Author's Notes

Hello, readers! This is another long one, so get ready!

You might have noticed that I gave titles to all of the chapters; I figured that I ought to do that to make it easier for people to remember where they left off. I know I find words a lot easier to remember than numbers! However, making titles is not my forte. I tried my best to come up with something succinct, effective, and pertaining to the chapters, but I'd appreciate feedback (on any of them, not just this chapter). Give me suggestions!

I also made some edits to the chapters while I named them. You'll see that I finally noticed that there were no separations between the scenes and added a few dots to correct this! I had assumed that whatever I had in the Doc Manager was what it would show on the site. Now, I know I have to use the Preview tool. . I also fixed "Vatras" and removed one instance of Fenn eating. I still have another, more involved Fenn munching scene to fix.

Things to look forward to this chapter: more magic lessons, internalized conflicts, and set-up for a couple of interesting arcs. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Bandai and Sunrise own SD Gundam Force, not me. The only characters mentioned in this chapter that they didn't make are Aleda and Titan.

Chapter 8: Flirts and Flames

Over the next week, the atmosphere settled back to normal. Aleda, at first the talk of White Base, integrated into the everyday life of the SDG. She trained in magic with Zero a little every day, and the Lacroan knight continued to tell her stories of their homeland, including those of various rituals, odd or amusing happenings in the Royal Castle, and news of outside events that had reached the castle through rumors.

Chief Haro officially welcomed Aleda as part of the SDG, but that came with the requirement that she had to have some contribution, so she busied herself cleaning the kitchen and cooking, which the staff appreciated. Zero, of course, had his objections to "the Lady" doing such menial tasks, but Chief Haro and Aleda overruled him. "I have to do something to earn my keep, Zero. I don't want to freeload," the Gundamess had said. So the Knight Gundam had yielded.

...

On a particular morning, Gunbike was getting a tune-up, but the Gundams still itched to train, so Zero and Bakunetsumaru tried sparring holographic enemies in the training room. Aleda stayed behind to clean up breakfast—it had been waffles and grits—so that she could watch them train, later. By watching Zero's moves, she hoped to learn a few combat spells, as well—not that she would tell Zero that, since the Knight Gundam seemed to become agitated at the thought of her in combat.

But, just as the last pot had been placed on the drying rack, Juli poked her head in with a request. She held up a large envelope. "These are birthday cards for some of the units, and they need to go to Kao Lyn. It would be a great help if you could take them to him for me."

Aleda took the package. "Birthday cards?"

"Kao Lyn cares a lot about his creations. He sends little cards on the GMs' activation dates and gives them the day to relax," Juli explained.

"Oh. That's really nice of him," Aleda said, grinning.

"Yes, it is. I said I'd bring them to him, but I have a tight schedule today."

"I'll take it for you."

"Thanks, Aleda. That helps a lot." Juli smiled.

...

In the white-walled, thick-doored training room, Baku cut down another holographic Zako. "This program thing needs a tune-up," he said. "These are too easy."

Zero slashed a droid behind the samurai. "I agree."

The heavy doors swung outward, and Captain entered the training room. "Bakunetsumaru, it is now time for you to go on patrol," he said.

Baku sighed. "Alright," he said reluctantly, sheathing his swords. He stalked out of the room as Captain picked up the fight with Zero.

...

Aleda knocked on the door to Kao Lyn's lab, but no one answered. "Hm." She slid the envelope under the door and went on her way. She floated leisurely along, pausing at a window. The clouds looked invitingly plush. Aleda touched her hand to the glass and smirked. Even though she knew she couldn't touch a cloud, flying through one was fun, during those rare times she could find an unseen place and a free period in her schedule.

"Well, hey, cutie. Whatcha doing?"

Aleda looked to see Guneagle beside her. "Hey, Guneagle," she said. "I'm just wandering around right now. Zero and Baku are in the training room right now, so I thought I might go watch them."

"Well, you think maybe you'd like to go for a fly instead?" Guneagle asked. "I need to test my tune-ups, and it's always safer with another flier around, y'know?"

"Yeah, I guess that's true..."

...

Bakunetsumaru entered the intersection between his hall and the bedroom hall to behold a horrifying sight. "We could fly out over the sea so the citizens don't see us. And, hey, y'know what? Sometimes the dolphins swim to the surface, and they just had another calf recently. It's still only three weeks old," Guneagle was saying to a certain white-and-gold Gundamess.

"Aw, that sounds cute," Aleda said.

Oh no. Guneagle was flirting with the Lady. Fire blazing in his eyes, Bakunetsumaru marched forward to meet them.

"Oh, hey, Bossa Nova!" Guneagle called to Baku cheerfully.

Baku whipped out his trusty weapon—his Fan of Discipline—and smacked Guneagle upside the head with it. "Ow! Hey, what was that for?" Guneagle complained.

"We need to have a little talk," Baku said menacingly, grabbing Guneagle by the back of the helm. He dragged the Neotopian flyer around a corner and out of Aleda's earshot, as the Gundamess blinked in surprise.

"Dude, what gives?" Guneagle whined, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Don't flirt with Aleda. She's Zero's girl," Baku said sternly, arms crossed.

"Zero's girl? But he hasn't asked her on a date or anything. He hasn't even said anything to us!"

"Well, yeah, but—" Baku spluttered.

"But what? He's just pulling the chivalry stuff again," Guneagle huffed.

"Look, listen. I know it seems like around her he's just being the typical damsel-saving, womanizing, chivalrous prick he always is, but I think this is different."

"How?"

"Have you seen his eyes when he looks at her? He's captivated by her—even flustered around her. I've never seen Zero be flustered around any girl, no matter how pretty she is."

"Hmph. None of those other girls were Gundam girls."

"They're called Gundamesses—but I don't think that explains why he always wants to be around her. And, she blushes all the time around him and follows him like a little lost puppy. There's a mutual attraction, and I'm not about to let you spoil it!"

"But, Bossa Nova, why do you want her to end up with Zero so badly?"

"Bakunetsumaru!" Baku corrected with a crack of the fan, eliciting a squeak from the flier. "I care because I want to mercilessly tease Zero!" He jabbed the Fan of Discipline at Guneagle. "You had better not steal Aleda from him. Understood?"

"Y-Yes, sir," Guneagle answered quickly with a salute.

...

Aleda floated aimlessly. Baku had dragged Guneagle away for a "talk," and when they had returned, Baku had said that Guneagle did not have the "go-ahead" from Kao Lyn to fly, yet, and he was supposed to go to the scientist for a check-up. Then the Arkian had ushered Guneagle away without an opportunity to say much of anything. Not quite remembering the way to the training room through the maze of identical halls (Zero's presence during the first trip had impeded her normally super-human processing power), Aleda had wandered until she found her destination, but by then it was empty. So, then she had drawn in her room by herself for twenty minutes until she became restless and started roving the halls alone. I haven't seen much of everyone, today, she thought gloomily.

Then, a familiar voice made her GunSoul skip a pulse. "Lady Aleda, why do your eyes graze the ground? Is something troubling you?"

Aleda could already feel the heat rising to her face as she looked up to see her handsome knight. "Not really. I'm just a little bored."

"Could my companionship alleviate your affliction?" Zero offered.

Aleda smiled gratefully. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Perhaps more lessons on magic?"

Her eyes gleamed with delight. "Yes! I'd love to!" she cheered, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Zero smirked to suppress a chuckle. "Then, I shall escort you to the training room, milady."

...

In the wide, blank training room, Zero reached his hand out, and in a blue flash, he drew a thick tome out of thin air. The leather cover bore an intricate pattern depicting interweaving vines in a circular shape that strongly resembled Zero's magic circle. Curving letters lined the top of the cover. "This is a spell book, milady," the Winged Knight explained to Aleda, who gazed over the tome in awe. "It contains more magic spells than even I have learned."

"What does it say on the cover?"

"Ah, I forgot that you cannot read Lacroan script. Pardon me. This says, 'Anthology of Modern and Ancient Magic.'" He flipped the book open. "And inside are over one-thousand spells, sorted by their purpose."

"Wow." Aleda gasped at the artistry bordering the words. On one page, a gnarled tree shaded the text with its far-reaching branches, while on another, a dragon set the edges aflame. "It's beautiful," she breathed.

"I think so, too, milady." Zero smiled down at her. "I am running short on useful spells to teach you. Most of my magical knowledge lies in combat and agriculture, neither of which are particularly suited to you. Would you like to find one in this book to learn?"

"Yeah!" The Gundamess's wings quivered with excitement. "What ones are there?"

"Hm..." Zero skimmed the pages. "A spell that allows you to see farther? ...Here's one that starts a fire. And there's also one that eases people to sleep. Do any of these appeal to you?"

"How about the fire one? I could use it to cook in an emergency," Aleda said.

"I'd hope you would not be so hard-pressed, milady, but we may start with that one."

Zero read the passage closely in order to grasp the details of the spell. Then, he instructed the young lady to set a holographic haystack on fire. "Face the target and snap your fingers, like so." With said snap, a red flame ignited on his fingertips. Aleda oohed in amazement. Then, Zero casually waved the flame away. "Now, you try, milady, on the hay."

Aleda stood before the stack of hay, extended her right hand, and took a deep breath. Snap! Fwoosh! Heat rushed into Aleda's face, and she jumped back. "Milady!" Zero caught her. The haystack blazed ten feet high, and its flames flared outward to devour all around it.

"Computer!" Zero shouted above the din of the roaring fire. "Cancel—!"

"Wait!" Aleda gripped his arm gently, and he paused. "Let me try." The Lady Gundamess stood on her feet and extended her hands towards the flames. The blaze cropped off at the ends, withdrew a few feet, shrank into a bonfire, and then finally settled into a gentle simmer.

"Is it you who is doing this, Lady Aleda?" Zero asked, gaping behind his mouthguard.

"Yeah." Aleda dropped her hands behind her back and turned to face him with a smile. "I do this a lot when I cook—adjust the flames, I mean."

"With magic?"

She shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

Zero floated to her side to watch the little fire in awe. "How long have you had this ability?"

"Uhm...At least since I was six years old. This is the first time I tried it on a big fire, though." She furrowed her digital eyebrows. "Is it weird?"

"No, I'm merely surprised that you know such skillful magic." Zero smiled, but he internally wondered what magic spell Aleda had naturally stumbled upon that could give such control over fire, better than even Bakunetsumaru's scorching swordsmanship.

They sat in the plush lounge afterwards for a rest and a chat before lunch. Fenn snuggled on Aleda's lap. Watching the fluffball purr under the Lady Gundamess's gentle touch, Zero's processor drifted by association to thoughts of fire, then to Aleda's odd ability. "Milady," he said, "how did your family find you? How did they know you came from a dimensional portal?"

"Dad's a scientist who studies spacial anomalies. He followed some readings, and when he got there the portal was gone, but I was there, just sitting in my armor, and I had my pendant around my neck."

"Pendant?"

Aleda faced away from him, fished through the armor under her collar, and, closing her armor, produced the desired piece: a little chain with a gold pendant in the shape of a four-pointed star sitting on a v—the crest of Lacroa. "I had the symbol on my armor modeled after this," she explained.

Zero took the pendant delicately to inspect. "Beautiful craftsmanship," he commented, turning it over. On the back, he spotted a tiny engraving in Lacroan."It reads 'Fae,' milady. Does this mean anything to you?"

Aleda shook her head.

"Your father never saw the portal?" Zero inquired.

"No. Though, when I left home, he told me he'd seen strange footprints around me at the site. They were kinda boxy, he said, but bigger than mobile citizens' feet." Aleda tilted her head. "Do you think you know something about how I got here?"

"Likely not," Zero said slowly as he mulled over the information. "I would have been but four years old when you came to Neotopia. I wondered if I could find another clue, but..." He smirked at her. "now, you're even more mystifying, milady."

"O-Oh." Her cheeks burned, and she averted her gaze, with her shoulders hunched in that self-conscious look that Zero found so adorable. The knight shook his head to rid himself of that maverick thought while her emerald eyes were still locked on Fenn in her lap. "Uhm, thanks..." Aleda shyly mumbled.

"I wish I could be more helpful to you," Zero said, handing the pendant to her.

"N-no, you're plenty help." Aleda smiled while fingering the pendant in her palm. "You've made me feel very welcome, here. I don't feel that way in many places."

"'Tis the least I can do for a lovely lady."

Her smile brightened even more, and Zero fought internally to hold his melting GunSoul together. What have I done to myself? he wondered.

...

No Dark Axis activity had occurred for over three weeks, and Chief Haro didn't know how to feel about it. Even with the lull, however, his desk was piled with papers, mostly reports on Dark Axis activity—the lack of it—and performance tests on the Gundivers. A few snippets on personnel stats and a possible security leak in the mayor's security system were also included. And Titan, don't forget Titan. The Chief had already read that minor note: "Last observed at Nebraska, city Norfolk. No change in behavioral pattern." Very reassuring, yet Kao Lyn's words kept floating in his over-worked brain: "I think it's only a matter of time."

I've always regretted it when I ignored his insight, Chief Haro mused.

Chief Haro reread the same words over and over again on the day's Gundiver tests before giving up, shoving them aside, and turning on a tablet. A few pokes here and there, and Chief Haro's mask's ears popped up in surprise. As of that day, a little dot had shifted a hundred miles closer to Neotopia.

...

The Gundam Force took a stroll with Shute through the suburbs—Captain in civilian mode, of course. Their destination: Town Hall, where Mayor Margaret would prepare them for the "movie" they were going to film as a cover for their battles against the Dark Axis. Thanks to Neotopia's weather-controlling machines, the only clouds in the sky were puffy, small, and white. Only modest numbers of afternoon runners passed them, at first, but the farther into the city they traveled, the more the traffic swelled with pedestrians in business suits. Buses pulled up to the sidewalks and released commuting workers, both human and robot. The group soon had to contend with stoplights and trollies; it was the start of rush hour in downtown Neotopia.

Shute and Aleda pointed to different landmarks and objects that Zero and Baku had not yet seen. "Why are so many infants gathered in one place?" Zero asked concerning a low and colorful building flooded by parents retrieving their toddlers and infants. "Are they not too young for schooling?"

"That's a day-care," Aleda explained. "The babies go there so someone can take care of them while their parents work."

Zero frowned behind his mouthguard. "Aren't the children lonely? In Lacroa, infants are cared for by family."

"I hear they get used to it," Shute supplied.

A voice suddenly shouted out, "Woah, what are they?"

The Gundams and the boy looked to see a child with a backpack gaping at them. Other children and adults also paused to stare or to shoot fleeting curious glances. Some kept walking, and others stopped. Whispers reached their hearing as they passed: "I haven't seen that kind of robot, before." Aleda shrank into herself. Her wings flattened against her back, and her eyes darted anxiously about the rush-hour throng.

Zero sympathetically observed his lady's discomfort and wracked his processor for a solution. "Aha!"

"Zero, what—?" Baku began.

Red flapped dramatically in the wind as Zero tossed his cape behind him and posed. "Citizens of Neotopia!" he called, "Thank you for welcoming us to your fair city! We are very pleased to film our movie, here!" He snapped his fingers, and a bouquet of roses appeared in his hands. "I am flattered by your sincere praise! But though I am dazzling, these looks of amazement and words of acclaim are more than I deserve!" Flying to the nearest woman, he offered a flower, saying, "You, milady, surpass me in elegance. Please take this rose." When she had, blushing, accepted the rose, Zero darted to the next, "And this one is for you, gentle-eyed maiden." Then to another, "Such beauty deserves a beautiful gift."

His teammates gaped in surprise. But Zero, fresh out of roses, extracted more from within his cape. "There are plenty for all of the lovely ladies, here!" The flowers magically flew to each rose-less woman and girl in the square. "Every woman deserves applause for their natural grace and beauty!"

Shute laughed. "What is he doing?"

"He seems to be distracting everyone away from our unconventional appearances," Captain commented.

Baku pat Aleda on the shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

Aleda raised her head. "Yeah, I'm fine," she murmured.

"Thank you!" the girls started squealing.

With a twirl, Zero declared, "I am Zero, the Winged Knight! The handsomest knight in the universe!"

Baku shook his head. "Now, we've lost him."

"And soon, you will see me defeat this frightful samurai in combat!" Zero pointed at Baku, who jolted.

"What was that, you nut-case knight?!" Baku yelled back, shaking his fist. He bounded towards the Knight Gundam, to a groan from Shute.

"It looks like we will be a little late," Captain observed.

...

After Mayor Margaret finished assigning roles and dates for filming, the Gundam Force returned to Shute's house. Keiko had ice cream for them that day, and they happily partook. Well, all happily except for one. Aleda listlessly stirred her spoon through her ice cream, her other hand under her armored chin, staring at her dessert. A purple rose bloomed under the bridge of her mouthguard, and she looked to see her knight holding the flower to her with a smile. "I do not know what ails you, milady, but I hope I may lift your spirits. You have hardly tasted your dessert, and it is very delicious."

Aleda returned his smile and took the rose, breathing in its scent, which strangely was not so bitter as the roses she knew. "Thank you, Zero," she said as she smelled it. "That ice cream is looking really good to me, now."

Zero nodded. "You're welcome, milady." He held his questions for the moment; over the three weeks he had known her, she had almost never shared personal matters while socializing with a group.

He waited until they returned to White Base, where she felt more comfortable, and had finished magic lessons for the day. "Milady, I do not mean to pry, but you have seemed...out of sorts, since this afternoon," Zero began as they left the open floor of the training room. "Is there something the matter?"

Aleda sighed. "Not really."

"Nothing that troubles you so deeply is a trifle, milady," Zero softly said to her.

A hesitant frown, and a thoughtful stare at the door, and finally she said, "I just didn't like how everyone stared at us, earlier. I hate it when people look at me like that."

I guessed right, Zero thought to himself. "Like what?" he said aloud.

"Like I'm a freak."

"Why would anyone think that of you?"

"Because I'm not a normal robot from Neotopia. Everyone can tell just by looking at me."

"Well, yes, anyone can tell, because you are uncommonly beautiful," Zero said jovially to brighten her mood.

Aleda lowered her gaze. "That's not what the neighbors said back home."

Zero's face fell as sympathetic anguish seized his GunSoul. "Aleda, I'm sorry that they said something so terrible and false. Nothing is 'freakish' about you, and I hope that, with us, you will learn to see yourself the way you truly are." He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed gently. "Just as I did, with the help of many friends in Lacroa."

Curiosity and concern raised Aleda's eyes. "People said bad things about you in Lacroa?"

Zero nodded. "Indeed. As a child, I was mocked for my human parents. And my height." He sighed in displeasure at the latter. "But, I overcame many obstacles, and seized a few chance opportunities, in order to become a Royal Knight."

Aleda grimly nodded.

"What I mean to say, milady, is that you are wonderful the way you are, and you should be proud of your Gundam heritage."

She afforded him a small smile. "Thank you." Then, Aleda glanced down at her hand, saw that it was still in Zero's, and she glowed red. "Oh! I'm s-sorry!" She yanked her hand away.

"No, no, milady, you are fine," Zero waved it off. Then, he quickly turned-heel. "L-Let us go to dinner."

Aleda checked the digital clock over the doorway. "Oh, yeah, it's about time for me to start heating everything up."

"After you, milady." Zero gave a sweeping bow, hoping that as Aleda passed, his helmet's visor would hide his blush.

He need not have worried, for the Gundamess's thoughts were on a different matter, entirely. That's right: he was raised by humans, too. What happened to them when Dark Axis came? she wondered. She glanced over her shoulder at Zero after she floated through the door, and the knight flashed a smile at her that exposed not even a hint that the weight of a world rested on his Gundamium shoulders.

...

Aleda turned over in bed yet again. Then, she groaned and opened her eyes. In the glow of her eyescreens, the blue vase of roses shimmered at her innocently. Moaning again, she rolled onto her belly and stuck her head under her pillow. A minute later, she sighed and extracted herself from the bed.

The Lady Gundamess floated softly to the kitchen, in hopes that warm milk would quiet her processor—the one in her head. The images of stone humans, including some Vaughn-looking ones, haunted her to the kitchen door.

The doors slid open, and light poured out. Aleda blinked blearily, wondering if she had fallen asleep after all: who could be awake so late? A familiar back stood at the kitchen table across the way. "Kao Lyn?"

The scientist jumped and wheeled to face her, scattering donuts and revealing his kooky yin-yang glasses, a crumb-covered gray mustache, and chubby face. "Oh! Aleda!" he gasped, cringing back.

But, Aleda, after a second, laughed behind her small white hand. "You have funny glasses," she said. "Do you like costumes?"

Kao Lyn set his other foot on the floor. "You...recognize me?"

"Yeah. Kao Lyn, the one who made all of the Gundams in Neotopia, right?"

"Yes..."

"Ah! Except for me, of course!"

"Yes, except for you." Kao Lyn relaxed; though he was no expert in Lacroan Gundams, he had seen enough to read their body language, and Aleda's smiling eyescreens and easy posture communicated no hostility.

"Are you working late?" Aleda floated further into the room.

"Yes, in fact. I'm working on more equipment for Captain." Kao Lyn started picking up escaped donuts. Aleda passed one to him. "Oh, thanks."

"You're welcome."

Kao Lyn dumped the handful onto the table, while Aleda walked to the fridge adjacent to the stovetop. "So interesting," Kao Lyn commented as he raised a doughnut to his mouth. "I can barely hear your movement. I haven't been able to make Captain's motions that quiet."

Aleda momentarily paused with her hand on the fridge handle. "Oh. Thanks." Then, she opened the door and rummaged for the milk.

The scientist swallowed his bite of doughnut and said, "So, what are you doing online so late? Even Lacroan Gundams need a regular recharge cycle."

"Me? Oh, I, um." She extracted a milk jug and closed the refrigerator. "I can't sleep, right now."

"Hm. That isn't typical, is it?"

"No, it's not," Aleda wryly chuckled. She poured herself a mug.

"Is something on your mind?"

"Just things. The Dark Axis, mostly." She set the mug in the microwave.

Kao Lyn nodded. "That's on all of our minds. But, don't worry! We have a strong group of warriors, here. We'll keep beating them back, and they'll give up soon, just you see!"

Aleda cracked a smile. "Sure. And then we can focus on getting Zero and Baku home, right?"

"Yes! And, I suppose you, too, right?"

Aleda glanced at him.

futilely defended "You're going to go to Lacroa after this?"

She nodded.

Kao Lyn grinned behind his glasses. "To be with the knight, right~?" He silently congratulated himself when the Gundamess blushed.

"I...want to find my Gundam parents, too..." she futilely defended herself.

"Mhm." Kao Lyn nodded. "Bell Wood has made considerable progress on the Dimensional Transport Device, and Zero is getting stronger by the day. I think you'll definitely make it to Lacroa, so don't worry yourself."

The microwave's hum stopped, and Aleda reached in for her warmed milk. "I guess."

Kao Lyn swallowed the last doughnut. "Yum! That was very energizing." He rolled his shoulders, swung his arms in circles, and cracked his neck. "I'm ready to get back to work! With this new weaponry, Captain will send those Dark Axis guys packing!" He threw a few air punches for emphasis.

Aleda smiled and slowly sipped her warm milk.

"Hmmmmmmm."

The Gundamess opened her eyes to see Kao Lyn peering closely into her face. "Wh-what?" She blushed and scooted back a step.

"I was just thinking how great it would be if I could figure out how to convert organic material into energy for the SDG Gundams." The scientist moved away. "Well, then, I'm off. Good night! Get some recharge."

"Good night."

Kao Lyn passed between the sliding doors. Aleda blew cool air lightly into her milk as the doors clicked shut. She scrunched her digital eyebrows together in concern. Why does he seem familiar to me? she wondered.

Author's Notes

Uh-oh, Kao Lyn's starting to slip up! :D

So, give me a yay or nay. I tried to make it interesting, to have realistic interactions between the characters, and to have reasonable internal conflicts. I tried to touch on Zero and Aleda's greatest fears. I didn't quite get to Zero's; it was going to feel unnatural if I squeezed it in there, and I sensed that he wanted to wait a bit before letting Aleda in that close. But Aleda's was pretty front and center, just as it was last chapter: abandonment and rejection. Tell me if I made that apparent. Zero's greatest fear will come up, soon. Very soon. Bwahahahaha :)

Also, I wanted to name the magic spell book something nicer-sounding than "Collection of…" so I went with "Anthology of…" Do you think that works? Or would you think that it doesn't fit the definition of an anthology?

Next chapter is pretty intense, so get ready!

-Penelopi