Author's Notes
It took a while, but to make up for it, this chapter is super-long! (Sorry, guys, I just had to reach a certain point in this chapter for the pacing to feel right.) Thank you, Titanic X, for bearing with me and reading through all of this! Seriously, to all my readers, you ought to thank her for reading through over 6.5k words to make edits XD
Many of these scenes required a lot of revision and re-imagining in order to make them work due to the subtlety and complexity of the character interactions and emotions I was trying to convey. Let me know if it all turned out believable and if it flowed well.
Another note: I have a poll about character inclusion on my profile. More details down in the author's notes below Chapter 16.
Disclaimer
Sunrise and Bandai own SD Gundam Force. If I owned it, I'd write the first season differently XD My OCs featured/mentioned in this chapter are Aleda, Titan, Myles, "Via" (full name is Viatrix Vaughn—yes, I come up with weird names), Margaret, John, and Rob.
Chapter 16: "Thank You for Everything"
The playground had everything: swings and slides, monkey bars and pull-up bars, see-saws and merry-go-rounds. And, initially, Captain had thrown himself into these play items wholeheartedly, experiencing the thrills of his muscles straining and his body twisting differently in each exercise. He had wondered that humans could find exercise so enjoyable as to call it play, until he himself had experienced how, strangely, pounding heartbeats and gasping lungs brought elation to his brain. The feel of the wind on his face while swinging on a simple rope contraption had made him smile, and the dizziness when he tottered off a merry-go-round had earned a laugh. Boy, Shute had it good!
But, Captain felt another kind of elation around Margaret. He gladly welcomed her to sit beside him on the swings, and they often took turns spinning each other on the merry-go-round. Around her, his stomach twisted absent of hunger or illness, and his face felt hot before the play even started. So, when Margaret one day chose to bring a folder, paper, and pencils outside, instead, Captain gladly chose to sit on a bench with her instead of play alone.
"What is this one?" Captain asked, pointing over her arm to an image of a sharp-edged dragon.
"It's a mecha-dragon," Margaret said proudly. "I like dragons a lot, too, so I thought it would be cool. There are no real dragons, but a mechanical one would work."
"Actually, there is at least one real dragon that I know of," Captain blurted before his organic brain could consider the consequences.
Margaret raised an eyebrow. "You're joking."
Captain laughed nervously. "Well…"
"Are you serious?" Her blue eyes lit with hope. "How is it real?"
"The one I saw was made of pure energy. I don't know how it came to exist."
Margaret lowered her voice and hissed into his ear, causing it to burn, "Where did you see it?!"
Captain shook his head. "I can't tell. I might be disciplined merely for telling you that I saw it."
Margaret pursed her lip.
"It is no longer in this world, anyways," Captain added. "You cannot see it, anymore."
"Are you sure you're not teasing me?"
"I would never lie."
Margaret cocked her head. "Could you draw it for me?"
Captain wrinkled his forehead. "Really? I've never drawn, before."
"Yeah, go ahead and try," she said with a smile.
"Okay," Captain mumbled uncertainly as he grasped the pencil and paper. "Right here?" He pointed the pencil tip to an open space below Margaret's mechanical dragon.
"Sure."
Captain dragged the lead to trace a line. He squinted. Fenn's image in his mind's eye wavered and shifted. Once he traced one line, the whole sketch appeared different from his original intent, and he found himself tempted to graft his work to a new angle. This process repeated itself multiple times before Captain grumbled, "I can't reproduce the image."
Margaret giggled. "Aw, you're doing great for the first time!"
"Really?"
"Yeah. You're trying to copy a picture and not just making shapes like most other people."
Captain smiled, and his cheeks warmed. He resumed his slow, methodical pencil strokes.
"Aww, look at the lovebirds!"
The two children jumped and traced the voice to John and Rob, who sneered at them. "Nerd boy has a nerd girlfriend, now!"
Margaret glared. "Leave us alone!" she commanded while Captain burned red.
The boys laughed.
"It's not like that!" the girl insisted.
"We're friends!" Captain chimed in.
Their tormentors laughed themselves away, wandering past the merry-go-round to their next amusement. Other classmates whispered and snuck glances, but none approached, and soon everyone returned to their play or talk. Swings pumped. See-saws creaked. Voices chattered. The nerds were left to idle alone in their awkwardness.
Captain and Margaret waited for the discomfort that had nosed itself between them to somehow disappear, both blushing.
Eventually, Captain said, "Maggie?"
"Yeah, Shute?"
Captain sadly pondered the drawing on his lap, a lopsided attempt at Fenn's right wing and toothy face. "I want to stay friends forever, but… I'm going to change a lot, soon."
Margaret's blue eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain. I may not act the same, anymore. I'm going to undergo a... procedure that will alter my memories."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "Why? Is there something wrong with your brain?"
"You could say that." He sank into the bench as heavily as if he had already reverted to his dense Gundam frame.
"So, we... won't be friends, anymore?"
Captain's green eyes flared. "No, we will still be friends," he said, meeting her gaze. "I promise. Even if things change, we'll still be friends."
Margaret gave a small, bitter smile. "Okay, then. I'll hold you to that."
…
Aleda slid a plate into the dishwasher, but her worry-clouded eyes contemplated other things. Word had come that they had not yet located Titan; the GMs remained to continue the search, but Zero was returning—and he would arrive at base that day. Aleda's GunSoul tightened.
Kao Lyn bobbed into the kitchen. "Hello, Aleda!" he greeted with a grin.
"Hi," Aleda chirped.
"I'm just here to get a snack," Kao Lyn said as he bounced to the pantry closet next to the sink, opposite the fridge. He opened the door and peered in. "Mmmm, bagels!" His short grey ponytail wiggled as he extracted said breads. "And cream cheese!"
Aleda giggled to herself, pulling open a drawer of silverware and removing a butter knife. Kao Lyn, walking through with a bag of bagels and a tub of cream cheese in hand, smiled at the offered utensil. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He took the knife, unloaded his cargo at the kitchen table, and unwound the bagel bag's tie. "So, Zero comes home, today."
Aleda, in the middle of placing a glass in the top rack of the dishwasher, flinched. "Y-Yeah."
Kao Lyn chuckled. "Are you worried?"
"Yeah," she sighed as she nestled the glass in safely.
"He won't be too mad. You're a charming lady, after all."
The Gundamess flushed. "Thanks."
Kao Lyn swathed a generous lump of cream cheese on a bagel slice. "But, I hear you're unsatisfied with your contributions to our team."
Gloom weighed Aleda's shoulders. "Kind of. I feel like giving people extra food isn't enough."
"Well, it's certainly not extra for the residents, like Zero and Baku. But, if you wanted to do more, I have a favor to ask."
She looked at his kooky glasses attentively.
"I'd like to study your functions some more, now that you've matured," Kao Lyn said. "I made many useful observations when you were a small child, but my knowledge of Gundams is still incomplete without information from an adult female."
"Oh…um…" She grimaced.
"Just scans." Kao Lyn waved to dismiss her fears. "Nothing too invasive." He bit into a cream-cheese-loaded slice.
"O…kay…" Aleda cautiously released her frown. "What would you do with it?"
"I'm hoping someday that mobile citizens can experience the companionship of having mates." Kao Lyn grinned, his mustache edged with white clumps. "I think it would make many of them very happy! But, to do that, I need enough data to create suitable counterparts."
"Oh." Aleda squirmed. "Um, I guess I can help, if it's just scans."
The scientist danced excitedly. "Thank you! Thank you! I'm sure it'll make Captain, Guneagle, Gunbike, and everybody so happy!"
Aleda cracked a weak smile in reply.
...
Zero shot from the Gunperry before its plank had fully lowered. Baku, walking into the hangar, beheld a blur of blue swerving his way. "Woah!" He leaned away but still received a sharp lash from the knight's cape. "Zero!" he protested as the Lacroan, becoming conscious of his error, momentarily slowed. "What are you doing?!"
"Sorry," Zero said quickly, before demanding, "Where is Lady Aleda?" His eyes were charged with worry, and his frame was tense as a rusted door hinge.
"Relax! She's fine! Let's go to the meeting, and you'll see her there," Baku said.
"What happened to them?"
"Chief Haro will tell you. Come on."
The samurai started walking, and Zero floated beside him while his eyes and body strained at the edge of an invisible leash. "They're all doing okay," Baku said. "They're not in any danger."
Zero nodded, but his pace soon drew him far ahead of the Musha Gundam. Baku rolled his eyes and jogged to catch up.
…
Aleda waited in Kao Lyn's lab with Shute, Captain, Chief Haro, and Kao Lyn himself. Anxiety crawled through her energy processor, and her wings hung low. Shute squirmed, but Captain patiently stood at attention.
The door slid open. Aleda's GunSoul pulsed, and her green eyes zoomed to the entrance. Sure enough, her knight floated in. And, though she had only mustered enough courage to check for an instant, her visual receptors caught on him and couldn't leave. While she stared like a deer in headlights, Zero's gaze scanned the three friends before him, and he, meeting her eyes, landed on the floor as lightly as always and walked her way. Baku rounded into the room. Zero, face contorting with an indiscernible mixture of expressions, stepped to his lady. Aleda's wings huddled against her back in the face of her doom.
Zero stopped in front of her with trembling hands that rose, stalled, and fell. "…Are you alright, milady?"
"I'm fine," she squeaked. Kao Lyn hummed distractedly.
The knight stepped closer, reaching. Aleda stayed still as he touched her cheek and closed his eyes. After a long pause, during which Aleda fought against rapid poundings in her chest, he sighed and opened his visual receptors. His hand released her, leaving behind a lingering scorch on her epidermal encasing. "…Your magic energy is low, but your body does not seem strained," Zero finally said.
Aleda nodded her red-glowing face.
The panic in his eyes died down into warm concern. "What happened?"
Her eyes dipped. "I used a spell you told me not to…"
"From this." Chief Haro came forward and handed Zero the Anthology of Modern and Ancient Magic.
Zero bowed as he accepted the book. "I am deeply sorry." Turning to Captain and Shute, he asked, "What were the effects?"
"We switched," Shute said.
The Knight Gundam raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand."
"I am Captain, and this is Shute." Captain pat Shute's metal arm.
Zero stumbled back. "Oh, Mana!"
"I'm sorry," Aleda squeaked.
Chief Haro continued, "We need your assistance to reverse the spell."
Hidden behind his armor, Zero's gaping mouth shut. "Which one was used?" He flipped the book open, and Captain, Shute, and Aleda huddled around, while Baku peered curiously over their shoulders.
"We used a spell in Ancient Lacroan," Captain answered him.
Zero's blue eyes widened, but he quietly flipped to the proper section. They scanned the pages until Aleda gingerly slid a hand across to point. "That one…"
"That one?" The Winged Knight echoed in shock.
"A mind-reading spell," Shute said. "We cast it exactly as it said we should, but something went wrong."
"This is no mind-reading spell!" Zero exclaimed. "This is a mind-exchange spell! It switches the consciousnesses of two people."
Aleda jolted as if the book had burned her.
"So… this was how it was supposed to work?" Shute asked.
Zero nailed a serious stare into each of their optics. "This is a powerful, dangerous spell that requires an immense amount of magical energy. It would render my magic useless for days." The book rattled in his shaking hands. His eyes fixed on his lady. "Any of you three could have died."
"I'm sorry," Aleda said, drawing back in shame.
Baku placed a warning hand on Zero's shoulderguard, and the knight stilled.
"Can you fix it?" Chief Haro asked.
After a deep breath, Zero spoke, "There are only two ways to break the spell. One is to cast this spell, here—" His finger underlined another passage near the bottom of the page. "—and the other is for the switched persons to synchronize."
"Synchronize?" Shute queried.
Baku pounded his chest. "The Soul Drive activation! That happens when you two synchronize."
"Oh. That should be a piece of cake. Right, Captain?" Shute flashed his grinning emote at his best friend.
Captain nodded. "Not a problem."
"We'll just do what we always do."
"Right."
"Shute, Captain," Zero spoke, catching their attention. His blue eyes bore into them. "Before anything else happens, I want you to know that you are both in a delicate state. The spell has linked your very lives together. If either of you should be killed while in the other's body, the both of you will perish."
Several eyes widened, and a gasp sounded. Kao Lyn gaped in alarm, looking at Chief Haro. The masked man made no sound or motion, but any number of faces could have contorted his features and no one would have known.
Zero, narrowing his eyes at the fleshed boy before him, said, "Captain, I say this especially for you, because I know you: do not risk any danger to yourself. You cannot protect Shute that way—not in your current form."
Captain squeezed his fists and nodded. "I understand."
…
The Lady migrated to the kitchen after the meeting to start preparing dinner. Zero at first retreated to his quarters to mull over the spell dilemma and to regain some semblance of composure, in spite of a burning desire to hover close to Aleda as he had done for his princess years ago. Eventually, when the anxious tingling in his body died, he sought his lady in the kitchen.
She slid a full baking pan of doughy cakes into the oven, shut the door, and set the timer. Zero waited for the little button beeps to end before saying, "Good afternoon, milady."
Aleda instantly jolted, the worry in her eyes sharpening into fear as she turned to him. "H-Hi, Zero."
"If you don't mind, may I have some tea?"
"Y-Yeah, sure. Just…" She rushed underneath a cabinet but found that she could not reach it. "…I'll have it in a minute!" She started to levitate.
"Don't!" Zero flew to her, and she immediately dropped to the floor. "Don't use any magic right now," Zero sternly warned. "I'll help you." He floated and retrieved a red teapot.
"Thanks…" Aleda murmured as he handed the pot to her.
"You're welcome, milady." Zero took a seat at the kitchen table to wait, every joint leaking agitation.
Usually, when Zero came for tea or a snack, he and the Lady chatted pleasantly—or, rather, Zero chatted, and Aleda pleasantly listened. On that day, however, Zero's charming voice was absent. The silence stoked tension in the room to unbearable levels.
Aleda nearly tripped over herself handling the boiling pot of earl grey, and the clatter at the stove jerked Zero from his brooding. "Are you alright?!" he called as he stood.
Aleda quickly waved it off. "I'm fine, I'm fine!" She snatched a paper towel to wipe a small spill.
Zero, with a sigh, lowered himself back into his chair. Each passing second demanded effort to keep his frame still instead of summoning a magic tether to tie the girl to him—or at the very least, for him not to quiver at the thought that she had almost drained her life force without his knowledge. With all his skills, he could not even stop the threat of a string of words.
"Here you go." Aleda passed Zero a mug.
"Thank you, milady," he said.
Before he had even finished the words, the anxious Gundamess had already darted to fix her own cup in the kitchen. "You're welcome," she said from the stove.
After a few moments to pour the kettle and slip a stirring spoon in the cup, Aleda slinked to the kitchen table and resignedly slid into the opposite seat.
Zero began with measured tone, "It seems that you had a difficult time while I was away."
Her shoulders bunched tighter. "I'm sorry, Zero," she said, just above a whisper. "I..." She squeezed her hot cup, gulped air, and forced herself to speak evenly. "I disobeyed you because I was feeling too confident," she confessed. "I told myself I was pushing my magic so I could help, but I was just being arrogant."
Zero's barely-restrained anger melted at the sight of his pupil shrinking into herself. "I know you meant no harm, milady," he said, kindly.
"Are you still going to teach me magic?"
"Yes, milady."
"You're not mad I didn't listen to you?"
"I am only a little disappointed."
Instead of the fair, soft-edged chide that he had hoped to convey, Zero witnessed his words rip open a well of hurt. Aleda recoiled and shut her eyes against the tear in her heart. "I'm sorry! I can't believe I did it." The corners of her eyes dampened, and her voice wavered, "I don't d-deserve…" Aleda stopped and rubbed at her eyescreens.
"Milady?" Zero frowned.
She stood from her chair, blinking and rubbing to try to stem the tears long enough to escape. "I'm sorry. I'm feeling tired. I need to rest."
Zero jumped to his feet. "Milady, forgive me! I made a poor choice of words," he said as he quickly moved to her, on the way swiping a napkin from the table. He gently pressed the tissue into her hand. "You have not disappointed me in the slightest. You frightened me, is all. Greatly frightened me." He stilled his hand before she could feel it tremble.
Aleda slowed her breaths and dabbed at her eyescreens with the napkin. In, out. In, out. All the while, Zero held her free hand and watched her without a blink, his face saturated with guilt. At length, Aleda said without a hiccup, "I've been stupid. I wasn't thinking when I used the spell. I'm sorry."
The knight squeezed her hand. "You are not stupid. It was a mistake that you've learned from."
She shook her head, sniffling.
"What is wrong?"
"I keep messing up with magic." Her wings shivered. "And I have the nerve to ask you to keep teaching me."
"I forgive you. It is alright."
"But, Shute and Captain are still—"
Zero firmly grasped her shoulders. "That will soon be remedied. Do not tear yourself apart."
She scrunched up as if to shrink to nothing in his hands. "I've messed up!"
"I have, too, Little Wing," he reassured her, "But it's alright. I'll teach you properly so that you may never make such a grave error, again."
Aleda blinked.
Zero flushed hot. By the guardian spirits, I used that name out loud! he groaned inside. He hastily let go of the gaping girl and cleared his voice box. "Well, milady, I see no reason to agonize over it. I will continue to teach you. What is done is done."
At this, the pain returned to her eyes, and the Gundamess looked down. "…Thank you," she mumbled.
Observing her continued inner turmoil, Zero asked, "What is the matter, milady?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing."
Zero spied memories flashing through her data processor. Something more troubles her. But, it is not gentlemanly to press her when she is so distressed. "Lady Aleda."
Aleda looked into his soft eyes. They drew her in slowly, like the fluctuating waters of a beach, gently rolling and retreating, steadily weathering her. With a smile, Zero said, "My only true disappointment is that I have not seen your beautiful smile since I returned." Her cheeks tinted pink, though the said smile had yet to resurface. "Let us forget this offense and enjoy our tea," Zero further encouraged her, extending his hand.
Aleda, with glistening eyes, took his hand, mumbling, "I missed you."
Zero felt the glow coming. He drew nearer, hesitated, then finally pulled her into his arms, sending a jolt through her central cable connections. "I missed you, too," he whispered. The shine of his GunSoul reflected off the gold of his lady's shoulder, and he prayed that, so close, with her face nestled in the crook of his neck, she might not notice.
And, certainly, Aleda's own GunSoul buzzed so loudly in her audio sensors that she found it difficult to note objects in her periphery. The hum of Zero's core sent tiny vibrations through his warm frame that tingled her epidermal sheathing. She felt the easy rise and fall of his breaths against her cheek. Every inch of her absorbed his warmth. Her breath caught, and she clung to her knight. "Zero…"
Zero's heart throbbed at the whisper of his name. He gave her a consoling squeeze but held back, just barely, his wild desire to unclasp her mouthguard. "Don't be afraid, milady," he said. "I will continue to teach you magic, so that you can use it well, and that we may see your smile more often."
"Thank you," Aleda said softly.
The hiss of the door and the clank of metal feet disturbed them. "Hey, guys…!" Baku called as he entered, but he stopped at the sight of the two in a hug, their GunSouls lit, both staring at him red-faced, with water stains marring the lower edges of Aleda's eyescreens. "Well…I'll, uh, see you later!" He rounded and jumped back into the hallway.
The Lacroans' GunSouls puttered dim, and, hot with embarrassment, they released each other. Aleda wiped the moisture on her eyescreens and mouthguard.
Zero's gaze shifted. "Pardon me, milady, for… embracing you without permission."
"No, I—" Her eyes shyly dodged away. "—I-It made me feel better. Thank you, Zero."
"It is nothing, after the consolation you gave me when Fenn was taken."
A smile broke over her face. "Thank you—er, you're welcome—" she stammered. "Uh… I still have to make dinner…"
Zero nodded. "I shan't keep you from it." As he floated to the door, however, he added, "Remember to give yourself a rest, though, milady, and not to use magic."
She beamed. "I will. Thank you."
He smiled at her. "You're always welcome, Lady Aleda."
The knight slipped away, and Aleda released her breath and felt her red cheeks. I'm hopeless, she moaned. Then, she noticed the two lonely cups of tea still steaming on the table. Groaning again, she repeated, I am so hopeless!
…
Moments after escaping into the hall, Zero was accosted by the samurai saboteur, who waited just by the next bend. "Is she okay?" Baku asked.
"I believe so."
Baku scratched his helmet. "I'm sorry I ruined the moment."
"It was fine," Zero growled, "Nothing was happening."
"Oh, really?" The dreaded sly grin arose. "Holding a crying girl and synchronizing was nothing?"
Zero, still bearing traces of red on his face, argued, "I was only trying to console her."
"Hugging her is not the way to shake off suspicions, you know."
"I was… I was glowing, Baku!" Zero sputtered. "I couldn't let her see, and I couldn't leave, so I just…!"
"So, you hugged her in order to hide the fact that you like her!" Baku keeled over in laughter and slapped his knee. "That makes so much sense, Zero!" he jeered.
Zero's helmet smoked. "If you have a better idea, then say it!"
"I do have a better idea: go in there and kiss her!"
"I cannot!"
Baku scowled and stomped. "How stubborn can you be?"
"As much as I need to be."
"Are you ever going to tell her?"
"Not until the Dark Axis is defeated," Zero insisted. "Once all of my enemies are vanquished, then my presence will no longer endanger her."
Baku raised a digital eyebrow. "And you think a famous warrior like yourself can ever avoid having enemies?" Zero grit his teeth behind his mouthguard, as Baku continued, sweeping his arm to point out the base around them, "You think being here doesn't endanger her?"
"They've never been able to attack White Base. As long as she stays here, hidden, she will be safe," Zero rumbled.
Baku sighed and crossed his arms. "Maybe I'll have to beat a lesson into your thick helm."
"I'd like to see you try, snooping samurai!" retorted the guarded Lacroan.
Baku broke into a grin. "Would you? Then, come on, flower knight! Let's take this to the training room!"
The Winged Knight's glare lost its edge under the playful blows of their familiar banter. "I'll be happy to oblige you, ruffian," he proudly scoffed.
The two raced to the sparring site, one blazing through on his feet and the other gracefully gliding in the air.
...
Shute and Captain made more time for one-on-one hang-outs in order to hasten their synchronization. SDG staff commonly spied them in the bio dome or in the lounge. They watched the clouds above and below. Shute discovered how to bounce a pool ball all over the table like a pinball game and how to, in one shot, scatter balls into every pocket. Captain learned more about pain when he tripped and scraped his knee during a friendly race.
In spite of their experiences, however, not once did Shute's Soul Drive activate. They woke each morning still stuck inside the other's body.
"I miss Mom, Dad, and Nana," Shute sighed, dangling his legs off a wall bordering the entrance to White Base's second floor.
Beside him, Captain said, as he fingered the bandage on his knee, "They've been wondering where 'Captain' is."
"I wish Chief Haro would at least let me see them. I think I have the hang of judging my strength, now. After all, we've been hanging out, and nothing bad's happened."
"Perhaps I can convince him."
"Maybe." Shute zoomed in his view past the sky, to the hills that marked his home. "I wanna get back as soon as I can. I don't know why we can't synchronize. Maybe it's me."
Guilt invaded Captain's eyes and dragged them down. "There is a chance that it is my fault."
Shute turned to him. "Why would you say that, Captain?"
"I..." His lip curled. "I'll miss Margaret. I will no longer be able to spend time with her at school and talk with her about robots."
"Captain..."
"I'm sorry, Shute. I know I should let go so that we can return to normal, but somehow, I am finding it difficult."
"Well…" Shute's optical sensors roved the artificial lawn below as his processor searched for a solution. "Just because you'll be a mobile citizen, again, doesn't mean you can't still see her, right? I'll invite her over, so it's okay, isn't it?"
"That may ease my concerns."
Shute displayed happy eyes, and the two returned to watching the scenery below. A lone SDG staff walked by, her shadow passing through the lattice of tree shade in the evening glow.
"Hey, Captain?"
"Yes, Shute?"
"What Zero said to you… Did he need to say it?"
Captain gave a wry smirk. "Every moment of my operation, I prepare and simulate virtual scenarios of every possible enemy strategy that I can comprehend, and I devise many possible counter-measures. Among the possible counter-measures to imminent loss of life for either you or for any other friend, I have always listed methods that risk my own safety, even to the point of destruction."
Again, Shute keenly felt the limits of his facial expressions. If only he could, he would have gawked wide-eyed at his friend, but as it was, he had to resort to a stare.
"Although I struggle to recreate scenarios with the same vividness and accuracy in this brain, I have continued this practice. I had considered, Shute, in the event that the Dark Axis threatened your life while our consciousnesses were still exchanged, to prioritize your defense over that of your organic body, with the expectation that you could continue your life protected in my sturdier frame." Green eyes met blue. "But, I know now that that would not be an effective way to preserve your life, so I no longer consider that option."
"I don't know what to say, Captain," Shute said. "…Thank you."
Green-tinted light began to shine through the windows surrounding Shute's Soul Drive, and they heard a familiar hum. Their eyes jerked to the Soul Drive chamber. Shute raised a hand to touch the protective frame structure on his chest, in wonder at the sensation: a burning stream passing through his heart, or perhaps sprouting from it, as if his core wanted to fly. Captain held his breath.
The light died, and the hum quieted. The joyful burst left Shute's heart.
"I'm sorry," Captain muttered.
"It wasn't your fault, Captain," Shute reassured him. "It's both of us, right?"
"Theoretically, yes."
"We'll figure it out like we always do. We can do this!"
Captain grinned. "Right."
…
"Hey, come on!" Guneagle begged. "Tell me!"
"No," Aleda said, determinedly fixing her eyes on the stovetop she was swabbing with a rag and cleaner fluid.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No, Guneagle."
The Neotopian Gundam placed his chin on the countertop, and his green eyes enlarged. "Pretty pretty please?"
Aleda huffed, though her unseen lip quivered. He had the expressions software installed. Why?! "I can't tell you."
He slid his chin closer and widened his eyes even further. "If you tell me, I'll tell you a secret, too."
Aleda raised an eyebrow. "What secret?"
"About Shute."
She narrowed her eyes. "What about Shute?"
"You have to tell me your secret, first~"
Aleda scanned the kitchen. No one else in sight. She tuned her audios to listen for the door. No one was coming. With a momentary glance toward the camera—which was blocked by the refrigerator—Aleda said, "Alright," and waved him in closer. He leaned, and she floated slightly to reach his audio receptor.
Cupping a hand over her vents, she whispered, "I'm one of the inspirations for Kao Lyn's Gundam designs."
The flier's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Shh! Keep it down!" Aleda hissed with a chuckle.
"Oh!" Guneagle lowered his voice. "Sorry."
"What's your secret?"
"I've been teaching Shute to fight behind the Chief's back."
Aleda gaped. "Really?"
"Yep. Don't worry, it's perfectly safe," Guneagle whispered. "I'm taking good care of him."
"Okay…" Aleda started to pull back.
"Though, he said something scary, today."
Aleda paused. "What?"
They leaned in close again, as Guneagle whispered, "He said that he and Captain can't activate the Soul Drive."
"Why not?"
Guneagle shrugged. "Dunno. All he said is that they were having a hard time."
"Hm."
Guneagle chuckled, "I kind of feel bad. I think your secret was bigger than mine."
Aleda returned momentarily from her reverie and laughed, "I guess."
Guneagle suddenly flinched back. "Hey, wait—what you just said...does that mean you're my mom?!"
Aleda gawked. "Huh?!"
…
"What's wrong, Guneagle?" Baku asked the flier listlessly shuffling past him in the hall.
"My image of Aleda was just shattered," Guneagle whined. "I can never see her as a hot chick, again."
Baku watched him amble off, scratching his head in confusion. Finally, he shrugged. "Eh, that's fine with me."
…
The "secret" that Shute and Captain could not activate the Soul Drive chewed at Aleda's conscience for the rest of her kitchen cleaning routine. But, after she had finished cleaning, she left and found her knight's door.
She knocked. "Zero?"
The Knight Gundam opened it. "Greetings, Lady Aleda." Noticing the worry in her face, he asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Shute and Captain haven't synchronized, yet. Guneagle says they're having trouble."
Zero frowned and, stepping aside, said, "That is troubling. Please, enter, milady."
The Gundamess nodded and drifted in.
The comforter of Zero's bed lay straight and neat. His dresser had a few books and a small, red cushion on top with a worn depression where Fenn had used to sit. On a desk beside the dresser rested the magic tome. Aleda's glance lingered on the spell book.
"Please, have a seat, milady." Zero pushed the desk's chair toward her.
"Thanks." Aleda settled herself lightly into the seat.
"My pleasure." As he had no other chairs, the gentlemanly Gundam remained standing.
"Um, Shute and Captain…" Aleda began, eyes drifting as she wondered how best to begin.
"They cannot activate the Soul Drive?" Zero ventured.
Aleda shook her head. "No, they can't. Guneagle didn't know why, but…"
"Anything keeping those two from synchronizing is something to worry over," Zero said, touching his red chin in thought.
"What should I do?"
Zero blinked. "You, Lady Aleda? You needn't worry," he said. "I'll find a way to reverse the spell."
Aleda twisted her fidgeting hands together. "But, you said that the reversing spell took a lot of energy. I…" Her brow furrowed. "I don't want you to hurt yourself. Couldn't I help, too?"
The knight's frame tensed. "I promise you that I will be safe. My magical abilities are more than enough to successfully cast the spell, so there is no need for you to participate."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am certain. I may feel tired, afterwards, but I will manage. I shan't even lose consciousness."
Aleda fiddled with the edge of her skirt piece. "Does the reversal spell use just as much energy as the swapping spell I cast?"
Zero sighed and stepped closer. "Aye, but as I said, my magic will suffice."
"I feel bad that you have to do that for me, though." Her emerald eyes set on his as he came up to her. "It's possible for two people to cast it, isn't it?" she pleaded.
The Winged Knight held out a hand, which she automatically took. "Please trust me, milady," he said gently as he tugged her to her feet. "All will be well, and we will forget this mishap entirely. I shall prepare to reverse the spell while you return to your duties."
"But—"
"I insist that you allow me to behave as a gentleman."
"But, Zero—"
"I will not yield."
She searched his eyes, trying to slip through the wall that he had erected, but she found no cracks, and her wings drooped.
"Milady." The familiar tenderness returned as he softly asked, "Was there anything else you wished to speak to me about?"
She shook her head.
"Then, I suppose I shall see you tonight at dinner?"
Aleda pressed her lips together. "I…" She squeezed his hand, which shook the knight's blue eyes. "I have to help you."
"Why?"
"I owe it to you and to everyone else who's protected me. I have to help fight the Dark Axis. If I can't even help fix my own mistake, how can I do that?"
Zero's grip on her hand tightened. "Who said you must fight the Dark Axis?"
Her gaze never faltered. "No one did. I just want to, Zero."
The Knight Gundam shook his head. "I cannot allow it."
"Then, why am I here?"
"Because we wanted to help you," he said, delivering every word with weight.
Aleda yanked her hand away. "I can't do nothing!"
Zero let her hand go, but his eyes steeled. "And I cannot put you in danger."
"If you have enough magic for it, then it won't hurt me when we use the spell together!"
"You cannot assume that!"
"Let me help! I can do it!"
Zero clenched his fists, and his voice rose into a shout, "No, you can't! You cannot help me!"
Aleda's GunSoul stung sharply. Her wings shrank against her back, and her emerald eyes mirrored pain.
Zero, under the watch of those hurt emerald eyes, exhaled slowly and deeply through his vents, his eyes darkening as he did so, and said, lower, "I'm sorry, milady… You are unable to help fight the Dark Axis."
The Gundamess trembled. With a last brave scowl, she turned and floated to the door.
His GunSoul twisted, and he took an instinctive step forward. "Where are you going, milady?"
"To my room."
The door closed between them.
…
Aleda tapped her wing decal and waited, huddled on her bed, while her audio receptor rang.
A click sounded. "Hello?"
"Via?" Aleda's wings perked slightly.
"Hey, Ally!" chirped a sweet teenage, feminine voice on the other end. "What's up?"
"I'm not doing very well," the Gundamess mumbled.
"What happened?"
"A fight with a friend. That's all."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Then, whispers tickled the phone.
"Via?"
"Sorry, I was talking to someone… He wants to talk to you," Via said, uncertainly.
A tingle traveled through Aleda's core. After a breath, she said, "Sure."
Hisses and bumps scratched at her audios as the phone passed hands, and then a voice came. "Ally?"
Her wings shuddered. She took a deep breath. "Hi, Myles."
"Hey. I hear you found out something."
"Yeah. I'm not from Earth."
A nervous chuckle tickled her audio. "That explains a few things."
"I'm from a different dimension that has magic," Aleda stated joylessly. "Someone from that place told me. He's been teaching me about everything."
"That's cool… Are you alright, Ally?"
"No."
"What happened?"
"I messed up, again. I hurt my friends by accident." Her voice box stalled, and her eyescreens watered. "I-I'm just trouble for them."
"Ally… why don't you come home?"
Her wings perked.
"I…" Myles delicately paused, and then continued, "…have a surprise for you. I think you'll like it, so please, come home."
Aleda hesitated, re-sorting her thoughts. Her family waited: those who loved her and needed her. On the other hand, her position in White Base was summed up in four words: "You cannot help me!" Kao Lyn's potential use for her schematics seemed a tiny consolation in the face of her egregious mistake, not to mention searing memories that had been consuming her thoughts during the entire incident. I'll just make more mistakes if I keep using magic. I can't do anything for them, she told herself.
"Ally?"
She breathed.
"…Okay."
…
Zero hovered uncertainly in front of Aleda's door. His Little Wing had not been present at dinner, and instead she had left a note listing what foods she had prepared and stored in the fridge. This had prompted Baku to ask questions, which had then resulted in loud criticisms and a kick to the door. "Go apologize, pansy knight!" Baku had yelled at him.
Zero, energy processor churning, raised a hand, paused, exhaled, and knocked. "Milady?" he called.
A few moments passed, but only silence answered.
"Lady Aleda?" He knocked, again.
No reply came.
He pressed his audio receptor to the door. No sound. His energy processor's rolling worsened. Zero punched in the passcode, and the doors parted. "Aleda!" he cried as he drifted in. "Please, answer me!"
The room was dark and quiet. Zero flipped a switch, illuminating a perfectly tidy, bare space. No sketchpads or vases in sight. "Milady?"
A mar on the perfection caught his eye: a paper laying on the pillow of her bed. He flew, picked it up, and read the neat cursive handwriting.
"To the SDG,
"Don't worry about me. I'm going home. I'm sorry that I caused so much trouble. Thank you for everything. Good-bye.
"Aleda."
A knock came from the open doorway. "Is everything alright?" Baku asked. Zero, murky-eyed, stared, unresponsive, at the note.
"Zero?" Baku walked next to him and skimmed the page. At each word, his eyes widened. The knight made no resistance as he yanked the paper from him to read it again. "This is bad!" he said. He wheeled to the Knight Gundam. "Hey, Zero, don't worry about curfew. I'll hold the door open myself if I have to! Get going!" But the knight stood still, eyes shaded by his visor. "Zero! What are you waiting for?" Baku shook the paper at him. "She's leaving! Go after her!"
Zero turned his head ahead away from him, mumbling.
"What?" Baku stepped closer.
"No."
"What?! What do you mean, 'No'?!"
"It is enough. It's better for her if she leaves."
"What are you talking about?"
"You said so yourself: she is safer away from the SDG."
"I can't believe you! Are you really this stubborn?!"
"Aleda will be happier with her family, without war."
Metal clanged sharply against metal as Baku smacked Zero across the face with his bare hand. The Lacroan flinched but made no further response.
"If you're not going to go, then I will, you idiot!" the Musha Gundam roared, storming out. "Join me when you come to your senses!" he yelled as he rounded the door.
Zero remained unmoving, staring emptily at the half-crumpled letter, mired between remorse and fear.
Author's Notes
Yes, I deliberately continued to write until it left off right there. If you hate me for leaving it on that cliffhanger, then please review :) I enjoy reading the screams of my victims—I mean, the feedback of my readers.
Because I posted it after releasing Chapter 15, I realize many readers probably don't know about a poll I started that asks about what characters should be seen more often in Little Wing. You can choose up to three, of main or side characters, or you can say that you like the balance as is. It's posted on my profile, so please go and vote.
Again, thanks to Titanic X for editing this long, long chapter!
Until next time!
-Penelopi
12-18-2015: Made edits in some key scenes for better flow.