I GOT A WEBSITE!

And damm is cruddy! But, it's up. It's basically there to give more infomation on this fic and LoAS. At the moment it's just got the main Characters and the five Admirals, but it DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS! Visit at your own risk.

Anyway enjoy part II of this short story...

ACADEMY DAYS

PART II

"He said what!"

Carlos smiled as he poked around at his dinner, the excitement of his conversation with Gregorio still whirring around in his head.

"I've been promoted to Cadet Lieutenant, and with luck am going to skip the rank of Lieutenant and move straight up to Lieutenant Commander when we graduate."

"But that's incredible," Belleza smiled with glee, "You know what this means? Not only will you be the youngest Officer in the Armada, but you'll also be the quickest one to rise to that rank."

Carlos smiled. One day into the academy and he already was higher then everybody else.

"So you're still here are you? Having a last meal before they throw you out onto the streets like the bilge rat that you are?"

Carlos didn't have to turn around to know whose voice it was.

Alfonso stood behind him, now fully dressed, a wary Crump just behind him.

"Hello Alfonso," Carlos said calmly as he spooned some peas into his mouth, "How's Crump doing? Brings a whole new meaning to an icy stare doesn't it?"

Crump shuddered as Belleza stifled a giggle. Alfonso just scowled, before flicking a lock of blond hair out of his face.

"So when are you leaving?" he smirked, "Under the cover of darkness so no one can see you?"

Carlos smiled at the Valuan prince over his shoulder, "For starters, this is Valua, It's always dark, and actually, I'm staying. Admiral Vadeck said I would make a promising officer if I work hard for it."

He paused for a moment, enjoying the look of the colour all but disappearing from Alfonso's face, before going back to his peas.

Alfonso stared at the back of his head with a slack jaw, before resuming his smug exterior.

"Well then, if Uncle Gregorio will not get rid of you then I will! As a member of the Royal family, I, Prince Alfonso Vadeck, Order you to leave the Academy effective immediately, or face beheading!"

That struck a cord with Carlos.

He slammed his hand down on the table, causing the whole Canteen to go silent.

He rose from his table, looking up stonily at the smug Alfonso.

Bang!

"OHHH!"

Alfonso dropped to his knees, the small boy's kick to the groin bringing him down to his level.

"I may only be ten," He said quietly, "But I'm only going to say this once Cadet Alfonso Vadeck. When you are within the walls of this campus, you are not a Lower City Citizen, neither are you an Upper City Citizen, neither are you Royalty.

When you are in these four walls, you are a cadet of the Armada. You are equal to everybody else. You wear the same uniform, you eat the same food, and you sleep under the same roof.

Sure there are ranks in the Academy, but their just titles, they mean nothing. I can't order you to jump off the island, but you can't order me out of here either. Until we graduate, we are all the same, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Silence echoed round the Canteen after this speech, followed by the sound of heavy clapping from the entrance way.

Carlos turned slightly, to see Gregorio standing in the doorway, a smile on his wrinkled face.

"Very well said Lieutenant Meridian," He said as he walked down the aisle, Cadets stumbling to their feet as he passed them, "The kick to the groin was a bit much but well said all the same."

Carlos smiled as he turned to the old Admiral, a fist to his heart in formality, "Thank you sir!"

"Uncle Gregorio!" Alfonso wheezed from the ground, "This brat assaulted me! The punishment for attacking a Prince is death!"

"But you are not a prince Alfonso," Gregorio said mildly as Crump helped Alfonso up, "And while we're at it, it's Admiral Vadeck or Sir if you don't mind."

"What?"

"Cadet Lieutenant Meridian makes a good point," he set his large hands on the boy's shoulders, "When you are within the confines of the Academy, you are all treated exactly the same, No Exceptions," He looked round pointedly at everyone in the room, "That goes for everyone else too. You are all the same. You work without prejudice to others, which is the reason some of you have been assigned rooms with Upper City or Lower City Citizens mixed."

He glared at Alfonso, "And as for you Cadet Vadeck, if I here so much as a peep that you have hurt, violated or bullied these two again, or even if you have ordered someone else to do the bullying, then you will be thrown out and will not be admitted in again, understand?"

Alfonso was flabbergasted, "You can't be serious?" he gawped.

"I'm very serious," The Admiral replied calmly, "Now return to your table or I'll order Meridian to pull that same manoeuvre he did this morning,"

Alfonso gulped, before sneering at Carlos with extreme loathing.

"Listen up Boy and listen well," he growled, "You haven't heard the last of this oh no. As soon as I'm out of this hell hole I'll be directly promoted to Admiral, and I'll make sure you and your girlfriend will never see each other again!"

And with that, he stormed away, Crump following in his wake.

"Why do I get the feeling he will make good on his threat?"

Gregorio sighed, "I'm afraid he most likely will. Alfonso will go through the training, however, the Empress promised him the First Fleet if he graduated. He will have the power do make good his threat,"

Carlos looked over at Belleza, who looked back despairingly.

"But that's not fair!" She protested, "He can't split us up!"

Carlos looked back to the doorway where Alfonso had left. He had a feeling, things were about to take a turn for the worse.