Princess of Vers

Part Six

Inaho pulled up at the entrance of the prison. As the black Jeep closed to a stop, Inaho nodded to Lemrina and she started her transformation process. She nodded and put her head down and closed her eyes.

"Cloak me, ALDNOAH; a girl, pale skin, long, black hair. In the name of Lemrina Vers Envers, ALDNOAH, awaken within me!" After suddenly uttering the last words, Princess Lemrina's chest started to glow, and sparks exploded, hiding the lavender haired Princess, and showing a new face of a girl with long, silky black hair, with a short white dress, with the exact same cerulean blue eyes. Inaho showed a look of interest.

"What would you like me to call you?" Inaho asked, making sure that any suspicion was not present. Lemrina thought of a name.

"Ruka. Ruka Saki," she replied, her mind thinking of the name's meaning: bright, blue flower; for the beautiful blue roses that Slaine had given her as a child. As Inaho helped her out of the car, Lemrina, now Ruka, smiled and embraced him. "Thank you," she whispered. Inaho gave a weak smile and pulled away. As they walked to the door, anticipation was in the air. Ruka bit her lip, the clicking of her heels leading her closer to her long lost friend.

Slaine twirled a lock of hair in his finger. He rolled his eyes with boredom. As his attention sparked as he heard footsteps, his head began to ache. With a cry of pain, he gripped his head and buried his fingers into his scalp. Suddenly his pain was alleviated. Slaine blinked continuously to verify that the pain was gone.

"Mr. Troyard, Ensign Kaizuka is here to visit you," Officer Wright said, opening the cell door with a passcode. Slaine slowly rose from the floor and stumbled out of the cell door. Officer Wright furrowed his brow.

"Slaine, are you alright?" he asked, locking the handcuffs on Slaine's wrists. Slaine cringed as he felt the frigid metal against the skin on his thin wrists.

"I'm fine.." he murmured, his eyebrows furrowing irritatedly. He as the trailed behind Officer Wright, his heavy footsteps echoed throughout the emptiness of the alleyway, Slaine closed his eyes and sighed deeply. As they approached the glass, Slaine allowed his handcuffs to be removed. Officer Wright looked up to Slaine's eyes, his index finger pointing at Slaine. Slaine gave a weak smile. "I know..". The door was opened and Slaine stepped inside. As he stepped inside, he examined the two individuals sitting at the table, a single chair open on the other side. Slaine lowered his head and moped to the open seat. As his eyes stayed on Inaho and Ruka, Slaine plopped down on the chair. Inaho blinked.

"So. How has your birthday been so far?" he asked blankly, his voice faintly echoing throughout the room. Slaine's refused to make eye contact. He hesitated.

"Good."

"What'd you do?" Inaho continued, to Slaine's dismay. He sighed.

"Nothing," Slaine huffed joylessly. "I sat in my cell and reflected, then I took a nap.." Lemrina began to become bored. She had discovered that this wasn't the Slaine that she had known. He was now in pessimistic spirits and the sparkle in his eyes had faded from the boredoms of the cell. His figure, which used to be normal, was now incredibly skinny and his hair had grown longer. Her mind raced for ways to make him happy again...happy like the day he left her..

Lemrina could do nothing. Her sister, Asseylum had just given the command to cease all hostilities, and Slaine, weakened to Asseylum's grip, gave up on all hopes.

As two Martian Kataphraks entered the base, Barouhcruz, enraged with the command he just heard of the Empress, landed to the ground, his attention on Count Troyard.

"Lord Troyard!"

Slaine focused his attention on Barouhcruz. As he held Lemrina's hand for reassurance, she became frightened on the inside.

"What is the meaning of this?" Barouhcruz said, his hands extending. "Why would Princess Asseylum say such a thing?" Slaine sighed and released Lemrina's hand. Harklight suddenly came landing to the ground.

"Milord Slaine.." Harklight whispered, knowing the reason behind Asseylum's actions. Slaine showed a look of frustration, sparking Lemrina's attention as she regretted having to drag him into such an awkward situation. Slaine had finally made his decision.

"Patch this through the command center. I will address all out forces. The deployed Stygis Squadron as well," Slaine ordered a servant.

"Yes sir!" Slaine gave a quick sigh. He turned to all the individuals surrounding him.

"Hear me! Get clear of the moonbase in the next ten minutes! Surrender to the UFE along with the landing castles! We will abandon the moonbase!" Lemrina along with all the other knights gasped.

"Have you gone mad?" Barouhcruz shouted. Lemrina realized she had to do what she had to do. She took hold of Slaine's right arm. He looked to her with piercing azure eyes. He gave a warm smile as she said his name.

"Slaine!" she yelped, hoping he would reconsider. Slaine took hold of both her shivering hands once again, to Lemrina's surprise. As the butterflies collected in her stomach, their blue eyes met.

"Princess Lemrina..." Slaine warmly said, his voice not harsh or loud; soft, like he was speaking to a dandelion. "I apologize for my many wrongs..." He released her hands and knelt to the ground. "I have done you." Lemrina felt pity as she towered above him. She was confused.

"Slaine?"

He smiled as he looked up to her. "May you remain in good health," he said, as he rose. As she was going to be escorted to a shuttle by Harklight, Lemrina looked back upon her home. As she got a final overall look, her eyes looked to the one she loved, the sight of him watching her go, giving the happiest smile she had ever seen him give.

"We'll see each other again...Lemrina..." he mouthed...

And she never saw him again..

Until now.

Once again, piercing azure eyes stared at her, this time with an emptiness to them.

"Ruka it's time.." Inaho said. Ruka looked to Inaho with a deep guilt. She looked to Slaine with the same eyes.

"Slaine, I'm sorry I put you through this.." she said, a tear rolling down her cheek. She looked to the ground as her chest began to illuminate the room. As the sparks cleared, what was left was the sorrowful face of Princess Lemrina. Slaine looked in awe. Lemrina looked up from the ground. She stolled towards Slaine and smiled. "Stand," she said. Slaine immediately stood, taking hold of Lemrina's right arm. Lemrina closed her eyes, a tear rolling down from her cheek. She grabbed Slaine's hands. This time, his hands were freezing. "Slaine.." Lemrina held them to her chest. "I apologize for my many wrongs..." She then released them and curtsied deeply. "I have done you." Slaine was puzzled.

"Lemrina?"

She rose out of her curtsy and smiled.

"I knew that I would see you again, Slaine," she said as she embraced him with open arms. Slaine reluctantly hugged her back, filled with pure awestruck. He smiled as he saw a tear roll down his cheek. He released her grasp examined how much Lemrina changed in two years. Slaine sighed deeply.

"Lemrina, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have left you. It was wrong of me to do such a horrible thing to you. I—" Lemrina shook her head.

"You apologized two years ago. No need to do it again. I forgive you, Slaine," Lemrina said, her eyes full of empathy.

"Your compassion is touching." Slaine paused. "So touching in fact..." he removed his necklace, unlatching the charm. Inside was a small ring. Lemrina shook her head with absolute shock. Slaine placed the ring between his index finger and thumb. He took Lemrina's left hand.

"Slaine?" she whispered.

"This is Emilia Troyard's ring. My Father, Aaron Troyard gave this ring to her many years before the First Earth-Mars War. When my Mother died, it was hard for me and Father knew that, especially when I had to leave Earth. So he gave me this ring, and he told me to give it to the woman that I would marry one day. I agreed. I want to give you this ring, Lemrina," Slaine explained. Lemrina removed her hand from Slaine's grasp.

"S-Slaine. I don't deserve to have that ring! I don't deserve to marry you! she cried. Slaine took her hand.

"Lemrina, I have done many wrongs. I don't deserve your kindness! I used you, ignored you, and favored Asseylum like everyone else did! I've done it ever since we were children!" Slaine held back tears. "I'm so sorry, Lemrina. Now I realize that the only way that I can express my love for you is..by taking you as my fiancee..officially." Lemrina smiled, his words sounding almost too good to be true.

"I, Princess Lemrina Vers Envers of the Vers Empire take Slaine Saazbaum Troyard as my husband," Lemrina formally announced. Slaine took the ring and placed it on her ring finger. Filled with pure joy, Slaine leaned an gently placed his lips on hers.

I'm so sorry!

I've been so busy with school and art commissions and studying that I've hardly had any time to type up this chapter! Again, so sorry!

Anyways if you haven't noticed there is some romance in this chapter. I'm not very used to writing romance scenes and lovey-dubby stuff so I might not put that much, which is good and bad for some people...regardless, I'll try my best!

Thank you for reading "Princess of Vers!" Next chapter will not be normal and will be entirely be a flashback about 20 years back. But that's all I'm going to say. Again, thank you for reading and have a great day/night!

-Saazybaum