"We lost three Kataphrakts, two Landing Castles, central Asia and India. Orga's barons are holding his Russian territory with Count Gregaire, and the UFE paid a high price; but their rearmament will be exponentially faster. A few Counts are even whispering of peace. Others propose a massive orbital bombardment, but no one will engage the Terrans directly, after this…"

"…disaster, Sir Harklight." At her desk, Slaine did not move; her face was like ice. "But there will be no peace. And no bombardment. It will take time to rally support for another offensive, but next time I will lead in person, without any half-measures. Only when our kingdom covers the Earth will there be peace, however long that takes."

"My Lady." Like a certain slim finger, chill ran down Harklight's spine, "You are resolved."

"The arrow has been loosed. I have nothing else to turn back to. That will be all, Sir Harklight."

"Very good, Milady. Incidentally, Prince Asseylum very much wished to see you this afternoon."

He bowed to hide his smile. His Lady would never turn back. But she looked back, to the Prince she loved, and he couldn't help but love her for it. A billion Terrans would live another day, on her mercy.

On the other side of the Moonbase, Prince Lemerius finally went to the medical wing, and found out what he had to know.

-0-

-0-

In a small steel room, with one bowl of flowers at his bedside, Edward combed his Prince's hair. Asseylum's smile was quiet and simple.

"Edward? Who am I?"

"The Prince of Vers, Highness. The Crown Prince…"

"Then why am I now sitting here, alone and doing nothing? Even memories of Mars seem like a dream. Did I really work to guide and lead my people? Did they love me, for any happiness I gave them? I am thinking, more and more…that the only happiness I could ever make is hers."

Afterwards, Edward obeyed Prince Lemerius' summons. The rose-haired Prince was sat alone. However often he gazed at the stars, Edward had never seen him look so lonely before.

"Edward? Come here. Now, do you have a weapon?"

"Highness? Yes, but–"

Then Lemerius snatched it, and turned it on him.

"Now. Please take me to see Prince Asseylum." As he led the Prince across to Castle Troyard, Edward could have escaped or given alarm many times, but didn't.

As his mirror image aimed the gun at him, Prince Asseylum remained seated. His dreamy smile barely wavered.

"Ah. Perhaps you can tell me who I am?"

"You are…my brother." Shock broke on Asseylum's face.

"Whatever I did, whatever was done to you…I am sorry."

Lemerius had nothing else to say. The gun shook in circles over his brother's face. The brother he'd never known and never escaped, the man who had his fiancé, and he would have emptied the gun if it had won him Slaine's heart–but it wouldn't. He would have nothing, if he fired. Like the crownless Prince before his eyes; his…

"…brother." Lemerius lowered the gun, "This is an unexpected meeting. I was told you were at death's door, for one thing."

"Who…?"

Then Edward, with a silent prayer for Slaine's forgiveness, finally revealed the pendant he had received from Count Mazuurek. When Asseylum looked up from it, to his brother, it was as a sadder, stronger man.

-0-

-0-

"Slaine. You never told me that my brother was awake. Why?"

"I feared it would disturb you at a critical stage of our plans."

"Disturb me? You said that he was dying!"

No regret showed in Slaine's face, as she stood in Lemerius' suite before the Prince. But she briefly looked away, before speaking again.

"I still need you to impersonate Prince Asseylum. Nothing has changed."

"But, you are fighting this war against the Prince's will."

"Nothing has changed. And the peace of my Prnce's dreams can come in no other way. Do you know why wars are fought, your Highness?"

"To achieve political ends by another means."

The Prince's voice failed as Slaine stepped forward. Magnificent in her uniform, her voice was entirely cold and exact.

"A nineteenth-century fairytale, Highness. The Punic wars, the Pacific war, Germany and France, the Native American geocide–Earth and Mars. All drowning those words in blood, because wars are fought while there is an enemy to fight. From the fall of Castle Saazbaum–from the day humans settled on Mars–this war could only end when one side was assimilated into the other, or annihilated. I will end this war, Highness; I will give you, and Prince Asseylum, a world without war or pain. I am the one who will do what is required." She placed a finger under one stony eye, as she spoke, and ran it along one scar.

"No…"

The Prince shook his head, like a sparrow stunned on a windowpane. He could say nothing else until he stood up, dismissed the hologram, and was Prince Asseylum Vers Allusia again.

-0-

-0-

"My Prince…" Slaine stepped back. One spasm of agony and shame gripped her face–then it was ice again, as she turned to Lemerius and Edward in the doorway. "My Prince. You must be surprised at the change in me…"

"No. No, no…"

In one rush, Asseylum gripped her shoulders, spun her, looked her in the face. Harsh years had made her arms strong, but she did not move.

"This isn't you, Slaine. You are gentle, and kind. You taught me of flowers and birds with love! All the Counts wanted this useless, unjust war, but you never did! Can't we wake up from this nightmare? Whatever happened to you, whatever you've done, you are Slaine Troyard, an innocent girl!"

The Prince gripped Slaine's collar, and torn her jacket open down the front. Too shocked to even cry out, she fell back onto a sofa–still gripping her collar, he thumped down over her. Her breasts stood out under her shirt. There were tears in Asseylum's eyes.

"See? The innocent girl who believed in peace. The girl I care for, more than–"

"Get away from me, your Highness."

The Prince's hand froze on Slaine's cheek, as her sidearm touched his kneecap. He stood up, adjusting his collar. Guards were already covering the stunned Edward and Lemerius.

"I'm sorry, Slaine. My feelings overcame–"

"Don't move! I'll shoot your leg off, if I must protect you from yourself!"

"–I understand. Sorry. What I did was unworthy of a Prince, let alone your friend. But as both, I demand that you end this unjust war."

Holding her torn jacket over her chest, Slaine kept her gun aimed at the Prince. Colour burned in her ravaged cheeks.

"Even if I was still a Versian citizen I could not do that, your Highness, and would not try. I am not the little girl you knew, who couldn't even save herself. I will confine you under house arrest, until everything is over. I will protect you, this time, Highness."

"I refuse your protection." Asseylum's handsome face was colder than Slaine's now. "Countess Slaine Saazbaum-Troyard. I challenge you to a duel."

"….yes. My Prince."

Slaine smiled. Acknowledgement, after four years. She had lost him forever, but his words were a final cooling breeze above her hell.

She walked out, leaving the princes to their guards. Unable to meet Lemerius' eye.

-0-

-0-

Absently, Slaine sent her jacket to be repaired, and retired to her quarters with her choices. Forgetting that Sir Harklight was still the best tailor on the Moonbase, and deal with her wardrobe personally.

The aide stared at the thing in his hands. Her jacket, torn by a hand-ripping his chest hollow, as his heart screamed out.

In her past, he knew there was assault. Abuse to break every hope and joy, but she had still fought to the death, for her Prince. And what had he done to her?

There was a gun in his locker. No guard would stop him; but he couldn't go. For her sake...he could only bury his face in the torn jacket. Choke on the scent of her body; weep and weep for her brokenness and his guilt.

"...oh, my Lady...oh, Slaine. How could he hurt you?"

She was his Lady-the girl he loved, and he could not help her. A scarred seventeen-year old...he could not hold her. She trusted him...but he could only cling her jacket, and wish it was her. He would give his life for what happiness she might ever have, and perhaps atone some day for his hideous desire-that she might smile, one day, for him.

-0-

-0-

"Brother of mine….should I have killed you when I had the chance?" Asseylum looked so miserable, Lemerius eventually looked away. He had lost everything he'd never had, apart from his brother, after all.

The Princes, with Edward, had been locked in the suite for days. Their meals were unchanged, and an officer had confirmed Asseylum's requirements for the duel. After a single brief order, the Prince hadn't spoken.

"It was shameful." Asseylum finally looked up, "I've made so many mistakes…this will be my last chance to make her see. For the sake of the world, I must succeed." Lemerius' eyes narrowed.

"And Slaine? Are you going to kill the girl who loves you, for the world's sake?"

"Highness…" Edward broke in, "Countess Troyard fought to protect you, at risk of her ambitions, and even her life. She hoped for nothing but that you would wake, and smile again…she hoped for so long…" The page glanced at Lemerius; his voice broke down. "She shouldn't have deceived everyone, but it wasn't for herself! She's sadder about this than anyone!"

Asseylum rested a hand on Edward's shoulder. His smile was very sad.

"Neither Princes, nor nobles, are granted power to serve their own desires. Slaine does not understand it–perhaps she never did. I must save my friends on Earth, and her people who are dying. And I will save Slaine Troyard."

"Of course." Lemerius glowered at his brother again, "That's what Princes do isn't it?"

-0-

-0-

"Only the royal family can use personal Aldnoah devices, such as holographic disguises and the mind-link of the Olympus kataphrakt. While the body is moved as a regular kataphrakt, the mind-link is necessary to convert intention into energy. Energy bolts, from the will to destroy. Impenetrable shields, from the desire to survive–but only against attacks that the Prince can anticipate. With the Tharsis's clairvoyance, you should be able to evade his attacks, and await an opportunity."

"No." Slaine leaned back at her desk, "I kept Lemerius from using the Olympus' cursed power, as much as I could. The longer Prince Asseylum fights with it, the worse the effects will be. I will conclude the duel as swiftly as possible."

"Milady…are you prepared for this duel? I have every hope you can disable the Prince and compel his surrender. I hope that one day both of the Princes will understand what you are doing, and your feelings for them…but if necessary…?"

"It doesn't matter. Whatever happens, happens."

Harklight had never been more unnerved. Slaine showed no more emotion than a falling statue, whistling towards the ground.

-0-

-0-

The morning of the duel failed to dawn–only the white Tharsis rose into the darkness of space. Stone-faced, Harklight and Lemerius watched from the Moonbase command deck. It wasn't an official duel, with referees, or seizure of assets–that would have required parity of rank. It was simply an informal battle between Prince Asseylum Vers Allusia and Countess Slaine Saazbaum-Troyard. Divided by their ideals; bound only by their honour.

"Watch me, my Prince…" Slaine breathed deeply, moistened her lips, "See how strong my convictions are."

She was ready for the Olympus to drift from the hanger–but it wasn't the purple-and-gold behemoth that emerged. Asseylum had chosen a Kataphrakt that sent her cold as the void.

The Tharsis cockpit barely had room for two bodies. On her desperate flight from Novosibirisk to the Moonbase, Slaine had hauled her Prince into the Tharsis with her. She had carried Saazbaum to the Moonbase inside the only intact Kataphrakt remaining.

Prince Asseylum's Sleipnir.

"Your Highness. This is no fair fight!"

"What of it?" The orange Kat drew its blade, and assumed a fighting stance. "You've defeated enough Terrans in these machines, have you not?"

"I…fought them for the sake of Vers, my Prince. For you, your peace…"

"Then you can kill me with them, Miss Troyard. Then nothing will stand in your way."

"No…"

The orange kat stood among spiralling asteroids, in Slaine's crosshairs. She swooped around, circled, then dived, aiming for the weapon. At the last second, the Prince moved. Then they were spinning away, locked in an embrace with a knife at her back.

"You danced better than this, Slaine! You're better than this. Remember who you are, and free your heart!"

"I see your heart, my Prince," Her elbow knocked his knife away; a kick sent them spiralling apart. "There is no future where you kill me."

"Of course not. I am your friend, Slaine, come what may."

"…what about Kaizuka Kei? What about that Orange Terran whore?" With a snarl, Slaine dived on the Sleipnir again, chopping the knife arm away. Her second pass reduced the thrusters to scrap metal, "Now, submit!"

"I told you, when we were children, Slaine–I would give my life happily, for cause of peace. After my time on Earth, and all my failures…I am truly ready. If you believe your war and your lies will bring peace Slaine, then kill me now, because I will oppose you as long as I live."

"I don't care. Hate me, torture me, kill me…only submit! Peace means nothing to me, without you!"

"Then end this. Let's talk this over, Slaine, and think together what we can do–"

No.

With a sudden scream, Slaine brought her shield down on the Sleipnir. It spun away, like a broken bird–she pinned it to a meteorite, and struck it again.

No. Never surrender. Feel how strong I've grown, my Prince! I'm sorry for this, I'm so sorry…but when this monster goes down to hell alone for you, then know will know how much I loved you. I will become a demon, for the sake of a world at peace. But I will never be that helpless little girl again!

"His...Highness's vital readings indicate unconsciousness." Harklight showed no feeling whatsoever. Lemerius buried his head in his hands. "The duel is over."

From that day until Slaine's last hour on the Moonbase, she never spoke a word, or met with a person, beyond the most necessary. Her voice and face had all their strength, but life was gone from them. Harklight knew there was nothing he could do for her. He knew that every soul in hell suffers alone.

-0-

-0-

"That's it, then," Calm Craftman indicated the most heavily-armed Sleipnir ever fielded, "Even in space, more mass needs more thrust to change direction–your agility will be shot. But I guess you know that already–"

"–and have a plan. Thank you, Calm." As engineers rushed between the Kataphrakts packed in the hanger like toys in a pencilcase, Kei studied her machine's face. Calm shifted from foot to foot.

"Amazing how fast they built this place."

"Since the Olympus kataphrakt left Mars, our known asteroid bases were clearly doomed. Much of the materiel in this new base was secretly moved from Parnossos before its destruction. It could still never have supported an attack on the Moonbase without the Deucalion."

"And they're counting on you to beat the Olympus?"

"If necessary, that should be possible." Kei knew the UFE meant to eliminate the almighty Olympus by assassinating the Prince before he got to it. The whole assault force, months in preparation, and herself, were expendable towards that goal. She also knew she would do Calm no favours by sharing her own plans.

"Are you waiting for me to tell you not to go?" Kei raised an eyebrow, "Well…tough luck. Even I can get it that this isn't just another battle. And I've always known you were the pilot who could turn this war around. Just, please, come back alive, Kei. I..."

"It's a death flag, if you leave it any longer." Calm looked into Kei's clear eyes–and was Calm.

"I love you, Kei. I think I…no, I definitely love you. I know you like–" Kei raised her hand to Calm's lips, and he shut up.

"I understand you, Calm. But not myself-I think that is why I must find Prince Asseylum again, for myself. For your feelings...I wish very much to respond to you, Calm. But not under present conditions. You are a good man Calm, and brave. You should never have to lose one you're bonded with."

"Too late for that."

"Then I really had better come back from this battle alive. Thank you again, Calm."

As Kei drifted up to her cockpit, Calm drifted away on a pink cloud. Chill shot through him, when he realised he couldn't tell Wolf–but Inko and Nina were waiting outside the hangar to cheer themselves hoarse.

-0-

-0-

"Miss Orange."

"Batgirl. It's been too long." Both shots missed. Kei ducked behind a shipping crate, gripping the wound on her arm. "Where is the real Prince?"

"You are his enemy. I will protect him!"

"Ah. Then we have the same objective–" Another bullet spanged off the container. Kei's head had never hurt so much. "We should have been allies. We could have been friends."

"It's too late for that!" kicking away from a container, Slaine soared around Kei's barricade, gun ready. But Kei had already fled–and then she glanced round into a silver gun barrel.

Count Klancain had arrived from Vers the day before, with his sister, Viscountess Solera. Slaine had exchanged compliments over tea with them for a couple of hours, assuring them that the Prince was temporarily indisposed. Her scars had burnt and her heart writhed, but she had refused to be afraid.

Now Klancain's face–was radiant with honest purity. A born knight errant, an avenging angel. Perhaps she should have soaked that face in sugared, scalding tea…

"Countess Troyard. Please lower your weapon."

"I told you to remain in your quarters, Klancain. Pitched battles can be rather unsafe."

"You don't say. Particularly with Terrans running all over your fortress. That was what convinced my sister and I that his Highness would be very much safer elsewhere."

"Where is your sister, Klancain?" The Count made no reply, "With the Prince? Well played."

"You've played a cunning game yourself, Countess. We've already uncovered most of your schemes–"

"Oh, Count Klancain," Slaine raised her hands with a charming smile, "Do you know how I got these scars?"

"What?"

She told him. Klancain made no reply, until UFE commandoes rushed into the hanger. The first man levelled his SMG at Slaine. It spat bullets into the ceiling, as Klancain shot him dead. Slaine flew backward into cover, as she shot Klancain.

When the young Count briefly regained consciousness, the remains of the commando squad were floating all over the hanger. Slaine had reached the docked Tharsis, his father's kataphrakt, and explosive shells had turned the men to rags. Now, she was walking back across the hanger, to grind the heel of a high-topped boot into his forehead.