Here we are with the Eternal Lovers part where Mint's mind becomes a broadcast station and Arnold makes a life-changing decision.

Three Words (Mint Route)

It had been a few days since we defeated Nefuria and it was also a few days since Vanilla and I were able to have our first kiss on the lips, we've shared a few since then. Vanilla had knitted me a sweater which was the right size thanks to some help from Doctor Cera, she also had one which was her size. What better way to show them than a day at the zoo on Transbaal that I promised.

"That elephant is huge." Vanilla said, holding on to my arm.

"It's a big difference compared to the animals on the Elsior." I replied, holding her hand.

"Yes...thank you again for bringing me here. Would you call this a favour for me?"

"Definitely...as I once said, you've done so much for everyone and you deserve a lot in return."

"Oh...Milfie said that she wants a group picnic at a theme park next week, can we make it to that?"

I smiled at her. "We can indeed. Let's enjoy our time at the zoo for now."

25 Days Later...

We were back on the Elsior, ready to resume our journey and face off the remaining Val-Fasc forces. After dealing with a small fleet that was in pursuit of a civilian ship, we boarded our frames after waiting a while and I took Vanilla to the park because I learnt something new and I wanted to show it to her.

We sat down by the hedges where there were a few soft branches and flowers that I needed. I picked out several flowers and picked out green small branches.

"What are you making, Arnold?" Vanilla asked.

I looked at her. "It's a flower garland...Tact showed me how to make it yesterday." When I finished crafting it, I placed it on Vanilla's head. "Here, try this on."

"It's beautiful..." she said, smiling.

"Hmm, that garland I just made almost looks like a veil...almost like you're some kind of bride."

She gasped slightly and blushed, I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing that.

"I know...I could make you a bouquet too."

She looked away, blushing. "No...this is more than enough."

"Okay...I wonder what kind of bride you would be."

She looked back at me. "Well, there are many customs...for marriage...that I would be interested in...maybe one day, I could have a real veil?"

"A real veil?"

"It's nothing, Arnold...I don't want to rush into anything, we still have work to do."

"I understand, we don't need to rush at all. Here's to our growing relationship that's at a pace we can trust."

We shared a kiss on the lips.

"Thank you very much for this gift, Arnold. I'll make sure to take good care of it."

"It's my pleasure, Vanilla...and it's because I love you." I put my arms around her.

She smiled. "I love you too..."

We shared another loving kiss that lasted longer.

"Woohoo!" A voice exclaimed from afar. "You go, Arnold."

We broke the kiss and noticed Forte grinning and the others turned up with Tact.

"Hi you two, we're having a picnic to welcome Lushati and Wein on the ship." Milfie said.

"We're not interrupting anything are we?" Ranpha teased.

"Girls, give me a break here." I sighed.

"Don't start the shy guy act, Arnold." Mint teased. "You should be used to this by now."

"Vanilla, you have a flower garland." Chitose said. "Where did that come from?"

Vanilla blushed. "Arnold...made it for me..."

"Nice to see my craftsman work being put to good use." Tact remarked.

I sighed in embarrassment. "Not you too, Tact."

The girls laughed before Milfie reminded us of the picnic, I sat down with Vanilla close to me and went ahead with the picnic.

Later on after a sprinkler malfunction, I was resting on Vanilla's bed since Lushati and Wein were using the guest room. I was dreaming away that involved me being on Eden and seeing what were potentially my parents until it ended up as a nightmare. I woke up, startled at what I saw in the dream.

"AHHH!" I yelled before panting, trying to catch my breath.

Vanilla suddenly rushed into the room. "Arnold! Are you okay?"

"Vanilla..." I wasn't clearly focused. "...this is...your room?"

"Did you have a bad dream?"

I sat up and switched my legs to facing her and wrapped my arms around her with my head on her shoulders.

"Vanilla...it was so scary..." I sniffed.

"Arnold...it's okay, I'm here for you." She put her arms around me. "I was outside the guest room with the other girls and then we heard you yell."

I couldn't say anything. "So you came over...thank you, Vanilla. I've always been here for you...but thank for you for being there for me too."

"It's alright...I will always want to be there for you...if you want to, could you tell me what was the dream about?"

I looked into her red eyes that showed care and comfort, she gave me a gentle kiss that got me brave to tell her about it.

"...and that's why I also think that dream was telling me something, maybe it's to do with my past."

"Your past?" she asked.

"Yeah, I hope to find out more so I can feel at ease whilst we're fighting against the Val-Fasc...for now, can we stay like this?"

"Yes...let me sit on your lap."

Vanilla sat on my lap and I held her close...the old Vanilla wouldn't have been this brave, but the her right now was who I loved.

After winning two straight battles, Admiral Rowil showed himself and revealed all about my parents that caused me to snap...I ran to the safest place which was Vanilla's room and I chose to not come out there for the past two days. Poor Vanilla was upset that I was broken and seeing her cry broke more than my heart. I made a solo trip to the White Moon where Lady Shatyarn confirmed it to be true. I had to head back to the Elsior but not before Shatyarn removed the limiter on my frame so I could fight even stronger.

After I got my revenge on Rowil, we pushed forward towards Eden when disaster struck! Mint's frame went out of control and Tact made the heart-wrenching choice to fire on the Trick Master so it shut down. Mint was going to be out and we were feeling devastated that it happened, but I knew it had Val-Fasc all over it. Then Unit #7 was stolen and I already suspected Wein to be the main culprit.

We were in pursuit of Wien until we caught up with him, however he got away with Lushati hypnotised and we had to fight our way through a sixth division fleet where allied forces were able to help us. We were scheduled for have a few days rest before resuming with our journey to Eden. We were on the White Moon when he heard that Mint had woken up.

"Where is she right now?" Chitose asked. "We'd like to visit her."

"Visit her, huh." Noah replied. "That may depend on her..."

"What's that mean?" Ranpha asked.

"Mint doesn't want to see us?" Milfie added.

Suddenly we heard a faint voice from in the throne room. I have to hurry...if I don't back get back to my room on the Elsior, I won't be able to stand it!

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

"Yeah, I heard Mint's voice." Tact replied.

Ahhh! That's where they all are, then I've got to force my way past them!

Mint suddenly rushed in and saw us.

Thank goodness...Tact and everybody else are okay...ahhh! But I don't have time to think about that right now! I have to get back to my room!

Mint then ran off, probably back to the Elsior.

"Well, that was odd." I said. "To think that her thoughts were being heard like that."

"What...just happened?" Forte asked who was surprised.

"More importantly, after her!" Ranpha said. "I'm worried about this!"

"Yep, got it." Milfie replied.

Tact stayed in the White Moon whilst the rest of us rushed back to the Elsior and outside Mint's room.

"Mint, are you okay in there?" I asked.

There was no response.

"Mint, come on out." Milfie said. "I made lots of cakes and desserts."

No response again.

"Step aside, Milfie." Ranpha said. "At times like this, you need a hot-blooded shout more than sweet words." She stood outside Mint's door. "Mint, if you just lock yourself inside, you're going to get fat from lack of exercise." She started banging on the door. "Gah! Hey! Did you hear me? Make some joke like you have a hundred times before."

"Ms. Ranpha!" Chitose gasped. "Don't hurt yourself with the door."

"Mint, it is not good for your body to be shut in your room all day." Vanilla said. "It didn't work..." she held my hand.

"Yeesh, this is a tough one." Forte sighed. "I'm stumped, that door is made of such steel that not even my Remington 887 shotgun would take it down."

"What about a rocket launcher?" I asked out of the blue.

Tact then walked on by. "There you are Angels, what are you doing outside Mint's room?"

"Well it's about as you see." Forte replied. "We're trying to invite the princess who shut herself up in her castle out."

"But...it's not going well." I added. "We've tried almost everything to get her to come out, but I think there's only one person who might...and that's you, Tact."

"I see...Mint doesn't want to see all of you." Tact replied.

"I can understand why..." Chitose said.

"Me too." Milfie agreed. "If my thoughts were spreading to everybody around me, I'd be really embarrassed."

"There's nothing but food in your head, anyway." Ranpha remarked.

"That's not true! Even I...awww, you bully."

"Tact, are you here to see Mint too?" Vanilla asked.

"Yeah, but if she's not coming out for all of you, I think it might be impossible." Tact replied.

"Not at all!" Chitose denied. "You're her boyfriend."

"Which is why I suggested that you should be the one to go in her room and talk it out." I said. "As commander, you should have clearance to do that."

"Good point, Arnold." Forte agreed. "Well, no use in us staying here and getting in the way. You're here now, Tact, so let's all head out, angels."

"I'll do whatever I can." Tact replied. "I'm also responsible for this."

"Please excuse us." Chitose said.

We left Tact to deal with the new problem whilst the rest of us took a seat in the lounge.

Later, Vanilla sat close with me on her bed, she laid close to me with her arms around my neck and I had my left arm around her shoulder.

"Arnold...I can't feel happy, because Mint is..." Vanilla sighed.

"I'm the same." I replied. "Mint and the others are our closest friends and any one of us would do what we could to cheer her up."

"But how she is...will she not be able to fight?"

"I don't think Tact would want to have her in battle, not with her current condition. It's why we've gotta believe that Tact will do whatever he can to help Mint recover."

"Yes...I will believe in that."

We snuggled up even closer with smiles, until we got a call to come to the bridge.

"Angel Wing, all members...well, you know what's going on already." Forte said sadly.

"I do understand." Lester replied. "But this and that are two different matters."

"Let her off just this once." Tact said.

"Hmph...I'll let it go this time then."

"So what's the situation?" I asked.

"The maintenance crew just finished their check around the ship as you suggested." Lester replied. "And you were right...Wein's farewell presents just keep coming."

"We found Wiretaps all over the ship." Tact added. "Therefore I have made the decision that we're leaving tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, that really is sudden." Forte replied.

"Wein knows all of our Intel." Chitose said.

"In other words, about Mint too." Vanilla added.

"Then we shouldn't waste any time." I said. "Let's prepare ourselves for tomorrow's departure...we've been behind a lot, but it's our chance to recover... but before that..."

"Yeah, we need to get our ace to recover." Lester finished.

We left the bridge and into our rooms.

It was the next day and I was in the hanger, checking over my frame when I suddenly heard a voice.

Did the psychic barrier...break? Why would it have...that means that it can't stop my thought from getting transmitted outside...

I blinked, that was Mint's voice alright, the psychic barrier around her room must've broken...that's not good at all. Now her thoughts are gonna be sent across the ship.

Don't think about anything! Whatever I think will get sent outside!

I sighed as I continued checking over my frame.

"Did you hear that?" Creta asked "That sounded like Mint."

I don't want this! Don't listen, everybody! I don't want you to listen!

"It was." I replied. "You might wanna get a team to repair the psychic barrier around Mint's room."

I don't know anything about costumes! The things in here aren't mine!

"I think Tact would request for that as well...we'll do our best."

If anybody saw me wearing them besides Tact, I'd...aww no more! I can't think that either!

I was curious, just what do Tact and Mint usually do and why are costumes involved? I finished checking over my frame and I left the hanger and sat down in the lounge.

Suddenly, crew members got a call to not leave their rooms, now the ship was somewhat deserted.

"Arnold." Milfie said as she arrived. "We've been tasked to find Mint and make sure she doesn't escape from the Elsior."

"Right...I think it's best if we stick around here just in case Mint tries to hide or sneak past us."

Milfie nodded. "Okay."

Why'd everybody suddenly disappear...well, it is easier for me...

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

"Yeah...but where could she be?"

Ah! What is Ranpha doing here in the warehouse? Aww, it's because you're so stubborn like this that men never want to get close to you!

"Woah!" I exclaimed. "Low blow there, Mint."

What happened? She suddenly started running faster...ah there! Like I thought, Ranpha's big butt got caught between the boxes. I have to get out here while I can...

"Aww, Ranpha didn't get her." Milfie sighed.

Ahhh! Now it's Forte! Even though she's a gun nut and trigger happy, I don't think she'll actually shoot me...but she might...ahhh! Forte! I didn't mean that just now! Someone else borrowed my mouth without my permission!

"Sounds like Mint got away from Forte." I commented. "This is getting tough quickly."

Chitose and Vanilla? Two of you isn't fair!

"Ah, Chitose and Vanilla may be able to catch her." Milfie said.

Chitose looks dignified, but she's actually really brutish! I can't believe she jumped through that flower bed! Ah, but she missed the landing and fell on her face. Come to think of it, she makes a lot of careless mistakes.

"Flower bed?" I asked. "They must be in the park."

Okay, I've got to get out of here while I can. Vanilla's a little slow, I should be able to get away easily...

I sighed...my girlfriend didn't need to hear that.

"Sorry you had to hear that, Arnold." Milfie said. "Looks like it's just us and Tact now...say do you mind watching over the lounge, I'm feeling hungry."

"Well, I am a fast runner so if I see Mint come past here, I'll just catch up to her."

Milfie nodded and went over to the counter whilst I looked around the whole room.

If it isn't the gluttonous Milfie. Thank goodness she can't resist anything sweet. Arnold is there too, but why isn't he running after me...oh well, maybe he's dreaming about what he would look like if he was a stripper...now, before it's too late.

What Mint didn't know was that I saw a tiny part of her bunny ears peeking through the room entrance. As soon as she left, I got up and left the room, I didn't wanna lose the tail. I followed her right up to outside Tact's room and I hid in a corner.

"I'm tired from running away so much." Mint said to herself. "I'll just rest...here..."

"Oh no you don't." I muttered, before I rushed over and grabbed her "Gotcha!"

"Gah! What are you doing, Arnold, let me go!"

"Not a chance...you can't pilot a frame and leave the hanger while we're in Chorno Drive, that's asking for a lot of trouble."

"I...don't care." she sighed. "So...tired...fine, do what you...want...with me..."

She passed out, maybe she was more exhausted than I thought. Tact then came on by.

"There she is." He said.

"Shhh." I replied. "Mint just fell asleep, you take care of it."

"I will." Tact carried Mint into his room.

I went to Vanilla's room and walked in to find her sleeping on the bed. She seemed a little hurt...I walked gently over to her and I laid down beside her on the bed. Thinking back...is that what Mint really thinks of me? A man who has no shame in doing something undignified like being a male stripper?

After two hours of sleeping, I opened my eyes to see Vanilla had turned and she was holding on to me by the hands and then a beep went off on the speakers.

"Ah, ah. This is the Elsior's Commander, Tact Mayers." Tact said. "Er, this is very important so please listen...ahh...I LOVE MINT!"

That woke me up and I think Vanilla woke up as well.

"I am hopelessly in love with Mint! No, love isn't a strong enough word! Mint is everything to me." He continued. "I can't hold back these feelings inside me anymore, so I've decided to reveal them to everybody! I love her, so I can say anything."

Vanilla and I just blinked in surprise, Tact never did this before.

"I need her and if she's not with me, then life's not worth living anymore and that's still not enough! I want to always be with her...to hold her close and kiss her all day long. Because I love her from the bottom of my heart and soul!"

If he doesn't shut up...

We heard a faint voice, looks like Mint had woken up and I bet she is extremely embarrassed about Tact's message about loving her. Vanilla and I looked at each other and thought of the same idea.

We got off the bed and walked up to the bridge and the other girls were with us.

"There you are, Angels." Tact said.

"Well Tact." I replied. "You've got a lot of guts to do what you just did."

"Okay Mint, you understand why we're all here?" Forte asked.

"Yes..." Mint replied. "Earlier, you all found out how I really feel...I've been preparing myself."

No...I don't want this, I love you all...

"Fine, then each one of us will say it clearly."

This is it, this is the end...

"Actually, I don't like those ears of yours. It's like, you're just doing something that you know nobody else could pull off."

"I'd know the feeling. If I were small like her, I'd wear much cuter clothes." Ranpha added.

"You know, sometimes I almost start crying because of the jokes you make, Mint." Milfie said. "You can honestly be surprisingly harsh."

"Um...I think you should try to be less sarcastic, Ms. Mint." Chitose added.

"Please stop pulling on the space rabbits ears when you play with them." Vanilla said.

"Stop thinking of me being somebody that I'm really not." I added. "I would never, ever want to be a male stripper."

"A m-m-male s-s-s-stripper?" Chitose exclaimed.

"I don't know, Arnold. I think you have the right physique for it." Ranpha teased.

Vanilla glared at her, not pleased by her comments about my body.

"Uhhh angels." Tact intervened. "Anyways. Mint, I'd also prefer it if you didn't enjoy teasing other people so much. So, we've told you how we all feel. Do you hate us now?"

"Of course not!" Mint protested. "I couldn't hate you for just that...ah."

"Right, this is what you were worrying so much about. But your feelings didn't waver because of it. Instead, it feels like we're closer than we were before."

The rest of us agreed with our own thoughts.

"Geez." Mint sighed. "You're all really...completely ridiculous people."

"Ahhh, now you're getting it." Milfie said.

"Don't forget that you're part of this ridiculous group too." Ranpha added.

"Well Mint, I've said everything I wanted, now I want you to say those words to me." Tact said.

"To you?" Mint asked, blushing. "I still don't know if I can..."

I was embarrassed when you said those words but now I think about it, I was happy...oh right, my thoughts are still being leaked out.

"Come on Mint." I encouraged. "Or should I start removing my clothes one by one?"

Vanilla gripped my hand tightly.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Mint laughed. "Alright everyone, you got me...I, Mint Blancmanche, declare here and now that I love Tact Mayers more than anybody in the galaxy! Yes, my love for him is the greatest in the whole galaxy! I cannot think of a life for myself without him any longer, all of me belongs to him and all of him belongs to me."

We stood there in surprise, but smiling.

"Whew...although, letting out how you really feel does feel rather nice."

"What the heck?" Lester asked.

"I think I fell in love with an amazing girl all over again." Tact replied.

"Oh...can you hear it?" I asked.

"My thoughts..." Mint replied. "...you can't hear them?"

"I don't hear anything." Forte said.

"Yes! My condition has gone!"

"You did it Mint!" Tact praised. "And you did it without needing Unit #7."

And it was perfect timing too, because the Chrono Drive was about to finish and we'd be approaching Juno...my home world.

After wiping out the Val-Fasc and forcing Wein to retreat. We were invited to attend a victory ceremony at a ball room in the Sky Palace. But before I could do that, I went on a short jungle quest and survived it, earning access to Library where I learned about my parents past and retrieving dimension gate key. But that could wait for now, it was time for the ceremony but I also had to get something else...I made a quick trip to a jewellery store, I wanted to create a big moment when the time was right.

I finally arrived at the ball with my suit and the girls were there, although Mint seemed to be missing as was Tact. I saw Vanilla in her dress...I was blown away by how beautiful she looked, even more so than the dress she wore back at Fargo...even though that night ended on a sour note thanks to Eonia and the Black Moon.

"Arnold...mind if we dance?" Vanilla asked as slow music began to play.

"It's been a long while since we danced." I replied. "But we can do this, follow my lead as before."

Vanilla nodded and we began to dance with her body close to mine. Looking into her red eyes, I knew I had no regrets on making my decision that was still to come.

The Val-Fasc launched a counter attack to try and destroy the Sky Palace, but with Mint fully recovered, we were able to swat them down. Noah then gave us a lot of info for our next objective. To eliminate the Val-Fasc in their home-world before they use the Chrono Quake Bomb. It was taking a few Chrono Drives to get to Val-Vaross, but we weren't worried, we needed the long downtime before the final battle.

I was in the park with Vanilla, looking at the night sky above us. They were the stars that were seen from the Val Fasc's home world, according to Tact. I looked at her with a smile, remembering that I had the small jewellery I bought, it was time to make a big decision.

"Vanilla." I said. "We've been together for over seven months and I wanna say that I love you with all of my heart and soul."

"Arnold...I deeply love you too. I am happy that we've been together for this long and I want that to continue...there's no one else I would want to be with than you."

I took her hand and I pulled out a ring from my jacket pocket. "Then, would you consider this commitment ring?"

Vanilla gasped. "You...want to...marry me?"

I put the ring on her ring finger. "I do...you're the one I want to spend my days with. It's not an engagement ring since you're not 18 yet, but it's a ring to remind you that you are committed to being my wife one day."

Vanilla cried a few tears but she was happy. "Yes...as you said. I'm not 18, but I will keep this ring...because I want to marry you too."

I wiped her tears away. "It's for our future too and tomorrow, we need to fight to keep the dream alive."

"Yes...I will fight for you too."

"Because we're Galaxy Angels."

"Galaxy Angels...I like that name, Arnold."

Vanilla and I moved our heads forward and shared a kiss that became passionate as I laid down on the dry grass and Vanilla laid on top of me, wrapped in the arms of affection and of our romance. We were ready for the final battle for peace and for perhaps what lies beyond the dimension gate key as the prophecy in my fmaily tree book said.

When that passed by, last word I heard from Tact was that he and Mint went off to have a cruise on an exotic island. Whilst I went with Vanilla to visit her home planet.

I do believe that in the future, Vanilla and I will eventually marry when she is of age...I love her and I always will...

The Tact & Mint route is now complete and Arnold & Vanilla's relationship wraps up with a commitment to marry in the future.

Coming up soon in the next chapter, the Tact and Forte route begins and Arnold learns what it's like to date a telepathic.