Author's Notes

I'm excited to be working in this, again, and getting more time to write. Though, I've been hard at work with job hunting and license application, too. Still a little uncertain about what the future holds. Will I become a classroom teacher, eventually? Will I stay an assistant? Will I go into special education, like I originally wanted? I'll just have to wait and see where God leads me.

But, in the meantime, I write.

I hope you guys like sap, because here it comes! :3

Warning: This chapter has a short section in which implied physical and sexual abuse occurs. It is not explicit about what is happening—the reader will not witness the actual event itself—but it is implied that it is pretty nasty, to say the least. If you are uncomfortable reading such material, I have provided a marker to indicate the section in question before you actually read it. An isolated "/" will be right before the paragraph where it starts and right after it ends, so you can completely skip it if you want.

Copyright Info

This fanfic is based on the SD Gundam Force series by Bandai and Sunrise. My OCs mentioned in this chapter are Aleda, Miku, Ace, Lady Opal, Amane, Papillon, and Calypso.

Chapter 25: In the Nights

She stared at the vaulted ceiling. She inspected the thick strands of hardened carpet. She followed every pattern on the wall, visually tracing Lacroan legends. A train of red-gold led to the base of a bird's tail. From the thin white cot on the floor, Aleda blinked at the creature's outstretched, glorious wings and the dancing flames flaring all around it. The depicted creature was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her eyescreens wandered up her shoulders, along the short length of her golden wings, and watched as she flexed them. The smooth golden segments glinted in the orange light of dusk, which came through the stained-glass windows.

Windows. Aleda shifted to size up the colorful glass art. Maybe... Her wings lifted and carried her to the nearest one, and she pressed a finger to it. No noticeable strain or crack showed itself, but perhaps if she punched—

A sharp rap—and crack—of metal against stone jerked her from her investigation. "I'm opening the door, prisoner!"

Aleda darted into her cot and curled under the sheets while the stone door grated open. From below her temporary canopy, she spotted a red metal foot and a floating disc. Mercurius.

The Knight of Thunder stepped in. "I know you're under there," he said, placing his hands on his hips. "You don't think I'm stupid, do you?"

Aleda, scowling, emerged. Her eyes stayed locked on the floor as she shook off the blankets and stood before him, without a single word passing her lips. Though internally, she fumed, I wasn't trying to hide. I'm not that stupid. I just didn't want him to see me searching the windows...

"Good. It's dinner time, and Lord Tallgeese wants to speak with you." Mercurius turned, showing his back and many generators. "Come. We won't keep him waiting."

And so, Aleda fluttered behind Mercurius down the hallway. The passage was silent. The red sky glared at them through the tall and silent windows. Darkness loomed just past the rays of reddish light, waiting. Stone humans, in elegant trains of former silk or in preserved shining armor, perpetually lunged, stumbled, and lashed out, mouths open in inaudible screams against their departed enemies. Robot knight armor held silent watch along the wall.

The only sounds were the blips of her and Mercurius's flight boosters. Everything else was silent. Void. Still. Aleda glanced around uneasily, looking past the ill-fated statues to observe the rest of her surroundings. If she were to escape, she would have to memorize the layout of the castle. Once she knew where everything was, she could think of the most likely places for a secret escape passage—most castles had those, didn't they?—and begin her search. Of all the things for Zero to neglect to tell her, it had to have been the one thing that could have let her escape.

A large set of doors waited at the end of the hall: two massive structures that arched together, engraved with beasts, humans, Spirits, robots, and ancient Lacroan glyphs. Mercurius pulled open one door to allow her passage. They came to a tall dining room with a long stone table. Tallgeese and Vayeate were already seated at the far end, at the head of the table, where Tallgeese had planted his metal rear in the king's gold-gilded chair.

"Thank you for joining us, my dear," Tallgeese said. "I wanted to talk about your role here in my kingdom. You are very important to my plans."

Gathering herself behind her best glare, she stated, "I'm not going to help you, Tallgeese."

The Knight of the Tempest snapped, "What did I say before about how to talk to me? You will call me 'Lord Tallgeese!'" He paused as if awaiting an answer, but when the Gundamess remained silent, he added a growling, "Now!"

"Yes… Lord Tallgeese," Aleda finally grated out.

"Good," Tallgeese rumbled in pleasure. "Very good, my dear. Now you will join me at the table."

She bit her lip.

"Read the situation, little lady. You have no choice. Have a chair," he said, gesturing to the one at the right of the king's seat. Vayeate walked over and pulled the rock chair out for her. Aleda sat, and then he returned to his own seat on Tallgeese's left, while Mercurius took a chair across from Vayeate, next to Aleda.

Miku entered through a side door pushing a cart with plates of ham, potatoes, bread, peas, and gravy. She set the dishes of food before the four diners. "Here you are, milord." As soon as his food was presented, Tallgeese unclipped the cover over his face, and with a wide, thin mouth he began to dig in, and his knights soon followed.

Aleda, after a momentary stare at the robots' mouths, prodded her food with a fork. Miku brought out wineglasses and poured a little for each person, and then she wheeled the cart through the side door, leaving Aleda alone with her captors.

Reluctantly, Aleda cut a bite of the ham slices, pulled off her faceguard, and pushed it into her mouth. It turned over and over as she chewed, dry as salted peanuts but without the flavor. Her energy processor churned, and her hands, holding her fork and knife, shook. Once she swallowed, she rested her fork on the edge of the plate and rubbed her hands with a napkin.

"Is something the matter, little lady?" Tallgeese queried.

Aleda jerked upright. "Uh…no, sir…Lord Tallgeese…"

"If you're fasting in protest, you must know I'll let you starve before I'll release you."

"I feel sick."

"Well, I hope your health improves. You won't be leaving anytime soon. As I said, the Winged Knight will not save you." The girl gave a defiant glare, at which he chuckled. "Interesting look. But, I'm not here to play. Let's get this over with." His laughter ceased as his face curled into a dangerous grin. "Like I said before, little lady, I need you for something. I'm sure Zero has told you of Lacroa's true beauty?"

A slight pause. Then, "Yes, he has."

Tallgeese set his fork down and leaned closer, propping his chin on folded hands. "I have means to restore Lacroa," he said. At the question in her eyes, he amended, "As long as you cooperate. Spirits, especially powerful ones such as yourself, have incredible abilities."

"You're going to de-petrify the kingdom?" Aleda asked incredulously.

"Not de-petrify. I would have too many problems on my hands, you see. But I shall repopulate it, minus the humans." The girl retained her questioning gaze, so he continued, "All living beings in Lacroa get their souls from the Spirit Tree. No new life can come to this land without its power. Food is no problem with magic, but a dead kingdom is no good. I wish to revive the Spirit Tree, and I know what is needed to accomplish this."

Aleda blinked. "What can revive the Tree?" she asked.

"The Spirit Egg was said to have the power. Because the Feather Dragon hatched from it, it only follows to reason that the Feather Dragon can restore the Spirit Tree, too. I know Feather Dragon is close by, but it's hiding. Likely in the underground caverns. I want you to help me find it."

"How would I help you find him?"

"You are the Phoenix, a fellow Spirit, and the Feather Dragon also knows you from its days in Neotopia."

Aleda's eyes lit with understanding. "So that's why you kidnapped me."

"If you want to call it kidnapping, yes," Tallgeese said with a smirk. "But I prefer to call it 'borrowing you.' There in Neotopia, you are useless, but here you can return life to a world. I am restoring Lacroa, and offering you a greater purpose."

She frowned. "I don't think you'll use Fenn to revive the Spirit Tree."

"You misjudge me, milady. I do not want to rule over a dead kingdom."

"I know you only care about yourself."

"Dear, I love my Lacroa. Why do you think I joined with the Dark Axis? So we could better the kingdom!" His eyes flashed eagerly. "Think of it: a Lacroa without humans and their repressive laws. We robots would dominate. We would make our own law, unrestrained by those weakling organics! Before the Dark Axis, humans always had the throne, and we were repressed, limited at the knight class. We were their servants. Now we rule. Our possibilities stretch endlessly!"

Aleda maintained her hard gaze. "It's just revenge. You took away people's lives... You destroyed all the humans, and even the Gundams of Lacroa."

"The Gundams of the old Lacroa proved to be organic-serving traitors," Tallgeese growled. "They sided with those who repressed all of us robot kind, all for a few favors."

"What favors?"

"A high class at birth, and exclusive membership in the royal court," Tallgeese answered. "Did you know? Only Gundams can become Royal Knights. That is why I was rejected when I tried to join their ranks."

Aleda looked down at her lap, fiddling with her wrinkled napkin and frowning in doubt-filled thought.

"They all cooperated with the humans to repress the rest of us robots."

"But, not all Knight Gundams could have done that. Zero wouldn't have."

"Zero? You bring Zero into this?" Tallgeese scoffed. "He deserted his fellow knights to escape from Lacroa, and then he prevented me from reviving the Spirit Tree by stealing the Spirit Egg. Hardly a good role-model, much less a real savior to Larea."

Aleda burst, "How could you twist the truth like that? He always felt horrible for leaving, but he never even chose to leave!"

"The truth?" the conqueror scoffed. "You believe that Zero is an honest knight? When you've only known him for... how long?"

The Lacroan Gundamess's wingtips stiffened as she tensed.

"Poor little lady. You think he is a brave warrior come to save you from your lonely existence in another dimension," Tallgeese mocked. "Did he charm you and trap your little heart with his 'milady's and his bows and sweet kisses on your hand?"

Aleda clenched her napkin into a crumpled wad.

Tallgeese scoffed. "Did he pull out your chair for you? Like Vayeate did just now? Did he give you a rose?"

She stared at her lap, her faceplate reddened with embarrassment and rage.

"You don't know him very well, milady. Let me show you what I saw of the Winged Knight, before he abandoned Lacroa." Tallgeese flicked his wrist, and a dark magic circle sprang up beside him, its surface solidifying into the image of a clear sky and a round carriage bouncing over the horizon.

As the dinner guests watched, the carriage drew up to a long staircase and halted. The top of the carriage swung open, releasing first a familiar Knight Gundam. "Your Highness," Zero said with a cape-swishing bow and an extended hand.

The princess of Lacroa's delicate fingers slipped into his, and her blue slippers carried her daintily down the steps of her carriage. The graceful arch of her back and the proud lift of her nose told all of her refinement and status. A real princess.

Aleda's beloved knight guided the elegant girl up the stairs to the entrance of the white-stoned castle that they were visiting, where a company of armed humans and robots waited on either side of a robed man. A gleam of anticipation shone in Zero's eyes, but though he watched the princess carefully, his sideways peeks showed his excitement was not reserved for her.

"Your Highness, welcome to our humble estate."

"Thank you, Lord Dunmere."

"We have a room prepared for your vacation stay. Please come this way."

"Thank you." Princess Relejimana Miya de Lacroa turned to Zero. "Zero, I'd like to get some space to myself. You go ahead and find something to do for an hour."

"But, Your Highness, what—?"

"They have escorts for me, too." The princess nodded pointedly at the armored humans and robots gathered, including the viewer whose eyes Aleda, Tallgeese, and the robot twins saw through. "I'll be perfectly safe. I just can't stand the..." Rele exasperatedly waved her arm as she tried to think of a word, "... hovering right now."

The shine in Zero's eyes momentarily dimmed. "Do I displease you, princess?"

"When we've been riding together for two days, yes. Go on. Have fun. I know there's someone you've been waiting to see," Princess Rele shooed him as she entered the threshold amid a cluster of guards.

The shine in the knight's eyes returned. "Yes, Your Highness." After the last of the princess's tresses disappeared, he turned to the viewer. "Sir Tallgeese, is Lady Azalea here?"

"Yes, she is," came a playful voice that drew Zero's eyes beyond the Knight of the Tempest. The view rotated to face a beaming violet Gundamess. "Hello, Sir Zero."

Zero quickly invaded the viewers' field of vision to take and kiss her hand. "It has been too long, milady." His eyes sparkled like the glow of his magic. "Too long."

"Yes, indeed."

Aleda squirmed. Had Zero ever looked at her like that?

The couple flittered away, hand-in-hand, around the corner. Likely headed to some romantic backdrop for Zero's flirtations.

"Not the first, nor the last," Tallgeese sneered.

The picture changed to a nighttime stroll under the arching overhangs on the walk of Lacroa Castle's inner curtain wall. Bright blues and whites were dimmed under the moonlight, of both the castle walls and of the two Gundams standing at the balcony gazing out over the waters. The viewer paused, and in the silence left by his stopped flight boosters, the voices of the Gundams could be heard.

"This is a beautiful night," whispered a feminine voice.

"It is almost as beautiful as you," came Zero's.

"Zero?"

In the half-light, the Knight Gundam could be seen turning and drawing the Gundamess close. "Lady Rose," he whispered. The two stared at each other through their glowing eyescreens. "You are the most beautiful lady in all of Sola Diorama." He reached for her mouthguard. "I love you."

The next second, their face armor had opened and their lips were pressed together.

Aleda's energy processor twisted.

"There are many more like these," Tallgeese said haughtily. "Zero had his purposes for all of his wooing. Lady Azalea, for example, was a renowned magician in Lacroa who taught him many a spell. And Lady Rose's family had much wealth and few heirs." Flashing a smirk, he snickered, "And you are the Phoenix, a Sacred Beast of Lacroa who could give him greater powers. Which he never bothered to tell you."

The girl's face contorted in pain, and she stood. "I am... not hungry, Lord Tallgeese," she stated, flying to the doors.

Mercurius and Vayeate rose. "Milady, the lord did not dismiss you!"

"No, let her go," Tallgeese commanded. He wiped his face with a napkin. "She won't go anywhere."

Before Aleda even reached the entrance, one of the massive doors grated open to let in red-armored Miku. The Arkian Gundamess blinked at the sight of the girl's wet eyes. "Aleda?"

The girl ducked her helm and wove past, leaving Miku to stare after her.

"Are you concerned, my dear?" Tallgeese said. The Arkian flashed him a glare. "Oh, you're angry~ Then you may also take your leave to tend to your new friend. But, Miku?" The Arkian paused, propping the door. "Do not forget that I am watching."

Miku bowed. "I won't, milord."

"And I have not forgotten what you did while I was away. Behave, or it will be even worse for you."

The Gundamess shuddered. "Yes, milord."

...

The Winged Knight picked at his broccoli and steak. The juices pooled invitingly, and the tempting inside of the meat blushed, but the knife lay discarded on the edge of the plate, and only a tiny few bites had disappeared. Zero groaned at the ceiling of Kao Lyn's expansive workroom.

A knock.

"Come in," Zero sighed.

Chief Haro entered. "Zero."

The Knight Gundam set down his fork and saluted him. "Chief."

Haro flashed a returning salute. "How are you feeling?" he asked, stepping to his wounded soldier's cot.

Zero's energy processor answered first, rumbling so loudly he blushed. "Fine," he said.

"How does the food taste?"

"... It seems tasty."

Haro hummed glumly, but nodded. "I'll be brief. Aleda's human family has contacted me to ask her whereabouts, and I am in no position to hide the truth from them. They are coming here so that I can debrief them. They'll arrive tomorrow night. I thought you ought to know."

Zero nodded numbly. "I understand."

"Responsibility for Aleda's abduction rests squarely on my shoulders. There is no need for you to meet them if you don't want to."

Zero exhaled. "No, I am responsible for this. When she could have fled from Tallgeese, she stayed to protect me. I was a poor guardian, and they deserve my apology."

"She protected you, hm...?" Haro sighed deeply and scratched the cheek of his mask. "Zero, I know that you feel a lot of pressure from your role as the 'Savior' of Lacroa," he began. "And I know you have a lot of pride as a knight, which makes you want to take responsibility for your duties and your friends."

Zero scowled. "What are you saying?"

"The people around you are going to make decisions, too, that they are responsible for."

"But..."

"Tallgeese's actions are beyond your control. So are Aleda's. If she decided to risk herself to protect you, then you should not feel guilty. After all, if you are responsible, then you must be thinking that you made it happen, instead of her. How does that respect her sacrifice?" Chief Haro demanded. "Think about that."

"How should I feel, then?!" Zero burst.

The chief paused. "Maybe grateful."

Zero spewed, "I cannot be happy that she was kidnapped!"

"I never said you should be." Haro straightened. "I'm very grateful that a young boy like Shute helps the Force, but I don't think I will ever be 'happy' about it." With that, he left Zero's bedside and stepped out.

Zero growl-sighed in frustration, then lifted the fork to resume morosely picking at his broccoli. "I am grateful. I just miss her..."

...

Three Gundamesses lay close together on a mat spread on the rocks, and one Knight Gundam stood in the entrance of their cavern, his large, ridged shoulders framing the crystal light coming from within and without. In the pile of Gundamesses, one frame squirmed; the winged one, though her eyescreens were off, was still conscious while her CPU yet again reviewed data from the day's events.

Specifically, she pondered the strange aura she had sensed from Tallgeese's new prisoner. Who was that? she wondered to herself. It's too similar… Then, her eyes widened. It couldn't be.

A light frame clicked within the cavern, jolting her. The steps paused, but Lady Opal knew already whose they were: she knew those heels like her own wingtips. She shifted and saw the resident mer-Gundamess in mid-creep already halfway to Ace's post. "Calypso?!" she hissed.

Calypso started. Ace turned his head. Lady Opal whispered loudly, "What are you doing?!"

The accused straightened and put a hand on her blue-plated hip. "I can't sleep. I was going to go for a stroll. I didn't want to cause any trouble."

"You know the rules," Ace said. The butt of his lance clanked on the rock floor. "You can't leave the camp alone."

"Then, can't miss Lady here come with me?"

"She wants to sleep. Now is not a suitable time for a stroll." Ace faced the cavern opening, again. "Go to bed, Calypso."

Calypso sighed. "Fine, fine," she muttered, returning to the mat.

Lady Opal also folded her large metal wings again and lay down. The crystals smattered around the cave beamed. Three pairs of eyescreens glowed. Nothing else broke the silence, until Lady Opal sensed an immense power.

It rolled like a storm cloud pushing winds and thunder-claps before it to announce its coming. In this case, the winds were an aura. Another Spirit, different from the energy brought to Lacroa earlier that day, was nearby: a familiar scent that had become tainted by the foul intent of another.

Why is he so close?! Lady Opal thought in alarm.

Her fright caused her wings to tickle Calypso's back. "What's wrong, Lady?" Calypso grouched. "Aren't you going to sleep?"

Lady opal bolted upright. "Something's out there!"

"Hm...?" Papillon began to stir beside Opal, rubbing her eyescreens and rolling over onto Amane's ridged ponytail. The Arkian's eyescreens flickered in response. Ace, hearing the disturbance, moved to the women.

"What's out there?" Calypso quipped. "I don't hear anything."

"What is the matter?" Ace asked.

"There is a very strong Spirit out there," Lady Opal said urgently. "I think we..."

Suddenly, like when the wind turns in a new direction and leaves stillness in its wake, Lady Opal sensed a quieting in the air as the strong presence shifted and withdrew. She shuddered from her helm down to the tips of her great white wings when a last gust of the presence brushed her before it slipped away. She released her breath. "It is gone, now."

"Seriously, you wake everyone up for this?" Calypso whined.

"Do not dismiss your elders," Ace rebuked. "Lady Opal doesn't worry over nothing."

Green-armored Amane blinked awake and moved to sit up, but her ponytail caught under Papillon's helm. "Papi-chan," she hissed. "You are on my tail!"

"Sorry," the culprit murmured woozily. When she raised her head, the spiral horn in Papillon's forehead glinted in the crystal-light. "What's wrong?" she yawned.

But Ace and Lady Opal were deep in conversation. "What Spirit was it?" the Knight Gundam asked.

"I… don't know, but…" The Lady frowned. "I believe it is not friendly. We should be very careful if it is on the prowl."

"Lady Amane," Ace said.

Amane ceased rubbing her golden ponytail. "Yes?"

"To face a Dragon Spirit is to face death. Are you certain you are willing to risk that for the sake of your friend?"

Her golden eyes gleamed. "Yes. She is worth dying for a thousand times over. I won't leave Lacroa Castle without her."

Calypso gaped, and Papillon trembled. But the dark-armored Gundam smiled and nodded. "Then so be it. We stay on our course."

"Are you sure I shouldn't take the note to them, Sir Ace?" Papillon put forward anxiously. "I can fly longer…"

He shook his head. "No. I'd never have a clear conscience if I sent a lady on a solo mission. I'll deliver the note. Then, once the appointed time comes tomorrow night, I'll take you and Lady Amane as lookouts, when we meet the prisoners at the servants' quarters."

"Alright…"

"Please, everyone, return to sleep," Ace said. "It is not yet time for anyone else to take the night watch, so rest while you can."

The Gundamesses settled on the mat, and Ace returned to his post. Lady Opal shut her eyes. But, a worrying thought kept her processor from slowing into sleep mode: was that Dragon Spirit prowling around Tallgeese's new captive? She shivered and scooted closer to Papillon. That thought agitated her, made her wings itch. She could not allow Tallgeese, nor any foe, to do as he pleased with that one. Not when she suspected...

...

Aleda lay on her side, staring across the clean white surface of the cot, confusion muddying her green eyes. A knock came, a short rap on stone. "Aleda?" came a female voice.

The girl rose and floated to the door. It ground opened at her insistent tugs, until Miku's brown eyes peered through. The visiting Gundamess smiled sympathetically. "Can I come in?" she asked.

Aleda pulled away from the door, and Miku squeezed in and shoved it closed. "I hope the princess won't mind that little crack in her door," the Arkian laughed awkwardly. All the response she earned was a listless nod.

She allowed Aleda to lead her wordlessly to the cot. When Aleda sat, Miku followed suit and sat beside her. Their weight, rather than depressing the cot, only flattened the thin bed even more. "So..." Miku began again, uncertainly, "I know we haven't known each other that long, but I feel bad that Tallgeese said those things to you."

"It's fine. It could be worse," came the morose reply.

"It could, but..." The red-armored Gundamess's eyes drifted. "...You know he's just trying to hurt you, right? He comes up with lies to break down his enemies." She whipped her helm to face the door. "—No one's listening in, are they?"

"I don't feel any magic close by."

"—Okay." She eased back into the cot. "Well, anyways, don't let him get to you."

Aleda nodded, though her eyes were still flooded with distress.

"What is it that has you so worried?" Miku asked. "Is it the part about Zero not telling you you were a Spirit? He probably didn't know that to begin with—"

"They all knew," Aleda interrupted, quietly. "They asked me a lot of questions, and Zero asked me what Spirits I've met before. He wasn't surprised when Tallgeese called me Phoenix, either..."

"Well... does that mean he doesn't care?"

Aleda hesitated as she browsed through memories of her knight holding her, defending her, consoling her, even catching a blade for her. "I guess not. He... almost died protecting me."

"Then he does care, doesn't he?"

The Lady Gundamess nodded and pulled her legs in to hug herself.

"Just keep holding on to that." Miku stood. "It'll help you keep your sanity." At a questioning glance from the younger girl, she added, "I have to go. I know Tallgeese will be expecting me to clean up. Get some rest so we can talk tomorrow." The Arkian began to walk to the door.

"Miku?"

"Hm?"

"How long have you been here? In the castle?"

Miku gave an ironic smirk, a crack leaking a hint of pain. "Two years." She dragged open the petrified door, slid through, and slammed it shut.

Aleda studied the stone carpet for several minutes more, musing over the conversation. And over memories that felt like weeks ago, even though she had only been at White Base half-a-day earlier. The last time she had seen her friends had been in the afternoon, when Baku had ushered her into Zero's room with a nudge and a wink. Captain had waved her in, too, though politely instead of slyly. Then, her final interaction with Zero...

He'd held her hand—no, held her—and asked her to spend her life with him, while swearing he would"be there with you every day, to teach you and to guard you, my…"

If only she had been able to stay in his arms, she would have known what would happen when their faces drew closer. She would have learned what words would have finished that sentence.

Then, associations and lingering doubts brought up another intimate, vulnerable scene, with someone different. Instead of the hope Zero had given her, that other encounter had left her with tears, tears which had been promptly swept under the rug. "Don't take it personally, Little Wing," her mother had said. "You're built differently."

Abby's commentary had been sharper. "What, the robot has love issues, now? Get over it. You probably don't really feel in love, anyways. You just want to be more like a human."

"Shut up, Abby! You don't get to tell her how she feels!" snapped her older brother Dominic.

Aleda opened her chest armor a crack to slip out her golden necklace. Her thumb traced the runic letters on the back of the pendant that she now knew to spell "Fae." A tie to her clouded past, which her family had given her before she left. Her reminder of home in both worlds. Perhaps after she escaped, she'd visit her human family. After all, Abby wasn't usually at home. And it had been a long two years.

/

A scream snapped her out of her reverie. It twisted agonizingly through the castle and churned Aleda's energy processor. After a few dreadful moments, the cries were covered, though even muffled they traveled alarmingly well through the still stone halls. Aleda shuddered. As the distressed cries continued, she buried her helm under her pillow. Her eyescreens leaked. She pressed the pillow to her audio receptors in vain to suppress the sounds, while she clenched the pendant tight in one hand. I don't want to be here! I don't want to be here...!

Eventually, the audio-piercing sounds stopped. Aleda kept her head under her pillow and sobbed, waiting for sleep to come. The room was cold, the bed felt itchy, and the pervading silence unnerved her more than any bump in the night. But, even that was not enough to keep her drained frame from the clutches of sleep.

/

...

Zero, dis-armored down to his bare helm and torso—besides the electrical tape patching his wound—stared up at his ceiling, which was as empty as he felt. The next morning, when he woke, she wouldn't be there making breakfast. Neither would she train with him after. He had hoped by now to be able to confidently and casually slip an arm around her as she worked in the kitchen, or to give her an affectionate peck on the cheek, as her adorable smile often tempted him to do. Those had been the happy predictions of their future post-confession, post-taking-her-in-his-arms-and-kissing-her, post-handing-her-his-heart-for-keeps.

He had lost all of that.

Yet, in spite of the ache in his GunSoul, the knight's exhaustion dragged him down, pressing him into his pillow and into his pool of misery until it drowned his wakefulness, forcing him into fitful sleep. Aleda, I want to find you...

...

He flew over the sea of stone, scanning below him for any sign of his target. "Aleda?" he called. "Aleda!" The rocks echoed his words. Everything appeared as still and dead as he had last seen it. Perhaps in Lacroa Castle...

"Zero," resonated a familiar deep voice.

The Winged Knight turned to see the white-plumed Feather Dragon. "Fenn!"

After a brief affectionate nuzzle in Zero's GunSoul, the Spirit rumbled, "I know where to find her. Follow me, quickly."

Zero clung to Fenn's flank as the dragon's great wings flapped. They flew quickly, faster than a Gunperry. "Fenn, is it true that Aleda is the Sacred Beast Phoenix?" the Knight Gundam asked as they zipped through the sky.

"Her scent is close to that of the Phoenix. I do not know for sure what relation they share." A wingbeat sent ripples through Zero's cape. "All I know is that she is in danger. The fire element is advantageous to the wind element of Griffin, but Griffin is still a powerful Spirit, and Aleda is inexperienced."

"Will you help me rescue her?"

"I can only bring you to her. You must help her yourself. If I could have done it, I would have."

Zero steeled himself. "Very well. Thank you, friend."

...

Aleda hugged herself as glowing red eyescreens approached. "Have you finally seen the truth, young lady?" Tallgeese purred, "Or will you continue to delude yourself?"

Yellow squares loomed in the darkness, shifting with the shadowed shapes of an army of Pawn Leos surrounding them. The Gundamess, trembling, tried to scoot away, but after a few tugs her legs snagged at the ends of chains. She sent Tallgeese her best brave-front glare. "They're coming to help me. Zero's coming," she insisted.

Tallgeese shook his head. "Poor little lady. You've been abandoned. No one will come for you, least of all Zero."

"You're wrong. He'll come." But, she trembled as the enemy robots neared.

Tallgeese leaned down into her face to sneer, "No, he won't. You know he won't." Aleda curled up, shrinking from the darkness.

Then, a flash of blue light disturbed the shadows. Cries rang as a blue, shining crescent cut the crowd. Through the carved channel, a familiar blue-armored, red-caped Knight Gundam flew towards them, his blue eyes afire. "Aleda!"

Aleda's wings perked. "Zero!" she called back. She tried to stand, but she tripped over the chains. "Zero...!"

Tallgeese chuckled darkly. "So, the knight in shining armor has come to find his toy."

Rage boiled in Zero's eyescreens as he shrieked, "She's not a plaything!" He cut into a Pawn Leo that jumped in front of him.

Tallgeese shrugged. "Oh, really? What more is she to you?"

The whole mass of enemies turned to face Zero, and he resolutely bared his sword. "She is my friend!" he declared. They swarmed, and he flew up to escape. "A very precious friend!" From his sword he cast a blue wave to slice the crowd. Dice clattered to the rocky ground.

"As precious as these 'friends'?" Tallgeese extended his palm, and at his fingertips danced a scene of Zero taking the hand of a violet Gundamess.

"What?!" Zero gasped. "How did you...?! Stop!"

Next flashed an image of Zero liplocked with a rose-colored Gundamess on a balcony of Lacroa Castle, overlooking a star-filled night.

"Aww, isn't that sweet~?" Tallgeese jeered. "What do you think of that, little lady?" he said, and nudged Aleda so roughly that she fell on her face.

"Leave her alone, Tallgeese!" Zero demanded.

Aleda, weighed by a heavy heart, struggled to raise her head. Her captor laughed, "Poor little Gundamess. Such a fool, to fall in love with a womanizing knight! He was not much of a gentleman to lead you on so, was he?"

Zero's GunSoul constricted at the sight of his Little Wing tearing up, her aching heart naked in front of all of those scornful eyes. She curled her arms in front of her face to hide. "That's not it!" he protested. "I've never pretended—!"

Pawn Leos tackled him out of the air. "Aleda!" he cried. Desperately, he thrashed in the crowd, slashing with his sword and hammering with his shield. "Aleda! Don't listen to him!"

Her wings folded, and she lay motionless except for heaves of her shoulders. Shadows honed in, and Tallgeese reached for her.

"Aleda, fight him!" Zero pleaded. "Don't give up! I'm here! I'm coming!" He hacked at the shadows separating them at an accelerating frenzy. Panic held his GunSoul, and looming loss threatened to close in and crush his core at any moment. "Please! I'll tell you everything! Please!"

Tallgeese hauled her to her feet. "I have more use for you than the 'Savior of Lacroa,'" he hummed. Aleda pulled against his grip, but the fight in her eyes was too little; he easily kept hold. "He will only desert you. But lend me your powers, Phoenix, and I'll restore your true home."

Fear pierced Zero's GunSoul. "Aledaaaaaaaa!" the Winged Knight screamed as he tore a hole through the shadows. "No!" He rammed a line of minions. "No! Don't you dare! Tallgeese, leave her alone!" More Pawn Leos surged toward him, only to be cut down. He charged forward, wild-eyed, hacking mindlessly at the interceptors. His inner agony split the air with spine-chilling cries. Aleda's eyes widened at the sound of his passionate roars. "I won't let you take her from me!"

"You already did," Tallgeese laughed.

A Pawn Leo cut above Zero's GunSoul, and another punched him down. But, driven by fear for his lady, he immediately bounced up and continued to push against the army. "Aleda! Aleda!"

Tallgeese's hand reached for her GunSoul. "You won't have to hide, anymore," he hissed into her audio.

Zero slashed clinging enemies, but another wave pulled him under. He flailed as he sank in the mob. I won't make it! his panicked processor told him. What can I do? She has to fight him! I have to...! A gap in the grey momentarily parted. He snatched at the opening, pushed above the swell, and with a deep breath he threw himself against the crowd and screamed, "I love you!"

Aleda lifted her face.

Zero shoved a Pawn Leo aside. "Aleda, I love you! Don't give up!" he cried again, pushing determinedly towards her. He swiped. "I'm going to save you, I swear, even if it's the last thing I do!" He cut. "Fight him!" Drops sprinkled from the edges of his eyescreens as he slashed. Aleda quivered. "Come home with me! I love you!" He struck another hapless Pawn Leo. "I'll give you a home! I'll give you a family! Please!"

Light returned to her eyes and illuminated her GunSoul. "Zero!" Aleda tugged to free herself. "Zero, I—!"

But Tallgeese clutched her neck, squeezing short her reply. "You're not leaving so easily!"

"Tallgeese!" Zero furiously roared. He flung a hurricane of rose petals that swept aside the remaining swath of Pawn Leos.

Simultaneously, Aleda writhed and flung open her hands, blazing fire. Her captor, consumed in flames, dropped her with a shriek. Then he met his end at the swift cut of the Vatras Sword; his flailing, screaming body stilled.

Having exacted his justice, Zero wheeled to his lady. The shine of his GunSoul glimmered off wet eyescreens, and likewise Aleda's gem beamed like a beacon, calling in the dreary, dim space. In the next moment, Zero had vanished his sword and shield and scooped her into his arms. "Aleda...!"

Aleda hugged him tightly. "Zero, I missed you!"

He enveloped her as if to set his own body as a shield against the Dark Axis. "I missed you, too."

The fire that had incinerated Tallgeese continued to grow; it swept away the Pawn Leos and surged over the Gundams. The couple instinctively flinched, but the firestorm only tickled them and warmed their shaking frames. When the blaze extinguished, it left behind nothing but a quiet, dimly-lit forest surrounding them.

The darkness dissipated. In the shelter of the forest, speckled with evening sun and humming with only the distant din of crickets, the pair held each other, consoling each other and themselves with their touch. "Aleda, my Little Wing, don't go," Zero murmured hoarsely as he cradled her. "Please..." Tears dripped down his face, onto his lady's helmet.

Hearing these words and feeling the drops on her head, Aleda trembled and squeezed her knight tight. "Zero..." Such pain leaked through his voice that she could feel his pain in her own chest: a lump of fear, loss, and guilt. Her eyescreens stinging with tears, she held her beloved protector close to soothe his ache. "I'm here, Zero," she murmured from her liquid-stained mouth. "I'm here."

"My Little Wing, my Aleda..." Zero curled his fingers into the nook below his lady's wings and rubbed the side of his helm against hers, attempting to sate his longing and soothe his fears. "Forgive me," he croaked again into her audio. "I thought he'd kill you if he knew. Please, forgive me. I do love you. I have for so long."

"I love you, too, Zero," Aleda whispered, nuzzling his GunSoul. "I'm fine, now. It's okay." She squeezed, willing his warmth and love and words to soak all the way through to her GunSoul and to infuse fully with her stunned processor. "I won't leave." His embrace stoked the fluttering flames in her energy converter. "I'll stay with you forever." Her fingers felt the grooves of the armor beneath his cape, and when she felt an affectionate rub on the back of her helmet, she too rubbed his back reassuringly. "Thank you for protecting me," she whispered. Fresh moisture pooled into her eyescreens. "Thank you..."

Zero curled around her tighter. He felt the warmth of her GunSoul against his, and the easy pulse of her circuits, both reassurances that she lived and that she, at long last, belonged to him. After a moment of silence, his quivering lips said, "I'll always protect you." Nuzzling the top of her helm, he added, "So please, continue to protect me, too."

She nodded, her faceplate brushing his shoulderguard. Then, she murmured, "Is it over? Can we go home, now?"

Her knight opened his mouth to speak, but then paused and blinked. He suddenly noticed the trees' trunks shifted position from moment to moment, as if they could not retain their form without his gaze holding him. The sunlight, too, seemed brighter than what it should have been in the conquered Lacroa. How was there green again in Lacroa? Actually, how had he even arrived in Lacroa?

His face sank into melancholy for only a moment. Then, he set his mouth in a smile and pulled back enough to see her face, so he could stroke her cheek and remember the shine of her eyes. "Very soon, milady. Very soon," he soothed.

The trees wavered, the skies whitened, and the birdsong faded. The world around them whirled, and each felt themselves pulled upward, as if swept in a current.

...

Aleda awoke to see a gray blur. She brushed tears from her eyes until they cleared enough to make out the stone-cast ceiling of the princess's room. Early-morning light trespassed through the windows. The gold embellishments in the ceiling glinted too brightly, though, for that to be the only source of light. Aleda looked down at her GunSoul, which shone emerald.

"I love you!"

Her quavering hand touched her glowing life force. Was it real? she wondered. His hugs felt real, at least. A blush covered her faceplate. She turned on her side, holding her heart. I have to escape. He's waiting for me.

...

The bright ceiling was a blur. Zero blinked his eyescreens, then rubbed them. With his vision cleared, he could recognize the plain ceiling of his room. "Aleda...?" he murmured instinctively. When he raised his arms, he found them empty. A dream?

But, the brightness above projected from his GunSoul: it glowed, still calling to its mate. Zero laid a hand over his shining heart.

"I do love you. I have for so long."

"I love you, too, Zero."

His damp eyescreens leaked another single stream from a corner of his eyescreens. I really saw her. I told her. She knows, now.

An itch tickled his chest, and his fingers instinctively probed at his wound. To his surprise, they found a rock-hard bump. Zero, curious, pulled up the electrical tape and saw the only mark left was a round, slightly raised silver lump next to his gem. It's healed, he thought in amazement. Could it have been… her magic…? He rubbed the scar tissue, which had a consistency of hard rubber, a moment more. I have yet another thing to thank her for. His fingers clenched into a fist. I won't rest until she is safe in my arms.

Aleda, I'm coming for you.

Author's Notes

And there is your sap :) One of many lovey-dovey scenes to come. I started working on this scene months ago, back in November/December (I'm a romantic sap, sorry XD), so it's had a while to (I hope) get good. Let me know how I did: cute, sweet, cringeworthy, d'aww, cliche, or whatever.

I'm not sure what compelled me to make Chief Haro lecture Zero in that one scene. It just happened. Was that scene alright, btw? Did it feel natural, or did it go off on a tangent super quick?

Other challenges included the whole lay vs. lie vs. laid… that's still a grammar rule I'm learning. And also scar tissue. I thought it'd be interesting if the Gundams' nano-repair could cause scabs and/or scars. I tried looking through images and info sites of scars for reference, but besides the grossness of seeing those images I had trouble finding a clear answer about what is likely to happen to a wide puncture wound. I suppose because most humans don't survive those :/ Any insights would be appreciated.

Since I like having some time to tweak and perfect chapters, and this next bit could possibly have major changes from how it went 5 years ago, I'm going to say that Chapter 26 will come in the beginning of July, just fyi. I promise I'll make it worth the wait :)

Thanks to Titanic X as always for reading over the chapter and boosting my confidence XD

I'm excited for coming events! :D This arc wraps up at about Chapter 29-30. Things are about to go fast, so hold on tight!

-Penelopi

P.S. Brownie points if you figure out the reference behind the title. ;)