A/N: Heh, this should be a fun little chapter. Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: Cynthia: "CrazyNinjaPenguin does not hold legal right to the anime Code Geass and its characters and elements. The elements and characters of his creation, do, however, belong to him."
Ava li Britannia's eyes opened suddenly. She looked around frantically, paranoia setting in immediately. She shook. She felt ill. It had been four days now. It had been four days since the control of her life that she had thrown away was outright ripped from her hands all together. After two months of misery, four days of horror were hardly welcome.
She sat up and looked around the room. The window revealed it was still dark out. Inside the room, Regina Granville with her refrain applicator, ready to give Ava her next regular dose was nowhere in sight. Ava sighed in relief. She still had time. She still had time before she was forced into submission once more.
Having the refrain forced upon her was good for Ava's mental state in a way. It provided a crystal clear reminder that the substance was something to be despised, not relied on. She had always hated it, but now she viewed it with intense loathing and anger. She cursed herself for injecting it into herself voluntarily. Ava may have been weak, but she hated being forced to do something. She resisted it. As a result, she was more prepared to leave refrain behind and move forward than ever.
It's just that doing that was impossible at this point. Richter Novak had told the guards some lie, likely about her health or something and as such they were refusing to let her venture from her room. That damned Knight of Eight would just be behind the corner anyway. There was no getting past that woman. It was hopeless. Ava was a prisoner within her own castle. There was no way out. She had lost hope.
"I wonder if it's fate that it's come to this… Ava sighed aloud. "Perhaps this is what I deserve."
"Come now, it's too early to just give up," said a bright voice from out of nowhere. Ava looked around; she found no one.
"So you're here, Megami Subarashii?" Ava asked with a laugh.
"Sure am. But keep your voice down. Your buddy Richter Novak would have me killed if he found out I made it in here," the invisible woman whispered.
"Is that so? I'm being barred from the outside entirely then?" Ava started.
"Yeah. The patrol is so seamless, I've been trying to figure out how to get in here for two days now. In all my years as a thief it never took me so long to break into a room…" the woman sighed.
"Is that so? This seems very cautious, even for that man. Even if I showed a desire to regain myself, it doesn't seem so reasonable to go so far," said Ava, looking down.
"Yeah, well there's more to it than that…" said Megami in a low voice.
"What do you mean?" asked the other.
"I'm going to show you something, Ava. It will shock you, make you cry and make you probably hate yourself, but you still need to see it," said Megami in a weak voice.
Ava gave a hard laugh. "You've certainly piqued my curiosity with those words, Megami."
"Pleas look at this," said Megami. Something materialized out of nowhere. It was a small stack of papers with pictures printed on them. They floated over to Ava. She grabbed them and began to study them.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"W-what is this?" she started as she stared down at the pictures. In all of them there was a familiar girl. She had blonde hair and fine features. She was tied to a wall and dressed in prisoner garbs.
"She's alive, Ava…" said Megami in a low voice. Tears began to flow from Ava's eyes.
"H-how…?" was all she could choke out. It didn't make sense. This couldn't be Astrid Weinberg. Astrid Weinberg was dead. She was killed in battle. She had ran into the most powerful weapon the enemy had and it had destroyed her unit entirely. Multiple reports indicated that survival would be impossible. A funeral had been held in which an empty box had been laid in the earth. Ava still had nightmares about that scene. But denying that the one in the picture was Astrid was impossible.
"I'm sorry, Ava, you were wrong… she survived…" said Megami in a quiet voice.
"But then--!" fear set in. Ava began to shake. What had she done?! How could she have fallen so far? How could she have destroyed everything she had built up just like that if her love wasn't really gone? Her sins were numerous and inexcusable. To learn they were the result of a mistake tore at her heart. The last part of Megami's prediction was readily fulfilled.
"Fate certainly plays with us in strange ways. It can be all too cruel some times. In some cases, I guess fate is just an outright bitch," Megami said with a quiver. "but for all the trouble this surely leaves your heart in, at least knowing she alive is worth a smile, right?"
"Y-yeah..." said Ava, a very subtle smirk entering the corner of her mouth.
"But you probably already know there's more to the story. With pictures like this there has to be more attached, right?' Megami spoke in a very dark, somber voice.
Ava looked at some more of the pictures. Astrid was pictured behind the man in the Orange mask in most of them. The pictures were clearly taken from some sort of speech. "What's going to happen to Astrid?" Ava gulped. She already knew the likeliest answer.
"She's to be executed." It was still hard to hear it.
"When?" asked Ava, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
"Tomorrow," said Megami in a very low voice. Ava's eyes widened.
"Richter didn't want me to know of this. He's to let Astrid die. He thinks she's the only thing that could bring me back now…" Ava said, closing her eyes.
"Yeah. That seems about right," said Megami quietly.
"You should have wakened me as soon as you snuck in here," said Ava looking down.
"This is going to be a long day for you. I thought you'd need your rest," said Megami in a low voice.
"But I… I don't…" Ava started, somehow, everything still seemed hopeless.
"You should realize it, right? All you can do now is save her," said Megami in a light voice.
"But how do I do that? I-I'm…" Ava struggled with the words.
"You're scared. That's understandable. It's going to be hard to find your feet and walk outside that door once more. You've done things, you've let things happen for which you may never forgive yourself, but the simple fact remains that the girl you love will die tomorrow if you don't call forth that tiny bit of strength that still remains inside of you," said Megami in a piercing voice. Ava's continued to shake.
"You certainly have a way with words, Megami Subarashii," Ava said, smirking quietly. "But even if I want to call on that strength, it won't be enough to get past Richter Novak. It wont' be enough to get past Regina Granville."
"Richter may have that woman's support but there are people on your side too," said Megami in a ready voice.
"I abandoned them. I failed them. I betrayed them. Even if they don't pledge loyalty to Richter, surely I'm forsaken," said Ava, remembering her encounter with Hildegarde Waldstein, cursing herself as she did.
"Maybe so. I don't know. All I know is that, when it comes down to it, you at least have me," said Megami in a light voice.
"Richter Novak is the one paying you," Ava reminded the other.
"My loyalty isn't something that can be bought," said Megami.
"But why? What did I do to deserve your loyalty?" asked Ava. "I've been a miserable wreck so long as you've known me. You've visited me frequently since then and I'm not really sure why."
"It's because you're not the only one with darkness in her past, Empress. I want to help you. Because I want to find solace from some of my own sins. Sins from six years ago," said Megami, her voice heavy.
Ava's eyes widened. What was this woman saying? It couldn't be--! "What are you talking about? Who are you?" Ava started, shaking.
"I was there that day six years ago… that day you surely will always remember," Megami admitted in a low tone.
Ava felt cold. She could hardly comprehend the words the woman was speaking. In a weak voice, she managed to mutter,"Who are you? What did you do with her… with mother…?"
"I left those people that day. I betrayed them. I couldn't take it anymore. I had relied on them, I had abandoned myself to their darkness, but that day, in seeing the two of you in torment I managed to break through the walls that had kept me trapped. You were knocked out at the time, but I saved your life and Astrid's. I kept my former allies busy until your mother arrived," said Megami, her voice very quiet. "I cant say what happened to your mother. They wanted her dead. Her goals ran contradictory to theirs."
"I do remember you!" said Ava, her eyes wide as she pieced some great mystery together. "You knocked the sword from that priest's hands."
"Yeah," Megami laughed. "You have a good memory."
"Thank you," said Ava.
"I obviously didn't know you'd be Empress one day. I didn't do it to get in your favor. I did it for my own reasons. But even so… that day is proof that our fates are linked. That's enough to get me to lend you my support," said Megami, her voice low.
"Could you tell me about them? My mother's enemies?" Ava started, her eyes narrowing.
"I probably should. No, I definitely should. But not now," said Megami. "Astrid comes first. She was there that day anyway. She deserves to hear the full story too."
"Right," Ava nodded, smirking.
"So, you ready?" asked Megami.
"If I wait until I'm ready Astrid will be dead one-hundred times over," said Ava harshly. "Let's go."
She stood. She dressed herself quickly in her imperial garb. She then opened the door and walked outside. The guards approached her, ready to confront her.
"Stand down! Ignore whatever it is that man has told you! That's an order!" she demanded in a harsh, intense voice.
Most of the men backed down and let her pass. She glared at the rest and they backed off. She pressed onward through the corridor, not looking back.
"Where do you think you're going, Empress?" an emotionless voice reached Ava's ears. She was there, Regina Granville, emerging from the shadows of the corridor as if she had been expecting Ava.
"Stand down, Knight! You have no place defying me!" Ava shouted out.
Granville said nothing. Instead, she removed a familiar object from her pocket. It was a refrain applicator. She approached steadily. Ava tried to tun past her. That's when she was reminded how impossible this was. She was on the floor, the woman on top of her, the vial of refrain held to her neck. There was no overpowering the cybernetically enhanced woman.
Just as Ava's efforts were to be rendered useless there in that corridor, the vial of refrain was suddenly ripped from the applicator and tossed against a wall, where it shattered. This changed things. In a split second, Regina Granville was no longer on top of Ava. Now she was on top of Megami, who readily became visible. The barrel of a gun emerged from out of the flesh of her arm and pointed at the side of Megami's head.
"Stop this!" Ava shouted, scared. "Someone stop her!"
"Cool. Got it," a lightly amused voice said from behind her. All too swiftly a wide swipe was made at Regina Granville. She jumped up, off the woman, in order to protect her life.
It was Ulric Cross. It was the Knight of Twelve. It was the only person who possibly could have stood against Granville. Ava couldn't even contemplate how it could have been that he was right there watching and willing to listen to her. She pulled herself to her feet and saw Megami do much the same.
"Why do you interfere? Don't you wish to continue spreading our destruction?" asked Granville, unable to comprehend, as she backed away from the repeated slashes from a blade which had emerged from Ulric's hand.
"Fuck no! I'm a fighter, not a killer. I've had enough of that shit!" Cross stated as he darted out of the path of a shot from the woman's gun arm. "Besides, it's this chick I pledged to serve in that fucking prison, not that cocky, upstart little bastard."
Ava's eyes widened. She had always ridiculed and looked down at this man, yet here he had remained loyal to her. It left her feeling strange.
"Then I will simply have to eliminate you if you chose to stand in the way," said Granville coldly. A short blade appeared from her left hand. She rushed forward. Cross met her blade with his. She aimed her gun arm at his head. Before she could fire, Cross moved his left fist. It didn't transform into anything. Instead, it just moved forward and found Granville's jaw. The force behind the punch must have been incredible, for the powerful cyborg was thrown backwards.
"I don't like hitting a chick like that, but I ain't about to back down from any fight," said Cross. "Try again if you want; it won't be any different. You may have had the same shit done to your body as I had, but you were never on my level as a fighter to begin with."
Regina Granville did just that. She leapt to her feet and made a desperate charge with her hand blade. Ulric jumped to the side and pounded her head with his fist from behind. She fell to the ground again. This time she didn't get back up.
"That should be done now," Cross said in a low voice.
"Thank you, sir," Ava said, smiling at the man.
"Back in that prison I said I was your loyal dog," Ulric reminded with a light smirk. "I've always been a man of my word." His smirk became more full. If Ava was in a better mood she might have reminded him how her Geass had caught him in a lie twice during their first meeting. "Now you got shit you have to do, right? I'll stay here in case this little bitch wakes up."
Ava nodded at the man, having a newfound respect for him. She turned and looked at the mercenary woman. "Megami, let's go."
"As you wish, Empress," the woman replied. The two continued all the way to the throne room without issue. Of course there would be issue when Ava entered it. She was ready for this. She smiled as she entered the place she had been avoiding.
Jacquelyn mi Britannia was sitting in her throne. Richter Novak was at the side of it. Both looked up at the sound of the approaching footsteps. They looked at Ava, surprise entering Richter's eyes and hate entering Jackie's.
"My, my, what rare pleasure is this to see you here, Empress?" Richter started with a smirk, approaching her.
"Cut the crap, Richter. Don't think you even deserve to look at me after the last few days," said Ava curtly, glaring in contempt at the man.
"What the hell is this?! Wasn't Granville supposed to prevent this from happening at all costs?!" Jackie screeched, shaking in anger.
"Guess things didn't go as you guys planned, huh?" Megami chuckled casually.
"So this was your work, huh?" Richter looked at the mercenary. "I have to know, what sort of obligation could a woman without loyalties have to this broken empress?"
"It's pretty simple. The two of us are bound by fate," said Megami. "That, and pricks like you really piss me off."
"I suppose hiring you was my ultimate mistake," Richter said in a low groan. He turned to Ava. "You know the truth then, Empress?"
"You intend to let Astrid die tomorrow," Ava said with a hateful glare.
"I suppose the plan will be different now, won't it?" Richter laughed, knowing he was up against a wall.
"You are to leave here immediately! Get out of here and don't let me see your face again!" Ava shouted, hellish anger in her voice.
"I never disobeyed you. You gave me the authority to do what I thought was best for Britannia. I've done that the whole way through," said Richter with a smirk.
"I realize that, but there's no need for you here any more. And the methods you've used the last four days alone are something I can never forgive," Ava said in a definite voice.
"You won't be rid of him! I'm your heir and he's going to be my husband!" Jackie screeched out with intense hate.
"You're my heir?" Ava started, cocking her eyebrow.
"Yes. Mother and Ada were both killed while you destroyed yourself for the sake of your disgusting little girlfriend," Jackie snarled maliciously.
"I didn't hear of that," said Ava. "It's a shame. Even so you are not my heir, Jackie."
"What the hell do you mean?! Since Aunt Nunnally defected to the other side, I'm the oldest child of royal blood!" Jackie shouted.
"I don't want to spoil it. You'll have to learn on your own accord," Ava laughed softly. "Now then, both of you, please leave and don't come back."
"It's hopeless, you know. Astrid Weinberg is a trap. No matter what you send her way to rescue her, the enemy will only be prepared for it. The losses will be extreme. You were better off forgetting about her," said Richter straightforwardly.
"Go home, pizza boy," Ava spat with contempt. Richter, for the first time, showed anger in his eyes but he suppressed it.
"As you wish, Ava li Britannia," the young man said. "Let's go, Jackie."
"But Richter--!" the woman started, but received only glares. She stammered and gave a huff before following her fiancé out of the room.
"Is it okay, just letting those two go?" asked Megami, head cocked.
"Richter Novak was right in what he said. All the sins he committed were only committed because I gave him the authority. They are my sins as much as they are his. I can't see a man to his death for my own sins, no matter how much contempt I have for him," said Ava in a heavy voice.
"Right. Guess that makes sense," said Megami with a shrug.
"Now we have a lot of work to do an and a very short time to do it. We should call the Rounds for a strategy meeting," said Ava. "Do you know of their locations?"
"Gino Weinberg was barred entry from the castle after Astrid was shown. Hildegarde Waldstein is locked away in the castle tower. Callista Blackwell went somewhere. No one's seen her since yesterday. Claudio Darlton, Rowena Winfield, Nonette Enneagram and Niles Moore should all be around somewhere," started Megami, with some nods.
"And Lord Marsh?" asked Ava.
"Damian Marsh fell in battle several weeks ago," said Megami in a sigh.
"I see. I didn't hear," Ava said, feeling a short chill run across her.
"So, what do you want me to do?" asked Megami.
"Go release Waldstein and bring everyone else to the meeting room. I'll make a phone call to the Weinberg house," said Ava in a light voice.
"Got it," said Megami with enthusiasm. "Oh, and Regina Granville?"
"Will be doing her part as a Knight of the Rounds whether she likes it or not," said Ava with contempt lining her voice. "As infuriated as I am with her, we have need of her strength."
"Awesome!" Megami laughed. "I'm on it!"
With that the mercenary woman left. Ava went to find a phone.
---
The girl wore a forced smile on her face as children half her age ran around her. She felt like sighing but kept face. It was her job to help take care of these children who were like her. Like her, they were children with no place in the world, children with no parents, no families. Like her, this small town orphanage was the only home they had ever known.
"Come on, Ellie! Let's play!" a young girl, Mary, called, tugging at her shirt. The girl couldn't hold her sigh any longer.
Ellie wasn't the girl's name even if it was the one she most often heard. Her name was the only piece she had of her true identity. It was Eilith Grey. Of the name, the surname likely wasn't true either. One of her most striking features was her intense blue-gray eyes; it stood to reason that name was invented when she was left here. Her given name on the other hand, was unusual. It was the name of a noble's child. It stood out horribly in a simple orphanage. Growing up, most of the children even had trouble pronouncing it, and were wary of her when she used it. The name thus fell out of favor even if Eilith herself found it a beautiful name.
Eilith couldn't help but wonder about it all, about why she had been left here. If she was from a noble family, awarded a beautiful name, why was she discarded? It depressed her. Her best guess was that she was illegitimate. Still, even that reason seemed somehow empty to her. She had always wanted desperately to find the truth but knew not where to even begin.
At 20 years of age, Eilith was a girl of simple beauty. She cut her auburn hair fairly short, and her body was trim and toned from regular workouts. She had very fine features and a womanly figure that exceeded most of the adult women working at the orphanage. She clearly had good genes, which only enforced her nobility theory. She stood out in this place even if she tried her best to look normal.
She was currently a student at a local college with hopes of entering law enforcement when she graduated. She worked for the Orphanage she had always lived at to pay for school. They paid her decently for watching over these children. It wasn't a hard job, even if Eilith wasn't exactly good with kids. It wasn't a hard life really. There wasn't much joy in it, and it had always felt like something was missing, but it wasn't difficult. She was still eager to leave this place behind.
"Okay, Mary, fine," Eilith said, obliging the young girl.
"Yay! Let's go!" the child said, before dragging the woman along by the wrist. The other children began to cheer as she was brought to join their game.
Eilith came to a halt even though the child was still pulling at her arm. Something strange was happening. A woman was talking to the old priest who ran the orphanage. This woman was wholly unsuited to this place. She'd stand out anywhere, but amongst the dullness of the simple orphanage, the effect was only amplified.
The woman was, in a word, beautiful. She seemed to glow. Her crimson hair had a shimmer to it. Her skin was pure white and silken and she was built similarly to Eilith, though a little smaller and thinner. She was dressed in beautiful, expensive clothing that would seem garish on anyone else but suited her so well. Eilith stared at her transfixed, her heart jumping from her chest. This woman, this beautiful woman, just looking at her, Eilith felt like she already knew her.
"Eh, now what were you wanting, miss?" the priest, a man hardly better educated than most people in the rural out of the way town Eilith had called home for so long, said.
"I spelled it out simply. I'm looking for a child," said the woman in an intense voice.
"Adoption, eh? We have plenty of little ones for you to pick from," the old man started, smiling.
"No! I'm looking for a particular child, a girl who was left here twenty years ago. I want to know if you know where she ended up," the woman spoke in a harsh voice.
"Well if she was left here twenty years ago, she wouldn't exactly be a child anymore, would she?" started the priest with a jovial laugh.
The woman glared at him in a scary way. He stopped.
"I'm looking for the child in this file. A girl named Eilith Grey," the woman started. Eilith eyes went wide. This woman was looking for her. The kids still tugged at her, but she brushed them off and stared at the woman.
"Sounds familiar. Name like that certainly stands out here… I can't really recall where I--" the old man started deliberately, stuck on the name.
"So you've forgotten my true name now, Father?" Eilith spoke, stepping forward, past the kids and toward the alluring woman.
"Huh? Ellie? What was--!" the old man started, startled by the girl's outburst. It then came together for him. "That's right, that'd be you, wouldn't it?"
"I am called Eilith Grey," Eilith spoke to the woman, staring at her still, transfixed by her.
"Y-you are? I wasn't expecting to find you still here…" the woman stuttered, emotion in her clear blue eyes.
"I stand out too much in a town like this, and always have. No one ever adopted me. The priest here is kind enough to give me work and a room here still." Eilith spoke, her body feeling light.
"E-Eilith, I-I'd like a word with you in private," the woman started in a shaky, emotional voice. "Will you come with me a moment?"
"Yeah, sure." Eilith smiled. The beautiful woman led her slowly outside. After a pause, Eilith asked the first question. "So, who are you exactly?"
"My name is Callista Blackwell," the woman said, the words hard in her throat. She shook as if she was scared. She looked at the girl and then away. "I'm your mother."
Eilith's eyes welled with tears at the simple utterance of that one phrase. She looked at the woman, her world having stopped. The woman, her mother, Callista Blackwell, started to cry as well, unable to hold the emotion in any longer.
"Please tell me… why… Why did you--?" Now Eilith was the one choking on her words.
"I never wanted to be apart from you, Eilith. You were my blessing, my treasure. I longed to be together with you always, but you were taken from me before I could even know you," said Callista in a shaky voice. Eilith stared at her in disbelief.
"I was taken from you?" Eilith started, her eyes wide. "Why?"
"You need to understand this before you come to know me, Eilith, but I am not a kind person. I've done things. I've been judged for these things. There are numerous people in this world who would call me their enemy. Just months before you were born, one of those enemies captured me. You were taken from me shortly after birth, shortly after I could name you," Callista said in a soft voice.
"M-mother…" Eilith choked. She stared at the woman who had given her her name, barely contemplating her words.
"I was locked in a prison cell the last twenty years by those enemies but I never once lost hope that one day I would come to know you, my precious child," the woman spoke in a weak voice, tears streaming down her voice.
Eilith stepped forward then and embraced the woman, her mother. She didn't care if this woman said she wasn't kind, that she had done something to someone that had her locked away for twenty years. This woman didn't even know her, yet had nothing but love for her. That very thought felt so beautiful to the girl.
"Well that day's finally come, mother. I'm here," Eilith whispered as she embraced the older woman warmly. "I always hoped I could meet you someday too."
"Eilith, I want you to come with me," said the woman suddenly.
"Come with you? Where?" asked the girl in a soft voice.
"To the Capital. I want you to stay with me. I want to make up for the fact that I couldn't be there for you all this time," said Callista, in a warm voice.
"Wow, thats kind of…" Eilith started, breaking the embrace to look at the woman. "It's real sudden… I don't know if I can just leave it all behind like that…"
"This is no place for you, my child," said Callista. "No, your father's blood makes it impossible for you to stay here."
"My father?" Eilith started, looking at the other.
"Your father was a proud and powerful man. The enemy who threw me in my cell took his life shortly before that," said Callista in a low voice.
"Oh… I see…" Eilith said, looking down, finding no sorrow for a man she didn't know, even if he was her father. "But what did you mean? Why can't I stay here?"
"Your father's name was Charles zi Britannia," Callista said in a low voice.
Eilith eyes narrowed. She thought she was hearing things. "Eh, what was that?" she started.
"Your true name is Eilith vol Britannia. You, my daughter, are a true-born princess of Britannia," the woman said in a crisp voice.
These words were simply stupefying. They were almost incomprehensible. Eilith felt like her head was going to explode. She had thought all those little things; her name was that of a noble, she had noble features, she didn't fit in here. She had always felt like she belonged somewhere else. Even so this was… This was impossible.
"Eilith vol Britannia," Eilith repeated the name, shaking at the sound of it off her lips. She found she liked the sound.
"Yes," said Callista. "I trust you understand now."
"Allow me a moment to pack my things and say my goodbyes," said Eilith, still shocked that her life could have changed so entirely in but a matter of minutes.
"Of course, child," Callista said with a nod. "I'll wait right here."
EIlith walked back inside the orphanage as if in a daze. She wouldn't take long. She was a simple girl with little to her name and few friends. She was ready to leave this old life behind.
---
Hu Xuemei felt a deep rooted anxiety with every step. The familiar palace, the Vermillion City. It felt cold to her, distant. Each step was heavy. Xuemei had been anticipating this day for so long. Xianglin had kept her busy constantly the last two months. It was battle after battle against the EU. Though the collective efforts of the Federation had amounted to what was essentially a stalemate, Xuemei had won most of the battles she was given charge of and had thus been promoted a rank.
It wasn't until now, when Xianglin had been called away for a sudden strategy meeting with their allies, that Xuemei was given the freedom to return to her home. She walked slowly to the heart of the palace, her mind almost blank. She was scared of the truth she was about to confirm. She continued forward through the palace. Then she was right in front of the Tianzi's throne room. She entered it calmly.
"Xuemei…" the soft, pleasant voice of the woman Xuemei had sworn to always protect spoke her name as she approached. Xuemei looked up at her; she was smiling. It was a beautiful smile that graced the ultra-fine features so similar to Xuemei's own.
"Tianzi, I wanted a word with you," she started in a low voice.
"Of course, Xuemei. I'd be happy to speak with you," the woman replied softly.
"I want to ask you about this sword that was left in my hands," said Xuemei with intense eyes.
"I see…" Tianzi closed her eyes and sighed. "That sword belonged to a great man."
"It's the sword of the fallen hero, Li Xingke," said Xuemei in a low voice. "I've heard this much from Miss Xianglin."
"I understand. Y-you have things to ask me then, do you?" asked Tianzi, her voice quivering slightly.
"I just want to know the truth. What did the holder of this sword, what did the man Li Xingke mean to you?" asked Xuemei, her voice holding a subtle intensity.
"When I was but a young child, I spared his life. When I was older, but still a child, he saved mine," Tianzi spoke, closing her eyes. "He was my hope."
"And that's the end of it?" asked Xuemei quietly.
"He was also the first person I ever loved," the woman spoke, her voice soft and gentle.
"Did he love you as well?" asked Xuemei solemnly.
"He shouldn't have. I was a child and he was a man living every day fearful the next would be his last," said the older woman, in a light voice.
"I wasn't an abandoned child, left at the palace gates, was I?" asked Xuemei, shaking more than a little.
The Tianzi stood up at these words. She stepped toward the girl. Xuemei waited in anticipation. The Empress of the Chinese Federation then took her into a deep embrace.
"I'm sorry… I wish it could have been different," the Tianzi wept. Tears began to come from Xuemei's eyes as well.
"I can't blame you. You had no choice. I can see that as clearly as anyone else," Xuemei said, overcome with emotion. "Even if… Miss Xianglin never held me like this…"
"I should have told you. I should have been closer to you. I wanted to be, you know, but it just…" Tianzi trailed off to just enjoy the other's embrace.
"It's okay. It wasn't something for me to know," said Xuemei in a low whisper.
"I was very happy Xuemei. Watching you grow up has been the joy of my life. You'll never understand how I regretted only being able to watch," said Tianzi in a warm voice.
"I'm happy that you were watching. I really am," said Xuemei in a fragile voice.
"It scared me when Xianglin asked me to give that sword to you," said Tianzi, breaking the long embrace and looking at the girl's sword. "But at the same time, I knew you were the only one he would want wielding it."
"You really think so?" asked Xuemei.
"It was hard to hear you were following his path so closely, but beautiful at the same time," said Tianzi, her words holding a certain heaviness.
"Li Xingke wielded this sword for one he loved with all his heart. I intend to forever use it for the same purpose," said Xuemei with a warm smile.
The Tianzi began to cry once more. She took the girl into another embrace. "Please let me hold you for a while" she whispered.
"Okay," Xuemei cooed softly and melted into her mother's warmth.
---
Miya had a grin on her face as she held the phone to her ear. Her mother Nina was on the other end, giving her something of a lecture. It was a regular occurrence on those days prior to when the heavy stuff might flare up. It was pretty much the same lecture too.
"… and please, no matter what happens, be careful, Miya. Provided the operation goes as we think it will, things could get really dangerous tomorrow. Don't do anything reckless and please, no matter what, make sure you come home safe," the woman finally concluded. Miya rolled her eyes.
"Sure thing, mom! Got it!" she chirped back.
"Good. I love you, dear. Both of us do," said Nina. Her voice warm and gentle.
"Love ya too, mom!" Miya replied. She gave a short laugh. "Talk to you later."
"Bye," the other said. Miya hung up and stowed her cellphone away. She sighed.
"Your parents really do worry about you," Cynthia, who sat in the room nearby said.
"Tch, yeah, they can be a little overbearing," Miya said with a shrug. Her eyes then went wide as she realized her mistake. "Though I know I'm very luck to have them," she said, her voice becoming sad and quiet.
"I still have wonderful memories of my parents. There's no need to talk so carefully with me, Miya," said Cynthia in an easy voice.
"You have those memories of both of them?" Miya started, a little surprised.
"Of course. I was their only child. I was showered with affection by both of them and had nothing but undying love to give in return," said Cynthia, her voice soft and casual.
"But your father…" Miya looked down, suddenly feeling despondent, remembering her now distant encounter with Niles Moore.
"My father and I were very close. He was nothing but an excellent father. He was kind and passionate, strong and knowledgeable. I admired him greatly," said Cynthia in a quiet voice. Miya was surprised to hear these words. They depressed her.
"Why did he do it, Cynthia? Why did he kill her?" asked Miya, her voice weak and brittle.
"Miya, what was that?" Cynthia seemed surprised.
"I'm sorry, Cynthia. I kept it secret from you," said Miya, her voice low. "In one of our battles, I fought your father. I asked him for answers and he told me he killed her, your mother," Miya admitted, averting her eyes.
"Why did you keep such a thing from me?" asked Cynthia, staring at her friend.
"I thought you'd be upset, either for challenging him, challenging him without you, or prying into your personal life when it's entirely independent of my own goals," said Miya giving a weak smile.
"I'd have only been upset over such a thing if you had died, Miya. You're a dear friend. If you want to know the truth about it then I'll tell you," said Cynthia, smiling readily.
"I'd like to hear," said Miya. "Please tell me."
"It's kind of long. Hope you don't mind," Cynthia said, tilting her head.
"I have time," said Miya in reply.
Cynthia nodded. She smiled and then started her story,"It happened summer, six years ago. I was 17 years old. Things were going well with us. We were happy. Father was well respected among the knights. I had just completed my junior year of High School and was eager to enjoy my summer break. My mother, who worked as a teacher even though she didn't have to, was also on break. Father had promised the two of us a proper vacation that summer. I was excited. I had only rarely left the capital before that.
"We flew out to a distant land. It was a coastal resort in Area 6. It was a peaceful and pleasant place. I rather liked it there. But it didn't last. Halfway though our trip, father was called back to Britannia for discussion of his future. The Empress was considering promoting him into the Knights of the Round as recognition for his service and requested an audience. It would just take a day and then he'd be able to return to us, but it was that day that everything changed.
"Shortly after father left, mother and I were kidnapped. The region in which the resort was located had a fairly successful, tourism-based economy, yet the regional government refused the idea of becoming independent from the empire. This led to the formation of anti-Britannian radical groups. Recognizing us as the family of a Britannian noble, one such group captured the two of us, intent on ransoming us to help fund their agenda. My father was notified in Britannia.
"The men demanded things. Money first most, but they also wanted weapons. Most specifically, a functioning knightmare frame. Father agreed to their demands. He happened to have a Vincent Ward he kept in prime condition. He had the thing moved down to that place. All indication was that he was to comply with their demands. He might have, had things been different."
"What do you mean?" interjected Miya, listening attentively.
"While we were kidnapped, some of the kidnappers took interest in me. They looked at me with lust. They wanted to take advantage of me before I was returned to father. Mother sheltered me from, them and in the end they instead decided to take advantage of her. When Mother was presented to my father, her body was bruised thoroughly and her eyes revealed a pained, broken spirit. The sight of her caused father to lose himself.
"He started killing. He went wild. He shot four men in the head with two guns he had concealed before climbing onboard his knightmare and letting go. The kidnappers grabbed me and my mother and ran for their lives. Father gave chase. It was a small village that the kidnapers had brought us to. Father blazed through it and, in an effort to kill them all as they dispersed, razed everything. Soon the entire village was red with both blood and fire.
"Father then cornered the men who had us captive. He disembarked his knightmare frame and shot them both dead with deadly accuracy. A man's head exploded inches from my face as a shot ran through it. I was frightened. I was horrified… but mother was worse. As my father cornered the last living man in that hell, mother ran to him and screamed for him to stop. Father had every reason to listen. This last man, was hardly more than a boy. He was visibly frightened, shaking as father stared him down. There was no reason for father to kill him," Cynthia trailed off from her story, delivered in a soft yet emotive voice that held a soft burning fire.
"He killed him, didn't he?" Miya asked, already knowing the answer.
"Without hesitation. Mother screamed. Madness was in her eyes. She grabbed a handgun one of the dead men had carried and pointed it at him. Father told her to calm down as he stepped toward her. But mother didn't calm. She gave another shriek and held that gun forward with trembling hands. Father continued forward and she fired it. It didn't even come close to hitting, but this made father angry. He screamed at her and told her to stop. He told her to come home with him, and that he had done this for her sake. With these words, mother moved the gun from father. She pointed it at the side of her own head. She called my father a monster before she pulled the trigger and ended her own life," Cynthia delivered the story just as before.
Miya felt a sickness in her stomach. It was a hard thing to hear. Niles Moore hadn't murdered his own wife as he had claimed. He had for her sake, done something so gruesome and horrible that she couldn't live with that she had chosen to end her own life. It was an impossibly sad story, especially so for the girl sitting next to her who had been forced to watch it all.
"This only further inflamed father's madness. Some local law enforcement arrived at this time to investigate the situation. Father killed them all. He couldn't stop killing. Desperate, I grabbed the gun my mother had used to end her life and fired it at him. My aim was far from true. I had wanted to end his life, but instead of his head, all I got was a shoulder. I was shaking horribly and dropped the gun. But the wound I had inflicted was severe enough to bring a halt to my father's madness. He fell to his knee in pain and dropped both his guns. When the next wave of police arrived he was apprehended without issue.
"The case was cleaned up a bit before it was presented to the Britannian masses and a jury. The reports said that the men had killed mother and father had razed that village for revenge. Video I saw from the trial indicated he had started to believe this story as the truth, like he was hiding from what had actually happened. Despite the lies of my father and his lawyers, the jury quickly sentenced him to the death I had failed to grant him that day. He was kept in prison for six years as appeals were made. He was released to the free world by Ava li Britannia just one month prior to the day before he was to ultimately be executed," Cynthia concluded in a heavy voice, closing her eyes.
"Thank you for telling me something so difficult," said Miya, closing her eyes as well.
"It's not difficult for me. It's something that happened in my life. It's as simple as that," said Cynthia quietly.
"As horrible as what he did is, your father… I'm not sure he's evil," said Miya, looking down.
"I never said he was," said Cynthia in a quiet voice.
"Y-you didn't?" Miya started, staring at her friend.
"That day, my father became a monster, lost to darkness, who's only solace is death. I aim to grant him his death, even if he no longer welcomes it," said the blonde girl, smiling.
"You don't think redemption is possible for him?" Miya asked, averting her eyes from the other.
"He may be convinced it is but I know my father. No matter what he does, he will always be haunted by that horrible day. In his current position, a knight engaging in war, killing men on the daily basis his sins will only be more vivid in his mind," said Cynthia, her eyes holding a deep sorrow.
"So it's out of compassion then? You want to free your monster from its cycle of violence," said Miya, smiling.
"I suppose it could be said like that," Cynthia smiled as well.
"I'm kind of relieved. I don't agree with the concept of revenge. I'm happy to learn your intentions are different from that," said Miya, cocking her head.
"Revenge is the furthest thing from my mind," said Cynthia in a quiet voice.
"You're amazing, Cynthia, you know that?" Miya said with a smile.
"I hardly think I am," said the other giving a short laugh.
"Tomorrow, mother says we'll likely see battle. You may get your chance there," said Miya.
"Yes. I hope I get that chance," said Cynthia, closing her eyes.
Miya smiled.
---
Kallen Kozuki gave a nod as she approached the closed door of her daughters' room onboard the Hitokage. Orders for the three of them had arrived. She was prepared to give them to the other two. She opened the door slowly and stepped inside. She sighed as she looked at her daughters atop their bed.
Katsumi's arms were wrapped tightly about her sister's waist. Her head was resting at Katsue's bust. Katsue was smiling and giggling as he sister snuggled up against her. Both of them were stripped down to undergarments. Neither took note of their mother's entry.
Kallen fixed this. She gave a short cough that caused them to look up. Katsumi and Katsue had always been "closer" with one another than Kallen would have liked. She couldn't really get used to seeing things like this. She supposed she wasn't quite a failure as a mother though, since on all other accounts they were wonderful children.
"Oh, hey mom. How long have you been there?" asked Katsumi with an innocent smile, letting go of her sister and sitting up.
"Long enough," Kallen replied in a stern voice.
"So what's up? It's pretty late. Training's been done for a few hours now," started Katsue, sitting up as well, adjusting her bra in the process.
Many weeks ago, Katsue and Katsumi had aided Kallen in battle against the Knight of Two. Kallen had had a plan to best that man on her own which she had confidence in, but she still welcomed the assistance. The whole incident was the final straw that tipped Kallen into accepting the girls' decision to fight. The past many weeks, she had personally taken over training them, honing their combat talents to a whole new level.
"A request for further assistance arrived from our allies in Absolution. We're flying out shortly. We'll likely see combat in less than 24 hours," said Kallen with a nod.
"Oh, really?" Katsue smiled. "What's the situation?"
"An enemy I bested, Astrid Weinberg, who was taken as a prisoner has agreed to let herself be used as bait to draw the opponent out. Absolution plans to have a heavy ambush ready and waiting to crush them from all sides," the mother explained.
"Oh, this is about that prisoner thing from the other day…" started Katsue. "What makes Absolution so sure that the Britannian Empress will go all out for this Astrid girl?"
"That I don't know exactly. Reports indicate the two of them are very close," said Kallen giving a soft shrug.
"Is she the Empress's girlfriend?" Katsumi asked in a light voice.
"I honestly can't answer that," Kallen shook her head.
"She probably is," said Katsue with a snicker.
"The nature of their relationship isn't what's important here, you two. If all goes well this will be a shot to severely wound the enemy force," said Kallen with a rigid nod.
"But what if the empress doesn't try to save her girlfriend?" asked Katsumi with her head tilted.
"That'd be kind of sad," Katsue said with a small giggle.
"Then the operation will simply be aborted. And we'll have a new weapon on our side," said Kallen with a resolute voice. "Astrid Weinberg has said plainly she will fight for Absolution if the Empress puts forth no effort to rescue her."
"And she's a Knight of the Rounds. That's definitely worth something," said Katsue, smirking.
"That girl's father, the Knight of One, he is a very decent man. I'm confident that if he were notified his daughter had defected, he would switch sides in an instant as well," Kallen spoke, giving a solemn nod.
"So I guess it's a win-win situation for us, huh?" Katsumi said with an energetic smile.
"Well, if there is a fight, we have to win it sis. They're leaving themselves open; losing this fight would mean losing everything for Absolution," said Katsue in a low voice.
"That's right. We're still taking a risk. We're confident we know our opponent's strength, but there are still a lot of variables. Japan may be able to stand on its own again thanks to Absolution, but a loss here would be crippling, to say the least," said Kallen, with a slight heaviness.
"Then we just have to win, right?!" Katsumi cheered.
"Yeah. That's what it comes down to," Katsue sighed.
"We're leaving immediately. Prepare yourself," said Kallen in a strict voice. "Don't take forever 'getting dressed' like you like to, either."
"Alright, mom," Katsumi said in a long sigh.
"And if fighting does break out, promise me the two of you will be careful," Kallen insisted.
"We promise," Katsue spoke for them, nodding sincerely.
"Good," the mother smiled.
"You promise too," Katsumi then requested. Kallen was surprised.
"I promise I'll be there for you two," Kallen acquiesced readily, smiling warmly at her dear children.
"Good," Katsue said with a firm nod. Kallen laughed and then made her exit.
She smiled as she thought of both the future and the past.
---
Belisario Nemesio sipped from his glass of wine, savoring the fine taste of the expensive bottle. He looked at the man sitting across from him. Belisario rather disliked the idea of dining out with other men, but it was hard to refuse old acquaintances, especially when they were before him likely on the whim of his Goddess.
This man was kind of hard to look at. He was a year younger than Nemesio, but looked about 30 years older. His skin was dry, cracked, and blotched. He was thin and deathly frail. A large eyepatch covered his right eye and a good portion of his face. He had difficulty walking without aid of the large, heavy cane resting at the side of his chair. But if nothing else was sure, his hands were as they brought his glass to his lips.
"So, I think we've exchanged enough simple pleasantries, Alfred. Is there a reason you popped up here today?" Belisario suddenly started, bored with the prior discussion of days long past.
"Oh but of course, my good friend. Isn't there a reason for everything in this world?" the decrepit doctor, Alfred Selwyn said with a high-pitched laugh, putting down his empty wine glass.
"You've met with her recently, have you not?" asked the president of the Universal Commission, the staunch-fisted leader of the EU.
"You could say I'm staying there right now," the doctor said after a short pause, smiling his twisted smile.
"Is that so? What need could she have of your skill set at this time?" asked Belisario warily.
"Three children were recovered from a massive fire the other day. In her infinite kindness, that fine lady called me over to help her save them," Alfred said in a humored voice, refilling his glass.
"I suppose it is in her nature to save others. That's why the two of us can count ourselves among the living today," said Belisario, smirking quietly.
"Ah, it sure is. That one does seem to stick her neck out for those endangered by Britannian royals," said Alfred in a low grumble.
"That could certainly be said. It was Princess Cornelia who took my life 24 years ago and it was her brother Lelouch who took yours four years later. These are victims of her daughter then?" Belisario started with a nod.
"Indirectly, yes," said the Alfred quietly.
"Ah, so they're from that scene. They come from that fiery ball of death the Empress allowed appear over the skies of New Pendragon," said Belisario with certainty.
"Perceptive as always, my friend," said the doctor, smirking once more.
"How were they? Certainly they looked better than you did when she appeared before you," Belisario prompted giving a laugh at the other's expense.
"Of course. They appeared as standard corpses. Nothing serious. There will hardly be any lasting scars when we are through," the doctor said in a perfectly confident way.
"But that woman wouldn't send you to me just to boast of your ability, Alfred. Surely you have something of importance to tell me," said Belisario with a slight frown.
"You follow the news do you not?" asked the doctor.
"I would think I wouldn't be long for my position if I ignored what is happening in the world," Belisario answered with a calm laugh.
"Then you know that numerous Britannian prisoners will be executed tomorrow," said Selwyn, smirking.
"Of course. When that masked man speaks, everyone catches wind of it," the politician said, giving a nod.
"Ava li Britannia will be trying to stop this from happening," said the doctor.
"Yes? And what of it?" asked Belisario, an eyebrow raised.
"The lady wants the child to succeed," Alfred said in brief. "She wants you to make sure she does."
"Ah, you don't say? I won't pretend to understand how that is to our advantage, but it's not something for me to question if it is her will," said Belisario, smirking.
"And that's all really. It's a simple message. I have to wonder why I had to be the one to deliver it, especially when I'm still needed for those children," the doctor said in a low sigh.
"Ah, well I suppose one such as her will work in mysterious ways," said the politician with a nod.
"You're quite right," the doctor said in a concurrence.
The conversation turned fairly dry once more after that.
---
Ava wore a slight smile on her face as Gino Weinberg entered the strategy room, taking the seat at the round table directly to her right. With him arriving from his manor, everyone that would be there was present. Gino looked generally pleased. Megami Subarashii to Ava's left was beaming. Nonette Enneagram, Margaret, and Claudio all seemed contented by her presence as well. Hildegarde Waldstein avoided eye contact and Rowena Winfield looked bored. Regina Granville's face was entirely blank. Ulric Cross seemed in a good enough mood and Niles Moore looked slightly less troubled than usual. Callista was still away and likely wouldn't return in time.
"I must offer my deepest apologies to you all for the last two months time. I was not in the right mind to lead you. I was not in the right spirit. Quite frankly I had lost hope. I'm not pleased with myself now, but I wish to try moving forward again. I wish to try making everything work once more. I want you to help me," Ava started in a low, sincere voice. Hildegarde gave a bit of a glare but most of them seemed relatively accepting.
"This is about the Knight of Nine, isn't it? Now that you know she's alive, you're determined to save her?" asked Moore with a short, solemn nod.
"I like to think this day would have come for me even without this situation with Astrid. That said, I most certainly intend to rescue her," said Ava quietly.
"That's a pretty selfish thing to say. Don't you mean you intend to send us to die while trying to rescue her?" Rowena said with a sharp laugh.
"I suppose I should rephrase that. I beseech all of you to give me your all in retaking Astrid from our enemies," Astrid said in a very humble fashion. The Empress was making a request of her knights rather than ordering them. Ava supposed that might strike some as strange.
"It's a trap you know," Hildegarde said in a moody voice. "They'll be waiting for you to go after her. Many of us will die for this."
"The Knight of Four is right, this is most certainly a move intended to bait us," said Enneagram. "If killing Astrid were their real aim they would have simply done it, not set a date in the future and no demands."
"But do we have any choice? Astrid's life is a stake. So are a number of others," said Margaret, her voice low.
"Saving everyone likely won't be possible. If we put Astrid as or priority we may have to forsake the others," said Claudio in a dour voice.
"Is that right, Empress?" asked Margaret, concerned.
"Astrid has to be our priority. That much is true. That said, saving everyone is not an impossibility," Ava said with a sigh.
"What do you mean by that, Empress?" asked Nonette tilting her head.
"If we can beat back the enemy's ambush, we may have a clear shot of defeating them or at the very least securing their stronghold," the girl said in a calm voice.
"You intend for a full on bloody battle to the end then? No quick, concise rescue operation?" started Hildegarde, contempt in her voice.
"If recovering Astrid is the primary goal of the operation, putting only limited resources toward that would leave too much to chance. If we want this to be successful, we can't do anything lightly," said Ava her voice heavy.
"I just don't see what gives you the nerve to do all this. You've let countless people die in your negligence the past two months and now suddenly you want us to put such value on this one life?" Hildegarde spoke in a particular jaded fashion. Ava looked down in guilt.
"I agree. Why should we risk our lives for your little friend here when it's rather apparent that you wouldn't do the same for the rest of us," Rowena Winfield scoffed.
"I know. It's a pathetic thing to ask this now. I know I've lost your faith. The Empress is sustained by the acknowledgment of her subjects and yet I abandoned you all. For that, I'll leave this an optional mission," said Ava, her voice low and trembling, knowing she couldn't afford not having one of them. "You do not have to fly for me tomorrow. In fact, allow me to remind you what I told you all at our first meeting, you are free to leave the Knights altogether at any time. I will not keep you here against your will."
"That's a rather magnanimous offer of you, Empress, considering that unless Callista shows we're already down four Knights of the Round already," said Moore in a dark voice.
"I find it is necessary in this case," Ava said sadly. "So, I ask each of you, will you fight for me?" She turned to Gino.
"You shouldn't have to even ask me, Ava. I haven't said anything today because I'm the furthest thing from an objective opinion, but I intend to get my daughter back," Gino Weinberg said in a very strong voice. "I wouldn't be worth anything as a father if I said anything else."
"Understood," Ava nodded as her eyes found Margaret and her mother.
"Astrid's my friend, Empress, just like you. I don't have any intentions but to fight to rescue her," said Margaret pointedly.
"And I have no issue continuing in my current capacity, especially if it was Margaret believes in," the girl's mother nodded in accordance. Ava smiled.
"Thank you both," she said and looked at the smiling mercenary sitting beside her.
"What you just want everyone to hear it? I already said I'm your girl for this, Ava. I wouldn't be much of a friend if I took that back now," Megami said cocking a grin.
Ava smiled and nodded before looking at Ulric.
"I'm not some fucking coward. If it's a fight I'm game. You don't need to ask," Cross said firmly, hand in fist.
"You, Lord Moore?" Ava turned to the Knight of Eleven.
"I haven't lost faith in you yet, Empress. My life remains in your hands," the man said, closing his eyes.
Ava nodded. She looked at the three girl's at the opposite side of the table. The three she knew would be the most resistant. Waldstein, with good cause, hated her; Winfield was just disagreeable in general and Granville was unstable and perhaps still attached to the idea of Richter Novak.
"Lady Winfield, will you lend me your strength?" Ava asked in a fragile voice, staring at the other but making sure she didn't make eye contact. Geass wasn't something to be used for establishing this sort of trust.
"I may hate you and what you'll have me do, but I'm not going to turn my back on my dreams just like that. If there's a battle with glory as the prize, I'm a contender. It's as simple as that," Winfield said in a harsh voice, before relaxing into her chair as if that was all she had to say on the matter.
"I thank you," Ava said with another nod. She looked at Granville, a bit of a scowl appearing on her face. She couldn't look at this woman the same way now. "What about you Lady Granville? Can I trust you after what you put me through?"
"I will disobey no order. I am a sword. Order me to cut down your enemy and I will have no choice but to comply," said Regina without emotion.
"A simple sword should do better to remember it's true master from now on," Ava grumbled contemptuously. She then looked up.
"You want to know if I'll fight for you? If after everything you've taken from me, I'm still going to wield my blade for your name?" Hildegarde Waldstein asked, narrowing her glare.
"Yes. Those are my questions, Hildegarde Waldstein," Ava nodded.
"They shouldn't have to be asked," said Hildegarde curtly. "I'm not like you. I'm not so weak that I'd just give up, that'd I'd just quit because I lost something important to me. I remain firmly committed to my knightly oath. Nothing will change that."
"I-I see…" Ava said, averting her eyes. "Well, I suppose we are all in accordance then. Now, let us plan the operation."
The meeting switched gears. They spent over an hour going over the plan for storming New Pendragon. Inevitably they came to a more or less consensus on a plan. The meeting let out. The Knights filed out. Ava stayed behind. So did Megami.
"I kind of figured you'd use me for the hard part," said Megami in a sigh when they were alone. Ava had alloted this woman the task of breaking into the enemy base and rescuing Astrid.
"If it makes you feel any better, you won't be going in alone," said Ava, smiling softly.
"I won't? That's not what you were saying before," Megami started, puzzled.
"Onryou, its cockpit, it could hold more than one?" asked Ava, her voice low.
"Yeah… perhaps--" Megami said suspiciously. "Just what are you getting at?"
"I'll be coming with you tomorrow, Megami," Ava said, smiling quietly.
"Wow, Ava. That has to be the most reckless idea I've ever heard," Megami laughed. "You still don't trust me to do it on my own?"
"It's a selfish thing, but something tells me I need to go. I have this bad feeling that if I don't go, I really will lose Astrid forever this time," said Ava, her voice low and dark.
"Well, I still think it's stupid. The thought of the Empress herself infiltrating the enemy base has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Megami said harshly.
"Even so, I remain adamant. Cross might have been better for breaking in and securing Astrid, but I gave the task to you because I thought you'd object the least to taking me with you," said Ava.
"Well, your the boss. I'm on your payroll," Megami gave a long sigh. "The two of us will just have to see where fate leads us tomorrow then."
"Quite right." Ava nodded firmly and pictured having Astrid back at her side.
A/N: End chapter. I suspect few of you expected so much to be resolved here. A combination of encouraging words from the wonderful Megami Subarashii, resentment of having refrain forced upon her, and the simple knowledge that her beloved is alive helped Ava regain much of her lost strength and courage, though she was left more humbled by the happenings, and is committed to saving Astrid. That was the big news of the chapter. Most of the rest was focused strangely acutely on parent--child relationship scenes (thus the chapter title). Eilith was introduced; she's late in arrival, but will be a rather significant player in the second half. Xuemei and Tianzi got a little closer. Those two scenes were strangely parallel of one another yet also quite different. Then we have the Niles-Cynthia story, which is kind of sad. Followed that up with Kallen and her kids talking (though admittedly that was less about the relationship and more about providing an "other side" perspective before the battle. The Nemesio-Selwyn dialog broke the mold entirely, but provided another perspective.
So, things are on the upward swing for Ava now. Next chapter will be another battle chapter, though it will not lack emotion. A certain two may finally see each other again as well.
And another apology is needed. No extras this week. I was going to do one but I fell behind due to distractions and sleeping too long. Now it's too late. f I seriously need to study for this test I got and probably wouldn't be able to post until Friday if I waited until an extra was done. To make it up to you, next chapter you'll get a Kozuki themed extra of some sort.
Items to be added to the info page with the next update:
Eilith vol Britannia (Ellie Grey)
Alfred Selwyn