Author's Note:
Hello, everyone! I'm finally back! I'm so sorry I was MIA for months…I'm such a terrible author :-O After All These Years started out as an idea that wouldn't stop pestering me until I put it to paper, and gradually became a full 17-chapter story by the end of the summer. So, these babies got neglected for a while. But! I have returned, and will be making sure to proof-read the next several chapters of TFC; plus working on writing the next chapter of RBR. I hope to have more new content for you all very soon! I'm aiming to have chapter 5 proof-read, and ready for posting on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Enjoy chapter 4!
I do not own Sym-Bionic Titan. All credit goes to Genndy Tartakovsky. I only take credit for my own OCs.
"Ah, your majesty?"
The king broke from his conversation with the present group of soldiers to look at the young cadet who spoke. With a kind, soft voice, he responded, "Yes, what is it, Arnold?".
Ilana looked down to the young boy named Arnold, wondering what had happened for his face to look so troubled. He couldn't have been more than eight years old, or so she guessed. 'The same age Lance was when he entered the academy' she thought. His hair was curly, and red. He possessed sky-blue eyes, and had freckles similar to hers adorning his face. He was on the shorter, but leaner side for his age. He also wore black, thick-framed glasses. With a shy demeanor and soft voice, he seemed to be the very picture of childlike innocence. It was hard for her to believe that such a boy was currently in military training.
Seeing that the redhead was hesitant to say more, Ilana bent down to his height; her trademark smile adorning her face. "What's the matter, my darling?" she asked.
With a bashful look toward the princess and king, Arnold responded. "Um...is that Mr. Hobbs and Corporal Lance fighting over in the field?"
Both the royals' heads snapped up; looking towards the field for signs of Lance and Hobbs. Sure enough, they saw the two sparring in the middle of the grassy expanse.
"Honestly...we haven't even been here more than a couple hours, and he's already sparring with someone." Ilana said in an exasperated tone, but her face adorned a soft, affectionate smile.
The king merely chuckled to himself. "I have a feeling that Hobbs was the one who initiated this. He's been very eager to see just what Lance can do. He's mentioned it to me on several occasions."
At that, Ilana gave her father a quizzical look. "I thought everyone in the Galalunian Army knew the extent of Lance's abilities?"
Her father merely shook his head before answering, "Everyone has heard the rumors of his abilities; not everyone has fought alongside him. Besides that, Lance has a long history of insubordination, which has led to multiple arrests and court martials in the past. His reputation with most of the other officers is shaky, at best."
Ilana took a moment to consider, before replying. "Ah...so he's measuring Lance up, then...right?" the princess asked.
Her father merely nodded in reply; adopting a humorous smirk.
"Are they fighting, or training, your majesty?" Arnold said, concern on his face.
The king gave the young boy a reassuring smile. "They're just training, Arnold. No need to worry."
Upon hearing the king's answer, the boy's facial features relaxed. When the king noticed some other soldiers beginning to gather near the sparring match to spectate, he decided to take advantage of the situation for the benefit of the newer recruits, and those still in training. He immediately began gathering every healthy soldier in the camp that he could find within a reasonable distance.
Once he had everyone assembled, he spoke. "Everyone, I would like you all to go and watch Lance's and Hobbs's sparring match. It will be beneficial for the cadets, and those new to the army, to see two master martial artists in controlled combat. Observe them, and take note of the different strategies they employ. Combat is about controlling the fight. You should always be the one determining the outcome. Watch their movements; see how they attempt to control the flow of combat. Look for creative solutions they may employ in difficult situations, and learn to expand your own ideas when in the midst of battle. For those of you with more military experience, pay close attention to the fight, and try to answer any questions the cadets and newer recruits may have. Come, let's go."
With that, the king - accompanied by Ilana - led everyone over to the edge of the grassy field; the soldiers forming a ring around the sparring area.
"It looks like we've become quite the entertainment piece, Lance." Hobbs said; a smirk adorning his face, and a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I noticed, but I'm not easily distracted." Lance replied, the focus in his eyes refusing to waver.
The larger man had to admire his determination; it was rare to find amongst the younger generation. "I'm glad. Let's give the cadets and new officers something to study, then."
Hobbs met Lance's eyes, and the youth merely nodded; both never taking their eyes off their target.
Within a matter of seconds, they were once again charging toward each other, meeting each other blow for blow, and kick for kick. Every maneuver one threw at the other was either blocked or turned against its user with frightening precision; every attack in one strategy was thwarted by a brilliant defense and counter-attack. It was clear to both of them that neither would go down easily. They realized this match might take longer than they anticipated...
EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F
As the summer heat was quite oppressive, both men had long since shed their shirts. Sweat was now pouring down their faces and bare chests, and they were beginning to get fatigued. It had now been well passed two hours since the event had begun, and both men were going all out. It had come down to a very tense battle: youth vs experience.
The intensity of the fight was starting to take its toll on them, and the king was beginning to notice. He could see that their movements were beginning to get sloppy and sluggish.
He was about to call the match, when suddenly, Lance moved with speed the king didn't realize the youth possessed.
Hobbs was too fatigued to counter in time.
Before he could properly react, Lance had charged him. Hobbs went for a right hook, when Lance grabbed his wrist mid swing. The corporal swung his body to Hobbs's left, rotated himself, and grounded his stance. He used the larger man's forward momentum from the punch to pull him in front. As Hobbs was being pulled, Lance adjusted his grip on Hobbs's wrist, so as not to brake or strain it, used his free hand to catch Hobbs's other wrist, and locked the older man's arms behind his back as he fell to the ground, Lance on top of him.
It took a moment for Hobbs to realize that he was face-first on the ground; the youth on top of him with a hold on his arms, restricting his movement. Had he not been so fatigued, he would have broken out of the hold, but he decided their match had gone on long enough. It was more than enough to convince him that the boy was worthy of being called the princess's bodyguard. Not only that, he was sure that Lance would outlast him in stamina if they continued.
Hobbs turned his face to the side to glance up at the victor. "Okay, Lance, you win. I'm down."
Lance's face went from focused to perplexed. "You can break out of this hold, so why are you giving up?"
Hobbs chuckled, smiling at the boy. "I know, but frankly, you've worn me out. You're good, kid. Not many people can keep up with me, much less tire me out this much."
With an understanding nod, Lance released his hold on Hobbs, extending his hand to help the older man up. Hobbs gratefully accepted the proffered hand, and pulled himself up with Lance's help. Both men shook hands, signaling the end of the match.
The king walked over to them, towels in hand. "That was excellent, both of you. Hobbs, it seems that your rehabilitation is complete now, yes?" the king asked, handing a towel to each of them.
Hobbs nodded his head as he faced the king; accepting the towel, and wiping his face. With a bow to the king, he responded, "Yes, your majesty. I believe it is."
The king gave a satisfactory nod, then turned to Lance. He studied the boy for a few moments.
Lance faced the king, realizing he was being analyzed by his ruler. "Lance...when did you learn to move that fast?" the king asked.
Lance took a moment to think. 'When did I get that fast?'
"To be honest, your majesty, I'm not entirely sure. I trained with Octus on Earth, and he can move at blinding speeds. I suppose I simply adapted in order to try to keep up with him."
The king paused to consider this statement. 'Hmm... interesting...' he thought. "Lance, do you remember what I said in my message to you all when you were back on Earth?" he asked.
Lance noticed that the king's facial expression had become serious as he asked the question, so he sobered his expression as well. "Yes, your majesty. You said you had a specific role you wished me to play in the final battle, if you thought I'd have the skillset to manage it."
The king nodded. "That's correct, and after what I've witnessed here today, I believe you are by far the best option for this task. Aside from piloting Titan with my daughter and Octus, I would like you to be the one responsible for confronting Modula."
At those words, Lance's jaw almost dropped. He stood before the king, stunned, until the king began speaking again. "I know this is an extremely dangerous assignment, Lance, and I don't make this decision lightly. If I had the skills, I would do it myself; sadly, however, I no longer possess them. What we need to defeat Modula is stamina, agility, speed, and resourcefulness. You have all four. However, you'll need to be even faster, and have a broader arsenal of offensive and defensive moves in order to keep up with him. That's why I've decided to train you. Both you and Octus will meet me in the west field for private training every afternoon. We will start tomorrow at noon."
The king turned to take his leave, when Lance finally found his voice. "Your majesty, with all due respect, I can't pilot Titan and face Modula at the same time. What exactly is your plan?"
The king halted in his retreat, turning back to face Lance. "We will need Titan when we launch our initial assault. You three will deal with the Mutraddi Mega-beasts, and any aircraft and large tanks deployed against our army. Once the way is clear, the fight will be on the ground. That's when Modula will emerge. He won't come after something he doesn't think he can defeat, and Titan is one such thing. Once Titan is gone, he'll appear. That's when the real fight starts. You have the greatest likelihood of succeeding against, and surviving an encounter with, Modula. Are you willing to accept this assignment?"
The king and Lance locked eyes, and in that moment, they both felt as though they were in sync. They both knew that everything was riding on Lance's response.
Without another thought, Lance knew what his answer needed to be. "Yes, your majesty. I won't fail you."
A smile ghosted across the king's face at the resolve in the young man's eyes. He was confident that that resolve was what would keep Lance alive. "I know you won't."
With a nod between the two, the matter was settled. The king cleared his throat, turning to the massive ring of soldiers behind him. "Everyone, you may return to your stations now. I hope you have learned a few things from watching this match. Dismissed."
As the king, Hobbs, and soldiers dispersed, murmurs could be heard throughout the crowd...'I can't believe Corporal Lance got the drop on Hobbs like that...He's better than the rumors say'...'Did you hear the king? He's the one who has to fight Modula. Do you think he'll survive? To me, it seems like a suicide mission.'...'I can't believe we got to see that. It was epic! I wanna be just like them one day, the elite of the elite!'...'The king just sent that boy to an early grave...'
None of these murmurs were helping calm Lance down from his anxieties about this mission, and what was about to follow would only inflame him further.
"Well, look who's getting special treatment already."
The corporal flinched. Turning around, he saw Baron walking up to him, that smug smirk firmly attached to the young Lieutenants' face.
"It's not special treatment, Baron. It's special training to keep me alive. Why can't you ever just leave me alone?" Lance asked, that ferocious look once again in his eyes.
Baron Laughed, a low, guttural noise. "You're way too easy to get a rise out of, that's why. Besides, I still haven't forgotten about all those years ago."
Lance felt his body tense slightly. "When are you going to let go of that? We were kids! Not only that, you were the one trying to kill me!"
Lance took a step forward; Baron matching his stride. "You deserved it, you orphan. You snatched my Medal of Excellence from me. You ruined my early graduation from the academy, my status as the youngest graduate to ever join the elite, everything! That's something I'll never forget."
Both men were locked in a glaring contest, mere seconds from starting a confrontation.
"Both of you, BREAK. IT. UP!"
Startled, both heads whirled around to the source of the voice, finding Ilana standing on their side; hands on her hips, and a stern expression on her face.
The boys faced each other once more, Baron whispering to Lance. "You won't always have that little girl to protect you, Lance. When that day comes, watch yourself."
With that, Baron began walking; knocking shoulders with Lance as he went.
Lance watched him go, glaring at him the whole time. After the Lieutenant was out of earshot, Lance sighed, and turned to face Ilana. He cringed at the look she was giving him, but spoke, nonetheless. "Thank you, princess. I apologize for letting my temper get the better of me. It was undignified; it won't happen again."
Upon hearing her title, Ilana gave an exasperated sigh as she walked up to him. "It's alright. Baron was out of order, and he was the one who initiated the argument...You shouldn't let him get to you so easily, though. You know he's just looking for a reaction." she said.
Lance nodded in understanding, saying nothing. He knew he deserved to be scolded, but it still wasn't pleasant.
Ilana glanced at the ground for a moment before looking back at him. Making eye contact, her voice came out quiet, and her words hesitant. "Also, you don't have to address me as 'princess' when it's just the two of us."
Lance averted his gaze, not trusting himself to keep his stoic façade in check. "Actually, princess, I do."
There was silence between them for a moment, only the warm summer breeze making any noise as it danced across the grassy field; making the turf shimmer in the fading sunlight.
Ilana knew his statement rang true; Lance had to abide by the social laws of Galaluna now, as did she. She thought about her conversation with Kimmy back on earth "–I'll never be Ilana to him again-". That was the cruel him address her so formally, though, just felt wrong. It made her feel like he was being torn away from her. She hated it, and she knew there was nothing she could do to stop it. 'Unless...'
Ilana knew this probably wouldn't be a good idea, and that she shouldn't pull rank, but she refused to let her best friend – her other half – go without a fight. "Lance...you have to obey any order I give you as princess, correct?"
Lance snapped his gaze back to her face, surprise and confusion in his expression. 'She hasn't ordered me to do anything since our first couple months on Earth...' he thought. "Yes, princess. That's correct..."
Ilana smirked then, and he looked at her skeptically. With a furrowed brow, Lance asked, "What are you planning?"
Without another word, Ilana walked up next to him, and took his hand in hers.
Lance jerked, not expecting the sudden contact. He attempted to pull his hand back, but Ilana held it firm. He looked into her eyes, and found a hardened resolve residing in them.
They stared at each other for a few moments before she spoke, "Then as your princess, I order you to treat me as you did on Earth when we're either alone, or with Octus and Kimmy. Also, I'm not taking no for an answer."
Lance closed his eyes, and took a deep breath; taking a moment to compose himself. When he opened them again, he saw the look on Ilana's face. It was gentle; tender. He could also detect desperation, but with a commanding presence backing it.
Lance looked around them to be sure the coast was clear, before gently taking her other hand in his free one; rubbing circles on the backs of her palms with his thumbs. "You do realize this is a bad idea, right?"
Ilana merely nodded; knowing that by doing this, she'd be putting both of them at risk, but she just couldn't bring herself to let him go.
Lance sighed, but a small smile graced his face. "Okay then. I trust you."
Now, he smiled warmly at her, enjoying having her near him. She smiled back with equal warmth, giving his hands a small squeeze before letting them go completely.
Lance looked back at the camp, noticing Octus rummaging around a couple of cabins. "I better go see if Octus knows where we're staying tonight. The sun's starting to set. I'll see you later, Ilana." He gave her a smile and nod before starting off toward the camp; taking the forgotten towel from off the ground, and beginning to dry himself off as he went.
Basking in the effortless way her name rolled off his tongue, Ilana watched him go with wandering eyes; watched as he dried his hair with the towel, the dark locks glimmering in the sunlight as they were tousled to and froe; The muscles in his back and arms showing off perfectly with every movement he made.
She knew she shouldn't be watching him like a hungry wolf, but at the moment, she really didn't care. She figured she could allow this small indulgence just this once.
Once he reached the camp, she began making her way back as well; deciding she better figure out where she would be spending the night.
