Title: Fireflies
Rating: Kid/General Audience
Summary: A group of fireflies prompts Kallen to think back on happier times with her brother.
Author: EnviroGirl
Kallen sighed and fell back onto her bed. The silence was deafening; she didn't encounter a single person once she had arrived at her father's mansion. Kallen gritted her teeth. She hated it, having to come back here. To the place that represented everything that was taken from her. But, she had to do it.
She ran her fingers through her red hair, restoring her usual spikes. It was a relief whenever Kallen could shed off the disguise of a pathetic, meek Britannian school girl. She could finally be herself. A Black Knight. A knightmare fighter pilot. A Japanese citizen.
Kallen turned her head to stare out of her bedroom window. The sun had long since set behind the horizon. The western end of the sky was a bright red, similar to the color of Kallen's Guren, the Mk-II knightmare frame. Towards the eastern horizon, the sky had already darkened to a dark purple. Kallen couldn't help but compare the color to the purple hues on Zero's cape.
'Zero…Can he really save Japan?' Kallen tightened her grip on the soft maroon bed sheets. 'He can do it. He has too.' Kallen's teal eyes panned across the courtyard. Only the silhouettes of the hedges and trees were visible in the courtyard. Suddenly, a brief glint of yellow appeared within the depths of the garden shadows. Kallen leaned forward onto the bed. Her hand slowly snaked to her concealed knife under her pillow. Was it a spy? Had they found out about her connection with Zero.
The bright light appeared again, and this time it was not alone. The single light was joined by several other small lights. But these didn't look like the lights of flashlights. They moved too fast, and lingered too long for effective stealth.
Kallen relaxed once she realized what was going on. It wasn't spies, but fireflies. The small insects danced across the yard, their lights creating a beautiful display. As Kallen watched the flying insects, a distant memory crept into her mind.
Fourteen years ago…
The sky was bathed in a warm twilight. The summer air still lingered, yet a slight chill began to creep in. A soft gentle breeze weaved through the meadow. The tall grass flowed like waves.
A small brown house sat in the center of a large green meadow. It appeared to be a one story establishment. A few boards had fallen away, as well as a few shingles. A warm yellow glow could be seen through the glass windows. The rickety back deck had a few scattered chairs for outdoor seating. Suddenly the back door to the house swung open.
"Hahaha!" A small, three-year old girl giggled as she rushed out into the field. "You can't catch me Naoto!"
"Oh yeah!" A ten year old boy ran after the girl. "I'm totally going to get you Kallen!"
"Don't go off too far you two! Dinner will be in half an hour." The sibling's mother called out from the back deck.
"We won't mom!" Naoto called back. The boy careened his head around the meadow. "Now where did you go, Kallen?" Naoto said playfully, casually strolling the field to find his little sister.
Meanwhile, Kallen had pressed her tiny body into the dirt. She had perfectly hidden herself from her brother. She let out a few quiet giggles. A slight tickling on her hand caught her attention. The little girl moved her hand in front of her face to examine it.
On her hand was a small black bug. The bug's small little legs poked out at its sides. Two small red spots looked as if they had been painted on the bug's head. It's tiny antenna twitched around as it examined its surroundings.
"Ooooh." Kallen found herself fascinated with the tiny creature.
Suddenly, the bug emitted a soft yellow glow. Kallen's eyes telescoped at the black insect. "Huh?" She tilted her head to the side. Since when did bugs glow. The girl's eyes widened as she continued watching the small bug turn its light on and off. A smile stretched across her face. With surprising coordination for a three year old, Kallen trapped the glowing bug with her free hand.
Kallen stubbled up to her feet. "Naoto! Naoto!" The red headed toddler shouted as she ran to her brother. She was eager to show him her discovery.
She didn't have to go far, as Naoto was standing nearby.
"Kallen." The older boy said in a slightly annoyed tone. "I'm supposed to find you first. Not the other way around."
But Kallen was too caught up in her own excitement to hear her brother's words. "Look! Look!" The tiny girl hopped up and down. A wide open smile beamed on her face. "I found a glowy bug!"
"A glowy bug?" Naoto questioned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yup!" Kallen responded in eager enthusiasm. She unclasped her hands, showing the small insect on her hand. The small bug continued to remain motionless, giving only the occasional antenna twitch.
Naoto bent forward to get a closer look. "Eh, Kallen? It doesn't look like it's glowing to me." The older boy questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Kallen frowned and shook her head back and forth. "No! No! No! It was glowing! I saw it!" Kallen shouted, stamping her foot in protest. Jostled by the sudden movement, the bug suddenly spread its wings. With a quick motion, the bug took off into the sky.
"No! Come back!" Kallen reached out her small arms. But the bug had already flown well above her head. As the bug floated in the air, the bug gave off a brief yellow light. A wide smile once again formed on Kallen's face. "I told you! I told you!"
Naoto had tracked the small bug as soon as it went airborne. "Oh, I see now," Naoto said. "It's a firefly."
Kallen turned her head to look back at her brother. "A firefly?"
Naoto nodded in response. "Yeah. I learned about them in school. They use chemicals in their bodies to light up," Naoto explained to Kallen. The boy turned to look back at the firefly. "Though usually there should be more around this time of year."
As if on cue, a second blinking light soon joined in. Then a third. Then a fourth. In no time at all, the green field had become filled with fireflies. The insects moved around in a silent dance. Bright yellow lights flickered on and off throughout the field.
"Ahhh!" A bright shimmer shown in Kallen's eyes. "So pretty!" The toddler squealed in delight.
One lone firefly broke away and drifted in front of the young girl. Kallen reached out and managed to catch the bug within her hands. "I got one! I got one!" Kallen shouted, jumping with boundless energy.
Naoto starred in around the meadow in a similar childlike wonder. "Hey!" Naoto exclaimed, an idea suddenly forming in his head. "Let's see who can catch the most fireflies!"
"Yay!" Kallen cheered.
The two siblings took off running around the grassland. All the while the fireflies shimmered in the growing twilight. Both Naoto and Kallen continued to catch the wayward fireflies without a care in the world. In a moment of childhood innocence that, in four years time, the two would never experience again.
Present day...
Kallen turned her head into her pillow. She barely managed to hold back her tears. They had been so innocent then. Neither of them had any idea of the absolute hell that was to come. One final thought filled Kallen's mind before sleep overtook her: 'We will free Japan, Naoto. I promise.'