Chapter VI:

The training took time, Anna Ferrara was not just any Instructor and they had to memorize that information to the letter. Besides the fact that she was a seasoned veteran in the art of war and that she had been the teacher of Major Mio Sakamoto, the Venetian taught them how to handle the broom and with her they learned to fly over the skies. And the days passed under intense trainings until the moment of truth arrived, one in which many were nervous and it happened a cloudy morning, under a leaden sky that threatened to unload its torrent of water on those lands.

- I hope they slept very well and that they were able to keep a clear head.- Said the Veteran to the boys, who stood firm and silent. No one had the audacity to say anything, but kept their mouths shut, waiting for what she had in store for them.- All right, these days you have progressed very well in your training with me and more with the broom. There were many stumbles, but practice makes perfect.- She said and from there she walked from one side to the other of where they were distributed, "Now it is time for you to rise to the Heavens. The "Witches" are waiting for you up there, so I want to see it," he said and that was the "test" they had to take.

Doubts, fears, Eddy and Ed looked at Double D, who decided to be the one to take the first step forward, even though fear invaded him, he advanced a few meters. He remembered that day when the "Witches" had taken off to the Heavens to fight that intruder that was near the coasts of Brittania, now was the time to shine. He took a deep breath, he closed his eyes, he felt nothing, he was empty, only the fresh air of the North Sea was flowing around him, but nothing more than that, it seemed unheard of, it was even as if he was not feeling anything inside, except for an accumulation of emotions that was growing inside him.

- What's wrong, why doesn't it fly?.- Johnny asked, while "talking" to the board.- Ohhh, do you believe that, friend.- He wanted to know before the wooden board but there was no answer.

Returning to Double D, the boy was still there, standing in the middle of the center of that extensive runway, but he had nothing with him, only silence. His fists were clenched and, despite being focused, it was as if his whole body had gone into rebellion.

- "Come on, what's wrong, why isn't it working?.- He asked himself and began to search for the answer deep inside himself. Maybe there it would be the same, hidden, amidst the shadows of uncertainty, fearful.


Mind of Double D:

He could see himself, himself, present, prowling along a path where only loneliness made up that non-existent void, but that, when he reached the bottom, he began to feel a warmth that drove away the cold and that shone like the Astro King himself. He could "hear" it, it was calling him, so he extended his hand to reach it and from there, everything was covered by that golden mantle.


Once he came to, the intellectual began to run forward, like a fighter plane on its assigned mission. The legs flank, it is a while, a few seconds, maybe a few minutes too long, but they come to. His body begins to feel free of all weight, like a feather being carried by the icy winds of the North. His speed increases, his limbs obey, he is in command, he is the "Captain" who orders the body to execute the orders given by him. Now he could be seen going, at full speed, up to the halfway point and after that, he took off towards the Skies of Brittania, before the attentive gaze of the boys and a smile of satisfaction on Anna Ferrara's face.

- Now it's your turn, who will be next.- Asked the Veteran, feeling proud of the boy with the black cap.

Eddy hesitated for a while, but finally decided to do it.

- I'll go next.- He asked and repeated the same "procedure" as his friend. Soon, in the blink of an eye, his body began to fly through the skies.

- My turn, my turn!.- Exclaimed Ed, excited and he did it.

He couldn't believe that he was flying with his two friends, those who had always lived doing scams and who would now fight in a war for the Future of Humanity.

Soon, the others launched into the unknown, faced the fear that prevented them from reasoning and with that they took off to meet the three Eds. Even Kevin was quite pleased with what he had just witnessed. That could not be described in words, someone should take a cell phone and record it for posterity but it could not be done. A pity, but that would be written in the pages of history books.

A few minutes later Anna, who was on her broom, arrived and looked at them with great seriousness.

- I have to admit that you have begun to awaken the "Magic" that flows in you.- She began and the celebrations were about to break out, but that Veteran of Venice continued speaking.- However, I tell you again: Nobody becomes a "Witch" overnight and soon you will go to the front, that is where you will truly have to handle your power and use all that you have learned with me. Remember.- No one abandons a Comrade in Arms, that is forbidden, they are helped and protected until they are brought to the safety of the territory under their control. If a "Witch" is surrounded, she is helped and no one is to be left standing. We are in a war against a race that surpasses the "Neuroi" and their mission is to protect the Future that opens before their eyes.- She spoke with that tone full of respect for her students, while they listened to her and understood the new context in which they found themselves.

She then accompanied them to their "Guardians", who received them with applause and hugs, congratulating them for having achieved a great and important advance in their training.

- What you have done has been a great advance, guys.- Minna congratulated those present, applauding and from there she brought her arms to her waist, adopting a new gesture that they took shortly as something important that she had to communicate to them.- Now a new part begins for all of you and that will be the war while your power is being dominated by you.- She said and everyone nodded.- Does anyone have a question?.- She wanted to know.

Kevin was the one who raised his hand.

- Are we planning to go to some battle front?.- Asked the red-haired man and the Commander nodded her head.

- That's right: let's go down and show them our current situation.- Asked the young woman and they started the descent together with Anna until they touched ground.


Once they returned to the headquarters, they accompanied the girls to the "Operations Room", where it was a "hive" of comings and goings, people carrying papers and documents of all kinds, in addition to the incessant phone calls along with the movement of chips on the holographic map that was displayed in the center of that place. The red arrows had increased in several countries, which showed that they had been attacked by the Cruels and the others were waiting for that unfortunate moment.

They went down the stairs and reached the digital map, where Minna and Trudie showed them what was happening. On that holographic map, each city was worse or in a much more disastrous condition than the others. Africa was an endless battlefield, the Forces of the Kankers continued to advance and the last line of defense was ready to give everything to stop the invaders.

- Here it is.- Charlotte began, explaining the situation they were now in.

- In big trouble.- Eddy emphasized.

- That's right, because the Kankers are planning to invade from North Africa to break into Southern Europe and destroy the resistance here: Madrid, Barcelona, Galicia, Andalusia, Extremadura, Palma de Mallorca, etc.- The Liberion girl pointed out the defensive positions that were established in the Iberian Peninsula.

- How much time do we have?.- Asked Kevin with great interest.

- Not much.- Minna looked at the orange-haired girl.- Maximum 24 hours before they manage to break through the Maghreb defenses," she warned, and from there she pointed towards the West African coasts.- In addition, we have located the "Second Hive" and it is moving north, so they will get reinforcements from it. We have to destroy it at all costs, it must not get here.- Warned the redhead.- If they don't get ahead of us.

This was a mission against the clock. Anna was watching them and they knew what to do in those critical moments. Hope hung by a very thin thread and they had to act.

- They know very well that this will be an all-out fight and this time we will all go together. Do they know what to do.- Trudie asked them.- Do they know what tactics to use? We will be in the middle of the Sahara Desert, the hottest place on the planet.

- With what we learned thanks to Miss Ferrara, we will be able to use it now in the battle fronts. I am sure of it.- Eddy placed his confidence in the training they had undergone.

They looked at each other, the Officers spoke softly, passing "information" to each other until they nodded their heads, looking at the boys, who were waiting for an answer.

- All right: We will leave right now for North Africa and give battle against the "Shadow Neuroi", but do not separate from your Comrades. If anyone is left behind or wounded, they will be saved.- Trudie said, as they prepared to start their journey.


Meanwhile, in the Maghreb, those lands that had seen hundreds of civilizations, including the Punic, the Barca Family, the Roman Empire, the Germanic Tribes, Byzantium and then Islam, now faced a much greater threat than those three sisters who were determined to do anything to conquer the World. A very thin line separated them from the defenders, who were waiting for them, although with a very high probability that they would lose the battle but would hold them off as long as possible.

To the south were May Cruel's forces camped waiting for their Marie and Lee to arrive with reinforcements. The blonde was on roll call and had a great superiority in Armies and weapons against those stationed a few miles further up. There was no doubt that this was going to be an easy fight, maybe some delay in the fight but, in the end, they would win a great victory no matter what the consequences.

From the outside of her Central ship, the blonde gazed at the starry night, the Sky covered by a beautiful blanket of Stars and the Moon shining brightly over the dunes of the Sahara Desert and reaching all the way to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea. He could not shake off that Southern Europe, very soon, would be annexed to the "Empire of the Kankers". They were fools those men and women who thought that the legacy of Dr. Reginald Kanker had come to an end, there was always some group, within the family, who were going to continue it. At the same time, the young woman was in charge of inspecting the weapons and calling the roll, her forces were anxiously awaiting the time to launch themselves against the enemy and destroy them until not a single one was left standing, but she could not trust them too much either, as they could be playing tricks on her.

The communications were in constant exchange of information, while Lee and Marie were advancing to join her and thus launch themselves, the three of them together, against that line of defense. Once they destroyed it, nothing and no one would prevent them from accomplishing their next objectives. It was only a matter of time.

Holding a glass of soda, the blonde raised it and toasted, to the memory of her grandfather and the family, giving a good start to the foundation of this "Empire".

- "May Kaner“s Log: We are only 14 kilometers from reaching our objective. The "North African Armed Forces" have established a "Final Line of Defense" to prevent the "Shadow Neuroi" from reaching Southern Europe, but that will not stop us. I have confidence in my Armies and no one, not even those pathetic "Witches" will stand in my way. Hehehehehehe, I can already savor the moment of my wedding with Ed, yes, this will be something I will never forget in my life".- Augured the blonde, who was writing in her "Diary" until she received a very important notice.


She stepped outside and before a platform that unfolded before her eyes, the girl noticed the arrival of her two other sisters. Lee approached her and gave her a big hug to congratulate her on her mission and Marie put her hands around her to give her a close-up and take a picture between the three of them over the arid lands of the Sahara. Soon, the three of them entered the ship and from there they saw a screen, from which they could see the "Second Hive" marching towards where they were, ready to join the fight to dominate Africa.

- By tomorrow we will be reaching the "Line of Defense" established by the Maghreb Armed Forces and with that we will destroy them. For that we have our troops ready for combat and with that no one will stop us.- Said May, showing the progress made by her advance party of "Shadow Neuroi" ships.

- You have done an excellent job, sister.- Congratulated Marie.- We have withdrawn our forces from Western and Central Europe to give us support and thus destroy Spain and Portugal along with Morocco and the other nations of this continent. It will be a "Coordinated Attack".- Announced the dark blue hair.

- Oh yes, I can't wait for us to launch.- Asked the blonde with excitement in her voice.

- Patience, tomorrow we will attack and it will be a very fast advance, who will have the audacity to challenge us.- Lee theorized and the three laughed at that "impossible" fact.


Meanwhile, back in Brittania, the Witches and the Peach Creek boys were ready to take off for North Africa. The day remained clear and sunny, sparkling like the Pearls of a Crown. A great moment, a day for combat and for Mankind as a "Battle Cry". Everything was ready and at the signal given by Minna, she and her companions took flight towards that continent where a future confrontation would be unleashed.

The Battle of Africa was about to begin and many things would happen that only time itself could explain.

Soon, in the distance, the "Witches" and the Peach Creek boys were lost in the South, leaving a bright "Star" in the Firmament, heading for glory.


[Well, friends, I'm going to give this fic a break until Monday, January 3rd, besides, this Arc II is almost finished, so I'll make two more long chapters.

I hope you like it, because all the trainings are over, now it's up to the Peach Creek boys to manage the "Magic" they have received, control it and face the Cruels in the war together with the "Witches".

See you around, Comrades. I send greetings and thanks to all of you and wish you an excellent.

Happy New Year 2022!].