Several weeks ago, the Lighthouse War ended with a ceasefire signed by Osean and Erusean representatives in Expo City on December 1, 2019. One of the attendees was Princess Rosa Cossette D'Elise, the last surviving member of the Erusean royal family.
Following the ceasefire, Eruseans, Oseans and Useans took refuge at the International Space Elevator "Lighthouse", where a provisional government was set up by the Osean Federation with Princess Cossette as their head. She worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the refugees from the war she helped instigate.
She acknowledged Erusea's culpability for the war and led efforts to ensure a bright and peaceful future through the use of the Lighthouse...
IUN Assembly, Expo City, December 14, 2019
"The war has caused pointless bloodshed and the loss of innocent lives. The truth of the Lighthouse was revealed to me when I went there during Operation Daredevil." From behind a podium, Rosa spoke to an assembly filled with politicians from various countries.
"The Lighthouse was meant to be a symbol of peace. The mural that Vincent Harling had ordered to be placed at the Lighthouse showed me that. And thus I implore the rest of the world to see it as such as well." The audience discussed among themselves with positivity, some nodding to show their agreement with the princess's words.
"Harling created this Space Elevator as a beacon of hope. And in deference to his final wishes, I promise to fulfill its purpose. So I pray that the entire world will use the Lighthouse for Space Exploration, Peace and Hope!" As she exclaimed the last word, the audience stood up and clapped, cheering for the new Global Advocate of Peace who stood before them.
Rosa looked around the assembly with awe and happiness, then sighed with relief and gave another heartwarming, hopeful smile to the assembly. She'd finally used her words to inspire hope, just as Vincent Harling did during his time.
But behind all that… all those hopeful speeches about a peaceful future… She didn't know if she was hopeful about herself.
International Space Elevator "Lighthouse", Gunther Bay, Usea, January 2020
Rosa walked through the area where construction for more housing complexes was taking place, a hard hat on her head and a clipboard in her hands. Behind her were other figures in formal wear as well as some men in black suits, the royal Erusean rose pinned to their coats.
The refugees saw the princess and enthusiastically waved to her. Some children cheered excitedly and ran to greet her. She returned their greeting with an infectious smile that soon spread to everyone else there.
Even though two months had passed since the end of the Lighthouse War, refugees continued to flock to the base of the Lighthouse from all over Usea. A civil war between countries annexed by the Kingdom of Erusea had sparked an independence movement, but Rosa was more concerned with the refugees and the territory still considered part of Erusea. She wanted no part in opposing the independence movement, even expressing support for these fledgling nations. All she desired was to pull Erusea back up on its feet - If there were others who didn't want to be part of Erusea, it wasn't her problem.
Refugees, soldiers, and volunteers helped distribute supplies as Rosa spoke to two men carrying large boxes filled with relief aid. "…and make sure everyone gets their share. The next supply drop will be from Emmeria, and will arrive in two days." Rosa wrote a note on her clipboard as the two men left, then continued walking through the refugee center, stopping every few feet to talk or help out as she did.
As the sun set over the glistening waters of Gunther Bay, Rosa continued with her tasks, now carrying a box accompanied by some children. She entered a large hall where more refugees were residing, placing the box she had with the others before turning to the children.
"Alright, there should be enough supplies for everyone. Make sure you all share them among each other!" The children cheered in response before scattering about the hall. Someone came up to the boxes and placed another one themselves. Rosa turned to see none other than Ionela A. Shilage, a young 15 year old girl with long black hair. Ionela glanced at Rosa before turning to leave. Rosa followed her.
Ionela left the hall with Rosa in tow. Alma was outside as well, waiting for her sister. Rosa stopped a few feet from them. "Ionela! How have you two been? I haven't talked to either of you since the end of the war!" she nervously asked. Alma smiled and was about to respond until Ionela held her hand out to stop her.
Ionela clenched her fist and whirled around, the look of betrayal and scorn in her eyes greeting Rosa in their first private meeting ever since the event at the drone factory control room. "Brave of you to face us after everything," Ionela spat out venomously. Rosa was taken aback by her tone, which worried Alma.
"Ionela…" Rosa could only whimper as Ionela continued to look at her with disgust.
"Don't give me that look Princess D'Elise, all this pain and suffering was partially your fault. I've lost so much and it pains me to see my grandfather in his sorry state all because he fought the war you fueled." Ionela's sharp tone caused Rosa to look away shamefully as tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
"Big sis…" Alma tried to grab her sister's attention, but Ionela continued with her rant.
"Look around you, 'your highness' !Everyone is here because of your foolishness," Ionela gestured to their surroundings. "People have lost their homes, their families, their loved ones! For what, because of your naïveté and incompetence? For your childish and immature ideals?!"
"Ionela, it wasn't that easy—" Rosa's attempt to explain herself was interrupted as Ionela started to speak again.
"I'm fairly certain it should have been easy! Perhaps if you had acted more maturely you would have avoided this conflict! You had a hand in this war, and don't think this refugee assistance scheme will forgive you of your sins, the blood on your hands." Ionela ended with a deep breath. "Let's go Alma, forget about her." She took Alma's hand and walked away.
Rosa stood there, a hurt expression on her face. "I… I just wanted what was best for Erusea… even for Shilage…" She wiped away her tears and walked off in the opposite direction.
Ionela walked off with Alma on her tail. They entered a building where some more refugees were staying. "Ionela, wait!" Alma called out to her sister. Ionela turned to face her. "Why were you so mean to Rosa?" Alma asked.
"Mean? Does it matter? She deserved it!" Ionela shot back. Alma looked worried, taking a few steps forward. "We lost everything because of her foolishness. Just look at Grandfather." Ionela looked away from her sister before noticing her staring at something behind her and turned back.
"Quite a commotion you caused outside, you dumbass." It was Avril Mead, who was pushing Mihaly in a wheelchair. The two girls went up to their grandfather, who was wearing an expression of contemplation.
"Grandpa? What are you doing here?" Ionela asked. Mihaly looked at her with a small yet noticeable smile.
"I was talking to this young mechanic here. She's from a line of pilots from Osea," Mihaly responded. He then looked at her with a stern face. "We heard the commotion you had with the princess. I'm disappointed with you."
Ionela took a step back, shocked, before composing herself and arguing, "But why? The princess was the cause of this war! How could you say that?!"
"That's because she didn't cause the war, you dumbass," Avril retorted. She placed her hand on her hips as she gave an irritated look. "She's just an 18-year old girl, she couldn't exactly do much aside from giving speeches."
"Speeches that fueled the war! She is just as guilty as everyone else!" Ionela shot back. Alma hid behind her grandfather as he stared at Ionela.
"And she knows what she did, and more than anyone likely believes she is to blame. She probably blames herself the most for this mess," Avril retorted. "She never wanted this bloodshed. Hell, she was manipulated into thinking the drones could provide a 'clean' war to prevent this. You want someone to blame? Blame the actual warmongers who manipulated her."
"And it was my decision to continue fighting as well," Mihaly said, with a look of guilt.. "I'm just to blame as much as those Radicals, all because of my ego…"
"Grandfather…" Ionela sighed with worry.
"As I said to Three Strikes, I unleashed pure chaos upon this world just so I could keep my wings. And you and Alma supported me in doing so," Mihaly looked at Ionela with a stern face, "So if one uses your childish logic, you would just be as guilty as I am."
Ionela flinched at her grandfather's words. Avril sighed before looking out to the sunset. "Everyone lost something in this war, some more than others…" She then turned to Ionela and spoke to her sternly, "So don't think you are the only one who lost a lot."
"And it would be wrong to say you have lost everything," Mihaly continued, "As it stands, Shilage is now independent. Which means I'm now a politician, and you will be too in the future…"
"Wait, does that mean…" Ionela trailed off as she realized the implications of her grandfather's words.
"Exactly. You will start your training to become the next leader of our nation. Ionela, once I am gone you will take the throne as Grand Duchess of Shilage." Ionela looked at her grandfather with a shocked expression.
"Meaning that you will be on equal ground with Cossette, though I doubt you would swallow your pride to use her as a role model. She never had one in regards to her position," Avril commented. The young mechanic then left the building, leaving the Shilage family to their own devices.
"Maybe you will finally understand the young princess once you take up the responsibility of our country. I was foolish to not have cared for it. I was too busy flying in the blue sky," Mihaly said solemnly, looking up to the sky.
Ionela sighed in frustration. Mihaly noticed it and called out to her, "It is a heavy burden to lead a country at such a young age. Leading a country is a heavy burden regardless. Perhaps your position will open up your eyes to the struggles of the princess…"
"She doesn't deserve forgiveness!" Ionela exclaimed. Mihaly looked at his granddaughter disappointedly.
"No, it is I who doesn't deserve forgiveness…"
Residential area of the "Lighthouse", Gunther Bay, Usea, January 2020
Rosa slept on a queen sized bed, tossing and turning in her sleep. She mumbled, seeming in distress…
"Papa, no, don't go… I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
The sounds of fighters… Singing her favorite melody… The Three Strikes… An astronaut in orange diving from the Space Elevator…
"NOOOOOO!" Rosa instantly arose in a cold sweat. She started to hyperventilate, looking at her surroundings. She realized she was back at the apartment the Seletapuran government gave her to temporarily reside in at the Space Elevator.
She sat on the bed, looking at her shaking hands. Tears fell from her eyes, dropping onto her palms. "I… I…" She took a glance at her hip where a large scar resided. The scar gave her painful memories, prompting her to clench her fists before crying her heart out, as her anguished wails filled her room.
She sat there sobbing, all alone with no one to rely on. She looked up for a moment, checking the clock on the wall. "3 in the morning…" Getting out of her bed, she changed out of her sleeping wear into her casual clothes, compromising on a long-sleeved blouse and brown pants.
Rosa strolled along the path under the Space Elevator. She was walking emotionlessly, her zombie-like expression covered by the shadows of her bangs. She eventually reached the end of the path. It was a viewing area facing towards the ocean. She leaned on the railing, contemplating on her thoughts with tears falling from her eyes. She started to sob quietly, her soft cries filling the atmosphere.
"Why am I still here? After all I've done, why do I deserve to live…" She remembered the events of Operation Daredevil, the drones, the explosions, when she jumped off the elevator, the Ravens flying in, the pain she felt when a missile from the Ravens exploded next to her. She gripped the railing hard, her hands turning white.
"President Harling…" she whimpered the name of her predecessor, the one who died because of a war she supported. "What should I do…"
"Everything I've done is for peace like you did, Mr Harling… but given the effects of what I've done, am I right? Should I really be the one to succeed you?" She continued her pleas, talking to no one but herself in the dark night. The light from the moon's reflection illuminated the surrounding area as well as casting a white line down through the water.
She looked up at the space elevator, its enormous size making her feel insignificant. A moment of realisation struck her. "The Space Elevator was the last place he was at before he died. Perhaps he left some sort of hint behind, anything to guide me." She made her way from the shore to the facilities of the space elevator on her own, as the soft footsteps from her shoes filled the night.
International Space Elevator "Lighthouse", Central Security room
Rosa stared at the numerous screens in front of her. She watched each screen intensely, looking for something or anything. The screen showed various angles of a certain deceased ex-president. The security guard who was in charge of the night shift watched her curiously.
"What exactly are you looking for, Your Highness?" He asked skeptically. Rosa turned to him and flashed him a sad smile.
"Answers, hints, anything…" She said sadly. "The war might be over, but suffering and pain still happen all around us. I seek answers and guidance to solve it. Maybe Harling left something behind. He was better suited for the job I have to take, even if we hold the same goals."
He shrugged before returning to his computer screen, shifting the video views every few seconds for Rosa. The screen kept switching until something caught Rosa's eye.
"Can you rewind the tape on screen 16?" She asked. The guard scrolled back and replayed the tape. The tape showed Harling looking into a laptop of some sort. Another man entered the frame and ushered him away, leaving the laptop. Seconds later, Eruseans soldiers came into view and looked around.
"You think he did something with that laptop?" The guard asked. Rosa nodded slightly and continued to watch other screens that showed videos of what happened afterwards.
"A lot of people looked up to you, your highness," the guard began, "You united a large portion of Usea for your cause. Many people believed in your ideals of peace."
Rosa felt her heart ache as the guard continued to speak solemnly. "Not to say the war was justified in any way, but the riots and violence over the Space Elevator years ago left their mark. Was the war the right thing to do? Never. But neither was Osea right with how they handled the Space Elevator. I bet Harling felt the same way."
He stood up and handed her a USB stick. "All the clips of the day Harling was killed and a week prior are all here. Look at them as you need." He gave her a small smile as she took the stick. "I suggest finding that laptop Harling used. All ISEV devices are directly connected to the Space Elevator. Means that they all have constant connection even from halfway across the planet. Maybe he tried to upload something before he died."
Rosa opened the door and peeked into the room where Harling had left the laptop. The room was still in a state of disarray. She looked up and spotted the camera that she had been looking through several minutes ago. She gave it a slight wave which prompted the camera to nod slowly.
Rosa noticed the laptop which had a small red light beeping softly. She took a nearby charger and plugged it into the laptop. She sat down and turned it on.
"What did you leave behind, Mr Harling..?" she asked herself as she browsed through the contents of the laptop. Something caught her eye and piqued her curiosity.
"Several video files? They seem to be recorded on the laptop's camera." She opened the video file and found herself face to face with Vincent Harling himself.
"Is this on? Ah alright, the lights are blinking. If anyone finds this, then you know me as Vincent Harling, Osea's ex-President and the one who started the Space Elevator program."
Tears started to drop from Rosa's eyes again as she watched Harling's video. "Mr Harling…"
"I'm currently trapped at the International Space Elevator after Erusean forces seized control while I was visiting. Colonel Johnson of the Osean Ground Defense Force is acting as my bodyguard until we can escape." Harling looked up with caution before returning to the screen. "It has been 3 weeks since the declaration of war from the Kingdom of Erusea. It's a miracle that we haven't been captured yet."
He gave a dejected sigh and continued, "The unfortunate harsh reality I have been reflecting over the past few days is that the Space Elevator is the root of this war, of this chaos. Yet my intention for it was never for conflict. On the contrary, the purpose of this Elevator is for peace itself."
"When I first proposed the construction of the Elevator, I wanted to show people that progress can be made. The Lighthouse was supposed to help end all the economic struggles of Usea. The strike of the Ulysses asteroid has made a significant impact on Usea. The refugees, destroyed homes, especially the energy crisis..." Harling rubbed his face with his two hands, showing signs of fatigue.
"With the Lighthouse, it could, no, it will solve the issues that have plagued the continent for years. It will provide power to resolve the energy crisis and allow reconstruction efforts to accelerate. They can help with the refugee crisis that caused the Continental War in the first place."
Rosa cringed at the mention of the previous war her country started. She could only put her head down in shame as she continued to listen to Harling's recording.
"But most importantly, the Lighthouse was meant to unite and save humanity," Harling with pleading eyes stared directly at the camera. "As we speak a group of brave astronauts launched from this elevator launched 7 years ago are tasked with intercepting another large asteroid making its way to our planet."
Rosa realised who he was talking about. "Is he referring to the group of astronauts who arrived after the drones were destroyed?"
"The Lighthouse was going to unite people all over the world, to get everyone to cooperate to innovate and invent technologies to protect us from future Ulysses' as well as to show people that we can be united. That we can leave the past filled with bloodshed and aim high towards a future where we will be at peace…" The video ended and the next video played. Harling appeared once again who seemed to be running.
"I have yet to finish what I was going to say. These patrols are getting more frequent," Harling said, the exhaustion clear in his tone. "Where was I? Oh yeah, the Lighthouse… Its purpose was to be a beacon for peace, yet people see it as a tower of conflict and I understand why…"
"The Arsenal Birds 'Liberty' and 'Justice' were never supposed to exist. They were never meant to use the Lighthouse as their power source… or to strike fear into Usea. When I proposed the project to the world, the two self-sufficient drone carriers were never part of the project. It was added after I had left office. My close friend, current President Thomas Harper, was against weaponizing the Lighthouse. But in the end, Congress went through with the project…" Harling gave a short depressed chuckle, "No wonder my friend Nikanor was supportive of Erusea's declaration of war… It's no different than when the Arkbird was weaponized for the Circum-Pacific War…"
"From the start, I knew that the Erusean royal family would be wary and hesitant in regards to the Lighthouse and I wanted to show them that it would mean no harm, especially to Princess Cossette," Harling smiled sadly as he looked away.
Rosa froze when she heard Harling mention her name. "Mr Harling… what does he mean?"
"I knew they were concerned with the intentions of my country and I wanted to prove that they had nothing to worry about, I wanted to show them that it could even help their nation! But in the end, the Arsenal Birds only gave off the wrong message, a message that the Lighthouse is there to control and threaten Usea with the Arsenal Birds enforcing it with an iron grip…" Harling looked down in shame. Some rough shuffling was heard before the video ended.
Another video played and it was Harling who was clutching his upper arm. "Got hit by a stray bullet, but otherwise I'm fine," he said as he leaned back against a wall. "In the previous video, I mentioned the current Erusean Royal Family, specifically Princess Cossette."
Rosa held her breath as she listened closely, and her hand shook nervously.
"I saw how Princess Cossette influenced and changed her nation ever since the D'Elise family became the new Royal Family. From what I've gathered, King Arno was a commoner who was thrust into his position because of circumstances beyond his control. Many people don't see him to be an effective leader, no offense to the man, he tried his best for his country," Harling gave a short sigh.
"But Princess Cossette? I can't help but look up to her myself. She is a kind, genuine and idealistic young woman who wanted nothing more than the best for her people. A kindred spirit who has the potential to become a great leader. The only thing holding her back is inexperience. If she had more, then perhaps she would have avoided making the same mistakes as I have by letting this war go on. By letting this war occur, it will bring nothing more than pain and suffering, even with the 'clean' drone strikes." Harling could only look down in disappointment.
"I can understand her reasoning, the fear of the Arsenal Birds, the clean drone strikes, maybe such things would have brought less bloodshed. But no matter what one does, war is war and it will bring about destruction no matter what you do about it… I thought back in the past that a military reduction would bring about less conflict, but in the end, it only made us vulnerable and lives were lost. I believe that there is a balance, we can't afford to be tempted with weapons of mass destruction but at the same time we need to be able to defend ourselves…"
At this point, Rosa was sobbing. Her heart had been shattered into a million pieces of guilt and sadness, yet she was alone with this message as the last thing addressed to her…
"Princess Cossette, if by any chance you see this message, I want you to know that I never meant any ill-intent to your country. I never wanted us to be enemies and I wished we could have met face to face. And I hope after this war, you will remain a kindred spirit who will have learned from your mistakes just as I had before. This world is constantly in conflict, but more people like you and me can work together to hopefully, one day, create a peaceful world built on trust and understanding…"
Harling then had a moment of realisation, as if he had just remembered something. "In my lifetime, I have seen many wars. In each war, there will always be one individual or a group of them who will single-handedly end it. Many of them flew for peace and will end the war for the sake of it, though there are exceptions. But ending a war is different from maintaining peace. It is up to people like me to step in once these individuals have fulfilled their roles, and I hope you can become one of these like-minded individuals to help maintain the peace these others have risked their lives for, Princess Cossette…" Harling trailed off as the video ended.
Rosa sat there silently shedding tears, before she finally cried her heart out once again. Her emotions finally overcame her, overwhelming her like a broken dam. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She could only apologize profusely to no one in particular, her emotions simply telling her that she had to. As she continued to cry, another video played.
The sound of Harling's bloody coughing was the first thing that came from the video. Then the video panned to show Harling in a bloodied state, a gunshot wound near his stomach. He gave a short chuckle before going into another coughing fit. "June 6th, how ironic. To be saved on the day humanity committed an inhuman act… That is if I make it out of here alive."
Gunfire was audible in the background. "I guess Johnson is holding them off, I might as well make this quick. In the event that this video is found, it means the worst has happened. I want to use this opportunity to thank those who have helped me and supported me, to thank the unsung heroes who saved me before. To the Kingdom of Erusea, the Erusean royal family, and Princess Cossette, I hope you understand the consequences of this war and seek to end it. I know none of you wanted this conflict and have strived for peace, so take the chance to walk away from this…" Harling gave another bloodied cough.
"To my family, my wife Christina and daughter Edel, I'm sorry I could not come back home. I foolishly focused on ensuring peace for both of you but never took the time to enjoy that peace with you." Harling started to shed tears as he smiled sadly.
"Christina, you have always been there for me. You were my pillar of support when I was in office and without you, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today…" He wiped away some tears and looked up towards the source of gunshots that were louder now.
He looked towards the camera directly and smiled, "And Edel? Remember our promise okay? Be a good girl and help mommy when she needs it. Daddy loves you so much. I love you, my little lily." The sound of a door bursting open and Johnson came into the frame.
"Mr Harling, we need to go! NOW!" Johnson picked Harling up and brought the injured man out of the room. The video continued to play, only showing the same background that was behind Harling before he left…
Rosa sat there silently, tears falling down from her face like a waterfall. The emotional turmoil she had just gone through had drained all her energy. Wordlessly, she took the laptop along with its other components and quietly left the room.
International Space Elevator "Lighthouse", Gunther Bay, Usea, February 2020
On February 1st, a memorial gathering was held for Vincent Harling. A large number of people gathered to pay respects to the fallen Peace Advocate. Several notable figures were present as well, Rosa being one of them. The memorial was led by Christina Harling, Vincent Harling's wife. A statue of the Arkbird using the Lighthouse as a stand was erected at the park near the space elevator.
After the memorial, a meeting was held at a room in the ISEV. Rosa was there along with Yuktobania's Minister Mentor Seryozha Viktrovich Nikanor, Osea's President Thomas Harper, and Harling's family: Christina and Edelgard Harling.
The group watched the final video message. Christina cried softly while her daughter Edelgard clutched to her mother. Nikanor shed some tears himself while Harper could only look down in sadness. Rosa sat there, her bangs covering her eyes and her fists clenched.
"I love you, my lily." As the video ended, Christina brought her daughter into a hug, who started to cry. The young girl gripped hard on her mother's dress as tears streamed down her face. Nikanor wiped away some tears as he got up and placed a comforting hand on the widow's shoulder.
Nikanor stood up and approached Harling's widow and daughter to comfort them as Harper went to the laptop to turn it off. The two men stayed with them as Rosa got up and left the room silently.
Rosa leaned on the railing of a balcony, silently deep in her thoughts. Watching the video had made her depressed again. 'Is Harling truly right about me? I escalated the war with my speeches and my country is paying the price for it, but it won't help those who have suffered. Can I really advocate for peace like he did?' she questioned herself.
She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Christina Harling approaching. Rosa stiffened as the woman stopped in front of her. "I was wondering where you left, your Highness." Christina gave a short bow.
"I apologise for my sudden disappearance. I was feeling rather unwell," Rosa replied shyly. The older woman flashed her a reassuring smile.
"It's alright, your highness," Christina responded kindly, her gentle, almost motherly, demeanor warming Rosa's heart. She turned to Rosa and continued. "Is it alright if we drop the formalities? I mean no disrespect, but I think it would do both of us good if we could just have a friendly talk together without such honorifics. Unless, of course, your highness prefers otherwise?"
Rosa was taken aback by her request, but after studying the older woman for a few seconds she realised she meant no grudge. 'How could she act so kindly towards me… I haven't even apologised yet.' Rosa expected her to look at her with scorn, just as Ionela had several days ago.
"I'd appreciate that, honestly." Rosa accepted her request before turning away while the woman sighed in relief.
"Oh yeah, I hope I don't come off as blunt but I wanted to ask about your eye," Christina asked. "I heard that you jumped off the space elevator and got injured during the battle. I remember seeing news reports of your injuries and you were wearing an eyepatch."
"Oh that! A missile hit a nearby coalition plane and its shrapnel barely glazed my eyes. Temporarily blinded an eye with damage to my cornea. It only recently healed so I ditched the eyepatch I wore." Rosa explained, garnering a relieved smile from the woman.
"I'm glad to hear you are feeling better. Edelgard told me that you had pretty eyes. It would be a shame to lose one of them." Christina giggled at her daughter's comment, earning a blush from Rosa.
"I hope you feel better now, hopefully your injuries weren't too bad," the woman expressed her worry to the Erusean princess, the latter giving a reassuring smile once again.
"To be quite honest, my injuries at the time were horrible. My face was messed up, my helmet blew off because I didn't secure it properly. I was only alive thanks to the emergency parachute after the primary one was blown off. I had a large piece of shrapnel embedded into my gut even." The last part got a gasp of shock from the widow.
"Good lord, how are you still alive?!" The widow's shock only earned a giggle from Rosa, who took out a necklace of sorts from her neck. It was a small golden scepter with the Erusean rose embedded in the middle.
"I'm just lucky I suppose. Very very lucky…" Rosa looked downcast for a moment before perking up to show the woman her necklace. "I had the shrapnel embedded into me melted and turned into this necklace as a good luck charm. And… as a reminder of how close I nearly came to losing my life."
"That's quite a beautiful piece there. And it gives me relief that you are still here today and looking healthy despite what has happened." Christina studied the necklace for a short minute before Rosa tucked it away.
They stood there for several seconds before Rosa turned to the older woman and looked at her with both confidence and guilt. "On behalf of the Kingdom of Erusea and my people, I would like to apologise for the war and all the bloodshed we caused. I know this apology is not enough, but I hope our nations can work together for a better future." She ended her apology with a curtsy.
Rosa felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Christina with her hand on her shoulder and a motherly smile on her face. She was taken aback once again, but this time from her gentleness. Rosa could not understand why the older widow was so kind to her. She reminded her of her own mother. "It's alright, Rosa. There is no need to be nervous. I accept your apology. I'm glad that the war has ended and our nations can work together towards peace, just as you wanted."
"My husband always told me and our little girl that we should not judge someone by what they did, but by what they will do. We should not condemn someone because of the mistakes they've made, but instead we should give them a chance to redeem themselves, to be better than who they were before. Which is why I believe that I am making the right choice by giving you this." Christina took out a small flash drive with a smile and extended her hand to give it to Rosa. "It's a copy of all Harling's videos into one video file rather than separate files. It was quite tedious to edit, based on what Harper said."
Rosa hesitantly took the drive from Christina. "I want to thank you for finding my husband's videos. It meant a lot to me and my daughter." Christina turned to leave but Rosa stood there. Her hand holding the drive started to shake as her bangs fell to obscure her eyes.
"Why.." she choked out, "Why are you being so kind to me?" Tears started to fall from her face as she trembled.
Christina stopped and turned to look at Rosa. She was saddened and confused seeing the young girl cry. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?" She approached the crying girl cautiously.
Rosa clutched the drive near her chest, her face showing sorrow, confusion and desperation. "Why are you being so kind to me! It's my fault that this war started! I killed your husband, I killed so many people! Their blood is on my hands!" She hyperventilated for a few seconds. "So why…"
"Because hate is what starts wars in the first place." Rosa's eyes widened and she looked up to Christina, who had a heartwarming smile on her face. "And I can't hate someone who has a good heart such as yourself." She placed a gentle hand back on Rosa's shoulder, stopping her from shaking.
"I see so much of my husband in you, your pure heart, and your desire to do the right thing. What he said in his messages were not lies. I can see that," she assured Rosa with a smile. "There is a huge difference between being responsible and being the one who pulled the trigger. Sure, you are partially responsible, but their deaths are not uniquely on your hands. People used you for their selfish hatred and desires."
"Harling blamed himself for the deaths that occurred during the Circum-Pacific War…" Christina walked to the railing and watched the beautiful sunset with Rosa. "He was ashamed that the Arkbird, a symbol of peace just like the space elevator, was militarised and used to cause death and destruction. He vowed that such a thing would never happen again, yet the Arsenal Birds were built," she sighed as she turned to lean back on the railing. Rosa wiped away her tears as she listened.
"Being a leader is never easy. When my husband first started out, he was like you. Constantly doubting himself and trying his best. He was only in his early 40s when he first took office but even then he was not prepared." She smiled sadly at the memory before looking at Rosa reassuringly, "Yet here you are, a mere teenager with the weight of the country on your shoulders. Even as a figurehead princess you did so much for your people. And now you have to bear that responsibility."
"My father was never suited to be a king," Rosa croaked out, "My family was never meant to be royalty… I lost so much before and now I have nothing…" She clenched the drive even harder. Christina placed her hands on the grieving princess.
"I'm sorry, I can't imagine what it feels to lose everything," she tried to comfort Rosa. "But to Erusea, you are all that is left. Your country needs you, they can't lose you as well." She slowly pulled Rosa into a hug.
"I can't imagine walking on this path alone, as Harling said my support for him had helped him when he was in office. All I can hope is that you find someone who will be your root of happiness." At that point, Rosa broke down into tears and hugged Christina tightly. They stood there for what seemed like eternity, the young princess letting her once confident and elegant persona break down into a heartbroken and overwhelmed girl.
Christina spotted her daughter peeking from the doorway and motioned to the little girl to step forward. As Rosa let go of the older woman, she noticed Edelgard looking at her with curious yet determined eyes.
"I don't understand a lot of things. I don't understand the work Papa and you have to do. But I understand that Papa isn't coming back because of his work and that you and Papa have the same dreams." Edelgard looked at Rosa with an idealistic smile, "So please protect Papa's dreams while I study hard so that I can become strong and smart just like you and Papa, to help you protect the dreams you and papa have!"
"Of course… Of course!" Rosa said cheerfully despite being in tears. The little girl then hugged her, and Rosa reciprocated. Two Oseans in suits came in and called for the mother and daughter. The two bid their farewells as Rosa stood there crying. As soon as the Oseans left, Rosa wiped her tears and ran off in the other direction.
International Space Elevator "Lighthouse", Gunther Bay, Usea
Rosa arrived at the base of the space elevator. She looked up to the elevator in awe, the structure never ceasing to amaze the young princess. Instinctively she raised her arm and formed an airplane sign with her hand outstretched towards the blue sky. She closed her eyes and savoured the environment, the sea breeze, the sounds of ocean waves, the busy life of the space elevator.
Taking a deep breath, she asked no one in particular, almost like a prayer, "Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, Your Highness."
Rosa turned to see a man behind her. The man had messy brown hair of modest length and wore a white hoodie with blue jeans and black boots. Over his hoodie was a blue Osean fighter pilot jacket with the initials J. LINKS and a yellow wolf's head gripping a revolver in its mouth as a patch on his shoulder. What stood out was the word TRIGGER written on a ribbon under the wolf's head. Rosa instantly realised the man before her and looked at him with a shocked, somewhat fearful expression.
"Y-you are…" Rosa stuttered as she pointed to the emblem on the man's jacket. The man looked at his emblem before giving her a reassuring smile.
"Not sure how I should feel about a princess instantly knowing my alias at first glance, but I think a proper introduction is in order," the man said with a smile. "I'm Captain Jack "Trigger" Links of the OADF, commander of the Long Range Strategic Strike Group's Strider Squadron." Jack gave a playful salute.
When Rosa first heard about Trigger from Avril, she expected a fearsome person who wouldn't think twice about harming her or her fellow Eruseans. But the person before her seemed to be nothing more than a well-meaning young man. Nonetheless, she acted cautiously around him.
Jack stifled a giggle as he noticed how carefully Rosa was acting towards him. "I can assure you, Your Highness, that I mean no ill-intent towards you. Not to mention I'm not in a fighter jet and you are the last person I would want to hurt," he said as he smiled at her reassuringly.
"No ill-intent towards me? Not the first time this happened…" Rosa grimaced as she looked at Jack guiltily. Jack noticed the change of tone in her voice, realising something was wrong.
"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked. Rosa could only look at Jack with sad eyes.
"I mean this isn't the first time meeting a particular Osean and expecting them to hate me, only to be proven wrong by their gentle heart." Rosa gave a short but sad laugh as she relaxed her shoulders.
"I know what you went through, Mr. Links, Avril explained it to me. Being accused of killing Harling, being sent to a penal unit where your life was treated as being worth next to nothing. All the pain and misery was caused by my foolishness. So I can't understand why you would act so kind and gentle towards me." Tears fell from Rosa's eyes, making it clear that she still hadn't felt any better since her talk with Christina a few hours ago.
"It's true that you are partially responsible for the entire conflict. But even so," Rosa's eyes widened and she looked to Jack who was giving her a gentle and gentle smile, "Even so, you were the one who inspired me to continue living."
Rosa's eyes widened once more as she looked at Jack who was smiling sheepishly. She could not believe her ears when the man known as "Three Strikes" told her that she was an inspiration for him. "May I ask why?" she asked nervously.
"As you know, I was sent to a penal unit under the guise of murdering Harling, a hero and peace advocate just like you... My time in the penal unit was dark and dangerous. I joined the OADF to become a pilot to protect someone close to me," Jack took out a photo of him and a girl with auburn hair, "All I wanted was to fly to keep her safe from harm. In the penal unit, I had wondered if she would hate me for 'killing' Harling. At that point, I had lost hope, lost the will to fight and live."
"But you," he looked at Rosa once again with hopeful eyes as he kept away the photo in his jacket, "I heard your speeches in my cell. They were inspiring, and I could feel the conviction for your cause in them. That cause may have been the wrong one and you were being used as a pawn in the game of political chess. But nonetheless, I was inspired by you. You showed me a beacon of light in my darkest moments."
Jack took Rosa's hands and held them gently. She could feel his rough hands that were hardened through great strife, yet were gentle and caring. "You inspired me to continue fighting, to make it back home so that I could see and reconcile with the person I cared deeply for. Thanks to you, I became inspired to come back to Audrey… The woman I love."
Jack, with Rosa's hand in his, gave them a firm handshake as he looked at her with sincere eyes, "Once again, thank you, Princess Rosa, for being a beacon of light in the darkest times. Some may say I'm that beacon and not you, but perspectives differ for everyone."
It was at that point that Jack heard a woman call him. Rosa and Jack turned to the source of the call, spotting the same auburn haired woman in the picture Jack took out. She was waving towards Jack as she ran towards them. Jack rushed to the woman and she jumped into his arms. He spun her around as they held each other lovingly. Rosa couldn't help but feel envious of the couple.
"It's nice to finally meet you, your highness," The woman turned to Rosa as Jack held her in his arms, "My name is Audrey Burne, and Jack has told me about you. A little bit too much for my liking." She said the last part jokingly, earning some laughs from Jack and Rosa.
Audrey saw through Rosa's laughing exterior and noticed the rather envious and depressed stare Rosa was giving them. She let go of Jack and made her way to the princess. She took Rosa's hands and clasped it with her own. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, Jack wouldn't be able to come home to me. You continue to inspire hope into the hearts of many people. There are plenty of people who support you. You can count on me and Jack to be two of them."
Rosa finally gave a small but genuine smile as she nodded. Audrey smiled at her once more before leaving Rosa, her arms locked with Jack's. But just before they left, Audrey turned and called to Rosa, "Oh and Princess Rosa? I hope you find someone who will inspire and love you just as I have to Trigger."
"While many countries from the international community are currently hesitant to fully commit to negotiations with us, we still have significant support for the Usean Restoration Project. With the ISEV providing revenue we can expect most of Usea to be self-sustainable by late 2021. Once we reach that point we can focus on restoring Erusea, or at least what's left of it after the independence movement," an Erusean woman said in front of a meeting board filled with Useans in suits, with Rosa sitting in the head seat wearing her typical white blouse and brown pants.
"The current issue involves a united terrorist group who has allied with Free Erusea and both forces are still running about Usea, but we have several PMCs assisting the IUN to suppress them. Furthermore, Erusean and Osean forces are mobilizing alongside the PMCs to deal with the threats," a man in a formal military uniform reported. It earned some worried whispers but otherwise everyone looked calm when the man assured them that the threat will be dealt with.
Rosa then stood up and addressed the meeting. "We will have many more countries to take note of because of the independence movement. Nonetheless, we should focus on helping those in need. Defense might be an issue but with the volunteer armed air force of the IUN it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If that is all, the meeting is adjourned." The people at the meeting board stood up and left as Rosa ended the meeting. Peace might have been achieved, but there was still a long way to go.
Rosa and the woman were the last in the meeting hall. The woman turned to Rosa. "You seem to be focusing on helping the victims rather than our people. Why is that?" She asked skeptically.
"I want to help everyone, not just those at the ISEV. Our country caused this war and we have to help the people affected by it to show that we really did not mean for such horrible events to occur. Perhaps helping others first and not ourselves is a form of reckoning for our people. But nonetheless I want the entirety of Usea and Erusea to flourish in a peaceful world," Rosa explained as she sighed solemnly, the stress of her job taking a toll on the young princess. The woman looked at Rosa pityingly, as before her was an overwhelmed girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders, barely keeping her head above the water.
"Well then, I shall take my leave. But please, your highness, get ample rest." The woman left, leaving Rosa alone with her laptop, the same laptop that she found Harling's videos in. She packed up her things and made her way to her apartment.
Rosa entered her apartment and placed her small bag on the table before flopping herself onto the bed. Her tiredness took away any remaining energy she had, and she lay on her bed silently. Her thoughts wandered to her job and the conflict that had ended just mere months ago, but she didn't want to preoccupy her thoughts with that. She then remembered something and looked at the bag that held her laptop. The same laptop that was directly connected to the Lighthouse.
"If I remember correctly, the satellite debris in orbit has been cleaned enough to allow some new satellites to be operational and reconnect the world. Though the ISEV is the main connection." She made her way to the study table and opened her laptop. With a few clicks she found the website she had just remembered.
"Nemobook… I think I remember my password." With a couple of taps on the keyboard, she opened her account and saw one person online, her only Nemobook friend. She hesitantly hovered the mouse on the call button for a few seconds, eventually clicking on it and sending a call. The screen went to call mode and there was a short, metallic ringing. The call was picked up and Rosa sat there silently, before hearing some humming from the other side.
"...Can you hear me?"
"I… Yes, I can hear you…"