Hello!!! I am back! This will be chapter 21. I'll be honest, I am loaded with assignments these days, my breaks are short, all spread out with a week of break at most. So I find it hard to work on chapters, plus with all these new games rushing in. Speaking of games, I finished SRWX... I have no idea to feel disappointed or not.

Unlike in V, X does not focus much on Cross Ange. Hell, V focused more on real robots... so I guess this time it focuses on the Super robots.

Cross Ange here, IMO, its more of a side plot than anything. X focuses more on Wataru and Ryujinmaru and G-self's Gundam series. Its kinda funny though, they split off real mech and super robots... but they have Code Geass in the Super robot routes... Wow... Bandai... wow... so I'm on my second lap of the game... the gameplay itself is fine, just the story is a bit off... but then again, SRWV was around the same... standards might have dropped quite a bit.

ANYWAYS, lets go!

XXX

Ange sighed as she watched Ersha play with the children. It had been over a week since her last attempt at killing Embryo and she gave up. Not to sound like a helpless princess waiting to be saved, but the blonde knew it was merely a matter of time before Kira and the others came for her though.

Now, Ersha had invited Ange to visit the children. The former princess saw no harm in doing so and just went with it. The children had reacted just as they would back in Arzenal, but as soon as Ange laid her eyes upon them, she knew they were fake.

However, she decided not to say anything. Ange wasn't as cruel to break Ersha's source of hope, or at least not like that.

The former princess was broken out of her musings by Salia's voice, "Ange, Embryo-sama wants to see you in the library."

Ange turned and looked at the bluenette. Throughout the week, they didn't talk much. But the blonde knew Salia didn't like Ange's presence, which was a plus in her book, the girl hated every second she was here.

The former princess mocked, "What? So Embryo can't come to me himself? He must have his bitch send a message?"

Salia glared at her, "Be grateful he even lets you live. Now move, don't keep Embryo-sama waiting."

Ange chuckled and walked past the blue haired girl. As they walked past a room, Ange saw a blonde girl dancing.

The former princess asked Salia, "Who's that?"

They continued walking as Salia answered, "Her name is Stella, Embryo-sama found her a while ago along with two guys, though they're dead now. She never speaks to anyone, hell, I don't think I've ever heard her speak. All she does is dance, sit by the window and fight."

Ange nodded and they soon reached the library. The two entered the place and saw Embryo reading a book.

Embryo smiled as he saw the two girls, "Ah, Ange, Salia, I've been expecting you."

Ange frowned, "So what do you want?"

Salia glared at Ange, "Show him respect!"

Embryo raised his hand and Salia stopped, "It's okay, Salia. She merely wanted us to get straight to the point."

The narcissist closed his book and stood up. He walked along the shelves and spoke, "I called you both here to tell you about the Diamond Rose Knights. I want Ange to be the new leader of the knights, with Salia as second-in-command."

Salia's eyes widened and she protested, "What?! But I started the Knights!"

Embryo was about to say something before Ange spoke, "Keep it, Salia. I will never fight for you, Embryo. I'd rather die."

With that she just turned and left the library. Embryo chuckled and shook his head before he turned to Salia, "Well, I'd like to stay with you, but sadly I still have work to do."

Embryo picked up his book and vanished, leaving Salia alone. The bluenette gripped her fists as she thought, 'Its happening all over again, Ange! Why do you have to steal everything from me?!'

Meanwhile, Ange was wandering around the castle. As she passed by the dungeon chambers, she spotted a face she didn't think she'd see again.

Ange spoke in surprise, "Riza?!"

The silver haired woman opened her eyes weakly, "Angelise?"

Ange looked around and spotted the keys hanging nearby and grabbed it to open the gates to Riza's cell.

The blonde quickly entered and released the woman from her chains, "What happened?"

Riza groaned slightly, "Embryo. He found out about me and brought me here. He's been torturing me for a long time."

Ange tch'd, "So he forced you to tell him about our plans?"

Riza nodded, "I'm sorry."

Ange shook her head, "Its fine, Riza, or should I call you Lizardia."

Riza gave a weak smile, "Either way is fine. Though what are you doing here?"

Ange sighed, "I got caught. Come on, we need to get you out of here."

The former princess lifted the woman up and left the chamber. They made it out of the dungeon and headed through the secret tunnel Ange used previously.

The two made it to the forest before a voice spoke, "You've been naughty, Ange. Why did you break this piece of shit out of jail?"

They turned to see Embryo staring at them. Ange growled, "Embryo."

Embryo sighed, "I can give you anything, but that beast is something you can't have."

Ange tch'd, with Riza's wounds and Embryo's space time powers, they wouldn't make it. Then she realized she still had her ring on her. The former princess thought as she focused hard on her ring, 'Vilkiss, come here. I need you, now!'

After a while, Embryo was about to send Riza back to her cell before a massive sword embedded itself in where he was. In a flash, the Vilkiss appeared before her with the cockpit opened.

Ange grinned and quickly got on her Ragma-mail with Riza, "Good girl."

Embryo reappeared on the ground as the Vilkiss took off to the skies. The narcissist tch'd and vanished, going to send his Knights to bring back Ange before killing that damn DRAGON.

Meanwhile, earlier in the Aurora and Minerva, the pilots were all getting ready to deploy once the ship and submarine broke the surface.

Shin spoke, "Guys, when Stella comes, I want all of you to leave her to Luna and I."

Sylvia blinked, "Stella? Who's that?"

Shin stared at Ange's sister, "She's... an old friend... she died, but Embryo disrespected her by bringing her back. I want to let her rest."

Athrun nodded, "Got it, we'll leave her and the Destroy Gundam to you and Luna. We'll just go with whoever we face."

Hilda and Rosalie nodded at each other as the redhead spoke up, "Then leave Ersha and Chris to us, I want to know why Chris left us."

Tusk nodded, "I'll help too."

Kira nodded, "Sounds good, by the way, Sylvia, if Embryo comes out, stay away from him. Stay with Naga and Kaname."

Sylvia nodded, "Okay, Kira-niisan."

Kira blinked, "Niisan?"

Sylvia blushed slightly in embarrassment, "Well, since you and Oneesama are together, I thought it would be fitting."

Kira nodded in understanding as Athrun laughed, "Then should I call you Nii-san too, Kira?"

Kira sighed and shook his head while Cagali slapped Athrun's arm playfully. The rest of them merely smiled at the interaction.

Soon, Lacus' voice boomed through the comms, "Guys, we'll be reaching the surface in 5 minutes, prepare for launch."

The pilots all turned serious as they boarded their mechs. Soon, the Minerva lifted into the sky while the Aurora sailed on sea as the mechs all shot towards the Misurugi Empire.

With Ange, she was riding her Vilkiss in flight mode with Riza slumped on her back when she heard Chris' voice, "Don't move any further, you damn bitch!"

Ange turned her head to see Chris in her Theodora. The blonde tch'd, she couldn't transform into Assault mode since Riza was with her and Chris had her beam rifle pointed at her.

Just as all seemed lost, Salia's voice came in, "Chris, enough. Leave her be for now, we have enemies in bound."

Chris tch'd and turned away. Ange was slightly confused before she noticed the large amount of Glaives, the one huge Destroy Gundam, several dozens of unmanned drones and the team of Ragna-mails facing the direction to the sea.

Ange's face brightened as she easily spotted the Minerva and the mechs charging in. She willed the Vilkiss to increase the thrusters and shot towards her friends. The girl also noticed a few dozen DRAGONs with them, not as many as before, but still a sight to behold.

As the Vilkiss closed in, Kira spoke into the comm, "Ange!"

The girl's smiling face appeared on the screen, "Kira! You're all here!"

Salamandinay replied, "Of course, we couldn't just leave you with Embryo like that."

Lacus' face appeared on Ange's screen, "Ange, I believe you should head back to the Minerva, suit up and drop off your little passenger."

Ange nodded and the Vilkiss landed on the launch pad. As soon as she got off the Ragna-mail, Mei and her mechanics rushed to resupply the Vilkiss and brought Riza to the infirmary.

Ange quickly suited up before she mounted the Vilkiss again, giving a smirk of acknowledgement to Mei and her team before she shot out of the ship.

With the others, after Ange went into the Minerva, they spotted the enemy fleet in front of them. Shin smirked, "A big welcome party for us huh?"

Athrun chuckled, "We'll just return the favour."

Tusk grinned, "Let's go!"

Shin and Luna shared a silent nod and they charged at Stella. Vivian, Tusk, Hilda and Rosalie charged Ersha and Chris. Naga, Kaname and Sylvia charged Tanya and Irma. Athrun faced off against Salia while Kira, Salamandinay and Cagali along with the DRAGONs charged the army of Glaives and drones.

As Vivian drew her boomerang and clashed with Ersha's blade, the younger girl asked, "Why are you fighting us, Ersha?"

The woman didn't have an answer and just stayed silent. Vivian continued, "You should be back here with us!"

Ersha didn't answer yet again. Then suddenly, Ange's voice boomed through the comms, "That's right, Ersha, you should be with us!"

The Vilkiss shot past the Razor and clashed blades with the Raziya. Ersha gasped slightly, "Ange?"

Ange was fully suited up and gripping the controls, "You really thought Embryo could truly bring back the dead? You know even more than I do, that those children are fakes."

Ersha tried to protest, "But..."

Ange pointed towards the daycare center as they locked blades, "Look! What do you see there?!"

Ersha looked at the compound as her eyes widened in realization. As soon as the battle had begun, the collateral damage had began immediately. Now, Ersha realized, Embryo only called for the troops to deploy, he never called for evacuations. The daycare center was one of the unfortunate areas.

Ersha sighed, "Fine. I surrender."

Salia tch'd as she dodged a slash from Athrun's saber, "That spineless..."

Athrun frowned, "You don't have the right to judge her. Besides, pay attention!"

The Infinite Justice suddenly spun and kicked the Cleopatra in the abdomen, sending Salia flying before she regained balance.

Salia cursed and fired several blasts from her beam rifle as she saw the Raziya enter the Minerva. The bluenette flew upwards to dodge another slash from Athrun.

Meanwhile, Hilda, Rosalie and Tusk circled Chris' Theodora. Rosalie asked, "Why? Why would you help Embryo?"

Chris gripped her controls hard before the Theodora suddenly shot at Rosalie's customized Glaive. The grey hairer girl growled, "Why? You ask me why?"

The Glaive groaned under the pressure from the superior strength of the Ragna-mail. The Theodora pulled up to dodge a slash from Hilda's Arquebus' lance.

Hilda yelled, "You never told us! Of course we'd ask! You're our friend!"

Chris growled and started, "Its because you never thought about me. Its always about you, all of you!"

Chris started to rant about how Hilda and Rosalie never cared about her feelings and shit. (To be honest I found the original explanation quite stupid... so we'll just leave it at that.)

After hearing her rant, Hilda and Rosalie were quiet. Tusk, however, was pissed.

The brunette charged and swung his sword at the Ragna-mail, "You'd betray them over something as trivial as this?! Don't you know the strength of bonds?!"

As the Theodora pushed agaisnt the blade, Tusk's Arquebus suddenly spun and gave the Theodora a round house kick that sent it flying away.

Tusk continued as anger blazed in his eyes, "You don't know how much Hilda and Rosalie care for you. Its true, that Hilda is tactless, harsh and speaks without thinking, but Chris... you, who turned over to Embryo's side just because he showed you a bit of kindness. For you to judge Hilda or Rosalie, you're TWO MILLIONS YEARS TOO EARLY!"

Chris regained balance as Tusk's words resonated in her mind. Hilda blushed slighty hearing Tusk's rant, slightly turned on by his rare show of dominance.

Rosalie was slightly surprised by Tusk's sudden anger and realized that the brown haired man was angry for Hilda's sake. The girl chuckled inwardly and thought, 'Hilda has found a fine man.'

Guilt struck the grey haired girl as she realized, no matter how rude or how harsh Hilda and Rosalie were, the two were always looking out for her in their own way. And due to her own delusions, the girl had turned on her friends for their worst enemy when he showed her a bit kindness.

Chris lowered her head, "I'm sorry... I'm really sorry...Hilda, Rosalie."

Hilda grinned, "Well, its okay now. At least you realized it."

Rosalie nodded. Just then, Embryo's voice came, "You seem to be in a bit trouble, Chris, let me help you."

They all turned to see Embryo and his Hysterica. The blonde snapped his fingers, then the Theodora suddenly groaned and turned its rifle at Hilda.

Chris' eyes widened as she pushed the controls, the Theodora groaned in defience as it tried to turn the rifle away. Then it groaned again as the Discord Feathers started to activate.

Chris cried out, "Shoot me down now!"

Tusk tch'd and went in. The man willed his Para-mail to kick the Theodora in the head as the Discord Feather closed. But in doing so, it sent the Theodora towards the ground.

Tusk yelled, "Hilda! Rosalie! Catch her now!"

The two wasted no time in diving down. Rosalie and Hilda managed to catch the Theodora, but the momentum was so huge that all three mechs crashed into the ground.

Hilda groaned, "Urgh, there goes my ride."

The dust cleared to reveal Hilda's Para-mail damaged the most as it cushioned the other two mech's fall, but everyone was otherwise fine.

Tusk sighed in relief while Embryo tch'd in annoyance and turned to see Salia fighting Athrun.

Salia grunted in annoyance as Athrun's Justice sent here flying some distance before she could regain her balance.

The Infinite Justice drew its double-edged saber and charged the Cleopatra. Salia raised her sword and clashed blades with the Justice.

Athrun yelled, "Its useless! I've seen through your attack patterns!"

The Justice pushed the blades upwards, disarming both of them as Athrun sent the Fatom-01 at the Cleoptra, slamming into Cleotra, sending it into the ground.

Salia groaned before she saw Embryo on his Hysterica staring at her. The girl pleaded, "Embryo-sama, help me."

Embryo sighed, "I'm sorry, Salia. But I have no use for failures."

Instead of helping her, Embryo willed the Hysterica to draw its blade and threw it at the Cleopatra's cockpit.

The girl's eyes widened in shock before she snapped her eyes shut, bracing for the pain. But it never came, instead, in front of her was the familiar white figure of the Vilkiss.

Salia said in disbelief, "Ange?"

Ange smirked, "Yo, Salia. So Embryo finally rears his ugly head."

The Vilkiss stabbed the sword on the ground and turned to Embryo, its eyes glowing as it seemed to glare at the self-proclaimed World Tuner.

Embryo then flickered away to dodge several blasts. They all turned to see Ersha's Howwitzer and the Raziya. Salia said, "The Raziya, but that's Ersha's Howitzer. Who's on that?"

The bluenette's eyes widened as a familiar voice entered her ears, "Hey, long time no see, Salia."

Salia said in shock, "Alektra?!"

Jill grinned, fully suited up, "I've come to see my ex, you know?"

Embryo said, "Its nice to see you, Alektra, but like I told Salia, I have no use for failures."

Jill huffed, "I'll bet. But should you be acting all smug?"

Embryo looked around and saw Tusk's Arquebus, the Vilkiss, Ersha's Howwitzer, Athrun's Infinite Justice and Salia's Cleoptra which had returned to the air.

Hilda spoke from the ground, "Rosalie, bring Chris back to the Minerva. Chris, I'll be loaning your ride."

Chris nodded as she got onto Rosalie's Glaive as they sped towards the Minerva. Hilda got off her Glaive and boarded the Theodora before she quickly took her place in surrounding Embryo.

Thus, Embryo found two Para-mails, four Ragna-mails and one Gundam surrounding him.

Embryo sighed, "I guess now is not the time then. Don't worry Ange, I will come for you next time."

Before any of them could react, the Hysterica and Embryo vanished without a trace.

Jill cursed, "He got away... again."

Meanwhile, Shin and Luna were constantly flying around to avoid the beams from the Destroy Gundam.

The girl said once she saw the Impulse and the Destiny, "Shin? Are you there?"

Shin replied, "Yeah, I'm here."

Shin moved the Destiny closer to the Destroy Gundam and said, "You've fought enough, come on, let's just stop."

The young man reached out the Destiny's hand as he closed in. The blonde opened her cockpit just as Shin did the same. Luna stayed on stand-by in case something happened.

Then just as they almost came into contact, Embryo's voice echoed in Stella's mind, "Destroy them. Destroy them."

The girl screamed and held her head in pain as the Destroy Gundam's hatch closed and prepared to attack.

Shin yelled as he quickly closed his own hatch, "Stella!"

They could hear the girl's voice through the open comms as she screamed in a crazed manner.

Shin felt his heart ache seeing the girl suffer that much. Lunamaria said sadly, "Shin, let's put her to rest."

Shin gripped his controls hard and nodded, "Yeah."

As the Destroy Gundam deployed its wire-controlled arm cannons, Shin and Luna started zipping around the collosal giant randomly to avoid being hit.

Luna fired her beam rifle several times as Shin blasted the bead of the Destroy Gundam with his anti-ship launcher, but Destroy Gundam dodged the blast easily while the Impulse's beams barely scraped the barrier.

Shin drew his two beam boomerangs and thew them at the barriers and yelled, "Luna! Use the Blast Silhouette!"

Luna nodded as she said to Lacus, "Lacus-san, send the Blast Silhouette please."

Lacus nodded as she pressed the codes to launch the pack while keeping track of the drones around the Minerva.

The Impulse quickly equipped the pack as she readied her blasters with Shin's own launcher. Then, soon, the beam boomerangs tore through the Destroy Gundam's barriers.

The two quickly pulled the triggers and sent a huge wave of highly concentrated energy that easily tore through the arms of the Destroy Gundam.

The massive mobile suit struggled to stand upright as it readied the sequence to fire its chest cannon.

Shin saw this and spoke, "Luna, use the Sword Silhouette."

The girl nodded and told Lacus to send the pack before she quickly equipped the pack.

Energy started to gather at the cannon as the two charged the Destroy Gundam, swords drawn. Then, in an instant, three anti-ship swords pierced through the cockpit and the cannon of the Destroy Gundam.

At that moment, the two pilots of the smaller Gundam found themselves in a white area. Standing in front of them was Stella, dressed in her blue dress.

Shin then heard the familiar dark voice of the Shinigami, "I can give you some time, use it wisely."

Stella smiled and spoke, "Hello, Shin. Its nice to see you again."

Shin spoke in surprise, "Stella..."

The blonde turned and look at Luna, "Its nice to officially meet you, Lunamaria Hawke."

Shin spoke, "You're talking normally."

Stella smiled, "I was brainwashed back then by the Alliance, now by Embryo again. When I passed, the brainwashing wore off, and I could think and speak normally, though I have no one to speak to."

Luna didn't know what to say as she didn't know Stella. Shin nodded slowly before he lowered his head, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Stella frowned, "What do you mean? I was suffering so much. True, if you could save me, you might have been able to help me get rid of the brain wash. But you released me from that curse, that is enough."

Stella smiled at Luna and said, "Besides, you shouldn't dwell much on the past. I am merely and literally a ghost of the past. You two should live your lives fully."

Shin and Luna nodded, the red haired girl grasping Shin's hand at the same time.

Stella then turned serious, "But I must tell you two one last thing. Embryo has access to information from our world. He revived us from our world, and he took the data for the Destroy Gundam too. Be careful when dealing with him."

The two nodded, Shin said, "You bet it, we'll definitely take him down."

Stella smiled and nodded, " I know you will, you all can do it. My time is up, thank you two, I can finally rest. And Lunamaria, I don't have to tell you, but take care of Shin."

Luna let a smile appear on her face and nodded.

The area faded back to the battlefield as Shin and Luna quickly pulled away from the Destroy Gundam just as it blew up.

Luna said to her boyfriend, "We did the right thing, to let her rest."

She knew Shin still wasn't completely over Stella. She couldn't blame him for that,

Shin nodded, "Yeah, all that's left, is Embryo."

XXZ

DONE... review please. I have quite some work these days, so updates might come slightly late. So yeah, cheers. Ciao.