The first of two parts. On a side note, the song below doesn't belong to me, but the first line of the first verse and the chourus does

Read on.

ACADEMY DAYS
PART I

"ALL RISE FOR THE VALUAN NATIONAL ANTHEM!"

(To the tune of Rule Britannia!)

When Valua first, at Moon's command,

Arose from out the azure main;

Arose, arose from out the azure main;

This was the charter, the charter of the land,

And guardian angels sang this strain:

Rule Valua! Valua rule the skies!

We shall never, never, never n'er be slain!

Chourus

Rule Valua! Valua rule the skies!

We shall never, never, never n'er be slain!

Still more majestic shalt thou rise!

More dreadful from each foreign stroke!

More dreadful, dreadful from each foreign stroke!

As the loud blast, the blast that tears the skies,

Serves but to root thy native oak!

Chourus

Rule Valua! Valua rule the skies!

We shall never, never, never n'er be slain!

Rule Valua! Valua rule the skies!

We shall never, never, never n'er be slain!

Belleza sighed as she straightened her new Cadet uniform as the anthem came to an end. She looked down at Carlos beside her, who had become the youngest cadet in the history of the Academy. He was rolling up the sleeves of his own uniform, because they kept falling over his hands. Him being the smallest cadet, the Academy's tailors were creating a smaller set of uniforms just for him.

She smiled slightly, before bending down and giving him a hand.

He smiled up at her and gave her his thanks, before they sat down as a speaker took the stand.

He was a large titan of a man, dressed in an obviously old and well used heavy armour. His face was had obviously seen a lot of action in his time, and was only now showing signs of old age. His eyes were a bluey green, yet showed high intelligence and knowledge. His pure-white hair was slowly thinning along his head, but what he lacked on top of his head was made up for in his bushy beard.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to be the first to congratulate you all as new Cadets of the Valuan Navy," He said in a deep voice, "I am Admiral Gregorio Vadeck, Admiral of the Second Armada and Commandant of the Valuan Navel Academy for this year. You have signed up to Arcadia's greatest Navel force, you have also decided to join us in a time of war. Over the next three years, we shall teach you everything you need to know to sail in the armada, from piloting a standard Lifeboat, to commanding the heavy dreadnoughts that are the Armada's pride and joy. We will teach you gunnery and swordsmanship, (Carlos and Belleza gave each other bemused glances at this) and turn you all into fine officers of the Navy. Training begins tomorrow, so report to your barracks, get some rest, and I'll see you in the morning," He thumped a fist to his chest, "HAIL VALUA!"

"VALUA RULE THE SKIES!" the assembly chorused back, mimicking the movement.

"Well, that was fun," Belleza sighed as she stared at her ticket while the cadets around them headed for the barracks and rooms that their ticket told them.

"I guess so," Carlos sighed, "So which barracks have you got?"

"Barracks 020, Room 20. How 'bout you?"

Carlos blinked, "Barracks 020, Room 20."

"What?" Belleza snatched the ticket from his hand and read it herself, "That can't be right. That means we're in the exact same room!"

Carlos was about to reply when he was suddenly roughly pushed, falling flat on his face into an oily puddle.

"Hey!" he cried as he fell, "Watch where you're going!"

The cadet that had pushed him, a burly man who looked like he had more muscles then brains, sneered down at the now oil covered boy.

"You shouldn't have been in my way squirt!" he sneered, "In fact you shouldn't even be here! Why don't you go home and have your mommy read you a bedtime story?"

Carlos scowled as he slowly got up.

"I don't have a mother," he said solemnly.

"Aw, what were you born under a rock or something?" another Cadet loomed over him, a handsome man with delicate female features and shocking blond hair.

"Now cut that out!" Belleza barged through the crowd that was gathering around Carlos and the two bullies, standing protectively in front of the young boy, "He's done nothing wrong! Just leave him be!"

"Your right my dear," The handsome cadet said with a smirk, "The only crime around here is you and I haven't courted one another yet!"

"Eww gross!" Belleza cried as she was suddenly pulled in close by the Cadet, "Get away from me you creep!"

That had been the last straw for Carlos. In one swift motion his Serpent Strike was out.

"Hey!" He shouted at the Cadet, "Leave her out of this! If you want her, you're gonna have to go through me!"

The handsome cadet smirked as he nodded to his accomplice, "Very well Boy," he sneered as he pushed Belleza into the crowd and unsheathing his own jewel encrusted sword, "Let's make a wager shall we? If I win, your girlfriend will have the honour to share my barracks with me,"

"And if I win you will leave me and Belleza alone," Carlos said quietly, aware that the Cadet's co-conspirator was creeping up behind him.

"Agreed," The Cadet laughed, "Do you know who I am boy? I am Alfonso Vadeck, the youngest son of Empress Teodora and the greatest swordsmen in the Empire!"

Carlos blinked in surprise as a ripple of whispering arose from the surrounding crowd.

"If you are a prince, then why are you in the academy?" he asked blankly.

Alfonso scowled, "Because Mother thinks I should go through the training," he suddenly thrust his rapier into a fighting stance, "but enough chit chat! Let's begin!" He smirked as he saw where his accomplice was, "Crump, you hold him down and I'll hit him!"

"NO!" Belleza cried, but it was too late, for Crump had already laid his heavy hands on Carlos's slim shoulders.

"Gotcha!" He sniggered triumphantly.

He grinned triumphantly as Carlos looked over his shoulder, emotionlessly.

What he saw made his blood run cold, literally.

For a brief moment Crump swore that the runt he was holding's eyes go dark green, before his vision was completely obscured by white.

Belleza stared open mouthed at what she saw.

One moment Crump had Carlos firmly pinned to the spot, the next moment one look from the ten year old and the bully was encased in ice.

Carlos looked back at Alfonso as he shrugged Crump off, the giant bully falling to the ground with a crash, the ice shattering like glass.

Alfonso scowled, "Bah! Who needs him anyway? I can take you on!"

And with that, he lunged at Carlos with full force.

With about as much effort as raising a finger, Carlos simply sidestepped the Valuan prince, allowing his momentum to carry him forward.

As the young boy turned to deal the final blow, Belleza saw it, his eye briefly flicked dark green before resuming their usual blue.

With nothing to stop him, Carlos effortlessly and did a four slash star towards Alfonso, before promptly sheathing his sword.

Alfonso finally stopped and glared at the smug looking boy.

"I win," Carlos said simply.

"What?" Alfonso stood up confused, "What do you mean? I'm still standing! You can't beat me that easily boy!"

"I beg to differ," Carlos said with a smile.

It was then that Alfonso's clothes gave up the ghost. One moment Alfonso was full dressed, the next he was reduced to his underwear and boots, his uniform cut to shreds by Carlos's signature move.

Alfonso squeaked and quickly covered himself up, his pale face going beet red as the crowd roared with laughter.

"Did you see that?" Someone cried.

"The greatest swordsman in Valua, beaten by Lower City boy!" Another one laughed.

Belleza heard nothing of this though, for she had quickly run over to Carlos and buried him in her embrace.

"Aww Belleza!" Carlos flushed bright red as a chorus of "Ahh,"s echoed around them, "Stop it, you're embarrassing me!"

Belleza smiled as she let him out of her embrace, but didn't let go of his shoulders.

"I'm proud of you Carlos," she said happily, "You stood up for yourself, and didn't let anyone get in the way."

Carlos shrugged, "What can I say? I guess living on the Streets of Lower City did me some good after all."

"THERE HE IS UNCLE GREGORIO!" Alfonso's high voice cried, "HE'S THE ONE THAT EMBARRASSED ME!"

The crowd parted, allowing Alfonso, (Dressed in a silk-white towel) and Gregorio through.

Gregorio studied Carlos and Belleza, (Who stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders) thoughtfully.

"Are you by any chance the children of Lieutenant Joshua Rodriguez and Commander Jonathan Meridian?"

"Yes sir," the two said at the same time.

"I'm telling you Uncle, that boy has disgraced me for no reason," Alfonso cried, ignoring the dirty look Belleza gave him, "I just accidentally bumped into him and he suddenly drew his sword and attacked me and Cadet Crump over there," he indicated to the shivering mound that was Crump, "I think he should be thrown out of the Academy and have his sword given to me as an apology."

"That's not fair!" Belleza argued, "Carlos was talking to me about our Barracks appointment when Crump bumped into Carlos on purpose. Alfonso then tried to harass me, so Carlos stepped in and…"

"Preposterous!" Alfonso interrupted, "Why would the Prince of Valua want something as wretched as you when I…"

"ENOUGH!" Gregorio roared, stunning everyone into silence. Finally he beckoned to Carlos, "Meridian, come with me, we'll sort this out."

Carlos followed obediently shrugging off Belleza and bumping into Alfonso on purpose as he went.

"Yes you slump off you Lower City brat," Alfonso called after him, "For you will rue the dare you ever dared face Alfonso Vadeck!"

At that moment the towel came loose, falling to the ground, causing the academy to roar with laughter as he made a mad dash for his quarters.

(7)

Gregorio sighed as he slumped into the large leather chair behind his desk, the slightly scared looking Carlos Meridian standing on the other side of the desk.

"Relax Mr. Meridian," he said with a kindly smile, "I'm not going to shout. I would just like you to tell me the truth of exactly what happened.

So Carlos explained what had happened, Gregorio watching him carefully the entire time. When he had finished Gregorio continued to watch, Carlos staring stonily back.

Finally the old Admiral lent back in his chair.

"I believe you," he said at last.

Carlos blinked, "You do?"

"It my years as an Admiral, I've learnt that one can tell a few things by looking at a person's eyes. You for example show such innocence in your eyes that you couldn't in the name of the Moons be lying. You also show that you have great love and admiration for Cadet Rodriguez. No doubt you two have known each other for quite a while."

"Ever since I was a baby sir," Carlos said with a small smile, "she protected me when we were on the streets of Valua."

Gregorio smiled at him, "Yes, you and the Rodriguez's family are very close. Most likely the reason you and Cadet Rodriguez are sharing a room, but I'm diverting form the point," he sighed and lent on his desk, steeping his fingers as he did so, "On the one hand, you did assault a Prince of Valua, but on the other hand you were doing in self defence of you're friend," he paused for a moment, "And between you and me he got what was coming," Carlos smiled as he continued, "Therefore I am not going to punish you."

"Thank you sir,"

"I'm not done. I am also going to write you a letter of recommendation for the immediate promotion to Lieutenant Commander when you graduate from here, and the immediate promotion to Cadet Lieutenant,"

Carlos's eyes widened, "Sir?" he squeaked.

Gregorio smiled, "My boy, you have the makings to be a fine officer in her majesty's navy. You are calm under pressure, you have superb swordsmanship to defeat one such as Alfonso, two of the qualities the Armada prides herself for.

No doubt with the proper training you could become Lord Admiral if you put your mind to it."

Carlos's eyes widened at the thought of being Lord Admiral of the fleet. Lord Admiral Meridian, it had a nice ring to it, but then something, or rather someone, entered his thoughts, "What about Belleza?"

Gregorio smiled, "Well, depending on how she does, I will see about writing a letter of recommendation for her also. No doubt she could learn a few things from you eh?"

Carlos shook his head, "I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for Belleza sir,"

Gregorio chuckled, "Very well. Off you go, go tell your friend the good news,"

Carlos beamed, "Thank you sir," quickly he turned to leave, then remembered his manners. Turning formally on his heel he put a fist over his heart.

"Hail Valua Admiral Vadeck,"

"Valua rule the skies my boy. Now be off with you."

Carlos smiled before turning on his heel and leaving the office.

Gregorio smiled at the door as it closed, before turning around to look out of the window, the shining lights of the palace standing out against black forbidding sky.

"Smart lad," he mused to himself, "Reminds me of another Prince of Valua I know…"