Disclaimer: All respectable characters are owned by their creators. All other characters are the sole property of me and may not be used without my explicit permission. No money is being made here.
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"Apocalypse Battles: Legend of the Crystal Warriors"
'Stage I: Blind King'
Written by: Chief Aki
E-mail: chiefaki@hotmail.com mailto:chiefaki@hotmail.com; yumi0@yahoo.com mailto:yumi0@yahoo.com
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Truly loving another means letting go of expectations. It means full acceptance, even celebration of another's personhood.
-Karen Casey
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Episode II: Winter of the Moon Princess and Summer of the Beloved One
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"Hey! OWWWWW! Anita! What was that for!?" David whines as Anita slaps in the back of the head, "I thought you were happy to see me!"
Anita laughs, "Of course I am, but you think I just forget what you said to me before we left the Command Center?"
David half chuckles, "You know I was kidding, right?"
Anita glares at him, and takes a step toward him as David jumps back, "Dead!! Do something! She's going to kill me!"
Dead End just laughs as David looks at him pleadingly, which causes Anita to laugh. David looks at Anita with a confused look.
"Oh David!" Anita laughs with Dead, "You looked so pathetic! If only Hayato were here to see this!"
David steams as Anita and Dead roll with laughter. Mac stands there, shaking his head at the three young Space Knights, but smiles remembering the last generation of Space Knights.
"Hey, where's Chief and D-boy?" Dead asks David, "I thought they were going to meet us?"
"They would have, if you guys had gotten here on time," David points out.
"We couldn't help being a couple days behind, we had to fix the Blue Earth Craft," Anita snaps back, "Thank the stars we found the problem before we had taken off, otherwise, we would've been in for it."
"Whatever," David says, "Honestly, I don't know where D-boy and Chief are, probably still sleeping. They were pretty wiped after the battle, especially the Chief."
"I heard," Mac interrupts, "So Saber is back after all? I mean, the last time you contacted us, you were pretty vague."
David nods, "Yeah, but we haven't seen him since he left the battle with Evil in his arms."
"Evil?" Dead looks at him, "There is obviously a lot we need to catch up on."
"Yeah, you all better sit down; it's a very long story." David sighs.
***************************************
Star tries to open her eyes as she hears the door open, but can't. She has been unable to move from her bed since after the battle. She remembers talking to her mother, telling her it's okay, but even then, she had felt her strength wane from her. Ariadne had put her to the test in every which way, emotional, mental, magical, and physical. Then, her body had given way and she had collapsed in Blade's arms and the last thing she remembered was his voice calling out her name. She had woken up to whispers the next day, but she couldn't see who was around her and couldn't tell whose voices they were. She struggles with her body, telling it to get up. To see who is in her room, but she still can't move. Star doesn't have to; she suddenly senses a familiar presence. She should have sensed him sooner, but figures she can't due to her exhaustion.
"Ness," she is able to form weakly after a couple of moments.
She feels a sudden movement in her bed and she knows he is sitting next to her. Star forms a weak smile as she feels Ness softly brush some strands of her green hair away from her face.
"You seem better than yesterday," Ness softly says, Star noticing that there's a bit of exhaustion in his voice as well. "But take it easy okay? I'll be right here."
"You're tired, get some rest; don't worry about me," Star tells him slowly.
"I'm fine, I'll sleep later," he replies to her gently.
Star smiles, knowing better and finally forces her eyes open. She weakly looks at him, with his gentle smile, and soft sparkling green eyes, which are happy yet, reveal how exhausted he is.
"Ness?" she asks, feeling a moment of insecurity coming on.
"Yes, Star?" Ness answers her.
"Will you hold me?" Star inquires softly.
Ness smiles, laying down by her side, and pulling her into his arms. Star softly sighs as she hears the rhythmic beating of his heart, and feels the rising and falling of his chest as he breathes. A chest she thought would be his downfall in his battles in the past, and a chance that it could be in the future but has a feeling that a chance of that happening is pretty much obsolete. She says nothing for awhile, keeping her eyes closed, and notices his breathing has slowed down. Star weakly looks up at him and realizes he has fallen asleep, and closes her eyes, burying the side of her face in his chest.
"I told you so," Star says, half-chuckling, half-sleepily, before falling back asleep herself.
******************************************
Cain looks out the window of an abandoned building. Tears line his emerald eyes as he walks to Ariadne's bedside. He kneels down and softly runs his fingers through her long black hair, as the sunlight creeping through the crevices in the blinds glimmers on her pale skin, evidence of her battle with Death its very self.
"Ariadne," Cain softly whispers, "You can't go; you can't."
Nothing stirs from Ariadne, no words, no movement, not anything, the only exception being her barely heard breathing, revealing what seems to be a losing battle with death. Hera has returned to space to inform her mother and father what happened.
Cain observes in silence and sighs. He pulls off the bandages that are over her wound, and winces at the sits of it. The small recipe of healing herbs that his father had taught him so many years ago, before he despised his family, is helping, but not much. He knows that only Ariadne's will can save her now. Cain crushes the various herbs in a bowl, mashing them into a poultice, thing how amusing this would seem to Ness, that he is actually glad about his family for something. He slowly and gently spreads it on the wound carefully. It is at that moment that Ariadne cries out and startles Cain.
"Ariadne!?" he cries out in surprise.
"Cain…" she says in a painful whisper, "Cain, where are you?"
He prepares to put the bandage back on, "I'm right here, hang on, this is gonna sting a bit."
Ariadne grits her teeth as he presses the bandage against her stomach. He softly holds her hand within his.
"I'm right here, Ariadne, I'm right here," Cain says softly.
Ariadne slowly opens her eyes, "Cain, I…I was so scared."
"Shh…it's over now. Don't worry," Cain reassures here.
"I'm so ashamed," she manages to speak out, "I've failed you all."
"You've failed no one. It's not your fault," he soothes her.
"I failed you, Cain. The only man I ever have cared about," Ariadne whispers painfully.
"Shh…it's okay, sweetheart," Cain tells her, making a certain sparkle appear in her eyes and she softly smiles, "You haven't failed me. You're still alive, aren't you?"
Ariadne nods and weakly speaks, "Yes, I am."
"Then, that's all that matters," Cain replies, gazing into her dark eyes," Cain replies, gazing into her dark eyes, "Now get some rest. Hera will be back soon, so I suggest getting it while you can."
Ariadne softly giggles but then winces in pain, "I thought that it would never hurt to giggle."
Cain softly chuckles at her, then softly strokes his finger through her hair, "Get some sleep; I'll be waiting when you wake up."
Ariadne softly smiles and her eyes flutter closed.
Cain lets out a sigh and rests his head on the side of her bed, relieved.
*********************************
Adonis Pablochiva sits in his chair on his flagship, Baron. His call light on the console in front of him flashes. He presses his intercom button to show one of the soldiers on the screen.
"Yes, what is it?" General Pablochiva demands.
"Sir, we are in position to attack," the soldier replies.
"Good, wait until Tekkaman Ashura is in position," Pablochiva orders.
"Yes sir," the soldier answers, then disappears off the screen.
Pablochiva looks up at the main screen as he watches his forces get into place. He has heard about Evil's defeat at the hands of Starlight and Blade. Luckily, Evil has survived so far, but leaving Saber and her out for awhile. And it seems that Blade and Starlight are severely weakened as well. He laughs silently to himself. He knows that now is the time to attack Crystal Island, while they're still weak, with only two fledgling tekkamen, Summer and Dead, whom Ashura should be able to crush easily. The Crystals shall belong to Master Golbez. He notices that his other call light is blinking and quickly answer it, knowing to whom it belongs.
"Master Golbez," Pablochiva answers, "What brings you to be in front of my lowly presence?"
"Hera is in place," Golbez tells him, "Attack whenever your forces are in place."
"Yes, I will at once, my lord," Pablochiva says in a subservient voice.
"Good, make sure of that," Golbez orders and his figure disappears from the screen.
"Tell all forces to attack!!" Pablochiva yells at his men.
"Yes sir!!" his men reply.
**********************************************
Suddenly, Crystal Island is rocked by explosions as military forces appearing on the horizon begin their attack.
"We're under attack!" Terra cries out from the control room, "Military forces are going to surround the island in minutes."
***********************************************
Meanwhile, Star and Ness's peaceful sleep is disturbed by the sudden attack.
"What's going on!?" Star asks, half-startled.
"We must be under attack!" D-boy cries and jumps out of bed.
"Ness! Wait!" Star calls out, getting out of bed. Her body gives way, however, and she collapses to the floor.
"Star!?" Ness says to her, rushing to her side.
"I'm all right," Star reassures him as Ness holds her close, worried.
"You can't move in your condition!" Ness says softly.
"But the battle!" Star argues.
Ness is now caught between two choices, one is leaving Star helpless and in potential danger to go out and fight or stay here with her and face losing the battle instantly. He has no clue what to do. He feels that he should stay with her, and protect her, now more than ever since he realized he is her guardian. But if he doesn't fight, he might not be able to help her; he might be leading her to doom. Suddenly, the comm link, on the table next to her bed, lights up. Ness immediately answers it and Terra's face comes on the screen.
"Yes?" Ness inquires.
"Stay there and protect Star. We've got things covered." Terra answers.
"Are you sure?" Ness questions.
"Yes, David and Dead End will go out to fight, so everything should be okay since Saber and Evil are gone," Terra replies in a calm voice.
"All right then, D-boy out," he states as he turns it off, and h olds Star close, "Don't worry, it will all be over soon."
Star looks at him and nods, "Yes, let's hope that we've trained them well enough."
******************************************
Tekkaman Summer and Tekkaman Dead streak across the sky on their destination towards the battle. Suddenly, the Beta makes a flyby and comes back around, joining their side.
"Thought you might need some help," Anita says over the intercom.
"Thanks, Nita," David answers, calling her by her nickname.
"Oh, I brought a few friends," Anita mentions as Amazon valkyries and sol tekka fly in behind them.
"Oh, a few huh?" Dead states, looking at the forces they're leading, "Are the guns ready?"
"Yes, the rest of the Space Knights below are preparing the defense grid," Anita replies, "All right, bogies at twelve o'clock."
"All right, move out and attack!!" Summer cries as he takes off speeding into battle.
War cries are heard from the sky as the Radam forces and forces of Crystal Island engage in combat. Tekkaman Dead rips through his opponents with his tekka sword. Summer throws his lance like a boomerang, letting spider crabs be torn to shreds as they are caught up in its path. He barely dodges a nearby one and retaliates by slicing through its side with his little dagger, and as the corpse hurtles to the ground he reunites the dagger and lance as one. From the cockpit of the beta, Anita shoots her laser guns, knocking Radam out of the sky.
"This is easy," Anita states.
"Yeah, too easy," Summer agrees.
Suddenly, the crystals on Summer and Dead's foreheads light up, indicating there's another tekkaman nearby. Then, a crimson red streak of light cuts through the sky, heading straight for the Beta, but thanks to Anita's quick reflexes dodges it, but the sheer power of the light shooting by causes the Beta to spin out of control.
"Anita!!!" Summer and Dead call out.
Anita luckily grabs control of the Beta before it's too late, and steadies out. The Beta turns around, heading back towards their direction.
"I'm all right," Anita says.
The red comet of light curves around and stops. A dim light flashes in front of them and reveals the form of Tekkaman Ashura.
"Ashura," Summer says calmly, "Dead, go with Anita and take care of the rest of the Radam. I'll handle her."
"Are you sure?" Dead asks Summer.
"Positive, now get going!" Summer orders him, and Dead and Anita fly off.
Tekkaman Summer flies straight ahead at Ashura. Ashura just seems to stare at him, hovering in the air.
"You think you can take me on by your own little self?" Ashura says smugly.
"I know I can," Summer retorts as their weapons clash.
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Back in the Crystal Palace, D-boy and Star sense the approach of Tekkaman Ashura, and her battle with Summer. Star stands up, trying to walk to the door. D-boy rushes to her side.
"Where do you think you're going?" D-boy asks.
"We've got to do something," Star replies, "I know Summer's fighting Ashura, but I need to know what's happening to the rest of our Space Knights, Ness, please."
Ness sighs, giving in, then wraps his arms around her so she can lean her weight against him. He looks down at her.
"I can least help you to the Throne Room," Ness replies to Star, who smiles.
***********************************
Summer lets out a gasp of pain as he crashes into the ground. The battle with Ashura has turned bad for him quickly. He stumbles up, trying to regain his balance, when he hears Ashura's scream. Looking up, Tekkaman Summer sees Ashura heading straight for him, her sword aiming for his head. He stands there unable to move. Suddenly, something crashes into Ashura from the side, sending her to kiss the ground. He looks at the figure that jumps back from Ashura.
"Dead," Summer says, looking at his old friend.
"You all right Summer?" Dead asks.
"Yeah, thanks for the save," Summer answers.
Dead looks back at him, "Any time."
"Dead, in front of you!" Summer cries out to him.
Dead turns to see Ashura flying at him. He raises his sword to block, but due to the force of Ashura's weight and speed, is unable to stop her and both of them going flying back, nearly crashing into a nearby river, which turns into a waterfall cascading down a cliff.
"It's time to die, you poor excuse for a tekkaman!!" Ashura yells as she prepares to bring down the finishing blow on Dead.
"Leave him alone!" Summer cries, charging at her.
Ashura turns toward Summer, who knocks her away from Dead and sends them both hurtling towards the waterfall and over the cliff.
Dead hears the sounds of their impact below and stumbles up. He tries to go after them, only to initiate combat with spider crabs and Radam tekkamen, preventing him from seeing if Summer is okay.
******************************************
Back in the throne room, Star and Ness gasp as they watch Summer hurtle over the cliff with Ashura. Suddenly, the sensors light up as military forces appear on screen.
"It's Pablochiva," Ness says, irritated, "Perfect timing."
Star puts on a headset, "Anita…Anita, are you there?"
"Yes, Chief…" Anita answers as her face appears on one of the screens.
"Summer needs your help! Go see if he's okay," Star orders, "Dead is unable to."
Sounds of laser are heard as Anita's attention is diverted to the battle in front of her as she eradicates some of the Radam forces.
"Chief, I can't; I'm surrounded here, there's no way I can get to him!!" Anita replies.
D-boy looks at the screen, and then turns to Star, "He's on his own now."
"There's no way, he can't do it," Star comments, then shakes her head, "We've got to get out there and fight!"
"You can't Star; you both haven't recovered your strength yet. Even Ashura will have a chance at beating you!" Terra states afraid for her daughter.
"Then we better hope someone has a damn miracle up their sleeve," Star says and watches the battle.
Celes notices something out of the corner of her eye and looks, seeing an indicator button flashing. At first, she doesn't realize what the light means, then she remembers, and her eyes widen.
"Ummmm…Terra?" Celes calls out to her older sister.
************************************
Summer moans as he recovers consciousness. He opens his eyes; his vision still blurred and wonders how long he was out. Summer hears the sounds of battle all around him and figures that it hasn't been long.
"What happened to Ashura?" Summer thinks out loud, but his answers are soon answered as he feels a presence and hears armored footsteps heading towards him.
Ashura laughs as she slowly takes her time walking to Tekkaman Summer. Summer struggles up to his knees, and then falls back, unable to focus. He can slightly see her figure heading towards him, and starts inching his way backwards, trying to escape the best he can, but knows it is useless. He finds himself leaning helplessly against a tree, watching Ashura's slow and calm approaching figure.
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Down in the lower levels of the Crystal Palace, a tube raises, releasing green liquid goo and a figure as it takes in a breath of fresh air. It senses the raging battle outside, its fellow kind fighting for their survival. It steps toward the door, an emerald crystal in hand, as the figure's instincts kick in gear and beckons it towards the battle, toward deadly combat.
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"Terra, you better take a look at this," Celes calls out..
"What?" Terra says and looks down at the blinking light, "Oh my, there's movement in the lower levels."
"Movement?" Star questions, "What's going on?"
"Don't worry about it, Star," Terra replies, and then notices the light stopped flashing. "What's going on?"
"It's gone, huh?" Celes says, looking up at the screen, "There's movement on the level above; it's heading towards the nearest exit."
"So, one of them has awakened," Terra states calmly.
"Awakened? What are you talking about mother; what's down there?" Star asks puzzled.
"Don't you remember Star?" Celes questions.
"What?" Star inquires as a memory comes back to her, "A plant?"
Celes nods, and looks at her, "Do you remember what else?"
"All I remember is bursting from the tekka pod and a giant room," Star says as Ness looks from her to Terra, "but that's all I remember since I could sense the battle outside and wanted to help; I didn't pay attention to what was all in there."
"You have a Tekka plant?" Ness asks astonished.
"Yes, we do," Terra replies.
"Don't worry Ness, no one was down there but me," Star says, looking at him, then turns to look at her mother and her aunt, "Right?"
Terra and Celes just look at each other.
****************************************
"Well, it's been fun playing, but now playtime's over," Ashura says to Summer as she lifts her Tekka sword in the air.
Summer looks up at her, and then suddenly he senses it-another Tekkaman. Ashura turns slightly, only to be hit by a comet of emerald light. The comet curves up and Ashura smacks straight into the wall of the cliff. Summer shakes his head, his vision now clear, and stands up, watching the light, thinking that it's Blade. Dead finishes off the spider crabs to see this tekkaman flying through the sky. The Beta joins Dead's side, hovering.
"Did you see that?" Anita asks.
"Yeah, I wonder who it is?" Dead inquires.
"You mean it isn't Blade?" Anita questions a bit puzzled.
Suddenly, the light curves down and lands a distance in front of Summer. The light dissipates, and reveals a green-armored female Tekkaman. Her weapon is a spear encased with tiny emerald-colored crystals. She stares at Summer, her long white hair dancing in the wind.
"Who are you?" she asks.
"Tekkaman Summer," he replies, with a tone saying he's being very cautious, "What about you?"
"The name's Tekkaman Winter," she answers.
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"Another Tekkaman?" Star asks, and looks at the new tekkaman talking with Summer on the screen.
"Yes, her name is Winter," Terra answers.
"Do we know here?" D-boy questions.
"Well, not you," Terra responds, then looks at Star, who stares straight at her, "but you…you know her pretty well."
"I do?" Star inquires.
"Yes," Terra replies in a distant voice, looking at the screen, "You might be closer to her than you think."
*********************************
"Winter…" Summer softly states as he looks at her.
Suddenly, a battle-pitched scream from Ashura's direction startles them both. Ashura flies at a dancing mad speed for Winter.
"Winter! Watch out!" Summer yells as a startled Winter looks at Ashura.
Ashura swings her sword at Winter, who raises her tekka spear to block. Unfortunately, her weapon is knocked out of her hands, spinning through the air, sticking into the ground a bit of a distance from her. Winter takes a couple steps back, not knowing what to do.
"Hmm… what do we have here?" Ashura questions in an evil tone of voice, "Looks like we've got a fledgling tekkaman."
Dead stands there as Anita flies the Beta around the scene, unable to get close and knowing that they can't save Winter in time.
"A fledgling…" Summer says drifting off.
"She's untrained at this, David!" Dead says to him, communicating through their thoughts, "Winter has no idea what she's doing! Most likely, she's just became a tekkaman! She'll have no chance against Ashura!"
"Well, you did get a lucky shot at me for being a fledgling, but not good enough," Ashura says as swings her sword, which Winter is able to dodge, but Ashura kicks her, sending her flying, crashing, and sliding across the ground. Winter looks up as Ashura jumps into the air, preparing to thrust her sword down on her. Summer takes off and flies at Ashura and just before she kills Winter, tackles Ashura away from her.
"Summer!" Winter cries and gets up, running for her spear.
Dead and Anita start to go help him, but a blast from a Radam tekkaman's voltekka stops them. Dead jumps on top of the Beta, both of them charging at the unit of Radam tekkamen.
Meanwhile, Summer fights for his life with Ashura. Winter grabs her spear, jumping into the air, and lands on Ashura, stabbing her in the shoulder. The blood splatters all over Summer's armor. Ashura reaches up, grabbing her by the arm and throws her off. Winter screams as she does, flipping in the air, and landing hard on the ground. Summer kicks Ashura off of him, running to Winter, and helps her up as Ashura reaches behind her, screaming in pain as she pulls Winter's spear out of her shoulder, which has cut all the way down to her scapula. In anger, she throws it straight at the two of them, and Summer throws Winter and himself to the ground, dodging it as it becomes lodged in the cliff wall.
"Are you all right?" Summer asks, looking at her.
"Yes, thank you," she replies nodding, and stands up, grabbing her spear out of the wall. "But I don't think even the both of us can destroy her, fighting like this.
Ashura charges at them both, and Winter and Summer take to the skies. Summer makes a mental note that Winter fights a lot better than Hiver did in her first battle.
"We'll have to use our voltekkers!" he says to her as Ashura starts to chase them.
"I...uh..." Winter starts to say, "I don't know how!"
Those last few words almost makes Summer crash straight into the ground, and he looks directly at her.
"You don't!?" Summer exclaims.
"Well, it was never explained to me; I know I have them somehow." Winter says, a bit confused.
"Just control it with your mind! It's all in your mind!"
"Voltekker!" Ashura screams as crimson red energy blasts forth.
"Watch out!" Summer yells, grabbing Winter and yanks her out of the way from the energy.
Winter watches Ashura's voltekka and pushes Summer away, looking straight at her opponent, "My turn! Voltekker!"
Sparkling emerald energy explodes from her emitters on her shoulders, aiming straight for Ashura. Ashura tries to dodge but no avail. Winter's voltekka hits her and she flies backward with it as it implodes into the ground; but the force of the energy being released pushes Winter back.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh!!" Winter screams as she flies back, hitting a startled Summer, and sends them on a first rate collision course with the ground.
*************************************
Back at the Crystal Palace, Star and Ness wince as they watch a cloud of dust comes up from Summer and Winter's impact. They watch as a stumbling Ashura comes up from her crater and speeds off in retreat, her forces following.
"The forces are retreating," Ness says, "I bet Ashura is not too happy."
"But one thing is for certain," Star comments.
"What's what?" he asks, looking at her.
"Winter needs some training bad," she answers.
"Well, at least she's not as bad as when Yumi became a tekkaman; look what happened the first time Yumi was in battle," Ness tells her, causing Star to remember Yumi's first battle as Hiver, when she lost control of the Reactor Voltekker and blew up some of the Space Ring, and winces a bit at the thought of that.
"Ness?" Star questions.
"Yes, Star?" Ness answers a bit nervously.
"Bring that up again, and next time you sleep in my quarters, it'll be on the couch," Star says in a matter-of-fact tone.
Edgar, Locke, and Sabin erupt into fits of laughter. Terra and Celes look at them, shaking their heads.
********************************
Meanwhile, Summer shakes his head groggily, trying to get up, but realizes that something is on top of him. He looks down and sees Winter's head, lying on his chest, unconscious.
"Winter? Winter? Are you okay?" he says softly, shaking her.
A slight moan escapes her as she comes back to consciousness. Summer watches her, and she looks up, staring at him.
"Does this always happen when you use the Voltekker?" Winter asks a bit puzzled.
"Well, I, uh, forgot to tell you to use your thrusters to push you forward since it tends to push you a bit backwards," Summer says apologetically, "My bad. Oh, and when you're on the ground, make sure your footing is secure."
Winter sits up on her knees and looks at him, "Looks like I have a lot to learn. Will you teach me?"
"Sure," he answers, sitting up, but winces and holds his side in pain.
She looks at him and asks worriedly, "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, no problem," Summer answers, brushing it off.
Winter lowers her head, "This is my entire fault, because of my recklessness."
Tekkaman Summer looks at her in surprise. She is worried about him, about him. It comes as a surprise, since no one really worried about him, except Yumi, but that was just her. No one has ever really cared about what happened to him before. He gently places his hands on her shoulders, causing her to look up at him.
"No, it's not," Summer reassures her, "I knew the risk and besides, we tekkamen look out for each other. That's what it means to be a team."
"A team." she says softly.
He nods at her, and they look at each other for the longest time. There is nothing but silence around them. Suddenly, they hear a cry in the distance, and look to see Dead and the Beta heading straight towards them. Winter, of course being new to all this, hides behind Summer, and grabs him by the arm.
"They're friends, aren't they?" Winter asks, not in the mood to fight again.
Summer almost laughs as Dead lands beside him. Dead looks from Summer to Winter.
"What's so funny?" Dead asks Summer.
"Nothing," Summer replies in a cheery voice, "Now, Dead, my dear old friend, I like you to meet Tekkaman Winter, Winter, this is Tekkaman Dead, a friend of mine."
Winter quietly and slowly steps out from behind Summer, "Hi."
"Uh, hi," Dead says, looking at her.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't tell if you were friend or foe," Winter replies.
"Oh, it's okay," interrupts Anita's voice as she hovers over in the Beta, "I would've have done the same in your shoes."
"Oh, and that's Anita," Summer says.
"Oh, and that's Anita? Well, introduce me like I'm a piece of garbage why don't you?" Anita states in a bit of angry tone, letting her guns aim a bit at Summer.
"Who happens to fly the Beta," Summer speaks quickly, "and one of my friends, and even saved my ass a couple of times. Don't shoot!!"
"Heheh," Anita laughs evilly.
"Anita!" Summer yells, recoiled in a twinge of fear.
The aim of Beta's guns move away from Tekkaman Summer, "Awww…David, you're no fun."
Dead shakes his head, and Winter giggles. Summer looks at her, a bit entranced for moments until he hears Dead's voice.
"Yo Summer! Are you all right?" Dead asks.
Summer shakes his head, "Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. We better get back to the palace."
Winter nods, "Yes, you're right. Let's go!"
Winter takes off, speeding towards the palace. Summer jumps up and follows right on her tail.
"Hey Winter! Wait up!" Summer cries as he speeds after her.
*********************************************
Star stands on a balcony, looking down at the flower gardens, a gentle breeze blowing. The scent of fragrant lilies and roses fill the air, the soothing sound of water flowing. Ness watches her for a moment before stepping out, joining her side. She looks up, staring into his emerald eyes, smiling.
"Mother is tending to Winter and David," Star comments in a soft tone.
"I know," Ness says gently, "but, that's not what I'm here for."
Ness draws Star close to him, encasing her in his arms. Tilting his head down, Ness closes his eyes and catches her lips in his. Star closes her eyes as well, wrapping her arms around his neck, embracing it. Time seems to stop in the moments that they hold their kiss.
"So, that's what it is," Star replies in a teasing voice, smiling.
"Hmmm, part of it," he answers warmly, brushing a strand of her green hair away from her face.
"Part of it?" inquires Star, her eyebrow raised as she gazes at him with her green eyes.
Ness nods, and then gently grabs her hand. With his other hand, he places something in her hand. Star's eyes widen as he pulls his hand away, gazing at a ring with a golden band and two little blue topaz stones with a single huge diamond in the middle of them. She looks from the ring up to his sparkling green eyes.
"I almost lost you once," Ness says softly, "without being able to tell you all the things I wanted to, and do all the things we wanted to. Now, I have that chance back again, and I'm sure as hell not going to waster it. I don't ever want to lose you again; I want us to be together forever. To share our dreams, to be able to hold and comfort you when the nights seem long. Star Mina Summers, will you say yes and be my wife? Will you marry me?"
Star takes a step back and looks at him, "Ness Geoffrey Carter!"
He just stands there and looks at her, smiling. Waiting to see how his life will be changed, forever. Star slowly develops a smile, and with a sparkle which makes her green eyes light up, "What made you think I'd say no?"
Ness reaches over and pulls her into a hug. Then he softly gazes into her eyes as he slips on her ring. Star softly touches his forehead with hers, and Ness pulls her into another soft, romantic kiss.
*********************************
David watches as Celes tends to the bruise on his side. He winces for a moment until the pain is no longer evident. Celes looks up at him.
"Looks like Winter got you pretty good, didn't she?" Celes asks smiling.
"Yeah, you could say that," David answers softly.
"Are you wondering who she really is?" Celes inquires, sitting down and looking at him.
"Yeah, a bit," David admits.
"Don't worry, Terra is talking to her right now. She'll be in awhile. In fact, she even asked about you," Celes tells him.
"Really?" David asks, perking up.
"Yeah, she feels bad, for hurting you. She wants to make sure that she didn't hurt you too bad," Celes answers.
"Oh," David comments, then both of them look over as the door opens.
Terra walks in and looks at Celes and David, stepping out of the doorway. At the moment, a young woman, about nineteen, walks in. Her eyes closed; she stands there silently. David stares at her, with her long white hair that falls to her knees, in her V-neck white cat suit, with a black shirt she wore underneath, and a black belt around her waist.
"Hi," David introduces himself, after a moment of staring, "I'm David Kruegel…Tekkaman Summer."
The young woman smiles and opens her eyes, revealing their crystal blue color, which David almost gets entranced in, "The name's Sara…Sara Moon Summers. Nice to make your acquaintance, David."
"Same here," David says softly and slowly, "…Sara."
"Wait a second," David thinks to himself, "Summers…isn't that the Chief's last name?"
David opens his mouth and starts to ask a question, but stops as the door opens again. Sara, David, Terra and Celes look to see who it is, and see a smiling Ness and a beaming Star coming through the door. Sara looks at Star, and for some reason, she gets the feeling that she knows her. Those green eyes different yet so familiar somehow.
"Hey Chief," David says, "Good news?"
D-boy places his hand gently on Star's shoulders. She looks up at him smiling, then back at David.
"Yes, very," Star replies in a happy tone.
Terra and Celes look at each other, wondering if Star caught on already. But what they hear next is not what they thought.
"Ness and I are getting married," Star replies in a happy tone.
Celes stands up and looks at them both, surprised, "Wow, that's great!"
David looks at them both for a moment, then nods, "Congratulations! Hey, I didn't know your name is Ness, D-boy."
"Yes, it's Ness Carter. I guess we never really told anyone, did we? Well, I guess you know now," Star answers.
"Now, all we need is the rest of the team back here. Right Star?" Ness says, looking at her warmly.
"Yep," Star replies nodding, and looks into his emerald eyes.
"Star?" Sara says in surprise, her eyes widening, "Star Summers?"
Star turns to look at her slowly, "Yes, I am, and you must be Tekkaman Winter, I presume?"
"Yes," Sara answers nodding, "You look so different now, Star. It's been so long. Don't you remember me?"
Star shakes her head, knowing she's seen Sara before, but doesn't know where, "I'm sorry, not right off the back. There are so many people who have come and gone in front of me in the short time I've been here."
"You don't!?" Sara says, hurt, "You have to…you can't have forgotten about me. Please, Star, remember; think back to your childhood. What we had of a childhood."
"Our childhood?" Star says as memories start flooding back to her, memories she has almost forgotten.
Sara stares at her, as Star's eyes widen in realization. Her green eyes fill with tears as she smiles.
"How could I have forgotten?" Star asks, "Is it…is it really you?"
Sara nods, tears lining her blue eyes and Star rushes over to her, hugging her. Both of them burst into tears of happiness the even cause Terra to cry.
"Sara! It's really you! You've changed so much, you're all grown up!" Star cries, "I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you! How could I forget the face of my own baby sister!"
Ness and David's mouths about drop open. David and Ness look at each other and back at the two crying and hugging siblings.
"Your little sister?" Ness asks startled.
"Yes, she was so little when I left her," Star says sadly.
"Hey, I was six, so I wasn't that little," Sara sniffles, "and besides it isn't your fault that we had to go away from each other."
"Still little to me!" Star replies, arguing a bit, "and beside, I should have tried to find you!"
"Can't tell we're sisters, can you?" Sara says smiling and causes them both to laugh.
After a couple of minutes of laughing, Star looks at Sara and smiles. Sara looks at her a bit puzzled, wondering what Star is thinking.
Star hugs her little sister again, and smiles, "Welcome home, Sis."
**************************************
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.
-Source Unknown.
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