-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: lol, real men wear pink. Heh, those who have seen my DA account since yesterday should probably get it. So, today I think I'm in a drawing mood, I've barely touched the computer! I got the first pic of Aikka's outfit that we've already read about done, not colored though. I'm contemplating if I should color it, cause right now it's just in pencil, which is cool, since it's mainly black and white, but I want to get the color in there too. So I guess I'll put it up as is, then give it color and put that up…Oh man I wish I had Photoshop!!
So, I'm glad that you guys agree with my portrayal of the wonderful president (his name is McMillan, right? I know he has a name, but I forgot it after a while)…I just got this idea of him when I was brainstorming for this story, and yeah, he totally comes off as a guy who'd get cocky about a human being the new avatar, so I made it so. Poor Jordan, he must be so thrilled about that…We'll see what our avatar shall do soon enough… .:shifty eyes:.
crazyvegimab: Thanks for all the input! And I will see what I can manage with giving Aikka some Earthy or pastel colors. Still haven't finalized the second outfit. And video games, well, when I came up with that, I think I was a little bit Jonesing for the Nintendo Wii. Gah, video games…so addicting. It does seem like something the boys would get her, though. And I can see what you mean about the letters and jewelry; I was in jewelry class in high school (and boy do I miss it…playing with fire and such… Oo) The teacher always encouraged us to design something other than 'trendy' things, like hearts or stars and come up with our own designs…So, I guess I can see where you're coming from with that!
Spellcaster Hikaru: .:Joins you in the kicking of the president:. I totally agree, I vote for Rick. No offense to Don, but, seriously, it took him that long to even figure out that Molly was his daughter… A wee bit slow… As for Jordan, he will play a role in all of this mess, but I will not say how, as to not be spoilerific. I also could understand that the avatar would have to stay out of it, I mean really, if he pays too much attention to Earth, there'd be a fine line between giving them a hand or playing favorites. So in this case, the Creators, I think, would be keeping him on a bit of a leash so that he'd be able to keep at least some degree of peace, but not be all biased for Earth's favor. I'm sure if it were up to him, though, Jordan would have kicked the Crogs out of the galaxy as his first act as avatar!
Shrouded View: lol .:imagines a swarm of beetles charging after the president sometime in the night:. That'd be something…Aikka getting the beetles of Earth to do his bidding Oo XD Omg, you drew me something? Yay, pic trade! .:glomps:. I'll be looking for that, tell me when you get it in there!
Sekai Nerah: Yay, thanks! I know what you mean, I tried to draw my cat once when she was sleeping on my bed, but she started turning and changing positions, so I eventually just had to wing it…I have actually been contemplating since this story's conception whether to get Rush and his people in on this. Buddha knows that'd be a fun fight. I'm sure Rush would love to have a go at the Crogs if Jordan gave him the chance! XD But I still have some time in my plans to decide once and for all if planet Byrus gets involved…It remains to be seen, is all I can say at this point ;)
Fushica, CrystalRose727, A13Van, thechickenlittle, and Star Fata: I'll grab the pitchforks! Angry mob to…wherever the president in this story lives! Lol
Crystal Persian: Thanks and enjoy!
OMG, fluffiness ahoy! X3
--
-Chapter 8-
Eva's Guardian
--
"Mr. President!" Don shouted again at the communicator just as it flickered them both into darkness. With a growl, the man rubbed his temples, resisting the urge to hit the desk before him. This meeting had gone wrong in nearly every sense of the word. "That man's ignorance will be the destruction of us all…" Don muttered, while Aikka stared through the dark at the spot where the president had just been.
So that was it; Eva was denied protection, by the leader of her own planet. Not only that, but Don was right; the overconfidence of the president could prove perilous for the entirety of Earth. By refusing to heed their advice and up the planet's defenses, he was leaving the entire planet vulnerable to attack.
"That went well…" Rick said sarcastically, leaning into the door with a slight creak.
Aikka, meanwhile, was still staring at the communicator, though his hardened expression was softening gradually into one of thought. Though he'd come here to ensure Eva's safety, there was nothing now that really protected her, with the president turning his back on them. And Aikka would damn himself before he left without reassurance of her safety. But he was just recalling something, something about this communication technology. The Nourasians didn't have many objects such as this, as they were a people of arcane abilities; communication could be found through use of telepathy. But even with his learned and atoned ability at this power, he was too far from his planet to have it be of any use, if he were to indeed contact the palace.
Not unless there was a matching communicator in the palace. The Crogs had introduced them to technology such as this when they took over years ago, so perhaps…perhaps he had a chance.
"So what now?" Eva asked quietly from the door beside Rick as the light in the office was flicked on.
"I don't know…" Don said, just as quietly and with a flavor of angered defeat to his voice. He turned to Aikka, who was still in some thought. "I apologize, Aikka. For the president of our entire planet, he really is nothing of an ambassador."
Aikka nodded in understanding.
"No apology is necessary, there are those types in every race…" he said distractedly, his blue eyes still on the black suitcase before him. He turned to face his friend's father. "Though it is unfortunate that this type has the authority he does in such a time…" The prince underhandedly brought a hand to his bandaged side; all the commotion was causing it to act up again.
"But what can we do? I mean, that jerk is leaving us all wide open! We have to do something!" Eva chimed in, her own anger with the president finally coming out.
"There is nothing we can do at this point, Eva." Don said, sounding defeated. "Let us just hope that enough logic finds the president to at least ready something of a defense."
Eva didn't look satisfied, but exited the room anyway so her father could come through. Aikka was standing off to the side now, as Don passed him, heading out of the office. He cast another look to the communicator, and his idea nagged at him again.
"Hey, Prince, you comin', or what?" Rick called through the darkness. Aikka turned, finding the group looking at him curiously. With one last look to the communicator, he bit his lip nervously.
"I wonder if I could use this once more?" he asked Don Wei, who looked at him with increased question.
"I don't think it would be of much use, the president is sure to have shut off this line from him," he told the Nourasian slowly, not exactly sure on what the boy meant.
"I don't mean to contact him," Aikka said, shaking his head. "If there's a way to contact my home world, then this may be it. I'm not sure, but there may be a device such as this somewhere in the palace in Daalan."
Don looked at the other humans for a second, and then back to Aikka. Then he walked over to the desk, and pressed a series of buttons to connect to the line.
"It will ask who you wish to contact, just speak your destination and if it's possible, it will connect you." He told Aikka before heading back out the door. "Come on you lot, let's leave him to it," Don herded the others away from the door, and headed back to the kitchen. It was high time for dinner, and there were many to provide for tonight.
Aikka watched as the door was shut behind Rick, the last out of the room. He was left in the new darkness, with the red and green lights before him glowing onto his blue eyes. Indeed, the thing asked the same question as it had for Don earlier, and Aikka picked out his words.
"Please contact Daalan, royal city of Nourasia," He spoke clearly, despite the feeling that led him to believe his heart was beating in his throat. His anticipation rose as the light ring blinked red a few times, for what he saw as an eternity, before it finally blinked into a constant green state. Again, the lateral red beam shone at him up and down, and his heart began to race and pulse in his semi-healed side. The voice confirmed the call again, and above the hologram creator, the air flickered with static.
"Hello?" An astounded voice called through the device, sounding as much familiar as it was frazzled and defensive. "Hello? Who is this? State your business!"
"Canaan, it's me," Prince Aikka smiled, glad to see his master was still alive and well, though he could hardly see him for the static that played across his image.
"Prince Aikka!" Canaan's face seemed to be frantic, but pleased. The holographic fencing master sank into a bow before the prince. "Prince, we feared the worst of you! Where in the name of the Creators are you? And how did you get a hold of one of these confounded devices?"
"First of all, is it safe to speak? I won't be overheard by any enemies when I next speak, will I?" Aikka asked seriously and with a narrowing of his crystal eyes. That was the last thing he needed; a Crog to overhear his whereabouts and send an armada in the direction of Earth, now that it was so decidedly unprotected.
"I assure you Prince, there is no other in the vicinity," Canaan spoke quickly. "Now what has happened to you?"
"Aside from a few wounds, I am fine; I escaped to Earth," Aikka practically smiled at the hologram. "And an old friend happened to have one of these devices, I am relieved to see that there is one in the palace after all." Canaan seemed to stare for a second as the words sank in.
"Earth? Prince, what are you doing on that planet when there is a war!?" Canaan's voice crackled slightly with static. "The king and queen are wrought with worry,"
"Canaan, please, I will explain myself." Aikka interrupted, waving a hand in front of him. "When we were first attacked, General Kross came after me personally. He then threatened Molly, and so I made it here with G'dar to warn her and her planet's leader, though he is in denial that there is any danger."
"That Earth girl, is it?" Canaan's heavy eyebrow rose slightly at the prince. "That racer you took a liking to during the races?" Aikka looked away; this conversation, again.
"Yes, Canaan, she is in danger. Kross will be looking to eliminate her because of the role she played in the races, both as my friend and the winner." Outside, Eva leaned next to the door again, a plate of vegetables in her hands. So he had gotten connected after all.
"Aikka, I told you that befriending that girl was trouble," Canaan was heard, while his hologram was shaking his head. "It has put us in even deeper peril with the Crogs,"
"And letting Kross take the Ultimate Prize would not have spelt our demise?!" Aikka asked haughtily. "I assure you, I do not regret having ever befriended Molly, and I will not stand idly by to let her be destroyed!" At this, Canaan went quiet. He could tell, even through the heavy static that was on his end, the prince was not in the mood to have this lecture on his relationship with Molly again. Eva stared at her food humbly; she'd never heard Aikka as adamant as she had today. Leastwise about her.
"I apologize, my prince," Canaan said, his hologram sinking into a bow. The Elder's hard eyes met up with Aikka's again, a serious look on his face. Aikka sighed, and then spoke again.
"Now, I have a dilemma on my hands, Canaan, I am in need of guidance." His cerulean eyes opened again. "Tell me, how is the situation in Daalan?" Canaan, glad to be away from the subject of the human girl that he was certain Aikka had fallen for, responded quickly and professionally.
"The Crog armies are beginning to grow thinner, but we are not letting out guard down. There have been numerous casualties, both civilian and knight, and parts of the palace have been collapsed, parts of the city have been in flames. But for the most part, the Crogs appear to be on the retreat, and the damage is being tended to." Canaan summarized. Eva poked around at her food, finding the newest bit of news a bit harrowing. Aikka apparently had the same thoughts. Why would the Crog armies be on the retreat?
"Our finest mages are forming the protective shield on the city, as the Crogs retreat, and we hope that this will help," Canaan added, while the prince seemed to be in thought. "So, what is this dilemma of yours, young prince? Did you not say you needed guidance?"
"Ah, yes," Aikka said, being snapped back to reality. He massaged his injury a bit, and took in breath. "I, along with Molly's father, spoke to the president of Earth earlier this evening, yet he denies that there is any threat to his planet, and denies any protection to be offered to Molly." Canaan nodded, deciding not to say anything of Molly for the time being. "My problem is that I do not wish to leave Molly unprotected, though I also do not wish to abandon my kingdom. And I accept that I cannot be on two fronts, if war is to come to Earth,"
Eva sank a little on the wall. She had enjoyed having Aikka there with her the whole day, but she just now realized how hard it had probably been for him. Being torn apart from his people in such a time, and all to protect her. She'd never felt so appreciative, nor so guilty.
"Well, prince, you know I would advise you to remain true to your kingdom," Aikka's eyes focused on the hologram, waiting for the rest, while Eva held an expectant breath. "But, it seems that you have already made your mind up."
Aikka merely stared at the fencing master for a brief while, and the elder gave a laugh.
"Aikka, though I don't really approve of this whole Earth girl business, the situation here is not dire," Canaan told the boy with a bit of a grimace. "Our knights are holding their own, and perhaps it would be wise for you to lay low since you are the main target of the Crogs' invasion. We cannot be left without an heir to the throne." Aikka nodded, agreeing with this, recalling himself as saying the same thing back during the races.
"What about my parents?" Aikka asked after a little thought.
"They are safe within the walls of the holy city, and under heavy guard, though, as I said, they fear the worst of you," Canaan told the prince through another bout of static.
"Tell them I am safe, but…" Aikka made a last minute consideration of his decision, before turning purposefully to Canaan again. "I am choosing to remain on Earth, if only for a time, to ensure Molly's safety."
"Very well," Eva heard Canaan's hesitant answer coming from the room. She stared listlessly at the ground, wondering. Did Aikka know what he was doing? Was it really alright for him to choose her over his kingdom? What would his parents, the king and queen, have to say about it?
She was brought out of her silent debate by the sound of footsteps coming from the office beside her, and she suddenly panicked. The footsteps got closer, and she realized she'd been eavesdropping again, so, holding her plate close to her, she hurried off down the hallway towards the kitchen.
Aikka came out of the door just in time to notice another presence in the hallway, one that had apparently just escaped before he could catch sight of its source. He sensed it as a sort of anxiety filled aura, which led him to worry.
"Molly?" he asked the vacant hallway quietly, his crystal blue eyes scanning for the girl. Had she heard some of the conversation between himself and his master? What was the anxiety he was sensing? He suddenly became a bit more worried.
He found the other men in the kitchen, each with a plate of food in front of them, eating and talking. Rick was sipping a can of something, leaning against the kitchen island. The others were seated at the table. There was one absent, though, the one he was really looking for.
"How'd it go, kid?" Rick said, noticing the Nourasian in the doorway. Aikka looked at him distractedly, while he saw Don turn in his seat to give him a glance.
"Ah, it went fine," Aikka said, before turning to Don. "Mr. Wei, I have spoken with my master, and I've come to a decision," Don nodded with an expectant look. "I would like to offer my service to protect Eva. The Crogs seem to be on the retreat on my planet, but I fear that could mean that they are only spreading their numbers. I cannot say how much I can do, but I will defend your daughter until my last breath."
Don looked wide eyed at the Nourasian who was now sinking to a knee before him, as he had so done back on Oban when pledging himself directly to Eva. Stan and Koji exchanged smiling glances, both recalling that same happening. Rick smiled to himself at the sight of the prince offering himself for her protection. There had to be something beyond friendship that made him so faithful to the girl. Don, while Rick made his own musings, stood up before the prince, who looked up with determined blue eyes.
"Very well. You did a fair job of protecting my daughter during the final confrontation on Oban, I expect the same from you this time around." Don told the prince in his old, professional tone, the one he so often used in lecturing Eva and Jordan after or before a race. Aikka nodded his understanding quickly, knowing that he expected even more than that of himself. "You are welcome to the living room during your stay, I'm afraid we don't have any extra rooms," Don informed the prince while setting his now-empty plate on the counter behind Rick on his way out. Aikka got quickly to his feet.
"I understand, thank you, sir," the Nourasian guest said, giving another bow to the man who disappeared back down the hallway that had led to his office. With the now absence of Don Wei, Aikka was left with the other three men.
"Hey, welcome to the team, Prince," Stan said sociably from the kitchen table, lifting a cup of soda to him. Aikka smiled at the gesture, but there was something still missing. Rick, who apparently could tell exactly what, or rather, who, Aikka was thinking about, tapped the Nourasian on the shoulder from behind.
Blue eyes met glinting sunglasses, and the older human pointed with a thumb towards the back door, the one he recalled having gone out of when the whole talk of the evening had begun. He tipped his head in a nod to Rick, and headed over, finding the outside world dark as he silently pulled the door open and stepped out.
Peering around the deck, he noticed it was empty in the artificial light on the wall. Walking to the railing, he saw, not too far below, a wooden structure, that seemed to be a table complete with a bench on either side. And on the table, sat a familiar girl, leaning back on her hands and staring at the sky.
Aikka looked over his shoulder to the house, before heading for a stair way that would lead him down to the grassy ground. Very quietly, he took the six steps that were there, and padded in his quiet sandals over to the table. Eva sensed him coming, but made no move to indicate that she did. And Aikka somehow noticed this decided absence of awareness, as he looked at her moon-bathed form on his way over.
"There is something bothering you," his voice came quietly, in not so much a question as a statement.
When she didn't pay him a response, he moved from beside her to in front of her, a measured distance away from her legs, which he observed were swinging off the side of the table in a rather childlike manner. Despite his move, her eyes remained glued to the sky. Aikka cast his glance upward to catch what could be so fascinating to her, finding a large orb of silver; the Earth moon, joined by many blinking stars.
"For a while now, I've been wondering, which one of those stars could possibly be your planet. And I'd sit here on nights, and wonder when you'd surprise me with a visit, when I'd be able to see you again." She said out of the darkness, bringing Aikka's eyes back to her from the view of the universe. "I would wish for you to come. Aside from racing, finally being with my dad, nothing really has been…fun. Since leaving you and Jordan, I really haven't had any friends." Her legs ceased their careless kicking, and her eyes grew a little sadder, Aikka could still see it, even in the silver light supplied by the moon.
"But now, you're here, you're really here," she finally paid him a look, only to turn away her gaze again. "And I just feel guilty." Aikka tilted his head at her with this statement.
"Why should you feel guilty, Molly?" he asked her gently, coming a bit closer to her.
"Because I'm keeping you from your people, didn't your master tell you that much?" Eva said a bit roughly, though with enough sadness to balance it out. Aikka knew enough about her to know that she wasn't actually as hostile as her tone suggested. "You should be with your people, defending them, not me. Why would you choose me over your kingdom? What do you owe me that's more important than your kingdom?"
"Molly, do not speak so lowly of yourself!" Aikka said quickly, his voice raised only a bit, before she could get anything more out. Ruby eyes stared widely at him, and he noticed he'd taken another few steps towards her, leaving them only a foot apart. His eyes still bored into hers, desperate to make her understand; couldn't she see how much she really meant to him? Taking a breath to calm his nerves, Aikka continued quietly.
"My choice is mine to make. Not my father's, and not my master's. Though I am a prince, I have my own life, my own code to follow. And though I owe my allegiance to my planet, I also owe my loyalty and protection to my friends. And Molly," He made sure her eyes were still connected to his, lifting her chin gently between his fingers. "You are my dearest and truest friend. Abandoning you is not an option."
Eva felt her stomach tighten somewhere halfway up her throat, though she couldn't label it as a bad feeling. She could only guess that right now her face was lighting up in its pink tint yet again. It seemed to be happening quite frequently. She could only hope that the silver of the moonlight would compliment it…or better yet, hide it. She could see, along with sincerity, a look bordering determination in his blue eyes, which also seemed to exude light that they weren't even receiving in the first place.
"But…" Eva began, almost inaudibly, before Aikka placed a delicate finger on her lips, causing her to stop before the sentence even began.
"No 'buts', Princess. It is too late for you to send me away so easily." He smiled playfully at her. "You recall on Oban, when I pledged my bow and sword to you?" Eva nodded; how could she have forgotten that day, that gesture? "Well, that pledge still stands, and has been already been renewed tonight. Your president may leave you to be defenseless, but as long as I am here, you will not go unprotected."
Eva gave a sigh and a smile, knowing there would be no arguing with the prince. Aikka matched her for the smile, as soon as he saw she was past fighting his offer. He enjoyed how the girl's smile looked on her, and he was exceedingly glad he'd brought it back. She scooted to the side on the table, inviting him to take the new space next to her. Aikka gladly took it, and took to watching the skies again. After a little while of companionable silence, Eva turned a grin to the prince.
"So, you really think I'm that defenseless?" she asked him, playfully, an eyebrow cocked at him. Aikka responded with a grin of his own.
"Well, I am correct in my assumption that you once tried to fight off Grooor with, what was it…a plank?" he smiled slyly at her. Eva looked at him blankly for a second. He'd seen that stroke of genius, had he?
"Actually, it was a stick, but I could have totally taken him," she said, crossing her arms across her chest and sitting straight up to make herself a little taller on the table. At this, Aikka gave a laugh, truly amused by her behavior.
"Well, what about yesterday's little encounter with those other humans?" Aikka suggested. "It didn't seem that you were doing so well then either!" Eva gave him a sideways look, sticking out her tongue at the same time.
"Well then, you apparently didn't see me before they had me pinned; I was kicking all of their butts! And that's pretty good, considering there was five of 'em!" Aikka laughed again, the whole exchange between them being like nothing he'd ever experienced with any of his other friends. "What, you don't believe me?" Eva then said at his teasing look.
"No, no I believe you," Aikka told her honestly, his laughing smile still evident on his face. "I just believe you have a lot to learn about fighting,"
"Oh, really?" Eva said quickly, leaping off the table. Aikka looked at her as she stood directly in front of him, staring him down. "And I bet you could teach me?"
Blinking, Aikka stared back at her. Eva had to resist the strong urge to laugh at the expression he was giving her, one of wide blue eyes and utter surprise.
"Me…teach you?" he said, somewhat blankly. Eva nodded, the grin reappearing on her face.
"Yeah, unless you don't think you could do it, that is," she told him slyly, crossing her arms again. Aikka sat in silence for a second, then laughed once more. It certainly felt good to do so; he'd never laughed like this with anyone but Eva.
"You really do speak like a Nourasian," he told her proudly, shifting himself off of the wooden table. Blue eyes glinted at her as his feet met with the grass below. "If you are really willing to be my student, I would be glad to take you under my charge, Earth Princess,"
With that, he held out his fist again, and didn't have to wait long for Eva to match it, a wide smile on her face. Their eyes met in united determination, much reminiscent of the very first time they'd connected this way.
It didn't take long though, for the connection of their eyes to get to the Nourasian, though. Once more, he found how close they were to one another, with each of them leaning their competitive looks towards the other. He suddenly felt something other than teasing competitiveness surfacing within him. It was some feeling that would have been considered alien to him, had he not had a taste of it when he was on Oban, something that made him want to bring himself closer. Their history together as friends had brought them closer in this moment, but he couldn't allow this new feeling get the better of him.
So, with one last smile to her, the prince turned back towards the stairs of the back deck.
"Your first lesson is tomorrow morning, Princess, I suggest you rest,"
Eva stared after him, almost wondering what had brought the exchange so abruptly to an end. He'd turned away without any proper warning, and it was intriguing her. She admitted that she didn't want to go to bed just yet, she wanted to stay up longer, and, if truth be told, she had been hoping that he'd sit with her longer, perhaps even try to search for his planet with her.
She supposed she just wanted to spend time with the prince. She admitted to herself that this wasn't the first time she'd wanted more out of their exchanges. And she admitted that something about him always left her intrigued, and yearning for more insight into the real Prince Aikka.
Most of all, she admitted to herself that she had always had a crush on the Nourasian, even if she did try to hide it from him in particular. She'd always, if only vaguely, wondered if anything could ever come of her little crush, even part of her wanted something to happen, though she'd deny it if ever confronted by suspicion.
Even so, now that Aikka had surrendered himself to the night, she really had no point in staying up. Well, she had homework, but Eva was much more of a procrastinator in that area in particular, much to no one's surprise. With a glance up to the moon, she thought once more on Aikka's distance from her, even earning a blush from herself as she wished he'd just sit and star-gaze with her.
She supposed, now that he was her official guardian, there would be other nights that she'd be able to get him out there with her.
-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: Aw, the angsty fluffiness…gotta love it. I was actually amused when I was concocting the bit about Canaan answering the prince's call, I could just see him fumbling with the thing, trying to figure out how the heck it works! Probably would have scared the crap out of him when it rang, or whatever those devices do, too! Lol. So, there ya have it, Molly has her prince to protect her now! .:squee:. X3 The next chapter actually belongs to Stan and Koji. 'Tis a change of pace, but it will add an important piece to the story, not to mention all the Stan/Koji goodness! Woot!
Whoa, I'm starting to catch up to my self between posting and typing, I should get busy! Love ya's, Ja ne!