Author's Notes

Hey, all! I hope you liked the length last time, because this one is also long and packed. XD There are some scenes directly taken from the show, just to let you know. I cut good chunks of the show stuff to avoid making this a novelization of the episode, but I included the details needed to understand the context.

Special thanks to Titanic X, who volunteered to be a beta for this story! Titanic read and reread this chapter through a couple of drafts and made a lot of good suggestions and corrections so that I could get this posted faster.

The more eyes to revise my drafts the better, so if someone is still interested in being a beta reader, I'd like to have one more (because two is probably the most I could manage). Send a PM if interested.

Disclaimer:

SD Gundam Force was made by Bandai and Sunrise. I don't own the show, setting, or any of the characters, except for OCs Aleda and Titan.

Chapter 11: Cinnamon Scent

A buzzer flashed on Juli's console. She swept her hands over the keys, bringing up various data readouts.

"What is it? The Dark Axis?" Chief Haro asked, stepping to her.

"No, sir." Juli frowned at the image on the screen. "It looks like something quite different." She slid to the side to let him view it clearly. "This came out of a dimensional hole."

"I see. Bring Zero and Titan, immediately."

…

"Is something the matter, Chief Haro?" Zero asked as he and his fellow Knight Gundam floated in.

"We don't know, yet," Chief Haro answered. He gestured to the main screen of the command room. "We thought you could tell us who this is."

Titan gasped. "Master!"

The red-armored and caped Knight Gundam skimmed along the edge of a lake. "How did he get here?" Zero asked.

"A dimensional hole," Juli answered. "He's halfway across the country, just in range of our farthest drone scanners."

"Let me go to him!" Titan begged, stepping forward eagerly. "He may be startled if militarized strangers approach him."

"Does this not seem strange to you?" Zero queried.

"Yes, it does," Chief Haro agreed.

"Even so," Titan said, "if there is a chance that Master August is alive, I must find him."

"He's going to pass out of range, soon," Juli reported.

"Tell me the coordinates, and I will leave immediately."

"Don't be hasty, Titan," Chief Haro said. "You know it's a trap."

"It is likely, but perhaps not."

Zero looked Titan in the eye briefly. "I would feel the same way if it were Rock and the others."

Plastic squeaks emitted from Chief Haro's gloved hands. "Very well. I know from experience that it would be useless to try to stop you, Titan. But you, Zero, must stay here. We need your strength to defend against the Dark Axis."

Zero nodded. "I understand." To Titan, he said, "Good luck."

"Thank you." Hazel-brown bore into blue. "Take care of her."

"I will."

...

Aleda watched over the rounded top of White Base as the navy-blue knight flew past Neotopia Towers. With a worried frown, she turned around to Zero. "Are you sure that it's okay to let him go alone?"

"Chief Haro wouldn't let me go," Zero answered. "And Titan wouldn't think of staying."

She dropped her gaze to the roof. "I hope it turns out okay."

"If he survived alone for fifteen years, milady, then he is surely strong," Zero consoled her. "I respect him. Two years of isolation was all I could stand."

Aleda gazed at him sadly. "Zero?" The Winged Knight's eyes shifted to her. She stepped closer. "I—ah!" The tip of her gold-edged feet tripped over the smooth surface of the roof, and she crashed into the wide-eyed knight.

They fell onto the roof with a thud. Zero blinked, and his face steamed when he comprehended that the Gundamess had fallen on him. She smelled like lemon and cinnamon—a combination of the disinfectant lemon-scented cleaner that she used on the kitchen countertops and the spice of the cinnamon toast she commonly made them for breakfast.

Aleda's face turned hot as a chili pepper. "S-Sorry!" She scrambled to remove herself, but in her haste her hand slid off Zero's hard shoulder armor, and she face-planted his chest, again.

"Oof!" the knight gasped.

"Sorry, Zero!" She propped herself up. "I'm so sorry so sorry sorry!"

"No harm done, milady." He grappled with the smooth surface of the base and raised them to a seated position. "Are you...alright?" He laid his hands on her arms to gently steady her.

"Yeah. Did I hurt you?"

"No, not at all. You only knocked the wind out of me for a moment."

"I'm sorry. I'm not usually so clumsy," Aleda squeaked.

Zero chuckled. "I know. Even an elegant lady like you is allowed a clumsy moment."

"Elegant?" Her wings tingled.

"Yes, very." The Winged Knight stood and raised her to her feet. The warm, soft touch of his metal hand set her audio receptors burning. "You are a beauty among beauties, milady. That smile..." His suave tone dissipated, and his cheery grin slackened, as that very smile captured him, molding his gaze into a stare of awe.

Aleda kept that gaze for only a moment before she caught a bright glow in the edge of her vision. "Zero? Your GunSoul..."

The Knight Gundam jolted. The aqua gem on his chest indeed shone. He clapped his free hand over it, blushing profusely. "I-It's just a trick of the light, m-milady." His other hand released hers.

But another light tickled her visual receptors. Aleda looked down at her own GunSoul and found that it, too, glowed white. She curiously brushed her fingers along it, and it warmed her fingertips like a hot coffee mug. "What?"

Zero's red cape whooshed as he wheeled to hide his face and heart. "A t-trick of the light," he repeated.

Aleda clasped her GunSoul as she watched the back of her handsome knight, her digital eyebrows wrinkled in uncertainty. The light seeping between her fingers ceased, and, on the other side of that concealing cape, so did Zero's glow. "Zero, what...?" Aleda began hesitantly.

Zero exposed his face to her only briefly. "I, um, I-I'm going to check Fenn, milady. He must be lonely," he stammered. His eyes searched wildly for an escape route. "I'll, er—" he flashed a quick smile, "—I'll see you at dinner!" And he jumped off the roof so that his wings could carry him far, far away.

…

"Baku?"

The Musha Gundam looked up from polishing his sword. Aleda stood there in the center of the training room with him, wringing her hands apprehensively behind her back. "Yeah?" Baku asked.

"I have a question," the Gundamess slowly said.

Baku slowly sheathed his sword with wary eyes. "Yeah? What is it?"

"What does it mean when..." She hesitated, her gaze shying away. "...when a GunSoul glows?"

"It means it's getting extra power from something," Baku answered.

"Extra power?"

"From something like the Bakushin Armor that Lord Buritenmaru wore." Seeing her cock her head curiously, Baku elaborated, "It's a very powerful armor worn only by someone who is pure of heart. Lord Buritenmaru was amazing in it! He could wipe out hundreds in one blow! He was unbeatable!" His brown eyes caught aflame with adoration for his master.

"Oh." Aleda touched her chin, pondering. "Is there anything else that might cause it?"

"Sometimes it's an internal source, when you feel really passionate or motivated. It can also happen when a Gundam synchronizes with someone else."

"Synchronize?"

"It's kinda like Captain's Soul Drive activation. If two people have a connection and are in-sync with one another, then they energize each other." Baku squinted suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"

"Oh, uh." A condensed water droplet dripped from the tip of her wing decal. "I, uh... Um..."

"Yours glowed?"

Aleda flinched and nodded yes, eyes squeezed shut.

Baku narrowed his eyes even further. "What were you doing when it glowed?"

"I was... I was..." Her mouthguard turned beet-red.

A smirk crept across the samurai's face. "Were you with Zero?"

The red engulfed her entire head, helmet and all. "W-Why did you guess that?"

Baku chortled, "So, I was right?"

Aleda moaned despairingly. "Yes..."

"You two synchronized?" Bakunetsumaru, laughing, clapped a hand on her shoulder. "That's great!"

"Please, don't tell anyone! He was really embarrassed."

"Was he?" Baku scoffed.

"Yeah. I was afraid it was something bad."

"Oh, no, it's very good." He pat her on the helmet. "You should spend more time with him so that you synchronize more often."

"I should?"

"Yeah! It'll help him grow stronger."

"Really?"

"Yep! You both will get much stronger!" Baku said with a devilish grin. Oh, this was going to be fun!

…

Meanwhile, Zero paced his plain room frantically. "What do I do, Fenn?" he begged the little Spirit who batted a toy ball across Zero's bedspread. "If we synchronized while I was thinking of how beautiful she was, then that could mean…" His mouthguard reddened, and he shook his head. "I can't let her know! Not right now!"

The distressing event replayed in his processor. "Zero? I—" The knight paused his pacing. "I wonder what she was going to say?" he said to himself. The red on his face deepened, and he shook his head, again, shouting, "No, no, no!" Fenn blinked at him questioningly.

…

Later, in the kitchen, Aleda sat at the table with an open recipe book, but the text did not process; she pondered how she had not been able to get her words out before the embarrassing incident with Zero. I wanted to ask him how I can help save Lacroa, she thought. He seems lonely handling it by himself, and plus... Her gaze fell. All of those Gundams died protecting me from the Dark Axis. It's only right that I should help fight their enemies.

Aleda eventually pulled her focus onto the page and made a delicious chicken soup. All during dinner, though, she and the Winged Knight dodged glances, and he spoke little to her. As she scrubbed the stove that night with the lemon-scented disinfectant, Aleda sadly wondered if Zero wanted to distance himself from her. I guess, after all, I'm not someone people want to be close to.

…

The next morning, Zero awoke with his GunSoul pounding. His eyes opened slowly at first, and then he gave a start and they shot open wide. "By Mana, what…?" he gasped. He curled up on his side and closed his eyes against the images in his mind.

"Oh, Zero…"

"Aleda…Aleda…"

"No, no…" Zero groaned to himself, holding his audio receptors against inaudible sounds as Fenn watched him in puzzlement. The smell of cinnamon and lemon lingered in the knight's memory.

…

Zero entered the kitchen that same morning to see the usual sight of Aleda at the stove. "Good morning," the Gundamess said to him with a smile.

"G-good morning, m-milady," Zero stammered, blushing fiercely and dropping his gaze. Agh, that dream! How can I face her now? And her smile is so…so cute…

"Are you okay, Zero?"

"Huh?" He looked back up to see, to his horror, Aleda setting down the pan and gliding to him.

"You look like you're burning up, and your voice is weird. Are you sick? Do you have a fever?" Aleda asked in innocent concern, reaching out to touch her hand to the knight's forehead.

Images of a little hand tenderly stroking the side of his face flooded Zero, freezing him to the spot. His ventilation system struggled to intake air. "N-no! Wait! Stay back!" he squeaked.

Aleda flinched as if she'd been slapped. The hurt in her eyes cut Zero's GunSoul, and he quickly amended, "What I mean is, it's… contagious, is all!"

"Oh. Maybe you shouldn't be walking around. I can bring you breakfast."

Zero's face burned even brighter. "No, milady! That is quite alright!"

"But you said—"

"What Zero means is that everyone needs you in the kitchen right now," Bakunetsumaru said, stepping in to aid his distraught friend. "I'll take him breakfast."

"Oh. Well, thank you, Baku," Aleda said, beaming.

"My pleasure, Aleda," Baku said in reply. Zero gave him THE LOOK when Aleda's back was turned to gather the food. "What? Geez, I'm helping you out," Baku hissed.

After a few minutes, Aleda came to them bearing a tray with two plates full of bacon, toast, eggs, and pancakes as well as silverware and a little bottle of syrup. "Thanks," Baku said as he took the tray. "We'll be heading out. See you later."

"Thank you. I hope you get better soon, Zero."

"Th-thank you, milady," Zero stammered.

"Alright, 'sicky,' let's go," Baku said, dragging the flustered Lacroan away from the Gundamess.

The minute they were alone in the hallway, the samurai pounced. "So, what was that all about?"

"W-what? Oh, that?" Condensation dripped down Zero's helmet. "It was nothing but a cold. I have a slight fever, and I feel disoriented."

"Uh-huh. Spit it out. You have feelings for Aleda."

"Absurd! I harbor only feelings of kinship towards her—"

"'Kinship'?! Ha! The only kinship you have with her is as a prospective mate."

"Lies!"

"Zero, it's obvious. You're madly in love with her."

"I…I'm not—!"

Baku rolled his eyes. "Look, you escort her around like a princess, you blush around her almost as much as a lightning bug glows—"

"You're exaggerating—"

"You act flustered around her, which I've never seen you do around anyone else—"

"I cannot help it if—"

"You panic whenever the slightest thing happens to her—"

"Of course, I—"

"You're overprotective of her—"

"B-But, she—"

"You make goo-goo eyes at her all the time—"

"I do no such thing—!"

"Oh, yes you do!" Baku stopped to sneer. "And you carry her around when she's tired—"

"I was only doing my knightly duty of aiding a maiden in need—"

"I bet you even dreamed about her last night."

Zero visibly blushed. "Just a chaste kiss," he insisted.

"Ha! Yeah, right! I'll bet you were lip-locked in a hot, steamy make-out—!"

"No, not true!"

"And you were about ready to melt each other's mouths off!"

"I object! An honorable knight does not think of such things!"

"And your hands were feeling up her little wings…"

"NO!" The knight threw his hands in front of his face as if to shield his eyes from some horrible sight. "No, no, no, no, no, NO!"

Baku stared at Zero in amazement. "Okay, I'll stop. I didn't know you'd be so sensitive."

"Must think pure thoughts…Baku, I was trying to forget that dream!" Zero growled.

Bakunetsumaru smirked in amusement. "You really had a dream like that? I was just joking!"

"Are we talking about what I think we're talking about?" a certain flier said, walking into their conversation.

The two turned to see Guneagle. Zero paled. "When did you come in?"

"Soon enough to know what your dream was last night," Guneagle said with a guffaw. He stopped when he saw the look of deep shame on Zero's face. "Hey, no need to make that face," the flier said, "It was just a dream."

"More importantly, what are you going to do about it?" Baku needled him with his armored elbow.

Zero shook his head. "She has none of the same feelings for me."

Baku and Guneagle groaned.

"Are you kidding?! Zero, she's head-over-heels for you!" Baku said.

"Man, she totally digs you!" Guneagle agreed.

Baku shoved the tray of food into Guneagle's hands, and he shook Zero's shoulders. "Zero, are you listening?! She likes you. The way she looks at you—and yesterday you both even—er..." Zero raised a brow at him, and Baku bulldozed past that small detail. "You're either looking the other way every time, or you're blind! You have to tell her how you feel!"

"In the midst of a war? Ridiculous!" Zero protested, shaking him off. "As the Chosen One of Lacroa, I have more important things to worry about!"

"Like what? Until Fenn grows up, you're just putzing around in Neotopia."

"I have to worry about the people in Neotopia," Zero said with a sideways glance.

"Well, Aleda's a person in Neotopia," Guneagle offered, "so you can kill two birds with one stone, right?"

Zero slumped. Finally, Baku sighed. "Well, I guess it's your choice. You do what you think is right."

"I will." Zero snatched his food from Guneagle, shoved past the meddlesome pair, and stomped, on-foot, around the bend.

"Woah, he seems mad," Guneagle observed. "I don't get it. Why doesn't he just go for it?"

Baku crossed his arms. "He is a true warrior who would give his life for his comrades. Likewise, he will shield the girl he loves from his enemies, no matter what it costs him."

"Oh...Ohhh!" Guneagle turned to Baku and asked, eagerly, "Then, can I have her?"

"No!" The Fan of Discipline slapped Guneagle across his face.

Guneagle fell to the floor with a yelp and rubbed his sore faceplate. "What was that for?" he whined.

…

That same day, Ashuramaru, a Musha Gundam from Bakunetsumaru's past, appeared and challenged Baku to a duel to the death. But, neither of the samurai died; instead Captain took the final blow meant for Baku and sustained heavy damage to his torso, close to his Soul Drive compartment. Aleda was distraught to see Captain's wounds once he was hauled onto White Base. She had never seen such carnage before, and she realized then how harsh her friends' battles could be.

Then, another Gundam from Ark attempted to fell White Base. Fortunately, Captain was repaired in time to stop the ninja, Cobramaru, and then a powerful being from Ark, the Daishogun, arrived in Neotopia to oversee the finale of Bakunetsumaru and Ashuramaru's battle. A time and place was set for the next day, and Aleda, unable to stand the thought of remaining on White Base while one of her best friends fought to the death on the surface, attended. Zero tried to convince Aleda to remain; he did not fear for her safety—since Musha Gundams were honorable, Ashuramaru would not attack someone who was unarmed or unacquainted with battle—but he did fear the emotional impact that witnessing such a battle could have on Aleda, who had seen little of war or fighting. However, Aleda insisted and joined them in spite of his objections. Baku, to the Gundam Force's joy, emerged the winner, but at the cost of Ashuramaru's life. The Daishogun decided to remain with the Gundam Force for another two days…

…

"How cuuuuuute~!" Both human females cooed, yet again, at the same time.

"He is," Aleda agreed, rubbing the cute little fuzzball they were discussing under his chin. Fenn gurgled in delight at all of the attention.

"All of this has to be bad for Fenn," Baku said. "He'll be spoiled."

Zero stood petrified on the patio that led into Shute's house, stunned by how easily his Spirit companion had stolen the ladies' attention. He had already frozen by the entrance to the yard twice, once when Sayla had ignored him in favor of Fenn, and then again when Shute had struck a pose with Sayla's umbrella to remind him of the incident. This last time had triggered when Zero came to retrieve Fenn so that the girls could cook 200 riceballs for the Daishogun; Keiko and Sayla barely noticed him. Aleda glanced at Zero worriedly, but with a twinge of personal pain. She could think of no other reason for Zero's reaction to losing "Princess" Sayla's attention than that the Knight Gundam was infatuated with her. Of course, what did I expect? Aleda said to herself.

Finally, Aleda sighed, released Fenn, and went over to comfort him. "Zero," she said to the statue. "It's alright. We all think you're cool." No response. "You're also pretty cute."

The statue sprung to life. "R-really?" asked a lightly blushing Zero.

"Yeah," Aleda said. "You're charming. And sweet."

Agh, why do I blush so much?! Zero thought as he felt his face warm up another few notches. "Th-thank you, milady." His hands itched to caress that lovely face, and the secrets of his GunSoul burned his tongue so that he almost spewed them out, but the fearful thought of Tallgeese bearing down on the sweet Gundamess, blade raised to cut through the Chosen One's weakness, reined him in.

Frantic calls from Baku cut into the warm and fuzzy moment. "Aleda! We need riceballs, now!"

Aleda's head immediately jerked up. "Oh, I almost forgot!" she gasped. "Coming, Baku!" She ran to join Keiko and Sayla in creating a meal for the Daishogun, leaving Zero staring longingly after her. As she crossed the open doorway, Aleda glanced over her wing-motifed shoulder to see Zero flying alone to a tree some distance away.

"Hurry, Aleda!" called Sayla from within the kitchen, smiling sugary-sweetly. "We have seaweed and rice all set for you!" Aleda tore her gaze from her charming knight and went inside, where it was already warm from a combination of late-spring sun and hot steam from the rice.

It took the trio almost three hours to prepare the ordered 200 riceballs…and it took Fenn five seconds to destroy them. "Oh, my!" "They've all turned black!" "Now we have no riceballs to give to Mr. Daishogun!" Nothing but a pile of black husks remained on the patio table.

Aleda's gaze wandered in a sideways glance to the kitchen, where she had hidden away a few morsels. Those are for Zero, but should I give them to Daishogun? It's only a few, though, not nearly 200…But, a smirk passed between Sayla and Keiko, and then between them and Aleda, and the Gundamess remembered the seven-layered cake, which relieved her guilt.

But, she worried for Fenn, whom Zero had isolated in a magic box, and Zero himself, who seemed to be in a sour mood. "Zero…?" Aleda began hesitantly, as she cautiously approached him. "When are you going to let him out?" She gestured to the wobbling box. "It's been ten minutes."

"Not until he quiets down," Zero stated with finality.

"But…"

"That is final."

Aleda bowed her head in defeat. Should I give him the riceballs right now? she wondered. It might cheer him up…?

Before she could think of retrieving them, however, a Pawn Leo attempted to steal Fenn, and the Gundam Force had to scuffle with him. Zero released Fenn from the box so that the little Spirit could escape.

"Fenn, are you okay?" Zero asked. Fenn darted to his "daddy" and nuzzled him in the GunSoul. "Good boy." Then, Zero yelled down at the trembling Pawn Leo, "Fiend! How dare you scare my precious Fenn!"

Aleda, positioned beside Baku, motioned to Fenn. "Come here, Fenn," she cooed, "Let's get out of Zero's way."

Fenn flew down to her as Zero shouted, "Let's see how you like this!" The knight unleashed another shockwave on the retreating Pawn Leo, and the attack quickly overtook him. The Lacroan Crescent slammed into him, and to Aleda's shock the robot turned into a harmless die.

"Zero! I wanted to do thaa-aat!" Baku whined, dancing in irritation with his blades drawn.

But Zero ignored him in favor of Fenn, who returned to the knight sobbing. "Fenn, I'm glad you're safe, little one," Zero said softly. "I want you to grow up into someone who's decent, Fenn. When I'm hard on you, it means I care." He pulled Fenn back in for another hug.

"Aw," Shute cooed.

Suddenly, Fenn let out a squeal and doubled in size. "Huh?!" Zero and Shute said in shock. Everyone else just stared. Then Fenn inflated again. "Wah?!"

"I-I've heard of this," Zero said, wide-eyed, as Fenn continued to quadruple and quintuple in size. "There is a Spirit that grows exponentially when it feels deep affection. Woah—!" Fenn's size increased so much that he completely smothered Zero.

"I guess Fenn is that Spirit," Shute astutely observed. Fenn purred down at them with now-deeper contented growls.

"Zero?!" Aleda gasped in concern. The only thing visible of him was his legs, and those were barely twitching. "Zero, are you alright?" Aleda bent down to him.

"Mm fnn," Zero's muffled voice came to her.

"You don't seem fine. Hold on, I'll get you out of there," she said, and began to pull on one leg. "Fenn, could you get up, please? You're squashing Zero."

"Mno, ownt pfull!" Zero protested.

She continued to struggle with the mass of fluff while Entengo distracted the others with a message from the Daishogun. "Zero, are you still breathing?"

"Wwss."

"What should I do? Fenn! Fenn, you need to get off!"

"Ffleasnnttrbleurself, mmlezy. Uhm, Thute? Caftain?! Uh, hewooooooh?!"

Captain twisted his torso 180 degrees. "Oh. You seem to be in a predicament, Zero," he observed calmly, turning the rest of himself so he could walk over and help his friend. Captain bent down low and steeled himself. "I'll lift Fenn, and you pull Zero out. Okay?" he said to Aleda.

"Yeah. Ready."

"Then, up—!" Captain grunted as he pushed aside a few rolls of Fenn's baby fat. Aleda quickly dragged Zero out from underneath, and then Captain let Fenn go, again. All the while, Fenn watched curiously without moving.

Even after being freed, Zero still lay on the ground as if dazed. "Thank…you…milady… Although you think…you could have been…gentler?" he said weakly to Aleda.

"Sorry." Aleda winced.

"It's... alright..." he groaned.

The Gundam Force returned to Shute's house, towing along their now-giant fuzzball. "What are we going to do with him?" Shute said in despair, watching Fenn flatten his mother's lawn.

Zero floated next to Fenn, instructing him and keeping him calm. "Don't come any closer to the house, Fenn. We can't have you smashing Lady Keiko's labors to pieces, now can we?" Fenn moaned sadly. "I know, Fenn, but this is part of what it means to grow up. You've become too big for certain things."

"Zero?"

"Hm?" Zero wheeled to see Aleda approaching with a plate of five riceballs. "Milady?"

"Um…" Aleda began shyly. "These are for you," she said, offering the plate to him.

"These are for me?" Zero said in amazement. Aleda nodded, with pink dusting the top of her mouthguard. "Milady… you shouldn't have. I, um, I don't know what to say." His own face reddened.

"I wanted to thank you for everything. You've taken a lot of time to teach me about Lacroa and magic, even though you have a lot of things to worry about."

"It is no trouble. I've always been happy to help you."

"You'll take them?"

"Of course, milady, gladly," Zero said, taking the plate from her hands. Joy reflected off every facet of her emerald eyes and bounced straight through his blues and into his GunSoul. Oh, Mana, what cruelty is this? Zero thought in wonder.

"Zero!"

Both Lacroans faced the voice: Baku. "Where did you get all those riceballs?! I want some!" He bounded down the steps. Shute also stared at the riceballs in dismay.

Zero smirked and backed up slightly in preparation for a little game of evasion. "Too bad, Bakunetsumaru. These are a gift from Lady Aleda, so I have no right to give you any."

"Not fair! Why does Zero get all the food from the girls?" Shute whined.

"Not all of the food. The Daishogun received cake from your mother and Sayla," Captain pointed out. Baku chased Zero around Fenn, as the knight nonchalantly munched on a riceball.

"I guess. But still, Zero gets most of the food," Shute reiterated.

And Zero quite enjoyed it. He relished the sticky, rich taste, thinking all the while of what the silly samurai chasing him had said a mere three days ago: "Riceballs contain the love and friendship of the person who made them." In spite of himself, happiness welled in him at the hope of what such delicious, satisfying food could mean.

After Zero finished his riceballs, the Gundam Force began to seriously consider the task of housing Fenn. "He can't stay here," Shute said regretfully.

"And he can't stay at White Base, either," Captain said, frowning with his new expressions program.

"Then we will just have to find him a new home," Zero said.

"But, where do we look?" Baku said.

"Out in the wilderness, where there is space," Zero stated.

It was decided that they should venture into the fields and woods in search of a new home for Fenn. Aleda wanted to come along, but Keiko and Sayla needed her help cleaning up in the kitchen. She began to work on the dishes in the sink, until a shadow fell over her. The Gundamess looked up to see Zero in the window. "We will return soon, milady," he said with a soft smile.

Aleda giggled at this surprise farewell in the window. "I know. Be safe."

Zero nodded. "We will." Then he floated away, leaving Aleda to her work.

After a while, though, Aleda paused, feeling a strong buzz in her data processor. What is it? It's very strong magic. Zero? She rose closer to the window and peered out. Nothing. She flew through the open doorway and veered around to the other side of the house to behold a sharp red and purple glow in the distance. A magic circle. But it's not Zero's. Aleda creased her eyebrows in worry. The wide magic circle had a sinister air about it. Why do I have a feeling we have bad company? She flew towards the light as quickly as she could.

"Zero?!" she called. "Fenn?! Baku?! Captain? Shute!" She heard no reply.

Aleda arrived at the magic circle to find two things: the remains of what had been a large green, insect-winged creature, and a whole curtain of the menacing light pouring out of the circle to form an enormous dome shape formed of magic. She kneeled by the green scrap briefly to inspect it and to brush her finger along the smooth seam where it had been cut in half. Zero's Lacroan Crescent? It's one cut, and Baku uses two swords.

Then, she turned to the glowing dome of magic. "What is this?" she wondered. She reached out hesitantly to touch it, only to have a spark jolt her. "Ow," she muttered, rubbing her hand. Then she returned her attention to the dome. "Zero! Are you in there?! Bakuuu!" No reply. What should I do? she wondered.

The magic aura began to tremble. Aleda fluttered back, and flames gathered around her hands. The field's quake increased, shaking the surrounding ground. Aleda, feeling her hands tingle, noticed the fire, and she raised and stoked them in preparation for whatever would emerge.

…

Zero plunged into the draining tube of magic energy. Dark purples and reds swirled around him hungrily, as if waiting for the right moment to engulf him. And the Knight of Silver Wings did not doubt that they soon would.

His feathered wings jerked him to a stop, poised above the hole in the Magic Square of Darkness, and he flipped over so he was facing his friends clinging to a precariously tipping surface above. "Oh, Mana!" Zero's magic circle flared to life behind him. "Protect the others, though it may cost me my life." I've lost too much to also lose these friends.

A beam of white light shot out of his GunSoul and enveloped the two Gundams and one human boy, before fading to leave a golden globe of light that suspended them in the air.

"Zero!" Shute cried in distress.

"Come back, Zero!" Baku called.

"Fear not, my friends! We shall all meet once again, if that is what destiny decrees!" Zero's magic circle faded out of existence, leaving the Lacroan knight to plunge down into the suction, drained of magical energy. If I am to die…then maybe she will be the one to save Lacroa…Will she miss me? Whiteness filled his vision.

…

Aleda flinched as a column of white light shot out from the top of the magic aura. The ground stopped shaking. Shute's voice met her audio receptors from the new opening. Then Zero's: "Fenn! Nooooo!"

When the light died down again, the Gundamess uncovered her face to behold her friends standing on solid ground, intact. At least, physically.

Bakunetsumaru plopped to the grass and cried. "Poor Fenn!"

Aleda's GunSoul froze, and the flames in her hands died. What had happened to sweet little Fenn that made Baku shed tears?

"Aw, don't worry, Bakunetsumaru…" Shute began.

Aleda looked to Zero, who watched Baku's display with glazed eyes. "Zero," she began timidly, approaching him, "What happened?"

Zero's gaze dropped. "Fenn…is far from us, now…"

"What?! What do you mean?!"

"You remember when I mentioned Tallgeese?"

"Yes."

"That fiend attacked us, today, and trapped us in that Magic Square of Darkness that you likely saw. With him were his two minions, Mercurius and Vayeate, whom he freed from imprisonment deep in Lacroa's Dark Hole. They were overpowering us until my precious Fenn revealed himself to be the Feather Dragon. He transformed right before our eyes…" Zero paused to digest the revelation, before continuing, "Tallgeese and his followers were defeated, but the battle opened a crack in the Magic Square, and all was drawn down into oblivion, or who-knows-where. We would have been sucked in, as well, but Fenn used his energy to save us…" Zero trailed off, his eyes watering.

Aleda was afraid to say it. "He's…He's dead?"

Zero shook his head. "No, no, milady! He is not dead. But, he is lost somewhere we don't know…"

"Well…maybe we can find him later," Aleda said hopefully.

"Perhaps…" Zero turned away. Aleda reached a hand toward his shoulder, hesitated, and, finally, she left him to his privacy and went to join Shute in consoling their Arkian friend.

Something caught Zero's eye and he looked up to see a single white feather floating down. He held out his hand and caught it. For a moment he stared at it, before saying softly, "Fenn." Then the feather glowed, gently lifted into the air as if carried by a stray breeze, and floated into his GunSoul to merge with the Winged Knight.

…

"Please, Zero—!"

"No, milady, I cannot permit this."

"But, Zero!" Aleda pleaded. "I feel helpless, just staying behind and waiting!"

The two Lacroans argued in the middle of the hallway at White Base, which was, thankfully, empty of any spectators.

"I want to help fight the Dark Axis. People died to protect me from them, and the Dark Axis took Fenn! I can't watch this happen, anymore!" Aleda persisted. "Please, teach me!"

Zero faced away, eyes downcast. Aleda tried to float around to see him eye-to-eye, but when he snapped up his gaze, the Gundamess halted in surprise. Tears. In Zero's eyes. For Baku it was one thing, but for Zero…

"And what good will it do if you learn to fight?" the Knight Gundam said wearily. "Will it make you any less helpless? Pray tell, Lady Aleda, what can you say my fighting skills have done for me? I have failed time and again to defend what I hold dear."

"Zero…" She inched back, uncertain how to approach him.

"They've taken my fair Lacroa, my princess whom I swore to protect with my life, my friends and compatriot knights…and now Fenn—!" Zero shuddered with a sob. "I have lost nearly everything." He clenched his fists in an ineffective effort to stem the stream welling from his eyes. "I cannot lose you, too! I will not let you fight!" Tears trickled down his fierce face.

Aleda, hesitantly at first, wrapped her arms around him and held him as her own eyes leaked noiselessly.

"M-milady," Zero choked. He returned the embrace, clutching her tightly, protectively, as though surrounded by enemies that would steal her away right then and there. "Aleda… Aleda…" he wheezed in pain. "Aleda, I…"

She squeezed him and touched a hand consolingly to his helmet's wing-decal, which quieted him aside from the sobs that shook him.

They stayed that way for several minutes, until Zero could take even breaths and the reserve of liquids behind his eyes had depleted. Finally—reluctantly—Zero released her. "I apologize, milady, for my outburst." He rubbed his eyescreens to wipe away the tears. "I just…I can't… I cannot risk it."

"It's okay," Aleda said regretfully. "You're right. I'd probably be more of a liability." Her eyes sinking to the ground, she said, "I'm sorry for asking that from you. You've been through a lot, and you've already done more than enough for me."

"I'm sorry, my lady. Ask anything else of me, and I'll gladly give it to you, but not that."

Aleda forced her frown into the shape of a sweet smile. "Then, could you ask me for something?"

"Huh?" Zero blinked in surprise.

The smile reached her eyes. "I want to make you feel better. What would you like me to do?"

"Your company, alone, lifts my spirits, Lady Aleda," Zero said, tenderness leaking into his blue eyes.

Aleda's GunSoul sputtered. "Then, let's go find somewhere where we can just talk by ourselves," she said.

Zero nodded. "I wouldn't mind."

Aleda took his hand. "Let's go outside."

Feelings of uselessness suppressed the warmth from Aleda's palm, but a trace still reached Zero, and, in spite of a little voice in his CPU whispering that the Dark Axis might spy them holding hands, he held on to this little ray of hope and allowed her to guide him. She led him to the rural sprawl around Neotopia and landed them under a tree.

"Here." She sat down under the leaves and pat the space beside her. "No one can see us."

Zero sank down, a little more heavily than usual, next to his lady. After a quiet pause, he said, "I wandered in places like these during my two years alone."

"In the woods?"

He nodded.

"By yourself?"

Another numb nod.

"I'm sorry," Aleda said regretfully.

"I survived."

"You have us, now," the Gundamess reminded him.

The knight's eyescreens grew hazy and dim. "Thank you, milady. I…think I need to rest…" Zero wearily laid his head on her shoulderguard, and Aleda turned beet red. The Winged Knight grew slightly heavier, and when she looked over next, his eyescreens had darkened. "Zero?" she whispered softly. No response. His emotional exhaustion had drained him. Aleda leaned against his helmet, warm from helm to podiatric unit.

After a few minutes, Zero jolted, and his eyescreens flickered on fuzzily. "Wh-wha...?"

Aleda lightly touched his arm to reassure him. "You're with me, Zero."

"Oh..." he said woozily. Zero sank into her shoulder, again, and soon he had returned to dozing, consoled by her cinnamon-tinged scent.

Author's Notes

Poor Zero and Fenn :( I remember watching that episode and thinking, Wow, Zero was the one with the biggest loss, but everyone's consoling Baku. I thought Zero might need a bit more than that before he could get over it. He likes to keep everything to himself, that stubborn knight. Did Zero's feelings and reactions make sense and feel in-character?

I'm sorry if I disappointed you when I skipped over Baku's first major arc. It was important to the show but not so much for this fic, so I chose to be efficient. Baku will get more moments to shine, though, I promise. Eventually, this fic delves more into his backstory. He's got a lot of amusing, intense, cute, and important roles to play, so hang tight.

Also, how do you feel about the lore I added concerning synchronizing/GunSoul powering? That glow thing popped up in my head as I was thinking of a way to make that scene more important and fluffy at the same time, and I decided to give it a whirl. This, of course, means that I'll have to alter later fluff scenes to match, but I think it would be worth it. *Spoilers* That little lore insert also accounts for Zero and Baku's GunSouls glowing for that final punch against the General. *End Spoilers*

I'd like suggestions for how Titan's story should play out. Please give me some plot bunnies in the reviews or by PM.

In other news, I have a one-shot coming up for this fic's continuity. It was a bit of fluff I had in the original Little Wing but cut in this version because it felt too much like filler. People can still get a kick out of it, though, and my bff back then said she really liked it, so I'm tweaking the passage and posting it as a one-shot . Keep an eye out for it! ;)

I really appreciate reviews. I like to know if people think my ideas are any good and if they're excited to read more of this story. :) So, let me know how I did! Please review!

-Penelopi