Chapter IV:
The next day, after the talk that the "Witches" had in the "Dining Room" of the Headquarters, the training for the Peach Creek boys to master the "Magic" began. Already, since the early hours, Anna Ferrara was waiting for them outside, awake, always attentive and with her senses active for a new beginning. She didn't care about the passing of time, nor that the conditions were rainy or cold, the Veteran of Venice remained standing and when she saw the young people arrive, she clapped her hands, almost as if it was an applause and from there she walked from one side to the other of where they were, looking at them in silence.
None of them said anything, it was the moment of truth for them to put on the table everything they had learned with that woman. She did not stop walking, despite her age, she still showed those qualities that made her a true military woman and an excellent instructor. Soon, her step stopped in the center of the formation, the boys took a firm position and not even the flight of a fly could be heard. The cold wind from the North was blowing and it seemed that their emotions would betray them, but it was not so. They remained still and at their posts. Then Anna turned and faced them.
- As you know, no more than 24 hours ago, a warning arrived that the Kankers have begun to attack the scientific bases in Antarctica and are endangering the security of Australia, New Zealand and South America, so I have been asked to teach you to master the "Magic" 100%. Don't ask questions yet.- She explained and that led to Kevin having to "erase" the one he had in his mind.- For now, the enemy is on the "White Continent", but it is not surprising, due to their "Nature", that they are planning an offensive soon, so we will start with the flight.- She turned his eyes and took his Witch's broom.- First I will examine your take-off. Go ahead.
Once the general context was given, the first to volunteer was Ed, who did it without any problem, except that he almost brushed the ground but kept his balance and from there he flew towards the Heavens, being welcomed by the Veteran. Next was Eddy along with Double D. Both managed a good takeoff, while Jimmy still had trouble keeping up, being helped by Sarah.
The last ones, Rolf, Kevin, Nazz and Johnny, had a normal flight, although they also had some inconveniences, something that was analyzed by Anna, who addressed them.
- Well.- The Veteran began to speak, while floating with her broom.- To begin with, you have made a good take-off, however, balance is something fundamental for you in the battlefield and even more for when you are fighting against the enemy. So you are going to continue a few more days with me until you master it; starting now. The rest of you, continue with the other exercises.- The Veteran informed them, while they responded to her orders.
Under the watchful eye of Anna Ferrara, those who could not pass the "Test", put their chest in the face of adversity and with the guidance of that woman, in addition to seeing the others who were with their training, they hoped to pass before the new offensive of the enemy took place.
The days passed slowly, there were some in which the boys seemed to be lost, not knowing what to do. They were diverted from their path but with the help of Anna and the "Witches", they were able to return and with it pass that last part that had cost them so much. Still, no one is powerful with power alone, there was also the use of Logic, the mind itself was a great ally during the combats and for that, they had to spend some time getting around obstacles and solving difficult situations when they had an "attack" as a challenge.
Once they passed, they received a short break. One that would be the "Prelude" to what was to come later and that Minna together with Trudie and the others were in the "Operations Room", following the trail of the Cruels until they found their current position, located in Antarctica and where they had gathered a vast Army with which they would attack the Nations of the Southern Hemisphere in the blink of an eye.
And soon came that day, one in which came the most dreaded news for all of them. A messenger entered Minna's Office, who was busy with some documents when he whispered something in her ear, so she got up and asked Trudie and Francesca to gather the others in the "Operations Room".
Inside that area there was a very "hot" and tense atmosphere, the discussions about what was happening gave more than one person goose bumps, while the phone calls with the nations of the Southern Hemisphere did not stop, and the news about the Cruels was increasing until the location of the Cruels and what they had at their disposal was shown on the holographic map. With a quick "click" they revealed the vast Armies they had at their disposal.
- This was taken a few hours ago, Commander. They have gathered enough combat strength to destroy an entire continent.- Said one of the Generals, who was wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a white silk handkerchief.- From what our spies on the ground have provided us with information, we have found the "Third Hive" but this is a kind of Mobile "Siege Tower", just like the ones that fought in the past, during the "Second Neuroi War".
- And not only that, General, they have already planned a definitive attack against the Southern Hemisphere, however, we don't know when they will do it and...- Added another of the military, when, from the Radar Station, the alarms began to go off, one by one.
- It can't be...- Said one of the operators when he verified that everything was working correctly and, to his surprise, the screens began to flood with hundreds of "Shadow" ships heading towards Europe and other parts of the world.
From the North and West, huge enemy battleships were heading for Europe and Africa, razing everything in their path, devastating entire towns and cities to the ground, leaving a trail of unparalleled death and destruction. The "Witches" gave the order to mobilize and prevent that path from continuing to expand, so they headed, along with the Peach Creek boys, to the hangars, ready to take off for the skies with their military equipment.
- We will approach the Shadow Neuroi's "Center Line" to ambush and defeat them! Stay close to your teammates, stay together and attack with everything you have! Yoshika asked them, while they flew in formation until they were only a few kilometers away from the enemy zone.
When they arrived there, a flash almost reached them, but it was Eila and Perrine who deployed a shield that faced the attack, leading them to protect the boys and with that they noticed, to the South, that the enemy ships were on their way. It was a tense moment, the weapons were ready to be fired, they only needed a "signal", a shot that would start the confrontation against them and from that position came a violet glow, a new one that led them to evade it and with that the battle was unleashed.
A second, that was what that burst meant and with it came the response of the "Witches". The first to charge was Yoshika with Johnny. The boy in the white shirt fired a round of magic projectiles against one of the ships, which did not seem to feel the slightest impact or damage to its "armor", so it flew in a dive next to the Japanese until it positioned itself on the fuselage and from there attacked repeatedly.
- Enemy at 100 meters!.- Alerted Perrine, while she flew with Jimmy in a series of flights that "grazed" them and unloaded their rifles until they managed to shoot down two of them, who exploded in the air.
A few meters from where they were, Sarah was in trouble with a group of rivals who were chasing her and her friend, seeing that she was surrounded, went to help her, attracting their attention and thus saving the redhead from a possible fatal outcome. Just when those pursuers exploded, Jimmy used his body and wrapped his friend in a hug, and deployed a shield against those fragments that disappeared in an instant.
In the middle of the smoke screen, Perrine was looking for them but as there was no sign of them, she feared the worst, so she descended in her search until she noticed a presence, being theirs, being Jimmy who was carrying Sarah on his shoulders. They were fine, a few small wounds that would be treated in a few seconds and nothing more. Seeing them safe and sound, the Galia girl hugged them tightly.
- I knew you would make it, Jimmy. You are on the right track and what you did for Sarah is an act of pure nobility.- She congratulated him, while he closed his eyes.
- It's true. He would never leave me alone or let anything happen to me.- Added the redhead, but the celebration was short-lived, as new attacks were taking place all over Heaven.- God, how heavy those guys are. Come on, let's get it over with.- She asked and they returned to the battlefield.
For his part, Ed had already managed to distract a few ships, which crashed against each other as they had to chase him, while Erica watched him from her firing position, shooting down anyone who tried to escape or who wanted to reach the Old Continent.
- Over here, "Space Invaders"!.- The Science Fiction lover called out to them, causing the blonde from Karsland to laugh at that fact.
- Ed, you're so funny!.- She exclaimed in friendship to the boy. The latter heard her and ascended in the Heavens, just when an enemy ship wanted to escape but he managed to reach it and destroy it completely, freeing that part of Heaven. There didn't seem to be a single force that could stand in their way and with Erica by their side, they were unstoppable, devastating all traces of the "Shadow Neuroi".
Eddy had shot down a third ship and it fell down in flames. Francesca eliminated another quite large group and from there she was able to approach her friend, whom she took by surprise and spun him through the air, coming face to face. Not a single word came from her lips, but the boy couldn't help but feel something inside when he saw the Italian's energetic face. Something that was growing, slowly, and that motivated him to continue.
- There, look!.- Francesca pointed at him and fired at two ships, which exploded in the air, while the boy continued and shot down others that crossed his path.
- Piece of cake.- Said the young man of short stature.
The counter-offensive had taken the enemy by surprise, part of their fleet was being decimated and with it were those boys. Where had they come from? What were they doing with the Witches? They didn't know, at that moment, since their main objective was to continue with the mission assigned by the Cruels. Everywhere one looked, wreckage of enemy ships were falling everywhere, burning or spiraling through the air until they crashed to the ground and the shore. They disappeared in small, tiny, glowing crystalline wreckage until there was nothing left.
One by one, the invading force was reduced to more than half of its members, razed, devastated, and it was then that they turned around, beginning their retreat out of the battle zone, something that caught the girls' attention.
- Let's go after them, let's not let them escape.- Sarah asked, determined but the girl felt a very strong tiredness and was grabbed by Trudie just in time.- We must...go...they will come back with more strength...- She insisted with a weak voice but the dark brown girl shook her head.
- We've given them what they deserved.- The Karsland girl addressed the young woman, holding her, while Ed walked towards her.
- Is she going to be all right, Lieutenant Barkhorn?.- The boy asked with concern.
- Don't worry, it's just fatigue, something common. All of you will return to Headquarters to rest, while Minna, Charlotte, Yoshika and I will stand guard in this place, in case you come back.- She gave that order to those present, who did not want to leave but had to obey.
- The girls are right: we have already fought a lot, now let's go to rest.- Double D understood that meaning and they had to leave the place, accompanied by the other part of the "Witches" until they reached Brittania.
Once the place was clear, the rest stood guard. The combat had barely begun and, soon, they were going to have a change of scenery.
[I'm going to leave this fic on hiatus for a few days, until Monday, since I want to focus on the relationship between the Eds and the three "Witches" a bit more in the next chapter, besides it will be long, and from there we'll go to the second part of the action.
I apologize, again, if I took too long, friends, but I had a new "Writer's Block" although it has passed.
I thank you for your patience. I send greetings and thanks to all of you and until next time.
Have a good weekend from me and see you in the next chapter, Comrades].
