When I watched the fourth episode for the first time, I couldn't really look at the scene when Kanade threw up blood. I'm very sensitive to blood, both real and in anime/cartoons.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ages in the first part of the chapter;
Beatrix: 12 – 14
Misty: 16 – 18
Kalin: 18 – 20
XXXXXXXXXX
Akiza's age: 16
XXXXXXXXXX
The chapter begins in Beatrix's point of view and five years prior Present Day.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's or Symphogear characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 4: Shedding Tears
I was in the 2nd Division's Headquarters after I got the words that Commander and the others had saved a girl who was four years older than me from an attack of the Noise at Mt. Minakami. Apparently, she had been part of an excavation with her family when Noise showed up and killed her parents and little brother.
I stood behind Commander as the rescued girl, with slightly torn and dirty clothes, sat on a chair in front of him and did nothing but cry. She had her elbows rested on her lap as she covered her face with her hands while tears ran past them. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed uncontrollably. I couldn't help but pity her for losing her family, but I was familiar with the pain she was dealing with.
"So, this is the girl covered in our report", Commander spoke up.
"She's Misty Tredwell, sixteen years of age", one of the men behind us added. "The Noise attacked her. She's from Mt. Minakami, Nagano. She is the only one alive potentially compatible with the relic."
The relic… Gungnir… So far, I had been the only Candidate compatible with a relic and I had been fighting the Noise by myself ever since I awakened Ame no Habakiri. Were they suggesting this girl could become a comrade and join me in the battles with the Noise?
"We believe that she was spending the holiday with her family when they were attacked", the same man continued reporting.
I peeked out from behind the Commander when I noticed Misty's sobs had calmed down. She was peeking from her hands with a tear-streaked face and red eyes, curiosity written on them.
"Are you people fighting the Noise?" Misty questioned, getting everyone's attention. "Does this mean you've got weapons that are effective against them?" Commander just nodded his head, which made the girl's eyes widen in determination. "Please, give me one! I want to slaughter them for killing my family! My little brother!"
I flinched by her sudden hysterical voice, but I could tell she was only upset for losing a family she loved deeply and they loved her. A love that I never got to understand.
"You've had it tough", Commander said calmly as he kneeled down to Misty's eye level. "Can you tell me what happened when the Noise attacked you? We will avenge your family."
"No…", Misty shook her head as she tried wiping off fresh tears from her cheeks. "You can't avenge them! Only I can do it, so please! Give me a weapon!"
"Even if it will plunge you into the depths of hell?" Commander asked her.
I knew what he was trying to tell. It wasn't exactly an easy game to use a relic. You had to be naturally compatible with it. There was an alternative way to use a relic, but that could harm the human body to the extreme. Commander was warning Misty about the danger.
"It would be my wish if that's what it takes", Misty glared.
Commander remained silent before he patted Misty's head, surprising her with the action. The next thing he did was to bring her into a warm hug. While Commander rarely showed it, he deeply cared for children. I didn't know Commander's background, but maybe he had also gone through something hard and he became devoted to protect the next generation. That was my theory.
XXXXXXXXXX
It took days and weeks for Misty to endure seemingly endless training and medication to be compatible with Gungnir. During that time, I came and visited her every single day to get to know and support her. Kalin, who was both an intern in the 2nd Division and a high school student, often came with me to visit Misty. Kalin had once been an orphan, but Commander adopted him and he became like a big brother for me. I was happy to have him by my side, because sometimes I couldn't bear to watch the horror of what Misty went through.
The worst part was when the doctors injected the drug that could make almost anyone compatible with a relic; LiNKER. It was a risky drug that had even killed people before, according to Ryoko's reports. She had invented the drug to help the ones who could be compatible, but it was still not a very safe drug. More tests were needed, but Misty didn't want to wait years before she could use Gungnir.
Commander and Ryoko always monitored the medications and training, and also ready to jump in if something would go wrong.
The day came when Misty was finally compatible with Gungnir. Commander, Kalin, Ryoko, and I were watching the doctors from outside the examination room injecting another dose of LiNKER into Misty's body. Ryoko sat by a control panel to check the Aufwachen Waveform if Misty's voice could awaken Gungnir.
"Even now, after so much, she isn't compatible", Ryoko shook her head with a defeated sigh. "Nothing is ever simple."
I flinched in fear when Misty snapped and broke free from the restrictions of the examination table she lied on. The doctors stood around her fallen body as she slowly got up on her knees with one of the injection pistols full of LiNKER. She raised it up to her neck and was ready to overdose herself!
"She'll kill herself if she gets one more injection!" Kalin exclaimed.
"Don't!" Commander shouted to Misty.
"We can't give up now", Misty said with a weird look in her eyes. "We've come so far." With that, she injected the LiNKER, flinching by the pain. "Let's continue, Ryoko."
The alarms went off, which only meant one thing.
"Compatibility levels are going through the roof…", Ryoko reported, shocked by the new levels. "Breaking through phases one and two. Is she on level three now?"
While it sounded like good news, it was bad news for Misty's body. She was clutching her neck while her face turned pale and bags formed beneath her eyes. The next thing we all knew, she was throwing up blood. Lots of blood.
I couldn't watch anymore and burrowed my face against Kalin's chest as his warm arms wrapped around me. I could hear the gagging noise from Misty as she kept vomiting her blood.
"What are you waiting for?! Help her!" Commander shouted to the doctors. "Don't stand around! Keep her alive!"
This was a nightmare. I couldn't watch this anymore, but I didn't want to lose Misty. Besides her determination to avenge her family, she was a kind girl who treated me like I was part of her family.
I moved my head up when I heard the doctors cry out in pain. They had been flung away from Misty by an unknown force while she was still on her knees, holding her hands against her mouth to stop her blood from coming out.
I cried out in fear when Misty slammed one of her bloody hands against the glass without a warning.
"I got it…", Misty panted from the other side of the glass.
I noticed Gungnir was glowing and released some particles, as if it was starting to react to Misty. She opened her mouth, lips red by blood, to sing.
"Croitzal ronzell Gungnir zizzl."
Misty was surrounded by the energy of the relic as she regained her strength and moved up on her feet. Another flash erupted and she was dressed in the Symphogear of Gungnir. She looked at herself, a proud smile on her face.
"So, this is the power of the Symphogear…", she mumbled. "Now I can avenge my family."
I didn't know if this was a miracle, but Misty was the first one to have ever survived this harsh medication of LiNKER. Her willpower was something I really came to admire. She was such a strong girl, something I deeply wished I could become.
XXXXXXXXXX
It didn't take long before Misty and I were sent out on missions together whenever the Noise appeared. She quickly learned how to handle Gungnir and its Armed Gear. It was like she became a natural with weapons. Sadly, she still had to rely on LiNKER for almost every mission, but Ryoko was able to invent a safer drug during that time.
Misty was taken in by Commander and she and Kalin became really close. Not as brothers and sisters, but as lovers. Of course, they didn't leave me behind. They treated me as a little sister, but I gave them private time whenever they wanted. I was happy to have such a joyful life, besides from fighting the Noise, of course.
We practiced together and jogged together whenever we weren't at school or on missions. One day, two years after Misty joined the 2nd Division, she came up with an interesting idea while the three of us were jogging. I noticed she had been acting weird since the latest mission after we helped an injured soldier.
"Hey, Trixie", Misty called.
"Hm?" I replied.
"Having people listen to your song is much nicer than I thought, you know?" Misty said.
"What brought this on?" I questioned.
"Just a thought", Misty smiled. "Nothing, really."
We ran up to the top of a hill and looked out at the ocean while we regained out breaths and wiped the sweat off with towels.
"You can tell us, Misty", Kalin smiled warmly. "We won't get hurt if you tell us the truth."
Misty giggled before revealing her true feelings. "I just want to sing together with Trixie forever."
I snapped my head up in surprise when I heard that confession, but it made me so happy.
"How about the two of you become a group of idols until Trixie becomes an adult and I can then be your manager?" Kalin suggested. "That way, the three of us can stay together forever."
"I like it", Misty giggled before turning to me. "What do you say, Trixie?"
"Yes!" I smiled widely. "I'd love to sing with you forever, Misty!"
It was then we started singing together as Zwei Wing, but none of us could have predicted the future.
XXXXXXXXXX – Present Day – Normal POV
The Headquarters of the 2nd Division snapped up the energy of the latest relic that had appeared where Estelle and Beatrix were. Everyone snapped their eyes widen whe the computer revealed the relic's identity.
Nehushtan Armor.
"Impossible!" Commander Trudge exclaimed in disbelief before he took action. "Seal off the site! Do whatever it takes to contain the armor!"
Ryoko nodded, now fearing for the two Candidates that were facing the new enemy.
XXXXXXXXXX – Beatrix's POV
I could only stare at the girl wearing the Nehushtan Armor in shock and disbelief. The relic had been missing for two years and now it was back. But why was this girl using it? Who was she? How did she obtain the armor?!
"The Nehushtan Armor?" I mumbled in disbelief.
"That's correct", the girl wearing the Nehushtan Armor grinned. "So, you remember the name of this armor."
"I would never forget what was taken from me when my guard was down two years ago!" I growled at her. "Do you think I could forget the lives lost because of my failure?!"
I held back my tears by biting my lower lip when I remembered the devastating concert two years ago when Misty gave up her life to destroy the Noise and to save the girl who was now wearing her Symphogear.
I raised my sword, ready to attack the girl wearing the armor that was the main reason of Misty's death.
"Zettō Ame no Habakiri" by Nana Mizuki
"Sarinasai! Musō ni takeru honō
Kagura no kaze ni meshi sangese yo
Yami wo sake suikyō no iroha uta yo rin to ai wo kazashite
Iza yukan...kokoro ni michita ketsui shin naru yūki mune ni toite
Ā kizuna ni subete wo toshita senkō no ken yo"
It was a bit ironic how both the relic that killed Misty and the few remaining shards of Gungnir were both here. Now I could take care both of them at the same time.
The girl wearing Nehushtan Armor grinned before she picked up a silver and purple staff with a magenta jewel in the middle from the back of the armor that looked ominous, and grabbed the chain of the Nehushtan Armor as weapon. Was the staff another relic? I have never seen it before, but it didn't matter. I could slash it into two with Ame no Habakiri and then I would slash both girls in half to avenge Misty.
"Don't, Beatrix!" the girl wearing Misty's Symphogear exclaimed as she grabbed my shoulders, holding me back. "You can't kill her! She's a human being like you!"
"Do not interfere!" the girl with Nehushtan Armor and I growled at her, only to then look at each other in surprise that we reacted so simultaneously.
"We might actually get along", I commented with a small smirk.
"I agree, so let's have fun!" the Nehushtan girl smirked before throwing the chain of the armor towards me like a whip.
I shoved back the brunette before jumping up to dodge the chains that hit the ground and threw up dirt and dust. I had no concern about the girl carrying Gungnir, so I kept all my attention at the Nehushtan girl. My sword enlarged itself before its blade crackled with lightning, collecting energy. I swung the sword and released a Blue Flash. The energy blade was about to hit the burgundy-haired girl, but she blocked the Blue Flash with the chain of her armor and threw it aside, only to explode at the collision of the ground.
I fell towards her to try fighting her in close combat, but as I approached her I could see a wicked smirk on her lips. She was already treating this fight as a game.
I tried slashing her with my sword, but she jumped back and dodged it with ease. I followed her and tried attacking her over and over again, but she dodged it again and again. When it did look like I could hit her, she simply blocked the sword with the Nehushtan chain. I snapped my head in shock when I sensed the strength of the armor when my sword collided with the chain. It was that powerful.
Due to the distraction, the Nehushtan girl pushed my sword up, forcing my arms up as well, before she kicked me hard on my stomach. The strength of the kick literally threw me back like a catapult.
Was this the potential of a completed relic?
"Never underestimate the power of Nehushtan!" the girl wearing the armor taunted. "This is far from my best game!"
I was able to catch a grip of myself and crouched to the ground, stopping my body from flying. But I had to dash because the girl whipped the chain towards me again, smacking it to the ground, creating scars on the earth.
I had to jump around to dodge the chain while trying to find an opening to strike, but the Nehushtan girl was fast and seemed to predict where I would land, so I was jumping around like a frog.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
Estelle was watching the battle between Beatrix and the Nehushtan girl, knowing she wasn't that much use of help to assist Beatrix. She had only been fighting the Noise for a whole month and she still couldn't activate her Armed Gear. She was so distracted she didn't notice the Nehushtan girl had her eyes on her.
"Don't worry. I didn't forget about you", the Nehushtan girl called as she aimed the silver/purple staff towards Estelle. "Here's something to play with."
The staff sent a beam that summoned four Noise around Estelle. These were new Noise that Estelle had never seen before. They were three times taller than the humanoid Noise, had tall necks, red skin, and looked like pepper mills.
"She's capable of summoning Noise?!" Estelle exclaimed in disbelief.
The brunette quickly recovered from the shock and raised her fist to attack when the four new Noise aimed their beak-like heads toward her and spat a thick liquid at her. Estelle tried to move, but the liquid immobilized her like super-glue.
"Helvete! (Hell!)" Estelle cursed with her Swedish tongue.
The Nehushtan girl grinned in delight, but she spotted Beatrix coming at her from the corner of her eye. She blocked Beatrix's sword just in time with the chain of her armor.
"Forgot about me when you were busy?" Beatrix asked.
The turquoise-haired girl swiped her foot beneath the Nehushtan girl and tripped her. The armor girl got distracted by the sudden move and fell backwards, but she caught herself in time before Beatrix could slash her with the blades attached on her boots and blocked said blade.
"You're so annoying!" the Nehushtan girl snarled.
She twisted her hand to grab Beatrix's ankle and used her super-strength to throw the Candidate like a sack of potatoes. Just as Beatrix hit the ground, the Nehushtan girl used her increased speed and dashed over to the fallen Candidate and put her heavy armor shoe on top of Beatrix's head.
"Don't get your hopes up!" the Nehushtan girl growled. "Nobody'd miss you!" Beatrix tried to get up, but the heavy foot forced her down. "But let me tell you something; I'm not here for you." She threw a thumb over her shoulder, pointing it at Estelle who was trying to free herself from the Noise's heavy glue. "The goal was abducting her from the beginning."
Estelle snapped her head up when she heard that. The Nehushtan girl came for her? But why? Or rather, who told this powerful girl to kidnap her?
The Nehushtan girl grinned sadistically at Beatrix. "Is this all you can do to protect your comrades and your armor?"
XXXXXXXXXX – Beatrix's POV
The girl wearing the Nehushtan Armor came to get the brunette? It didn't make any sense. She was still a useless Candidate who couldn't activate her Armed Gear, but still… Despite that, she had always tried to destroy the Noise in her own way.
While I didn't accept her as a comrade, she was still a member of the 2nd Division. I wasn't going to allow the enemy to kidnap someone who I still trusted somewhere in my heart.
"Do you think I'll just watch?" I narrowed my eyes. "I swore I wouldn't!"
I raised my sword, which I luckily still held in my hand, and pointed it to the sky. I channeled the energy of Ame no Habakiri and created a large number of energy swords in the air which then rained down on me and the Nehushtan girl. It was my One Thousand Tears attack.
The Nehushtan girl jumped away before the energy swords could hit her and landed several meters from me. I got up on my feet, feeling relieved to move, because I was far from done. I didn't hesitate for a second and ran after the armor girl to finish her once and for all.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I could only watch in worry and horror as Beatrix and the other girl fought each other across the park. Every time an explosion erupted, I feared if Beatrix got hurt. I still tried to free myself from the Noise, but I was unable to move at all.
"Now this is the time I need your help, Gungnir!" I called to my relic, trying to channel my energy to activate it, as Ryoko instructed me before. "Please, help me, Gungnir! I need to help Trixie!"
I felt helpless as I couldn't activate my weapon. It made me think like I was a failure as a Candidate, but I refused to give up. If Beatrix didn't give up, then I shouldn't do it.
All I could do now was to pray and hope for the best that Beatrix would come back without a scratch.
XXXXXXXXXX – Beatrix's POV
I had been battling the Nehushtan girl for a while now, and I still hadn't been able to lay a scratch on her. While we battled, I noticed she wasn't teasing me. Her power was real. Her power was strong enough that she could actually kill me if she wanted to.
She picked up the staff-like relic and summoned new horde of Noise around me. My attention switched to them immediately and I did my best to destroy each one of them before I could turn my head back to the Nehushtan girl. I picked up three small daggers from the compartment of my armor and threw them at the girl.
"Those tiny things won't hurt me!" the Nehushtan girl laughed as she swung her chain and bounced them back.
To my surprise, the girl raised the chain and created a white energy sphere crackling with black electricity within at the end of the chain. She threw the sphere towards me, which I tried blocking with my sword. But it was too powerful for me and it threw me back when it exploded. I could hear in the background how the brunette called my name worriedly.
I hit the ground hard on my stomach, now feeling how low my energy was. I didn't have much phonic gain left. This meant my Symphogear could deactivate anytime now, but I couldn't let that happen just yet.
"You're tired already?" the Nehushtan girl snorted.
"I must admit…", I mumbled as I slowly got up on my feet with my sword. "…that I was done for. Although I see myself as nothing more than a weapon with a human shell, it shames me to admit I survived back then." I was recalling the concert two years ago. "A human weapon has come to know shame. But that will be dust on the wind. I will cleanse the stain off my name by taking Nehushtan back!"
"Really?" the Nehushtan girl smirked with a curious look in her eyes. "Then give me your best-"
She was about to move when her body stayed in one place. I felt a small smile grow on my lips. One of the daggers I threw before had landed into her shadow, disabling her movement. The Shadow Weaving was a success.
"How dare you?!" the armor girl snarled before she stopped herself to see my emotionless expression with determined eyes.
I was ready to do the same sacrifice as Misty. It was the only way to take back the Nehushtan Armor. "Let's finish this while the moon is out."
I had to sing my superb song.
"Are you…going to sing your superb song?" the Nehushtan girl said in slight fear.
"Beatrix!" the brunette wearing Misty's Symphogear shouted from behind.
I turned around to face her and give her my last words before I could sing. "I will show you the extent of my determination!" The brunette blinked her eyes and flinched back by my harsh voice. "Burn it into your memory!"
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
Commander Trudge and Ryoko were driving in a car and were only five minutes away from the battle site when they overheard everything that was said during the combat through the woman's smartphone. Both of them knew what was coming.
"Trixie…will sing, won't she?" Ryoko mumbled, concerned.
Commander Trudge narrowed his eyes as he kept his attention on the road while driving the car. He had always known the day would come when Beatrix would do the ultimate sacrifice, but he was still worried about the girl. Since Beatrix had a natural compatibility with her relic, the chances of her surviving after singing the superb song was low, but it could cause damage to her body for a lifetime.
Deep inside, he prayed the girl he had taken under his wing after she got kicked out from her family house would survive and return to the 2nd Division.
XXXXXXXXXX – Beatrix's POV
"I won't let you do whatever you want!" the Nehushtan girl snarled as she fought against the Shadow Weaving.
I turned my attention back to her after I told the brunette wearing Misty's Symphogear to remember the superb song, if she would ever need to do the same sacrifice as me.
I raised my sword and felt the energy of my relic channel through my body as I opened my lips to sing the song.
"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal
Emustolronzen fine el baral zizzl"
I kept singing as I slowly approached the Nehushtan girl who started to fear for her life. She knew what was coming and she couldn't run away. And even if she did, I wouldn't allow her to do so.
"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal"
Due to her strength by the Nehushtan Armor, she was able to grab the staff relic and aimed it at me. She summoned a bigger horde of Noise to stop me, but she hadn't noticed I had walked closer to her, so the Noise missed me.
I could see the fear in her eyes as I stood in front of her and grabbed her right shoulder to hold her still. I leaned my face closer to her and finished the superb song in a whisper.
"Emustolronzen fine el zizzl"
I tasted the blood in my mouth as it ran out from the corner of my mouth before my body released a powerful shockwave to destroy everything around me. The girl wearing the armor cried out in pain as she got affected by the shockwave, but since I was still holding her, she didn't get thrown back. I could see cracks forming on the armor, which was a good sign.
XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV
The shockwave that emitted from Beatrix's body spread around in the park and destroyed every Noise in there, including the ones that held Estelle captive. Estelle didn't get as hurt as she first thought when she recalled how the superb song had almost destroyed the whole stadium when Misty used said song two years ago.
Beatrix finally let go of the Nehushtan girl who was thrown back several meters by the superb song's power. She flew straight into a fountain and lied there paralyzed as the aftermath of the superb song died down. Her armor was cracked, the visor shattered into pieces, and the tights were torn.
The Nehushtan girl started groaning in pain as the Nehushtan Armor began using its automatic healing powers to restore the armor. The armor was literally part of the girl's skin, so the procedure hurt her. The girl knew if she stayed, she could get caught and she couldn't let that happen. Once she felt strong enough to move, she got up from the fountain and ran away from the park before the reinforcement for the two Candidates could come.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I was shocked to see the destruction around Beatrix. The ground literally had a huge scar with no trace of grass. My body felt a bit wobbly after the shockwave of the superb song, but I had to check Beatrix. She was standing in the middle of the ground, her back turned to me, as she made no signs of movement.
"Beatrix!" I called as I ran towards her. "Are you okay?!"
I suddenly lost the feeling in my knees and collapsed on the ground. I got up on all four just as a car arrived. It braked next to me and Commander got out of it immediately.
"Are you all right, Beatrix?!" Commander Trudge asked frantically.
"I failed to do what it takes to protect mankind", Beatrix mumbled, but it sounded like she was gagging.
She turned slowly around and I was greeted with a horrible sight. Blood was running down her body like a waterfall and created a pool beneath her feet, both from her mouth and her eyes. She had a dead look in her eyes as she had a weak smile on her lips.
"I failed to make a difference as a weapon…"
Those were Beatrix's last words before she closed her eyes and collapsed into a heap on the ground.
I couldn't take the whole scene in as I watched everything in slow motion. Commander ran over to Beatrix to keep her awake while using his communicator to call for backup. Something almost snapped inside me when I saw Beatrix's condition. While she had never treated me as a friend, I still cared about her even though I had been frightened for my life.
But what affected me the most was this sacrifice was just as Misty did when she saved my life. Now Beatrix had sacrificed herself to save me. Was it my fault the Candidates had to sing the superb song?!
"TRIXIEEEEEE!"
XXXXXXXXXX
I sat in a small waiting room in 2nd Division's personal hospital not so far from Lydian Academy. Commander had ordered an emergency team to come and fetch Beatrix's body to save her life. I had been in an apathetic-like state since I watched her collapse in the park. I still kept blaming myself inwardly for Beatrix's sacrifice. If I had been much stronger and used my Armed Gear, none of this would have happened.
I heard from the hallway how the doctor told Commander and his team that he and his team had been able to save Beatrix's life, but she was now in a medical induced coma until her condition would stabilize. No one knew if she was going to survive or not. Only time could tell now.
I heard the Commander order his team to find the girl with the Nehushtan Armor and secure the park to collect clues about the completed relic's whereabouts. With that order, the group left the hospital. I wasn't ready to leave, but I had to. It was soon morning and I needed to get some sleep, and Yusei was probably worried about me.
"This isn't your burden to bear", Kalin's voice spoke up, snapping me out of my trance. "Trixie chose to sing on her own."
I lifted my head up to see the man pay for some coffee by the vending machine. He brought two cups to the coffee table in the waiting room and placed one in front of me. I grabbed it with both my hands and gave him a soft nod as thank you before taking a few sips on the hot liquid.
"As I believe you are well aware, Trixie was in a duo before", Kalin continued as he sat down next to me.
"You mean Zwei Wing?" I mumbled.
"Her partner was Misty Tredwell, bearer of the Gungnir Symphogear, whose fragments are still burrowed in your chest", Kalin nodded. "She was also…my girlfriend."
I blinked my eyes in slight surprise. This was something I didn't expect to hear.
"Two years ago, so that devastation from the Noise attack on their show would be minimal, Misty sand her superb song", Kalin told me.
"Superb song?" I questioned. "I remember the girl wearing Nehushtan Armor mention the same term before Trixie started singing."
"The superb song amplifies the power of the Symphogear beyond its constraints without regard to the effect it may have on the user", Kalin explained as his eyes shone with slight pain. "The Noise were annihilated, but Misty's life was burnt away with them."
I remember the last moment before I fainted back at the concert. Beatrix was holding Misty before the older girl's body turned into dust and faded into nothingness.
"Did she do it to save me?" I asked, referring to Misty's actions.
Kalin didn't answer my question. Instead, he took a sip of his coffee as he collected his thoughts. "Misty died and Zwei Wing was broken up. Trixie was left alone, and to sweep away the gloom Misty's death left in her heart, she fought with savage fury. She lost a friend who was her own age, and to drive away the sorrow, she lived as a mindless sword with no heed for love or games. And today, prepared to fulfill her duty as a sword, she sang fully expecting to die for it." He took a short break. "It's awkward, isn't it? But that's Beatrix Kazanari's way of life."
Beatrix… She had been carrying such a huge burden and believed it was her fault for Misty's death when it was actually my fault. If I hadn't been distracted by her and Misty fighting the Noise and put myself in danger, none of this would have happened. Misty would still be alive and singing together with Beatrix and have a happy future with Kalin. Beatrix wouldn't have become a human sword and enjoy life and keep singing with feelings.
My existence in the last two years had been nothing but a curse. Because of my recklessness, Misty sacrificed herself to rescue me. Because I survived the concert, my family got harassed by people who lost their loved ones who came from our hometown to the same concert and blamed me for their deaths. Because of my uselessness, Beatrix sang the superb song and who knew if she would survive or not.
This overwhelming feeling of guilt took over my body and I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. I set down my paper mug of coffee on the coffee table with shaking hands before I removed my glasses to try wiping the tears that kept coming.
"That's such a cruel fate…", I sobbed. "It must have hurt to her me want to fight with her… It's my fault for not being as good as Misty that Trixie had to sing the song…"
"No one of us blames you for Trixie's choice", Kalin told me as I tried calming down. "You've been fighting the Noise for over a month. Trixie and Misty had years of experience, but they all began on the same level as you."
I bit my lower lip as I used my school cardigan to wipe my face clean, feeling a little better after hearing that both Misty and Beatrix had once been in the same place as me.
"I have only one thing to ask of you, Estelle", Kalin said, getting my attention as I put back my glasses on my nose.
"What is it…?" I asked tiredly.
"Don't hate Trixie", Kalin said with a warm expression. "Let her feel that there are others in the world."
I nodded my head slowly. "I could never hate her. Even when she gave me the cold shoulder and tried to kill me once, I never grew to hate her. But… I do want to be her friend, if she allows me to when she wakes up."
"I'm sure one day she will have a change of heart", Kalin nodded. "So, stay by her side and show her the human warmth she's tried pushing away."
XXXXXXXXXX – Beatrix' POV
Where was I?
I was falling down from the sky that seemed endless.
Was this the road to the Heaven where Misty's spirit was?
I snapped my eyes open when I felt a familiar presence fly past me. I caught myself in the sky and turned around to see the familiar ebony hair of Misty and the back of her body. She looked over her shoulder, but I couldn't see her eye.
"One wing is enough to fly!" I cried as I desperately tried flying over to her. "I'll show you I can climb to any height!"
As I flew closer, I noticed Misty wasn't happy for seeing me. In fact, she looked like she was disappointed. She had a frown I hated to see on her face before.
"Just smile! Please, Misty!"
Suddenly, I felt like I was in the deep ocean and my mouth was full of water. My body sank like a stone as I was slowly drowning. I still tried to reach out my hand for Misty to grab it, but she didn't take it.
Please, Misty! I needed you!
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I was needed to go to the Headquarters to have a brief but urgent meeting about the encounter with the girl wearing Nehushtan Armor straight after Kalin and I exited the hospital. Those who were on the meeting were me, Commander, Ryoko, Kaz, and Mina.
"What worries me is that the girl in the Nehushtan Armor was targeting Estelle", Commander Trudge stated.
"Whatever we are to make of that", Ryoko mumbled as she looked at something on a tablet.
"Obvious", Commander Trudge shook his head. "If she knows about her, she must know about the 2nd Division as well."
"So, she has an informant?" Kaz questioned.
"What does this mean?" Mina wondered.
The guilt came back to me as I recalled how useless I was in the battle with the girl and Beatrix. "It's my fault. Admit it, it's all my fault. Two years ago was my fault, and now this is my fault. Trixie's in intensive care because I was weak and useless." I clenched my hands into fists as anger at myself washed over me. "Symphogear might hold great power, but I'm not enough to wield it." I stood up and turned my back to the others. "Trixie cried… She didn't hang on out of strength. She held on against her own sadness as well. She shed more tears of determination and despair than anyone else." Tears accumulated in my eyes once again. "All she tried to be as a model sword. She was alone all the time…"
No one said anything to comfort me, and it was a good thing they did. I remembered why I joined the 2nd Division in the first place. It wasn't only because I had the fragments of Gungnir inside me. I wanted to use the relic's power to protect the people I loved and cared for, but in order to do that I had become much stronger than I was right now.
I had to change if I wanted to become useful.
"I want to protect those I cherish in my heart!" I declared determinedly as I turned around to face the group. "That's why I'm begging all of you; please help me become stronger! Help me use Gungnir!"
Commander blinked his eyes before he got up from the couch. He walked over to me before he patted my head, like a father would do.
"You've already changed since you joined us", he told me with a fatherly smile before he got serious. "Since you can't use your Armed Gear, you should continue relying on your fists. Therefore, I will teach you martial arts."
"That's a great idea", Ryoko nodded. "You're such a powerful beast and you can help Estelle become stronger, Trudge. And who knows; maybe after lots of training Estelle might finally activate her Armed Gear."
Mina and Kaz nodded in agreement. I nodded as well as Commander let go of my head. "You should go back to Lydian and rest", he told me. "Our training will begin early next morning."
"Understood!" I nodded before saluting.
XXXXXXXXXX
I was able to catch a few hours of sleep before the classes started. It was now a break and I sat on a bench on the rooftop to think about everything that happened in the last twelve hours. Maybe the choice was a bit reckless of me to learn martial arts, but I was set on it. I had to become stronger to protect Yusei and fight together with Beatrix once she wakes up.
"Estelle", Yusei called.
I looked up and saw he was standing in front of me. "Yes?"
"You've gone on a solitary streak lately", Yusei pointed out with a light smirk.
"Umm… You're sure about that?" I said sheepishly before I looked down, feeling a bit gloomy again. "Yusei, another reason why I enrolled here was to lighten the burden of Mom and my big brother. The tuition here is surprisingly cheap, and I don't want to sponge off my family. They need the money more than I-"
I stopped talking when Yusei sat down next to me and grabbed my hand very softly, as if he was afraid to break it. I knew he was suspicious about my recent actions and excuses, but I was relieved he didn't try questioning me about my sudden change.
"I can't hide things from you, can I?" I mumbled as I looked aside.
"Don't put yourself through this, Estelle", Yusei said calmly.
I turned back to him before taking a deep breath. "Yusei… I have a secret, but I'm not ready to tell you yet."
"I understand", Yusei nodded as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll wait for you until you can tell me the truth."
I felt my lips twitch into a small smile as I returned the gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Yusei."
"Just promise me to remain true to yourself", Yusei said as he let go of my hand.
"Remain true to myself…?" I mumbled.
Yusei stood up and turned around to face me with a gentle and warm smile. "You always put others before yourself, even during that time. I was amazed by your inner strength of how you were able to go through each day without giving up."
"But that's because you were there for me, Yusei", I told him. "You didn't back away from me, even when I tried to push you away…"
"Because you didn't want to put me and my family in danger", Yusei nodded, understanding what I meant. "However, I never regretted the choice I made when I resigned from the Physics Club, just to stay by your side." He looked up at the sky. "The sky may be limitless, but it will never change, just as the stars." He looked down and held out his hand to me. "So, go on being yourself and help those you want to. I will always support you because you're irreplaceable."
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. That almost sounded like a confession, but it wasn't the love kind. However, it still made me happy that Yusei cherished me so much to say such things. That made me more determined to protect him in the future, from the Noise, the girl wearing the Nehushtan Armor, and whatever danger that was out there in the vast world. And not just Yusei; I wanted to protect my family, the people in the 2nd Division, the citizens of Tokyo, and Beatrix.
"You're right", I nodded before I grabbed Yusei's hand and stood up from the bench. "Thank you, Yusei… For everything."
Yusei smiled softly at me before he let go of my hand. "I almost forgot. Want to watch the Lyra meteor shower? I've got a video of it."
"Are you serious?" I asked in slight surprise as Yusei fished up his smartphone.
He opened the app for photos and movies and handed the smartphone over to me so I could watch the meteor shower. However, it was hard to see the shooting stars on the screen.
"The screen's black", I pointed out.
"Well, it was night and dark when I recorded it", Yusei stated.
Both of us saw the joke in it and started laughing. I hadn't felt so refreshed after laughing so hard. Now I felt like I was ready to take on the world, but first I needed to charge my battery by going all out before the training with Commander.
"Let's make sure we both see the meteor shower next time", I told Yusei as I wiped a tear off my eye.
Yusei nodded, "Let's make this one a promise for real this time."
The two of us linked our pinkie fingers and sealed the deal. Now I was more than ready to face the harsh training of Commander, but I knew I would always be welcomed back by Yusei.
I wasn't alone. I had people by my side. I could do this. I could become stronger than I was right now while remain the same on the inside.
