Orange Star: A revised history

by CO Mel

Finally Complete. The Final Battle. And Epilogue. As well as the extra feature chapters that I have included.

15. Summer sun, soon to fall, back to school

Orange Star: A revised history

Commanding Officer Mel

Disclaimer: I still don't own the company that made Advance Wars but I do own a copy of the game as usual.

Author's note – And anything in it is in Romanji or Pinyin and base Cantonese. Read And Review!

Time: Friday morning, 8:00 am

Place: Orange Star; Mel's home

Andy groaned as he stretched out from his place on the couch and walked to retrieve the mail.

"Junk, junk, junk, junk, more junk. Where are the bills!? Hmm? What's this? Oh for me . . . from Mel? Not a postcard either. Let's see." Andy tore open the envelope and took a look.

Hey Andy!

You're probably wondering why I'm writing from YC. Well to be honest, I have something for you. Please go to your room and search in the bookshelf. There should be a notebook I have left there that's white in color. It's rather beat up looking and there are various doodles on the cover. It's contents however may greatly interest you. And no, it's not pictures of Sonja you pervert! Either way, it would be to your greater interest that it is a manual I wrote up with Gabe and Gary on Destructive En and it's uses outside of battle. Please find it with haste. I am returning shortly to OS in order to give you and Sami a relative idea of the outside uses of it. But since you can use a CO power, I'd say it should be relatively easy for you to figure it out.

Be back before you know it,

Mel

And one more thing, have you finished fixing up my car yet!?

"Wow. An old D. En manual? He must have had a lot of time on his hands." Andy said thoughtfully, pocketing the letter. Walking up the three flights of stairs, Andy thought to himself, 'WHY DOES HIS HOUSE HAVE TO BE SO FREAKING BIG?' After finally dragging himself upstairs, Andy remembered there was an elevator installed, so he mentally kicked himself and started to raid the bookshelf for the white notebook. Too bad half the notebooks there were white. And they all had doodles on them. "DAMMIT!!! He'll be the end of me!!!" Andy screamed.

Time: 2 hours later

Place: Andy's room

Sitting in the midst of a pile of at least 90 different white notebooks, Andy groaned and started banging his head against the wall.

"Where . . .is . . .it!?" With a final bang, he hit the wall again, and another pile of books from the top of the shelf fell on top of him. One landed open in front of him,

'Destructive En'

"Oh! Here it is!" He looked through it, and found it was what he wanted. "Perfect! But wait . . .did I fix up Mel's car?" He thought carefully and remembered he was almost done. "Nothing beats working on someone else's car, especially when he pays you . . .at least I think he's paying me . . ." Andy trailed off . . .

Time: 7:00 am

Place: Yellow Comet

Sonja paced about frantically packing whatever she needed before she left. A few of the high school students that looked up to her followed her around making more of a fuss than she did.

"Sodashi-sempai! Where are you going? Why aren't you staying at Yellow Comet!?"

"I told you before, the Orange Star University is the better Academy for Intel."

"But . . ."

"And you three shouldn't be fussing over this. We don't need everyone enlisting into military academies. We need people that have normal careers too."

"But Sodashi-sempai!"

"Hinata-chan, no. I don't care. You're to stay here at Yellow Comet and find yourself a nice peaceful job. You too, Mitsumi and Maehara."

"But . . ."

"Now you three leave Sonja alone. It's best that you do worry about your own futures. She has to be in the military because her father's the emperor. Now leave it at that. I joined because it was a somewhat natural talent I have to focus En. Sami . . . joined . . .well I don't know. I'll ask her." Mel said, putting his hand on Sonja's shoulders.

"Is Uma-sempai, Sodashi-sempai's boyfriend?" Maehara asked.

"EH?" Sonja blushed. "No! I don't have a boyfriend!"

"But you two were always so close."

"We have our differences." Mel mumbled, his face reddening as well. "Anyway, I have Sami."

"Did someone say my name?" Sami said, peering into the room.

"Yes. I did, but . . .how'd you get here so fast?" Mel said staring at her over his glasses.

"I was just walking around. I'm done packing. And as for those gardeners Mel, I think you really should stop. They're probably on strike by now."

"Eh? So you HAVE been attacking the gardeners Mel-nii-chan?"

"Um . . .I DENY EVERYTHING!!!" He ran outside and of course bumped into the twentieth gardener. "Aha! A gardener!"

"HOLY CRAP!!!"

"DIE! DESTRUCTION STRIKE!"

'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!'

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

"MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Here we go again." Sonja sighed. "Father will be glad when Mel goes home today."

"Yeah." Sami said, the two of them looking out the doorway in utter shock and horror at the giant hole in the door screen . . .

Time: 9:00 am

Place: Yellow Comet International Airport

Sonja waved goodbye to her friends, and hugged her father as she followed after Mel and company. Sami managed to buy two large cases of canned iced chocolate coffee, by snitching about 300 G from Mel's wallet. Mel didn't notice the missing money and he bought about 10 pairs each of orange and black sunglasses. He also had a nice new sword hanging on his belt with the D. Blade. Gary had at least two bags full of early released video games from the duty-free store. Gabe had an equally large amount of comic books and DVDs. Alice and Allison just sighed at the antics of their crazy boyfriends. However, they each carried about 5 pounds of various junkfoods that would probably last them for the next 3 months.

"I'll see you later daddy! Don't worry! Mel and Sami will take care of me!" She called out. "And you three! I expect you to be in Yellow Comet's technological institute or university or something!"

"C'mon Sonja, hurry up!" Sami shouted at her. "Let's move!" She ran up behind Sonja and pushed her to all the way to the gate.

Time: 9:30 am

Place: Yellow Cometan jet

"Good grief. I do hope that the pilots take the short way this time around." Mel muttered.

"Yeah."

"Sim Battle anyone?" Gabe said.

"How about bloody fist fight instead?" Mel said threateningly. He was still annoyed that Gabe had pulled a Painful Death on him.

"Uh . . .okay . . .never mind." Gabe then leapt behind one of the seats and hid there. The response from the others was just pure silence.

"How about the Fighter Sim instead?" Gary said holding out a smaller device that he was plugging into the Battle Sim console.

"What's that?" Sami said, poking Mel in the arm.

"Remember the Destructive En fighting I was talking about? Well this tests that."

"So?"

"You basically have a programming of all the skills that you yourself can use and you make command inputs for them. It's just like Street Fighter." Gary said, hooking up controllers to the hardware. "I was fiddling with this one just a while ago. They were testing it just a while ago at the school."

"That's neat!" Sami said examining it. "Where do you input the program then?"

"Use your CO pin. But you'll need to know what you're capable of before you can even play."

"Aww."

"Don't worry. You should be able to figure out how to use your Destructive En abilities soon. After all, I've seen you use Double Time out of battle to chase Andy."

"SHE CHASED ANDY!?" Sonja screeched.

"Um . . .yeah. He was making lewd comments so we beat him senseless."

"Grr . . .I'll take you on first Mel!" Sonja said, pulling off her pin. "I of course figured out how to use this since it was developed in Yellow Comet first."

"Argh!!! How come they get all the good stuff first!?" Gary complained.

"I dunno. But if you wanna go at it Sonja, fine." Mel grabbed a controller and stuck his pin into the receptor.

"Okay. Here goes!" Gary flicked on the screen and it projected a small battlefield that looked strangely like a Yellow Comet sword fighting dojo. Then the two combatants showed up on the screen. On Mel's side, there stood 'Mel', standing with his hands in his pockets and his sword hanging at his side. On Sonja's side, there was 'Sonja', wearing fighting robes and she had her sword in her hand.

FIGHT!

Mel: Heh, Sonja, why are we fighting?

Sonja: I really don't know.

Mel: All right then. Come on!

Sonja: I won't go easy on you!

Computer: Ready? Round 1 . . . FIGHT!

Mel: (taunt) (waves at Sonja) Hey Sonja!

Sonja: (taunt) (pulls out her glasses and looks at Mel) You don't have to wave, I can see you just fine!

Mel: Flame Smash! (leaps up and slashes at Sonja's head)

Sonja: You missed! (uses Escape)

Mel: (roundhouse kicks her in the face) Ha!

FIRST ATTACK!

Sonja: Ugh! (falls on her back, leaps back up) Grr . . . Peaceful Silence!

Mel: Huh?

'Clink . . .'

Mel: GAH! (collapses)

Sonja: (taunt) Heehee! Too slow!

Mel: (runs up and sweeps her) Heh.

Sonja: Eek!

Mel: (finishes the attack with an axe kick to the stomach) Ha!

Sonja: Ugh!

Mel: Shadow Burst! (En surrounds him as he stands in the middle of the screen)

Sonja: Can't hit me! Distant Slash!

Mel: (get knocked off his feet) Ugh . . . Level Three SUPER! You can take on me, but can you beat all three? (grabs Sonja)

Sonja: Eh?

Sonja looked at the screen, staring at what move Mel just pulled off.

"What on earth is that move?" She asked, pausing the game.

"Just unpause it and watch." Mel said laughing.

"Uh . . ." She hit the button and watched as the CO move took action.

Mel: C'mon! (slams Sonja into the ground) Hmph. (pulls out his rifle and tosses it into the air and lets it spin)

Sonja: (about to get up) Ugh . . .AUGH! (gets shot at by Gary)

Gary: Hahahahaha! (firing)

Mel: (draws his sword) Hmm . . .

10 hit combo

Gabe: Ninja strike! (tosses shuriken burst)

15 hit combo

Gabe: Slash! (slashes Sonja)

16 hit combo

Gary: (pulls out his rifle) Hmm.

Mel: Ha! (leaps up)

Sonja: (gets back up) Ugh . . .

Mel: Ya! (tosses sword down at Sonja)

Sonja: AGH!

Gabe: (leaps and grabs onto the wall)

17 hit combo

Mel: (catches rifle) HA! (fires downward)

Gary: (fires horizontally)

Gabe: (jumps off wall and slashes Sonja)

20 hit combo

Gabe and Gary: (leave)

Mel: (lands next to Sonja, then pulls out his sword from the body) Die!

Sonja: (scream)

21 hit combo! FANTASTIC! DRAMATIC KNOCK OUT!

Mel: (kicks knocked out Sonja) Hey! Get up! (kicks again)

"Hahahahahahahahahaha! I win this round!" Mel said happily.

"Grr . . .stupid level three attacks." Sonja grumbled. "Well you may have round one, but I'll get you yet!"

ROUND 2 FIGHT!

Sonja: Go on Mel, taunt me!

Mel: I think I will! (taunt)

Sonja: Ha! Thanks! Level Three Super! (runs straight at him)

Mel: Eh?

Sonja: (uses Peerless Insight) Take this! (cuts Mel with a single stroke)

Screen goes all black

FIRST ATTACK!

Mel: Guh . . .(falls over)

That's what we call big damage!

Sonja: (sheathes sword) Hmph.

Mel: (critical damage, get back up) Level 1 DESTRUCTION STRIKE! (fires a beam at Sonja)

Sonja: Ah!!!

5 hit combo! Good!

Sonja: Comet thrust! (stabs Mel)

Mel: Destruction – AGH!

DRAMATIC KO!

Sonja: (changes to a kimono and pulls out a fan) I'm not the delicate flower you thought I was ne?

Mel groaned as Sonja giggled mischievously at his loss.

"You're pretty good at this."

"Of course, if I don't have anything better to do, I'd be playing. But I do have to admit, your Gang Beat attack caught me off guard."

"Heh, You ain't seen nothing yet." Mel said, turning his attention to the final round.

ROUND 3 FIGHT!

Mel: I won't lose this time around. BLADE PULSE! (sends flames across the ground with his sword)

Sonja: Lotus Blade! (deflects the flame)

Mel: (blocks it) hmm . . .

Sonja: (vanishes and appears in front of Mel) Slash-through! (goes right through him)

FIRST ATTACK!

Mel: Grr . . . (grabs Sonja and slams her into the ground) Take this!

Sonja: (gets back up, but isn't prepared for the incoming onslaught)

Mel: Burst Flame! (grabs Sonja and charge fire into her)

Sonja: (shrieks)

Mel: (Flip kick) Ha!

Sonja: (knocked into air again)

Mel: (axe kick) Ya!

Sonja: (knocked straight to the ground)

Mel: Flame KICK!

Sonja: (kicked off the ground, then kicked in the stomach and then in the head) Ooh . . .

EIGHT HIT COMBO! GREAT!

Mel: Heavy Shock! (electrocutes her with En)

Sonja: Ah! (flies to other side of screen, gets back up, stunned) Ooh . . .

Mel: (taunt) Had enough?

Sonja: Ooh . . .(still dizzy)

Mel: Hmph! (punches her)

Sonja: Ah!

Mel: Ha!

Sonja: Ooh . . .you're gonna get it now! Level Three SUPER!

Mel: Huh?

Sonja: (Going about my day; Diary 2)

Mel: Argh!

Sonja: (using precise and painful slashes)

17 HIT COMBO! FANTASTIC!

Mel: (dazed) Ugh . . .

Sonja: (stabs him) Ha!

Mel: Urk! That does it! Time to finish this! Destruction Blade!

Sonja: (guards it, life is critical)

Sonja: Cherry Blossom!

Mel: (just about to use the last strike)

Sonja and Mel: (both hit at same time)

DOUBLE KO! HOW DID YOU EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN!?

"Say what!? A double KO? Great." Mel grumbled.

"I can't believe you Mel. You had to use a super."

"Blah, like you could do any better. You used a regular move."

"REMATCH! I demand a rematch!"

"How about we let the others go have a round first?" Mel said, wiping the sweat off his hands. "Phew I hadn't done something like that in a long time!"

"Yeah, but in a real fight, can you hold out Sonja?" Gary asked taking the controller from her.

"I . . . I . . .HEY! I was still gonna play!"

"Not if we can help it!" Gabe said, taking Mel's controller. "Let's go! Close range techniques against long range ones!"

"(sigh) This might prove to be even weirder than that last fight." Sami said.

"You haven't seen these two fight against each other yet. A gunman and a ninja swordsman, heh. They're the best in their class."

"Isn't it kind of illegal to have two assassins in the school?"

"Naw, almost everything is legal because the militaries of all the countries need various . . .services from people like them."

"Who trained them?"

"Gabe took it upon himself to do it to avenge his family. Gary is well . . .same thing."

"So they're vengeful nutcases?"

"Yep."

"But how?"

"They weren't nuts until Blue Moon decided to mow their family down. Quite simple as I'm wasn't nuts to begin with either."

"But you're not."

"Getting revenge isn't the right thing. They just act that way. I was just kidding."

"But what about the guns and swords and stuff?"

"En weapons. They were so called 'gifted' with En like others. Simply put, so are you and Andy and Sonja. Without En, a CO would be unable to activate the aura of CO powers."

"I see. But if people who have En, choose not to be COs . . .what about them?"

"Then they gain other benefits from having it. Because using En powers use up quite a large amount of the spiritual energy of the CO, and it is controlled by how they have shaped their skills etc., En used will vary from person to person. For me, I probably need quite a large amount of energy just to pull off Destruction Strike, whereas you can activate Double Time in a matter of turns. As for Armageddon, I'm not sure about that one. Perhaps a more powerful CO power technique? I don't know."

"Uh-huh. Then what about Sonja? All she does is increase vision and hide damage."

"That's passive En . . .I think. Small things like move range and cost and vision are . . .considered to be passive I guess. I'm not a scholar of it, but I've learned enough to distinguish various differences in En. Andy though . . .since he can repair units, I'd say it's more of an opposite of Destructive En, but it still is a branch of it, ah . . .restorative En?"

"I'd say that would work." Gary said, turning his attention back to beating Gabe into a pulp. "WILD ARMS!!!"

"NEVER!!! X STRIKE!!!"

"CANCEL THIS!!!"

"EAT THIS!!!"

"SHUT UP!!!" Mel yelled. "I can't hear squat if you two go on yelling like that!"

"Oops. Sorry."

"Better. Now where was I?"

"En."

"Right, En. Anyway, it lets you basically do what you do. That and the basic training that you give to your troops. So it's not all in the En."

"Oh! That makes some more sense then. But what about the CO powers? That's En?"

"Um . . .I guess so. How else could you increase strength, range, move and those other things?"

"Yeah. Works for me."

"Good. I need an iced coffee." Mel said, walking over to the fridge and yanking out a six-pack of them.

"Say . . .isn't that one too many coffees?" Sami said peering at the six tall cans of instant caffeine.

"Nope. It's all good." Mel said, cracking open a can and downing it in an instant.

"I want one."

"Here you go."

"Mmm. Coffee, but I still prefer chocolate cookies and stuff over it."

"Yeah. It's rather typical of you."

"Mmm-hmm." Sami sipped her can of coffee quietly as she stared out the window. "Do you think we're going the wrong way?"

"We better not be . . ."

"You never know."

"I'd say we're probably going the right way."

"More or less."

"MUAHAHA!!! I WIN!!!" Came a jubilant cry from the fight simulator.

"SHUT UP!" Mel yelled at them.

"(gulp) Yes sir . . ."

"Don't call me SIR!"

"(gulp) Okay."

"That's better." Mel sighed, and peered out the window as well. "It looks about right. Just ocean."

"Mel-nii-chan! Sami-chan! What are you two doing?"

"Looking out the window." They said simultaneously.

"What's so neat outside the window?"

"Nothing."

"Oh." Sonja then noticed the four remaining cans of coffee on the seats next to them. "Ooh, iced coffee! Yay!" Sonja grabbed a can and downed the contents in a gulp. "Mmm. Caffeine." Then she commenced bouncing about the plane on a sugar high.

"Oh dear God, not again." Sami moaned as she knew Sonja when she was hyper, was HYPER.

"Please let this trip be over soon." Mel groaned.

Time: 6 hours later

Place: OS Airport

Sami stepped out of the plane looking rather disheveled.

"Ooh! Sonja is not getting anymore coffee. Ever!"

"Agreed." Mel said, carrying a now tuckered out Sonja on his back.

" . . . just a thought, but how are we gonna get home?" Gabe asked looking equally disheveled, as everyone had to run around trying to chase down the Yellow Cometan princess.

"Call Andy. He should be home." Mel said, plunking Sonja down onto a row of chairs in the lobby.

"How are . . . let's see 2, 4,6, 7 of us gonna fit in your car?"

" . . . good point. Call Nell."

"Okay." Gary put down his luggage and pulled out his cell phone and walked off. A few minutes later, he came back.

"Well?"

"Nell said she'll bring her car, Andy and Max to come and pick us up."

"All right. We're finally back."

"Yeah. How much longer do we have though?" Sami said, looking at her watch.

"Of what?"

"Summer."

"Less than a month and a half." Mel said.

"That's more than enough!"

"For?"

"That thing you were talking about."

"What thing?"

"That weird fighting thing."

"Ooh. Right. Sorry, short-term memory."

"If it weren't for your Destructive En skills, flippant attitude, and long hair, Mel you'd be such a geek." Sami teased.

"Hey! What do you mean a geek!?"

"Well, let's see, you're smart, you play video games way too much and well, you look like one with those glasses. That and all you do is get good grades."

"So!? That doesn't make me a geek!"

"I'm just teasing." She giggled.

"Grr . . . I know that. If it weren't for YOUR skills, I'd say you would be one of those air-headed chocoholic girls that tease boys for fun."

"Hey!"

"Haha!" Mel ran off as Sami started chasing him.

"Those two . . .are officially the weirdest couple at OSU." Alice muttered to Allison.

"So true."

"HEY! WHAT ABOUT US!?" Gabe and Gary complained to the other two girls.

"You two would be just plain nerdy. All you do other than date us, sing and play video games is STUDY. You two probably study more than we do."

"NOO!!!" Their scream of horror could be heard throughout the airport and of course, there was such a great silence, that even when Sami finally caught Mel and was strangling him to death, she stopped dead in her tracks and heard the sound of a fly buzzing away . . .

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Place: Finally at home!

Andy drove Mel's Dragon home, with the other four sleeping soundly in their seats.

"Woo! Mel's car is definitely the best I've tinkered with! Now that it's got almost everything, it's the bomb!"

"Huh? Bomb? Where?" Sami mumbled sleepily.

"I didn't mean a real bomb, cuz."

"Oh. Okay." She yawned.

"All right! We're home!" Andy shouted, waking up the unsuspecting occupants of the car.

"GAH! I'm up! I'm up!" Mel yelled.

"We're home."

"Mmm . . .Andy?" Sonja finally realized what had happened. "Andy!"

"Sonja! Good to see you're awake!"

"Missed you!" She tried to leap from the back seat to hug him, but Mel had belted her in, so she just choked herself as she jumped. "Urk! Seat belt!"

"Should have warned you first. Sorry."

"It's okay. Get me out."

"All right Sonja. C'mon. Let's get you out of this garage and inside." Andy said, lifting her up onto his back and carrying to the house.

"Hey Andy!"

"Huh? Yeah?"

"I like what you did to the car!"

"I do my best."

"Now the only thing I need to do is bullet proof it, and bomb proof it, and what not."

"Do you even think I'm capable of doing something like that?"

"Yep."

"Actually, I'm not."

"Damn."

"Yeah. Please don't kill me."

"I won't, but I need to find a way to fix it up . . ." Mel stood thinking about it. "I'll do it later. I'm exhausted." He got his bags and headed into the house. "And don't even think about trying to do anything with Sonja as of now, she's in no state to do anything but sleep."

"Huh?"

"I am not!"

"Trust me, we were chasing you around the whole plane. You are so."

"Fooey."

"Anyway, show her to her room. We'll talk at dinner."

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Mel's house

Sami sat on her favorite couch at Mel's house, kicked up her socked feet and stared at the TV.

"Ah . . .home sweet home."

"What are you up to, hmm?" Sonja said leaning over the couch.

"Sitting on the couch, what else?"

"You lead an awfully boring off-school life at home don't you?"

"Yeah."

"She won't when she's gonna learn those En techniques." Came Mel's voice from the corner.

"Eh? Oh right."

"Sonja, you're gonna help them train."

"Aw, no downtime?"

"Sure why not? We still have a good chunk of summer left."

"Okay! Say . . . where's Andy?"

"He's up in his room studying my old notes. It's surprising, I haven't seen him study so much ever. Too bad En techniques wasn't in the curriculum at the University."

"That or the fact that there wasn't a sword-fighting club."

"Yeah. Fencing, Kendo, anything to deal with swords. Nil." Mel sighed, staring at the blank TV.

'gurgle . . .'

"Eh? What was that?" Mel said, staring at Sami.

"Um . . .I think that was my tummy saying it's time to eat."

" . . .Right! I forgot about dinner! Pizza anyone? I don't feel up to making anything." Mel said, slumping over the couch.

"Sushi pizza?" Sonja asked, hopefully.

"No. Just pizza."

"Aw. Anchovies?"

"No."

"Ew. Sonja, how could you eat those things?" Sami asked, with a disgusted look on her face.

"It's just fish. What's wrong with that?"

"The fact that they're icky." Sami said, making a face.

"Hmph. I'm gonna make sure you're getting ran into the ground during training." Sonja said pouting.

"Aw, you're mean." Sami whined.

"Not as mean as you." Sonja said, sticking out her tongue.

"Not as mean as I'll get when I eat the pizza by myself if you two don't stop arguing." Mel said.

"Eh . . .um. Sorry."

"That's better. Now how about we get two pizzas with half and half or something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Works for me."

"Good, now I need another iced coffee."

"You've been having a thing for that iced coffee since I've met you."

"Yeah so?"

"Doesn't that make you high or something?"

"More like the opposite. Heh."

"What on Earth are you talking about Mel?"

"I use it as a suppressant. It makes me tired and calms me down, so I don't go about smacking around the wrong people." He said, walking into the kitchen.

"Oh. That's kinda creepy."

"You two want one?" Mel emerged from the kitchen holding yet another six-pack of the beverage and offered one to Sami.

"Ooh, thanks."

"No thanks, Mel, I don't think I need to be hyper or anything right now."

"Thank goodness."

"What was that?" Sonja said with a tone of annoyance.

"Um, nothing Sonja-chan."

"Hmph."

"Phew . . . (that was close!)" Mel quickly slid away and headed to the kitchen to phone the delivery place.

Time: The next morning at 8:00 am

Place: Where else?

The last night was rather . . .uneventful. Unless you count Andy burning his tongue on fresh baked pizza, Sonja getting an eyeful of tomato sauce and Sami and Mel fighting over the last slice of pepperoni, you could really say it was uneventful.

So after an uneventful night, our heroes are asleep in their rooms . . .

'Breep! Breep! Breep!'

'Thunk!'

"Darn thing. Can't get anymore sleep than this . . ." Mel muttered dragging himself out of the bed. Or attempting to, as there was something sitting on his legs.

"Morning!!!" Came an extremely cheerful voice.

"Eh? Morning . . ." Mel yawned.

"Well? Are you gonna do that training or what? Hmm?" Sami said shifting slightly so Mel could sit up.

"How can you be so . . .perky in the morning?"

"Oh, I don't know, even though I've been sleeping in for the last while, it's always good to get back to regular habits. That and a big glass of chocolate milk does wonders!"

"Ugh . . .I'll get to waking up soon enough. Please just get off my legs."

"Okay!" She hopped off his legs and sat on the side of the bed.

"You're awfully cheery for someone who's gonna spend the next month or so learning extra things out of school."

"It's gonna be fun though!"

"You're starting to sound like Andy."

"Am not!"

"I refuse to be in an argument like this."

"Fine! Be that way!"

"I will. Now if you don't mind, go wake up Andy and Sonja."

"Okay!" She walked off to go wake up the other two. "See you!"

"Yeah . . .sure."

Time: 15 minutes later

Place: Outside courtyard.

Mel stood wearing his usual uniform, consisting of the white garments and long coat. His sunglasses sat on his forehead as he surveyed the sandy floored yard that was beside his home. Sonja stood a few meters from him, wearing a tank top and shorts, leaning lazily on her sword.

"They coming yet?" Sonja asked, stifling a bored yawn.

"I dunno. They should be." Mel answered, looking at the cooler sitting next to him. "Hmm." He opened it up and pulled out a carton of milk and downed it. "Calcium. Good stuff."

"I think I'm lactose intolerant."

"Sure you are. Now where are Sami and Andy?"

"Last I checked, Sami was still waking up Andy."

"Great . . ."

"AUGH!!!" A scream sounded, then a dull thud was heard.

"That'll teach you to sleep in!!!" Came another voice.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say that red lump on the ground is Andy." Sonja said, peering carefully at it.

"Works for me." Mel shrugged, as he heard the sound of Sami double-timing all the way down the stairs.

"Gasp, gasp. Sorry we're late guys . . ."

"It's all good. Now drop and gimme 50 pushups!" Sonja said.

"But Sonja!" Andy complained.

"No whining! I bet Mel had to go through this when training with my father!"

"Actually I didn't. I trained with Gabe and Gary after I learned a few sword tricks from your father."

"What!?"

"Yeah. I basically developed most of my own skills. I do know one thing. Andy's quite adept at acrobatic attacks already. He just needs to use some En techniques and he'd be all set."

"Hmm. You have a point there."

"Andy, how many different kicking fighting styles do you know?"

"Enough to cause someone some serious hurt!"

"Show me."

"But I'm only at 30 pushups right now."

"Screw the pushups, that was Sonja's idea. You too Sami."

"Okay!" Andy said, jumping back to his feet.

"Kick that target hanging in the tree."

"All right! That's easy!" Andy leapt up and scissor-kicked it, causing it to crack in half.

"Okay. Now hit that target that's 10 meters from you." Mel said, watching intently.

"Slash kick!" Andy performed a leap and did a front flip and dropped his heel onto the target, all the while performing the splits.

"Oh man, how'd he do that!?" Mel groaned.

"Okay. What'd you think?"

"It's all good. Just a sec. I need a coffee." Mel grabbed an iced coffee from the cooler and took a sip. "Geez. That's just wrong . . .doing the splits like that . . .ugh."

"I told you I can do it!"

"How are you for focused attacks?"

"You mean like this?" Andy spun around and delivered a straight kick to the tree, making a cracking noise as he hit it.

"Please tell me that was the tree and not your leg." Sami said.

"Nope. It's the tree." Andy said, regaining his stance. "I can do some serious counter-attacking too!"

"I don't believe you. I've hit you so many times last year, all you did was fall to the ground out cold."

"Try me." Andy said.

"All right. Ha!" Mel pulled his sword from his jacket and swung at Andy.

"Hmm. Ha!" Andy grabbed the back of Mel's flat edged sword and flipped him over and placed his foot on Mel's throat.

"Gah . . .impressive . . ." Mel groaned as Andy released his foot from Mel's throat.

"What's with that sword dude? It's not sharp . . ."

"That's the point. If you tried that with the Destruction Blade, you'd be burned. I just had this one made before I left Yellow Comet. I'd expected you'd be ready to train, so I made sure no one gets hurt when I practice with you guys."

"Eh? Flat edged sword? That's just great Mel. But can you do anything with it?"

"It's still a D. En weapon all the same. Watch." He allowed the weapon to be wrapped in a glow of En, and slashed the ground, sending flames across it.

" . . .when do we learn how to do that?" Andy asked, surprised that Mel had already mastered that.

"After I teach you how to create the En. When do you think?" Mel asked, still waving around the glowing blade.

"Eek! Keep that thing away from me Mel!" Sami said, dodging out of the way.

"Sorry. But this En is quite more useful in terms of physical combat, instead of just using tanks to pulverize everything."

"Uh huh . . ."

"It's easy to build CO En as you attack and defend in a battle. To gain the En that is built up in a fight is also easy, if you understand how to store it."

"Yeah so?"

"Doing so allows you to unleash a CO technique, or Super. However you must have a certain amount of En stored."

"But if you use that En, can you still use regular En attacks?"

"Yeah, the CO En is basically stored when you fight, and you unleash it as an attack. Regular En is used whenever."

" . . .that's confusing to say none the less."

"It's not that confusing. Remember when I used Destruction Strike on the gardener and sent him flying? Well that was stored CO En from getting annoyed and angry."

"But . . .how does getting annoyed or build that up?"

"It's like adrenaline. But stored . . .however, it doesn't last that long if you fight constantly. It'll only last for about maybe three or so rounds with that one person or team you're going up against."

"This is just too plain weird." Sami said, sitting down.

"It would probably help if you read that notebook of mine."

"Yeah Sami. It's quite neat with what's in there! I think if I concentrate hard enough I could generate a flame like Mel."

"You mean like this?" Mel held out his hand and sent a sweep of fire across the air.

"Yeah!"

"Heh. There are 4 known different elements of CO abilities. Ranging from fire, wind/lightning, earth and water, COs with knowledge in this can render most of their foes senseless."

"But what about Sonja? She doesn't look like she uses any of those." Sami said, recalling the simulator.

"Some other COs just channel En itself, unable to use an elemental type attack. It's more of an inner energy instead. Either way Sonja could probably cut you down Sami."

"Hmph."

"Speaking of which. I'd say based off both your personalities and such, you and Andy would be capable of generating flame En. Another thing, there is more to En than elemental types as well." Mel said, but was then cut off by Sonja.

"Yeah. According to some research I did with Gary and Gabe, Mel can use mainly flame En, but his type of En is mainly explosive."

"Whereas yours is just physical and channeled into your weapon."

"Exactly." Sonja said, drawing the sword out and cutting across the ground.

"Now, as for Sami . . .what can you do?"

"I can do enough. Most of them are just basic self-defense techniques and some flying kicks and dives . . ."

"Hmm . . .you're gonna be harder to train. But ah well. That's typical of someone who's already specialized in certain things, etc., etc."

"Oh just great. This'll be fun . . ."

"Anyway . . .there's gonna be a long month ahead . . ." Mel trailed off.

"But why are we doing this again?" Andy asked.

"Umm . . .just for fun?" Sonja piped up.

"No. To make sure they know a thing or two in close combat against the real enemy, blah, blah, blah, so on."

"Oh."

"All right then, drop and give me 50! All three of you!"

"But!"

"No buts! Get on with it!"

Time: A good month later . . .August 15

Place: Gary's house

After a month or so of intensive training in the art of Destructive En fighting, and the switching of various instructors every day, Sami and Andy probably were drilled far worse by Sonja, Gary, Gabe and Mel than any old drill sergeant. Of course, after maybe at least 500 cans of iced coffee, 100 chocolate bars, 20 liters of soda a week and who knows how many fires started by accident, they finally managed to generate the En properly and were ready for the so-called 'final' examination.

"Wee! This is fun!" Sami said, making fires here and there and then causing them to disappear.

"I'll say . . ." Andy said, looking at the flame he held.

"Now we're all set. I've managed to program your pins to contain data of your abilities etc., and we're gonna test it out, arcade style!" Gary said, holding the two star pins in his open palm. "You two are gonna fight each one of us, but we'll be on a lower ratio than you, so it'll be easier. And it's two on one. Just don't hit yourselves."

"Uh huh."

"Anyway, the commands are listed, and they should be a second nature . . .I hope."

"Yeah!"

"Great! Now which one of us do you want to take on first?"

"Andy, who'd you think we should go up against?"

"I dunno, definitely not Mel first. Sonja?"

"Works for me!"

"Since when can it be two on one Gary?" Sonja asked, rather anxiously.

"Since I reprogrammed the software. HA!"

"WHAT!? No fair . . ."

"Anyway, you're up first Sonja." Mel said, pushing her up to the console.

"This might prove interesting . . ."

"Or not." Sami said, already laying smack down on Sonja she and Andy were speaking.

"And . . .well . . .looks like they won already." Gary sighed, staring at the graphic of Sonja lying face down on the ground and Andy and Sami doing victory poses.

"Yes!"

"Wahoo!"

"No fair . . ."

"This'll prove interesting enough, huh Gabe?" Gary said, plugging in his pin. "Here we go!"

Time: 5 minutes later

After taking the longest amount of time to just finish off Gary and Gabe. Sami and Andy looked for Mel, who was their last target.

"Mel? Where'd he go?"

"Take a guess."

"Iced coffee. Again."

"Yeah. I'm back what'd I miss?" Mel said, drinking yet another can of instant caffeine.

"You're next Mel." Gary said, handing him the controller.

"Oh. Great."

"Ooh, great master of the art. We shall defeat you!" Sami said teasingly.

"Spare me." Mel said rolling his eyes. "Let's see what you two are made of!"

"Let's go!"

FIGHT!

Mel: (apologizes to Sami) Eh . . .Sorry."

Sami: (pouts at him) Hmph!

Andy: Heh, wanna fight?

Mel: Works for me. (adopts his lazy stance)

Andy: Shockwave! (sends a burst across the ground at Mel)

Mel: (leaps over it and flip kicks Andy into the air)

Andy: Gah!

Sami: (uses Burst and hits Mel as he lands) Burst!

Mel: Oof! (lands on his feet) Hmm . . .Flame Smash! (crushes Sami with flaming sword)

Sami: AH!

Andy: (Striker, kicks Mel into wall)

Mel: Argh! (lands on his back) Axe-kick! (smacks Andy straight into the ground)

Andy: FLAME SHOCKWAVE! (sends Lvl 1 super at Mel)

Mel: (blocks) Ugh . . .

Sami: (from behind) Outrage! (grabs Mel and beats the living daylights out of him)

Mel: (critical damage, LVL 3!!! WARNING! WARNING) Heh. Destruction . . .STRIKE! (pulls out the rifle and blasts the two of them into the wall)

10 hit combo! Fantastic!

Andy: (critical)

Sami: (critical)

Mel: (critical) Hmm. (taunt, waves at them) Ha!

Sami: Grr . . .Hi! (uses Provoke)

Mel: (stunned) Ugh . . .

Andy: Eat this! STRIKE! (Uses Lvl 2 Critical Strike)

Mel: AH!!! (flies away and hits the ground)

SAMI AND ANDY WIN! GOOD JOB!

"Woo, that was short and tough . . ." Mel said, dropping the controller onto his lap. "I have to admit defeat. But you two make a pretty good team despite your differences . . ."

"I guess we do."

"Well now, let's go home and party then!" Andy said.

"Not so fast." Mel said, bopping him on the head with the hilt of his sword.

"Owch!"

"We'll go home, but we're gonna do it for real!"

"NO!!! We might get hurt!" Sami complained.

"Since when were you afraid of a little pain?" Mel asked.

"Since me and Sonja started slapping each other around that time."

"I'll go easy on ya."

"Aw . . .how about you go against Sonja? You owe her a rematch . . ."

"Maybe when we get home."

"Yeah, I do wanna rematch."

"Hey Sonja?" Sami said, leaning over to the other girl.

"Yeah?"

"Do me a favor, when you're fighting Mel, try and cut that stupid ponytail off." She whispered.

"I'll try . . ."

"Thanks."

"What if he gets mad?"

"He's too easy-going to get mad. You'll be fine."

"I hope so."

"Hmm? Say . . .where are Allison and Alice?"

"Hot Springs. One month getaway somewhere in Alara mountains." Gabe and Gary said bluntly.

"I noticed you two looked rather dull . . ."

"Yeah. Since WE got stuck training them." Gabe muttered, heading out. "If you need me, I'll be home. Which is next door."

"Yeah. I think I know where you live. I've been to your place who knows how many times to play darts with your knives."

"Yep. I think I deserve a round of darts. The target is gonna be pictures of you guys!!!"

"Um . . .are you okay?"

"Just slightly annoyed I couldn't go on holiday. But it was fun. I have to admit that."

"And you?"

"I'm going with him. Shooting things is quite . . . relieving." Gary said, pulling out dual pistols from his coat.

"Okay then . . .scary." Mel said to himself. "Ah well, let's go home!"

Time: A short 5 minute drive later

Place: Mel's house

"Ooh, are you gonna fight Sonja now Mel?" Sami asked, from her spot on his back.

"I'll see . . ." Mel said, carrying her to a nearby garden bench. He looked carefully at the grassy garden, wondering if it'll ever be the same if a war would occur. There wasn't anything special in it, just a lawn, then a sandy lot for training and a few trees. Next to the garden was the house. Relatively tall, large and foreboding, it wasn't really the best place to be when alone. But no longer being alone, Mel felt a sense of comfort and sighed with content and sat down on the lawn.

"Are you okay Mel?"

"I'm happy."

"What?"

"I'm happy. That's what."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you, it's awful lonely sitting in a house like that eating and well sitting all by yourself for the past couple years."

"Oh . . ."

"I bet you had some great company with Andy being around everyday."

"That really depends. He was such a goof in high school."

"Well better than nothing."

"Why are you two talking about me?"

"Cuz we have no one else to talk about." Sami said, kicking her feet.

"Works for me. Hey Sonja! Can I see your sword?"

"Ah, it must be so wonderful to be . . . so Andy all the time." Mel said, laughing.

"You're joking right?"

"Of course I am!" He got up and hugged her. "It's all thanks to you two that I'm in such a good mood."

"Yeah, your welcome. But there's one thing that bugs me . . ."

"What?"

"That ponytail of yours!"

"What's the matter with it!?"

"It's just so wrong on you!" She scolded, tugging gently at it.

"Hmm . . .fine, I'll think about it."

"You promised to cut it off before we left Yellow Comet, but luckily for you, we had to leave. But now, we have to go and get it cut. It's been a month and it's really, really long now."

" . . ."

"You're not listening are you?"

"Nope."

"Stupid!" She whacked him on the head.

"Ouch."

"Ah well. As long as you get it cut."

"Later . . ."

"Okay."

"Now, I think Sonja wants a rematch." Mel said, noting Sonja who was leaning on her sword and staring daggers into the back of Mel's head.

"Oh, that seems . . .fun. Don't kill each other!"

"I won't. It's a blunt sword. The only thing I'm worried about is her killing me . . ."

"She won't. She knows better than that."

"I hope so." Mel said, with a semi-amused smile.

"Have fun! I'll cheer for you two!" Sami stepped over to a bench on the sandlot and sat on top of it. Andy was sitting on a bench across from her and was cheering for Sonja.

"Onii-chan! I challenge you!"

"Challenge? Oi . . ."

"I'm not gonna be as nice in real life as I am in the game!"

"You don't even look a thing like what you did in the game!" Mel said, noting her tank top and shorts.

"Hush! I can still beat you! I know my sword skills are better than that . . .slacker method you have."

"Whaddya mean slacker method?"

"The way you keep it hung on those loops in your coat. The gun too. You don't even use the sword unless you use a En technique."

"So? I can fight unarmed. It's no different. It's just that the sword and gun are . . .COOL!"

"You're getting weird."

"So?"

"Okay, whatever, let's just go and get it over with, all right?"

"Fine, fine, you've chosen your own fate now." Mel said, checking that it was the Flat Brand instead of the D. Blade.

"Hmph. You don't understand fate."

"Yeah? Well as long as you don't really try to hack me to pieces, it's all good." He stepped into his usual stance of standing with his hands in his pockets and leaning back slightly.

"How can you fight standing like that?"

"Simple. Like THIS!" Mel said, running straight at her and smacking his heel down right onto her shoulder.

"OUCH! NO FAIR! YOU CAN'T START THE ROUND LIKE THAT!"

"Too bad." He grabbed Sonja by the front of her shirt and lifted her up. "Burst FLAME!" He blasted her with flame and sent her flying across the lot.

"Cheap shot! Take this!" She ran toward him, and then straight through him.

"Ugh!" Mel fell face down to the ground, groaning in pain. "And running someone through with the back of your sword ain't?"

"Not at all."

"Hmm, BLADE PULSE!" Mel sent the burning wave across the ground with his sword and had already sheathed it in a blink of an eye.

"Stupid nii-chan!" Sonja leapt out of the way, and started a super combination strike. "Time for you to see how I go about my day!" She taunted, and began slashing non-stop at Mel.

"Augh!" He managed to parry a few of the blows, but then he turned to dodge, and the final blow had managed to sever his ponytail.

"Got it!"

"Eh?" Mel turned around and saw the strands of hair slowly blowing away. "That's how it's gonna be huh?"

"Yeah."

"Very well. I am going to enjoy my . . .vengeance."

"You can't hurt anyone with that sword. Not badly anyway."

"I don't have to use the sword. I can use En. Destruction Blade!" He jumped at Sonja sword drawn, and swung viciously at her.

"Eek!" Sonja tried to block, but she couldn't parry any of the lightning fast blows that he dealt at her. She was still trying to block as he had already gone right past her.

"That's that." He spun the sword around and the click of it reentering its sheath was heard.

"But . . .I didn't feel a thing."

"You weren't supposed to."

"Huh?"

"Trust me." He grabbed her shoulder and pushed her gently to the ground. "I'll apologize beforehand for your complete humiliation."

"What are you talking about? I'm fine – " As Sonja was about to stand up, she noticed her hair ribbons had come apart. "No . . .no, it can't be."

"Hey, Andy! What's going on!?" Sami called out as she ran towards Sonja.

"I don't know. But Mel did something mad crazy!"

"I . . .I don't believe it. How could he manage . . ." Sonja stuttered, as she saw the outer layer of her clothes slowly fall to pieces. "How could he manage with no real blade?"

"What THE!?" Sami screeched as she saw Sonja on her knees, lamenting to herself, as her clothes slowly fell off . . .

"It's . . .it's impossible." Sonja said, hugging her knees to her chest. "No one, no one I know can manage that . . ."

"No one normal that is." Mel finally said, looking Sonja in the eye. "I'll have to admit. I cheated just a bit. I covered the sword with En and used it to my advantage to cut at you."

"Impossible . . ." Sonja mumbled as the last remnants of her clothing fell to the ground exposing her.

"Sonja! Sonja! C'mon! Let's get you covered up . . ." Sami said, shaking her friend gently. She ran back inside to grab a blanket.

"No . . .can't be . . ."

"Mel! What'd you do to her!?" Andy demanded.

"Nothing . . .not yet."

"But what's she doing sitting on the ground naked!?"

"I sliced up her clothes only. I didn't lay the blade on her at all . . .since there is no blade to speak of."

"But . . .but . . .how then?"

"Just wait. She'll learn her lesson soon enough." Mel said calmly.

"Ack!" Sonja clutched her hand to her chest.

"What's the matter?" Sami asked, as she came back holding a pile of clothing and a large sheet.

"It hurts . . ." Sonja said, moving her hand away and staring at a large red welt forming across her torso.

"That's impossible . . ."

"It is impossible." Sonja said, hiding herself under the sheet.

"But . . ."

"I don't know anymore. I'm not sure of anything. Maybe I shouldn't have cut off his hair . . ."

"That's partially my fault . . ."

"No . . .I felt cocky and believed that I could win this match. Especially considering how much coffee was in his system. But I was wrong. His sword skills are probably far more than equal to mine."

"But he's Mel . . ."

"Still . . .I learned from all the sword masters in Yellow Comet. I knew all the techniques . . .and to be beaten by some coffee high friend of mine who doesn't even train on a regular basis . . .it's shameful . . ." Sonja said, feeling her face go red. "It's even worse when he uses a sword that can cut a thing!" She said, starting to sniff.

"Come on, you're acting like I did when I lost to Mel. Calm down. You're gonna catch a cold."

"Am not . . ." She sniffled, as the tears started to stream slowly down her face.

"C'mon Sonja." Andy said, offering her his hand. "We really should get you inside. It's starting to get . . .snowy?"

"Must be Commander Olaf's training run . . ." Mel said. "C'mon, get inside. All of you. Especially Sonja. Sami, get her to her room and try and find a way to calm her down or something . . ."

"Okay . . ." Sami took the bunch of clothes and helped Andy drag Sonja back inside.

" . . ." Mel sighed to himself and wondered what was going on. Everything seemed so . . .strange. He stared at the last few strands of his stray hair fly away in the wind, along with the scraps of cloth that used to be the clothes Sonja had worn during their rematch. " . . .what a year . . .ACK!" He groaned as huge hunks of snow started descending from the sky. "Stupid Commander Olaf and his stupid damned stupid Blizzard . . ."

Time: Three days or so later

Place: Where else?

Sonja had avoided talking to Mel, as did he avoided talking to her. Their only means of conversation were messages transferred by Sami and Andy. Mel sat in his room, staring out the window. The snow had finally started to melt and things were starting to settle back into a normal August climate.

"Mel! Sonja says she accepts your latest apology again!" Sami said running in.

"Tell her thanks. I just hope she won't be too . . .beat up. We have to get to classes soon."

"I'll tell her. Say . . .what are you doing?"

"Nothing really. I haven't bothered to do much since. It's awful boring."

"Yeah. I guess it is. What do you think is gonna happen this year?"

"What? Another attack? No thanks."

"I have a question though . . .how come your eyes start to glow red sometimes?"

"I'm not quite sure. It could be a by-product of excess rage and Destructive En . . ."

"That's kind of scary Mel . . ."

"Yeah . . .sometimes I wonder if I have been experimented on . . .haha."

"That's way too scary!" Sami whimpered. "It doesn't seem right."

"Ha. You never know. Sometimes I'm not even sure how I managed to get this power . . ."

"Huh?"

"Most of the time, it's because you train. Some other times it's inherited."

"So?"

"I know my parents didn't have it. And I didn't train much. But it goes to show, some rumors of this come from having suffered severe trauma, the En is released and so on. But who knows? Really?"

"Yeah . . .I guess."

"Hmm . . .speaking of which . . .how's Sonja?"

"She caught a cold. She's getting better. But that red welt across her chest . . .did you do that?"

"Hmm? Oh . . .tell her I apologize for that one too . . ." Mel sighed.

"How'd you do it?"

"It's not hard to leave a mark with a sword that has no blade. It's just like whacking someone across the back with a bamboo stick . . ."

"Ooh. Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Practically cut her to shreds . . ."

"I don't particularly know. Sometimes I've lost control in a fight and caused a person more pain than they actually deserve. I held back, and only caused her more embarrassment than anything else."

"But that must hurt a lot . . ."

"It does. I know it. I've been taking more beatings than anyone else I've known. Ha. Being attacked by unknown armies, feeling the bitter sting of a cold blade, all sorts of fun stuff. Haven't been shot yet . . ."

"Shot . . ."

"What's the matter?"

"I've been shot . . ."

"!!!"

"Yeah . . .that year when I lost my parents. Those Blue Moon infantry were gunning down civilians. I was hit. Andy managed to drag me along with him to the APC."

"Uh huh . . ."

"He managed to stop the bleeding and I was taken to the infirmary. They managed to get the slug out, but I was out cold. Andy told me not to worry . . .but how he stays so happy and stuff . . .I don't know. He must been having some sort of delusion . . ."

"Right . . ."

"Anyway, I've been meaning to show you the scar . . . I'm surprised you never noticed though."

"What?" Mel was slightly vexed. Sami slid the left strap of her tank top down and there was a rather small pink scar on her back.

"See?"

"Yeah . . ."

"It hurts every so often when I think about it though." She said closing her eyes. "I really wish it hadn't happened . . ."

"No one likes war . . .but it's a necessity sometimes." Mel said philosophically, kicking his feet up onto the desk.

"Mm-hmm . . ." Sami fell onto the bed and sighed. "Yeah . . .then what're we doing in a military academy?"

"You tell me first. Then I'll tell you."

"I have a promise to keep."

"What might that be?"

"Get back at whoever killed my family."

"That seems too heavy for someone like you . . ."

"I know . . .but."

"Holding grudges and keeping promises are different. Now give a real reason why you're there."

"I . . .I . . ."

"I thought so. Or is it because of something else?"

"Hmm . . .I'll have to admit I'm somewhat a military brat. It's all Sonja's fault. She always like those strategy war games."

"I figured as much." Mel laughed. "So it's not all bloody vengeance then?"

"No . . ." Sami said somewhat cheerfully as she wiped away a stray tear.

"What's the matter?"

"It still hurts . . ."

"Oh . . .sorry."

"It's okay. Tell me why you're there."

"Well . . .because I had nowhere else to go. Normal life was boring, the army seemed interesting and it is. Not to kill or anything. That and perhaps the studying of Destructive En . . ."

"That's it?"

"Yeah? What did you think I would say? A promise to meet someone there?"

"Uh . . ."

"Exactly. Anyway . . .aren't you gonna talk to Sonja?"

"Oh! Right!" She hurried out to go and give Mel's reply to Sonja.

" . . .crazy girl."

Time: August 25

Place: Mel's house Sheer havoc

Sonja had finally set aside her silent treatment towards Mel and the two were once again chatting happily. But not right now. As you can see, the house was in sheer havoc, and everyone was arguing and panicking, as the school season was about to start again.

"WHERE IS MY SUITCASE!?"

"MY TOOTHBRUSH!?"

"GET A NEW ONE!!!"

"WHERE'S MY NEW SHIRT!?"

"I NEED NEW CONTACTS!!!"

"WHERE ARE MY TOOLS!?"

"SCREW THOSE! WHERE'S MY SWORD!?"

"IN YOUR JACKET!!!"

"RIGHT!"

"I NEED 20 G!"

"GET YOUR OWN G YOU MOOCH!"

"WHERE ARE MY PINK INFANTRY PANTIES!?"

" . . ." There was a dead silence, as the other three stared blankly at Sami.

"Say . . .what?" Mel asked, looking at her over his glasses.

"Um . . .never mind." Sami mumbled, feeling her face change to the color of her hair.

"Uh . . .I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Mel said, returning to packing his stuff.

"Double for me."

"Triple even . . ."

"Mel! Aren't you gonna at least help me first!?" Sami whined.

"No. Not after what I heard. I'll help you once I've regained my sense of normality."

"You're never normal though." Andy said jokingly.

"Shut up Andy." Mel said crossly.

"Gulp . . ." Andy groaned as Mel gave him the 'evil' look.

"Mel, I think you can blow up a Mid Tank just by doing that." Sami said dryly, as she packed various articles of clothes into the suitcase.

"Heh. I think I ought to try that."

"Don't. You might just get smooshed by it instead." Sonja said.

"Hmm."

"Say . . .did you get anything in the mail by chance Mel?" Sami asked.

"Uh . . ." He stared at the ceiling for a bit, and answered. "Yeah, something about dormitory changes and Co-ed dorms or something stupid like that. What's that all mean again?"

" . . ." There was a dead silence.

"What?"

" . . .Mel, that means girls and guys can have rooms together." Sami said.

"Oh. Is that all? I thought it was something important."

"MEL!!! IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!"

"Huh? Why?"

"That means . . ." She shifted closer towards him, and whispered " . . .we can be in the same dorm."

" . . .!"

"What's the matter?"

"Uh . . ."

"It's not any different from our living arrangements now."

"Right!"

"So, what do you think?"

" . . .doesn't matter."

"I knew you'd think that way!"

"Uh huh. Now that I'm done . . .do you need my help?"

"Hmm? Oh, sure."

"You looking for these?" Mel said, reaching up and grabbing something from the railing they were sitting against.

"Huh? Eep! Mel!" Sami grabbed the object in question and hugged it against her chest.

"What? You asked where they were."

"I didn't expect YOU to find them." She said blushing.

"I knew all along, I just didn't say anything at the moment. After all, how hard is it NOT to notice a pair of pink panties hanging on the staircase railing?"

"Mmph."

"I agree." Andy said, but then Mel and Sami turned around and hammered him straight into the floor. "Ouch . . ."

"Why'd you two do that?" Sonja asked, holding the squashed Andy.

"Cuz he's stupid."

" . . .okay! Wait . . .not okay!"

"Why's that?" Mel asked.

"He's not stupid!"

"I don't think you saw his report card." Mel said.

"But . . ."

"Fortunately, he has the skills to make up for it." Mel said, as he carefully folded various articles of Sami's clothes and placed them inside her suitcase. "Anyhow, we should get moving soon. But there's one thing that bugs me, how did they know that Sonja was staying at my place?"

"Ah! I forgot to tell you! I had my mailing address changed to yours, that way when I'm here I can get all my things."

" . . .right."

"It's easier though, right?"

"I'll have to agree with her on that one Mel." Sami said, still folding and packing.

"Eh . . .say, did you and Andy get your address changed too?"

"Mel, you're the one that took us to the registry a week after we moved."

" . . .I forgot. Hehe."

"I'm surprised with your bad memory that you managed to remember all those facts during class."

"Um . . ."

"Were you cheating?"

"Did I LOOK like I was cheating?"

"No, not really." Sami admitted.

"There you go."

"Anyway, what are we gonna do? I don't think your car can fit all of us."

"Hmm . . .good point."

"I think I can rent a luggage carrier thing . . ." Mel said, rubbing his chin.

"Wait, doesn't that company of your have those?"

"I totally forgot! All I do there is get paid and leave it up to the country to run it."

"You don't care for it?"

"Nope. Honestly, I'd sell it for an extortionate amount and then I'd be set."

"Why don't you?"

"I don't know. It's still has sentimental value, in a sense."

"What does the company do again?"

"It makes parts and materials for war."

" . . ."

"Also, the other side is just a department that sells junk."

"Okay."

"Either way, I don't care much for it. As for the band, that was just a small experiment, I can't stand fans."

"I figured."

"Either way, life is all nice as it is. So I'll leave it."

"Huh, so what are we gonna do now Mel?"

"Get to the university?"

"Today?"

"Hmm . . .not today. I don't think it's time anyway. Haha." Mel said stacking the suitcases. "I'll call later to get the carrier." He walked off and hung his coat on a nearby hook. "I wonder if I'll ever need to pull out the D. Blade again . . .I don't want to have to kill anyone . . ."

"What was that Mel?"

" . . .nothing." 'I don't know how much blood I really do have on my hands . . .I just know that more killing makes it worse. But those . . .those people, they, they were . . .ah, I don't know anymore. And the lack of battles, the strange feelings, it's all too much at times. And the Armageddon . . .can my body handle the amount of En generated? It's too much at times. Even using Destruction Strike is draining. And what they say about me with red eyes . . .what's all that about? I don't remember a thing.'

"Mel are you okay?" Sami asked, approaching him carefully. "What are you doing?"

"Looking through my coat . . ."

"Everything's in its place . . ." She said softly, eyeing the two swords hanging inside, and the numerous firearms. "Is it even legal to carry so many weapons? Or to have them at all?"

"I really don't know. It's all a matter of personal safety and security. As far as I know, everyone has a weapon here or there. Even Sonja has a handgun. She won't admit to it, but I know she carries one."

"Huh?"

"She does. Trust me."

" . . ."

"Sonja!"

"Yeah?"

"You do have a sidearm right?"

" . . .fine . . .I've kept it a secret for too long. Father gave this to me after he prohibited me from sword fighting." She knelt down and picked up a package wrapped in silk cloth. "He told me not to use it though. It's quite precious." She carefully unwrapped the cloth and pulled out a black onyx case and opened it.

"That's . . .a gun?" Andy said, rather doubtfully.

"It's a porcelain one you idiot. They're meant for show, not for firing." Mel said.

"Yes, Mel is right."

"Now how much was it, might I ask?"

" . . .uh, 28000 G."

" . . .!!!" Mel was aghast. "A gun costs more than a sword nowadays? Oh the horror . . ."

"It's true. But I did notice one thing. Andy, you don't have a sidearm do you?"

"No . . ."

"I'll get you one for your birthday!" Sonja said cheerfully.

"But I liked what you got me last year . . ."

"No, no. This is important. I saw that you had to use one of Mel's guns last year during that . . .incident. And anyway, what better way to protect yourself, than with a gun?"

"I thought you despised violence Sonja . . ."

"This is out of necessity. Don't worry."

"I hope you know what you're doing Sonja . . ." Mel said.

"I'm sure. This is important."

"Whatever . . ." Mel said, shaking his head as he headed upstairs. "I need to lie down . . ."

"Oh! I'll help you up." Sami said, following him quickly up the stairs.

"You don't have to . . .I'm fine. I think . . ." He said, as he then collapsed face down on the floor.

Time: A few hours later

Place: Mel's house

After succeeding in dragging Mel's six-foot frame to a nearby couch and calling his two friends, Mel was slowly regaining consciousness.

"Well judging from this scan . . .he has more than a normal amount of En within him." Gary said. "Also, he seems to have more than a normal CO . . ."

"So?"

"That means, he has a higher control of En compared to others. However, in a similar note, Sonja's father is quite skilled at controlling En as well. Perhaps with Mel's already high knowledge and Kanbei's 'legendary' training, it might have caused the ratings to go off the charts . . ."

"Ugh . . .what happened?"

"You went out cold Mel."

"I think it might have been something related to an En trauma you might have suffered."

"Heh. I've had worse . . ." Mel laughed.

"We'll see about that. But I think we should observe you more as we get back to school, just to be safe."

"Works for me." Mel shrugged.

"All right." Gabe said, getting up. "But if this happens again, any of you through should call us immediately."

"Gotcha."

"We'll be leaving now . . ." They said, and exited the house.

"It's a good thing they came . . ." Sami said, placing her hands in her lap. "You scared us."

" . . ."

"Aren't you gonna say something?"

" . . .well, I don't know. Something's been weird since I've encountered the black clothed soldiers . . ."

"You mean your sudden spells of lunacy and weirdness?"

" . . .yes." Mel said with a sigh.

"I think you're losing it."

"That or something's going wrong . . ."

Time: August 30

Place: On the road

The four of them sat in Mel's now crammed car and felt every couple jolts as he sped along the highway to the capital with the many others in the general vicinity . . .

Sempai: Upper Classman

Uma: Yellow Cometan (Japanese) of Mel's last name.

A/N: Hello . . . I'm finally done another one of my 'legendary' long chapters. Anyhow, I was on a 10 day break from my comp, so yeah. Now that I'm back, this one is done, and more is to come. Haha. Thanks and R&R always!