The Neverending War Chapter 28

Alec and Gregory ride back to Beacon in a late-night bullhead, "So how was the dancing?"

Gregory smiles, "It was fun, though she is not my type a bit to sneaky. How did you convince your friend to get me the equipment?"

"Let me guess your type is blunt and capable of killing a man with a toothpick?"

"No, not really, what did you tell her? When I was dragged out, she was against selling me weapons and when I get back in she is advising on what type of weapons I should get instead."

"Would you believe me if I said that I offered to sleep with her?"

"No, because you would not bring that kind of destruction upon Vale."

Alec smirks, "I think you are overreacting."

"What, and I cannot stress this enough, the fuck did you tell her"

Alec looks down, "The truth."

"Ah fuck."

"Yeah."

The Bullhead lands at Beacon, the pilot leans over from their seat, "Thank you for flying late night air, please be safe and do not puke or piss once you exit the flight."

The pair of boys step out onto the landing area and begin walking toward the building that was the fortress of Beacon. The lights glow steadily as the pair walk past the massive heavy doors a pair of soldiers from the Beacon Security Company salute Gregory as he approaches.

"Sir, all is quiet."

"You know the Headmistress did say that her staff could take care of security."

"Yessir but they are of more use in the city helping the people."

"I see."

"Is it true sir, that we are no longer military cadets?"

"It is and I will talk with you all about it tomorrow but tonight we all need sleep. Go ahead take a rest the doors are going to be shut by the staff soon they only kept them open this late for Alec and I."

The pair salute and begin to walk away, and Alec and Gregory step through the door as the massive stone door close sealing the fortress for the rest of the night.

Crimson Imerta sips a drink as she watches the front gate close, "Looks like our wayward General and new Colonel hare returned."

"You know he denies the title." A smirking Azul Pendragon lounges on a couch.

"So, I have heard." The headmistress stares out the window down at Vale, "he has the ability, the charisma and the trust of just about everyone else here." She turns away from the window, "the only ones that don't like him are the second years. Even the first years that don't like him are loyal to him."

"Heard he talked with Pointer, and got her to talk about why she is the way she is," The assistant headmaster sits up, "He took the information and did not argue."

"She was also the one that saved Amber Riptide and the Cadets."

"True but I think that was a calculated move, her semblance is perfect for that kind of operation."

"I would agree but she still went in."

"I do not think they are close or even willing to trust each other." Azul turns with a wave of his hand, "But if you are wondering if they will fight when their backs are against a wall and civilization is on the line…"

The woman stares at her old friend, "they will die like the heroes they have to be." The fear she hides almost all the time flows through, "I wish…"

"There was more time, more students, more information, that they were older, that the Kingdom was not on the verge of a coup?" Azul stares at the woman he has stood beside for more than twenty years the fear is his face matches hers as his hand spasming as he lifts it to wipe away a single tear. "You and I know that this word isn't fair, but we will do everything to make those kids more prepared than us. I have hope in them and faith in you." Azul stares into Crimson's eyes, "I always have had faith in you."

"You shouldn't your nervous system wouldn't be messed up if I made the right decisions." She touches Azul's hand feeling the spasms throughout his arm. "You could've left at any time found a love gotten married probably would have a ton of kids by now."

"I got what I wanted Crim, you know that. Don't put my choices and my experiences on your mind. I wasn't going to leave you." Azul smirks, "anyway you the only woman for me. Never wanted anything else that to stand by your side. Through the war; then the cleanup; then the peace, I wouldn't have survived the first few year of the peace without you, so many didn't, there were so many funerals, so many friend that couldn't survive the peace; then there was the new fights and you fought to bring the schools back. You scrapped together something more amazing than what we could have imagined."

"I was prepared to open an academy in a cabin if that was all we had, but I wouldn't have done any of it if you were not there by my side. I really wish things could have been different, I knew you wanted kids. I wish…" she sighs, "I wish our world would have let such things happen."

"I will be honest Crim," Azul stepped back, "Any child you bore would be terrifying," a smile stretches across his face as he hits a few buttons on a console. Soft music starts playing as he offer's his hand to Imerta, with a false curtsy she takes his hand with a smile, "One the child you have your eyes mine are far too boring and one pair of those eyes ripping into my soul is enough," the pair start dancing slowly, "and two a child raised by us would be stubborn, easily angered, be trained in how to kill someone with a pencil, and who had an understanding of right and wrong and a belief they should stand by it." They spin a bit as Azul smirks, "That little child would be a terror unto the world before they could walk." He shifts his hand hold to prepare to spin Crimson who allows the direction, she spins out reaching the end of her arm and rolls back to position, "Anyway I think we adopted enough kids now wouldn't you say?"

As the song ends and Crimson Imerta smiles as she bows to her partner, "Sir Azul Pendragon I have said it before and I will say it again I should have married you."

"Madam Crimson Imerta I have said it before and I will say it again, I would the moment you felt we should," Azul bows deeply.

"Then we should."

Azul stands up from his bow in surprise, staring into the woman's eyes in front of him confirming what he heard, when he got that confirmation and only then did, he nods. Dropping to one knee he speaks words that he prepared years earlier, and with practiced ease he speaks, "Crimson Imerta Defender of Beacon, Knight of the King, hero to Remnant will you do me the honor of allowing me to marry you and make you my wife and myself your husband until death takes the breath from my lungs and the blood from my heart." He pulls out a small medallion from his pocket a normal engagement medal for Huntsmen as rings were useless in combat.

With a practiced movement, and trained ease Crimson Imerta clasps her hand over Azul Pendragon's and pulls him to his feet taking the Medallion and attaching it to a piece of chain on her vest; with equally practiced ease to the man in front of her she speaks words that seem to have been etched into her mind years before, "Azul Pendragon Heart of Beacon. Knight of the King, hero to Remnant; I cannot ask for a better husband than you and I thank you for the honor to be your wife until the instant death takes from me my soul to be yours. I would be honored and blessed to call you, my husband." She allows herself to be pulled into a kiss with a smile.

Pulling away after a moment Azul Smiles, "I have waited a long time for that."

"Me too."

"Sadly I don't think there will be time for a honeymoon."

"I am afraid not." Crimson Imerta smiles softly, "But we will have to do a proper ceremony for the kids." She sighs, "After the escort missions are done. We will do it proper." She turns to him, "Crimson Imerta-Pendragon," She touches the Medallion, "You know I have one for you also, you are the only man I would have said yes to."

"I know," he touches her shoulder as the pair sit down on the couch, "Thank you for saying yes."

"I should have given you the word sooner." She places the medallion for him in his hand.

"Maybe," Azul agrees as he takes the medallion and secures it to a pocket watch chain proudly displayed in the open, "But today is soon enough, I am not going to worry about what is done only what is to be done." He lifts the medallion with his semblance to stare at it. "Do you think the King will be willing to Officiate?"

"Do you think that he would give us a choice?"

"I love you Crim."

"I love you Azul."

The Next morning is harsh on many of the students as they start to awaken from their desperate slumbers, in the Room of Amber Riptide it is odd as it is half empty; only Tina, Beethoven, Mimi, Rita and Alec are in the room waking up to an alarm. Tina looks a bit surprised and Beethoven smirks as their eyes turn to Alec's bed where both Mimi and Rita are stretching as they wake up and swing themselves out of his bed. Rita allows her wings to stretch and Mimi walks past her to the shower. After both women enter the bathrooms and the water turns on Tina turns to Alec as Beethoven continues smiling wide blinking slowly.

Speaking carefully Tina asks, "Alec is there something we should be informed of about your relationship with my leader?"

The thump of Alec's bare skull against the nearest solid object is heard, as Beethoven starts laughing his ass off from the other side of the room. "Tina, I wish I could tell you I really do."

"Well you did not seem to worried about waking up in a bed with Mimi and Rita which seems a bit confusing because I would have assumed you would have had if it was unexpected."

"Mimi usually crawls into my bed when she if feeling protective of me, and Rita found out about that habit the other night in the Infirmary and ended up in my bed. She was scared I cannot blame her we all barely got out of that mess. How are you two holding up?"

"I am dealing with the issues well thank you. As much as that may explain Alec were they in your bed last night and why were you holding their butts so tightly?" Beethoven begins laughing again as his coffee spills in surprise. "Would this not suggest some form of relationship," Tina smiles politely but with a threatening twist, "you don't seem like the kind of person to play with the emotions of people close to you."

"It is more of a I have no idea what is going on in the situation scenario. I got back late last night from a meeting with Gregory and our weapons supplier in the city to help him prepare for a small increase in personnel and was out the moment I saw my pillow."

"So you had a meeting with Bianca without Mimi or apparently your new flame Rita?" Beethoven asks seriously cutting off his laughing, "And, that was after the night in the Infirmary?"

Alec sighs defeated, "Yeah."

Beethoven, "Well congratulations Alec, I am glad you have found two beautiful women to fall for you. Unfortunately, Tina and I have to go back to the Synthetic workshop for diagnostics we will take showers there."

As she is grabbed by Beethoven Tina looks confused, "I was not told that I needed any more checks, I am fully combat ready."

"Trust me there are always more Diagnostics and we really do not want to be here when those two get out the Shower."

As the pair exit Alec sighs as he pours three coffees, "wish I could run from this one."

He sits on his bed with the three mugs waiting. The pair of showers shut off at a near identical time. A few minutes later the doors open, and the pair walk out, Alec sighs offering them drinks. "We need to talk."

"Alright General," A red and white woman sit across from the uniformed man in a night club, "If you want to work with us I want to know how you heard of us."

Augustus Leonard Pincter stares at the two women, "Your men fought during the attack, and not in small numbers, and people saw you two fighting the Red and White devils of the underworld defending the people from the monsters. Finding you was easy; the police knew where your main warehouse for your legal businesses was. From there I just looked for Red Tie gang thugs and two very beautiful criminal mob bosses and enough weapons to burn down a couple blocks of the city."

The woman in red smirks as she sips her wine, "and then you walked in like with a swagger and smirk."

The woman in white stares at the man as she leans over, "and asked us for help."

"That would be right," he glares back with a controlling smirk, "I will do anything to save this country even working with you."

"Why would you trust us…" Red starts.

"As you point out we are criminal mob bosses," White continues.

"How could you trust us," Red purrs across the table.

"We would just stab you in the back." White hisses.

"Because you mobilized, the Gentlemen, Operators, Righteous, did not. Not even the Claw or the Pure Breeds mobilized to protect people. They hid in their bunkers and basements hoping to be saved by those better than them." The General stares at the two women, "but you and your gang went out there armed with weapons from the war and fought that is the kind of people that have rules, that make deals, the kind of people that have ideals." His fist slams on the table neither woman flinches, "you are willing to fight when people are in danger." He shakes his head, "you won't stab me in the back."

The pair of women smile coldly their colored lips revealing their teeth. "Oh, I like him sister."

"I do too, that fire."

"Yes, so it is decided."

"Oh agreed, the boys are going to love this."

The pair speak in unison, with pleasure and sharpness, "We will help you find you problem children General, for King and Country."

"Then it is agreed, I am worried about the leaders of the movement, the men are just following examples. They can be re trained."

"Oh General, we will find you everything you need and more."

"And when you call for it, we will clean your house."

"Then we have an agreement, their families will be taken care of."

"And their Country will be secured."

The General stands and shakes both women's hands red and white glove clad hands wrap themselves around each of the General's arms, "Will you escort us home General, little ladies like us aren't safe out here alone."

"Why do I feel like I am the one being guarded?"

"Because you are ours now and the nice man that is watching us need to know that."

"Ah, how do you know he isn't a police officer."

"Because they have an agreement with us, out of respect for the Chief."

Red peels off as the General turns, "Keep my spot warm." She slips herself into the lap of the man with a warm smile. "Hello cutie, what brings you to this fine club tonight."

"Oh, just people watching," The man smiles calmly but shifts uncomfortably, "what are you doing."

"You know who I am right?" Her hand reaching around the mans neck, as he nods, "and you know who he is right?" With a worried gulp the man nods his head again. "Are you going to tell me who you work for?" As the man stiffens in resistance she smiles, "Well I guess a red demon isn't enough to get you to talk." She leans over to the mans ear draping herself on him, "you should of worn a wire." Red pulls herself off of him, "At least then someone would have known what you saw." Red stands up as her claws drip with blood as she walks away tossing a pile of lien to the waitress, "Sorry for the mess Black but I couldn't let him leave." As her hips sway her weapon reconciles itself.

The General offers his arm back to the woman with a cold stare as he looks at the man dead at the table his face torn to shreds and his through cut open. Every vein and artery cut and ripped open. "Who was he?"

Red holds up a wallet with an ID in it, "I am sorry General he was military intelligence."

Ecru stares out the window from his mansion at the lights of Beacon, his crown in his had with a polishing cloth at his table is a disassembled rifle and pistol. "Honey if you disassemble both your weapons how will you protect yourself?" His wife walks in through the door, her combat clothes covered in dirt and mess from training.

"I have the back up in my coat my love, I needed to clean these two after the combat in the city." He stares at the clean parts as he starts putting his weapons together, "I never thought I would use these in anger." The pistol clicks together and the loaded magazine slams in as he racks the slide. The safety clicks as it shifted on the mechanical arm disabling the trigger and locking the hammer back. He slips it into his shoulder holster, "I had these as symbols," He starts on the rifle as his wife who is listening pulls off her dirty combat clothing, "They said they King will protect himself if needed," The bolt slides in, "He will fight and if needed die for his people." The pins that hold the rifle together are clicked into place. "The King is strong. He cares for his people that is why he has these." He slams the magazine into the rifle charges the weapon and turns on the safety. "But I was down there, I am no protector, I allowed that to happen. My city my people they died because I was trying to keep a peaceful stance. I kept the military small, told the people the walls would protect us. I told them armies lead to war and here we are, there wasn't enough but even then I am told by a man I trust that the army I had I cannot trust." He places the rifle in a stand against the wall as he turns to his wife. "That the army prepares to overthrow me. Tells me to trust not his officers or his corps until he has cleaned house."

"I know honey please don't let this eat at you." She hands him his sword polished and ornamental, the edge sharp and fresh. "Please I think this is more about politics, more than you." She steps into the closet and starts dressing herself, "But what do I know I am just a huntress." She steps out in an elegant dress. No one but her closest trustees would know it is armored and reinforced to allow her to fight in it." Her weapon a large Yari, a sword spear, rests strapped to her back. "How do I look love."

"If looks could kill you wouldn't need your weapon." The King of Vale smiles looking at his wife.

"With how many knives are hidden in this dress I really don't need the Yari, but I think this event calls for a warning."

"I agree should I bring the rifle with bayonet fixed," The man smirks.

"No love, I think bringing your wife who is a living weapon capable of killing every fat lazy asshole at this little event and letting her have her weapon is enough." She smiles, "Well and you are bringing your pistols and your sword."

"They will all have theirs."

"I do not think any of those idiots even know how to use their weapons and they think their ceremonial swords are designed to scratch their asses."

"I wish we could avoid this stupid thing."

"No, no, my love don't think like that. These people are our people too, they deserve our respect. There are very few men I respect where we are going, old money from the council days who just get to live off the fat that their families stole from Vale during the corruption."

"But not just them will be there the Valean Schnee's will be there, and they have earned their right to be there, and the Hobbs, Laurenette will be there."

"Fair but most of them are from the advisory council which is just the same people from the old ruling council all over again"

"I know. But at least they really have no power just fake titles to make them feel good. And not going would be the worst insult and would be in the news."

"At least one of them is probably supporting this military coup plan."

"True, and that is why our son is safe at home surrounded by the staff and guards all of whom can and will kill to protect him."

"How was the sparing with the staff?"

"It was interesting, they heavily rely on the fact they are staff to surprise opponents they are skilled but the change in doctrine will take time, although the number of our staff who have trained in the arts of cane fighting surprised me I think they might be keeping the arm alive just in this house."

"It is good to hear. How about Arthur."

"He is excited to learn to shoot from his father and how to and I quote, 'Fight bad guys like a superhero' from his mother."

"I am glad." Ecru smiles and sighs offering his wife his arm, "Lavender of Vale Queen of this Kingdom will you join me at this disaster of a function that is far to late at night for people that have to get things done in the morning."

"Of course, My King."

A butler opens the door talking off his hat, "Sire and Lady the car is ready."

"Thank you, Carrion, did you make sure to load up the good stuff for the other drivers?"

"Yes sire, they will be thankful, I am sure."

"I am glad."

With those last words the King and Queen of Vale follow their Butler out of the room and soon their home towards a car in the driveway.

"Oh, what good work you did my children, breaking them apart. Making them react. Making them question their saviors. I am so proud, and you killed so well." A dark hand moves a piece on a chess board. "Check."