Return of the Angels

She pulled him into a room that had light pouring in through the window. The fresh breeze was pouring in through its opening, cooling the temperature of the room. It was plain with a single bed, a desk, a bedside table and a wardrobe. The bed was covered in grey sheets, the walls were white and the rest of the furniture was polished wood. Celine watched his expression with a small smile, at first he looked completely appalled at the room because it was so plain, but the next moment it lightened into a ghostly smile.

"It's plain for the moment, Raven," she speaks, gaining his undivided attention. "But once you've settled in, you can do whatever to the place. But if you mess it up, you clean it."

"I know I'm still a prisoner here," he responds, his voice had a dry edge to it. He didn't like the idea of still being a prisoner, but Celine didn't like it either. His eyes identified the sadness within her eyes when he mentioned the word. She was the one to have decided to keep him prisoner and yet she felt guilty for doing it.

"I may have had a choice Raven, but I couldn't let you go…" her eyes looked away, shame and guilt replaced her former happiness.

He titled her chin to face him. "I know you had to, Celine. I'm dangerous and not trusted to be out in the big wide world alone. So, it's more like I'm being babysat to see if my behaviour has improved. Besides, if I had a choice on staying or leaving, I would have chosen to stay."

"There's nothing in the Guardian Force that you like," she said as if she was protesting the idea.

"I can name one thing. Not only is she the leader of the angels, but she's my boss," he grins and she gives a small smile.

"Could you do this where you've not got an audience," James spoke from behind them and Celine struggled to hold her laughter as Raven turned around to glare at him. Hatred for him forgotten, Raven just didn't like what he said. "Would you like it if I was speaking mushy stuff with my girlfriend?"

"You don't have a girlfriend," Raven declared.

"I might have," he said a little too proudly although everyone knew he hadn't. "Well would you?"

"If you speak mushy love stuff with your girlfriend in front of me, I'll see to it that you'll remember only to do that behind closed doors."

"See! If you don't like listening to it, then you shouldn't do it in front of others." James declared happily.

Celine placed a hand on Raven's arm. "He's right Raven," he turned around to face her. "We should respect them and keep it to our own privacy."

He nodded and rested an arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to himself. In turn she wrapped an arm around his waist, hugging him to her. Storm was smiling at the pair of them, happy that Celine finally has someone. It was the same with Raven. He finally had someone that would appreciate him and Celine was the best choice. Besides, their fate was to be together the moment they met. Storm could have easily told Celine who she was meant to be with the whole entire time. But there was the matter that Celine would have rejected it.

She was so glad that she's grown up since then.

Everyone turned to walk away, knowing that they were no longer needed. However, Storm remained in the same place, a question written clear on the planes of her face.

"Is Raven considering of joining the Guardian Force?" she suddenly asked that it took everyone by surprise.

Celine looked up at Raven. "That's something he has to decide and then it'll have to be taken up in the conference room."

"Would you want to join us?" Storm asks him directly.

He blinked his violet eyes, considering the question very thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if I do want to join…" he looked down at Celine, the only purpose he had to stay in the base. "I'll think it through," he said with a voice of promise. She nodded in understanding and looked back at her friends, who in turn nodded and soon left, leaving the pair of them standing alone in Raven's bedroom. "You're tired," he observed and she looked at him, ready to protest. "I'm not going to listen to your arguing, so just lie down and get some sleep."

"Raven…"

He cut her off by kissing her and slowly he led her towards the bed. When she sat on it, he pulled away and smiled. "Sleep, Celine," he ordered and sat on the edge of the bed. She glared at him as he gently pushed her till her head rested on the pillow. He stood up and pulled the quilt over her and took his place on the edge again. They gazed into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours but were only seconds. She sighed and did as she was ordered for once. She closed her eyes and took deep slow breaths, eventually finding a place for sleep.

XxX

She jolted awake as moonlight poured in through the open curtains. The wind was cold as it climbed in through the opening in the window. She looked out the window, seeing the full moon peeking through. She climbed out of the bed. She still wore her clothes from the day, which coexisted of a loose orange t-shirt that had a yellow smiley face on it and black leggings. She looked down at the other occupant of the bed. Raven was fast asleep and he was none the wiser of her absence.

She quietly slipped out the bedroom and raced towards her bedroom. She swapped her clothes for her battle suit. The one piece was still as difficult to get into as always. She pulled her hair out and allowed it to fly around her as it lowered to her back. She slipped on her long boots and exited the room. Mai and Terror were absent from her room, just like Shadow had been absent from Raven's. Frowning to herself she quietly but quickly made her way out of the base to stand on one of the watch towers that overlooked the desert.

She found the organoids there.

Mai turned to greet her with a gentle growl before she looked back out. Her emerald eyes were looking up towards the sky, just like Terror's gold ones, Shadow's blue ones, Taki's turquoise ones and Zeke's red ones. Celine took her spot in the middle, approaching as leader out of the six. She rested her hands on the tower's rail and stretched her neck so her eyes could look up deep into space. No, not into space anymore! She was looking into the outer atmosphere were the demon meteorites were on the move again.

They were heading towards them!

She could only estimate that they would only have about three hours before they would hit. She frowned before she closed off her eyes and concentrated. She needed to send out a wave that would prolong their landing. She needed to buy them some more time. Her power responded to her and she felt it as it shook the tower, working its way to the ground like lightning, before the wave rippled through the ground before it shot up with incredible speed towards the outer atmosphere. Spreading wide like an invisible net, it caught the meteorites, slowing their speed drastically.

Celine… Mai spoke and Celine opened her eyes to look at her. Celine's body was shivering. Be careful, you're not quite used to using your powers.

Celine nodded. "I know, Mai, but it's the only way…"

Mai grunted an understanding and then her head turned to look behind them. Celine turned to look what had caught her sudden attention. Everyone was awake and making their way towards the tower, but they stopped as Celine jumped down. Some called out in panic just as Celine landed lightly on her feet and started her way towards the others. The organoids jumped down and came up to halt behind her. The angels did not stay to one side declaring that they were of different species as they had done before. No, this time they were amongst the humans, accepting them and slowly becoming one of the existences on this planet.

"We felt your power, Celine. What's going on?" her father asked her, taking lead for the others.

"Look up to the outer atmosphere, tell me what you see," she instructed.

As told, everyone, including the humans, looked up to the sky. Whereas the humans could see nothing and a frown stretched on their faces, the angels could see and their eyes widened with what they discovered. They all came to an attention back at Celine who stood there with a frown on her face. A clear disliking was settled, one that was not going to be taken away so soon.

"They're on the move," Azrael stated. "And you slowed their descent," she nodded at him.

"The demons are moving again," she confirmed to the humans who were clueless. "I've had to summon some of my power to slow their descent to buy us enough time to get ready for the attack."

"How much time are we talking here?" Kristen asked as he stepped forward.

"By dawn, they'll have landed, but I'll say around ten they'll have assembled and starting their way towards us."

"That leaves us plenty of time," Kristen states happily.

"Not enough time!" Celine growls angrily and her eyes flashed purple. Kristen backed away, knowing when she was close to losing her temper. "I hope the lot of you had enough rest because we don't have time for any."

"What are we to do?" Apollyon asks his niece, bringing her back to attention.

"Prepare for attack! Ready all the weapons, secure the perimeter, have teams in their zoids ready for the attack. Angels, you're to assist in securing the perimeter and attacking from the sky when I give the order. Kristen, inform the Queen and the Emperor and get everyone to the underground facility for protection until I say otherwise."

Kristen saluted and was running off back inside.

"What are the lot of you standing around for?" she shouted all leader on their asses now.

Everyone was moving, some ran into the zoid compound, others went inside the building to gather the weapons. Her three assistants stood behind her with Celine's guards. Azrael, Apollyon, Michael and Gabriel were prepared to battle for their lives to protect Celine. The organoids stood in front of Celine, their eyes fixated on the sky. Celine looked up, her eyes narrowed and her power was ready for some destruction. She was not going to run away from this. This was her battle, her fight, and she was going to win this with everyone else. If she had to sacrifice herself, then so be it. She may not like that option, but it does have to be thought of.

"Celine," she turned around to face Raven. "I'm going on the front line with Van and the others."

"No, Raven…"

He shook his head. "I'm not going to be cowering away, I want to do this, I want to protect you." He took her face in between his hands. His violet eyes were searching her sapphire ones and just like hers were searching his. "I'll always and will forever love you." He kissed her deeply and pulled away. Celine hugged him tightly, tears falling, but she released him from her hold. Raven's a warrior; she couldn't and wouldn't keep him caged. He kissed her forehead and stroked her cheek with his thumb as he smiled a sad smile.

"I love you too, Raven."

His smile brightened and she watched with a pained heart as he ran towards the zoid compound with Shadow following him. She wouldn't call out to him although her heart was. He wanted to fight; it was because he was a warrior, just like she was. But she was their leader and she couldn't put herself on the front lines too soon. They needed her to operate the attack from the back. For now, she could do nothing but watch as they fought. She trained them, the angels had trained them, they all were synchronized and knew what to do.

All she could do is hope.