Escaflowne: Return to Gaea

by Rogue Fox

Okay, I'm back! Epilogue is up! If you can't stand pure mushiness and corniness, don't read! Just a little ending to satisfy myself.

9. Allies and Traitors

Part Ten... Allies and Traitors

Vera was running around the deck of the Blade, contmplating the events that had taken place three days ago. Dromada had come back from talking with Tygir and had refused to say a word about what had happened to anyone, except that Tygir was now there enemy. Tygris had pretended nothing happened, and tried to continue on with everyday life. However, something was missing in the air. Or perhaps something extra had been added. In any matter, something felt very different in the atmosphere of the airship. Everyone had gone around in silence, thoughtful or depressed. Dromada had simply disappeared into the background. He never spoke to anyone anymore. Merle followed him around constantly. Once, while walking through the hall in the private quarters area, Vera had heard Merle begging Dromada to talk to her. Vera had decided it wasn't any of her business and moved on, not hearing the rest of the conversation. Something was defiantly going on between those two. Vera still didn't think it was any of her business, but she found Merle's behavior around Dromada very strange. Merle was the happiest she had been since Zam's death. It still wasn't very happy, but at least now she didn't look like she was considering suicide. Michael had spent the usual time with Vera, which was as much as he could squeeze in, next to the other extremely important things in his life, sleeping and eating. Vera, who had already passed out of the stage in life where one is totally consumed by the urge to eat and sleep and is taller than normal, gangly, and posseses seemingly gigantic feet, found Michael's behavior increasingly funny. At the same time, she adored the way he pampered her, made her laugh, complemented her, and loved her. She also thought the world of him. At times, Vera allowed her mind to wander into the future and wonder what life would be like after the war was over. Would she marry Michael? And then, there was the petrifying possibility that Michael would have to go home. The very thought made Vera feel queasy and insecure. Michael was like her stabilizer, constantly boosting her confidence and making sure she made smart decsions. He had always stood bside her and the thought that some day he might not be there seemed awful. He comforted her when she was frightened, dried her tears when she was sad, and played with her when she was happy. Being near him was like standing next to happiness itself. He praticaly radiated joy when Vera was near. Vera paused for a breather in the docking bay. She once again wondered what had happened to make Dromada so depressed. Vera heard the sound of footsteps behind her as Tygris walked into the room.

" You okay?" Tygris asked. Vera sat down abruptly on the floor before replying.

" Sure. It's you I'm worried about." Vera replied. Tygris had not been herself lately, causing everyone to worry. She had taken quite a blow with her father's betrayal.

" I'm fine, I guess." Tygris said, casting her gaze to the floor. Vera shook her head.

" Yeah, right. You want to talk about it? I know you need to." Vera said, watching Tygris. Tygris suddenly sat down next to her.

" Everything's so confusing now. I don't know how to react to Dad... turning out the way he did," she began. " I think I always knew it would happen, but I didn't want to believe it. I wanted my Dad to be the kind of perfect father everyone wishes they had. But the fact was, he wasn't. He used to be a good person, or at least Dromada said so, before my mother died. After that, he just went beserk on us. I don't ever remember him being nice. Not once. I wish I had a dad like your's, Vera." Tygris said, looking at Vera sadly. Vera stiffened.

" It's not as great as it seems." she said, a hint of anger in her voice.

" What do you mean?" Tygris asked, confused. Vera looked at the floor.

" I mean, all my life, people have been comparing me to my parents, in their favor. It was never like anyone cared about me, as a person, but they only cared about whether or not I was as good as they were. That was before I met Micheal. He changed everything. He was the only person I had ever met who didn't compare me to them. Then I had this dream. It told me that it wasn't the people around me that were comparing me to my parents, it was me. I was the one pushing myself to be better than them. It made me do some stupid things, but it was those feelings that drove me to slay a dragon, and that's how I met Michael. So I suppose it was all for the best." Vera said, still staring at the floor. Tygris shrugged and stood up, Vera following suit. When they were both standing and facing each other, Tygris threw her arms around Vera.

" Thanks, Vera." she whispered. Vera hugged back, but was completely confused.

" For what?" she asked in bewilderment.

" For listening. It's the best thing you could have done for me. You're the best friend I've ever had." she said happily. Now Vera understood. She smiled.

" What about Chuba?" Vera asked mischeviously. Tygris smiled.

" He's more than a friend now. Way more." she said. Vera laughed.

" You know, Merle and Michael are the only friends I've ever had. This is going to be a new experience for me." Vera said thoughtfully. Tygris grinned again.

" For both of us. Chuba has always been my only friend, and Dromada was like an uncle or a replacement dad." Tygris responded. Vera turned and led her new best friend out of the docking bay, with her heart much lighter than when she went in.

Hitomi leaned her head against her husband's shoulder and sighed. She felt his muscles tighten.

" Hitomi, are you alright?" he asked with a concerned tone. Hitomi closed her eyes and laughed softly.

" Of course. Why wouldn't I be? You're acting like this is your first time." she told him contentedly.

" It has been fifteen years since we've had to worry about this." Van responded.

" Yes, and we were only teens then. But now it's different." Hitomi reminded him. Van sighed and wrapped his arms around Hitomi and pulled her close. She snuggled up against him and buried her face in his chest.

" This is making you act like a teen again." Van said with a smile.

" Just wait until the mood swings hit." Hitomi whispered in his ear. Van's smile quickly turned to a frown.

" Uh-oh. Can I ask Millerna for some kind of medication for that?" he asked seriously. Hitomi pulled out of his grip and punched him on the shoulder.

" So, you wanna drug me?" she asked angrily. Van held up his hands and shook his head furiously.

" Uh-uh. No way, ma'am!" he cried. Hitomi smiled and resumed snuggling up against him.

" That's better." she whispered, running her fingers along Van's jawline and closing her eyes. She felt his arms snake their way around her waist and pull her close, felt his lips press against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Van finally pulled his head away a little bit.

" What are we gonna call it?" he asked gently.

" She. It's going to be a she, so let's name her after your mother." Hitomi suggested. Van arched his eyebrows.

" After my mother? Where did you get that idea?" he asked. Hitomi frowned.

" I don't know. It just came to me. But I've got a feeling about it, so let's do it." she said. Van nodded.

" Fine. Our new daughter will be named Vari." he said quietly. Hitomi felt his strong hands gently caress her lower stomach, where their unborn child was incased. She still found it amazing, that those very hands that had welded several deadly weapons, taken so many lives, could still caress their owners wife so lovingly, still wipe away his daughters tears so gently. An image of Vera arose in Hitomi's mind.

" There's a big age difference between Vera and the ba... I mean, Vari." she said thoughtfully. Van shrugged.

" Vera's always wanted a little sister. It'll be her dream come true." he said. It seemed that simple to him, but Hitomi knew how the mind of a fifteen-year-old girl who is already under enough stress tended to work. At first, Vera would be pleased as pie. Then she would have one of her days, or she would lose her temper and run to Michael for comfort. It made Hitomi happy to think Vera had finally sorted out her emotions for Michael. She had already decided to help the young couple however she could. The main goal Hitomi had in mind was to keep them from suffering the seperation Van and Hitomi had suffered. It pained her to remember what it was like to live each and every day so far away from the one she loved the most. It had hurt to watch her best friends go out on dates and fall in and out of love, because she knew the one she cared for was watching, still loving her. She had wanted so much to touch him, hold him like she was now. Finally she had left her whole world behind, all for a new life in another world with people she knew, all of which she had come to love. The only thing that hurt worse than the pain of remembering her seperation from Van was thinking that their daughter might have to endure the same thing.

Michael wrapped his arms around Vera's waist as the two of them peered out the window in the control room. The Blade was about to land in a forest somewhere near Austuria. He felt a little more comfortable about expressing his feelings for Vera while others were watching. He saw Allen grin at them from the corner of his eye. He almost said something snide, but then decided not to. The mood was too good to ruin. Everyone was the happiest they had been for days. Maybe it was the thought of being able to run around in that forest below them that cheered everyone up.

" I saw a stream over there! A big one!" Vera called to Tygris, who was expertly guiding the Blade down to a large clearing. Tygris looked up from her work and grinned at Vera happily. Everyone was in a very good mood. Van walked in, followed closely by Hitomi, both of them grinning. Michael paused to consider this. He had never seen them both looking this happy before, ever. But then, something was different about Hitomi. Michael couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about Hitomi was different. He nudged Vera with his weight to get her attention.

" Is it just me, or is something different about your mom?" he asked her. Vera swung her head to look at Hitomi and gave Michael a face-full of her hair. Michael confirmed a great discovery he had made when he was little that day: shampoo tastes nasty. On the other hand, Vera's pitch black hair was incredibly soft against his cheeks. He loved her so much. He would never leave her. This was the girl he was set on marrying.

" You're right. She does look different." Vera said, pulling out of Michael's grip and turning around to face him. Her arms snaked their way around his neck and he smiled. How many guys were lucky enough to have a girl that was spunky, funny, smart, strong, beautiful, and everything else a guy could want in a girl? Michael decided that this was a good day. A very good day. The Blade shuddered as it hit the ground and a great cheer went up. Vera pulled Michael's head down and kissed him lovingly, surprising him in a pleasant manner. Her lips were like silk. I can't belive I waited five whole months for this, Michael thought as he kissed back. Michael pulled out, grabbed Vera's hand, and ran out of the control room and out of the Blade through the docking bay. Michael was still absolutely positive that this was a very good day and rapidly getting better. He picked Vera up by the waist and lifted her high into the air. A startled Vera grabbed his arms to support the upper half of her body and cried his name as he spun her around in the air. Losing his balance, Michael fell to the ground and brought Vera down on top of him. They landed together amid the soft grass. Vera giggled happily and kissed Michael on the nose.

" That was fun. I felt like I was flying." she whispered in his ear. Michael smiled at his beloved.

" You can fly, so why does that feel so fun to you?" he asked her.

" Cause you were holding me." Vera said, propping herself up on her elbow and looking at Michael.

" That makes me feel special." Michael laughed. The two fell silent and listened to Chuba making Tygris laugh and other couples going for walks. Michael picked himself up and pulled Vera up as well.

" Where are we going?" she asked.

" I don't know. Anywhere." he told her. They walked for a while, listneing to the chirping and creaks and groans, and other forest sounds. The reached a clearing with a stream in it. They were totally alone. Michael leaned against a tree and Vera snuggled up against him. He stroked her hair.

" Vera, I love you." he whispered in her ear.

" I love you too, Michael." she whispered back, a smile playing on her lips. She ran her fingers over Micheal's face, along his jawline, making Michael shudder in sheer delight. Vera felt it and giggled softly. The two finally went back to the Blade, arms around each other in affection. Hitomi and Van were waiting for them.

" Vera, we need to speak with you." Hitomi said. Vera shrugged.

" Okay, Mom." she said, willingly following her mother on board the Blade. Michael stayed with Van, who looked very happy. Michael was nervous. For a guy, there is very little that can be considered worse than having to be alone with his girlfriend's dad, especially when he has that happy look on his face. It usually meant certain death.

" So, uh, what did Hitomi want to talk about with Vera?" Michael asked, hoping to strike up a conversation.

" Hitomi is going to have another daughter." Van said, happiness radiating from his voice. Michael almost fell over from shock.

" Really? That's great!" Michael said with enthusiasum. Van only nodded and smiled again.

" Now, tell me about your relationship with my first daughter." he demanded, looking up at Michael.

" Uh-oh." Michael mumbled, silently berating himself for not taking his chance to get away when Vera left with Hitomi.

Merle sat on her bed and stared at a wall. The wall is more talkative than Dromada, she thought sullenly. She had finally let go of Zam, finally accepted his death and embraced Dromada, and then he decided he was going to go and get depressed on her.

" It's not fair!" she yelled at no one. " It's not fair." she repeated. She remembered what it felt like to finally give in and fall into Dromada's arms, let him take her, how sweet his kisses were, how tenderly he loved her. One night, Merle thought, one night and then no more? What am I, a one night stand? She stood. Dromada had moped around long enough. It was time to get on with life. There was only one tiny problem. Merle didn't have a clue where he was. She decided to look around, starting in his quarters. He wasn't there, nor in the control room or galley. He wasn't in any of his usual haunts. As a final resort, Merle peeked into the docking bay. She saw him, staring at the spot where Tygir's guymelif, Tiger God, had been stored. The spot was vacant now.

" Dromada?" Merle asked, her courage failing her. He turned to look at her with the same blank expression that hadn't left his face for days. He didn't say a word, only stared at her blankly. Merle walked up to him. She groped for words to say, but there were none. Instead, she flew at him, wrapped her arms around him and tried to hold back desperate tears that were already flowing. His eyes went wide in shock.

" Dromada, I don't like you this way. Please talk to me. That night... I'll never forget it. Please, I want this to be real. If you don't care about me, just say so! Don't lead me on!" she cried softly. She felt him wrap his arms around her slowly, the strong arms that dwarfed her, and yet held her so gently, where she fit in so perfectly.

" I... I've been a real pain, haven't I, Kitten?" he asked softly, his voice hoarse from lack of use. He squeezed her tightly. " I didn't know I was hurting you. I'm so sorry. I care. I care so much." he told her. Merle cried out into his chest. His strong arms... He guided her lips to his and kissed her hungrily. He had missed her, she could tell by his kiss. He lifted her into his arms and cradled her. He carried her out of the docking bay. It was sunset, not too early for bed. Merle knew exactly where he was taking her. She climbed out of his arms and licked his cheek lovingly. They were in his room now. Together. Alone. His kiss was still hungry.

" Merle..." he whispered in her ear. He was so close, Merle's nostrils were flooded with his scent.

" Mmmm-hmmmm?" Merle responded. He pressed his body against hers and kissed her again.

" I want you... to be my wife. Carry my children." he requested of her. Merle settled into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

" Dromada, I was starting to wonder when you were gonna ask."

Vera followed her mother devotedly. She had always loved her mother, been grateful for all the efforts Hitomi had made to make her life better than the life Hitomi herself had had.

" So what do want to talk to me about, Mom?" Vera asked. Hitomi paused and turned to face her daughter.

" Michael." she said. A blush creeped up Vera's neck and over her cheeks.

" Michael? Ummm... What about him?" she stutttered. Hitomi smiled.

" Do you love him, Vera?" she asked.

" I..." Vera started, unable to look away from her mother's eyes. How could she ever lie to her own mother? She never had before. " Yes. Yes, I do love him. With all my heart." she said quietly. Hitomi put her hand on Vera's shoulder.

" I'm glad. Never let go of the love you two share. Now there's something else I want to tell you." Hitomi began. Vera nodded.

" Okay. What?" she asked.

" Vera, I want to tell you a story. I never told you the truth about the war with Zaibach before. I told myself that it was because I didn't want your pity, but it was actually because I was afraid. Vera, I came to this world for the first time alone, afraid, and confused. I was only fifteen. Your father came across as a self-rightous, spoiled brat. I saved his life, and it was like he didn't care. That's how it was. He pretended he didn't care and the whole time I maintained a crush on Allen. I know what you're thinking. But back then, we were all much younger. I was so blind. All those times Van would look at me, the longing was perfectly clear on his face, but I was blind. I always talked about Allen, and I'm sure it must have ripped his heart to listen. I realized who my heart truly belonged to too late. I went home, back to the Mystic Moon. I lived there for three years and then came back here. I left without saying goodbye. I still dream that someday I'll take you and your father to meet my parents. Vera, when I had you, it was like every woe in my world was suddenly better. I promised myself I would protect you from the things that hurt me, but now I realize I was wrong. Now I see you falling in love and I remember what it was like to be fifteen. I feel horrible for not telling you. Now, I want to tell you, I won't make the same mistake. Vera, the point behind this long speech is... I'm going to have another baby." Hitomi finally announced. Vera felt her jaw drop.

" Another baby? A baby?" she asked shrilly. Hitomi nodded.

" A girl. We decided to name her Vari. After your grandmother. For some reason, it's important to me." Hitomi said. Vera felt weak in the knees.

" You mean, I'm going to be a big sister? Me? But Mom, I don't really think I'm the big sister type. And did you have to pick right in the middle of a war to have another kid?" Vera asked. Hitomi shook her head and smiled.

" I was eighteen when I had you, Vera. Eighteen. I didn't know how to be a mother. I wasn't exactly the motherly type. But when Millerna put that little squirming bundle that was you in my arms that morning, I knew what to do. I knew it would be alright. And I didn't even use my abilities. The sun was rising when your father and I gave you a name. And with that sun came all this knowledge on how to raise you to be what you've become. A person we're proud of. A person that you can be proud to be. A person Micheal can be proud to love. I can't expect you to understand now, Vera. But some day, when you hold your first child in your arms, you'll know what I'm talking about. And a little sister is not only perfect practice, but it brings you into contact with the miracle of bringing a little human being into the world and molding it to be a good person. I think I did a good job with you, Vera, and I intend to do the same for Vari." Hitomi said.

" Yeah, you did a good job, but it's not like you didn't make mistakes." Vera protested. Hitomi frowned thoughtfully.

" Yes, Vera, I made some mistakes. I didn't tell you the truth about Zaibach. That was a mistake. But I was learning. And now, you can help me make less mistakes with Vari." Hitomi said. Vera smiled suddenly and hugged her mother.

" I'm happy. Vari's a good name, Mom. I can't wait to meet her." Vera said. She truly was happy, for the first time. I've got Michael, Vera thought, I've got great parents, wonderful friends, a loving and supporting family, a nice home, and a new sister on the way. What could possibly ruin this, she wondered.

Tygir stared out the window of the floating fortress he called his own now. Behind him, the deceased Zensho's personnal attendant, Solo, awaited orders. Tygir was thoughtful.

" Solo, what is our enemies greatest strength?" Tygir asked suddenly, picking up a glass of wine and taking a sip after swirling it a little. Solo looked confused. A not so bright attendant for an imbecile commander, Tygir thought tolerantly, thinking about Zensho.

" Um, Escaflowne, sir?" Solo asked. Tygir rolled his brown eyes and groaned.

" Escaflowne is strong, but not their greatest strength. Their great power lies in their strong bonds with one another, in their love. Because the King loves his wife and daughter, he would do anything to protect them. And that makes him fight like a demon. That blonde boy, Michael, was sworn to protect the Princess and he also loves her, so he fights for her ferociously. Their love makes them strong. If we deluded the purity of their love, if we made them turn against one another, they would not trust one another completely. The Queen and the Princess would refuse to use their powers, Michael would doubt Vera's love and be weak, the King would be too busy wondering what went wrong in his marriage and be distracted, my good friend Dromada would try to get his new found beloved to forgive him and would not fight. They would be in shambles. So, tell me, Solo, what must we do to leave the most powerful fighting force in Gaea at our knees?" Tygir asked, looking to Solo.

" Delude their trust in one another?" Solo said, unsure. Tygir nodded and smiled approvingly.

" And how would we go about doing that?" Tygir asked slowly, as though he were speaking to a child.

" Ummm, perhaps we could plant something that would make some of them look like traitors?" Solo said slowly. Tygir's smile grew bigger.

" Now your brain juices are flowing. Which ones would be most subject to be considered traitors?" Tygir asked. Solo looked encouraged by Tygir's praise.

" Well, the Mystic Moon boy, your daughter, Dromada, and Chuba." he said. Tygir frowned slightly now.

" Not Tygris. We leave her alone. But the others are good. Why?" Tygir asked. He was intent on making sure his new attendant understood what was going on clearly.

" Because they are outsiders. They are not long time members of the group." Solo said.

" Yes, that's right. And you know what else? Each one has a lover that can be betrayed. Oh, this will be fun. Make preperations. I have some documents that, if planted in the right places, with the right things on them, could make a perfectly loyal fighter look like a traitor. Go. Now. And tell the cook I'm ready for supper." Tygir demanded. He leaned back in his chair and took another sip of wine as Solo left. He would crush that insolent Chuba in his bare hands for taking his daughter. The rest would pay in due time, but it was Chuba and Dromada Tygir wanted the most. How dare Chuba take his daughter? How dare Dromada speak of his lost wife like that, and then turn around and love a cat-woman? They would pay. Tygir squeezed his wine glass tightly, until it began to crack. The glass shattered, the shards of it cutting Tygir's hand until his blood dripped on the floor. Tygir didn't even notice.

Solo stepped out of the room and sighed. He would have a heck of a time over throwing this plan. He could not allow the Fanelian Royal family distrust their saving light on false pretenses. He had to try and stop Tygir's plan.

Vera was sitting on the grass outside of the Blade, playing and losing a game of chess against Tygris. Nearby, Hitomi was reading a book under a tree while Van sharpened his sword on a grinding stone. Chuba and Michael were comparing swordsmanship tips. Merle and Dromada were off on a picnic somewhere and had been gone since morning. Allen was overseeing Chuba and Michael, correcting them when they made a mistake, and Millerna was inside the ship, taking inventory on medicine. Everyone was accounted for, if not present. Vera smiled at the sheer normalcy of the afternoon as Tygris took out one of her knights with a pawn. Then her smile turned to a frown.

" How come I never can win a game of chess with you?" she asked Tygris, who smiled.

" You're too reckless. This type of thing takes thought. You can't just rush into things all the time." she said.

" She's right, Vera!" Hitomi called over. Vera frowned seriously.

" Oh, be quiet, Mom!" she yelled back playfully.

" Michael, where are those gloves I told you to start using?" Allen asked Michael, who moaned and slapped his forehead.

" Oh, I forgot them in my quarters. I'll go get them." he said, sheathing his sword and starting to run toward the ship. Vera leaped up.

" I'll go, Michael! I'm closer and I'm getting my butt kicked anyway!" she called. Michael gave her a thankful smile.

" Oh, you're just trying to get out of losing! Or at least postpone it!" Tygris called after her. Vera turned and ran backwards for a while.

" Of course I am!" she yelled. Everyone laughed as Vera ran through the Blade and into Michaels quarters. As usual, the place was a pit. Vera shoved some stuff aside on his writing desk and found the pair of leather gloves she was looking for. Just before she was leaving, a flash of white on the desk caught her eye. Vera normally wouldn't have snooped, but she picked the paper up anyway. It read,

Tygir,

Things on the Blade go well. Chuba, Michael and I are in the process of planting several bombs on the Escaflowne, Tiger's Fury, and Double Edge guymelifs. The bombs are programmed to go off when the machines start up. Sorry it took so long. I will give this note to Michael to deliver.

Dromada

Vera could not believe her eyes.

" DAD! MOM!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Michael slammed his fist against a wall. He was alone in a room with Van, who was holding that peice of paper in his hand. He looked to Van helplessly.

" You've got to believe me, Van. I'm not a traitor. I've never seen that paper before in my life. I swear. I swear on anything and everything." he said. Van looked sad.

" I honestly don't know whether or not to believe you, Michael. You have to understand, this is just a precaution. Until we know for sure, we have to keep you, Dromada, and Chuba in the prison hold." he said quietly. Michael leaned his head against the wall.

" Oh, man. I love Vera. You have to understand. I would never, could never, do anything to hurt her. Please, understand." he begged. Van nodded.

" I do. But I have to be sure. It looks bad, Michael. It looks really bad." he said, laying that awful paper down on the table between them.

" I have to do what's best, Michael. I'm sorry. I still have to put you in the prison hold. If you truly aren't a traitor, you'll understand." he finished. Michael shook his head.

" I understand you're only doing what's best. And I won't fight you. But I'm telling you, it's a lie." Michael said as Allen came in and helped Van tie his hand together behind him and guide him to the prison hold. Everyone was locked away somewhere, either comforting someone or being comforted. A door opened suddenly and Hitomi poked her head out. Her eyes were sparkling with tears. Behind her, Michael could see Vera peering out at him, her face tear streaked and her beautiful green eyes puffy from crying. Michael couldn't stand it.

" Vera! It's a lie! Don't believe it! Please! I love you! Vera!" he screamed, wrenching his shoulders against the older men's grip. They shoved him roughly past Vera's door as he heard her sob. A choked sob of his own escaped Michael's throat.

" It's a lie! Vera!" he screamed again. Van and Allen numbly pushed Michael into the prison hold. Allen refused to look him in the eye and Van paused just before closing the door.

" I'm sorry." he murmured, then shut the door in a hurry and locked it. Michael slammed his fists helplessly against the door.

" VERA!" he screamed one last time. The tears began to flow as he leaned against the door and sank to the ground helplessly. He turned to see Chuba staring blankly at a wall and Dromada watching him sympathetically.

" I didn't..." he started, but his own sobs cut him off.

" We know. None of us did." Dromada said quietly. Michael sniffed pathetically and tried to stop the tears. After all, it was unmanly. Chuba was doing the same. Dromada shook his head, and Michael saw his face was lined by glistening tears.

" Cry. It's okay." he said. Chuba leaned foreward and rested his head on his knees, his shoulders shaking violently. Michael closed his eyes and cried silently, begging Vera to realize the truth. I've protected you and saved you, Vera, he thought, now it's your turn to save me.

Vera had cried and cried. She realized it was getting nowhere, and fast. Her mother had long since left to talk to her father. Now, Vera wiped her eyes and stumbled down the corridor to Tygris's room. Tygris was staring blankly at a wall. But Vera could see she was still crying. Vera plopped down on the bed next to her, feeling her tears start all over. She no longer cared.

" I don't understant. Chuba hated Dad. Why would he work for him?" Tygris asked. Vera shook her head numbly. " I thought he loved me! I thought we had something!" Tygris cried suddenly, falling against Vera's shoulder in despair. Vera hugged her friend. Her own tears were mingling with Tygris's.

" I know. I know. It hurts." she said, remembering the day the Blade had landed a week ago and Michael had taken her to that little clearing. She remembered him saying he loved her. She remembered believing him. It made her angry.

" I believed him. I believed him! I was so stupid!" she yelled angrily, letting go of Tygris and slamming her fist into a pillow. " I knew it was too good to be true! I knew! But I sat there and waited for him to hurt me! I just sat and waited!" she screamed angrily. Suddenly, Vera felt drained. " I just want to go to sleep and never wake up." she said out loud. Tygris nodded.

" Me, too." she agreed. Vera snagged a pillow and blanket and laid down on Tygris's floor while Tygris just laid down in her bed. The last thing Vera ever thought of that night was Michael's kiss and how her pillow was soaked by her still flowing tears.

The next morning, Vera felt sick inside. Just sick. She felt like she was going to vomit, but it never happened. She ate breakfast, or actually, she ate a small bit of scrambled eggs after poking at it. Tygris's eyes were glazed over, and Merle came into the galley and sat there like she had no idea what to do next. Hitomi took one look at the three and looked away, saddened. Vera still felt sick inside. She went back to her quarters, alone. In a daze, she picked up her tarot card deck and did a reading. The Fool card reigned, and benaeth it was the Moon card.

" So, what?" Vera asked the cards angrily. " Am I fool for loving Michael? Or am I fool for not believing him, or whatever is going on inside me? Is it foolish to doubt him, or worse to cling to what's not there? Is he a traitor?! Answer that!" Vera cried, snatching up the deck and drawing a card. The DragonSlayer. " Great. Just great. You're not gonna give me a straight answer, are you?" Vera requested of the cards. Of course, they had no response. Vera shoved the cards to the side, leaving them in a jumbled heap. She bowed her head. I just need to know, she begged silently, is he a traitor? Is it real, or am I a fool? Vera laid down on her bed. Strangely, she did not cry. Her tears had finally run dry. But her heart was aching. From betrayal and the realization of the truth, or because she was denying the truth that Michael was innocent and she still loved him, Vera didn't know. All she knew was that she was so tired...

Vera was sitting on her knees in the ring of fire. She wanted to know. She had to know.

" Is he a traitor?" she yelled into the sky. " Tell me, so I can let go or hold on." she called. There was no answer. " So, now you've abandoned me too? Can I not trust anyone?" she asked angrily. This time, instead of silence, there was an echo from the past. A past dream.

" Never stray from him, for he loves you as no other can. He protects you as his name sake protects heaven." the echo said. Folken's voice again. Vera shook her head and tears flew off her face.

" Not echoes! I don't want empty echoes! I want answers!" she screamed.

" I want answers no one can give." her own voice echoed back. Vera leaned foreward and placed her head on the ground.

" Just tell me. Please." she begged.

" The greatest trial has come." Folken said slowly. Vera raised her head.

" Trial?" she asked dumbly. The wind blew softly, carressing her. Vera was reminded painfully of the gentleness with which Michael had held her.

" You must decide. Is your angel actually a demon in diguise, or is he still true and good?" Folken asked. Vera put her hands to her head and cried out.

" I don't know! I don't know!" she screamed back. Suddenly, Folken stood before her, bare chested and black wings spread.

" His life is in your hands. You must choose. Guilty, or innocent?" Folken asked. Vera started to cry.

" I don't know." she whispered. Folken's heavy hand fell on her shoulder.

" Love is an awful burden, Vera. But you must know. The cards do not lie. While the heart may be led astray, the cards do not lie. They told you before you knew yourself. Now, who is the liar? Michael, or the cards? Did Michael lie to you when he said he loved you, or did the cards lie when they said it was meant to be? Who is the liar, who tells the truth?" Folken asked. The reality of what he said slid past Vera. All she heard was his awful, tormenting questions. Liar, guilty, truth, or innocent? Vera did not know.

" Tell me, Folken. I can't do it. I can't say he's guilty and not be sure, I can't say he's innocent when it looks like he's not. I can't deny my heart, and I can't deny my eyes." Vera said. Folken forced her to look at him.

" The eyes only see the surface, but the heart feels what's within. I have done evil in my life, but you trust me. Do your eyes not say, ' He has black wings and the look of evil. He is not trustworthy?' Does your heart not say that I am good? Listen to your heart. It's not as blind as you think." Folken advised. Vera stood and found that her own soft, pure white wings were spread. Such a stark contrast to Folken and the world around her.

" You're not going to answer me either, are you?" she said sullenly. Folken shook his head.

" I can't, because I don't know. We are all human. We cannot believe everything we see and everything we feel. We have to find the middle ground, and do the best we can. We have to compromise and hope it will be alright. You can either trust your love blindly, or deny it and be equally as blind. Either way, what you had before is gone forever." Folken said. Vera almost broke down. " The answer will come, Vera. In the meantime, others need you. Michael needs you. Now. He needs to see you. He needs to share your tears. It has been a long, lonely, dark night for all. Tygris and Merle need you to show them how to be brave in this time of fear, and Hitomi and Van are soon going to need a strong, capable shoulder to lean on. The world is about to come crashing down around you, Vera. I will do what I can, but only one who has not yet come has the power to stop the darkness and hate. Your world is drawing to an abrupt end, and an unborn child is the only key to preserving what has not already been obliterated." Folken explained. Vera nodded, even though she and Folken both knew that she didn't really understand. And then the world around them began to fade. And just as Folken disappeared, his image was replaced by something else. Something with amazingly long, white wings.

" Who are you?" Vera asked in amazement. There was no answer, just a gentle kiss on her forehead, and then nothing...

Vera's eyes fluttered open. Hitomi was leaning over her with a concerned expression.

" Vera, are you alright?" she asked. Vera nodded and sat up slowly.

" Michael wants to see you." Hitomi said suddenly. Vera looked at her. The dream Folken had said that Michael needed her. Anger sprouted within her and she almost refused, almost said that she wanted nothing to do with him. But something in her heart held her back. Her eyes filled with tears.

" Okay." she said, standing and allowing her mother to lead her to the prison hold. She was petrifyed, but she wanted to see Michael so badly. She was led past the main prison hold and to the visitation room. Allen and Van were standing guard outside.

" Vera, you've got thirty minutes." Allen said roughly, refusing to look Vera in the eyes. Van patted her shoulder.

" It takes a brave person to do this. I'm proud of you." he said. Vera hugged him and whispered her thanks. Van opened the door and Vera walked in, listening to it close behind her. Michael was sitting in a chair. Or rather, Vera noticed, he was tied to a chair. He raised his head and his bloodshot, dark ringed eyes brightened upon seeing her. His hands were tied behind his back and he looked like he hadn't slept at all, but he smiled all the same. Vera felt her heart break all over again.

" Vera... I... I thought you wouldn't come." he said. Suddenly, Vera felt the tears flow again. She rushed to him and knelt beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. Michael leaned his head on top of hers and caressed it with his cheek.

" Ooohhh." she moaned sadly. " Tell me you didn't" she begged. Michael lifted his head and shook it furiously.

" I swear. I didn't. I have no clue how that letter got in my room. I'd never even seen before your dad showed it to me. Please. I'm begging you. You have to believe me." Michael said. Vera looked at him and saw he was crying. True, sincere tears. Could it be a lie, Vera wondered, or could he be the liar?

" I... I don't know what to believe, Michael." Vera said. Michael's hopeless expression made her let out a choked sob. She leaned on his shoulder again and he kissed her head. She felt his tears soak her head.

" Vera. I'm telling you. I would never, ever, hurt you. I love you. I'd die for you." Michael told her. Vera cried harder. " I have since the first moment I saw you. I knew that you were the one. God, you were like an angel to me. I wanted to make sure you were okay. More than anything else. I had to know. And then you started loving me back and my whole world just felt so perfect. And then this happened. Oh, love you. I don't care if I rot away in this stupid prison hold, just as long as you're safe... I'll do it. And willingly. And I'd still love you all the while." he continued. Vera raised her head and kissed him on the lips, hungry for his reassuring touch. He kissed her passionately, and she could feel him struggling against his bindings to hold her. Vera raise her hands to his cheeks to wipe away his tears. Michael pulled away from her.

" I love you." he repeated. Vera simply hid her face in the curve of his neck and shuddered violently.

" I love you too, but I don't know what to believe." Vera said sadly. Michael sighed heavily. He was exhausted, Vera could tell.

" Believe that I love you. I just need you to say that. And everything else will be fine. Just believe that for me." Michael requested. Vera was about to respond when Hitomi opened the door. She pulled on Vera's arm gently. As she was being pulled away, Vera pressed one last helpless kiss on Michael's lips. Then, she was out the door and it was closed. Vera yanked away from her parents and ran blindly down the hall, ignoring their calls to her. She wanted to believe Michael so much, but her head was reeling. Guilty or innocent? Folken's question rang in her mind. Guilty or innocent, Vera asked herself as she ran into Tygris's room, why do I have to decide? She ran into Merle's grasp, sobbing wildly. Merle and Tygris had been sitting in Tygris's room waiting for their turn to go to the visitation room. Vera sobbed until she fell asleep, while Tygris slipped out and went for her turn in the room.

Tygris was shaken by Vera's reaction. She herself felt numb. Terrified. She wanted to see Chuba, to hear him say on his own whether or not he was innocent, but the way Vera had been acting meant that she had been badly upset. It took a lot to make Vera act that way. Tygris had seriously been debating whether or not to go. Now, all logic said to say as far away from the prison hold as possible. But her heart refused to be put down. She had to go. When she reached the visitation room, she found Van holding a sobbing Hitomi and Allen looking very uncomfortable. She didn't say a word. She didn't need to. They knew why she had come.

" Thirty minutes." Allen warned her. Hitomi raised her head to look at Tygris.

" And when you see Vera, tell her I'm sorry. So sorry." Hitomi said before starting to cry again. Tygris nodded and walked into the dimly lit room. It was small, so small that Tygris's cat instincts instantly distrusted it. The corners were dark due to the lack of light. Chuba was sitting in a chair, his paws tied behind him and his feet tied to the chair legs. He looked unhappy, exhausted, and defeated. But his whole face lit up when he saw Tygris. There was a table in front of him and a chair across it from him. Tygris sat in it. For a moment, the two sat in silence.

" Tygris, I didn't. I hate Tygir as much as you do. I don't have the motive, I don't... I don't know! I just know I'm not a traitor!" Chuba cried out. Tygris leaned her head foreward as she began to cry all over again.

" I promised myself I wouldn't cry, but I just can't hold it back." she murmured. Chuba struggled against his bindings for a moment. Then he slumped in his seat.

" Don't cry. Please don't cry. I can't stand to see you cry." Chuba pleaded. Tygris felt a pain wrecked sob escape her throat. " If only I could touch you." Chuba said, pulling against the cords that held him again. Tygris stood abruptly and walked to him. She licked his cheek affectionately. Chuba leaned his forehead to hers and smiled.

" How come bad stuff always happens to us?" she asked. Chuba shook his head slowly.

" I dunno. Somebody really hates us." he suggested.

" My dad." Tygris replied, her voice heavy with scorn. Chuba frowned.

" Your dad just has some serious mental disabilities. There are therapists for people like Tygir." Chuba said. When Tygris giggled softly, he was encouraged. " Oh, yeah, can't you just see how that session would go? ' Well, Tygir, would you mind telling me why you're here?'" Chuba said, imitating a therapist's voice. Then he threw his voice deep to sound like Tygir's. "' Yeah, I've got this crazy idea that since my daughter is falling for this guy I don't like, I have to kill him. And then I decided that while I was at it, I might as well kill my best friend, the Royal Family of Fanelia, an Austurian Knight and Princess, The Fanelian Princess's personal bodygaurd and boyfriend, about thirty crew members, and take over all Gaea, all for unknown reasons. Is there something wrong with me?'" Chuba finished, making a face. Tygris laughed and kissed him lightly.

" That was a good impression." she commented. Chuba nodded.

" I was around Tygir long enough to know exactly how insane he is." he said. Suddenly, he became serious. " He's probably behind this, Tygris. Be careful. You know I care about you. I am not a traitor. Don't believe me yet, just wait it out and see for yourself. But I know I'm not a traitor. Just promise me you'll be careful." he said. Tygris nodded.

" I promise." she said. Chuba leaned his head down to kiss her. Just before their lips met, there was a knock on the door.

" Tygris, time's up." Allen called through. Chuba sighed.

" Guess you better go. Take care of yourself, and don't worry about us. We're fine. The food sucks, but it does everywhere else on this ship so there's really no difference." Chuba said. Tygris laughed as she stood and left the room, giving Chuba one last look. He smiled and winked at her, but his eyes were glistening with tears. Tygris saw right through his facade and gave him a sad smile, just before the door was closed. That awful door. She left slowly, not saying a word. She walked into her quarters. Merle saw her and got up to leave. Tygris sat down in the chair at her writing desk and laid her head down on the desk. Slowly, her shoulders began to shake as she cried, cursing whatever had done this to them, praying that she would overcome this awful indecision inside her. She truly didn't know whether to believe Chuba or to cast him aside. But she cried quietly, beacuse Vera was fast asleep nearby. Soon, exhaustion claimed her as well.

Merle did not even need to think. She knew what she believed, she knew what she wanted. She knew with perfect confidence that Dromada was innocent and so were the other boys. She did not doubt them. But she had cried because it was unfair that Dromada, who was so peaceful and caring, would be accused of being a traitor. That someone devoted as Michael could be suspected of being evil. That someone as sweet and kind as Chuba could be tried for treason. She knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they were innocent. And she had a mind to tell him so. She walked up to the visitation room and paused at Hitomi, who was crying silently. She cried harder when she saw Merle.

" I know they're innocent. And no one is going to convice me otherwise." she said boldly. Then she walked in the door. When she saw Dromada, however, her bravado faltered. His eyes were bloodshot and half closed in exhaustion. He looked awful. He was tied to a chair. Merle found it amazing how cruelly people would treat a perfectly innocent person. Merle didn't even bother with the chair that had been positioned for her. She walked straight up to Dromada and wrapped his arms around his neck.

" Merle..." Dromada whispered, as though he couldn't believe she was real.

" Don't say a word. I know you're innocent. And the boys. I'll try to talk to Lord Van, talk some sense into him. They all know it, deep inside, I think. They just need to realize it. Poor Vera and Tygris are still too young to know what they truly want. Allen and Millerna have only what their eyes see. Van and Hitomi are torn between doing what they think is best and hurting their daughter. We're a mess." Merle said. Dromada smiled faintly.

" You've summed it up well, Kitten." he said. Merle smiled and kissed him.

" I don't know how much time I have." she told him. Dromada shrgged his braod shoulders.

" A minute with you can sustain me for a week." he said. " Just as long as I know you're alright." he continued. Merle smiled.

" We'll get through this." she said. Dromada nodded.

" Yes. I'm so tired." he suddenly said. His eyes were drooping. Merle licked the tip of his nose.

" Then rest. I'll wait for another day." she said. She tiptoed out of the room and left, passing Hitomi a sad look. Then she went to the galley to eat. Her heart hurt, but only beacuse Dromada had to endure this awful experience. It'll all be okay, she reminded herself. This was just one more bump in a long, bumpy road. They'd get through this and triumph, just like always.

Hitomi could hardly stand to face Van right now. She was enraged.

" They're innocent!" she screamed angrily. Van sighed and struggled to maintain his cool.

" I don't doubt you, Hitomi. But this is one of those cases where I have to have hard core, solid evidence to agree with you. If they are traitors, and I mean if, then they can and will be considered dangerous. I can't take any chances." Van explained for the thousandth time. Hitomi shook her head furiously.

" I don't care, I don't care, I don't care! That's just an excuse! How can you live with yourself for putting Vera through that?! For putting all three of those poor girls through that?! That's terrible!" Hitomi responded. Van's anger was slowly escalating.

" I am sorry, Hitomi, but I have to. I don't like it, but I have to." he said through gritted teeth.

" Couldn't you bend the rules a little?!" Hitomi yelled back.

" No, I couldn't. Look, Hitomi, please calm down. If not for me, then for Vari." Van pleaded. It was then that Hitomi felt the first pain.

" Oh." she said suddenly, putting a hand to her lower stomach.

" Hitomi?" Van asked, walking to her with fear and concern on his face. The pain didn't go away.

" Ooohhh." Hitomi moaned. " Van, the baby..." she said in a low, distressed voice. Panic broke out on Van's face as he sped out the door.

" MILLLERNA!" he boomed. Hitomi leaned against a wall and breathed deeply, trying to quell the sudden dizziness that came with fear.

" Too soon, too soon..." she whispered to herself in panic. It was far too soon for her to be feeling labor contractions. She was only four months along. But suddenly, she felt very heavy and large, the way she had right before she had given birth to Vera. Millerna's confident arms slipped behind Hitomi's shoulders and Hitomi vaguely heard her talking.

" She might be having a miscarriage. Let's hope it's just a false alarm." she said. Hitomi felt light and vague. She found the word miscarriage disturbing somehow, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it. Suddenly, she felt delicate but strong hands rest on her shoulders.

" She must come today. Have faith, daughter, for the road will be hard. But have faith, for only in accelerated growth can your second daughter fulfill her purpose." a soft, sweet voice murmured in her ear.

" Oh, no! This baby is coming now!" Hitomi heard Millerna cry, but her voice sounded far away. She looked to the woman who had spoken to her. She had amazingly long black hair and clear, beautiful eyes.

" You're... Van's mother. But, how?" Hitomi asked, but Vari smiled.

" Now is not the time for questions, wife of my son. If it takes a tragedy to unite my sons once more, then a tragedy will be provided. My namesake will be the key to victory, or the one who will bring you defeat. Only your faith and that of the ones you love will decide." Vari said. Then, flying on white wings into mist, she was gone. Hitomi snapped back to consciousness and was greeted by intense pain. Her vision all but forgotten, Hitomi leaned foreward in her strain to bring a child into the world five months too soon.

Vera had been rudely awakened from her sleep and was now waiting in fear. All she had been told was that her mother had gone into premature labor. And it might be a miscarriage. Her dreams had been right. The whole world was crashing down around her. And all she could do was hold on for dear life. Beside her, Merle fidgetted in nervousness and Tygris had finally fallen silent in her attempts to comfort them. Vera avidly wished Michael were there to comfort her. But he was not. And Vera was no longer sure if she truly wanted him. Suddenly, Millerna opened the door and shoved Van out.

" I told you, Van! No men in the delivery room! Merle, Vera, and Tygris, you too, you three can come on in. Now's your only chance. But it's not gonna be pretty." Millerna said warningly. Vera leaped up and ran through the door, Merle and Tygris hot in pursuit. " Wash your hands up to your elbows and your faces in that sink." Millerna directed. Vera did so hurriedly and rushed to her mother, who looked dazed.

" Vera?" she asked, as if she couldn't believe it. Vera nodded and knelt beside her.

" I'm here, Mom. It's okay." she said comfortingly. Hitomi nodded and closed her eyes. A low moan developed in her throat. Vera jerked in fear.

" What's happening?" Tygris asked frantically. Millerna's face was scrunched in concentration.

" She having another contraction. She's going into fullfledged labor. I've never seen anything like it. If I didn't know for a fact that she was only four months pregnant, I'd say she's gone full term. This baby is coming!" Millerna said, shaking her head. Vera gripped her mother's hand as Hitomi moaned again.

" I'm here, Mom." she repeated. To her shock, Hitomi laughed.

" Oh, trust me, honey. This isn't near as bad as when I had you." she said with a laugh. Millerna, despite her grim expression, laughed as well.

" Yeah, Vera, you were a stubborn one. Our little Vari here is determined to come out. We've still got a little while, I think." Millerna. Vera sighed and got as comfortable as possible. " But once it get's going, we're in for a short, fast ride." Millerna added.

" Good. I was in labor with Vera for five hours. From one thirty in the morning to about six thirty. I know that's still pretty short, but it didn't seem that way to me!" Hitomi said. Merle laughed.

" Yeah, and once she was out, Fanelia's first Princess set up quite a squall. And she still can." she said. Vera grinned.

" When I want." she said. Everyone laughed, but their laughter was cut short when Hitomi let out a sudden cry as another contraction bore down on her.

Two hours later, after more learning than Vera was sure she wanted, a small, squirming bundle was placed in Hitomi's arms. Vera was filled with a sense of awe and disbelief.

" But, she looks like a regular baby!" Vera protested. Millerna shook her head.

" It's the strangest thing. Medically speaking, Vari Fanel is a perfectly normal, healthy newborn. The only thing I can think of is that something weird happened and Vari's growth rate got a boost. But only time will tell, I think." she said. Vera shook her head and saw baby blue eyes peer out of the blankets at her. Her expression instantly softened. She reached out and touched the soft, delicate skin of her sister's cheek. She looked at her mother's expression and wondered if, fifteen years ago, Hitomi had gazed at her with such love and adoration. Tygris and Merle peered over her shoulder.

" You did it again, Hitomi." Merle said. Hitomi didn't take her eyes off Vari's little face.

" What?" she asked distantly.

" You brought a beautiful little girl into the world." Merle said. Vera started to cry.

" Can I hold her, Mom?" Vera asked. Hitomi looked up and smiled.

" Of course." she said. Vera leaned foreward and wrapped her arms around the infant, hoisting her up under Millerna and Merle's directions. Hitomi remained silent as she watched. Vera could only imagine what she was feeling at that moment. Despite how very serious a problem Vari's accelerated growth presented, it was a joyous moment. Vera could already tell that Vari would grow to be the exact image of their mother.

" Tygris, go get the men." Millerna directed. Tygris smiled and slipped out the door to share the good news. Vera was lost in her new sister's wide, innocent eyes. She saw out of the corner of her eye as her father walked up and hugged Hitomi, and then peered into Vera's arms. His face melted.

" That's her? Vari Fanel." he said, pride radiating from his voice.

" Vera and Vari Fanel. That has a nice sound to it." Allen said thoughtfully. For a second, Vera forgot all her indecision and pain. At that happy moment, Vari decided now would be a good time to let the rest of the world know she had arrived. She greeted her new life and family with a protestant wail. Vera winced and smiled.

" You know what that reminds me of? When Vera set up a fit after she was born." Merle said.

" Must run in the blood." Tygris admonished. Vera handed Vari to her father and smiled. In the back of her head, she knew that the good things would be replaced with problems even worse than the previous ones. But Vera intended to enjoy her sister's arrival at the moment. She would deal with the rest later.

Two weeks later...

Vera ran down the corridors. She was scheduled to see Michael today. Suddenly, tottering out of a room, came Vari. She now looked and acted like an eight month old. Upon seeing Vera, she held up her arms and gurgled.

" Va-va!" she cried happily, using her own special nickname for Vera. Vera forgot her rush and reached down to pick up the little one.

" Hey, Vari. Where's Aunt Millerna? I thought she was watching you." Vera cooed happily. In only two weeks, Vari had grown eight months. Millerna had estimated that, if Vari kept going at this rate, by the time she was six months old to her family, Vari would be fifteen in mind and body. Suddenly, Millerna came rushing out the door that Vari had come through.

" There you are, you little imp! You gave Aunt Millerna a scare." she said, putting a hand to her chest before taking Vari out of Vera's arms.

" She running you for a loop, Aunt Millerna?" Vera asked as she handed a pouting Vari over.

" Va-va!" Vari protested angrily, reaching for Vera and almost falling out of Millerna's arms. Millerna caught her expertly without even looking.

" Yeah. She's even more trouble than you were at her size. At least I didn't have to worry about you discovering a weapons bay." Millerna answered, gripping a squirming Vari.

" Va-va! No Mila, Va-va!" Vari interjected, reaching for Vera again.

" How about I take her down to meet Michael?" Vera suggested. Millerna frowned.

" I don't know. I don't want this little imp anywhere, she'll think that she can go there on a regular basis." Millerna said. Vera shrugged.

" It won't hurt her any." Vera said, taking Vari out of Millerna's grasp. Vari squealed with delight.

" Va-va!" she cried in her joy, hugging Vera. Millerna sighed.

" She's going to go with you, with or without my consent. Well, go on, you've got an appointment to keep. And keep the making out to a minimum with Vari in there." Millerna warned. Vera blushed and took of down the hall, jogging slowly because of the happily bubbling Vari. She reached the visitation room to find Van and Allen guarding it. Both brightened at seeing Vari.

" Dada! Alwa!" Vari gurgled. Vera sat her on the ground and she teetered happily to Van.

" Hi there, little one!" Van said, smiling as he scooped her up. Allen snuck up behind Vari and tickled her, smiling as she half screeched, half giggled.

" Is it okay if she comes in with me to meet Michael?" Vera asked Van. He frowned slightly, then shrugged.

" I guess so, but only for a little while." he said. Vera reached for Vari, who cooed with joy at being able to accompany her beloved Va-va to the mysterious room that she often disappeared to. Vari seemed to be positive she was experiencing the best day of her short life. Vera went throught she door and set Vari down. Michael was tied to the chair, of course, but looked rested and much healthier. Vari ran up to inspect this young man she had never seen before.

" Well, who's this?" Michael asked in surprise as Vari pratically climbed onto his lap to get a better look at him.

" This is Vari. Vari, this is Michael. Michael." Vera said, saying Michael's name slowly so Vari could here each sound.

" Mika." Vari said confidently, giving Michael a curious look. Her golden, dark blonde hair framed her chubby face and blue eyes that were turning to a reddish brown.

" She looks like Hitomi with Van's eyes." Michael said with a laugh as Vari climbed off his lap and went to see why his hands were behind his back. Vera reached around Michael's chair and snagged Vari around the waist, making her squeal. She leaned out the door and handed her sister of to Van, and then leaned back in and closed the door behind her. Michael indicated with his head for her to come to him.

" Get over here." he said. Vera smiled and did as she was told. She knelt beside him and kissed him.

" You make a cute big sister." Michael told her. Vera smiled.

" Vera, time's up!" Allen called through the door. Vera's smile turned into a frown. Michael kissed her hungrily.

" Remember, I love you. Just believe that." he said. Vera nodded and ran out the door, not answering him. She couldn't let go of him, but she couldn't quite believe him either. Vera scooped Vari up and carried her back to Millerna. The child seemed heavier than when Vera had carried her before, but then, Vari grew by the minute. To Vera's shock, Millerna had disappeared, leaving a note that said she had to go out of the ship for a while and Vera would have to watch Vari. Vera sighed and lifted the girl over her head.

" Looks like it's just you and me, kiddo." she said. Vari seemed happy enough with this, so Vera sat her down to play with her little toys. Vari picked up a toy that had the beads that she would push on the twisting metal rods, totally fascinated by it. Suddenly, Vera had an idea. She knelt next to Vari and pointed to a red wooden bead.

" Bead." she said slowly and deliberately. Vari looked at her curiously.

" Bee?" she asked, pointing to the bead. Vera shook her head gently.

" Bead." she repeated, emphasizing the "d" sound.

" Beaduh." Vari said, putting too much emphasis on the "d" sound. Vera sighed. " Beaduh, beaduh, beaduh." Vari said happily, pleased to have learned what she thought Vera wanted to teach her. Vera decided to try something else. She picked up Vari's bottle, half full of juice.

" Ba-ba?" Vari asked, wondering what Vera wanted her to say this time. Vera smiled.

" Bottle." Vera said, again slowly and deliberately, sounding out each syllable carefully. Vari watched the way Vera made her lips move while saying the word, then tried to copy it.

" Boddel." she said. Vera cocked her head.

" Close enough." she agreed, reaching out and tickling Vari's sensetive sides. Vari screeched and giggled, finally squirming away from Vera and becoming fascinated by a toy cart with toy pack animal attached to its front.

" Cart." Vera called to her. Vari looked up.

" Cart." she said back, he baby accent slurring the word. Vera was pleased and gave Vari a smile. Suddenly, Vari dropped the cart and pack animal toy and ran toward the doorway.

" Dada! Mama!" she cried. Vera looked behind her to see Van leaning against the door frame and Hitomi leaning against him, watching the two sisters happily. Vari was eager to show off what she had learned. She picked up the bead-and-rods toy and handed it to Van.

" Beaduh." she told him triumphantly. Both Van and Hitomi had to surpress laughter and Vari brought them her bottle and handed it to Hitomi. " Boddel." she told them. By now their faces were scrunched up in surpressed laughter at Vari's happiness. Vera smiled. Now Vari was carrying the toy cart, but she had realized she had a problem. Van had the bead-and-rods, Hitomi had the bottle, who would hold the cart? Vera almost burst out laughing at her little sister's face as it puckered in concentration. Then, almost as suddenly as a light being flicked on, Vari had an idea. She ran to Vera and shoved the cart into her hands.

" Cart." she announced, pleased with herself. Van reached down and swooped her up. Hitomi set the bottle down on a table and reached for Vari, who pratically fell into her arms under the assumption that they would be there to catch her. Of course, Hitomi's arms were ready for her. Vera stood and walked to her family, pushing away all the awful pain.

" Boddel." Vari said, her face puckered up in a pout. Vera changed direction and headed to get the juice bottle off the table, but stopped in her tracks.

" M-mom, Dad, look at that!" she cried softly. Her parents looked over their shoulders and let their jaws drop. The juice bottle was floating in mid air. Vera flashed a look at Vari adn saw that she was staring at the bottle, almost concentrating on it. Then, the bottle began to move through the air. Van and Hitomi froze as the bottle floated right past their heads.

" Boddel! Boddel come!" Vari cried happily, snagging the bottle out of the air and beginning to suck on it. Acting on a crude inpulse, Vera snatched the bottle, expecting Vari to pout and screech to get it back. Instead of doing that, Vari narrowed her eyes at Vera. Vera felt her feet lift off the ground, and found herself floating in mid air.

" Vera!" Hitomi and Van cried. Vera felt her wings shloop out of her shoulders on an instinct. Rather suddenly, what ever was holding her disappeared and dropped her on her butt.

" Ow!" Vera cried out, dropping the bottle on the ground. The bottle then floated over to Vari, who falshed Vera a triumphant look and began to suck on it again. Vera, Hitomi, and Van stared at the content child in disbelief.

Later...

" Clairvoyance." Millerna said, staring at Vari as she slept in her crib, unaware that a serious discussion was taking place right over her. Vera shook her head.

" What's that?" she asked. Millerna sighed as she pushed a golden lock of hari from Vari's face. Allen, Van, Hitomi, Merle, and Tygris were also gathered around.

" Clairvoyance is the ability to move things with one's mind. If Vari has clairvoyance, then it's a good bet that she has other psychic abilities. Like the ability to predict the future through dreams and visions." Millerna explained. Allen shook his head.

" That's a pretty good strength to have on your side. She would never even have to get close to her enemy to take him out. With the right training-" he started, but Hitomi cut him off.

" She's only eight months old, at least in mind and body! I won't have her life being one long training session." she whispered ferociously. " I won't make that mistake again." she added, giving Vera a meaningful look. Vera understood, but disagreed.

" Hold on. We should just wait and see. If Vari doesn't want to fight with her abilities, then we'll leave her alone. If she does, well, you're never to old to learn a new trick." she said. Van nodded his agreement.

" Besides, if we shelter her, then we take the risk of her wanting to fight and hating us for not letting her. On the flip side, if we push her and she doesn't want to fight, she'll hate us for that. Vera's right. We should leave the decision to Vari, when she gets older." Tygris added. Merle looked sad.

" And at this rate, it won't be much longer." she murmured. Everyone slipped quietly out of the room. Vera went to her quarters and fell asleep. She felt so numb, but she knew that when she woke up, the pain would be right there, waiting for her...

Four weeks later...

Vera was beginning to feel the pain of her sisters accelerated growth. Suddenly, it meant that Vari had little more than two years of life ahead of her. Now, at about two years, Vari was rapidly progressing. She was speaking in simple sentences, her wobbly steps that had sent arms out to protect her from a fall had been replaced by a sure, confident stride that reflected that of her mother, father, and sister. Her eyes had become an earthy reddish brown, her hair golden and down to her thighs. Her face, hands, belly, and legs were still chubby and round with her toddler years, but it was already evident that the baby fat would fade away to reveal another lean, strong, beautiful girl. Allen had once pointed out how odd it was that Vera had inherited all of her father's pyshical features, only to retain her mother's eyes, while Vari kept Van's eyes, with Hitomi's physical features. Vari had given off many more demonstrations of her clairvoyance. She had picked up anything in her way or anything she wanted and gently set it aside. When she was angry, she would pick up the object of her anger and throw it, always without touching it. Whether the object of her anger was human or not made little difference to Vari. Vera had had head on collisions with walls and floors many times. Each time Vari threw a person, she was reprimanded and punished, depending on the severity of her crime. Sometimes her punisher would be sent on a collision course as well, but this only brought more punishment. Vari was also discovering that she wasn't normal. She had begun to show an intrest in the finer points of her abilities, and had come far in a short time. She was able to pick an egg up without cracking it. Vera herself, who had many times exhibited a strange ability to know her opponent's move before he made it, was being tested and exaimened for any other abilities besides her dreams. Millerna was saying that there was a chance Vera might have telepathic capabilities. At the moment, Vera was in a sparring match with both Tygris and Allen, another test for her supposed telepathy. The point was that if Vera had the ability to look into the minds of others and know what they think, in a two-on-one match, she would undoubtedly be forced to use it. The match was about to start.

" See into their minds, Vera!" Hitomi called. Suddenly, Vera saw a knife come at her like a shot, and leapt to the left to dodge it. She was met by Allen's sword, which she used her thin, lean body to dodge. A duck and cover move left Allen on his stomach, but he was getting up and Vera still had Tygris to contend with. She could not evade forever, but with Tygris dancing around her and tossing knives like darts to a dart board and Allen using every bit of skill he possessed, she was cornered. Suddenly, Vera heard Hitomi again.

" See into their minds!" she cried. Then, a sensation that Vera had never felt before assaulted her. Her body continued to move, dodging Allen's sword and Tygris's deadly accurate daggers, but her mind was doing something different. She felt as though someone had shoved her from behind, sending her sprawling foreward. In a split second, she heard two things.

" She left her neck open from the left. Hit her there."

" She's unguarded on the left, a curve will take her out." came two noiseless voices. The first was Allen, followed by Tygris. Vera snapped back to reality and reacted. She whirled and knocked Tygris's blade to the side with her sword and slammed the hilt of it into Allen's stomach, all in one fluid motion. Tygris retaliated with another dagger, but Vera knew where and how it was coming and knocked it aside. One more dagger flashed foreward and Vera jerked her head to the right, feeling it whiz by her ear. She knew she had won, but she didn't know how. She felt strange, like she was tied into Allen and Tygris's minds. She felt Allen's pain as he doubled over, heard Tygris wonder what happened. Astonished and horrified, Vera turned it off. She tuned out what she was feeling, and in a moment, it disappeared. When her consciousness returned, she was doubled over, Hitomi rubbing her back gently.

" Vera, are you alright?" Hitomi asked. Vera straightened up.

" Yeah, I think so." she said slowly.

" What happened?" Millerna asked eagerly. Vera put a hand to her head.

" I... I think I... I heard them thinking. I heard them thinking what they were gonna do next and I avoided it." she said. Millerna looked triumphant.

" Telepathy." she announced. Allen stood and straightened his back.

" I don't care what it is, it hurts." he said with a wince. Vera mimicked his wince.

" I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." she apologized. Allen forced a grin and waved his sword before he sheathed.

" Who cares? With that, you'll be unstoppable on the battle feild." he said. Vera nodded and left the adults to talk amongest themselves. She walked out the docking bay and to the clearing where Michael had told her he loved her. Her heart ached with indecision, and a love she just couldn't let go of. The Fool Card, she thought, remembering the tarot cards. Fool to love, or fool to not believe? She could never decide. She raised her head to the blue sky, wondering, missing. While she was doing this, she saw it. A black ship approaching. Vera straightened up. She recognized it. The Black Death. Vera turned and ran to the ship.

Vera steadied Double Edge after much hassle. She could see approaching guymelifs. A terror she was unfamiliar with incased her. Vera realized that Michael was not there to protect her, to aid her when it became too much. All she had were Allen, Van, and Tygris. And the crew. No Michael. This realization left Vera hollow and afraid. But battle was inevitable. The enemies were right there. About to be in her face. Vera suddenly felt compelled to turn on that telepathic thing. She sifted her way foreward, suddenly knowing beyond all doubt exactly how many of her enemies were planning to rush her, what each one planned, and exactly how she would avoid it. Before Vera consciously knew it, she was in the heat of battle. All around her were screams of anger, hate, and pain. Before Tygris called out, Vera knew she was in trouble and reacted. Allen almost had his head removed, but Vera once again knew and slashed foreward, saving his life. She knew their gratitude before they verbally expressed it. At this point, Vera had shut her conscious mind off. She no longer felt, no longer saw, no longer really knew what she was doing. As suddenly as it began, the battle was over.

" Good job, Vera." Tygris was saying. Vera's conscious mind awakened again. She could hear her comrades thinking. They were appalled.

" You were unstoppable back there." Allen admonished. In reality, he was terrified by the brutality Vera had shown. Vera was horrified with herself. She was about to turn off the telepathy thing, when it happened again. She knew. She saw. One of the enemies was not dead. He was aiming a metal claw at Van's back. Hoping it would hit, and his death would not be in vain.

" Dad, watch out!" Vera cried. Van wheeled around. Everything was slow, without sound. Van tensed and tried to throw himself out of the way, Allen leaping to his aid. All of it was too late. Vera screamed, but her voice had no sound. The metal claw went through Escaflowne's chest. And out the other end. Vera could take no more. It was all to horrible. She felt her father's pain. Felt it as though it were her own. Vera passed out, welcoming the darkness...

Tygris panicked. Van was hit, Vera had fainted.

" What do we do?!" she asked Allen frantically. I wish Chuba were here, she thought. Allen reached and threw Escaflowne over his shoulder.

" Grab Vera." he commanded. Tygris did so, not very easily. Double Edge was bigger than Tiger's Fury. With much trouble, she managed to drag Double Edge into the deck of the blade. Everyone was focused on Van, trying to get him out of Escaflowne's cockpit. The blood dripping from the legendary guymelif and sounds of struggle from within were enough evidence that Van was hit and hurt. Tygris, however, struggled with the locking mechanisms on Double Edge, trying not to cry and silently begging that Vera was safe. When she finally managed to free Vera, the dark haired girl fell foreward and onto the ground with a sick, heavy thunk. Tygris leaped down from Double Edge's shoulder, her strong knees absorbing the impact. She was a cat-girl. Heights were of little to no concern to her. She ran over to Vera and shook her shoulders.

" Vera?! Vera, come on, wake up! Don't scare me, Vera! Wake up!" she shouted in Vera's ears.

" He's hit in the left side! Quick, get him to the medical room before he loses too much blood!" someone shouted from Escaflowne's docking. Tygris shook Vera again, then felt on Vera's neck for a pulse.

" Come on, where is it... Oh my God. VERA!" she screamed, upon realizing that Vera's pulse had stopped. In pure panic, Tygris laid Vera out and started pumping on her chest, in time with her own heart.

" Vera? Va-va?" a small, childish voice asked. Tygris looked up from her strenuous work to see Vari, calmly watching her.

" Go away, Vari!" Tygris cried, terrified that Vari would see Van mortally wounded, or Vera not breathing. Then, no longer concerned with the child, she returned to pounding Vera's chest. " Wake up, Vera, breath. Come on! Breath, God dang it!" she cried. Suddenly, Vari put her hands on Vera's head and closed her eyes. Tygris, somehow knowing that something supernatrual was about to happen, leaned back and watched in awe as a strange, unearthly glow surrounded Vera's still form and Vari.

Vera huddled in a cold, dim light. She felt alone, and cold. Then, warm, soft wings of white feathers surrounded her and held her close.

" Dad?" she asked slowly.

" No." a feminine voice said, and a face hidden behind a flurry of feathers was just becoming visible...

Tygris stared in fear. Suddenly, Hitomi, Van, and Allen were there, all surrounded by that strange glow. Then, a black feather landed on Tygris's lap. Suddenly, she was surrounded by black and white feathers. She had known that Van, Vera, and Vari all possessed the wings of their ancestors. But the tall, broadshouldered man she saw before her was a stranger. He stood next to Van, who was still bleeding badly, and they glared at each other for a moment. Then the glow became brighter, more ferice than before.

" Who are you?" Vera asked in awe. A tender, beautiful face became visble, framed by long black hair so like Vera's own.

" I am your grandmother. The mother of your father, and former Queen of Fanelia." the woman cradling her replied. Vera looked around. She was standing in a beautiful, green, rich land.

" Where am I?" she asked slowly. Then, horrible realization struck her. " Oh, no. Am I dead?" she asked. The woman smiled.

" For now. You are in the Valley of Mists. And you are not alone." she replied, gesturing behind Vera. Vera turned to see Vari, watching her carefully. Suddenly, Vari shot up and aged right before Vera's eyes, until she looked like a fifteen-year-old girl.

" Vera?" Vari asked, her voice sounding almost exactly like Vera's. She sounded unsure and unsteady. Vera didn't blame her. She had just been shoved from playing dress-up and tag to the middle of puberty, thus having to suddenly deal with a rush of emotions she didn't know how to deal with.

" Vari?" Vera asked, pulling her little-but-now-not-so-little sister to her in an embrace.

" I have brought you here, to the last remaining place that your ancestors, the Atlantians, inhabited, to tell you something, and give you very important gifts. Vera, you know of the Gaean War, the war your father and mother fought in. Vari can hear about that later. During the Gaean War, destiny was yanked, twisted, and reformed to fit the needs and wants of people who should have had no control over it. During this time, Fate was pushed to try and make an ancient prophecy come true. Needed to do this were to siblings of the same gender that were descended from Atlantis. This was found in my two sons. The elder was turned from his people. This was done to ensure that his wings turned black. When this finally happened, Fate took the next step. An outsider from the Mystic Moon, who had conviently been transported to Gaea, was supposed to fall in love with the elder of the siblings. This did not work out, though, as the girl from the Mystic Moon fell in love with the younger sibling. Fate gave up on this prophecy, and even though the right side won the war, many lives were forever changed. Fate realized that it had interfered one generation too soon and ensured that the eldest sibling survived. Now, two more siblings of the same gender have come upon the scene. Toss in one boy from the Mystic Moon, a traitor to the enemy and beloved ally to the siblings, a war, and Fate had exactly what it needed. Look at your wings, Vera." the beautiful woman commanded. Vera looked over her shoulder to see that her wings had burst from her shoulders without her knowing. But instead of the fluffy, white wings full of clean, soft feathers she had always known, cold, black, lifeless wings sprouted from her shoulders. Vera reeled in shock.

" No!" she cried suddenly. Vari, with long arms she was unfamiliar with, caught Vera as she tripped and fell, trying to run away from the black wings.

" Why?" Vari asked slowly, quietly. Vera looked to her sister and saw white wings arcing from her back as gracefully as her own. Both the girls' shirts had ripped, leaving Vari shielding herself with her wings and Vera standing in her black sports bra.

" The eldest is the strongest, and must bear the pain and weight of black, lifeless wings. The youngest is the most pure, and must carry a power with more destructive force than Atlantis itself could generate. Love heals the blackest of wounds, Vera, and trust obliterates the scars. Both are already available, you just have to find them. Vari, consolation will be your only comfort, companionship and an ally, that is really a traitor, you can trust the only path you may follow. The pain will be great, but an ally is needs your love more than you need his. So, Vera must search for a lost trust and love, while to find those very things, Vari must look for a traitorous ally. Now, I will give you one gift each. These gifts will be the best you will ever receive, and also curse you for all of your days. Yet, the last Daughters of Atlantis are fated, they can not escape their inevitable destinies. Vera?" the girls' grandmother asked.

" Yes?" Vera answered, her voice quivering. She was still badly shaken by her wings being turned black.

" I give you the gift of Sight. Whether it be past, present, future, human or animal minds, east, west, north, or south, you will see what you wish. At your fingertips is the gift of knowledge. You will see, and you will know, all. Even if you don't want to." the young woman answered. She ruffled her snowy white wings.

" What about me?" Vari asked softly, cowering behind her wings.

" Your gift, my dear namesake, is the gift of Movement. You may move objects from one place to another without picking them up. You may also move pain from one person to another with but a thought. Anything is at your disposal to move. Now, grandaughters, I bid you farewell. We may not meet for some time, but I am always watching over you and your family. Remember to keep an open mind and heart, and always hold your head high. You, like your father, mother, uncle by birth and uncle by name, are fated. Destiny chains you to two possible solutions. Absolute destruction of all that you hold dear and all that you've ever known, or salvation for the sinful, love for the lost, and shelter for the cold and hungry." came the soft, lovely voice. Suddenly, as their grandmother faded away into a shroud of mist, a thought struck Vera.

" What do you mean by two possible solutions?" she asked, calling out to the fading figure. " I don't understand!"

" You two will either bring Gaea's destruction, or its salvation. You will be the death of all life, or the shield from death itself. The choice is made by you!" came the answer. Suddenly, the Valley of Mists disappeared from under Vera and Vari's feet. The two girls clutched each other in fear and screamed. When Vera opened her eyes, she was kneeling on the floor in the Blade's docking bay, black wings spread, and holding Vari, still in the body of a fifteen year old, in a motherly, protective fashion. Vari sobbed somewhat hysterically.

" What happened? Vari?" a voice Vera barely recognized as her mother's asked. Then, with a sigh, Vera collapsed onto the ground, pulling Vari with her. Only then did she notice the swirl of black and white feathers. Two sets of black wings, two sets of white wings. Before Vera could ponder this, sleep reached out to take her...

Solo glanced around him, paranoid that someone might be following him. Yet, he was the only visible figure in the surrounding forests. He knew that if he was caught, his life would end, in a brutal, slow, painful fashion. His own life was of no consequence, it was the life of the Fanelian Royal Family, to whom he pledged his eternal alligence in secret, that he was concerned for. He willingly admitted to himself that at one point, he had been deeply in love with Princess Vera. He had managed to shake himself from that silly notion, but he still found a soft spot where the tomboy princess was concerned. He considered her a very dear friend. And, as a born Fanelian native, he had the famous Fanelian patriotism. These things, along with the deeply disturbing knowledge that one insane leader had been replaced by another who defeated the laws of lunacricy by a long shot, had driven Solo to becoming a traitor. His silent feeds of information to King Van, which only the two of them knew about, had aided the Royals and co. in avoiding many unnecsessary battles. But now, he was driven by a new force. The force of humiliation. Solo knew he was many things. Disowned by his family, a traitor, dishonorable, possibly even unworthy of claiming any nationality. But one thing Solo knew he was not was an idiot. He had a good head on his shoulders and he knew it. Somehow, the humiliation Zensho had dealt him had not been so bad. Somehow, Solo had simply shrugged off the laughter. Possibly because he knew he was better than Zensho. But I'm better than Tygir, too, Solo thought angrily, I don't understand why when he humiliates me I get so angry. To Solo, anything, even death, was better than having to return to the Black Death. He had left without orders, and Tygir would be mad enough. That was enough punishment waiting to have any man quaking in fear. But the humiliation, the torture, the serving a lunatic that derived more pleasure than was natrual in putting Solo in a position of discomfort or pain, it was all more than Solo knew how to bear. Maybe the good King of Fanelia would be merciful and grant him a quick death, under accusations of serving the enemy. This was the most merciful and wonderful possibility Solo could think of. And it was all because of one slip. He had slipped. Since the beginning of the war, Solo had been flawless in his traitorous deeds. He made no mistakes, never spoke of his hidden agenda to anyone but his most trusted allies. But then, when Tygir took charge, he slipped. One of the new soldiers that Tygir had hired walked in on Solo while he was sifting Tygir's documents. He had been caught red handed. It had been only an hour to go. Knowing his time to remain alive was limited, Solo had decided to go all the way on the last strech. He ran out of the air ship, got away by hijacking a guymelif. He had abandoned the guymelif, went east for two miles until he came to a river, waded down stream three miles, then went through the forest to where he knew the Blade had taken up dock. There, he planned to tell the Royals that the evidence that Micheal, Chuba, and Dromada were traitors was planted. And finally, if he did not find resolution there, he would kill himself with the dagger that slapped against his thigh from its position on his belt. Finally, after what seemed to be hours of half-walking, half- running through the forest, he came to the large clearing where the Blade sat silently. Relieved to have reached his destination but incredibly exhausted, Solo stumbled foreward toward the dock. Suddenly, a young girl sprinted out of the dock and streched her muscles. Solo didn't recognize her. She was wearing clothes similar to Vera. She was tall, lanky, and resembled Queen Hitomi strongly. She had waist long, flowing, dark blonde hair that looked as though it had been recently cut. Her eyes, which Solo was just close enough to see, were reddish brown and just like King Van's unique eyes. Transfixed by the image of beauty before him, Solo stood like a statue staring at the girl. Suddenly, the girl noticed him. As she jogged over to him, Solo figured she could have hardly been fifteen, two years younger than him. She was either incredibly brave or incredibly naive, jogging up to a complete strangerr like she was.

" Hi, I've never seen you before. I'm Vari. What's your name?" she asked. Solo stared like a gaping idiot, only to snap out of his trance just as Vari noticed he was staring.

" I, um, I need to speak with King Van...? It's, um, it's very... urgent." he said haltingly.

" King Van's my dad. I'll go get him." Vari offered. Her statement left Solo completely dumbfounded. Last he had checked, King Van had only one daughter, Vera. This girl was at least fourteen. There was no possible way-

" Solo!" Vera's voice came to Solo. He looked up just in time to see Vera fling herself to him affectionately. " Where have you been? Are you okay? I bet those tyrants have been giving you much grief! Geez, don't just disappear on me like that! I worry!" she cried, planting a friendly kiss on Solo's cheek, as was the custom for a Princess greeting a friend. There was a time when such a gesture would have made Solo quiver with delight, but he no longer had a crush on Vera. Vari approached Vera from behind.

" Friend of yours, sis?" she asked slyly. Vera's eyes widened and she leaped away from Solo to take a swing at Vari, who dodged.

" As if! Solo is a good friend of mine and we've known each other for a long time!" she screeched, chasing Vari around the clearing.

" Oh, yeah, I forgot! You only smooch with Michael! Well, I'm gonna tell him you were cheating!" Vari shouted, earning a scream of rage from Vera. Solo looked away from the chase to see Allen and Queen Hitomi appraoching him.

" Solo, how are you?" Hitomi asked affectionately. Solo drew away from her friendly embrace, even though he knew it was rude.

" I'm sorry, your Majesty, but I don't have time for pleasentries. You have been deceived." he said quickly. Hitomi jerked.

" Deceived? How?" Allen asked.

" Please let me speak to King Van, and I will explain." Solo said, almost begging. He had always been close to Van, and felt that only Van would understand his situation.

" I'm sorry, Solo. King Van is in no condition to talk to anyone right now." Allen answered while Hitomi looked away. Vera and Vari came jogging up, just in time to hear Allen tell Solo to hear about their father. Solo was confused about Vari relationship with the Royals, but decided not to pursue it.

" He was injured in the last battle, wasn't he? I'm sorry, I did all I could to stop it. But it wasn't enough." Solo said sadly.

" You always do that, Solo. You always berate yourself when something goes wrong. Stop it." Vera said bluntly, obviously trying to avoid the subject of the recent battle.

" Come inside, Solo. We have a lot to tell you, and you have a lot to tell us, I'm afraid." Hitomi said, turning and leading everyone into the Blade.

Later...

" So, that's what happened. Van's in medical, Vari is our daughter but her growth was accerlated." Hitomi finished after explaining the many changes that had assaulted the Royals. Solo shook his head.

" I have to say this right off the bat. The three that have been accused of being traitors are innocent. I know because I oversaw the planting of the evidence myself. Another thing I could not stop." he said. Just then, Vera, Merle, and Tygris, whom Solo had just met, shot up from their seats and cheered.

" I told you! I told you!" Merle chanted happily. Tygris and Vera hugged.

" I'm so relieved!" Tygris cried, tears streaming down her face.

" Gimme those keys, Allen! I'm busting those three outta there!" Vera shouted, extending her hand to Allen, who smiled and tossed her a ring of keys. The three took off down the halls, shouting the whole way.

Michael shoved away the metal plate that, ten minutes ago, had held his dinner. His hair was longer than normal, his face was thin and haggard, his body lean and starved. Chuba and Dromada's fur was scruffy and ragged. They all looked like they had been living in the pits, which, in Michael's opinion, was a good summary of the situation. Suddenly, he heard shouting and sounds of more than one person stomping or running down the stairs.

" What the heck is that?" Chuba asked, standing up from his chair. Michael and Dromada followed suit. The familiar sounds of a key turning in the door's lock greeted their ears. Michael reeled back in shock when Vera's pretty face poked in.

" Get your butts out here, you're free!" she cried, throwing the door wide open. The three inside the cell stared at her like she was insane.

" Did you just say what I think you said?" Chuba inquired.

" We're what?" Michael asked incredulously.

" Free!" Tygris shouted, rushing into the cell and leaping into Chuba's arms. Merle pounced Dromada with a sastisfyed purr. Michael stared at Vera, thinking that she was his dream come true. Slowly, the two walked toward each other and hugged tightly.

" I'm sorry I didn't believe in you." Vera whispered. Michael sighed and squeezed her tightly as she hid inside his arms.

" You were forgiven the moment you said you couldn't believe me." he answered softly. " How did you find out?" he asked, holding Vera at arm's length. She grinned.

" Solo came and told us." she answered. Michael hugged her again.

" I think I found my new best friend, and I don't think I've ever met him." he mumbled. Vera laughed softly and hugged him.

" Shut up and come on. I've got a lot to tell you."