Chapter 3: Return

Back at SDG Lab C, Bell Wood had been working nonstop ever since the Gundam Force vanished. If there was any hope of finding and bringing back the four of them, it lay with him and the Dimensional Transport Device.

"Don't worry, Chief Haro!" Dr. Bell yelled as he typed furiously at the holographic console, "I'll get them back with the Dimensional Transport Device, lickity-split!"

The Chief, and on the ground, Gunbike and Entengo, waited anxiously.

"Stabilizers checked…" Bell Wood muttered, typing. "Maximum power… Dimension located… Systems checked completely!"

The Device's parts sparked as a crackling purple energy cloud appeared high in the air.

Keep your digits crossed… Bell Wood thought, and hit the big red START button. "And…go!"

The purple energy contracted and swirled into a vortex, crackling with lightning. On the ground, Entengo let loose with a neigh and galloped towards the Device.

"No, Entengo!" Gunbike yelled, "Not yet!"

But high above, the vortex exploded, canceling out. The Device's spinning parts stopped moving. Bell Wood fell to his knees with a groan.

"Anything?" Haro asked.

Bell Wood shook his head. "I can't get a lock on the dimensional gate…something's missing." Jumping up, he yelled, "I don't understand why this dumb contraption won't work for me!"

On the ground, Entengo looked at his hooves sadly, whinnying.

"They'll be back, Entengo," Gunbike said soothingly, driving up next to him. "Don't worry."

Entengo said nothing. He just looked up at Dimensional Transport Device.

-z-

Deep in Lacroa…

…Deep within the Dark Hole…

…Shute slipped, and with a yell, fell down a few feet before catching himself on a ledge.

"Shute, are you all right!" Zero asked, worriedly.

"I'm okay, Zero!" Shute assured, shaking. "…I think…" If he hadn't landed on the ledge, who knows how he could've end up…

Shute, nonetheless, began to climb. As he did, something very odd floated out of the rock. It looked like a glowing, transparent jellyfish. Another appeared. And then another!

"Zero, I'm under attack!" Shute cried, forcing himself against the wall of the rocky pillar as much as he could, trying to wave the jellyfish-ghosts away. As one floated dangerously close, Shute braced himself for the sting…only for nothing to happen. Confused, Shute opened his eyes and saw that the jellyfish was halfway through his body before floating away.

"Something just passed right through me…" He gasped.

Zero, chuckling, pulled himself up on the ledge Shute was on. "Fear not, young Shute. That is a harmless creature called an Mmn."

"An Mmn?" Shute repeated, reaching out to the creature. To his surprise, his hand passed right through it.

"Yes," Zero went on, "An Mmn is a type of spirit. A spirit is an entity made up of energy and is mostly immaterial, so it slips through almost all substances. But don't worry, it's harmless."

"Cool," Shute sighed, and looked thoughtful. "So spirits must be different from magic, because magic's not allowed in the Dark Hole, right?"

"Correct. Magic is different from spirits." Zero said.

A thought occurred to Shute. "How about that Griffin Tallgeese conjured? Was that a spirit too?"

Zero nodded. "The Griffin is a high-ranked spirit of Lacroa, and is also known as a divine or sacred beast. He is one of the four sacred beasts that protect the castle of Lacroa."

"You mean there are four sacred beasts?" Shute asked.

Zero looked up, a faraway look in his eyes. "Griffin, Phoenix, Unicorn, Jormungand- the sacred beasts. They give their power to a being that they recognize as their lord. That person is able to summon his beast at will. And so, such a beast is called a 'summoned-beast.'"

"A summoned-beast, huh?" Shute murmured, mulling it over.

Zero looked at Shute and nodded. "Correct. And a person who controls a summoned-beast…is one of the most dangerous things in the universe."

-z-

Tallgeese, sword and shield in hand, flew out from Lacroa Castle and towards the caves.

If they will not come out of the Dark Hole, He thought darkly, I will go in and get them!

-z-

Captain heaved Bakunetsumaru throught another wormhole before leaping in himself. This one deposited the two in an area much like the one Zero, Shute and the triplets landed in.

"I don't think this is the right destination either, Captain," Bakunetsumaru groaned, dizzy. "Let's try another dimension-barrier…!"

Captain fired his helmet-guns, checking the paths of the wormholes. Once he found the one they needed, he took Bakunetsumaru and tossed him through before jumping after him.

-z-

With the entrance of the Dark Hole now in plain sight, Shute and Zero continued to climb. As they did, Zero felt his spin tingle.

"Be careful, Shute!" he called up, "This part of the rock feels different!"

"I'm okay!" Shute assured, when he noticed that this part of the pillar did feel odd. It felt smooth, like metal-

Then an large mono-eye lit up. Shute stared.

"Aaaah!"

"What's wrong?" Zero yelled.

"A monster!" Was all Shute could say before it happened.

Zero stared in bewildered terror as another giant Bagubagu flew off, Shute clutching to one of its claws for dear life.

"Shute!" Zero cried, and ignited the beam saber. "Hang on, I'll think of something!"

Zero watched as the Bagubagu buzzed around, trying to throw Shute up.

He attacked Shute because he's attracted to organic matter! Zero thought, his mind racing. I need to find something organic, so I can divert his attention from Shute!

Out of the corner of his eye, Zero saw something yellow in the glow of a nearby Mmn.

The banana! Bell Wood transported it here earlier as part of the experiment! Zero thought, and took the fruit. I hope this works… Waving the banana in the air, Zero yelled, "Here, boy! Get your fresh, organic matter!"

It worked. The Bagubagu focused its mono-eye on the Winged Knight and did an aerial U-turn, charging at the Gundam.

"That's it, come and get it- Wait a minute!" Zero looked up towards the Hole's entrance. This could work out better than I hoped!

-z-

In the cave with the Dark Hole's entrance, three Pawn Leos poked their heads out from behind a wall. Taking of their visors, they revealed themselves to be the triplets. The three identical children had arrived first, taking the special passage they had found after years of exploring the Dark Hole. They walked around the room, looking for any signs of life.

"See?" Coah said, "There's no one here."

"Yeah, for now." Noah replied.

"But that doesn't mean that someone won't be here soon." Doah suggested.

Coah rolled his eyes. "What makes either of you think that anyone, let alone everyone will show up at this exact spot?"

There was a soft thunk from behind. Turning around, the triplets saw a little chest, that opened up to show three small holograms of the triplets on something that looked like the Spirit Egg.

"Hey, it's our box!" They cried. Then they realized. Looking up, they gave a yell. "Ahh! Tallgeese!"

Tallgeese glared down at them from above. "Did you seriously think you could trick me with a fake Spirit Egg!"

Tallgeese swung his sword down, releasing a wave of power that blew the triplets off their feet. They landed against one of the large crystalline stalagmites in the cavern.

"How dare you deceive me," Tallgeese snarled, floating down to them. "Now tell me, where is the true Spirit Egg?"

The triplets glared at the evil knight defiantly. "No matter what you do, we'll never tell!"

"We'll see about that!" Tallgeese raised his sword, his eyes glinting.

But before he could do the deed, a spray of bullets erupted from another crystalline stalagmite. Tallgeese quickly held up his shield in defense. But that didn't help when Bakunetsumaru came flying out and rammed him, sending the evil knight flying.

The triplets stared in shock. They didn't see that coming.

Captain exited the wormhole, landing next to Baku'. "Destination reached!"

"About time." Bakunetsumaru grunted, standing up. He hit something, he knew he had…

The triplets quickly rushed up to the Gundams.

"We knew you'd return!" They chorused. Coah looked a little sheepish.

"Are you boys all right?" Captain asked.

The triplets nodded. "Yeah."

Grumbling, Tallgeese floated up above the Gundams, glaring down at them.

"I don't know how you escaped, and I don't care," He snarled, "Now give me the real Spirit Egg!"

"Real Spirit Egg? What's he talking about?" Bakunetsumaru asked.

Captain pointed at the box. "Probably that."

Bakunetsumaru took one look at the taunting holograms and burst out laughing.

"So it was a fake!" He chortled, pointing. "That's hilarious!"

The triplets nervously inched away from Bakunetsumaru. Tallgeese had only been mildly aggravated before. Now he was furious.

"You…! You…!" Tallgeese sputtered, and launched himself at Baku'. "I'll teach you to laugh at me!"

"You want a piece of me?" Bakunetsumaru retorted. He unsheathed his swords and leapt at the knight. "Let's go!"

Bakunetsumaru and Tallgeese clashed swords, and Tallgeese knocked him away, though without harming him. The samurai easily landed back on the ground.

Captain meanwhile, aimed his wrist-missile launchers at Tallgeese. "Fists fire!"

The missiles exploded on Tallgeese's shield. Not one to stay down, Bakunetsumaru leapt at the Knight of the Tempest, swords spinning.

But from the smoke came two spinning blades, each one like two curved swords joined at the hilt. Before either Captain or Bakunetsumaru could react, the Semicircle Claws pinned them against the wall.

"That should keep you two tied up for a while." Tallgeese muttered from behind a red rune octagon. Looking down, he saw the triplets scurrying off. "Oh, boys…"

The triplets froze. Busted.

"Now, about that Spirit Egg!" Tallgeese roared, and sent a wave of fire at the triplets.

The triplets screamed as the flames consumed them.

"No!" Captain yelled.

"Leave them alone!" Bakunetsumaru shouted.

"I'm just making them more comfortable," Tallgeese grinned evilly. "It's much too hot in here for all that armor they've been wearing."

When the flames died down, the triplets were indeed bereft of their Pawn Leo costumes. With their normal brown clothes singed, and them with it, they fell back down. And on Coah's head a plain box, the size of the fake Spirit's Egg, could be seen through the wafting smoke.

"Ahh, what have we here?" Tallgeese purred, and used his magic to float the box towards him.

Coah realized what was happening and jumped up to grab it, but it was too late. The box was now Tallgeese's. The Knight of the Tempest vanished his sword and reached out to the box.

"This one better be real," He said in a threatening voice. Lifting the box's lid, he saw a crystal like the one in the fake box. As he reached out to touch it, a blue spark flew up. That was all the confirmation he needed.

"Finally, the real Spirit Egg." Tallgeese chuckled darkly.

"No!" Noah cried.

"Give it back!" Doah cried.

"We have to stop him!" Coah cried as he and his brothers tried to jump up at the evil knight. But it was no use, he was too high up.

"Now, you shall all suffer!" Tallgeese crowed, and held the box over his head. "Darkness Mana, grant me the power of evil!"

"No, no that!" Captain cried as he and Baku' struggled to get out of their binds.

"Soon, nothing will be able to stop me!" Tallgeese gloated.

Then, a banana flew out from the Dark Hole and impaled itself on his helmet's fin.

Tallgeese froze. "Huh?"

Everyone stared.

"Get this thing off me!" Tallgeese shouted. He shook his head vigorously in an attempt to get the fruit off. "I've heard of slipping on a banana peel, but this is ridiculous!"

There was a buzzing noise, and a giant Bagubagu soared out of the Dark Hole next. And in its claws were two familiar figures.

"Zero and Shute!" Captain exclaimed.

Tallgeese realized that the giant Bagubagu was coming after him and ducked away. As the Bagubagu did a U-turn, Zero pulled Shute out of its grasp and leapt.

"We're out!" Shute yelled.

Zero smiled, feeling his magic return, as signified by his cape regrowing.

"We did it! Now to free the others!" Zero declared, and, gathering his regained power, threw the beam saber at Captain and Bakunetsumaru. The saber struck the space between them, and the released power burst the Claws from the wall, freeing them. Zero and Shute landed before the triplets, who were smiling at their arrival.

"Cool!" They chirped.

"But we lost the Egg…" Coah groaned.

Up in the air, Tallgeese darted around and dodged the persistent Bagubagu as the giant insect continued to buzz around him.

"Get away from me, you overgrown fruit-fly!" Tallgeese yelled, "Go crawl back into your hole, and get-get your own banana!"

Meanwhile, Coah showed Shute the tainting holograms in the first box.

"Ha, so the Spirit Egg was a fake?" Shute asked, laughing.

"You know it!" Coah nodded, "I wanted to play a trick on that loser!"

"But now he has the real thing!" Bakunetsumaru pointed out.

Noah then pointed into the air. "Look!"

The Gundam Force and his fellow triplets followed his finger, and saw Tallgeese slice through the Bagubagu, surrounded by red power.

As the two halves of the Bagubagu fell, the Knight of the Tempest glared down at the Force. "Face it, Winged Knight!" He snarled, "I'm more powerful than ever!"

Zero's eyes hardened. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Here me, O Mana!"

Zero raised his hand, and summoned his shield. Unsheathing his sword, Zero pointed it meaningfully at Tallgeese.

"Now, you give back what does not rightfully belong to you!" He threatened.

Tallgeese chuckled cruelly. "Fools! The mere suggestion that you're strong enough to defeat me, wets my appetite to destroy you all!"

Tallgeese held out his shield as it began to glow.

Bakunetsumaru tightened his grip on his swords. "Here we go again!"

With a loud screech, the Griffin pulled itself free of the shield.

"Griffin, rise!" Tallgeese ordered. As the sacred beast flew overhead, he commanded, "Griffin, come to me!"

Tallgeese rose and the Griffin dived. As they met in the air, there was a tremendous flash.

And Shute knew in an instant that this was their chance. If there was hope of winning this fight, it lay in the few moments it took for Tallgeese and the Griffin to merge.

"Let's get him now!" Shute yelled.

Captain nodded. "C'mon, team! Let's do it!"

"Yeah! Gundam Force Triple Attack!" Zero and Bakunetsumaru yelled, leaping up with him.

Meanwhile, the Griffin talons formed….

"Go, you guys!" Shute encouraged, "Don't give in to his evil!"

Captain felt his Soul Drive energize, ignited by Shute's determination.

"Soul Drive, activate!" Captain yelled, his eyes flaming. He took a fighting stance as his fist glowed golden from the power.

Now, one of Tallgeese's Griffin claws formed…

Zero held up his sword and chanted, "Mana, in the entire universe and all living things!" gathering his magic together.

And another claw formed…

"Blazing blades of justice!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, gathering his own strength. His swords began to glow with heat.

At this time, the Griffin armor finished its transformation.

"What are you fools wasting your last breath about!" Tallgeese taunted evilly. With a fiendish laugh, he spread out his wings.

"Go!" Shute yelled, focusing all of his spirit into Captain's Soul Drive. He knew that his faith and belief in Captain's own strength was the key to powering the Soul Drive.

"Super Magical Violet Tornado!" Zero cried out, unleashing powerful, rose petal-laced winds.

"Kenpu! Tenkyo-Ken!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, slicing a fiery X into the air.

"Captain Punch!" Captain leapt into winds, swinging his glowing fist. The three attacks merged into one singular power, flying towards Tallgeese.

Tallgeese, however, wasn't scared. He gathered all of his power into his claw.

"You will pay for your insolence!" he snarled, "You pathetic worms!"

Tallgeese swung his energy-claw at the Triple Attack, and there was a bright flash as the two forces met. Shute and the triplets were forced to cover their eyes and ears. Meanwhile, the two attacks canceled each other out, blasting them away. Captain was sent back to the ground, landing next to Shute, while Tallgeese was blown up into the air.

"Tallgeese!"

Zero flew up through the smoke from the blast and rammed the evil knight with his shield. The box with the Spirit Egg went flying out of his grip.

"Triplets, the Spirit Egg!" Zero called out, and tapped the flying box with his sword. The box glowed in a blue light and fell down.

The triplet ran to where the box was descending, and Coah caught it before it could hit the ground.

"Whoa…" he murmured as he looked inside. There was the Egg, untouched by all.

"Zero returned it to us…" He said softly. He looked up and felt his heart leap into his throat. "Zero!"

Tallgeese had recovered quite quickly, and was now pressing his claws down against Zero, who was forced to block with his shield. The two were plummeting at an immense velocity towards the Dark Hole's entrance.

"Give up Zero, and maybe I'll let your friends live!" Tallgeese threatened, the jovial tone in his voice gone completely. "I'd let you go too, but I already have my heart set on crushing you!"

Zero looked up past Tallgeese and grinned. Directly above them was the floating island he and the Gundam Force had first appeared on.

"You think I'm through, don't you?" Zero asked boldly, and threw his sword up. It missed Tallgeese and kept going up.

Tallgeese's eyes glinted. "Now you've made me really mad!"

-z-

The floating island was not just rock. It was also made up of magic, contained in the crystal. However, because of that, it was very unstable. If someone were to do something like, say, throw a magic sword at it, the built up energy would go critical and blow.

Which is exactly what happened.

-z-

Zero nodded with satisfaction as he saw the explosion. "I hope you have a strong back!"

"What do you mean!" Tallgeese demanded when he heard the sound of something falling.

Too little, too late, Tallgeese didn't see the large piece of the island hit until it was right on top of him, the speed of its fall pressing both knights down.

Zero was pleased to see his plan had worked, but found that he was unable to pull himself out from the falling island himself.

"I could use some reinforcements!" He called down meaningfully.

"Leave it to us!" Captain yelled back.

He and Bakunetsumaru took the Semicircle claws and threw them up. The Claws spun as they flew, implanting themselves into the rock, right over Tallgeese!

"I can't move!" Tallgeese cried in alarm. Looking at Zero desperately, he yelled, "Let me go! Quickly, before we crash!"

Zero shot him a cold look. "What do you mean we?"

Shute watched in horror as the rock fell, with Zero still trapped underneath it.

"Zero!" he screamed.

"We've got him!" Bakunetsumaru yelled, and threw Captain up into the air.

Once he was high enough, Captain activated his boosters and shot towards the rock, grabbing Zero as he flew by.

"Don't leave me!" Tallgeese wailed as he watched the Gundams go.

As Captain pulled him away, Zero cast Tallgeese one last look.

"Remember, Tallgeese," He said, "Those without friends only have enemies!"

Tallgeese, furious, shook with rage (Or tried to- He couldn't move with those Claws holding him down) and roared as the rock came down onto the Dark Hole.

CRASH!

When the dust settled, the rock was completely covering the Dark Hole's entrance- Tallgeese side down. Zero and Captain stood next to it.

"Victory!" Bakunetsumaru laughed as he and Shute ran towards the Gundams.

"Zero!" Shute cried, waving.

Zero was about to greet his friends when an a soft hum filled the air. A faint blue light filled the air.

"It's coming from the Spirit Egg!" Captain realized, following the light back towards the triplets…and the open box. The triplets stared in wonder at Egg as the light focused into a beam.

"The Spirit Egg is pointing towards its true lord…" Coah realized, and looked up.

Bakunetsumaru looked from the triplets to Zero, and vice-versa.

"Zero…" He gasped, "It's pointing at you!"

-z-

With the threat of Tallgeese removed (For now- Shute knew that villains were notorious for coming back.) the triplets led the Gundam Force to a special place. It was an enclosed cavern, with a rune circle carved into the ground, surrounded by five statues of hooded men with staffs, kneeling in some penance.

It was a place Zero had only been to once, but knew quiet well.

"What are these things?" Bakunetsumaru asked, regarding the figures with apprehension. By now he didn't trust anything in Lacroa.

"The five Great Sorcerers," Zero explained, bowing his head in reverence. "It has been a long time."

This was the place where her majesty had sent Zero to Earth, beginning his quest to restore his homeland. It symbolized both the beginning and the end…

…As it would now.

Great Sorcerers, huh? The Musha Gundam thought, trying to see up one statue's hood. Kinda creepy if you ask me…

Shute shared Bakunetsumaru's sentiments, looking over the Sorcerers uneasily. To him, this place felt like some kind of tomb.

"So, are they dead?" Shute asked worriedly. "…Or alive?"

The triplets just giggled. Coah gave Zero the box to Zero and rejoined his brothers outside of the rune circle. Taking a deep breath, they closed their hands together and began to chant.

"Mana in the entire universe and all living things…"

To the shock of Shute, Captain and Bakunetsumaru, the circle they were on began to glow!

"What's going on!" Bakunetsumaru cried.

Captain then made the connection. "That voice…the triplets are the ones who called us in Neotopia!"

Zero opened the box and gazed at the Spirit Egg.

"This Egg will be the key to saving Lacroa," Coah began, "And now, one of the prophecies has come true by giving it to our savior, Zero. Take it, and begin another journey."

Zero closed the box and looked at the triplets.

"Another journey…" He murmured.

"We called upon you during your journey," Coah explained, "Next time you visit us, you will unpetrify us, eliminate all evil, and finally save Lacroa for good, like the prophecy says."

"The prophecy?" Zero asked.

The triplets nodded. "Yes."

The air began to softly vibrate.

"Look, Shute!" Captain pointed out, "The dimensions are beginning to connect!"

Shute whipped out his PDA and turned it on. The screen said SIGNAL LOCATED...VERY LOW STRENGTH.

"That's awesome!" Shute said.

"It takes more than just our power to open the doorway to other dimensions," Coah told them, "It also takes the power of the Spirit. We were able to remain this way because of the Egg. But now that our task is done, the three of us must return to our petrified state."

Captain gave the triplets a good long look before catching on. "Oh, now I understand."

"What?" Shute put away his PDA and looked as well. To his shock, he saw the triplets feet turn to stone, as the petrification spread up through the legs.

"Petrified!" Shute cried in alarm, "Oh no! Something's making them petrified!"

"Don't worry, Shute," Doah replied, "We were already petrified before you met us. You just didn't realize it."

Shute gaped, unable to look away. Their bodies were halfway stone…

"Because of the power of the Egg," Coah said, "We were able to move without being petrified. Now we've fulfilled out mission and it's time to become petrified like the Great Sorcerers."

"Amazing…" Baku' breathed.

Shute ran to the edge of the rune circle.

"Can't we do something about it!" He asked desperately.

"It's not like we're dying," Coah assured him, "We're just going to sleep for a while."

But Shute wouldn't give up. "Come with us to Neotopia! What if Tallgeese revives?"

"Don't worry, it's safe here," Coah told him, "He never found this place before."

"But…"

"Besides, you cannot return home unless we send you off." Coah finished, smiling kindly.

"Coah…" Shute murmured sad

"Don't worry, Shute," Coah said, "We'll meet up again."

Saddened, Shute nodded.

"Can I visit you guys?" he asked.

"Only if you bring us some of those sweet cakes from your world." Noah answered.

Shute smiled, his eyes wavering. "I'll bring you the most delicious cake ever."

"And maybe, one day, we can visit you in your world!" Doah added hopefully.

"Great…" Shute said, shutting his eyes in a desperate bid to keep the tears from flowing. "You can stay at my house…"

"Thank you." The triplets chorused.

Shute opened his eyes to look at the triplets one last time when he felt something, or rather, not feel something. He and the Gundams were rising into the air!

"Hey, somebody took the floor!" Bakunetsumaru exclaimed, waving his arms fruitlessly.

As the Gundam Force ascended, the triplets of Lacroa said these words before the petrification covered their mouths.

"Great Zero and your friends…save the future and the princess of Lacroa…thank you."

Zero nodded at the now stone triplets. "In the name of the Winged Knight- and the Gundam Force- I will. Farewell!"

The Gundam Force continued to drift up towards a bright light above. As they did, Shute waved to his new friends.

"Bye, guys!" He called, "See you soon!"

"Triplets!" Zero added, "Do not forget the Gundam Force!"

Noah, Coah, and Doah, their bright eyes and smiles frozen in stone, watched as the Gundam Force, their saviors, vanished into the light.

Then the light vanished.

And silence reigned.

-z-

In the back yard, underneath the bright sun, Shute looked at his guests as they sat at the table.

"Well, guys. How do you like your cake?" he asked.

Doah swallowed a bite of his cupcake. "It's good!"

"Wonderful!" Noah sighed, devouring two cupcakes at once.

Coah looked away stubbornly, saying, "Hm, too sweet!" But his words were betrayed by the smile that cracked open.

Shute laughed, as the Gundams looked on from behind.

-z-

I miss those guys so much, I'm already pretending to see them again… Oh well… At least I still have my other friends with me… Shute thought, And it'll feel great to be home again…

-z-

Chief Haro wasn't sure what had happened. There had been another bright light, but when this one faded, the Gundam Force was standing in front of the Dimensional Transport Device. It was completely unprecedented.

And he didn't care one bit.

"Gentlement of the Gundam Force," He said softly, "Welcome back."

"Yee-haw!" Gunbike whooped. Laughing, he and a tearful Entengo raced up to welcome the four back personally. Up from his platform, Bell Wood looked down breathlessly at the Force.

"I did it!" he yelled, jumping down. "I got them all back in one piece! Way to go me!"

None of these cheers or praise reached the Gundam Force. Turning to the Gundams, Shute held out his hand, palm down. Following his lead, Captain, Zero, and Bakunetsumaru placed their hands over his. For one brief moment, their eyes met, before focusing on the Spirit Egg box in Zero's hand. Though none of them spoke a word, they silently made their vow. Someday, they would defeat the Dark Axis for good. Someday, they would restore the kingdom of Lacroa. And someday, they would meet the triplets again.

Someday.

...And somewhere in the winds, a child's voice could be heard…

--End Book 2—

A/n: Ahh, sorry for the long wait! I had other stuff to deal with… And I don't know how long it'll take me to get to work on Book 3!

And in any case, the Lacroa arc, in my opinion, is when the series REALLY took off. Everything before that was just mindless frivolity. Now, it's personal!