Ruins or Reality
"Because if my time in the army taught me one thing: it's that war, war never changes".
— Sole Survivor/Nat. Fallout
XXX
Ange was dreaming remembering about her mother and told her stories to ease her fear before bed.
"Mother would you please tell me a story".
"Of course my little angel"
"It's the tale of the black and white knight. Once upon a time in faraway kingdom there was ta prophecy foretold that two children with a sword birth mark will be born and become knights to the kingdom and it's savior.
One child was a nobility raise by knights of chivalry and the other a commoner born. Both were raised and train by knights. The white was trained virtuously but the commoner born was ridiculed but he never give up.
Both of them were assign to become the princess knights. The princess was completely taken by the white knight handsome feature that she wanted to be near him and avoid the black knight like the plague.
One day they were attack by an enemy of another kingdom during escort and the white knight was mortally wounded and died on the spot but not before he entrusted that the white knight should protect the princess in his stead.
He obeyed even if the princess reluctant and acted like a spoiled brat.
The black knight has to escort the princess but both of then do it quietly to avoid the enemy detection during their travels. As such she meet people and learns many good and bad things around her kingdom.
Because of her Naiveté many people suffer especially the commoners and how the nobility use her generosity just to spite her.
The black knight taught her about the Kingdom and it's people what's it like to be them and how important them to provide food like the farmers. He even taught her how to try becoming a normal girl for once in her life she felt all the burden gone and free.
But during their journey almost reaching the kingdom they were ambush by enemy forces to protect the princess the black knight use himself as distraction and shield her from the enemy even knew it be his death but he believe that the princess would be a great queen.
The princess managed to escape to her Kingdom but the cost was high as the black knight die including the white knight. She learned that not everything was black and white in her life
she gained both experience and wisdom and would use it to help her kingdom in the future.
"It's a sad story I kinda wish one them is alive Oka-sama"
"If one of them is alive which would you choose?" the queen asked.
" That simple I wanted a happily ever after with white knight"
"I know you always like the prince riding a white horse like fairy tail".
As she went to sleep she then remember about that her mother had two rings one blue and one green.
Ange then woke up from her peaceful dream and was surprise seeing Vivian Kaito and Tusk was here. As the trio woke up from their mechs, what they saw were baffle crumbling buildings covered in plants, rusty vehicles, broken vending machine, and broken roads.
One question was on everyone mind's 'where the heck are we!?'
The trio were looking at their machine to see if it functions but it's just a waste of time and no matter one of them try to call help nobody answered the phone.
"There's no place like this on Arzenal , as far as I know".
"Maybe it's some ancient ruin, from humanity at war"
"I never heard such a war" Tusk knowing the world during his travel and spying.
"Then are you saying we've been thrown to another world" Ange finding her answer to be ridiculous as it sound.
'It would be the first time for me Kaito' thinking quietly about Helheim.
Tusk look serious at the Vilkiss " with Villkiss is possible"
"Huh?" Ange look confused.
"The light that enemy emitted it was similar the Vilkiss , it might have done something to protect us .The Vilkiss is a special machine. Nothing it could do would surprise me".
Kaito look at Tusk' it seems he really knew more about the machine and was no coincidence'. Remembering how he was able to fix Vilkiss.
"Can you both fix it?" she asked hopefully.
"Somewhat/maybe" both boys answered the best they can.
"Please do then".
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll be scouting the area there might enemies". Ange suggested.
" Or inhabitants in the area".
Vivvian heard and got an idea "Get on me Ange"
"Get on you as ride you?" she asked.
"Yeah!" The dragon talk it happily.
"So you were a dragon Vivian" Tusk looking at her.
"You look cuter as a dragon then a person". Kaito complementing the pilot / dragon.
"Thank you" she smiled in her dragon form.
"Don't encourage her Kaito and he was being sarcastic Vivian, your cute whatever you look. Could you really take me a ride?" The small dragon just nod.
The two of them flew scouting the area while leaving the two boys behind.
Kaito was looking at his surrounding he felt a case of dejavu remembering the silent forest of Helheim, this probably what his world would have look like if the Hellheim forest invaded earth. Tusk was also looking at his surrounding and more cautious of Kaito seeing the capability of the Overlord.
He heard about the Ragna mail Overlord different than the Vilkiss and use by Embryo. It was stolen alongside with the Vilkiss during the raid. He remember how his comrades fought tooth and nail just to steal the Villkiss. And during that time the Overlord was next to the mech not wanting to waste such a chance they grab it.
The group didn't know why it was there either that embryo put it there out of spite or just as decoration it didn't matter as long they manage to secure two Ragna-mails.
But it turns to be a waste the Overlord can't be used at all. Unlike the Villkiss that killed its pilot it doesn't respond to anyone not even his comrades and father? As such it was put in storage and chain up describing as useless junk.
Tusk didn't knew it was the Overlord that Kaito rode, since he forgotten about it.
And here Tusk looking at the Overlord flying with Kaito magnificently to the sky. It could say he was jealous that Kaito was able to pilot something as powerful as the Vilkiss with Ange.
When Ange came back.
"This is the Mitsurugi Empire. I saw the dawn pillar or what's left of it the palace and the city were gone. I recognize it anywhere". Ange looked shocked seeing the familiar landmarks
"This just liken that classic old movie planet of the apes" Kaito said.
"What movie?" both of them asked. As Kaito had a certain hobby watching retro movies during his free time.
"It's a movie about an astronaut that went through a wormhole and crash landed on a planet, but it was inhabited by highly intelligence apes that evolve. As he went through many hardship he found the most disturbing thing on the planet".
Tusk doesn't know why but had a bad feeling including Ange.
"The astronaut found a familiar monument and the planet turn out to be earth in the future as humanity destroyed itself just like this world such irony. " Kaito talking about the similarity pillar that Ange saw.
"This is not funny Kaito" Ange didn't like how the stories were.
"It's a good theory we got" Tusk scratching his chin thinking.
"You too Tusk"
"What are so afraid off Ange, what are going to make me say that the world invaded by aliens and destroyed humanity or that some sort of underground ferocious creatures attack all of humanity" Kaito riling the former royalty.
Before Ange could say anything the trio heard something and quickly hide behind the Ragna-mail.
"This is the Capital City Defense. Are there any survivors?" what they saw was a red droid on wheels broadcasting an emergency message "Capital City Shelter #3 is still operational. We are taking refuge. Survivors please meet at central park".
"Well that you don't see every day". As it reminds him of a droid from a famous sci-fi movie.
"Survivors?"
"Lets go" Ange follow it as the boys follow her.
The trio follow the message an arrive that look like a dome building that still standing as the got near the door the security door scan the trio 'Life sign detected, Beginning reception as the thick metallic door that could withstand any natural disaster open. ' Welcome to capital shelter #3, Capital City Defense Welcomes you'
As another blast door open revealing a V.I. broadcasting its speech. 'We currently have 1.7% capacity available. Please choose an area' the doors to the room started to open then Kaito sensitive nose sniff something very foul and unpleasant and he already knew what the smell was. 'enjoy your stay' was its message.
The trio look into the room and saw human corpses laying around the room they were women children and old people they can tell it was decompose for a very long time completely dried up like a mummy.
"What is this?" Ange looked shock except Tusk and Kaito as both of them are used to seeing corpses.
"You from before where are you?" asking the V.I for information of the incident .Come out and explain." I am management computer Himawari. State your query "
"She's computer"
"She's a virtual intelligence to be precise" Kaito said.
"Virtual intelligence? " Tusk was a bit taken of the knowledge.
"Sophisticated program designed to make modern computer systems easier to use. They are not to be confused with artificial intelligence, as V.I. are only utilized to assist the user and process data". Kaito explained
Ange didn't care what boys said and fascination on computers or machines.
"What's going on are there any survivors?"
"What happen?"
"What's going on?"
Was her question that she wanted to know desperately.
"Query received beginning response sequence" the entire screen went dark then change an image a city, a city of the future except the buildings exploded when missile hit. Then image change to tanks charging firing their canons.
'What is this a movie?' the trio look stunned of the image as like watching a war movie of some kind.
"These are visual records. This was a large-scale international war waged by the Unified Economic Federation against the Pancontinental Alliance. Known as World War Seven, Ragnarok, or the D war, it reduced earth's population to 11% of its pre-war level."
The trio was even more surprised as they were watching this; It showed submarine, destroyers, and Jets attacking the city.
"In order to end the stalemate, the Federation deployed the ultimate weapon, the Ragna-mail." The recording then shows the same humanoid robot mech's that attack Arzenal.
"That's ….a black…Vilkiss Ange muttered as she saw seven of them fly to a tall and futuristic tower.
One of the black Ragna-mail's shoulders open revealing a familiar weapon and fired a dimensional wave wiping out an entire city. Then others fired the across the world wiping out a whole fleet of ships, a mountain, and some parts of a city. Huge balls of fire appeared on the Earth
'This complete overkill even for me' Kaito mutered seeing the destruction of the Ragna-mail cause in matter of minutes.
Tusk was complete speechless seeing such destructive weapon used openly, without any consequences.
"And so the battle ended. But the Ragna-mail dimensional resonator weapon caused the sympathetic detonation of all of Earth's Dracunium reactors." She explained as the tower falls and caused a huge explosion, and saw several more towers exploding. "All regions of the planet became contaminated and inhospitable to life destroying all civilization. That is all. Do you have any other questions?"
Complete Armageddon seeing every area turn red.
"The world ended…?" Tusk muttered. "
"What kind of joke is this, this is stupid , when did this happen" Ange didn't want to believe it.
"538 years ago." She answered with a smile. Ange and Tusk eyes widen while Kaito was pissed even if it's a computer . "538 years, 193 days ago. No heat, motion, or life signs are currently detected in any of the 20,976 shelters located throughout the world. You are the only living human that remain on Earth."
"What is dracunim" Kaito decided to ask.
"I'm sorry I cannot answer such query" was the V.I. reply.
" What is the black Ragna-mail?" he asked another question.
" I'm sorry I cannot answer such query"
'figures they would kept something important secret from the public'.
XXX
It was getting dark as the sun came down Kaito was at the shelter looking for anything useful to find while Tusk and Ange went back to the mechs and making camp. While looking he found some of the words were old Japanese not the usual Mitsurugi language it gave him a theory that they really are in the future or another parallel world after all this wasn't his first rodeo to another world.
He arrive bringing items that could probably be consume and thankful they were some coffee beans and he could use some coffee right about now.
"Five hundred years, huh… I guess that long enough for writing to change", Tusk looking at the soda can.
"You believe that little skit"
"V.I. can't tell a lie they are program to reply any question ". Kaito reply.
"We all saw the decompose corpses ". Tusk remembering the mummified bodies.
"It could all be a lie". Ange was still in denial.
"Why would anyone do that".
"How would I know, I only believe what I see with my own eyes!" Ange was getting frustrated as she still can't accept what happen.
Kaito was getting annoy knowing Ange was averting the truth "What are going to asked that were in some kind reality show that everything here is fake! It's not Ange I already the check the corpses there are real including the smell".
"Ange in anger just turn averted from Kaito words "Vivian let me on" as the former princess wanted to search for survivors again.
"All right "as both of them fly in search for any survivors in the wasteland.
"You could at least try to be nice". Tusk suggested.
"And You are to nice for your own good, she's afraid knowing that everything she knew was gone and destroyed, She needs to face the truth eventually " As Kaito prepared the coffee. It was easy as their were still usable coffee grinders that he could use to make.
"What did you find at the shelter. and the cause of death?" Tusk as curious.
"If they were suffocation there would be near the door trying to get out, starvation they result in infighting I didn't see any blood and no radiation poison the V.I. would have warned. What ever killed them in the shelter is something else". Kaito believing it might Draconium was the cause.
Kaito drinking his five hundred year old coffee and Tusk eating the MRE ration avoiding the question he heard.
"This taste like toilet paper!" as Tusk trying to consume the ration even if taste horrible.
"If that's bad mine taste like dirt".
Ange flew overnight looking for any survivors or something to ease her fearing heart. But it was futile there was nothing in this apocalyptic aftermath.
"Vivian wake up we haven't gone up north yet"
" But I'm Tired" the scuna class dragon yawn tiredly as she sleep on the ground floor.
"Get a grip come on!".
Both boys looking Ange with concern they could see bangs on her eyes the lack of rest and sleep. She already flew hours and hours without rest.
"Ange you shouldn't force her "
"I agree with Tusk we can continue in the morning, we all needed a good rest today.
"Wake up your useless thing!"
Vivian frighten and ran away from Ange similar to that of a swan when scared.
"Okay that's it , I already running my patient Ange both off you are tired and need some rest this is getting ridiculous both of you have been flying for hours for what you can't accept the truth that were in future".
"I want to know what happen to Arzenal"
"We all want know what happen to Azsenal! I know your worried the others including Momo".
"Ange" Tusk concerns.
"Don't you have to get back soon too?, That woman's waiting for you. Right knight of Villkiss".
"Yeah, I'll protect you and the Villkiss, even it cost my life".
Kaito pinched his noise of the absurd cliché answer.
Ange scoff "For Libertus right, Your just like Salia, You're only interested in using me. Your that women lap dog.
"No. I really….." some of it was half truth.
"If we cant get back that's good enough"
"Huh". he was confuse
"That garbage strategy wouldn't work anyway…."
"Garbage" that word strike a nerve to Tusk.
Kaito eyebrow even raised the way she talk was similar to Angelise that she meet for the first time.
"Destroy the world and free the Norma. You'd let as many people die as you need for that goal. And exactly what are you freeing. You make me laugh".
Tusk clenched his fist hard in anger as he turned around not wanting to look an Ange
"Then my parents…..Died for garbage sake is that right".
Ange was shocked hearing that
"We ancient people. We always fight to free the world from Embryo. Dad and Mom fought hard to create a world where we and the Norma, people can't use mana can live. And they died!. My dead comrades, and my parents wishes it's all garbage to you dint it." Tusk for the first time looking at Ange with anger.
"Well". Tusk then just left not looking back.
"What Kaito are you going to be angry with me".
"I'm not angry with you, I'm disappointed with you"
Ange was shocked seeing Kaito sadden face
"They way you say is like trampling on their belief and dreams. Both me and Tusk never did have a cheerful childhood unlike you was already served milk and honey being a princess of royalty. For both of us knew much how we fought for a better world for me was a world of equality".
"Here I thought the girl I meet that day would change but in the end she's still a spoiled Princess".
Just like tusk Kaito turn and walkaway.
Ange just stare at boys leaving her. It was morning breakfast was prepared but the duo ignore her and continue trying to fix the mechs.
Ange decided to be left alone and she was an underground subway or whats left of it.
"Whatever both of them ignoring me? So immature both of them". As she reminiscing her time with the duo of them that good, and bad.
"He didn't have get so angry but Kaito he looked sad" Ange was surprise how angry Tusk was but Kaito sadden face was what impacted her the most she never seen his sad face . " Maybe Kaito right I've taken everything for granted",
Then she saw accessories that were in the tunnel "Hey this is cute" them memories of Vivian flashing how she wanted to Ange friend no matter how much she brush aside her friendship. How the boys always helping her in time of needs and started to understand each other.
The sun was setting the duo was still trying to fix the mechs without any luck Then Ange came to Kaito first and hang a necklace, then next Tusk she quickly step away quietly.
"I thought it might look good on you. That's all"
Tusk just smiled at the same time Kaito also came both men wearing the same accessory on their necks.
"How do I look?/ what do you think?" Both boys asked the former princess.
"I thinks it's good look for the both of you". was her honest opinion.
"Thanks. You must be tired. Lets eat " Tusk acting nice for a change but Kaito didn't say anything as he wait looking straight an Ange.
"Hey wait" Tusk stop and Kaito looking at her.
"I'm, um…I'm sorry for being a spoiled princess, you were right I taken everything for grated. I was angry alright I just couldn't accept the truth".
Kaito walked and put his arm on her shoulder and smiled "apology accepted, for you admit being wrong and apologize is a first step of change".
"Apology accepted too Ange, sorry for being harsh" Tusk saying his piece.
Vivian then came forward.
"Vivian I'm sorry about last night. I said to much. Thanks Vivian". As Ange reconcile with her friends knowing how important their bonds of friendship were.
It was started to snow knowing that the trio would never survive until Ange came with a good news. Using the ride as a as a generator to powered up Hotel Mulaflaga ( I' mean seriously ) it was a hotel that survived the fallout and has roof, beds, And a bath.
Kaito whistle with appreciation looking at the main interior a bit dusty but better than nothing.
"Its miraculous well maintained and survive". Tusk look awe.
"It must have been a prestigious aristocrat castle" Ange thought.
"More likely a 5 star hotel for rich bastards". Kaito sarcasm.
The trio decide to indulge themselves as taking turns during bath time Vivian and Ange would go first then it was the boys next. After a nice relaxing bath Vivian decided to sleep first living the trio in the living room. Tusk was fixing the hairdryer while Kaito was making coffee.
Ange look outside the window with a smile
"Thank you Kaito and Tusk" for of them looked an Ange with surprise as she never thank anyone before.
"Tusk you know a lot of things and your always rational and kind".
"And Kaito you always look after me ,encourage me even tolerated with me".
"I felt like I can depend on both off you".
"I'm no good it only took to be some else shoes , that I've taking everything for granted in my entire life, I'm, a selfish spoiled princess with tantrum problem. Throwing the blame on others as it be easy that way". Ange confess.
"Yeah I remember that you shot me when i first came to the island".
"What Ange shot you kaito". Tusk was surprised hearing this.
"She did but but something in my jacket protect me from the bullet".
"I should apologize about that I was still angry and spoiled".
"That's all in the past, I'm not the type of person to hold a grudge , I understand how you felt Ange you blame the world and anyone since you were princess had everything in your life and the life you knew was gone when learning that you were a Norma. If that's not enough you to become a soldier fight dragons while riding a weapon of mass destruction".
"Next thing we were flung five hundred years in the future".
"Yeah a lot of things has happen the good and the bad. I learned a lot of things. Even tough some people I could understand until the end".
"If your talking about your asshole brother he should have gotten worst " remembering how Kaito cut his right arm
"Yeah he was an ass". Tusk added.
"I know but he still family even though his an asshole". Ange remembering that she almost shot her brother and it was Kaito that saved for almost doing something she didn't want to ponder.
"Heh, tusk who's Embryo?"
That was a question that even Kaito wanted to know the true enemy.
"He control the civilization from the shadow. He's the master of the world".
"In other words his the puppet master the true enemy". Kaito figured out how the way he talk and move it's like Sengoku Ryoma who looked down on others.
"Our highest greatest enemy he was anyway" Tusk sadden.
"Five hundred years ago huh".
"We all face so many challenge in our life and were right here now together again just like on that island".
"So true" Ange agree.
"Well lets get to bed we all are tired today both of us will sleep at the other room Ange, you sleep here".
"Wait both of could sleep here it's alright". Ange suggested.
"What are you ten!" Kaito , make it sound ludicrous.
"Is not that! it's better were together it be safer" Ange was embarrassed hearing that statement."The duo went towards the sofa and it crumbles in just seconds.
"Termites or that five hundred year furniture doesn't last long , both of us can sleep on the floor and no both of us will not share you bed Ange. The last thing we need is that the three of us touching some place that shouldn't be touch".
The lights were off and the boys were sleeping on the floor. But Ange couldn't sleep.
"Kaito are you still a sleep". Ange asked.
"No , you cant sleep and something bothering you right".
"Yes , is about the how easily you able to accept death and the truth about the dragons being humans. Who are you really are Kaito?" Ange started to think who was Kumon Kaito? ever since she meet Kaito on that day he was an Enigma to her, he was powerful , Skill and different from the rest of the sheep's. He even prevent her from doing something that would make her regret in her even if that person was scum but still family.
Kaito might as well answered a few truth question"I came a place very far place I was like you Ange being draft like a soldier for to fight a war that we didn't know anything about , I already told about my childhood how despised those with power and how they use it to make others suffer. When I was chosen given such power I was trill and ecstatic, I continue fought and fought then I learned a terrible truth that the monsters we fought were once humans. But even when I learned it I must accept , I will not ran from it knowing the truth about the monster that I fought, it be nothing more dishonoring those who fought with us".
"Do you have anything to say Tusk?"Kaito looked at him.
Tusk decide to indulge them " Ten years ago … well I guess 548 year a go Libertus failed. Alektra lost her right arm, and couldn't pilot the Villkiss anymore. My parents and friends died that day , I was left nothing but my duty as the knight of Villlkiss. But I was afraid, to fight and die for someone I never known , let alone meet. I ran from that duty into the forest. I could even find a reason to fight or even to live. I just ran. That's when I meet you both especially you Ange. How you continue to fight even the odds. That open my eyes. What was I doing running. That's when I finally found a purpose to be a knight. I move forward not out of duty but by my own free will. So if I can protect you, that good enough for me".
Boom the sound of wall broke from the outside the trio got up and look towards the source to find two women standing on a dragon.
"Are you the ones who sent the distress signal!?" The intruder asked.
"A dragon!" the trio said in unison.
The women in the blue dress address the trio " welcome false citizen"
'Oh shit' was what they thought.
Well this all chapter that I wanted write . The story is from the light novel type similar in a way.