Author's Notes
Another, already! This one is of about an average length, it has a lot of old writing I worked from, and I had the help of Titanic X, so I was able to get this one up relatively quickly. Next chapter will probably take longer because I don't have a first draft finished, yet, but I'll try to get it up as soon as I can.
We get an inkling of a new OC, this chapter, so you can look forward to that. :) This chapter also has a bit of the song "Little Wing" in it, but since I'm not much of a fan of songfics, it's only a part of the song.
Oh, and lolz to the Heero Yuy comment. Someone's a jokester ;)
Disclaimer
SD Gundam Force is produced and owned by Bandai and Sunrise. My OCs are only Aleda, Titan, and Myles. (It will be very interesting as this list grows…)
The song lyrics sampled in this chapter are from the song "Little Wing," specifically the rendition done by The Corrs. The original lyrics and song were written by Jimi Hendrix; the song has been performed and recorded by many artists since.
Chapter 12: I Want Her to Fly
A few hours later, Aleda opened her sketchbook on the desk table in the corner of her room to unwind her tumultuous emotions. "Today's been a long day," she sighed to herself. She closed her eyes against tears threatening to spill once more, like a stitched wound that was reopening. "Poor Fenn…And Zero…"
Aleda knew the Knight Gundam was suffering, but she had little idea how to help him. She, herself, had even brought out a pained response from him. Perhaps she was more of a burden than a help. But, no. He obviously preferred her company to her absence. His words echoed in her mind: "I cannot lose you, too!"
I hope I can help Zero feel better, Aleda thought. She promised herself to remain by her knight's side, giving him all the aid she could, even if the only thing she could do was be there to share his pain.
…
Captain and Bakunetsumaru silently sat in the lounge area, on the couches in front of the blank T.V. screen. Rather than watch something, the two Gundams had been discussing the chances of finding Fenn. Captain maintained that the odds would rise considerably once Bell Wood's transporter was up and running again, but Baku could not help but silently wonder how much of that statistical probability was influenced by Captain's hope. They had fallen quiet after some time of trying to raise their spirits.
Zero floated into the room and wordlessly sat himself on the third couch.
After several minutes, Baku spoke, "I'm sorry, Zero."
Knowing instinctively what the samurai was addressing, Zero sighed. "I do not wish to speak of Fenn right now."
Baku dropped his gaze before asking, "Then how's Aleda?"
"She insists that she wishes to learn the art of fighting. She seems to feel guilty that she couldn't help Fenn…"
Baku blinked in surprise. "Really? What did you say?"
"No."
"No?! Why not?"
Zero shook his head regretfully. "I cannot allow her to go into battle. Our enemies are growing too strong for even us, and she is inexperienced."
"Training does not entail immediate battle experience," Captain said.
"Yes, but I know she'll leap in the moment she finds an opportunity. She'll overestimate her skills and find herself in danger," Zero said.
"So, she took a 'no'?" Baku asked.
Zero looked down guiltily. "No… We argued. For several minutes."
"You'd better hope she doesn't take it personally," Baku stated.
Zero sighed.
"Everything will turn out fine," Captain said, smiling brightly with his new emotional eyescreen expressions. "We will find Fenn and save Lacroa—and Ark."
"How are you so sure?" Baku asked.
"Because we must. Zero is the Savior of Lacroa, remember? And the Feather Dragon chose him to lend his power to, proving that Zero is the Chosen One."
Zero looked down again. "Some hero I've turned out to be." Then, "Sorry. I think I need some fresh air." He rose, and Baku and Captain watched him sadly as he floated off, hiding the pain in his eyes beneath his helmet's shadow.
…
An hour later, Zero was drifting through the halls, staring at the ground with his mind elsewhere, when Guneagle came walking by. "Hey, Zero, what's up?" the Neotopian greeted. But, the Knight Gundam's somber expression answered his own question. "Still thinking about Fenn, huh? I'm sorry about what happened. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No…Er, well…" Zero suddenly perked up.
"Yeah?"
"That contraption you have…" Zero began, his digital eyebrows scrunching together as he wracked his processor. "The magic music box…?"
Guneagle's eyescreens brightened. "Oh, my iPod? You wanna borrow it?"
"Yes, if that is alright with you."
"Yeah, sure." Guneagle fished the iPod Touch from who-knows-where and handed it to Zero. "Just give it back to me tomorrow. I can't go for a day without my music."
"Thank you."
"No prob, bro."
The fliers parted ways, Zero heading for his room. Pain jabbed him when he entered the darkened bedroom and no fuzzy little Spirit greeted him. It was only this morning that Fenn purred in my face to wake me, Zero thought sadly.
He removed his helmet, exposing the natural, mesh-like texture that covered his head, slid the iPod's earpieces into his audios, and sat on his bed. He scrolled through the menus on the touch screen to search for a particular tune. "There are so many on this thing," he complained when two minutes had passed without reaching the Ls. Finally, he came across "Little Wing" by The Corrs. Not exactly the version she mentioned, but this one should do. He selected it and leaned back on the backboard to his bed as the tune funneled into his audio third verse caught his attention:
When I'm sad she comes to me
With a thousand smiles
She gives to me free.
It's all right, it's all right she says
Take anythin' you want from me
Anything…
That really does sound like her, Zero thought with a small smirk. Her family knows how to give nicknames. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift with the music as it entered the instrumental section. The woodwind ensemble eventually gave way to the verses, the same as before, but there was an extra line added to the end that stirred the knight's GunSoul.
Fly, little wing! Yeah
I want her to fly…
I do, too, Zero thought wistfully. He sighed. Perhaps I could teach her to defend herself, at least…
…
The next morning, when Zero sat himself at breakfast, Aleda glanced furtively at him from the stove where she was scrambling eggs. Zero, seeing her gaze, gave her a smile. Aleda blushed, smiled briefly, and looked away. After a few minutes more, and a quick dive in the fridge, the Gundamess carried a plate of deviled eggs to him.
"Good morning, milady," Zero said.
"Good morning, Zero." Aleda set the eggs before him. "I'll bring you waffles soon… Um…"
"Yes, milady?"
"Are we still practicing magic, today?"
"Yes. That is, unless you aren't feeling—"
"No, I'm fine. Just making sure." She flashed a grin, turned, and fluttered back to work. He's not mad at me for asking him to teach me how to fight, she thought happily.
…
"Now, Lady Aleda, follow my lead." Zero held his hand in the air. "Oh, Mana! Grant your powers to me!" The knight's familiar magic circle formed above. "Give my fighting spirit the form of a blade!" His shield and sword descended. Zero gripped the shield and pulled his sword out, a resounding shing echoing off the walls. He turned to Aleda. "Go ahead, milady."
Aleda blinked in astonishment. "What?"
"Do as I have."
"But you…summoned your sword."
"Yes," Zero stated patiently.
Aleda's face brightened. "You mean...?"
A smile broke out on Zero's face. "Aye, milady, I will teach you the way of the sword."
"Thank you so much!" Aleda jumped forward as if to hug him, but the knight quickly backed away.
"Wait, milady!" he said in alarm. "Not while a blade is unsheathed. There'll be time for thanks later."
Aleda halted. "Sorry!"
"No harm done. Now summon your own blade. Ask Mana, and you shall be given a weapon suited to you."
Aleda nodded and raised her hand. "Oh, Mana! Please give me a weapon, to let me protect my friends!" A blue magic circle appeared, and the Lacroans watched intently as a gold, wavy, decorated hilt emerged first, followed by a thin white blade. Aleda caught it as it descended down; it fit perfectly in her small hand.
She held it up, and Zero inspected it curiously but without touching it. "It indeed suits you," he said admiringly. "A charming little rapier."
"Oh, so that's what it is," Aleda said, gazing at it in awe.
Zero chuckled. "Yes, it's no broadsword. I am not as familiar with rapiers, but I'll teach you what I can."
"Sorry it's not what you expected."
"No, no, milady. I was not expecting anything in particular. A rapier is welcome. Now—" he said, crouching into a fighting stance, "show me what you know."
"I don't know anything about fighting."
Zero shrugged. "Just try."
Aleda lunged, swinging her sword to strike, and was met by Zero's shield. Zero laughed. "You are right. You know nothing of a sword, or at least not a rapier."
"Now, you're just teasing me," Aleda pouted.
"Sorry," he said, trying to suppress his chuckles. "I meant nothing by it. Milady, the rapier's strength is its thrust. Its swinging strength is negligible. Remember that."
"Okay."
"And—" Sheathing his sword, Zero walked over to Aleda and set down his shield. "—you hold it this way," he said, taking her hand and shifting its position on the hilt. He curled his fingers around hers to settle them in properly. Aleda's cheeks flushed from the touch. "Now you shall learn the proper fighting stance…"
…
A mobile citizen walked into his station, a personal space in the basement set aside, like the rows of stations adjacent to his, by low walls on three sides. The cubicle contained a dresser for personal belongings and for desk work, a chair, and a recharge station. "Myles" was engraved on the edge of the desk. Like most mobile citizens, Myles lived at the place he worked. He could choose to download new software and find another job if he wished, but, being a mobile citizen with no need for anything but friends and a place to rest, he had no need for an actual house or apartment.
Myles reviewed his internal calendar as he seated himself at the modest desk-dresser. He had just returned from a systems-test appointment and had been deemed fully functional. In an hour, the daycare children would be sent home, and he would go to his first after-school tutor location, the Bakers', followed by the Nguyens' and then the Krishnas'. The next day was the Vaughns' Via.
The mobile citizen turned his visual receptors to a framed picture on the dresser. Leaf patterns had been etched into the metal frame for decoration. Eight humans and a robot huddled within its edges, smiling at him. He zoomed in on the robot, who was slimmer than other mobile citizens, was edged with gold, who had odd golden ridges curving back over the head, and who had unusually human green eyes. The mouthguard was missing, revealing a wide, sweet smile on a noseless face. They say they've heard from her, but they don't know where she's staying. I wonder what happened? he thought anxiously.
No one could tell from his unexpressive face that it was warming at the sight of the little winged robot, nor that his internal energy core hummed louder than normal. A mix of concern and affection disturbed his energy tank. He lightly touched a metal finger to the female robot's face. "Ally, is this how you felt?" he asked softly.
…
Aleda sank to her knees once in the confines of her own room. That was exhausting, she thought. And I have to do it again, tomorrow. But I can't give up now. I have to do this so I can help Zero. I'll get used to it.
Out of nowhere, a beeping came from Aleda's helmet, causing her to jump a little. My communicator, she realized. I haven't called Dad back, yet, about the secret! She rose to her feet as she answered "Hello?"
"Aleda, it's me."
"Hi, Dad, how are you?" Aleda asked as she planted herself on her bed.
"I'm doing very well. How about you? Is everything alright?"
"I'm doing great, Dad," she replied, her grin seeping into her voice. But then her face and tone fell as she remembered the events of the day before. "Well…I have been, overall. Yesterday was pretty bad."
"What happened?"
"James, is that Aleda on the phone?!" another voice, a woman's, chimed in from the other end. "Where is she?!"
"She hasn't told me, yet."
"Hi, Mom. I'm in Neotopia, with some friends in high places," Aleda said with a laugh at her joke.
"I want to talk to her. James, can't you give me the phone?"
"I can put it on speakerphone." A beep. "There."
"Aleda, where exactly are you? We noticed that you're not staying at the Smiths', anymore. Can we know the names of the people you're staying with? Or even better, a street address?" Aleda's Mom begged.
What do I tell her? Aleda wondered. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I…I'm with the police," she said.
"The police?!" Mary gasped.
"You haven't done anything wrong, have you?" James asked in concern.
"No, nothing like that! I'm living here, in a nice room, with a cozy bed, and even my own little bathroom."
"Well…that's nice," Mary said, surprised. "But, what happened?"
"Well, I'm, um... I said the police, but really I'm with a secret intelligence agency, actually. It's kinda like the police," Aleda said. "But, its operations are too sensitive, so I can't tell you exactly where it is. The way I got here was… Um…They found me near a dimensional portal. We were both studying it, and when I told them my story, they decided it would be good for all of us if I came with them, so they could study me to see if I have any non-Neotopian energy readings or something that could help them. I told the Smiths I was leaving, and I came here."
"I can't believe you told them," James sighed. "Their research isn't too invasive, right?" he inquired.
"No, it's not invasive at all. Just a few scans here and there. The rest of the time, I get to hang out or cook for them. I've made a lot of new friends here."
"Well, that's good," Mary said, her voice calming. "What are their names? That is, if you can tell us."
"I don't think I can, sorry," Aleda apologized. "But, they're really nice. One of the guys even started teaching me self-defense, today."
"Good, good," James said. Aleda could picture him nodding to himself with a satisfied grin. "That's handy. It makes me feel better about you being on your own, too."
"Have they been able to find out anything new about where you come from?" Mary said.
"Yeah." Aleda bit her lip, wondering how to best phrase it. On the other end, her parents waited silently for more.
Finally, Mary asked, "Honey, are you okay? You got kind of quiet."
"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine, it's just…there's something important I have to tell you."
"We're listening. Fire away," James said.
Aleda took a deep breath. "I found out where I'm from. It's a country called Lacroa, in another dimension. It resembles medieval Europe a little, but there are two moons there and lots of robots like me, both male and female—if that makes any sense. The people there use magic, apparently. It's something that seems to let us manipulate space, matter, and energy. That's how I made Ginger and all those other things disappear and reappear, and it's also how I fly."
"Well…that explains it a bit," James said.
"Aleda, are you sure this Lacroa is where you came from?" Mary said.
"Yeah, I'm sure. The person who told me is from Lacroa, and he's a knight." Aleda's voice softened as she thought of his kind smile and handsome blue eyes. "He knows my pendant. He has the same symbol."
"Oh! So, I guess you tracked down the symbol in the picture!" her mother said.
"Oh. Yeah," Aleda said with an exaggerated smile that her parents couldn't see. I forgot about that lie.
"That's great!"
"Yeah. This person's been teaching me about Lacroa. He's even been giving me lessons for advanced magic spells, and today he started teaching me how to defend myself."
"Well…that's sweet of him," Mary said. Then, tentatively, "Little Wing, what are you going to do, now that you know you're from Lacroa?"
"That person is stuck here, for now, but once another gate opens up, he'll show me around a bit," Aleda said. "He says that... robots like me have mates and progenitors... so I wanted to at least find out who mine are." She stopped uncertainly, wondering if she had just wounded the only family she knew.
"That sounds exciting. Will you come back, after?" James asked.
"Y-Yeah. I'd miss you," Aleda said.
"That's good, then."
There was a moment of quiet. At last, Aleda's father said, "Well, it sounds like you've done well for yourself."
"I have," Aleda answered, softly. "I'm happy here."
"Then, keep up the good work," her father said.
"Thank you," Aleda said.
"We have to go, Little Wing. See you later! We love you!" Mary said.
"I love you all, too."
"Come for a visit sometime, and feel free to bring your friends with you," James said.
"Thanks. I'll try."
"Okay, see you."
"See you! Goodbye!" A click announced that the line was closed.
Aleda pondered the conversation. "Feel free to bring your friends," hm? she thought. He probably wants to see Zero. She giggled at the thought of her overprotective father.
"Well, what to do now?" Aleda finally said out loud to herself. Then, "Hm. I know…" She floated over to her dresser and pulled open a drawer to reveal a small sketch pad, some mechanical pencils, and a few erasers. Then she pulled the chair up to her table and flipped the sketch pad open. There was a variety of drawings, many unfinished: a bird in flight, which Aleda had once seen outside her window; a boy playing ball with a mobile citizen in the park; Baku chasing Zero as the knight took a bite from a riceball; Fenn nuzzled up against Zero; Guneagle and Zero having a race; Captain and Shute playing chess, with Shute grabbing his hair in frustration; a scene of all the Gundam Force members, including Aleda, relaxing in Shute's backyard; and the newest one, Zero swiping his sword in a dramatic pose with sharp perspective, although with his armor still lacking many of the finer details and decorations.
Aleda flipped to a blank page and paused for a minute, thinking. Then, her pencil finally met the paper and started to draw a rough outline. Soon, it took the form of a Gundam with a Romanesque helmet and a cape, carrying a smaller, winged Gundamess. Two pairs of eyes took shape, and they gazed at each other. I don't think I can do his eyes justice, Aleda sighed.
She added the background: the residential hallway of White Base. She smiled at the memories as she gazed at her knight's 2D eyes.
Another hour, and Aleda was nearly finished with the line art. She only had to add a few decorative do-dads on Zero's armor (He has so much on him, probably from going up in rank or something, Aleda guessed.) and apply shading. But her mind trailed off to how the Knight Gundam had smiled at her at breakfast that morning, and that reminded her of her cooking, and that reminded her of the food that needed restocking. Oh, no! I still have to go out and buy more groceries! She flipped her sketch book closed and dropped her art supplies into the dresser drawer before slipping out of the room.
…
A large screen in Kao Lyn's lab played security footage from the base's roof that had been recorded five days ago. "Zero, what...?" "I-I'll see you at dinner!" Their normally composed knight fled through the sky, leaving a stunned Lady Gundamess behind.
"Well? What do you think it is?" Chief Haro asked Kao Lyn.
"I have a couple of theories," Kao Lyn answered. "If the peculiarities of Captain Gundam's Soul Drive activation are also shared by the GunSoul I modeled it from, then it could be a synchronization of sorts. Matching thoughts and feelings could allow them to give each other a power surge. On the other hand..."
"What is it?"
Kao Lyn scratched his head and apologetically smiled. "It could be that their frames were preparing to... er, connect."
Chief Haro jumped. "Are you sure?!"
"No idea. It could even be both. Whatever it was, Zero knew what it meant. We can't know for sure until we ask either him or Bakunetsumaru."
…
"How's it going with the little lady?"
Zero, sitting on the couch in the lounge, looked up from the Anthology of Modern and Ancient Magic and huffed at the grinning Musha Gundam. "It's going fine."
"Is she learning fast?"
"She's learning well enough." Zero returned his eyes to his book.
"Maybe you won't have to worry about her so much when she can defend herself."
"Hm."
"Zerooooo," Baku groaned, donking him lightly on the helmet. "It's okay. She'll be fine if you're with her."
Zero glared irritably. "She is fine as she is. And I am fine as I am."
"Come on, Zero!" Baku whined. "What if someone else takes her?"
"What do you mean?"
"In White Base, there are two resident fly-boy flirts," Baku reminded him with a smirk.
Zero scowled, and his fingers dug into the leather binding of the spell book.
"I know he's not the most careful guy, either," Baku said. "Would she be any safer with him?"
"Better the Three Stooges to be after her than the Knight of the Tempest," Zero said stubbornly.
"Wow." Baku crossed his arms. "I didn't know you were this pig-headed."
"Not as pig-headed as the snotty samurai who sticks his nose into others' business."
"Come on, Zero!"
"Or what? Will you steal her away?"
Baku waved a hand dismissively. "No thanks. Shy and quiet isn't my type." He raised his chin. "If I were interested, I'd have made my move, already. We samurai don't run away from our feelings."
Zero rolled his eyes. "Certainly. And I'm sure you had Gundamesses eating from your hand back in Ark."
"What? You don't think I could get a girl?"
"If your barbaric, unartful swordsmanship is any indication of your tact with women, then I highly doubt it."
Steam spouted from the Blazing Samurai's face vents and helmet. "Do you want a fight, Flower Knight?"
Zero smirked. "I'll be glad to, Bakanetsumaru, as soon as I return to White Base."
Baku's eyes cooled down. "Are you going somewhere?"
The knight closed his tome and said, grimly, "Titan hasn't contacted the SDG for a week. We were worried that he was heading straight for a trap, and now we fear the silence is an ill omen. I'm going to search for him."
"I'll come, too," Baku said.
"I'm afraid that only I and a Gunperry of GMs have been authorized for the mission," Zero said. "Chief Haro does not want to empty White Base to search for one Gundam."
Baku grumbled, "I guess that's reasonable. Just don't disappear, okay?"
The Winged Knight smirked. "I'd never be caught in a trap laid by those simpletons."
Suddenly, Baku perked up. "Hey, I bet Aleda would be really happy if you gave her a goodbye kiss before you left!"
Zero snapped his fingers, and roses sprouted on Baku's arms. "Agh!" Baku yelped with a jolt. "Zero! Cut it out!"
Zero chuckled and darted for the door. "Hey, come back! Get these off of me!" Baku shouted as he gave chase.
…
Aleda packed a flat container of deviled eggs into a chilled lunch box. Worry wrinkled her eyebrows and pressed down her lips. Her precious knight had told her that morning that he would be leaving later in the day to search for Titan. "I am sorry to leave so suddenly, just when I'd begun teaching you to fight, milady," Zero had said. "I promise to resume instruction once I return. In the meantime, will you practice your magic and swordsmanship on your own?"
She had nodded in reply, but asked, "What do you think happened?"
"It could be that Titan found his master outside of our communication range," Zero had said reassuringly. "Either way, we will all return safely."
Aleda zipped the blue lunchbox closed. Even if she could not participate in the mission, making a meal for her knight, at least, she could do. She slung the lunchbox's strap over her shoulder and glided out the kitchen door to meet Zero at the hangars.
On the way, she passed Guneagle, who waved. "Hey, babe! Are you gonna tell me your secret, now?"
Aleda wrinkled her face. "No, I'm in a hurry—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he interjected. "I just said 'bye to him. He's got a few more minutes." Guneagle jabbed his thumb in the direction of the huge shutters at the end of the hall. "Get goin'."
"Thanks." Aleda grinned and flew to the hangar.
The Gunperry hummed in wait to depart. SDG GMs marched up its plank in rows. Captain, Shute, and Bakunetsumaru lingered near the hangar entrance, having already said their goodbyes. One Knight Gundam waited a few paces away from the Gunperry, looking out the open bay door at the sky, wondering what would await him out there. When Aleda flew in, Baku and Captain nodded, and Baku waved her on. The bubbling sound of her flight caught Zero's attention, and he turned, smiling, to his Lady.
"Thank you for seeing me off, Lady Aleda."
The Gundamess smiled, but the smile ended below her eyes, which still welled with sadness. "You're welcome. I, um, brought some deviled eggs for you." She slid the lunchbox off her shoulder and handed it to him.
"Thank you, milady," Zero said as he took the package.
"It won't last for more than four or five hours, though," Aleda confessed. "The ice pack will melt. Otherwise, I'd have made more food to take with you."
"This is more than enough," Zero said softly. "I'll have a delicious afternoon snack."
Aleda's smile widened a tad but then shrank smaller than before. "You'll be okay, right?" she asked.
Those beautiful emerald eyes made Baku's earlier suggestion in the lounge very tempting, but Zero steadied his breath to keep himself in check. "I promise, milady, that I will return unharmed."
The sweet smile returned to her face, even to her eyes. "Alright. I'll see you later, Zero..."
Zero nodded and snapped his fingers to give her another Princess rose. "Take care, lovely lady. I'll see you, soon." The moment Aleda, blushing, received her gift, Zero turned away with his hand covering his chest. As he walked towards the Gunperry, he peeked down to see a soft light fading between his fingers. That was close, he thought. I hope she didn't notice.
By the hangar entrance, Baku smirked at the gleam of light that he caught sight of. "Hey, Captain," he hissed with a nudge to the Neotopian's shoulder, "what's Zero's internal temperature?"
"61 degrees celcius. It is higher than normal, but it poses no danger to Zero's functions. Why?"
"Aw, that's cute," Baku jeered.
Shute raised an eyebrow. "What's cute?"
Aleda watched Zero walk up the ramp, his cape lightly swishing with each step. The Winged Knight turned and gave his friends a last smile—while holding the lunchbox directly in front of his GunSoul gem. "Farewell!" he called.
"'Bye, Zero!"
Baku's eyes watered. "Get going, already, you pansy!"
Zero's gaze rested on his little lady, his Little Wing, clasping the purple rose with both hands, green eyes glassy with moisture, and GunSoul glowing. Her visual receptors focused on him so intently that she didn't notice the light emitting from her heart. Milady, forgive me for my cruelty, he silently wished. I can't allow myself to endanger you.
The Gunperry ramp raised and closed his view.
…
Aleda, seated at a table on Shute's patio, puckered her lips irritably behind her mouthguard as she thumbed through the Anthology of Modern and Ancient Magic. All of the writing seemed to her to be unrecognizable scrawls. Zero forgot that I can't read Lacroan, again, she sighed to herself.
No one responded to her frustration. Shute and Captain had shut themselves away inside of Shute's workshop to tweak the boy's magnetic roller blades. Baku practiced his swings on the lawn.
I really want to try some new spells… Aleda bemoaned. Then, her wings perked as an idea floated to the fore of her CPU processes: Captain was able to read Arkian when Ashuramaru challenged Baku! An excited grin crawled up her face, and she closed the tome, rose, and zipped down the bridge towards the workshop with the book in-hand.
Author's Notes
Hm, I wonder what spells Aleda will stumble upon? XD
I sincerely apologize that Zero and Aleda didn't hug or kiss or anything before Zero went off on his mission. I had it in my mind that Aleda wouldn't be able to resist giving him a hug, but when the time came, Zero friggin' pulled the rose distraction stunt and turned around right before she got the guts to glomp him, and I said, "Zero! Aaaaaaaagh! Why?!" And he said, "Because if she hugged me, I wouldn't be able to leave!" And then I was just like QQ (I know that has other uses, but I use that for my teary/crying face.), and I let him be for now, because he did have to leave, after all. There will be lots of warm fuzzies later, though. Lots of warm fuzzies.
I gave you guys a glimpse of Myles this chap. He wasn't super-important to my first version of Little Wing—just the clichéd backstory character/competition for the love interest—but his influence slipped into Aleda's development and the story a bit more this time around. Expect to see more of him. ;)
Next chapter should be expected some time next week. Something a bit different will happen in 13. ;) I have a lot of things going on this weekend, so it's going to be a bit slower going with my writing, but I'll do my best. *guilty sideways glance that I can't insert here because of the site's formatting* This morning I also started punching out an Escaflowne fic after finishing another amazing Sunrise series yesterday (yes, for the first time), so that may have taken up some of my time, too. Sorry, guys, it's just so good! XD I'm also working on revising the first two chapters of Little Wing, because they need it. So, as you can see, I've been piling on a lot of personal writing projects, which will make this next chapter a bit slower to come than the last two. But next week, even if it's not until Friday or Saturday, I will have 13 up.
Please review! I love reading your reactions!
-Penelopi