AC 208: The Search for Truth Chapter 14: Epilogue: AC 218; Resiliance, a gundam wing/ac fanfic

Okay, new CD. Megumi Hayashibara . . .

*Kimi wo mamoru tame kono chi ni*

*Kimi to deau tame umareta*

*Mezameta shunkan kau*

*Mawari hajimeru Purizumu*

*Kimi wo ai suru tame ni ima*

*Kimi wo idaku tame umareta*

*Uso mo Shinjitsu mo*

*Subete Jibun no naka ni aru*

"Successful Mission . . ." Catch a little meaning maybe? I'm DONE with this thing! (Yes, for all of you that speak Japanese I know those words kinda fit this chapter better than they do their own title at this point. That's a little weird, since I didn't find out what the words meant until after I wrote them here. Never really paid attention.)

Anyway, I'll remind you guys to pay close attention to the title of this chapter: this is ten years after the war, twenty-two years after Endless Waltz.
AC 208: The Search for Truth (Part XIV)

"Epilogue: AC 218; Resilience"

If there are glances that communicate

more deeply than words,

People will all live on freely

without losing their way

"If you will all be seated quickly," the teacher told his only class of history students, "I have a special surprise for you all day." There were a few groans and desperate glances between his students, but he held up a hand. "I know there is only a week left in the term, but your undivided attention would be much appreciated. You will not be tested on this. This is a day of free learning, a day for inquiring minds to find answers. If I may introduce to you, Mr. Heero Yuy."

There was a hush through the class as they soaked up the image of the small man who stood up from his chair in the corner, scanning the hall of thirty-some students, among them his own anonymous daughter, who gave him a quick glance of surprise. He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled, the beginnings of crow's feet wrinkling in the corners of blue-gray eyes. "Good afternoon to you all. I'm sure you have many questions you would like to have answered today about myself and the things I have seen. One many of you will no doubt want answered I can tell you now; Yes, I am the real Heero Yuy, gundam pilot, peacemaker, husband to Relena Darlian and father to two beautiful daughters and two incredible sons.

"If you'll allow an old man a moment of reminiscing," he continued to the still thunderstruck pupils, "I want to share with you why I am here today. It has been nearly ten years since our world has felt war, and most of you in here probably don't remember with clarity what it was like to fear for your life. Most of you probably don't understand the heavy presence in the back of your mind that you or someone you loved would die today. I wish upon you nothing more than that it continues to be that way, but when the human race grows lazy, we forget, and we try to make things more interesting again. I have spent many years pondering over my past actions, wondering if I should feel guilty or if I should have allowed myself to forget so the memories don't pain me, but every time I conclude that the memories must remain painful. All of you have learned about the last fifty years of war and devastation, but few of you will be able to see the impact it has had on this world and the world of every living thing in this universe. I want you to ask me questions, about anything. Ask me about my family, my friends, ask me about the war, or the gundams. Most of all, I want you to ask yourselves why you have taken this class in the first place."

The single R'hynol in the back room raised a timid, four-fingered hand. Heero reflected offhandedly about how quickly the human race had been to integrate with other species— and how many species had wanted to live on their planet. "I don't . . . understand," the large-eyed female struggled in heavily accented Japanese, "about Oplerti— Oprat— Operation Meteor. Shouldn't more people . . . ah . . . have known?"

Heero smiled reassuringly at her. "By the time I'm done explaining that, you'd have wished you hadn't asked." With that said, he launched into a detailed description, starting with Operation Comet that dated back to before humans even had space travel. He took nearly a quarter of an hour outlining the story, but no one seemed to be bored.

They went through everything he'd hoped, and a little more. Heero found himself happily explaining the lives today of all his friends and family, though Akiko shook her head desperately from the back row when he was asked their names. "I wouldn't disclose that information without permission," he'd told the girl as gently as he could.

Overcoming our mistakes, we realize

what true kindness is

together, you and I discovered

the strength of love

At last, someone asked about the gundams. Fortuna and Pennes Nulles hadn't really been much of a public thing these days, and hadn't been since Une's closing speech in Moscow a month after the war had ended. Heero had promised the two his own vast property to live on, and he saw them often enough, but they had enough of their time taken up trying to raise their own little son, who indeed could be piloted. They were happy leading smaller lives, but they still had a message for those who were willing to listen. "Everyone gets a second chance," Heero said to a hushed audience, concluding his description of the Fortuna, Inimicus, Epyon and Pennes Nulles's creation, lives, and (in half the cases) death. "I know I've had several. We must take advantage of everything in this world, for it is all a gift. Love your family, no matter how obnoxious or unbearable they are, as Fortuna still mourns her sister and Zero his brother. Believe. You don't have to believe in God— I never did— or in others, or even yourself so long as you believe that there is something right in the world. Believe in love, or believe in a wishing star. That is the key to life, resiliance. There are so many forms that you don't have to look hard, so whatever you do don't turn a blind eye. That becomes anger, hatred, prejudice and greed. To commit crimes against your fellow human beings is not unique to our people" (here the young R'hynol hung her head) "but look what it gained the others like Chandra, whom I hope you treat with the greatest respect, to have come all this way to learn from us. She can never go home because there is no home for her to go back to."

In the reflective silence, one hand shot up in the back of the room, raised timidly. Heero raised his eyebrow and nodded to his daughter, who raised haunted eyes to her father. "Why?" She asked simply.

"Why what?" he replied. "There are many reasons for anything."

"Why do people do the things they do, say what they say, when all could work so well if we'd all just get along?" It was a question he'd been trying to answer her for many years.

"That is a difficult and complex question, Akiko," he answered. "Perhaps, in time, you will begin to work out your own answer. I can say, from what I have learned from all my friends and family and, yes, even my enemies, is that because every person is unique and completely different from everyone else, people will clash. Disagreements are unavoidable, and make life so much more interesting that we don't really want to give them up. Control is the hard part. We need to control our power and keep the disagreements small, trivial. Do not stifle anger if you feel it, though I would encourage you to not hate because it only eats at the mind and body. Tell someone. They might be able to offer a solution. But whatever you do, don't give up hope. Hope is what the universe thrives on. Try to be kind, but don't struggle with that so hard that it costs you your own life and happiness. If we all can find our own, personal peace, then petty scuffles will solve themselves or not happen at all. We'll be happier and have more freedom as a people. Don't you want that?"

I believe your love

trembling, we seal our wish

with a sweet kiss

(You are here . . . so am I)

please don't ever forget

I believe you dream

in emotion that intensifies,

turning affection into prayer

I want you to know this beat of life

that is so hot, so fierce, so far away

Several people nodded. Akiko had her head in her hands. Coming today, as he'd promised the teacher, had been a bit of a struggle for him. He and his eldest daughter had gotten into a disagreement a few days ago and hadn't even spoken to each other since. He missed her, but his own stubborn pride wouldn't let him say so, even communicate that with her. Sometimes . . . sometimes people very close to each other have the hardest time living with each other, Heero reflected with a trace of bitterness.

"Any other questions?"

One of the boys shouted out, "Where do you live?" getting a few laughs.

Heero smiled. "Not too far from here, actually. I'm afraid giving you my address might be against my better judgement."

It was ten minutes to the hour, and the class didn't even seem to notice.

"And so, with the little time I have left today, I would like to tell you what will be happening at my house tomorrow evening." The boy who'd asked for his address grinned, but his face fell at the next sentence. "My wife and I are hosting a day for our friends and our family, a day of remembrance, tears of sadness and joyful laughs. We will eat under the open sky, share stories, and take a moment to honor those who have given their lives so we can live in peace today. Some of them I haven't seen for many years. The thing about friends is, however, that they remain your friends, even through long absences. I look forward to seeing them all.

"It is nothing more simple as that, yet even with just a few families, our house will feel as full as it has never really been. There will be over thirty people with us, all of whom will have come from a great distance to share this day of celebration of the end of the war which— I hope— will never be repeated. Among us will be Mariemaia Khushrenada, and I mention her with special attention. Marie has, in her short life, been deceived and confused and tormented more than I have, and that's quite a lot to say. She fell against the belief that her father was an evil man, as most people do believe so when I can tell you that he wasn't truly evil, as the definition of evil goes. What enabled us to know how to win future wars like the most recent, should they ever occur, is Mariemaia coming to terms with her father, and realizing the message that he had died trying to deliver to the rest of us. Treize Khushrenada had a passion for our people. He saw beauty in everything, even violence. He realized too soon for his time that wars must be fought with people, or they lose all significance. If people don't believe in wars because they are not involved in any way, it loses meaning, and so does everything else.

"The last message I have brought for you to know today is that you should never, under any circumstances, allow yourself to stop feeling. There may be great pain that seems overwhelming, or anger that threatens to take control, but what if you didn't feel anything? Don't shut yourself off to the world."

Strife alone can never achieve,

not for anyone, for anything

there is a pure rhythm that I want to pass along

to your young and innocent hand

Heero scanned the young, impressionable faces and noticed that some looked a little more enlightened than when he'd come in. He nodded "Thank you for this time together. I think we've all learned something today."

It was a minute before the bell, but several students were standing anyway. It was hard to notice the people in back until there was a little cry of surprise and Akiko, a girl of seventeen, came tearing down the isle. She threw her arms around her father's neck, nearly knocking him back. "I'm sorry, daddy," she told him. "I was just— it's hard—"

"I know," he said, holding her tightly. "You don't have to tell me that, aijou."

~~@[~*,~]@~~

There was a piece of the universe that seemed so impossible, because it was only filled with love and comfort. Almost everyone had arrived early, and Heero felt his head spin at seeing them all together in one place. Akiko was sitting quietly off with her boyfriend Akira (who really was quite sweet, despite the way he dressed), as was common enough for her. Raina and Vincent were still getting along well, if you count a rather sexist game of tag as getting along well. Merian drifted from group to group, listening intently but never saying a word.

There were the other children, too, dodging in between the adults in childish delight, getting into the desserts when they thought their parents weren't looking, and generally summoning a small hurricane. There was young Quatre, Merian's seven year-old twin brothers and another set of twins boys of Heero and Relena's own. They were all stubbornly like their respective fathers, too, both in appearance and personality. There was Milliardo and Noin's six year-old Deanna, Then there was Treize, Mariemaia and Cam's four year-old, who looked every inch of a miniature version of his grandfather. His half-aunt of the same age, Sonya (who looked identical to Marie when she'd been that age), seemed to be the best at snatching the unattended sweets in the kitchen. Last but not least, there was Trowa's toddling daughter, clutching at her mother Anja's leg and watching everybody in wide-eyed wonder.

"Who are we missing?" Relena asked her husband.

Heero scanned the crowd. "Quatre . . . and Dorothy. I think everybody else is here."

"What a crowd!" Sophie hurried past, laden with a tray of appetizers. Heero, Relena, Sophie, Noin, Akiko and Raina had all been in the kitchen for days baking and cooking and freezing and defrosting and decorating in preparation. The food would be on in another hour or so . . . as long as Quatre and Dorothy showed up. They had promised to be there. "How many people, do you think?"

Sophie hurried away (amid the sticky hands of the kids) and Relena counted quickly in her head. "Well, there's Treize and Une and the six pilots and your families (minus Quat for now), Tovah, Dennis, Akira . . . that thirty."

Heero whistled. "Didn't know a small circle of acquaintances would get to be so large."

"Well, there are several billion of us," Duo said in passing. "Ever wonder how that happened?"

The warmth of the sun shines through clusters of leaves,

steadily marking the passage of time

this surely is what everyone wants to hold onto

forever and ever (eternity).

"They're here!" Trowa called from down at the field, waving. Sure enough, a red convertible was speeding its way up the road. Dorothy parked her car in the grass with the others, opened the back door, and a golden retriever leapt off of the leather seat and bounded, tongue lolling, into the other six animals (two black labs— Heero and Wufei's—, a springer spaniel— Treize's—, two basset hounds— Cam's—, and a ginger cat— Phailin's). Everyone had brought their pets. They'd been invited too.

Quatre pulled sleek sunglasses up onto his forehead and grinned. "Looks like we're late!" he shouted over the din of happy greetings.

"Don't let the crowd fool you," Heero replied. "Everyone else was early!"

The day was unarguably perfect. It was sunny but not too warm, and the snowy peak of Mt. Fuji loomed high in the background. A gentile breeze drifted through the valley and blew light pink cherry blossom petals over the tables. "Okay everybody," Duo shouted across the field as the first streaks of gold began to appear on the horizon, "Line up. Ooh, I get firsties!" Duo and several of the kids fought for first position in line at the masterful buffet the women, plus Heero and his daughters, had prepared. Phailin finally got frustrated and cut. Her sons both called her a cheater, but she only shrugged.

"No one who is successful stays successful without a few underhand throws, right Relena? Besides, look, I've got the first slice of chicken!"

"Brilliant!" Treize laughed, following suit.

No one was left without something they wanted, though. It was a veritable feast. "And Zero and Fortuna are taking anything left by tomorrow evening down to the disaster relief center, aren't you?" Relena added.

Nulles, sitting a little way off but still perfectly capable of hearing Relena, smiled silently and nodded, cradling his son in his lap.

So anyway . . . how's the Winner estate?" Noin turned to Quatre as they ate in the soft grass, lounging about under a golden sky.

Quatre hurriedly swallowed a piece of melon. "Quite well, actually, if you hadn't been able to tell." He gestured to the convertible parked in the grass. "I really didn't have any choice but to assume control after the Manganacs did that suicide run, and I've enjoyed the time with my sisters. They were good, competent men in regards to business, but the Winner family name had really fallen down in politics. Thankfully, I had a good friend to help me get the whole thing back on its feet." He put his hand over Dorothy's.

"Back, Jisuberi!" Heero shoved his half-grown lab away from his food. "I fed you already!"

Phailin picked Chai-son (her cat) delicately up off the ground in the center of the human circle and with a graceful and sudden move sent the thing flying off in the direction of the rest of the dogs, which were wise enough not to get close enough to anyone's food to get a swat on the nose like Jisuberi.

"Did you ever find Catherine, Trowa?"

He heard the question, but couldn't figure out to whom he was answering. Everybody seemed to be involved in at least 3 conversations. "Yeah, I did. She's working for some contract company now. We spent a couple of days catching up last Christmas."

"Well, that's good."

I believe your love

never give up

stretch out your wounded wings

and soar up into the sky

you sketch a dream of infinity

that is so far away

I believe your dream

show your smiling face

though you are drowned in sorrow,

someday you'll want to be proud

of this irreplaceable present

that is so far away

"Wufei, I'm interested to know what happened to the other gundams. I haven't heard much about them since you decided to let them choose how to handle this peace." Treize stopped his daughter from upturning his plate as if it was a common occurrence (and possibly an intentional attempt).

"I haven't been asked about that one in a while," Wufei replied offhandedly. "Well, Phailin and I wired them all in to the old computer at the abandoned base in Samut Sakhon a little while after the senate decided that us pilots didn't need restrictions about them and they had a conference for four straight days. Nataku decided that they wanted to see if Ihminen, his crew and his ship could modify them and make them into real gundams like Fortuna and Zero and Epyon and Inimicus. Last I heard, it was going well. They might not be finished in our lifetimes at this rate, though."

"It took centuries to finish work on the first four. They should have more ships able to work on them than just the Laiva, though, right?"

"The Laiva's sister ship the Fune was equipped to produce gundams— she's the one that "birthed" Zero and Epyon— but they dismantled that. After the original four, they thought they'd just let the gundams breed on their own. Ihminen told me that they don't really like to mess with living material too much. A lot of their peoples believe that they're trying to play God. They kept the equipment aboard the Laiva mostly for nostalgia, though it was lucky they still had it when our mobile suit's request went through."

"Hm." That was interesting, Treize thought, absentmindedly gnawing on a chicken bone.

"So where are you going to college, Akiko?" Sophie tried to ignore her husband's conference with Heero's solemn-faced sons (which involved at one point a plastic fork and knife, the end of Duo's braid, and a total lack of a childish sense of humor on the kids' part).

Akiko reclined against her leather-clad boyfriend. "Well, I was going to go for something in the country, but dad convinced me to send away to international schools and both Akira and I got accepted to Harvard Medical back in America."

"Harvard! That's one of the world's best! Congratulations!"

"Thanks."

"It's a long way from home, though. Are any of your parents concerned?"

Akira shrugged a "not really" but Akiko laughed. "Dad's practically laying eggs about it! You'd have never known he'd suggested I apply in the first place. Mostly, I think he's upset that Akira's going to be so close, though don't tell him I said that."

Sophie looked surprised. "He doesn't trust you?"

"He's my father."

That, of course, was all the explanation that was needed in a case such as this.

Overcoming our mistakes, we realize

what true kindness is

together, you and I discovered

the strength of love

"Quatre?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you still have your hand on mine? It's making it kind of hard to eat." Dorothy gave him a funny look. "I thought—"

He grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well, everyone's got to enjoy their moments."

"I can't believe how incredibly confusing that is, coming out of you." Being with Quatre for long periods of time had its benefits, but his high points tended to be when everyone was in a position to see. "And I thought—"

"Sorry about that," he interrupted her again. "Lost track of what I was doing." Then he was back to the embarrassed bit. Dorothy shook her head, trying to hide a smile.

"Well, anyway, it was a trick getting our rep to sign that movement to reinstate the Preventers, but we did it," Dorothy continued to Tovah, who seemed rather lonely among people he mostly didn't know. It was probably hard, having summoned all those memories of his friend Vincent and his recently-released violent death. "I'm glad you decided to help me on that. I think it's very important that we organize it immediately."

"Yeah, no problem." Tovah bit into a slice of fresh bread. "I've got a lot of connections, and I totally agree with you. I'm glad Lady Une decided to drop out, though. A woman regarded as half a warmonger was far from perfect for the head of the department— no offense to her— and I think she suits her current position much better."

"No offense taken," Lady Une assured him, happening to overhear the last bit. "And actually, I do like my new job better. It gives me more time with the little one and it's a job I don't actively have to choke myself to tolerate. Regulating the production of our new space cruisers has been great fun, and I doubt I'll find myself out of a job soon with all the new business our intergalactic friends have brought us."

"Which reminds me," Milliardo was saying across from them. "I wanted to thank you for that insight into how we're handling religious uprisings around the globe, Mariemaia. It made a lot more of the representatives comfortable with the tactics of noninvolvement that the Preventers have been using. I wasn't there, being out at the field, but I'd sure like to know what you said to get them more settled on the subject."

"'A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.'" Marie quoted. "Found it in an old book, but I managed to elongate it into a speech."

"I'm just sorry we don't see more of you at the counsel meetings."

"Yeah, well, I've got other things that need doing. While my influence touches a few people at the summit meetings, it works a lot better when I'm actually out in the world helping the common citizens. There's still a lot of skeletons in the closet about the last fifty years of war, and every new bit of information that we uncover is priceless. I delivered a pair of half- melted dog tags to a mother that had no idea what had happened to her son. She was saddened, but at least she knows that he's not cold and alone somewhere. It's very gratifying."

Beside her, Cam laughed as little Treize tried to coax Trowa's daughter to surrender the cookie that Raina had given her. "Hey, now, play nice you little rogue! Dessert will be on soon— unless you and Sonya ate them all already."

"Dad, you look really stupid," Vincent warned his father as he continued to try and entertain the Yuy and Chang twins, who were all looking extremely entertained only because the entertainment was making such an ass out of himself while failing to be entertaining. Trowa probably would have had more luck with his Excessively Ridiculous Hokey Clown Act, except that he never performed it anymore, having given up on it ever amusing anyone. (Treize, on the other hand, seemed to have a knack for entertaining kids. He didn't ever seem to do anything special, either. It might have had something to do with how many years he'd had of taking care of kids— Cam had been one of many that were practically raised by the man— which in turn could have been triggered by Marie's birth when he was barely eighteen. Or, it might have just simply been that he had been born to be a parent. Regardless, children seemed to gravitate around him. It was making Duo a little jealous, though Treize himself didn't seem to mind.)

"You Asian boys couldn't catch a good joke if it came at you riding a frisbee," Duo sighed.

Benjiro and Hideaki exchanged mischievous glances and hopped up, no doubt to find a frisbee to throw at Duo when he wasn't looking. No doubt he'd find it a hilarious joke.

"Uh oh, everybody make sure they've got some liquid in their glass," the harassed American announced, tapping the side of his paper cup enthusiastically with a plastic fork. "Heero's about to make another one of those big speeches we all love so much!"

"Thank you for your support, Duo, but I think we'd all noticed," Heero said tolerantly, his own cup raised for silence. "Sorry to interrupt, guys, but before we all start wandering off, I'd like to say a few things."

The pain of tears shed

for someone important

penetrates the earth

and drenches the land

I want to end that sorrow

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Milliardo asked.

"Makes me remember the old times," Heero sighed. "Funny, how I feel so old. It just seemed to have crept up on me. I know all of you must feel the same— except in those cases where you have no reason whatsoever to feel old."

"I think, though in essence, most of us have been able to retain our youth. In a way, didn't we understand the world better when we were fifteen, speaking as a pilot? Am I right?" For a moment Heero looked as if that was it and he was going to sit down again, but his sigh told everyone that it wasn't the case after all.

"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "But what I wanted to say was that over the course of the years, haven't we learned so much? People say that knowledge makes the brain heavy— but I tend to believe the opposite. Everything we learn makes us a little more at peace with ourselves, if you use it carefully. I don't think we all learned the same things, either. That is— thanks to Mariemaia for her realization— why we are as human as the rest of the world. We have our own knowledge to spread and enlighten others with. We're all so lucky to be here today."

Treize raised his cup, and somehow it seemed just as fit for a toast as a glass of wine. "Imagine what some people would give to have experienced all we did— whether they realize the fact or not. Think how many people would benefit from what we saw. It makes me want to be a teacher, or a preacher . . . if I didn't have a dead man's body!"

"Hear, hear!" Duo grinned and raised his drink as well. "Just as a pastor or a monk studies the old testaments and repeats himself, we've gotta stay vigilant too. What if we stopped talking about everything we've learned, everything we've found on the paths that our lives have taken us down— and the road we've all cruised together— no one learns.

"Nothing will keep us together like belief," Quatre added. His soft voice seemed to project just as well as any of the others. "No matter what, we'll always hold true to the belief that we've found something real in this universe so full of chaos. Even if we can't be with each other, we'll always have these sacred bonds of love and trust and revelation . . ."

There was a voice scarcely heard all evening, and it spoke up then among the men and women its owner considered his heros. "Among other things, we must all never forget every person we lost, even our enemies. A person lives eternally through the memory of his or her survivors. That's what I believed when I tried to kill myself, and I still believe it now. Vincent . . . lost his family to a cruel heart. He sacrificed himself to keep it from happening to anyone else. If Ingriham hadn't been stopped before Beliv's plans came full circle, this beautiful landscape, this gorgeous view and wonderful evening reunion would never had been possible. I didn't know him, but many of you did. It shocked me to hear the account that was released, and reminded me— however gruesomely— that when determined we can become stronger than our delicate bodies would let on. Many good soldiers and determined volunteers died ten years ago, and we don't even know their names. Isn't that a tragedy?"

"Remembering Hilde," Duo said softly, and the others winced at the pain in his voice, "I don't think we should allow a memorial unless it depicts what really happened. That means blood, and a lot of it. We can't let the details get soft. We can't let people view it as a thing that will never happen just because it already has. Is everyone with me?"

There was a chorus of agreements.

"To this irreplaceable present and the mistakes of our past that made it possible," Mariemaia toasted.

"To the future and the rightness we hope will let it fly straight and true," Wufei added.

Everyone drank.

The deep red-orange sunset glowed, casting a pink sheen on the snow of Mt. Fuji, and the air cooled pleasantly. No one wanted to say goodbye, no one wanted to say goodnight. No one wanted the perfect moment— the ones only young minds can feel— to end.

A few people mumbled to each other in contented voices as they sat on the dark porch amid the insect-repellent candles and gazed in wonder at the stars.

There was only one who slept, peacefully oblivious to the rest of the world. Fortuna looked out among the familiar constellations and cradled Lucius, envying his innocence just a little bit. "So what do you think, Nulles? Was it worth it?"

"Hmm?"He turned back from his own gazing.

"Or would you have rather never been?"

Zero wrapped his softly shimmering golden wings around her, enveloping Fortuna in comforting warmth. "How can so many take existence for granted?"

*****************************************************

And it ends, with a simple question that we all must answer for ourselves.

Umm . . . yeah. Chapter 15 should be out very soon, so keep posted. It may take me a couple of days to compile everything. Thanx for reading guys . . .

Oh yea . . . I promised I'd tell you about my other projects, didn't I?

Well, you mainly have two options. Please tell me which one you like the sound of better for my next major fic!

~~@[~*,~]@~~

Touch the Stars: This is a duel-narrated Sci-fi adventure set in modern-day Seattle, Washington (it sounds confusing, but once you read the story it'll make sense). I intended for it to be my first published novel, but so far it hasn't happened.

Jade Huntington had a lot of money, and Reine Larios was poor. Jade had no parents, but neither did Reine. She had dreams about mysterious dark-haired people, and he had dreams about riding the wind with dragon hide between his heels. Soon, they would both discover that each of their dreams was more real than fantastic, if only they would accept a hard responsibility that only stacked upon their busy high school lives.

It seemed unlikely from the start that Jade and Reine would ever have met, but the Baccu seem to have a tendency to find each other, no matter how large the distance is between them. The sight of children raised in (unintentional) ignorance because their parents weren't there to care for them was all too common among a people that had too much selflessness for their own good, and unfortunate. It always pained Mira Starholder to watch their faces contort with confusion and disbelief, but it had to be done. They needed the fighters.

It's a story about teenage angst, about friendship and family, about forbidden truths and unacceptable realities. Most of all, it's a story about life-- no matter how fantastic, it's still complicated and full of anger, hatred, and the desire to stop the pain.

"My name is Jade Huntington, and I have a choice. Should I choose to continue in my father's legacy among his people, I cannot turn back."

"My name is Reine Larios, and I have a dream. Should I choose to take my mother's place among the stars, I will never fail myself again."

~~@[~*,~]@~~

Tears of Magic (Ruby Red); This is a comic I tried to start but got too busy to plan out all the way. I was going to see how long I could sustain the story line through this fic. Actually, I already have a sample chapter out if you'd like to sample it. The chapters will be shorter, but there will be more delay between them as I try to come up with new ideas:

In the year 2952, after a series of devastating wars, the human race is in shambles. As the citizens left alive from the three-hundred-year technological and biological warfare try desperately to make sense of their shambled lives, one boy and one girl, both young adults left to survive on their own, discover the meaning of the long-lost magic of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Chiyo Tsumemasa grew up in the slums of the city, a bright student that was forced into a career of prostitution to make ends meet after running away from an abusive family. Joben Matsumoto is a trainee-scientist working under the cruel and inhumane Dr. Iwakajimo in the midst of a poverty-stricken Tokyo. When the two young minds met, the spark was greater than many, many people could have imagined— or had the capacity to fear.