Chapter XII:

In the midst of that beginning, a party that took away the pains and sufferings of war, giving a touch of calm and security to those present who had lived, in the flesh, what was the struggle and survival on the front, everything froze at the moment when three figures appeared at the entrance to the park of the "Gemilli Hospital". The music stopped, the kids stopped talking, laughing, Sarah and Jimmy had stopped their games they had with Perrine, while those present directed their gazes towards where the three Eds were. They remained standing, focusing their gaze towards that special spot.

They had to be dreaming of that moment. Eddy shook his head, he was in Reality, he was not immersed in some "Fantasy World", but he was there, standing next to his two friends. Francesca rested her hand on her boyfriend's back and he looked into her eyes. How beautiful that black-haired Italian looked. The short young man's heart was pounding like a locomotive moving forward without a driver to steer it. She had remained in Romagna to continue the work at the front with the others.

For their part, with Double D and Ed, both swallowed saliva and thought that both Eila and Sanya as well as Erica would have changed, from the emotional side, after returning to their countries and finding them reduced to rubble and ashes. The intellectual looked at the Science Fiction fan. The latter did the same, wondering if they should make the next move but it was their legs that "betrayed" them, heading towards where the three girls were, who were accompanied by Minna and Trudie. Mio watched them, Kevin and Nazz put on an expression of companionship towards those two young people, who did not know what destiny was going to bring them.

- I don't even want to see.- Said Sarah, fearing for what might happen between Ed and Erica, covering her eyes, but Perrine spoke to her.

- You shouldn't be afraid; you should be confident.- The girl from Gaul encouraged her and she looked again.

- Perrine is right, Sarah, just hope that things can work out," added Jimmy.

Rolf was still at the grill but the food had not yet been prepared, it was still on the table. He now had his eyes and his full attention focused on the two Eds who were walking to the entrance leading to the park.

- For my Ancestors' sake, friends, I wish you the best of luck in this.- The Foreing asked, holding a small white cloth tightly in his hands and leaning it, with all his might, against his chest.

It was as if they were walking towards the scaffold, being watched by the people who were witnessing their "execution". Sweat beaded on both young men, despite the support they had received, both from their friends and from Ed and Eddy, both could not help but feel a fear gnawing at their insides. Every step they took was as if they were dragging chains and that the three girls were moving further away, while they were sinking in a "Sea" of fear. Double D pulled a handkerchief from his right pocket and wiped that liquid running down his forehead. It was a cool night but it looked as if they had been out in the desert, not stopping or tasting food and water. Ed looked at him.

- Don't worry, everything will be fine.- He promised him, and when they turned around, they were only a few feet away from Erica, Eila and Sanya.

Minna and Trudie had retreated to the side of the park, on the west side, watching the two friends in silence.

- God, why all this tension?. I feel like I'm being tortured inside. My heart is pounding.- Eddy wanted to find out about the feeling.

- They are afraid that, because of what happened in Peach Creek, during the "Friendship Day", those actions have provoked the destruction of Erica's, Eila's, Sanya's and my country.- Answered Francesca to her partner's question.

- What do you mean? But...are you?. I don't know if it's true or not what I'm thinking. I'm confused.- Said the short boy, while the black-haired girl looked at him from the front.

- Tell me something: What does your conscience say?. Not your heart, but the one I mentioned. Listen to it.- The Italian woman advised him and he remained silent for a while, with his eyes closed, finding the answer he needed for that fear.

- It's a complicated thing to say but, from my point of view, if you were angry with me, you would have already left here," he answered, she nodded her head, waiting for more, "Even so, you wouldn't let yourself be destroyed by the Kankers, you wouldn't blame me in my face when they attacked. It would be confusion, fear, but then would come the "Light at the end of the Tunnel".- He continued speaking and from there the Italian knelt before him.

- Exactly: You don't have to be afraid of me, I would never hurt you, because you were not the cause of the destruction of Romagna. They are looking for that, to divide us, to make us fight among us so that they can achieve their goal, but they are wrong.- The tone Francesca was exerting was one charged with determination and a great willpower that encouraged anyone who was down, morally, to go ahead for the fight and liberation of their homeland.

- You are right. The Kankers have always wanted that, in the sense that they were always looking for our weak points to get what they wanted, to have us as their boyfriends by force, to drag us into losing our freedom to choose the person we want to spend our lives together. They always had that feeling that the World was "indebted" to them and they could do whatever they wanted, but not anymore.- Now it was Eddy who had that support from his girlfriend, renewed and leaving the Past behind.

- Way to go! That's my boyfriend!.- Francesca congratulated him, hugging him tightly. He felt the girl's warmth, the contact with her body and his was something impossible to describe for Eddy, who closed his eyes for a moment and let himself go.

Soon, once that instant had passed, he turned his attention back to where Double D and Ed were. Both boys were already face to face. The former with Eila and Sanya, while the latter in front of Erica. Neither of them said anything, the wind felt calm, a little cool and it moved the branches of the trees with a soft cooing. Minna and Trudie were waiting for what they had to say, Francesca and Eddy remained silent, as did the rest of their friends gathered there.

A distant explosion could be felt, but it lasted a few moments, no one wanted to talk, only to see the results of this reunion. It seemed that it would take forever to wait until, suddenly, the first to break the silence were Eila and Sanya, who went to Double D. He caught them and gave them a tight hug, breaking into tears. They said nothing, they understood very well the state they were in after returning from their countries and finding them devastated by the Kanker. Erica was the next to break the calm and ran to Ed. The Science Fiction fan did not let go of that reunion, the blonde from Karsland was destroyed after witnessing the fall of her home in the hands of the Kanker. He ran his right hand through her hair, encouraging her to go on, that she should not be like this, that she was strong and very soon Justice would be done.

- Double D, we...we wanted...- Eila was about to say but the boy calmed them down.

- I know what you are going to say: There is no need to apologize, you went to see your home. I can't get angry with an extremely important mission for you and Sanya. Calm down, it's okay.- He replied calmly, following Ed's advice, and both girls were relieved of that "weight".

- Ed, Karsland was destroyed, many lives have been lost but...but I won't let the Kankers get away with it! I swear we will bring them to justice and they will pay dearly for their audacity.- She gave her word, renewed by that will and determination before her fiancé and their reunion.

- And we will, Erica: They will pay for every life they have unjustly taken. We will give them what they deserve.- The boy augured, as he continued that release of pain and suffering.

- That's the way to talk, because that's exactly what we wanted to talk about.- Minna and Trudie approached them.- During dinner we will discuss it, now go and clear your minds.- Concluded the red-haired Commander, while she retired together with Karsland's Lieutenant.


Returning, each of them, to their respective duties and obligations, Ed and Erica went to a fallen log that covered one of the ends of the park, taking a seat, being assisted by the boy, who ran his hands over her back, encouraging her, giving her warmth after everything she had experienced. Through her head she counted a great "storm" of emotions, so she sighed, deeply and looked at the Science Fiction fan.

- It's serious, isn't it. What happened in Karsland.- The boy deduced and she nodded her head.

- There are no words to help me describe what I saw: I can only tell you that it was total devastation. There was no time for anything, not even to establish a defense. The Kankers had been prepared for a lot, but I have the impression that they hid their steps very well with the use of interferences. Some source we haven't seen before," Erica deduced after telling him what had happened, seeing scenes of the destroyed Karsland.

- Calm down.- Ed spoke to her.- We must not lose hope, we can still recover it.- He encouraged her to go on, smiling at her and she was influenced by that, hugging him tightly.

- Yes, it is true. They will fall and they will pay dearly for what they have done.- She promised and they stayed there, talking and spending the most tense moment that blonde had ever lived.


The healing of the wounds caused by the war, the emotional damage to those who suffered in the flesh the destruction of their homes, the homeland ravaged by the war. A quiet reunion served to calm the waters, prepare the body and mind for the time to return to the front lines. Both the Eds and the other Peach Creek boys had that in mind.

Soon, with the calm arriving, the smell of grilled food began to fill the air. Between chatter and laughter, they were forgetting about what might be on their minds during the war. It was time to spend a good night with the people they loved and not to think about tomorrow, even if it was only for a few hours.


Taking advantage of the fact that the food was roasting, a certain group of friends had decided to leave and go to a more private place with three girls. The first of them was Eddy, who was holding hands with Francesca. The duo had flown up to perch on the terrace of an evacuated building, where they had a spectacular view of the City of Romagna under a night divided between peace and the fighting that was taking place in different sectors of the Capital. Inviting him to sit down, the boy did as he was invited and remained next to the black hair, who was contemplating her home.

- It's a beautiful view, don't you think so?.- She asked with a hint of sadness combined with hope.

I couldn't ignore that tone.

- Yes, it is.- Eddy answered and approached her.-Just like when I came here with you that day.- He remembered and that's when those flashbacks appeared.

- You know, it's funny. It's funny, this city endured, for so long, wars, famines, destruction, the arrival of other ethnic groups like the Gauls, Carthaginians, Germans, different Kingdoms and Empires up to the "Neuroi" but, it always knew how to get ahead. In spite of the losses, my people have known how to continue, no matter the cost. Perhaps that is the key to defeat the Kanker, not with words, but to show them that Human Beings do not intend to be slaves of someone who thinks he is superior.- She gave those inspiring words that caught the boy's attention.- Even when they have their armies and the technology of the Neuroi on their side, they will be condemned to collapse. The ego, the excess of pride, that is what causes the fall of those who think they have everything won. History itself has shown it in Europe and other places.- Said the black hair, taking Eddy by the shoulders and moving closer together until they were united.- We all have to learn from our mistakes.

What a good word for that boy. He sighed deeply and took action.

- Before I met you, as I said in Peach Creek, I was someone who thought of nothing else but myself and money. That's all. We lived by running scams that went bad and ended up paying the price for our actions. And what happened with Jimmy, during the "Friendship Day", was the final point that marked my life, as well as that of my friends and made me reflect, that I had to change and it took me time, but I did it. I know that I will lack a little, but, with the aforementioned, I will be able to be someone who has a future ahead of me.- He acknowledged and that made Francesca express a smile of satisfaction. Then, she hugged him tightly and they were face to face.

She breathed deeply, she was beautiful in the moonlight, her hair seemed to shine with it and with it, a strange force of attraction was bringing them closer, little by little, joining, holding hands until, finally, their lips made contact, giving shape to a tender and sweet kiss.


Both Eila and Sanya were next to Double D, who did not let go of the hug she was giving them. The environment remained static, silent, not even a leaf of the trees moved, only the voices of the three could be heard talking about what had happened.

- I am very sorry for what happened to Suomus and Orussia.- The boy expressed his respects to them, who were looking to the side. He clenched his fist, he could not believe that the Kankers had done something as horrible as that.

- Double D.- Eila intervened, taking his hands gently and he left his fury behind.- I understand that you are upset about what happened, but we can't get carried away by desires and revenge, otherwise, we will be the same or worse than them.- He couldn't deny those words so true that the two girls had. He felt a tug and noticed that it was Sanya who was responsible, so he pulled her closer to him.

- I was never very communicative with you, Double D, but, even so, I'm going to reverse that.- She began to speak, leaving the silence that overwhelmed her and looked him in the eyes.- I know we will triumph, but we can't consider that this war will end soon. Even so, if I have to fight to the end, I will do it and it will be by your side and with Eila. The three of us together.- She promised and the two of them did not let go of that embrace, besides they gave him a tender kiss that left the boy blushing.

They were not weak, much less cowards. They had gone through such a hard time seeing their lands devastated, but, from the bottom of their hearts, hope was going to rise again like the sun that drives away the shadows of the darkest night.


Ed had Erica by his side, he felt the warmth of her body against his, that feeling of exhaustion disappearing and being renewed with new energy after being in Karsland. She had told him everything that happened there, what she saw and led to her suffering that hard moment when she cried over the ruins of Berlin, plus the fact that she was almost going to leave to face the Kanker on her own. Had it not been for the intervention of Minna and Trudie, things would have gotten much more out of control, so the blonde came to her senses and was now by her boyfriend's side, who gave her all his support after that hard moment.

- Don't blame yourself, Erica. You don't have to.- Said the Sci-Fi fan, while she had her eyes closed.

- I know I shouldn't do it, but...a part of me blames me for not having been in Berlin earlier to protect them. What will they say about me?.- The blonde wanted to know.

- Nonsense, no one knew this was going to happen so suddenly. It was the Kankers who did it and on top of that, attacking a city... even though I understand that in today's wars, anything goes, even attacking large cities with civilian populations.- The American acknowledged and then looked at his girl.- But we shouldn't lose hope either. Think about what could have happened to you, even if you were alone.

- I could have died, that would have been much worse. They would even take me as a prisoner, who knows if they would have compassion...?. No, they don't, they are monsters.- She pointed out seriously in relation to the Kankers, "Even so, none of us is going to rest until they end up behind bars and we will do it together.- She promised, looking at the Heavens and then at her partner, with whom she had a tender romantic moment together with the kiss that he didn't see coming.

Soon, once those emotional "wounds" were healed, they returned to the party, where food, music and good cheer served to appease, for a few hours, the tensions from the war. Tomorrow would be another day and a very important one in the lives of those involved.


[Well, two more chapters and this "Arc" comes to an end. I know that the end of the aforementioned would be coming but, still, I need to develop the part of the fight for Romagna and its consequences.

I send greetings and thanks to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the other followers.

Take care, friends. I wish you a very good week and see you in the next chapter].