c h a p t e r 11

They flew to me, and I looked to Kira, wondering if he would tell me at all what the plan was about, but knew we had no time.

"Just roll with it," he said.

I nodded, then looked back to Neo and Stellar. Lacus, Sting and Cagalli suddenly began to attack Neo as best as they could, energy balls, bows and arrows, spears, the whole lot. They were trying to break the shield. It was probably breakable anyway, but then the idea caught onto me and I smirked.

Athrun, Shinn, and Kira began to fire energy balls at Stellar, and she acted to defend herself, and we could see the shield around Neo faltering a little bit, but coming back at full force in no time. Cagalli made a battle axe, then flew over to Neo, and swung it at him as hard as she could, and we could see the shield cracking like glass. Each crack, however, would just heal and the sphere would be flawless again.

I just floated there, waiting for the perfect moment, I didn't like that Athrun, Kira and Sting were still attacking Stellar, and an energy ball had seared her arm a little bit, but it was the only way. I made a bow and arrow, glaring at Neo, and shot a few arrows at the shield that kept him alive, seeing that it faltered a lot more than when Sting, Cagalli or Lacus had attacked it.

"Heh..." I smirked when I saw his surprised expression.

Sting frowned, "get your ass over here dammit! We need your help!" he shouted, and I nodded, flying over there and creating a lance (A/N: A lance is like a battle axe, that thing the Auel's Gundam, the Abyss, carries around for a weapon), and swinging it at Neo's shield. It cracked all around, but Stellar's attention wasn't completely diverted yet, and she healed it instantly.

Neo smirked, "you'll never win."

I glared, "that's what you think." An idea rose inside my mind, and I motioned for Kira, Sting, and Athrun to stop attacking Stellar, then locked eyes with Lacus and Cagalli, seeing them nod. I threw my lance at the shield, watching it as it got stuck in it and was dangerously close to cutting Neo's head off, before I flew over to Stellar, pulling her into a hug, "Stellar... listen to me... it's me, Auel..."

The blond didn't move, "Auel..." she said slowly.

"You need to break free from him, Stellar... fight back, don't give in... or else all of us will get killed..." I murmured in her ear.

"Killed...?" she questioned, and I nodded.

"Yes, you need to break free from his grasp... Stellar.. remember that I will always protect you.." I said, and he glanced over to Lacus and Cagalli. The two nodded, then began attacking Neo again, his shield making a terrible, but satisfying, cracking noise.

"Stellar..! Heal the shield!" Neo cried.

I held her tighter, "listen to the sound of my voice, focus on that..." I said. Stellar closed her eyes, and the shield around Neo shattered, as he tumbled into the waters below. Cagalli growled, coming after him, sending a beam his way, watching with a smirk on her face as his body disintegrated into the air.

The glowing around Stellar faded, the metallic band around her neck shattered, falling into pieces. She slumped against Auel, falling into unconsciousness. Her wings had disappeared, making her look like the Stellar I once knew. I smiled, carrying her over to shore as the others followed, our wings disappearing as soon as we landed on shore.

I fell onto my knees, holding Stellar close to me, "it's over.. it's finally over..."

Kira looked around, "I'm surprised nobody came to watch, the light was really bright.." he pondered. Cagalli hit him in the back of the head, "it's a good thing they didn't watch you idiot! Besides... it's like three in the morning right now."

Athrun looked to his watch, "it's six, actually... wow.. that battle really wasted the night, eh?"

I was still holding Stellar close, then stood up, "well... I'm going to rest," I said, not caring if Stellar was or wasn't allowed to be in my dorm. I knew everyone was too tired to care. Even Shinn was too tired to be jealous.

I made my way up to my dorm, carrying Stellar's body with me, feeling her warmth made me feel okay about her being unconscious, as long as she wasn't dying on me. Entering the room, I set her down on my bed, then curled up beside her, holding her body safely against me.

'I promised to protect you... and I will ...' I thought, then felt darkness consume me as sleep took over.

I awoke to the feeling of sun in my eyes. 'Who the hell left the damned blinds open...' I muttered in my head, then sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I looked to my side, seeing Stellar asleep soundly beside me. Sting and Shinn were in their own beds, and snoring away.

I sighed, laying back down, yesterdays events reoccurring in my mind. I smiled to myself, knowing that Neo was gone. All gone. Never to come and corrupt Stellar's mind again. I looked to the angel beside me, brushing her hair from her face gently, being careful not to wake her.

I remembered that she still hadn't answered my question, and I hoped she would soon. Everyone was probably sleeping still from yesterdays events, which had to be kept a secret. I was the official guardian of Stellar, not Shinn. I was, Auel Neider, Stellar's guardian. I smiled in triumph, that proved that I was the one for her.

Hearing a sound, I turned to Stellar, seeing her stir in her sleep. I smiled, she was awaking. Her eyes slowly opened, and she blinked a few times, then smiled when she noticed I was right in front of her.

"Auel..." she murmured.

It felt so good to hear her voice again, her soft, melodic voice that made me smile all the time. I kissed her forehead adoringly, "good morning."

She blushed, "Stellar.. wants to say yes," she said.

I blinked at first, not understanding what she was talking about, "yes?" I then grinned when I realized what she meant, "really?"

She nodded, "yes," she replied, blushing.

I smiled, then began to lean in closer, a blush on my cheeks, my eyes half lidded. Our lips met. Our first kiss as a couple. At first, it was gentle, then it became passionate and demanding, my tongue entering her mouth, tasting her sweet lips. I felt her body move closer to mine, feeling my body heat up as I felt her body brush up against mine.

Hearing a yawn, we pulled apart. Shinn and Sting were waking. Looking to them, they sat up, rubbing their eyes awake. They noticed me and Stellar, and Shinn frowned, Sting laughing.

"Get any action?" he asked, a grin on his features.

I looked to Stellar, and she blushed, nodding so that I could tell them, "well.. I ... me... we," I stuttered awkwardly, "we're a couple now."

Shinn's jaw dropped to the ground, his eyes wide. The green haired had wide eyes as well, then he grinned, beaming with happiness, "good for you two! I wish you the best! But just to let you know, Stellar.. he's been in love with you for like.. ever!"

Stellar looked to me, and I blushed, glaring at Sting, "oh shut up!"

She planted another kiss on my lips, right in front of their eyes, and I was shocked for a moment, then I kissed her back, before pulling away and sitting up.

Stretching, I yawned, "well... I guess I have to tell the news to the rest of the world," I said wearily. My eyes shot open, "do we have classes today?!"

Sting laughed, "no, it's Saturday you idiot."

"Oh."

I looked walked over to my drawers, changing right in front of Stellar's eyes, and glanced at her, she was looking away with a dark blush on her cheeks. When I finished, I combed my hair in a hurry, then offered my hand to her, "let's go tell them," I said, trying to sound smooth, masking how excited and happy I was.

Sting fell back onto his bed, to try and fall asleep again. Shinn curled up into a ball on his bed, probably scowling with jealousy, I thought.

She nodded, taking my hand, and we exited the room, hand in hand. Passer byers stopped in their tracks once they saw us, girls eying Stellar with jealousy, but I glared them off. Guys eyed me with hatred, but I just stuck my tongue out. We reached Stellar's dorm, and I knocked.

A messy haired Cagalli answered, and we heard Lacus' muffled and sleepy voice inside the room, "...who izit?" we heard her groan.

"It's Auel and Stellar.." Cagalli said, and her gaze dropped to our intertwined fingers, "and they're holding hands," she added.

Immediately, Lacus appeared at the door, "really?! Wow! Are you two a couple now?!" she asked excitedly.

I nodded, blushing and looking towards the ground. Stellar grinned, Lacus pulling Stellar into a big fat hug. Cagalli even joined in. I rolled my eyes, earning a bop on the head by Cagalli.

Lacus pulled away, "when did this happen? Yesterday when we were fighting Neo? The day before that? WHEN?!"

"Err... well, I asked her to be my girlfriend yesterday before the whole thing started, but she didn't get a chance to reply, and she said yes this morning."

Lacus smirked, "what kind of 'yes'? A... 'ohhh.. yes!' or a .." Lacus trailed off, naming a whole bunch of perverted phrases. Cagalli frowned, "Lacus... are you high or something?"

The pink haired glared, "well! They were in bed you know!"

"Stellar and Auel weren't doing anything like that though!" Stellar protested, a pout upon her features.

Lacus smiled, patting her on the head, "I know, dear, I know. I was just kidding."

Stellar smiled, and then took my hand again, taking me with her as she walked away, probably off to tell more people.

After an entire day of telling all of campus, me and Stellar finally had some alone time, on the beach. She was resting her head on my shoulder, and I was resting my head on her head. We were both watching the sunset. It was like, the best day in my world right now, the day I've always dreamed about but never thought it would come true.

It was like fate wanted us together- knew we were going be together. Stellar came back to me, and we were together once again, but now... we were together much closer than we were before.

"Auel...?"

I broke from my thoughts when I heard her voice call out to me.

"Yes, Stellar?"

"Thank you... for protecting Stellar yesterday... for saving Stellar."

I smiled, "I will always protect you, I will always save you, okay? So you don't need to be afraid of anything anymore."

The blond smiled at me, her fingers lacing with mine, "Auel... I love you." she said sincerely. I looked at her, a bit shocked by the great affect her words had on me.

I blushed, "I love you too... Stellar..." 'And I always will...'

END.

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