The Dagger Charm
Michael sullenly stared out the window in his quarters on the Crusade. He had traded one ship for another exactly like it. The only differences were that Michael's quarters now had a window and were right next to Vera's. Michael felt all sorts of emotions. Anger at the rebels, sadness for the Crusade II that had to be left until salvage workers could come for it, loneliness because he was so far from home, frustration for not being able to get the new trick Allen had taught him right, and finally, love for Vera. Michael sighed. He stood to confirm Vera's location on the ship. This was Michael's newest habit. Every hour or so, Michael went looking for Vera. She usually wasn't far. Vera's new habit was never being far from Michael. She was usually within his range of hearing. Sure enough, Michael found Vera right next door, in her quarters. She was messing with the tarot cards. Before coming in, Michael asked if she was decent. She said in body but not in mind and Michael laughed and came in.
" Is it any better?" Michael asked. Vera sighed.
" No, not really. I see a little happiness in the near future." Vera said. Michael grinned.
" Sure. Christmas is in three days." Michael said.
" Oh yeah! I almost forgot, what with the war and all." Vera said. Michael was a little surprised.
" I didn't think you guys celebrated Christmas." He commented.
" People on Gaea don't, for the most part. Only Austuria, Fanelia, and some parts of Fried celebrate Christmas. My mom introduced it to us." Vera explained. Michael nodded. Vera sighed.
" One of my favorite parts of Christmas is gift-wishing." Vera said wistfully.
" Huh?" Michael asked.
" Gift-wishing. My mom and dad used to take me out to the market place and we'd shop around for things we wanted. We didn't buy anything, but that was how we gave each other ideas. I guess they thought I was getting to old for that, because they stopped taking me last year." Vera said, staring dreamily out the window. Michael suddenly got an idea.
" Hey, how about we do that at the next port?" he suggested.
" Sure." Vera said. Michael smiled. On the Crusade, they were flying around over ally countries, stopping at ports for supplies and fuel. They had left the Crusade II about two weeks ago. Michael left the room. He walked aimlessly around the deck until he found himself in the control room. Van was standing off by himself and Michael approached him.
" When are going into the next port?" he asked.
" Tomorrow." Van responded. Michael had never known Van to waste time on excess words.
" Is it okay if Vera and I go to market?" Michael asked.
" Sure. But be prepared to take Merle and Zam too." Van warned.
" Why?" Michael wondered.
" Merle follows Vera everywhere, and she'll drag Zam along." Van said. Michael nodded and turned to leave. Before he was out the door, Van called to him.
" Has Vera been doing tarot readings?" he asked.
" Yes." Michael said. Van had paid close attention to Hitomi and Vera in this area. " She says there's a little Christmas joy in our future. Not much, but some."
" Fine." Van said with a smile. Michael could tell he had been hoping for that. " Buy a Christmas tree when you go shopping." Michael nodded and left. He wandered around some more, trying to figure out how he was going to waste the rest of the day.
Vera stared somewhat sullenly out the window. She turned her gaze back to the deck of tarot cards in her hand. Acting on the sudden urge, Vera gave herself a one-card reading. She drew the Moon card. Vera frowned. Michael had drawn the same card on a one-card reading she had given him. That meant something, but Vera didn't know what. She stood to go find her mother. Hitomi, as usual, was in the kitchen, talking to Millerna and Merle. They stopped talking when Vera came in.
" Mom, what does it mean when a boy and a girl draw the same card on a one- card reading?" Vera asked quickly. Hitomi thought.
" Well, it all depends on the card." Hitomi said.
" The Moon card?" Vera offered. Hitomi smiled.
" It usually means that they're soul mates." Hitomi said. Vera nodded numbly and left. Were she and Michael soul mates? Vera didn't want to think about. The thought stirred up confusing emotions at the bottom of Vera's heart that she wanted to forget. Vera turned abruptly to the docking bay. Pleased to find herself alone, Vera jogged around the docking bay until she collapsed from exhaustion. She lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath, happy. Michael's face came into view.
" What exactly are you doing?" he asked.
" Resting." Vera said in between gasps.
" Why?" Michael asked.
" Because I was running." Vera responded shortly.
" Why?" Michael asked again.
" The same reason you like to climb trees." Vera retorted. Michael took this for a good answer and helped Vera up. Vera was to tired to suggest they spar and Michael seemed to think the same so neither of them mentioned it. Vera sensed Michael had something on his mind that he wanted to talk to her about.
" What's on your mind?" Vera asked.
" We're entering enemy territory day after tomorrow." Michael said distantly. Vera knew this.
" So?" Vera scoffed.
" I've never been in a battle before." Michael pointed out.
" Oh. Well, neither have I." Vera volunteered. Michael still seemed worried.
" Hey, let's worry about that bridge when we cross it, okay? Tomorrow is gift-wishing." Vera reminded him. Michael brightened a little. Vera liked it better when he was happy. Michael was really a great person to be around. He seemed to spread his emotions to Vera, making her happy when he was happy, sad when he was sad. Vera wondered if they were really soul mates.
Michael watched Merle limp around on her nearly healed leg, chasing Zam.
" No, way Merle! I remember what happened the last time I went shopping with you!" Zam cried.
" It's not shopping! It's gift-wishing! It's like window shopping, you just look, not buy anything!" Merle yelled angrily. Zam paused and looked at Michael who nodded. Zam sighed and hung his head.
" Okay, you win. I'll go." Poor Zam said in a defeated voice. Merle cheered happily and hobbled away to get ready. Vera looked at Michael and smiled.
" They're like this every year." She said with a laugh. Michael laughed with her. He stood.
" Well, come on. I want to get there before Christmas." Michael stated. Vera stood with him.
" Not likely. Merle spent all morning chasing Zam, so she still has to get ready." She said. Zam's face scrunched up in anger.
" Okay, Merle! You talked me into going, now I want to go and get it over with!" he called. Michael laughed.
" Yeah, Merle! Before New Year's at least!" Vera shouted.
" Merle, if you don't hurry up, we'll leave you!" Michael yelled. The sound of pounding feet came down the corridor and Merle appeared. To Michael, she looked just fine.
" Oh no you won't!" Merle screamed. The other three laughed and herded Merle out the docking bay. Once in the market place, Merle began the process of dragging the reluctant Zam to every jewelry stand in sight. Michael and Vera laughed at Zam's tortured face and expression that said, why me? The two humans contentedly walked down row after row of stands, side by side. Vera suddenly stopped and dashed over to one of the stands.
" Michael, look at this!" she cried. Michael jogged over and looked at what Vera had in her hand. It was a charm on a gold chain. Michael instantly saw that the charm was unusual. It was a small dagger with a dark sapphire embedded in the part where the hilt connected with the blade. The sapphire was perfectly round and polished to a glorious shine. The dagger itself was gold.
" That's definitely like nothing I've ever seen." Michael commented.
" I think it's beautiful." Vera commented wistfully. Michael took the necklace from her.
" Turn around." He ordered. Vera did as she was told. Michael unfastened the chain and put it around Vera's neck. He pulled her hair out of the way and held onto the dark silk a little longer than was necessary. He turned Vera to a mirror. Vera peered into it happily. Michael put his hands on her shoulders and leaned close and whispered to Vera.
" Very beautiful indeed." He muttered. Vera blushed. He had never seen Vera blush and was quite pleased by the sight. The necklace was very stunning on Vera's neck. The charm hung low and the gold stood out against Vera's shirt and complemented her copper skin. The sapphire brought her eyes out. The two of them stood together in an intense moment.
" You want to buy it?" the vendor that owned the stand asked, interrupting the moment. Michael pulled away from Vera, sensing his chance was gone.
" No." Vera said sadly, removing the necklace. She handed it back to the vendor and walked away. Michael leaned toward the vendor.
" Save that necklace. I'll be back to buy it." He whispered. The vendor nodded and put the necklace away, out of sight. Michael jogged to catch up with Vera. He was very pleased to have made Vera blush and found her a wonderful Christmas present in the same instant.
After gift wishing was done, Michael had a plan.
" Hey guys, you go ahead. I saw something back there I want to take a look at." He said. Zam's tired face brightened.
" Yeah, me too." Zam added. Vera shrugged and Merle got a twinkle in her eye.
" Okay, see you." Merle said. The two girls walked into the ship while the two boys turned back to the market place.
" What are you getting?" Michael asked Zam.
" Over here." Zam said, pulling Michael over to a stand. " I'm back!' Zam announced to the vendor there.
" Ah, yes, here it is." The vendor said, pulling out a necklace with a single clear crystal hanging from a silver chain.
" Perfect. Here." Zam said, handing the vendor his money. " Merle loved this one. I'm thinking about proposing to her with it." He explained to Michael. Michael knew why Zam would get Merle a necklace instead of a ring. Merle, like all cat-girls, hated rings because the hurt her fingers, which were shaped differently than human fingers.
" That's great, Zam. Congratulations!" Michael patted the exhausted-looking cat-boy on the shoulder.
" I just keep telling myself that I love her. That's the only reason I haven't left her yet. Sure, she's obnoxious, and big-mouthed, and moody, and Well, you know. The point is, underneath it all is a real sweet girl and I love her." Zam sighed. He knew what awaited him if he married Merle. He had obviously thought long and hard on this, but he couldn't deny the truth. Michael admired Zam's courage.
" What are you getting?" Zam asked Michael.
" It's down this way." Michael said, leading Zam to the cart where Vera had spotted the dagger necklace. The vendor saw them coming and pulled out the necklace.
" Hello, boy. I believe you want to get this for the pretty girl?" he asked. Michael nodded.
" Whoa. What a necklace! It suits Vera's personality perfectly." Zam commented.
" Yes. It was the only piece of jewelry she liked. She never said it, but I could tell she was dying to have it." Michael said as he was paying the vendor.
" The girl, she has a wild eye," the vendor commented. " This necklace was made to be on her neck." The vendor obviously meant what he said. Zam agreed and the two boys hurried back to the Crusade, necklaces in their pockets.
Vera stared at the beautiful tree they had decorated. It was Christmas morning.
" Come on Merle! Wake up!" Zam yelled. Vera had never seen Zam so anxious.
" Gee, Zam, what's got your tail so fluffed up?" Vera asked innocently. It was true, Zam's tail was fluffed up.
" Oh, shut up." Zam said threateningly. Everyone laughed. Michael seemed a little anxious too. Vera left him alone and continued to pick on Zam until Allen told her to leave him alone. Merle finally woke up, and the present- opening began. After a while, Vera had a new belt for her sword from Allen, a new green, baggy shirt from Millerna, two books on how to decipher the meaning of dreams from Zam, a stained glass ornament that you hung in your window shaped like a tiger ( Vera's favorite animal) from Merle, and her own deck of tarot cards with a how-to book from her parents. Vera treated everyone to a rigged reading, which came out as joy for all. Everyone knew it was rigged and laughed. Zam proposed to Merle with a pretty crystal necklace, and Merle screamed bloody murder and gave Zam a huge hug with a great big yes. Michael was about to hand Vera his present when a crew member burst in.
" Sorry to disturb you, but there's an enemy ship approaching." He stated. No sooner had those words left his mouth did the whole group take off for the docking bay. Guymelifs charged up and leapt out of the ship, landing in a huge prairie. Vera's guymelif landed with a huge thud. She looked skyward to see enemy guymelifs dropping from the sky.
" Remember, we don't know what powers they posses, so be on guard." Van called. Vera saw her mother perched precariously on Escaflowne's shoulder and remembered that Van always brought her into battle with him. It was an old habit from the war with Ziboch, when the enemy could turn invisible and only Hitomi could see them. Vera turned her attention back to the approaching enemy.
" Hold it, hold it." Van cautioned. " Let them come to you."
" Don't attack until you can make out their face grid." Allen added. " Keep perfectly still." Vera stood tense and waited. Two enemies were approaching her. She watched them but kept a sharp eye out for an attack from the side. Just then, Allen and Van, moving like twin metal claws, shot forward and struck with a show of tremendous strength. Vera would have watched them, but her two enemies rushed her. Vera fought with strength that rivaled her father. After Vera had taken out the last of her original two, she turned to see Michael struggling in a four-on-one match. Vera snapped forward and took out one guymelif in a single charge. She headed off another, leaving Michael with the other two. The guymelif Vera was fighting had a very skilled owner, and Vera had to call for help. Michael was to far away and locked in a battle to the death. Van was busy trying to draw attention away from a wounded crew member. Allen rushed to Vera's defense, striking the unaware enemy down in a single blow. Vera didn't have time to give her thanks, because she was immediately attacked by yet another guymelif.
" Fall back!" Van shouted. Vera reluctantly retreated from her foe. Michael waited for her to leave and then retreated slowly, watching her back.
" Man, they just keep coming!" Allen said in his I'm-in-battle voice.
" We've taken out about fifty but there's like a hundred more!" Michael cried angrily.
" Anyone that's wounded, retreat. Everyone else, watch their backs and then charge." Van said in calm voice that seethed with the fear and anger of battle. Vera remained silent. Her head was pounding and her entire body was pulsating with adrenaline. After the wounded, three in total, were gone, the rest charged. Vera fought again with skilled foes, but didn't need to call for help again. Michael wasn't out of reach of her and she was handling everything fine. Vera had taken several blows and was unsure of how much more Double Edge could take. Just then, the guymelif Vera was fighting dove to the ground and shot Double Edge's leg with a metal claw. That was Double Edge's breaking point. The metal giant clambered to the ground, locking up and remaining unresponsive to Vera. Vera cried out and grunted, struggling to break free of the guymelif. The triumphant enemy stood over her, aiming a metal claw right at Vera's head. Vera held absolutely still. She heard her mother cry out. Vera wildly hoped that her attacker would miss, even though he was shooting at point blank range. A flash of steel met Vera's eye and Michael came, destroying the enemy.
" Get out of here!" he screamed at Vera. She was more than happy to oblige and began struggling again with her harness that held her in place. Vera couldn't break free. Michael stood over her, battling any enemy that tried to come in and finish Vera off. Soon, Michael was battling five other guymelifs at once, and Arch Angel was being strained to the breaking point. Vera continued her desperate struggle to escape. Vera could see that Michael was loosing ground and she was down to minutes before she would be helpless and at the mercy of a merciless enemy. Michael fell and Vera screamed.
" Michael, no!" she screamed. Vera gave her shoulders a mighty wrench and was in for a shock when her right arm screamed in pain and stopped working. She must have dislocated her shoulder. A guymelif stood over her and took aim at her head. Now it was Michael's turn to scream.
" Vera!" he struggled to his feet. To Vera, everything moved in slow motion. The metal claw inched toward her head and Michael leapt in front of it. The shot ripped through Arch Angel's chest and stopped right in front of Vera's face. Vera screamed in helpless rage. Michael dropped to his knees. A moan reached Vera's ears. Suddenly, Escaflowne reached the scene. Van destroyed the guymelif and threw Arch Angel, complete with an injured Michael inside, over his shoulder.
" Allen, grab Vera!" Van ordered. Vera was being carried and brought back to the ship. Looking over Allen's guymelif's shoulder, she saw destruction. All the enemy guymelifs had been destroyed. They had won. But how many were sacrificed for that one victory? Would Michael be one of them? Vera screamed again. Pain tore through her body, and her arm dangled uselessly. Inside the docking bay, men sawed away at Double Edge's face guard, trying to get Vera out. The same thing was being done to Arch Angel, in an effort to save Michael. Suddenly the harness slid away and the face guard moved with mechanical sounds. Vera leaped out, falling to the ground far below. Vera groaned in pain and ran to Arch Angel, holding her arm tightly at her side. Vera slammed her dislocated shoulder into Arch Angel's metal leg in an instinctive attempt to relocate it. Another cry of pain, and Vera clambered up Arch Angel, screaming Michael's name the whole way. Vera began to yank at the face guard with her good arm, every yank greeting her with more pain.
" Michael! Don't you die! If you die, I'll I'll do something!" Vera screamed in maddening pain and rage. Van's arms slipped around her waist.
" No! Let me go!" Vera screamed, flailing madly.
" Vera, calm down. It's me. It's Daddy." Van said quietly. Vera stopped flailing.
" Daddy? Mamma?" she asked.
" Yes. It's okay Vera. It's all over." Van soothed, stroking Vera's hair. Vera started to cry. The pain became too much and Vera blacked out.
Hitomi watched Millerna relocate Vera shoulder and then rush off to tend to Michael. Hitomi knew how to bandage a dislocated shoulder, having done it before, so she tended to the last part of Vera's treatment. After Hitomi was done, Vera woke up.
" Mom?" she asked in a dazed voice. " Where am I?"
" On the Crusade, honey. It's all over. You did great." Hitomi cooed. Vera leaned back in contentment. She might have forgotten about Michael, and Hitomi wasn't about to remind her. Vera's eyes flashed open.
" Michael!" she cried, sitting straight up. She groaned in pain but swung her legs out of bed.
" Vera, your shoulder's still tender! You might dislocate it again!" Hitomi cried.
" I don't care." Vera grunted. Hitomi sighed and watched her pain-wrecked daughter stumble down the corridor.
Vera was in pain. Her arm was pinned to her body and every movement brought more pain from her shoulder. But all the same, she was determined to reach Michael. Vera plowed through a crowd outside the operating room door, ignoring the cries from her father and Millerna and Allen. She burst through the door and saw Michael sleeping peacefully. His chest was bare and there were bandages around his midsection. Vera could see blood through the bandages. Vera figured the operation went well. She could see Millerna's discarded tools and knew that Millerna never left a patient that wasn't all right. Vera watched Michael's steady breathing and sighed with relief. Vera touched his hand and then drew back. Suddenly, Vera fell to her knees next to him.
" Why did you do it, you idiot? Can't you see I didn't want you to get hurt? Don't you know I care about you?" she moaned quietly. Michael stirred a little. Vera was unable to stop the tears anymore. They flowed freely down her face. Vera closed her eyes and prayed that Michael would be okay. She felt a rough hand wiping away her tears and thought it was her father. Vera opened her eyes to see Michael watching her, brushing the tears from her eyes. He shuddered but kept his hand on Vera's face. Vera let out a tortured sob.
" I'm sorry." She murmured to Michael.
" Don't be. I made the conscious decision to do it. It wasn't your fault." Michael said in an exhausted voice. Vera wanted to scream because he was in pain and she couldn't do anything about it.
" What happened to your arm?" Michael asked quietly, noticing her bandages.
" I dislocated my shoulder while I was trying to get out of Double Edge." Vera whispered back. Michael took his hand away from Vera's face and laid back. His eyes almost closed.
" Do me a favor." He demanded.
" Anything." Vera responded instantly.
" Open my Christmas present to you." Michael said.
" What? How can you think of something like that now?" Vera asked in disbelief.
" Just do it!" Michael said with more force than Vera had ever heard in his voice. " It's important to me that you have that gift. Open it and then come back." Vera sat in disbelief.
" But " she started.
" Do it, Vera." Michael said. Vera numbly stood and stumbled out of the operating room. She walked down the corridor, totally oblivious to everyone she passed. Merle called to her, but Vera couldn't hear her. In the recreation room, Vera picked up the little package from the spot where it had fallen when they were called to battle. She stared at the reds and greens of the wrapping paper. No longer able to stand the happiness that those colors represented, Vera ripped in to it. She tore of the lid to the box and stared. Vera couldn't believe it. It was the dagger necklace she had seen in the market place. He had gotten it for her. Vera read the note on the box.
Dear Vera,
I knew you wanted this a lot, and I thought it was made to be on your neck, so I couldn't see any reason that you shouldn't have it. I care about you and I hope you have the merriest Christmas ever.
Yours forever,
Michael
Vera started to cry again. She ran back to Michael who was quietly waiting in his bed.
" Why?" she asked.
" You and that necklace were made for each other." Michael responded. Vera shook her head, knowing he had another reason.
" Not that. Why are you doing this? You're asking for pain, and I don't want to see you hurt. I don't want you to protect me!" Vera's voice slowly escalated to a scream. Michael watched her.
" Don't be spoiled. Whether you want it or not, I want to protect you." He said calmly.
" I don't care! I don't want to be protected!" Vera cried. Michael got angry.
" You want? What about the rest of us?" he yelled back. Vera's tears started anew.
" I want that so no one has to be hurt!" she screamed.
" What about you? Don't you realize how selfish you're being? I'm protecting you because I don't want to see you get hurt! I did it because I care!" Michael struggled into a sitting position. " There are people who would rather die than see you hurt. I'm one of them."
" Why? It's stupid! The whole war is stupid! Can't they see we were happy? I don't get it!" Vera knew Michael wouldn't fight anymore. She was ranting her sorrows now. " I don't want to fight like this! There's no honor in it! I don't want to be protected, I don't want to be a princess, I'm not a doll to dress up, and I don't want to marry some pompous, over-stuffed peacock of a prince to be queen! I can do it on my own! I'm sick and tired of death! I didn't want to kill that dragon, but I did! I don't know what I want anymore! I'm so confused!" Vera stared at Michael's sea blue eyes and he stared back.
" I don't think you're confused. I think you're denying the truth." Michael said in a quiet voice. His answer angered Vera. Vera wanted to scream at him more, but her real anger was gone and she was tired. Vera just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. Vera looked at Michael.
" I'm tired, Michael. I'm tired of everything, even living. I want answers no one can give." She looked at him helplessly. Michael's eyes said more than words ever could. You know what you want, his eyes told her, but are you ready to accept it? Vera wasn't ready. She turned away and when she turned back, she discovered that Michael had lost a lot of blood and the exhaustion proved to be too much for him. He had fallen asleep.
Vera stared blankly at the necklace she still hadn't taken out of the box. Merle was dancing around and chattering away happily. Merle was content, she was engaged to a great guy and had just gotten lots of gifts and was planning to be showered in more on her wedding day. Merle hadn't gone into battle. Vera sighed. Her tears were gone, and that made her sorrow all the harder to bear. Millerna walked up behind Vera.
" What's that? Oh, Vera, what a beautiful necklace!" she cried. Vera ignored her.
" Vera, where did you get this?" Hitomi asked. Vera didn't take her eyes off the dagger.
" Michael." She said numbly. The other women talked about how pretty it was and Hitomi insisted that Vera put it on. They helped her, since Vera's bandaged arm left her incapable of such things. After they were done with her, Vera left and ran to her quarters, gasping hard. No one understood. Vera was alone in a way she had never been before. She was so lonely. Vera longed for Michael.
One month later
Michael gazed out the window. His wounds were healed but he was still very weak. He hadn't seen Vera since their fight and he was a little anxious. Vera's words echoed in his mind. I'm so confused, she had said. She wasn't the only one who was confused. Michael gingerly stood up. He wasn't as strong as he should have been, but he was strong enough to move around the ship on his own. He began to walk down the corridor. Halfway there, Michael stopped and leaned against the wall, trying to force the dizziness away. When it was gone, he continued to walk, stopping when he reached Vera's door. From what Allen had told him, Vera had locked herself up and only came out to eat, use the bathroom, and have her arm taken care of. Michael drew on his courage and knocked on the door.
" Who is it?" Vera called dully.
" Me. Are you decent?" Michael responded.
" Take a wild guess." Vera called.
" In body but not in mind?" Michael suggested.
" Ding-ding! We have a winner!" Vera said sarcastically. Michael tried the door but it was locked.
" The doors locked." He called.
" I know." Vera replied without emotion.
" Are you going to unlock it?" Michael asked.
" No."
" Oh, okay." Michael leaned against the door and sighed. " Then I'll talk to you through the door."
" Why bother?" Vera asked.
" Because you're my friend and you're obviously depressed, so I walked all the way down here to talk to you." Michael said cheerfully. Vera didn't respond. " You never came back."
" What?" Vera asked in annoyance.
" I told you to go open my gift and come back, but you never came." Michael said. Vera was silent and Michael waited.
" You were asleep." Vera said pointedly.
" You still could have come." Michael said in a similar tone of voice. Vera kept her mouth shut for a minute.
" I'm sorry. I was upset and I forgot." Vera said sincerely. She sounded like she meant it.
" It's okay. Do you like it?" Michael said casually, while his heart was desperately praying.
" Yes, I'm wearing it right now." Vera said. Her voice sounded closer, like she was leaning against the door now too.
" What have you been doing all this time?" Michael asked after a minute.
" Moping around like an idiot." Vera said ruefully.
" If you needed to mope, then I'm glad you did it. Are you going to unlock the door any time soon?" Michael asked.
" Maybe." Vera said thoughtfully. The two were silent.
" I'm sorry I yelled so much that day." Vera said quietly.
" Don't be. We both said some things we didn't mean, but we needed to get them off our chests. I'm glad we fought." Michael said. Vera made no verbal response. Michael heard the knob turn and before he could move, the door opened and he fell.
" Whoa! Ow!" Michael stood up quickly and looked at Vera with an embarrassed smile. She greeted him with a smile and a laugh. Michael noticed his necklace around her neck. He smiled again.
" It's good to see you." Michael said.
" Yeah. It's good to see you too." Vera replied happily.
Vera watched the ground slide beneath the Crusade. It was the middle of the night and Vera had just awakened from a disturbing dream. Vera let go of her conscious mind and drifted back to the dream
Fire was everywhere. Vera was standing in a ring of fire. Strangely, though, she was not afraid. A male voice drifted from the black skies.
" Stand by your cause, Vera. Do not let your wings turn black like mine. The fire will guide you through the maze of your heart. You will stare in the face of your enemy soon. Hold fast and remember me, the one who died before your birth." The deep voice said in a whisper so quiet, it might have been the wind. Vera watched ashes swirl around her and her black hair was lifted by a breeze to a sky the exact same color.
" He loves you as only he can. Do not stray from him." The voice said again. It was strangely similar to her father's.
" Who loves me?" Vera asked.
" The one who is an angel, but not like you. He guards you the way his namesake guards heaven." The voice replied.
" Who are you?" Vera asked.
" Ask your father who has black wings and died at the end of the war, or so he thought." The voice replied. The fire faded from Vera's view, leaving her alone and stranded in darkness
Vera snapped back into consciousness. It was morning and the Crusade had landed. Vera stood and walked out of her quarters. She strolled to the galley and found Michael eating an orange. Vera grabbed an orange for herself and ate quickly. She began to jog out of the galley when Michael called to her.
" Hey, Vera, let's go for a walk later. I want off this old crate." Michael called.
" Sure." Vera called back, leaving the room. She was searching for her father and found him walking down the corridor.
" Dad, I've got a question." Vera said.
" What?" Van asked.
" Did you ever know someone who had black wings and died at the end of the war with Ziboch?" Vera asked. She knew she had just opened a very old, tender wound when Van stiffened.
" Who wants to know?" he asked cautiously.
" Me." Vera responded.
" Why?"
" I had a dream." Vera said simply.
" I did know someone who fits that description. It was Folken, my brother and your uncle. He's dead." Van said roughly and walked away. Vera stood puzzling. She had no idea what her uncle's voice sounded like, and she had no way of knowing those things about him. Had Folken's spirit really visited her in her dreams? Or perhaps he wasn't really dead.
Michael walked down the street in the capital of Fried, the country the Crusade had landed in. Vera was at his left and Merle and Zam were right behind them.
" So, where shall we go?" Michael asked.
" Wherever there's food. Fried has the best food in all of Gaea. Real cheap, too." Zam said. Merle agreed.
" Yeah, I haven't been in Fried since I was thirteen, and that was during the war so I couldn't really enjoy it, what with Vera's mother running like a maniac through the streets trying to get to Lord Van." Merle said. Vera rolled her eyes. Michael laughed and was about to agree that they go find some lunch when Vera spoke up.
" Can we go to the beach? I'm sure they have food there, and I've never seen the ocean." Vera said. Michael agreed and everyone went to the beach. Vera loved it.
" It's beautiful. I love it. It's the same color as your eyes, Michael." She stated happily. The group walked up the beach slowly, eating whatever looked good and laughing the whole way. The reached the harbor and sat on a huge rock and watched the ships come and go. The sun began to set over the horizon and Merle and Zam went back to the Crusade, leaving Michael alone with Vera. The sun fell over her face, casting shadows that made her look dark and mysterious. The dagger on her neck glistened. Michael watched her.
" I had a strange dream last night. What does your name mean?" Vera asked suddenly.
" It means arch angel." Michael responded. Vera nodded.
" What is an arch angel?" Vera asked.
" An arch angel is an angel that protects heaven and its angels. The arch angel Michael battled Lucifer, a rebellious angel, and threw him from heaven. That's why the name Michael means arch angel." Michael explained. Vera nodded again. Michael wanted to touch her, but he didn't dare. The two stood and began to walk silently back to the Crusade. Michael was concentrating on what he should say to Vera, so he didn't hear any one coming. By the time he knew they weren't alone, it was too late.
Zensho angrily threw one pebble after another into the water. He wondered what was taking so long. He had given out orders to capture Princess Vera three hours ago. They should have had her by then. Zensho's trusted lieutenant, Solo, came up and whispered in Zensho's ear. He smiled to himself. Vera was within his grasp.
Michael woke suddenly. He was laying on concrete. Michael sat up quickly. His memory returned and Michael immediately ran the rest of the way to the Crusade, entering through the docking bay. Michael ran into the control room, where Allen and Van were talking.
" Help! Vera was captured! They came up behind me and knocked me out and took Vera!" he cried. Van leaped over the table and grabbed Michael's shoulders.
" Do you know where they went?" Van asked.
" No! I was knocked out!" Michael cried angrily.
" Calm down, you two. Whoever took her can't be far. I'll get Hitomi on it and we'll find Vera in no time." Allen said. Van let go of Michael's shoulders and apologized. Michael didn't respond but let his head drop. He had failed.
" If anyone harms a hair on her head, I'll rip of his arm and beat him to death with it." Michael growled. Van nodded.
" I'll help." He offered.
Vera woke up strapped to a bed. She was in her clothes and her head throbbed terribly. She moaned and called for Michael. She suddenly remembered that she had been captured. Vera began to scream, but no one answered. Vera wrenched her body around, but the only result was a throbbing right arm, which was still tender from dislocating that shoulder. Vera suddenly lay alert, sensing that she was not alone.
" Who's there?" she called. The only answer was a mocking laughter in a familiar voice. Vera lay helpless at the mercy of her unknown enemy. The dagger charm lay in Vera's sight. She looked at it and remembered Michael for courage. He'll come for me, she thought, I know he will.
Michael sullenly stared out the window in his quarters on the Crusade. He had traded one ship for another exactly like it. The only differences were that Michael's quarters now had a window and were right next to Vera's. Michael felt all sorts of emotions. Anger at the rebels, sadness for the Crusade II that had to be left until salvage workers could come for it, loneliness because he was so far from home, frustration for not being able to get the new trick Allen had taught him right, and finally, love for Vera. Michael sighed. He stood to confirm Vera's location on the ship. This was Michael's newest habit. Every hour or so, Michael went looking for Vera. She usually wasn't far. Vera's new habit was never being far from Michael. She was usually within his range of hearing. Sure enough, Michael found Vera right next door, in her quarters. She was messing with the tarot cards. Before coming in, Michael asked if she was decent. She said in body but not in mind and Michael laughed and came in.
" Is it any better?" Michael asked. Vera sighed.
" No, not really. I see a little happiness in the near future." Vera said. Michael grinned.
" Sure. Christmas is in three days." Michael said.
" Oh yeah! I almost forgot, what with the war and all." Vera said. Michael was a little surprised.
" I didn't think you guys celebrated Christmas." He commented.
" People on Gaea don't, for the most part. Only Austuria, Fanelia, and some parts of Fried celebrate Christmas. My mom introduced it to us." Vera explained. Michael nodded. Vera sighed.
" One of my favorite parts of Christmas is gift-wishing." Vera said wistfully.
" Huh?" Michael asked.
" Gift-wishing. My mom and dad used to take me out to the market place and we'd shop around for things we wanted. We didn't buy anything, but that was how we gave each other ideas. I guess they thought I was getting to old for that, because they stopped taking me last year." Vera said, staring dreamily out the window. Michael suddenly got an idea.
" Hey, how about we do that at the next port?" he suggested.
" Sure." Vera said. Michael smiled. On the Crusade, they were flying around over ally countries, stopping at ports for supplies and fuel. They had left the Crusade II about two weeks ago. Michael left the room. He walked aimlessly around the deck until he found himself in the control room. Van was standing off by himself and Michael approached him.
" When are going into the next port?" he asked.
" Tomorrow." Van responded. Michael had never known Van to waste time on excess words.
" Is it okay if Vera and I go to market?" Michael asked.
" Sure. But be prepared to take Merle and Zam too." Van warned.
" Why?" Michael wondered.
" Merle follows Vera everywhere, and she'll drag Zam along." Van said. Michael nodded and turned to leave. Before he was out the door, Van called to him.
" Has Vera been doing tarot readings?" he asked.
" Yes." Michael said. Van had paid close attention to Hitomi and Vera in this area. " She says there's a little Christmas joy in our future. Not much, but some."
" Fine." Van said with a smile. Michael could tell he had been hoping for that. " Buy a Christmas tree when you go shopping." Michael nodded and left. He wandered around some more, trying to figure out how he was going to waste the rest of the day.
Vera stared somewhat sullenly out the window. She turned her gaze back to the deck of tarot cards in her hand. Acting on the sudden urge, Vera gave herself a one-card reading. She drew the Moon card. Vera frowned. Michael had drawn the same card on a one-card reading she had given him. That meant something, but Vera didn't know what. She stood to go find her mother. Hitomi, as usual, was in the kitchen, talking to Millerna and Merle. They stopped talking when Vera came in.
" Mom, what does it mean when a boy and a girl draw the same card on a one- card reading?" Vera asked quickly. Hitomi thought.
" Well, it all depends on the card." Hitomi said.
" The Moon card?" Vera offered. Hitomi smiled.
" It usually means that they're soul mates." Hitomi said. Vera nodded numbly and left. Were she and Michael soul mates? Vera didn't want to think about. The thought stirred up confusing emotions at the bottom of Vera's heart that she wanted to forget. Vera turned abruptly to the docking bay. Pleased to find herself alone, Vera jogged around the docking bay until she collapsed from exhaustion. She lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath, happy. Michael's face came into view.
" What exactly are you doing?" he asked.
" Resting." Vera said in between gasps.
" Why?" Michael asked.
" Because I was running." Vera responded shortly.
" Why?" Michael asked again.
" The same reason you like to climb trees." Vera retorted. Michael took this for a good answer and helped Vera up. Vera was to tired to suggest they spar and Michael seemed to think the same so neither of them mentioned it. Vera sensed Michael had something on his mind that he wanted to talk to her about.
" What's on your mind?" Vera asked.
" We're entering enemy territory day after tomorrow." Michael said distantly. Vera knew this.
" So?" Vera scoffed.
" I've never been in a battle before." Michael pointed out.
" Oh. Well, neither have I." Vera volunteered. Michael still seemed worried.
" Hey, let's worry about that bridge when we cross it, okay? Tomorrow is gift-wishing." Vera reminded him. Michael brightened a little. Vera liked it better when he was happy. Michael was really a great person to be around. He seemed to spread his emotions to Vera, making her happy when he was happy, sad when he was sad. Vera wondered if they were really soul mates.
Michael watched Merle limp around on her nearly healed leg, chasing Zam.
" No, way Merle! I remember what happened the last time I went shopping with you!" Zam cried.
" It's not shopping! It's gift-wishing! It's like window shopping, you just look, not buy anything!" Merle yelled angrily. Zam paused and looked at Michael who nodded. Zam sighed and hung his head.
" Okay, you win. I'll go." Poor Zam said in a defeated voice. Merle cheered happily and hobbled away to get ready. Vera looked at Michael and smiled.
" They're like this every year." She said with a laugh. Michael laughed with her. He stood.
" Well, come on. I want to get there before Christmas." Michael stated. Vera stood with him.
" Not likely. Merle spent all morning chasing Zam, so she still has to get ready." She said. Zam's face scrunched up in anger.
" Okay, Merle! You talked me into going, now I want to go and get it over with!" he called. Michael laughed.
" Yeah, Merle! Before New Year's at least!" Vera shouted.
" Merle, if you don't hurry up, we'll leave you!" Michael yelled. The sound of pounding feet came down the corridor and Merle appeared. To Michael, she looked just fine.
" Oh no you won't!" Merle screamed. The other three laughed and herded Merle out the docking bay. Once in the market place, Merle began the process of dragging the reluctant Zam to every jewelry stand in sight. Michael and Vera laughed at Zam's tortured face and expression that said, why me? The two humans contentedly walked down row after row of stands, side by side. Vera suddenly stopped and dashed over to one of the stands.
" Michael, look at this!" she cried. Michael jogged over and looked at what Vera had in her hand. It was a charm on a gold chain. Michael instantly saw that the charm was unusual. It was a small dagger with a dark sapphire embedded in the part where the hilt connected with the blade. The sapphire was perfectly round and polished to a glorious shine. The dagger itself was gold.
" That's definitely like nothing I've ever seen." Michael commented.
" I think it's beautiful." Vera commented wistfully. Michael took the necklace from her.
" Turn around." He ordered. Vera did as she was told. Michael unfastened the chain and put it around Vera's neck. He pulled her hair out of the way and held onto the dark silk a little longer than was necessary. He turned Vera to a mirror. Vera peered into it happily. Michael put his hands on her shoulders and leaned close and whispered to Vera.
" Very beautiful indeed." He muttered. Vera blushed. He had never seen Vera blush and was quite pleased by the sight. The necklace was very stunning on Vera's neck. The charm hung low and the gold stood out against Vera's shirt and complemented her copper skin. The sapphire brought her eyes out. The two of them stood together in an intense moment.
" You want to buy it?" the vendor that owned the stand asked, interrupting the moment. Michael pulled away from Vera, sensing his chance was gone.
" No." Vera said sadly, removing the necklace. She handed it back to the vendor and walked away. Michael leaned toward the vendor.
" Save that necklace. I'll be back to buy it." He whispered. The vendor nodded and put the necklace away, out of sight. Michael jogged to catch up with Vera. He was very pleased to have made Vera blush and found her a wonderful Christmas present in the same instant.
After gift wishing was done, Michael had a plan.
" Hey guys, you go ahead. I saw something back there I want to take a look at." He said. Zam's tired face brightened.
" Yeah, me too." Zam added. Vera shrugged and Merle got a twinkle in her eye.
" Okay, see you." Merle said. The two girls walked into the ship while the two boys turned back to the market place.
" What are you getting?" Michael asked Zam.
" Over here." Zam said, pulling Michael over to a stand. " I'm back!' Zam announced to the vendor there.
" Ah, yes, here it is." The vendor said, pulling out a necklace with a single clear crystal hanging from a silver chain.
" Perfect. Here." Zam said, handing the vendor his money. " Merle loved this one. I'm thinking about proposing to her with it." He explained to Michael. Michael knew why Zam would get Merle a necklace instead of a ring. Merle, like all cat-girls, hated rings because the hurt her fingers, which were shaped differently than human fingers.
" That's great, Zam. Congratulations!" Michael patted the exhausted-looking cat-boy on the shoulder.
" I just keep telling myself that I love her. That's the only reason I haven't left her yet. Sure, she's obnoxious, and big-mouthed, and moody, and Well, you know. The point is, underneath it all is a real sweet girl and I love her." Zam sighed. He knew what awaited him if he married Merle. He had obviously thought long and hard on this, but he couldn't deny the truth. Michael admired Zam's courage.
" What are you getting?" Zam asked Michael.
" It's down this way." Michael said, leading Zam to the cart where Vera had spotted the dagger necklace. The vendor saw them coming and pulled out the necklace.
" Hello, boy. I believe you want to get this for the pretty girl?" he asked. Michael nodded.
" Whoa. What a necklace! It suits Vera's personality perfectly." Zam commented.
" Yes. It was the only piece of jewelry she liked. She never said it, but I could tell she was dying to have it." Michael said as he was paying the vendor.
" The girl, she has a wild eye," the vendor commented. " This necklace was made to be on her neck." The vendor obviously meant what he said. Zam agreed and the two boys hurried back to the Crusade, necklaces in their pockets.
Vera stared at the beautiful tree they had decorated. It was Christmas morning.
" Come on Merle! Wake up!" Zam yelled. Vera had never seen Zam so anxious.
" Gee, Zam, what's got your tail so fluffed up?" Vera asked innocently. It was true, Zam's tail was fluffed up.
" Oh, shut up." Zam said threateningly. Everyone laughed. Michael seemed a little anxious too. Vera left him alone and continued to pick on Zam until Allen told her to leave him alone. Merle finally woke up, and the present- opening began. After a while, Vera had a new belt for her sword from Allen, a new green, baggy shirt from Millerna, two books on how to decipher the meaning of dreams from Zam, a stained glass ornament that you hung in your window shaped like a tiger ( Vera's favorite animal) from Merle, and her own deck of tarot cards with a how-to book from her parents. Vera treated everyone to a rigged reading, which came out as joy for all. Everyone knew it was rigged and laughed. Zam proposed to Merle with a pretty crystal necklace, and Merle screamed bloody murder and gave Zam a huge hug with a great big yes. Michael was about to hand Vera his present when a crew member burst in.
" Sorry to disturb you, but there's an enemy ship approaching." He stated. No sooner had those words left his mouth did the whole group take off for the docking bay. Guymelifs charged up and leapt out of the ship, landing in a huge prairie. Vera's guymelif landed with a huge thud. She looked skyward to see enemy guymelifs dropping from the sky.
" Remember, we don't know what powers they posses, so be on guard." Van called. Vera saw her mother perched precariously on Escaflowne's shoulder and remembered that Van always brought her into battle with him. It was an old habit from the war with Ziboch, when the enemy could turn invisible and only Hitomi could see them. Vera turned her attention back to the approaching enemy.
" Hold it, hold it." Van cautioned. " Let them come to you."
" Don't attack until you can make out their face grid." Allen added. " Keep perfectly still." Vera stood tense and waited. Two enemies were approaching her. She watched them but kept a sharp eye out for an attack from the side. Just then, Allen and Van, moving like twin metal claws, shot forward and struck with a show of tremendous strength. Vera would have watched them, but her two enemies rushed her. Vera fought with strength that rivaled her father. After Vera had taken out the last of her original two, she turned to see Michael struggling in a four-on-one match. Vera snapped forward and took out one guymelif in a single charge. She headed off another, leaving Michael with the other two. The guymelif Vera was fighting had a very skilled owner, and Vera had to call for help. Michael was to far away and locked in a battle to the death. Van was busy trying to draw attention away from a wounded crew member. Allen rushed to Vera's defense, striking the unaware enemy down in a single blow. Vera didn't have time to give her thanks, because she was immediately attacked by yet another guymelif.
" Fall back!" Van shouted. Vera reluctantly retreated from her foe. Michael waited for her to leave and then retreated slowly, watching her back.
" Man, they just keep coming!" Allen said in his I'm-in-battle voice.
" We've taken out about fifty but there's like a hundred more!" Michael cried angrily.
" Anyone that's wounded, retreat. Everyone else, watch their backs and then charge." Van said in calm voice that seethed with the fear and anger of battle. Vera remained silent. Her head was pounding and her entire body was pulsating with adrenaline. After the wounded, three in total, were gone, the rest charged. Vera fought again with skilled foes, but didn't need to call for help again. Michael wasn't out of reach of her and she was handling everything fine. Vera had taken several blows and was unsure of how much more Double Edge could take. Just then, the guymelif Vera was fighting dove to the ground and shot Double Edge's leg with a metal claw. That was Double Edge's breaking point. The metal giant clambered to the ground, locking up and remaining unresponsive to Vera. Vera cried out and grunted, struggling to break free of the guymelif. The triumphant enemy stood over her, aiming a metal claw right at Vera's head. Vera held absolutely still. She heard her mother cry out. Vera wildly hoped that her attacker would miss, even though he was shooting at point blank range. A flash of steel met Vera's eye and Michael came, destroying the enemy.
" Get out of here!" he screamed at Vera. She was more than happy to oblige and began struggling again with her harness that held her in place. Vera couldn't break free. Michael stood over her, battling any enemy that tried to come in and finish Vera off. Soon, Michael was battling five other guymelifs at once, and Arch Angel was being strained to the breaking point. Vera continued her desperate struggle to escape. Vera could see that Michael was loosing ground and she was down to minutes before she would be helpless and at the mercy of a merciless enemy. Michael fell and Vera screamed.
" Michael, no!" she screamed. Vera gave her shoulders a mighty wrench and was in for a shock when her right arm screamed in pain and stopped working. She must have dislocated her shoulder. A guymelif stood over her and took aim at her head. Now it was Michael's turn to scream.
" Vera!" he struggled to his feet. To Vera, everything moved in slow motion. The metal claw inched toward her head and Michael leapt in front of it. The shot ripped through Arch Angel's chest and stopped right in front of Vera's face. Vera screamed in helpless rage. Michael dropped to his knees. A moan reached Vera's ears. Suddenly, Escaflowne reached the scene. Van destroyed the guymelif and threw Arch Angel, complete with an injured Michael inside, over his shoulder.
" Allen, grab Vera!" Van ordered. Vera was being carried and brought back to the ship. Looking over Allen's guymelif's shoulder, she saw destruction. All the enemy guymelifs had been destroyed. They had won. But how many were sacrificed for that one victory? Would Michael be one of them? Vera screamed again. Pain tore through her body, and her arm dangled uselessly. Inside the docking bay, men sawed away at Double Edge's face guard, trying to get Vera out. The same thing was being done to Arch Angel, in an effort to save Michael. Suddenly the harness slid away and the face guard moved with mechanical sounds. Vera leaped out, falling to the ground far below. Vera groaned in pain and ran to Arch Angel, holding her arm tightly at her side. Vera slammed her dislocated shoulder into Arch Angel's metal leg in an instinctive attempt to relocate it. Another cry of pain, and Vera clambered up Arch Angel, screaming Michael's name the whole way. Vera began to yank at the face guard with her good arm, every yank greeting her with more pain.
" Michael! Don't you die! If you die, I'll I'll do something!" Vera screamed in maddening pain and rage. Van's arms slipped around her waist.
" No! Let me go!" Vera screamed, flailing madly.
" Vera, calm down. It's me. It's Daddy." Van said quietly. Vera stopped flailing.
" Daddy? Mamma?" she asked.
" Yes. It's okay Vera. It's all over." Van soothed, stroking Vera's hair. Vera started to cry. The pain became too much and Vera blacked out.
Hitomi watched Millerna relocate Vera shoulder and then rush off to tend to Michael. Hitomi knew how to bandage a dislocated shoulder, having done it before, so she tended to the last part of Vera's treatment. After Hitomi was done, Vera woke up.
" Mom?" she asked in a dazed voice. " Where am I?"
" On the Crusade, honey. It's all over. You did great." Hitomi cooed. Vera leaned back in contentment. She might have forgotten about Michael, and Hitomi wasn't about to remind her. Vera's eyes flashed open.
" Michael!" she cried, sitting straight up. She groaned in pain but swung her legs out of bed.
" Vera, your shoulder's still tender! You might dislocate it again!" Hitomi cried.
" I don't care." Vera grunted. Hitomi sighed and watched her pain-wrecked daughter stumble down the corridor.
Vera was in pain. Her arm was pinned to her body and every movement brought more pain from her shoulder. But all the same, she was determined to reach Michael. Vera plowed through a crowd outside the operating room door, ignoring the cries from her father and Millerna and Allen. She burst through the door and saw Michael sleeping peacefully. His chest was bare and there were bandages around his midsection. Vera could see blood through the bandages. Vera figured the operation went well. She could see Millerna's discarded tools and knew that Millerna never left a patient that wasn't all right. Vera watched Michael's steady breathing and sighed with relief. Vera touched his hand and then drew back. Suddenly, Vera fell to her knees next to him.
" Why did you do it, you idiot? Can't you see I didn't want you to get hurt? Don't you know I care about you?" she moaned quietly. Michael stirred a little. Vera was unable to stop the tears anymore. They flowed freely down her face. Vera closed her eyes and prayed that Michael would be okay. She felt a rough hand wiping away her tears and thought it was her father. Vera opened her eyes to see Michael watching her, brushing the tears from her eyes. He shuddered but kept his hand on Vera's face. Vera let out a tortured sob.
" I'm sorry." She murmured to Michael.
" Don't be. I made the conscious decision to do it. It wasn't your fault." Michael said in an exhausted voice. Vera wanted to scream because he was in pain and she couldn't do anything about it.
" What happened to your arm?" Michael asked quietly, noticing her bandages.
" I dislocated my shoulder while I was trying to get out of Double Edge." Vera whispered back. Michael took his hand away from Vera's face and laid back. His eyes almost closed.
" Do me a favor." He demanded.
" Anything." Vera responded instantly.
" Open my Christmas present to you." Michael said.
" What? How can you think of something like that now?" Vera asked in disbelief.
" Just do it!" Michael said with more force than Vera had ever heard in his voice. " It's important to me that you have that gift. Open it and then come back." Vera sat in disbelief.
" But " she started.
" Do it, Vera." Michael said. Vera numbly stood and stumbled out of the operating room. She walked down the corridor, totally oblivious to everyone she passed. Merle called to her, but Vera couldn't hear her. In the recreation room, Vera picked up the little package from the spot where it had fallen when they were called to battle. She stared at the reds and greens of the wrapping paper. No longer able to stand the happiness that those colors represented, Vera ripped in to it. She tore of the lid to the box and stared. Vera couldn't believe it. It was the dagger necklace she had seen in the market place. He had gotten it for her. Vera read the note on the box.
Dear Vera,
I knew you wanted this a lot, and I thought it was made to be on your neck, so I couldn't see any reason that you shouldn't have it. I care about you and I hope you have the merriest Christmas ever.
Yours forever,
Michael
Vera started to cry again. She ran back to Michael who was quietly waiting in his bed.
" Why?" she asked.
" You and that necklace were made for each other." Michael responded. Vera shook her head, knowing he had another reason.
" Not that. Why are you doing this? You're asking for pain, and I don't want to see you hurt. I don't want you to protect me!" Vera's voice slowly escalated to a scream. Michael watched her.
" Don't be spoiled. Whether you want it or not, I want to protect you." He said calmly.
" I don't care! I don't want to be protected!" Vera cried. Michael got angry.
" You want? What about the rest of us?" he yelled back. Vera's tears started anew.
" I want that so no one has to be hurt!" she screamed.
" What about you? Don't you realize how selfish you're being? I'm protecting you because I don't want to see you get hurt! I did it because I care!" Michael struggled into a sitting position. " There are people who would rather die than see you hurt. I'm one of them."
" Why? It's stupid! The whole war is stupid! Can't they see we were happy? I don't get it!" Vera knew Michael wouldn't fight anymore. She was ranting her sorrows now. " I don't want to fight like this! There's no honor in it! I don't want to be protected, I don't want to be a princess, I'm not a doll to dress up, and I don't want to marry some pompous, over-stuffed peacock of a prince to be queen! I can do it on my own! I'm sick and tired of death! I didn't want to kill that dragon, but I did! I don't know what I want anymore! I'm so confused!" Vera stared at Michael's sea blue eyes and he stared back.
" I don't think you're confused. I think you're denying the truth." Michael said in a quiet voice. His answer angered Vera. Vera wanted to scream at him more, but her real anger was gone and she was tired. Vera just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. Vera looked at Michael.
" I'm tired, Michael. I'm tired of everything, even living. I want answers no one can give." She looked at him helplessly. Michael's eyes said more than words ever could. You know what you want, his eyes told her, but are you ready to accept it? Vera wasn't ready. She turned away and when she turned back, she discovered that Michael had lost a lot of blood and the exhaustion proved to be too much for him. He had fallen asleep.
Vera stared blankly at the necklace she still hadn't taken out of the box. Merle was dancing around and chattering away happily. Merle was content, she was engaged to a great guy and had just gotten lots of gifts and was planning to be showered in more on her wedding day. Merle hadn't gone into battle. Vera sighed. Her tears were gone, and that made her sorrow all the harder to bear. Millerna walked up behind Vera.
" What's that? Oh, Vera, what a beautiful necklace!" she cried. Vera ignored her.
" Vera, where did you get this?" Hitomi asked. Vera didn't take her eyes off the dagger.
" Michael." She said numbly. The other women talked about how pretty it was and Hitomi insisted that Vera put it on. They helped her, since Vera's bandaged arm left her incapable of such things. After they were done with her, Vera left and ran to her quarters, gasping hard. No one understood. Vera was alone in a way she had never been before. She was so lonely. Vera longed for Michael.
One month later
Michael gazed out the window. His wounds were healed but he was still very weak. He hadn't seen Vera since their fight and he was a little anxious. Vera's words echoed in his mind. I'm so confused, she had said. She wasn't the only one who was confused. Michael gingerly stood up. He wasn't as strong as he should have been, but he was strong enough to move around the ship on his own. He began to walk down the corridor. Halfway there, Michael stopped and leaned against the wall, trying to force the dizziness away. When it was gone, he continued to walk, stopping when he reached Vera's door. From what Allen had told him, Vera had locked herself up and only came out to eat, use the bathroom, and have her arm taken care of. Michael drew on his courage and knocked on the door.
" Who is it?" Vera called dully.
" Me. Are you decent?" Michael responded.
" Take a wild guess." Vera called.
" In body but not in mind?" Michael suggested.
" Ding-ding! We have a winner!" Vera said sarcastically. Michael tried the door but it was locked.
" The doors locked." He called.
" I know." Vera replied without emotion.
" Are you going to unlock it?" Michael asked.
" No."
" Oh, okay." Michael leaned against the door and sighed. " Then I'll talk to you through the door."
" Why bother?" Vera asked.
" Because you're my friend and you're obviously depressed, so I walked all the way down here to talk to you." Michael said cheerfully. Vera didn't respond. " You never came back."
" What?" Vera asked in annoyance.
" I told you to go open my gift and come back, but you never came." Michael said. Vera was silent and Michael waited.
" You were asleep." Vera said pointedly.
" You still could have come." Michael said in a similar tone of voice. Vera kept her mouth shut for a minute.
" I'm sorry. I was upset and I forgot." Vera said sincerely. She sounded like she meant it.
" It's okay. Do you like it?" Michael said casually, while his heart was desperately praying.
" Yes, I'm wearing it right now." Vera said. Her voice sounded closer, like she was leaning against the door now too.
" What have you been doing all this time?" Michael asked after a minute.
" Moping around like an idiot." Vera said ruefully.
" If you needed to mope, then I'm glad you did it. Are you going to unlock the door any time soon?" Michael asked.
" Maybe." Vera said thoughtfully. The two were silent.
" I'm sorry I yelled so much that day." Vera said quietly.
" Don't be. We both said some things we didn't mean, but we needed to get them off our chests. I'm glad we fought." Michael said. Vera made no verbal response. Michael heard the knob turn and before he could move, the door opened and he fell.
" Whoa! Ow!" Michael stood up quickly and looked at Vera with an embarrassed smile. She greeted him with a smile and a laugh. Michael noticed his necklace around her neck. He smiled again.
" It's good to see you." Michael said.
" Yeah. It's good to see you too." Vera replied happily.
Vera watched the ground slide beneath the Crusade. It was the middle of the night and Vera had just awakened from a disturbing dream. Vera let go of her conscious mind and drifted back to the dream
Fire was everywhere. Vera was standing in a ring of fire. Strangely, though, she was not afraid. A male voice drifted from the black skies.
" Stand by your cause, Vera. Do not let your wings turn black like mine. The fire will guide you through the maze of your heart. You will stare in the face of your enemy soon. Hold fast and remember me, the one who died before your birth." The deep voice said in a whisper so quiet, it might have been the wind. Vera watched ashes swirl around her and her black hair was lifted by a breeze to a sky the exact same color.
" He loves you as only he can. Do not stray from him." The voice said again. It was strangely similar to her father's.
" Who loves me?" Vera asked.
" The one who is an angel, but not like you. He guards you the way his namesake guards heaven." The voice replied.
" Who are you?" Vera asked.
" Ask your father who has black wings and died at the end of the war, or so he thought." The voice replied. The fire faded from Vera's view, leaving her alone and stranded in darkness
Vera snapped back into consciousness. It was morning and the Crusade had landed. Vera stood and walked out of her quarters. She strolled to the galley and found Michael eating an orange. Vera grabbed an orange for herself and ate quickly. She began to jog out of the galley when Michael called to her.
" Hey, Vera, let's go for a walk later. I want off this old crate." Michael called.
" Sure." Vera called back, leaving the room. She was searching for her father and found him walking down the corridor.
" Dad, I've got a question." Vera said.
" What?" Van asked.
" Did you ever know someone who had black wings and died at the end of the war with Ziboch?" Vera asked. She knew she had just opened a very old, tender wound when Van stiffened.
" Who wants to know?" he asked cautiously.
" Me." Vera responded.
" Why?"
" I had a dream." Vera said simply.
" I did know someone who fits that description. It was Folken, my brother and your uncle. He's dead." Van said roughly and walked away. Vera stood puzzling. She had no idea what her uncle's voice sounded like, and she had no way of knowing those things about him. Had Folken's spirit really visited her in her dreams? Or perhaps he wasn't really dead.
Michael walked down the street in the capital of Fried, the country the Crusade had landed in. Vera was at his left and Merle and Zam were right behind them.
" So, where shall we go?" Michael asked.
" Wherever there's food. Fried has the best food in all of Gaea. Real cheap, too." Zam said. Merle agreed.
" Yeah, I haven't been in Fried since I was thirteen, and that was during the war so I couldn't really enjoy it, what with Vera's mother running like a maniac through the streets trying to get to Lord Van." Merle said. Vera rolled her eyes. Michael laughed and was about to agree that they go find some lunch when Vera spoke up.
" Can we go to the beach? I'm sure they have food there, and I've never seen the ocean." Vera said. Michael agreed and everyone went to the beach. Vera loved it.
" It's beautiful. I love it. It's the same color as your eyes, Michael." She stated happily. The group walked up the beach slowly, eating whatever looked good and laughing the whole way. The reached the harbor and sat on a huge rock and watched the ships come and go. The sun began to set over the horizon and Merle and Zam went back to the Crusade, leaving Michael alone with Vera. The sun fell over her face, casting shadows that made her look dark and mysterious. The dagger on her neck glistened. Michael watched her.
" I had a strange dream last night. What does your name mean?" Vera asked suddenly.
" It means arch angel." Michael responded. Vera nodded.
" What is an arch angel?" Vera asked.
" An arch angel is an angel that protects heaven and its angels. The arch angel Michael battled Lucifer, a rebellious angel, and threw him from heaven. That's why the name Michael means arch angel." Michael explained. Vera nodded again. Michael wanted to touch her, but he didn't dare. The two stood and began to walk silently back to the Crusade. Michael was concentrating on what he should say to Vera, so he didn't hear any one coming. By the time he knew they weren't alone, it was too late.
Zensho angrily threw one pebble after another into the water. He wondered what was taking so long. He had given out orders to capture Princess Vera three hours ago. They should have had her by then. Zensho's trusted lieutenant, Solo, came up and whispered in Zensho's ear. He smiled to himself. Vera was within his grasp.
Michael woke suddenly. He was laying on concrete. Michael sat up quickly. His memory returned and Michael immediately ran the rest of the way to the Crusade, entering through the docking bay. Michael ran into the control room, where Allen and Van were talking.
" Help! Vera was captured! They came up behind me and knocked me out and took Vera!" he cried. Van leaped over the table and grabbed Michael's shoulders.
" Do you know where they went?" Van asked.
" No! I was knocked out!" Michael cried angrily.
" Calm down, you two. Whoever took her can't be far. I'll get Hitomi on it and we'll find Vera in no time." Allen said. Van let go of Michael's shoulders and apologized. Michael didn't respond but let his head drop. He had failed.
" If anyone harms a hair on her head, I'll rip of his arm and beat him to death with it." Michael growled. Van nodded.
" I'll help." He offered.
Vera woke up strapped to a bed. She was in her clothes and her head throbbed terribly. She moaned and called for Michael. She suddenly remembered that she had been captured. Vera began to scream, but no one answered. Vera wrenched her body around, but the only result was a throbbing right arm, which was still tender from dislocating that shoulder. Vera suddenly lay alert, sensing that she was not alone.
" Who's there?" she called. The only answer was a mocking laughter in a familiar voice. Vera lay helpless at the mercy of her unknown enemy. The dagger charm lay in Vera's sight. She looked at it and remembered Michael for courage. He'll come for me, she thought, I know he will.