Overcoming Destiny

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Wireless communications"

Ch 21

"Glad to see you could meet me on such short notice." Louise stated as George walked through the door of the room they were meeting in.

"Yes, but I must ask: What is so urg- Natsumi? Is that you?" George asked, surprised.

"Wow, Kisuke, you're... bigger." Natsumi said looking up at him in shock from her vantage point.

"Yeah." George said nervously rubbing the back of his head. "So, uh, how'd you get here?"

"I don't know." Natsumi answered shrugging. "I put in your password and stuff in that Amusphere thing of yours, picked a fairy made some adjustments and next thing I know I'm falling out of the sky landing in the water." She finished her ears laid flat dejectedly and her tail hanging limp.

"I see." George said still unsure at how to continue.

"What prompted you to use the Amusphere?" Louise asked curious.

"Well, he'd been playing that thing for the last six months, and since he wasn't typing away on his computer, I figured I would see what the big deal was before I threw it out. If I knew it could do this I would have bought one when it first came out."

"You do realize that this is your body now and there's no returning to your old life right?" Louise asked.

"Eh! But I thought it was supposed to be some kind of programing. Wait. That does explain the lack of a menu." Natsumi said as her body flipped through a myriad of emotions.

"Well, you see, it was just strings of code up until 'bout six months ago. That's when everyone disappeared. Now, it's real." George explained.

"Eh?" Natsumi cocked her head looking at him.

"Didn't you ever wonder why some of the patrons to your shop were human while the majority were Fae?" Louise asked with a questioning look on her face.

"No, I figured it was part of the game or something." Natsumi said putting her finger to her lip.

"You're just so Cute!" George cried sweeping Natsumi up in a hug.

"Can't. Breathe. Need. Air." Natsumi gasped out.

"Sorry." George said relaxing his grip.

"Not that I mind being held by my strong husband like that, but you really are strong." Natsumi purred as she stroked his forearm.

"You two can get down and dirty on your own time please." Louise stated looking almost embarrassed.

"Sorry, ma'am." George apologized still holding Natsumi. "Was there something else you wanted?"

"Now that I've tracked down another healer, we need to discuss what Natsumi is going to do about her shop since it's in Freelia and her husband is in Nissengrof." Louise said shrugging.

"Well, I could always turn the shop in Freelia into a branch shop and relocate the main office to Nissengrof." Natsumi said.

"Well George do you want to ask if Kuro knows any of their permanent transport spells or should I?" Louise asked after a few moments of thought.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, I'd actually prefer if you could." George said.

"Is the big bad Gnome scared or something?" Louise asked teasingly.

"I am unashamed to say that yes, that girl scares me." George answered shuddering.

"Ok fine you big baby I'll talk to her." Louise said laughing at his discomfort.

"What are you two talking about?" Natsumi asked completely lost.

"It's just one of the other race leaders, she can be scary." George said trying to hold himself back from squeezing her again.

"Well then while you two are getting reacquainted I'll be off." Louise said. "Oh and George you might want to have some of the salamander troops escort her back to Freelia so that her shop isn't sitting empty."

"Awww. But I wanted to spend time getting reacquainted with Kisuke here." Natsumi whined as she pulled on his shirt.

"But he has responsibilities as do you." Louise explained. "I can justify travel time to meet him and a day for you two to reacquaint yourselves but tomorrow morning y'all have responsibilities to get back to."

"All right!" Natsumi squealed hugging George. "Now why don't we go to your room and have an adult conversation." Natsumi finished tracing a finger across his chest.

"Yeah." George said nervously looking around at the other patrons that had taken an interest in their conversation.

"Hey people nothing to see here!" Louise called causing the other patrons to return to what they were doing.

OOooOO

Kirito entered into the room where his wife was currently sleeping after making sure that their home was secure. Seeing as she was unable to return to human form at the moment. Going dragon himself he lay down next to her, groaning because of how tired he was. Louise had given him the job title: 'Head of the Militia' to make sure that everyone on mob patrol and city watch weren't pushing themselves too far as well as schedule training. That basically meant that he had to put up with Chrysheight on a regular basis much to Kirito's consternation. It had also been decided that the city watches and mob patrols would have a uniform to guarantee that there would be no question about who they were, seeing as they were going to be part of the peace officers and pseudo military for the Fae.

Nothing too troubling had come up yet but he felt that it was only a matter of time. That reminded him: he needed to have Louise teach him how to make his clothes and weapons grow with him when he shifted, because it was really annoying that his clothes became a giant neckerchief and his weapons became the metal clasp that held it on. He was really looking forward to when he could use his swords regardless of what form he was in. That and his current class about how to properly handle a sword was annoying the heck out of him. Who knew newbies were that bad?

OOooOO

"Are preparations complete?" A man wearing a dark colored cloak asked as he talked to someone hiding in the shadows of the alleyway.

"They've been complete for awhile. The leadership doesn't want to attack though because of what the Fae did when they attacked Albion." The short being answered as he stayed out of sight.

"Based on what I've heard from the palace the attack that split the floating isle in two was a one-time deal. And the Silvana is only one ship, easily overpowered." The cloaked man said dismissively.

"Wardes I'll have you know that you take the threat of these creatures way too lightly." The spy stated in a flat tone. "Just because your ex-fiancée is their ruler doesn't mean they're not dangerous."

"Louise has never been that dangerous, it's just that her magic is... unpredictable and by the founder don't say my name where others can hear." Wardes hissed out, not realizing that they had a cloaked observer on the roof overhead.

"I'll present your opinions to the leadership. If we're going to invade we'll contact you within the week." The informant said before he vanished into the shadows.

OOooOO

Kirito stood in the training field in the middle of Arrun breathing heavily after he had exerted himself in a sparring match with General Eugine from the Salamanders. He and Eugine had forgone their armor for this exercise leaving Kirito in his pants and a somewhat tight fitting black shirt. This showed off just how much the transition transferred their strength stat to actual muscle when their avatars became real. Eugine's character looked similar though he was wearing a dark red sleeveless shirt. Both had sweat dripping off of their bodies as they breathed heavily.

"You've gotten better, General." Kirito said still gasping for breath.

"It helps that I'm able to practice more." Eugine said, no less out of breath. "Doesn't seem to have helped though. You still bested me."

"It makes no difference because we're pushing each other to get better." Kirito said walking over toward the rack and laying down his training swords.

"I can agree with that." Eugine said, setting his sword down as well. "I don't think there were many fighters who could push me as much as you."

"Well, Klein could when he regains his human form." Kirito replied shrugging.

"I guess I'll have something to look forward to then." Eugine added with a smirk.

Kirito's response was cut off when something that sounded like an air raid siren started going off. "All right people training is canceled, everyone is now on high alert!" Kirito called as he ran over to where his armor and swords where set.

"All soldiers prepare for combat!" Eugine shouted as he ran to don his armor and weapons.

OOooOO

In another part of the country just outside of the town of Tarbes a fleet of ships originating from Albion was just inland from shore. Where they were supposed to be meeting a smaller contingent of ships from Tristain that was present for peace talks.

The Albion contingent fired what was thought to be greeting shots as they were too far away for normal cannons to make contact so the crew members were shocked when they were hit by a few cannonballs. The people of Tarbes looked on in horror as one of the Tristain ships started to crash to the ground.

"Wha! Why! How!" Smith shouted as he watched in surprise. "Now that's just wrong!"

"I've already called in backup, but until then those of us here are the only line of defense to keep Albion from invading." Sinon said as she started rooting around through the attic of Siesta's family home as she had installed a trap door that allowed her to set up a storage cash, with the owner's permission of course.

"Will ya'll be okay?" Willem asked worriedly.

"Oh sure, that'll be easy." Smith said waving it off. "There's only a few hundred or a couple thousand at most. It'll be easy." He finished rolling his shoulder.

"Willem please don't listen to this drama queen. I finally figured out whom he reminds me of." Sinon said covering her face in exasperation.

"Oh? Who might that be?" Smith looked at her questioningly.

"You wouldn't happen to be Wade Wilson's progeny?" Sinon asked as she started to assemble what appeared to be a massive cannon the larger parts being buried in the yard.

"You know my father?!" Smith asked as he pulled out a large rocket launcher.

"Smith where did you get SAM portable missile launcher?" Sinon asked as she put the last parts on her weapon.

"It looked lonely and I needed some entertainment for those long winter nights. It's nothing like your toy though." He said pointing to her cannon.

"I'll have you know Titania gave me the use of this beauty." Sinon said as she lovingly stroked it.

"All right, so you go ahead line your Howitzer up or whatever it is you do with those things." Smith said as he looked through the sight.

Sinon answered by grinning as she pulled the trigger. BOOOOM! The howitzer barked before an explosion occurred on one of the ships in the distance.

"Well, don't I feel sheepish." Smith said as he watched the ship go down.

"What happened!" a random villager cried out. "What's going on?"

"It's just my girlfriend getting in some target practice." Smith said dismissively.

"Get your mind out of the gutter!" Sinon yelled as she kicked the back of his knees at the same moment that he pulled the trigger on his rocket launcher.

"Ah! Look at what you made me do!" Smith cried as he watched the missile miss the ship he aimed for hitting another ship. "I guess it still hit a target." Then turning to her he asked. "And what are you talking about: getting my mind out of the gutter, you're a girl and my friend which automatically makes you a girlfriend. No?" Then lightly blushing he added, "Though if you want to officially be my Girlfriend/Fiancée I wouldn't mind."

Sinon didn't answer as she loaded another round into the breach before firing it off. "I'm sorry did you say something?" Sinon asked as she pivoted towards Smith. "Did I hear a proposal in there? My ears are ringing so I couldn't be sure."

"Not at all, considering who your father is, it'd have to be an immortal or something, wouldn't you agree?" Smith said as he tossed her another round.

"Are you sure that you don't wish to speak with my father first?" Sinon asked innocently as she adjusted aim before firing again.

"Do you not like me or something, cause I swear you're trying to kill me. Besides, unless you've set up inter-dimensional communications without me noticing it'd be hard to talk to him." Smith said.

Sinon answered by giving him a deadpan look while pointing up.

"Uh, what am I supposed to be looking at." Smith said as he looked up.

He was answered by a 150 kg body crashing into his face.

"Is he alright?" Willem asked worriedly as he looked nervously at the newcomer on top of Smith.

"Oh, they're both fine." Sinon answered as the new arrival stirred.

"I feel like I went a couple rounds with Colossus." The black haired Catsy said pausing slightly when he felt his ears.

"Hey dad, nice of you to join us." Sinon stated with a smirk.

"Dad?!" Smith cried sitting up.

"Sinon?" The new Catsy asked blearily. "Are you telling me that worked?"

"What worked? If you mean trying to crush your daughter's potential boyfriend then yeah it worked." Smith said. "By the way it would be greatly appreciated if you could get off, you know eventually, just as long as it's within the next century."

This string of comments snapped Logan to attention as memories of someone else surfaced. "Sinon would it bother overly you much if I dismembered him?" Logan asked extending the claws of one hand.

"That'd be bad, you know like very bad, you see I'm a little allergic to pain. It really hurts. Besides which I'm not sure if I'd survive, which would ruin a lot of plans for a lot of people. Not that I'm anybody important, I'm really not, so I guess if you want to dismember me could you give me a little time to get my affairs in order, like maybe a few years or something, or we could work out some kind of dismemberment plan, you know, like cut off a joint every month or something." Smith rambled.

Sinon facepalmed in exasperation. "As annoying as he can be it's not worth the trouble." She answered as the Catsy Dragoons militia contingent arrived to try and delay the Albion invading force.

"Don't worry, I'd make it quick; specifically removing his head from his shoulders." Logan added holding the clawed hand threateningly.

"I heard you enjoyed doing that to dear old dad on occasion. But I'd really prefer to not test to see if I inherited my dad's regeneration ability with such an important limb. I think we should sta-... AAAAaaah!" Smith screamed as he shot out from under Logan when the drake landed.

"Major Sinon, what's the situation?" The Male Dragoon asked saluting Sinon.

"Sgt. Major Sirius." Sinon said returning the salute as a courtesy. "The Albion forced fired an unprovoked attack on the Tristain forces that came for the peace summit. Using equipment that Titania placed here I was able to slow them down but I'm sure I left enough for your platoon to play with. Be safe don't get yourselves killed."

"Ma'am." Sirius stated in confirmation before leaving to rejoin his unit.

"Major huh?" Logan asked looking at Sinon in interest retracting his claws as he had been prepared to attack. "The highest rank I got to in a hundred thirty years was Lieutenant."

"Major! Major! She made you a Major! Why'd you get a rank, I've done as much as you and they haven't given me a rank yet! I'm going to have to have talk with my lawyer about this!" Smith ranted.

Dong! Came the sound of Smiths head when Sinon hit it laying the Leprechaun out on the ground. "You're a freelancer outside of the chain of command in the Militia." Sinon said sighing. "And we don't have Lawyers."

"What! No lawyers! Oh well, we don't need them anyways." Smith said waving it off.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to Wade would you?" Logan asked curiously.

"Wha? Who else would I be related to? Well, it's not like I'm distantly related like a cousin or nephew, it's more than that seeing as I'm his son and all." Smith said.

"Sinon are you sure you don't want me to try and kill him?" Logan asked his daughter.

"No dad don't go trying to kill your soon to be Son-in-law." Sinon admonished.

"Oh does that mean you accept my proposal that I actually haven't made yet. Wait, or does this mean you're proposing? If that's the case, then Yes! I accept!" Smith cried hugging Sinon, then hiding behind Sinon, pointing at the glowering Logan. "If for no other reason than to protect me from the overprotective Wolverine over there. Not that I don't like you, because I totally respect you." Sinon just rolled her eyes at his antics.

OOooOOooOO

Omake

"So I heard you're getting married." Kaname said.

"Yes! I've planned it all, our wedding." Smith pointed to an Altar with a flowery arch over it that had a Fae in priest's robes standing in front of it. "Our honeymoon." gesturing to a bath with roses in it. "Our children." He ran over to the cluster of small statues, "Mama." He said in a high pitched voice as he waved one of the statues arms.

"That's actually a lot. Are you sure you can handle ten?" Kaname asked.

"Oh yes. Actually, she wanted fifty but I managed to talk her down. I don't think I can handle making death threats to fifty boyfriends." Smith said shuddering.

"Why are you assuming they'll all be girls?" Kaname said.

"You're right, statistically speaking. But twenty-five is still too many. Moving on. I even planned our burial sites." Smith said pointing to a pair of graves.

"Yo." A dirt covered person said from the finished holes.

"Actually." Smith said contemplatively as he rubbed his chin. "You know, I doubt we'd actually get around to using them with our long lifespans. You can fill those holes back in." Smith said waving the person off.

"What?! Are you kidding me?! I quit!" The person said.

"Quit? I'm not even paying you." Smith said. "Though do you think that was why she smiled like she'd come out ahead despite the fact that I'd talked her down to a fifth of the number? I guess I could make ten death threats a century. I'll have to talk with her about that." Smith said as he left.

Kaname and the digger looked at each other before they sweatdropped.

"Dear, are you complaining again?" Sinon asked taking in the oddities in front of her.

"Complaining? About what?" Smith asked innocently.

"You didn't seem too keen on having the number of progeny that I'd like." Sinon answered.

"I never said I couldn't handle it. I just don't think I could handle handing out death threats or giving away my adorable daughters every two years." Smith said matter-of-factly.

"And you are now going overboard." Sinon said with a sigh.

"It is the duty of every father to jovially greet their daughter's boyfriend while looking as threatening as possible, preferably with a giant sword over their shoulder." Smith said.

"Now you're just being ridiculous." Sinon deadpanned.

"I aim to please." Smith said with an exaggerated bow. "Will the lady care to accompany me?"

"Don't mind him. He claims he's getting practice." Sinon told the pair as she took off to follow her fiancé.

"Now that's an odd couple." Kaname said as she watched them leave. The digger nodded.