Momoka's Omnitool (another little gift from the DDF) beeped. She brought it up, her eyes widening as she read the message.

"Angelise-sama," she said, "something's been sent for us. It's waiting to be warped in."

After opening the garage door, Ange had Momoka call it in. A revolving 'pillar' of bluish-white light accompanied a Protoss-style teleportation. It faded to reveal a purple-armored craft, with a large seat and a pair of plasma cannons sticking out the front. Angelise recognized the type of vehicle she'd trained a little with during her time with the DDF:

"A Ghost?"

Walking over, she climbed into the seat of the Sangheili T32 Rapid Assault Vehicle, and then scooted forward to let Momoka squeeze into the seat behind her. She started it up, a quiet, mid-high-pitched whirring hum accompanying the craft floating about a foot off the ground on a wavering, finely-tuned purple-hued 'cushion' of antigravity. Gripping the controls, she pushed the throttle, and the Ghost zoomed off into the night, leaving a still-shocked Akiho in its wake.

"I think I need to lie down…" the girl mumbled.

-Break-

To say Hildegard's long-awaited reuniting was going poorly would be a gross understatement. She'd been replaced, and now every word her mother said broke her heart even more. Now, as the woman actually called her a monster, and the little girl that was her little sister / replacement responded by panickedly forming a Light-of-Mana barrier, Hildegard instinctively responded with her own psi-barrier, a deeper hue of green with moving 'patches' of red. Little Hilda and their mother gasped in shock at the sight of it, as the two barriers pressed against each other; rather than shattering outright, the child's mana-barrier was being slowly eroded on contact.

"N… Norma can't… use barriers…" their mother murmured, deeply shocked and confused.

"W-Why… is it like this…?" Hildegard murmured, a tremble and hitch in her voice. Then she looked up at them, heartbroken desperation on her face and tears in her eyes (which bore a slight glow – red in one, green the other). "What did I ever do?-! What did any of us ever do?-! …Have you ever seen or heard of a Norma actually doing any of the horrible things they say about us?-! You know someone all their life, they're kind or righteous or caring, and then when you – and they – find out they're a Norma, all of a sudden they magically become monsters?-! It's all a giant lie! We never wanted to hurt anybody until they all started treating us like shit! We'd never done anything to you people! How… H-How could you buy into all of that propaganda, the stories, the lies, when we'd done nothing to deserve it?-! What happened to the mother I knew?-! Who taught you how to hate?-!"

As she tearfully ranted, Hildegard didn't quite notice the look of dawning horror on her little sister's face, gears turning in the 10-year-old's mind…

"I spent 11 years in that Hell, I fought and bled, I sold myself, and the only thing on my mind, the only thing that kept me going, was getting out, coming back to you, coming home! And after all this time, everything I suffered through, I come home to… this?-! I… I survived this long… because I wanted to come back to you, mama… to my home, my family! But I… I… I don't have a family! I don't have a home! W… Was it all really… that meaningless? Does being born without that stupid 'Light' really make me that awful? …Is this world… really that rotten…?"

Before either of the other two could respond, Hildegard let out a choked sob. She moved forward, and a whorl of black 'smoke' accompanied her Void-Jump, appearing a few meters behind them and running away; they turned to see her reappear from the black 'mist' that rapidly faded out, running as fast as she could down the paved walkway, out through the gate, down the sidewalk, away…

Watching the other girl flee, remembering the pain in her voice and expression, confused, her thoughts churning from what she'd heard, what she'd pieced together, what Hildegard's words had set spinning in her mind… little Hilda made a decision. She had to talk to her. She had to know. Her mother's startled shout rang out as the 10-year-old took off running, following her older sister…

-Break-

Betrayed. Betrayed by her former people, the citizens of the Misurugi Empire, whose shallow thoughts of close-minded, toxic hatred had assailed her psionic senses since the moment she set foot in the nation's borders. Betrayed by her older brother, who seemed gleeful at the chance to torment her, who'd exposed her in the first place. …Betrayed by Sylvia, her baby sister, the innocent little girl she'd always looked after, whom she'd risked so much to save.

Slowly, constantly building up ever since she returned, Angelise's bottled-up emotions reached a breaking point, and burst free with explosive force.

'Disgusting ungrateful sub-human beasts!'

The blonde let out a fierce cry that echoed telepathically, and 'Emperor' Julio & his soldiers cried out as they were sent flying back by a powerful psionic shockwave that obliterated the net that had been holding her & Momoka. Sylvia screamed as the shockwave knocked her mana-powered hover-chair over, sending her sprawling to the ground. Then, they all stared in shock and fear as they witnessed firsthand the fury of a Templar/Ascendant – Ange's eyes glowed brightly, left blue and right red, sparks of red & blue energy coursing around her as she floated an inch or so off the ground. Two soldiers tried to fire at her, but their bullets were deflected by a powerful barrier. She pointed her hand at them, and a torrent of crimson psionic lightning lanced out. The men's mana-barriers shattered like cheap glass, as the violent energies rapidly cooked them from the inside out, leaving them to fall over dead and smoking.

"I have had enough!-!" her telepathy-boosted voice filled the courtyard, the pure power in it bringing the people around to their knees. "I put myself through Hell, and this is what I'm faced with?-! Traitors! Vermin!-!"

Feeling like she was in the presence of an angry goddess, Sylvia trembled as she tried to crawl away backward. She squeaked and froze as her enraged sister's glowing gaze fell upon her, and the older girl bared her teeth.

"Even in the grips of terror, you're still a lazy brat" she snarled. "I spoke with the imperial doctors; your nerves are fully healed! You should be able to walk, but instead you're so lazy, so bent on getting everyone else to do everything for you, that you convince yourself you're still the same helpless child you want everyone to see you as!"

She then turned to look at Julio, who was visibly trying to control his fear in the face of her mysterious and potent new power. Faster than he could react, she flash-stepped forward, grabbing the top half of his face in her palm, and his eyes went wide as she used her power to delve into his mind, seeking the reasons why he had done all this… and finding them. As she was telepathically transmitting her emotions, everyone around could feel her sudden shock… which quickly turned into disgust and hate and burning rage.

"You… YOU…!-!-!"

Another pulse of power sent the 'Emperor' staggering back, as Angelise's aura now surged more violently, more red to it than blue now.

"You planned it all?-! You plotted and schemed for months, to expose and humiliate me, to twist Sylvia, to murder Mother and Father, just so you could crown yourself Emperor?-!"

"I… You…"

"Demon!-! Murderer!-!"

She then psychically projected the things she's read from his mind – the lust for power, the disgust and hatred toward Norma, to the point of wanting to exterminate them, the seething resentment and hatred of not just her, but his entire family, seeing them as pawns and obstacles, the vicious manipulative self-centeredness, inability to care for anyone but himself… The surrounding soldiers were stunned by the… evil that nested deep in their Emperor's soul… but their shock was nothing compared to Sylvia's. The 12-year-old was completely and utterly horrified, numbly shaking her head, eyes wide and pupils shrunken; her onii-sama – a bloodthirsty sociopath –had conspired for the throne, used her and everyone around him as tools, turned her against onée-sama, murdered their parents so he could become Emperor and work towards his goal of genocide against the Norma…

'H-How… How could he… What… Onée…sama…What have I done?-!'

As Angeline's fury seethed within her, Momoka gasped as she looked at her princess' arms. "Angelise-sama!" she cried out, grabbing hold of the other girl. "Stop, please! You can't use that power right now! In your current emotional state, it's far too dangerous!"

Momoka's pleas brought Ange back to her senses, at least partially. The maelstrom of psionic energy surrounding her stabilized and lessened, though did not fade out completely, as the glow of her eyes dimmed. Still, she glared hatefully at the people before her, including her former family…

"I sense it…" she murmured. "Hilda is hurting. She needs help…" She then spoke up. "This isn't over" she warned. "There will be a reckoning…"

Then, the locals watched in awe as a whirling blue light enveloped Angelise & Momoka, and the Ghost speeder they'd ridden in on, teleporting them out.

-Break-

As the rain began to very lightly sprinkle from the dark clouds above, Hildegard stopped her slow, distracted walk along the deserted suburban street. Four Light-of-Mana-using police officers surrounded her, guns and batons drawn; their scanners could detect the lack of the False Light in her.

"…Leave me alone" she murmured, a near-dead tone to her voice. "I've already lost everything that mattered to me."

"As if anything could 'matter' to a Norma" one of the men said with callous disgust.

"You need to remember your place, sub-human trash" another snarled.

With her head hanging low, Hildegard twitched. "…The ones who aren't human…"

The four officers were startled as a few motes of red and green light began to slowly sparkle around her body.

"The ones… who aren't human…"

And then, with her emotions being 'projected', they felt as something in her snapped, as she looked up with a grieving, furious expression and eyes that glowed brilliantly red & green.

"ARE YOU!-!-!"

The four men were sent stumbling back by a surge of intense power, a wavering aura of mixing green and red energies around the girl. With twin flashes of light and characteristic sound, from her gauntlets formed two long, thin blades of focused, superheated psionic energy – green from the left arm's, red from the right's. She lunged forward, and one officer – the one whose insult had set her off – let out a cry of shocked pain as her crimson psi-blade pierced through the center of his chest, accompanied by the sizzle of searing, burning flesh. She then swung the blade upward, slicing the man's upper chest, neck, and head in half and letting the partially-bisected body topple over.

The three remaining officer-thugs panicked; one drew his pistol, opening fire. Hildegard held out her left arm, forming a green & red psionic barrier that deflected the shots. Then, she thrusted her right arm at him, unleashing a Psionic Push that slammed him into the brick wall behind him, snapping his neck and dealing other fatal damage as well. The third rushed her, but she blasted him with green-tinted lightning; psionic and Void energies tore through his body, killing him in short order. The final officer/thug panicked and tried to fire, but a swing of her emerald psi-blade sliced the barrel off of his pistol, the surprise making him fall backward. She pounced, pinning him to the ground.

"D-Don't touch me, you freak!" Officer Racist shouted.

In response, Hildegard dispelled her psi-blades, and now her fists glowed with charged power. She shouted as she brought one down with bone-crunching force into his face, and then pulled back and struck again with the other. As she kept hammering down with psionically-strengthened punches, she cried out with each one, her voice steadily growing rougher as tears started to fall from her still-glowing eyes. Unconsciously, she was telepathically projecting out her emotions, her memories, the state of her wounded soul, for anyone in range to feel, but the object of her grief-fueled rage was no longer in a position to feel it.

Nearby, there was a flash of blue light, as Angelise arrived on the scene of her friend's breakdown, watching as she continued furiously pummeling what was increasingly being reduced to a mess of blood, brains, and bone.

"Hilda!" she shouted, trying to be heard over the girl's own continued shouts. "That's enough! Calm down! Please! Hildegard, stop!-!"

With one final enraged, pained scream, the redhead brought both fists together and down in a hammer blow that shook the earth, the shockwave making blades of grass and tree branches blow back, the pavement beneath her and her target shattered from the force. Hildegard took a few squeaked, trembling breaths, and then let out a loud, long wail, a cry of absolute broken grief and loss, tears beginning to freely steam down her face, as she unconsciously telepathically projected what she felt: betrayal, grief, loss, overpowering heartbroken despair.

Cautiously, Angelise approached, as Hildegard's whole body shook with sobs as she continued to wail like a broken child, a girl who'd lost everything. She knelt down, pulling the other girl close, tears coming to her own eyes as she 'felt' her wounded soul. She didn't care one bit that Hildegard was splattered with blood; she just held her close as she cried her eyes out, the poor girl's grief and loss feeling overpowering.

No-one bothered to keep track of time. Eventually, Hildegard had exhausted herself enough that her cries softened, her body feeling heavier in Angelise's arms. Silently, Ange triggered their armors' 'Recall' function, and both vanished in a flash of blue light. Neither of them had noticed the two people that had been concealed behind some nearby shrubbery, having seen – and 'felt' – the whole thing.

Beside her shocked, trembling mother, young Hilda had one hand clutching at her heart, eyes wide and filled with tears, having taken the full 'force' of her older sister's accidentally-projected telepathy/empathy. Looking down at her daughter's state, her mother (also deeply shaken, with a not-insignificant kernel of guilt and other emotions now rooted in her heart) slowly reached for her.

"H… Hilda…"

It happened so fast. There was a blur of movement, and a harsh, sharp sound. The woman reeled from the force of the slap, the sudden burn in her cheek. The 10-year-old's tear-filled eyes glared up at her with disgust and anger.

"How could you?-!" the girl's voice was a near-shriek, tears of sorrow and guilt and rage and betrayal starting to fall from her eyes. "The fact that you told me my older sister was dead was bad enough, but compared to everything else?-! I felt her just now! I felt her emotions, heard her thoughts, saw her memories! She went through Hell just to see you again, and you… You…! She's right! I've never heard about a Norma actually doing what everyone says they do! Why do they say those things about them?-!

"S-She… She only wanted to come home again! She never asked for this! None of the Norma ever asked for any of this! I felt her heart break! Felt her soul shatter! The things you said to her… You… We broke her!-! Why? Why is the whole world so mean to them – to her?-! What have they actually done to deserve being hated?-! Why did you do that to my onée-chan?-!-?-!"

Ms. Schlievogt sat there with a look of shock and hurt and guilt, the societal 'conditioning' starting to fracture further, as Hilda caught her breath. The little girl wasn't done yet.

"There's something… wrong with this world" the 10-year-old said. "Why would the people in charge make us all believe those things? …They have to be hiding something. …Someone has to find out what that 'something' is, and drag it out of the shadows, for the world to see. I… I have to…" she sobbed softly, guilt and regret eating at her. "I have to help her…"

"If you truly wish to atone," a new voice echoed, "then I can assist you."

Nearby, there was a whorl of black 'smoke', just like when they'd seen Hildegard teleport earlier. It faded to reveal an alien – tall, with dark bluish-grey flesh, and glowing green eyes, clad in bronze-hued armor and purple cloth, with what looked like the skull of some predatory creature made into a right shoulder pauldron. The two humans were immediately made to 'feel' her psionically-projected presence, instinctively viewing her as "not a threat" without consciously understanding why.

"Y-You… That thing on your arm…" little Hilda murmured. "It's just like…"

The alien woman nodded. "I am Vorazun, Matriarch of the Nerazim race of the species known as Protoss. In essence, I am one of four individuals who lead our entire species. And I am one of several people, human and not, who helped Hildegard and three others awaken their new powers, and taught them how to use them."

"…New powers? …That wasn't the Light of Mana?"

"Not as you know it, no. …The humans of this world share a great power, slumbering in most but ready to be awakened: a psionic link, that brings with it considerable power. In addition to allowing people to share thoughts and memories, emotions and intents, it also allows psionic abilities of considerable range and power – telekinesis, levitation, the casting of illusions, psychometry, psionic lightning, shockwaves of force, durable self-repairing barriers, the rapid mending of one's own wounds and those of one's allies… The so-called 'Light' of Mana interferes with this power, and thus only those without it can access the link, and the abilities it grants. Though, it is possible for one to be purged of the 'Light', so as to be capable of joining the collective.

"Whatever force gifted the humans of this world with this power apparently based it off of the abilities wielded by we Protoss. From what we can discern, the people of this world can access three different types of psionic power which correspond to the three psionically-gifted races of my species: the blue-hued energies of the Khalai, warriors and guardians who protect and guide those in need, fighting with valor and determination to strike down the wicked; the green psionic powers of we Nerazim, seekers who walk in the shadows to watch over others, championing prosperity, freedom, and justice, and exposing hidden misdeeds to the light for all to see; and the crimson power of the Tal'darim, warriors who espouse honor and glory, strength and conviction, ferocity and strength of will, drawing power from righteous fury, and sowing terror amongst the hearts of the evil. …The fourth Protoss race, the Purifiers, have synthetic bodies, using psi-powered technology to substitute for true direct psionic power.

"From what I, the Khalai Hierarch, and the Tal'darim Highlord have sensed, the vast majority of this world's people will only be able to access one of the three power 'sets'. The fact that Hildegard is able to wield two is exceedingly rare; she wields the powers corresponding to Nerazim and Tal'darim, and was thus tutored by myself and by Highlord Alarak, learning to combine the graceful swiftness of the Nerazim, walkers of the shadows who hunt and expose wickedness, with the fierce bravery and focused, unrelenting fury of the Tal'darim. Her fellow 'Awakened One', her foe-turned-friend Angelise, is also capable of wielding two, combining Tal'darim with Khalai energies, tutored by Alarak and by Khalai Hierarch Artanis. …Artanis is, in effect, the leader of our entire species, not just of his race; it was he who united us, along with other former neutral or opposed factions, against the greatest threat any of us had ever known."

"P… Psychic powers…" Ms. Schlievogt murmured. "Every single…"

"…Wait" the child said. "You said red and green… Then what was that black energy my sister and you wielded when you teleport?"

"That is something else entirely. It is the manipulation of one of the oldest and purest forces in existence: the Void. It is the source of many Nerazim abilities, and though all of us can call upon its power, non-Nerazim who can wield it are extremely rare. It is the Sacred Darkness, all-encompassing, all-accepting, at the heart and base of all Creation. Its primordial power is not to be treated likely, but with training and discipline it is our greatest ally."

"…Why does the Light of Mana interfere with these powers?"

"It is diluted… and tainted. It does not work the way mana is supposed to. True mana is generated directly from the planet, naturally drawn into the body and 'colored' by one's life-force and Essence, to be called forth in the shape and form that the user wills it to be." She held her hands out, facing toward each other, and swirling motes of deep-green energy formed; the two humans could immediately 'feel' that it felt deeper, more potent, and 'purer' than what they were used to. They then received brief telepathic images of other mages with their own magical energies – orange, red, blue, pink, white…

"Compared to true mana, the so-called 'Light of Mana' you wield is a pale shadow, weakened and diluted, and bears a trace of some corruption of unknown source. Normas' bodies, their Mana Cores, reject the tainted power the way blood cells fight against an intruding pathogen; that is why they are unable to wield it. However… they are not incapable of wielding true mana…"

Then, the two humans got a deep surprise in the form of a psychic image of Hildegard bathed in maroon-red light, a magic rune-circle beneath her. This was followed by an image of Princess Angelise, another known Norma, wielding golden-yellow mana energy.

"Your society deems the 'Norma' as defectives, unnatural… when it is you, those who wield the False Light, who bear an unnatural, tainted power."

Shock reigned.

"Now, child… With what you have seen, sensed, and learned… What will you do?"

Little Hilda went silent, eyes closed and head down as she considered everything. She turned back to face her still-shocked mother… and glared at the woman. She then turned back to the Nerazim Matriarch.

"Vorazun-sama… I… I want to help my sister!"

Her mother gasped. "H-Hilda!"

The girl spun around, glaring daggers at the woman. "No! You don't get a say in this, mother! You've caused enough damage! I'm going to help fix what you helped break! If you can't accept both of us… then you can't have either of us."

She stepped backward, stopping once she felt Vorazun's four-digited hand on her shoulder. Then, a whorl of black enveloped both of them, as the Matriarch teleported herself and her young charge out, leaving behind a woman in a state of shock and horror and so many other things that, combined, left her numb.

'Both…' she thought numbly. 'I've lost… both…'

-Break-

Arzenal

The massive main hangar of the island facility was much, much more crowded than normal. The reason was that damn near everyone – pretty much the entire, hundreds-strong Norma population of the island, even the children – had received a summons to gather here, including the 'higher-ups' – Jill, Emma, Zhao Mei, Maggy, Jasmine… What was confusing was that many of them had received summons apparently from each other, but nobody actually remembered sending any. Some of them still whispered about the big happening a few days ago, when Ange & Hilda had vanished – supposedly through something similar to the rifts that DRAGONs appeared from, but visibly different.

Then, everyone's attention was drawn to a strange flashing blue light overhead. They watched in surprised curiosity (with a few drawing weapons) as a strange, gold-plated machine with a single large bright-blue photoreceptor flew in, fins shifting as it defied gravity and slowly flew/floated down. It took position in an empty spot, several meters away from anybody but well in view of all of them.

Then, everyone was startled as the Daelaam Probe projected a beam of scintillating blue energy, starting the opening of a translocation rift. Weapons were drawn as a large sphere of blue & black energy floated a couple of meters off the ground, with the Probe silently, placidly hanging back and monitoring the warp-in. Finally, the warp rift's black was replaced by white, as the sphere grew and shifted into a larger, taller shape. The light faded, as a huge whitish-blue crystal surrounded by a ring of gold-hued metal appeared, floating a little ways off the ground.

Using the Pylon as a beacon, a trio of personnel warp-rifts appeared at its base. After a handful of seconds, three very familiar people emerged, but it was immediately obvious that things had changed with them while they were away. Angelise was clad in pristine armor that was a mix of ivory white and dark grey, along with some gold here and some black there. Her right arm had a gauntlet of gold with glowing blue lines and a blue oval-shaped gem, while the left arm was clad in a mirror of that with black metal and red lines & gem. Hildegard wore a set of light armor, some of it deep black and some of it gleaming silver, with her right arm in a gauntlet like Ange's left and her left arm in one of silver with a green gem. Her hair was no longer in its usual pigtails, instead in a single low ponytail. Lastly, Momoka wore an outfit superficially similar to her old maid uniform, but clearly made by the same makers of the other girls' armor, with white and gold and blue mixed together, some visible armoring, and two gold & blue gauntlets on her arms.

When the three girls looked up, their eyes all had a visible faint glow to them – both blue for Momoka, left blue & right red for Angelise, and left red & right green for Hildegard. Their moods, their 'aura', felt so very different, like people who'd learned and experienced so much more than most people could in such a short timeframe.

"What happened to them?" Rosalie murmured. "Where did they end up?"

"And where did they get that kickass-looking armor?" Vivian added.

From a 'pocket' of her new uniform, Momoka pulled out a fist-sized blue gem – a Khaydarin Crystal. Hildegard then withdrew a sliver of shining green – an Ihann Crystal – and lightly pressed it against its counterpart. The trio then focused their energies, tapping into the psionic gestalt-link, weaving their own and each other's energies together with those within the two crystals. Everyone could 'feel' the power rapidly growing in front of them, causing further curiosity and unease. Then, they let it free.

Supercharged by the Khaydarin Crystal's energies and the Ihann Crystal's unique properties, the trio released a pulse of psionic power that enveloped nearly the entirety of Arzenal Island. Many people let out brief cries of surprise, as every single one of the island's inhabitants had information and memories 'beamed' into their minds – the Dimensional Defense Force, the Protoss, the true nature of mana and the corrupted 'falsehood' of the 'Light of Mana' (with exactly why Norma bodies and Essence 'rejected' it, and how 'true' mana was not rejected the same way), the latent psionic gestalt-link and well of power that everyone of this world possessed but only those without the 'False Light' could access, the peek into this world's common people's thoughts & beliefs full of ignorant prejudiced hatred…

Hushed murmurings and shocked expressions filled the sizable group of people, as they tried to process everything they'd just learned. Emma Bronson, Arzenal's Light-of-Mana using 'Norma Supervisor', fell to her knees in complete shock at the worldview-breaking things she'd just learned – that Norma couldn't use the 'Light of Mana' because the Light was "tainted", that they could use 'pure' mana taken directly from the planet (which was apparently the way mana was supposed to be wielded), that all people of this world had latent access to a powerful psionic gestalt-link that the 'Light' interfered with…

"This is… incredible…" Salia murmured. "The 'Light of Mana', true mana, p-psychic powers, a peacekeeping, evil-fighting coalition of human and alien powers…" 'And they have magical girls…' part of her mind added.

"H-How… Are the people of the outside world really that cruel and hateful of us…?" Ersha whispered.

"These are certainly some earth-shaking revelations," Jill said as she came closer, trying to keep her stoic composure, "and the opportunities they present are quite valuable to our cause…"

In response, Angelise turned a glare upon 'Jill', making the older woman stop in her tracks. Then, faster than anyone could react, Ange's hand shot out and grabbed hold of Jill's upper face, as she 'scanned' through the stoic commander's mind, and used the crystals to broadcast what she found. …And what she found, dealt a sledgehammer blow to many people's faith in the woman: a cold, frozen, shriveled-up 'heart', a dangerous 'control freak' mentality, and seeing literally everyone as disposable pawns – even her old 'friends' Maggie & Jasmine, and her loyal protégé Salia, were seen as expendable, as tools rather than people or friends.

In the crowd, Salia fell to her knees, tears starting to build in her horror-widened eyes. Alektra, the person she'd always admired, wanted to be useful to, practically worshipped… saw her as just another expendable pawn, had in fact been leading her along to be more easily manipulated, cared nothing for anyone but herself…

As she let go of Jill, letting the woman stagger back, Angelise glared at her with glowing irises, and for the first time since her return to this place, she spoke, her voice bearing a slight telepathic echo:

"You who care nothing for the lives of those who serve and place their faith in you, who would throw away the lives of those who trust you with such callous disregard for their loyalty or strengths… You are not fit to lead us."

With a shocked and offended expression, Jill turned her gaze outward, seeing damn near everyone glaring at her, even the people she'd once called comrades before her embitterment. She then looked back at Ange, snarling, and her mechanical right arm began to reach for her holstered knife… A flash of blue accompanied Angelise, in a single lightning-quick motion, igniting her right arm's psi-blade and severing Jill's prosthetic limb. The older woman cried out in shock and pain as the metal arm clattered to the floor, twitching as internal circuitry misfired. Despite her anger, Maggie's training as a doctor bade her to begin approaching.

"Leave her" Ange stopped the woman. "My blade's superheated nature cauterized the wound as it was made. There will be no blood loss."

Jasmine roughly dragged the now-deposed 'commander' away, tossing her to the side. "You really have changed for the worse, Alektra" she said in a disappointed tone, before then moving to rejoin the others.

Angelise turned to face the hundreds of gathered Norma. Momoka magically triggered the lift they happened to be standing on to rise a meter or so, giving the blonde psionic warrior a stage of sorts to work with, as Momoka & Hildegard flanked and stood behind her.

"My brethren…" she spoke loudly and clearly, her voice amplified and slightly echoing with her newfound psionic power. "To you all, I offer a gift: the awakening of your sleeping psionic potential, of your connection to our people's… 'Collective'. Those who do not wish to join this union, to receive this power, may feel free to recuse yourselves now."

In the end, no-one left. They all, Norma of all ages, kept their attention locked on her. She nodded, a very small smile briefly appearing on her face. Then, she and her two fellow 'awakened ones' again drew upon the power of their two crystals and of their link with each other.

"All of you, calm your thoughts, and open your Hearts to each other. Feel our energies extending a hand to yours, and grasp it! Accept the true power of our people, and join together in unity, the strength and purpose of the deep bond that awaits you! Embrace eternity!-!"

Another 'pulse' of psionic power, this one 'deeper', raced out across and throughout the island. A second later, all of the Norma's bodies were enveloped in sparkling 'flares' of psionic power, with eyes glowing to match – green and red and blue. Uniquely, Salia's power was two-colored like Angelise & Hildegard's, a mixture of Khalai blue and Nerazim green. Everyone could feel the extraordinary power that they now had access to, at the resting ready just below the surface.

"This is… incredible…" Ersha murmured, blue energies coursing around her. Beside her, Vivian looked over herself in awe, admiring the red glow she now carried.

Experimenting based on what knowledge they'd received so far, some began experimenting with telepathy and reading surface thoughts, and a few small groups or pairs tried out 'melding' their thoughts, seeing each other's minds more deeply. Thankfully, nobody who did this learned anything that would start any fights (in fact, a few people ended up embracing each other upon learning each other's feelings), but…

"C… Chris…" Rosalie murmured, the 'flow' of her green Nerazim-type aura slightly disturbed as she looked at her soft-spoken friend wrapped in red energy. "…Why didn't you tell us you felt that way? I would've listened! I… I never wanted to make you feel 'left out' or put upon or anything like that! You're the most important person in the world to me!"

"I…" the other girl stammered. "I-I just couldn't… I thought you…"

Rosalie hugged her. "You thought wrong. I would never want to hurt or take advantage of you. You're special to me …And from now on, I'll give it my all to make sure you know it."

Soon, the two of them turned their gaze and psychic focus to Hildegard… and worry etched their expressions; the redhead seemed to have closed herself off, but from what little they could sense, she'd suffered some sort of emotionally devastating experience, and as a result had gone into what the tech-heads would call the human emotional equivalent of a computer in Safe Mode.

"What happened to her…?" Chris whispered, worried and sad for her friend.

Sitting off to the side, her body enveloped in a crimson aura of energy, for now all Jill could do was sit and stew in her defeated anger…

Spotting Salia and her 'hybrid' energy, Ange gave Hilda a subtle nudge and then a slight gesture in the blue-haired girl's direction toward the front of the crowd. The redhead's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

After giving everyone another minute or so to digest everything, Angelise began to speak once more. "My sisters…" she spoke with a psionically-amplified voice. "Hear me. You now have knowledge of valuable, powerful truths – the existence and nature of 'true' mana, the psionic link and powers within all people of this world, the corrupted falsehood of the so-called 'Light of Mana', and the blind, hateful cruelty of those who wield it. …And now that we have this knowledge, we must use it.

"The 'Light of Mana' is a twisted, false power… and the people of its society are, with precious few exceptions, close-minded, complacent, and hateful. Even as their society stagnates, they treat us with unwarranted contempt and fear and vicious hatred, accuse us of being sociopathic violent monsters when they are the ones more fitting of such descriptors, exile us to this place and send us off to die against unending invaders from another Realm… The 'World of Mana' is a rotten and hateful society, based upon a tainted power! If our species is to be free to achieve its true potential… If we are to have vengeance for all the suffering and fear and pain, the lives ruined and lives ended because of them… that society… must be removed!

"Our new allies from beyond this World are willing to lend us resources, technology, weapons, and training. Together with the abilities granted by our psionic gestalt-link, we can bring down this corrupt system, avenge the fallen and the ruined, awaken the world to the truth, and win our freedom! Please! Lend me – lend us – your strength, your courage, your spirit, so that we may free the world from the False Light, and achieve vengeance for all they have wrought upon us! Let us strike as one will, draw strength from one another, and end the corrupt cycle! After the long night, the time finally nears for us to bring about the dawn! Now… Who will join me, in avenging all the wrongs committed against us, and freeing our species from the False Light's thrall?-! Who will help me vanquish their depraved society, and save this world?-!"

Throughout the entire speech, every person – thanks to the psi-link – was able to feel how she truly meant every word she said, to feel how much she had come to care for them, 'her people', the 'true' meanings of her words and intent that went beyond what could be verbalized. They still remembered 'sensing' the corrupt hatred of the outside world. And her mere psionic presence empowered them, bolstering their courage and will, and filling them with resolve and hope.

The end result was that Angelise's call to arms was answered with roaring applause, three different colors of blazing auras melding together to form a dazzling sight. They could do this. They could win. They could bring an end to the oppression and suffering and lies!

Suddenly, a large holo-screen formed, projected from the Pylon. Everyone turned to face it, as the image came online to show a glowing-blue-eyed alien with bony/keratin facial projections that approximated a beard.

"Karax" Ange greeted with a little smile, having gotten to know the Phase-Smith during her training with the DDF. "How are things going on you guys' end?"

"Very well, thankfully" the Phase-Smith replied. "We have many war-drones, vehicles, weapons, and technology ready to assist you. In addition, several of our people, and some from the DDF's other branches, have volunteered to come down and assist in training and other preparations. And to further help with training, to provide more time for it, I've just overseen the completion and testing of a new device; the Spear of Adun is presently in geosynchronous high orbit over Arzenal Island, ready to implement it. It's the latest melding of Protoss and Forerunner technology, to manipulate the flow of time within a select area, so that as hours pass outside the field, days pass within it. I call it… the Chrono Surge Field projector! With this, you'll all have plenty more time for training and preparations!"

"That's good to hear, all of it. …How are my & Hilda's Paramails coming along?"

"We're almost finished with the upgrades. The armor's been upgraded, as have the weapons, they have energy shields now, the cockpit is now enclosed by a specialized multi-energy barrier when in Flight Mode instead of leaving the pilot exposed – I don't know what the designers were thinking there –, their power cores have been enhanced, some Khaydarin Crystals implanted here & there, vacuum and submarine functionalities… Also, the Sangheili Alliance recently unveiled a new weapon, the Type-53 Plasma Caster, and we're performing a little 'experiment' by forging a 'super-sized' and more powerful one for Vilkiss to utilize. It's still not complete, though; the scaling's proving a bit troublesome.

"Also, my personal research has uncovered some interesting things about your 'Vilkiss', Angelise. From what I can gather, it has numerous dormant hidden functions that its counterparts lack. I'm still trying to discern what they are or how they would be activated… or why it has them in the first place."

"The Paramails…" Jill spoke up, "are copies – knock-offs based on an older, more powerful and versatile design, only a few of which still exist: the Ragnamails. The Vilkiss is Arzenal's sole Ragnamail, and we've never been able to activate its hidden functions, before you ask."

Several hushed whispers rang out amongst the Paramail pilots at this revelation. …Zhao Mei, meanwhile, was still in awe at the numerous upgrades the Phase-Smith had mentioned.

"Intriguing…" Karax murmured. "I'll have to do some more research, maybe enlist some help from the TSAB and some specialist Huragok… Anyhow, moving on. I have the Pylon's signature; we'll begin warping things in now, and set up the Chrono Surge Field, 'connecting' the island with the Spear of Adun. We'll also project a visual and sensor 'illusion' around the island to keep anyone outside from noticing what's happening. …It helps that the people of your world tend not to pay Arzenal much mind usually anyway."

A shimmering bluish-white energy field was projected down from space, enveloping the entirety of Arzenal Island. Along its outer 'walls', top-grade holographic images were projected that showed the island in its normal state to those outside of it, while any incoming radio signals would be carefully picked apart and responded to with well-crafted false returns or the like. Then, supplies and people – human, Protoss, Sangheili… – began warping in around the pylon. Among them was Tusk, wearing modest Khalai-style armor and with a blue glow to his eyes. Angelise walked up to him.

"Yo, Ange…" he said, his usual smile on his face. "I guess… it's time for me to explain a few things…"

-Break-

Several hours later, in the 'outside' world, as the sun rose on a new day, a bombshell was about to be dropped. There was no warning. In a matter of seconds, every cyber-defense was evaded or bulldozed through. Then, information – with proof and records and footage – was sent to every computer, every station, every personal mana-terminal… Information on the Dragon War – how the Norma were shipped off to fight against an unending horde of invading monsters from another realm, forced to fight and die for the society that hated them. Any attempts by the in-the-know leadership to suppress this information, to stop it from flowing out to the people, were met with failure against the cybernetic might of top-tier UNSC cyberwarfare.

As the day rolled on, people's reactions were varied. Some felt it was a fitting 'punishment' for the 'sub-humans' crime of existence'. Some were shocked and angry that the governments kept something important as an extradimensional alien invasion a secret. Some were fearful that sooner or later the Norma would get fed up and come for revenge against the World of Mana for being forced to fight and die for them. Some, like clandestine 'Normas' Rights' people or the friends & family of Norma who were taken away, were shocked, horrified, sad, or angry to know that the Norma were being thrown into the grinder like this (along with a few regular people who thought 'even the Norma don't deserve that').

It was a political shitstorm. And it was only a harbinger of what was to come.

-Break-

As, in the outside world, the sun set, within the Chrono Surge field/barrier preparations were nearly complete. Every able-bodied person had been trained, in 'traditional' warfare and in the manipulations of their new psionic powers. The Spear of Adun's forges had provided weapons, armor, and machines of war (Sentries, Observers, Reavers, Interceptors, even Colossi, along with pilotable Immortals, Stalkers, and attack craft); others of the Dimensional Defense Force had also donated, with Sangheili hardware – infantry weapons as well as vehicles – fairly common sights in the hands of the new force. Bonds had been forged and strengthened. Several DDF personnel, moved by the plight of the Norma, had volunteered to assist more 'directly', to actually take part in the coming battles. Lastly, all the locals had been taught the Khalani language, to have a means of communication secure from interception in that nobody of this world would understand what they were saying even if they somehow managed to hack communications or something.

Dropships were being loaded up, vehicles readied. The Paramails, including Ange & Hilda's rides, were all being upgraded still, and so only a few would be able to participate in the first assault. Despite the fact that the Kingdom of Rosenblum was closest to Arzenal Island, their first target to 'conquer' would be the Misurugi Empire; in addition to Angelise's personal vengeance at stake, there was also the fact that Misurugi 'only' had the third-strongest military (having held onto its power amongst the other Great Nations due to technological and resource richness) of the Big Five, and that its present ruler – Ange's older brother Julio – was the most dangerous in terms of psychological state, the most likely to do something 'drastic' if he felt the need or the urge to, so he would be removed from power before he could try anything like launching a genocide invasion or whatnot.

As she walked about, overseeing final preparations, Angelise spared some attention for the two people following her. Momoka was her usual self, but Hildegard was still in a deeply downtrodden, quiet, and stoic state, going through the motions of preparations like a machine. The events with her family had near-totally broken her heart, it seemed.

"It's almost time, huh?" Momoka thought aloud.

"Yeah…" Ange replied softly. "We'll begin the fight to make things right for this world, and avenge those lost to everything that's happened… especially because of my so-called 'brother'…"

The maid nodded, murmuring "En Harudim Sophia…"

"Are you ready?" Ange asked her redhead friend.

"…Sure" Hildegard replied in a quiet, low tone, tired resignation in her eyes. "I'm ready to destroy this rotten world."

"Hilda…"

"Don't give me that tone. You managed to find one or two people out there who were able to listen to reason, who didn't reject you! I didn't get that! I spent all that time putting myself through Hell just to get back to my mother, for nothing! I don't even have a family anymore!"

"Do not be so sure of that" a new psionic voice echoed.

The trio turned in surprise as, with a whorl of black 'smoke', Vorazun warped in a few meters away.

"Matriarch…" Hildegard bowed slightly. "What brings you here?"

"When you lost yourself, and unleashed your fury and grief against those thugs who dared call themselves enforcers of the law, you were unconsciously telepathically broadcasting a great many things – the storm of your emotions, of rage, betrayal, grief and despair, the 'feel' of your heart breaking, along with some of your memories, of battles and hardships and sufferings, your wishes that had become 'unfulfilled'… and your foes were not the only ones to receive it.

"Hildegard… Your pained words did not go completely unheeded. They drew curiosity. When you were 'broadcasting' your innermost self, you had an audience to 'feel' the full brunt of it."

From behind the Matriarch, there was a flash of movement, a blur of speed. Hildegard gasped in shock, stumbling back, as something hit her. It took a couple of seconds to register that she was being hugged, by a young girl… and then, at the same time as she sensed this child had been 'awakened' much like Momoka had, purged of the False Light and connected to the psionic gestalt-link and to true mana, she recognized the girl. The realization was accompanied by the girl's telepathically/empathically projected thoughts and emotions pouring out – sorrow, guilt, regret, shame, apology, deep anger at another on Hildegard's behalf, determination to make things right, joy at discovered family, familial love already sprouted and growing…

"I'm so sorry… onée-chan…" little Hilda whispered.

Hildegard was utterly shocked, her emotions conflicted. On one hand, this was the girl who'd 'replaced' her. …But the things the girl – now empowered/awakened with Nerazim-type psionic energy – was 'transmitting' psionically, emotions and concepts purer and stronger than words…

"You were right…" the little girl continued. "What you said… It doesn't make sense, what they say and do about the Norma. And… For h-her to… …I s-shouted at her, you know – at mother… Screamed at her… S-She'd always told me you died… And… seeing your thoughts, your memories, everything you've… been through… all to try and get back to her… and she just…"

Hilda then sent Hildegard another telepathic 'package', 'echoes' of her furious calling-out of their mother.

"When Vorazun-sama appeared, and explained things more… In the end, I told mother… that if she can't accept both of us, she can't have either of us. I… I want to help make things right. I want to help you. I…" She looked up with a teary smile, her eyes bearing a faint green glow. "I finally got to meet you… onée-chan…"

Faced with everything – the words, the telepathic 'messages', feeling the link, hearing the girl's emotions in her voice – Hildegard was quiet and still. Then, finally breaking free, a soft sob shook her body… and she hugged the girl tight, the two siblings holding each other for dear life.

'I lost my mother… but… I gained… a baby sister…'

Ange, Momoka, and Vorazun watched silently from a short distance away, touched by the reconciliation; Momoka sniffled and wiped a tear from her eye.

"We'll tear down the corrupt system, and all its lies," little Hilda whispered, "and show the truth to the whole world."

"'Drag hidden wickedness into the light for all to see'…" Hildegard murmured one of the Nerazim creeds.

"{And ensure that none need fear what hides in the dark}…" the girl finished in Khalani. "Together."

"…Together."

-Break-

An hour (inside the Chrono Surge field) later, final preparations had kicked off in a flurry of activity. Dropships – Protoss Shuttles, Sangheili Phantoms, and Pelicans – were being loaded up with soldiers & gear, with vehicles – from light speeders to main-battle tanks – being affixed to them for transport. Combat VTOLs and Protoss-built Interceptor drones made ready to move out, alongside the few Paramails whose upgrades had been finished in time (sadly not including Vilkiss just yet; she still had another day or so left). The Protoss-donated war drones came online, ready to move out. Many DDF volunteers made ready to join – Protoss warriors, Sangheili, three Mgalekgolo pairs, and even a couple of 'heavy hitters'.

"We're almost ready to move out" Tex said to Ange as she walked up. "I'll be moving in ahead once we've established a foothold, toward the palace."

"I'll be sticking with your group, meanwhile" said a new face, clad in blue & silver Mjolnir armor – Spartan-IV Jameson Locke, one of the most promising S-IVs so far, and one of the few who didn't accompany the Infinity to Requiem due to his other roles and duties.

Angelise nodded, checking to ensure her armor was in top condition, along with her weapons – a UNSC M395 DMR, a Sangheili Alliance T-55 Storm Rifle, a Systems Alliance M3 Predator heavy pistol, and an SA T-50 Particle-Beam Rifle. Nearby, Hildegard was also kitted up and ready, carrying an SA T-51 Carbine, a UNSC M45 shotgun 'Lawgiver' variant, and an M6C SOCOM sidearm.

Their fellows were ready to go as well; Salia had thrived in the new training with her new abilities, wielding Khalai and Nerazim energies with skill to match Ange & Hild's. After being given a pep-talk to help recover from finding out the woman she'd once admired had come to see her as just a tool, she'd discovered newfound resolve to make her own life, forge her own path. Said woman, Jill, had been relegated to a basic frontline soldier, though she had been given a new synthetic arm as well as training to properly use her Tal'darim abilities. Jasmine had come out of semi-retirement and taken up her old command-&-control role, to provide overwatch and tactical & strategic guidance.

Emma Bronson, the former overseer of the facility, had been taken aside and given a long, calm, detailed talk from some TSAB delegates and a High Templar, having things carefully explained and laid out for her regarding the lies she'd bought into. In the end, she had chosen to follow Momoka's and Misty's example, letting herself be purged of the False Light in favor of true mana manipulation, and siding with the people she'd once degraded. She had sworn to do whatever she could to make up for 'buying into all the propaganda'.

Only a handful of the children had been cleared to participate in the assault, deemed to have enough martial skill and psionic strength to safely be allowed into battle, and none of them younger than 10. The rest would be kept safely back at the now-heavily-rebuilt Arzenal, their training continuing far away from the actual fighting.

Now, at long last, the time had come. Angelise gave one final speech, and then it was go time. First the Chrono Surge field was lowered, and then the holographic projection that had hidden what was within. Cyberwarfare specialists worked to disguise what was coming the best they could. Dropships and fighters began lifting off en masse, along with Warp Prisms that would provide further assistance by teleporting heavy units like the Colossi right into the battlefield.

"Now," Angelise spoke from within one of the lead Phantoms, "the war for our freedom begins!"

-CHAPTER END-

Chapter turned out longer than expected, and had to be split into this and the next one. Next Time: the Battle of Misurugi. Then, we'll move on to another new Realm.

I'm probably going to start referring to the character usually referred to as 'Hilda' in canon by her real/full name or as 'Hild', now that her little sis has joined the cast. And for those wondering why Vivian, despite technically not being of that world, is still 'awakened' with the rest? By chance, she was among the few of her people to naturally possess a high psionic potential, and her psi-signature is 'compatible' enough for her to fit in.

Khalani Phrases:

Und lara khar: Be at peace

En Harudim…: In memory of…