Author's Notes

Long time no see! Things got very hectic with school and wedding planning, but I finally am at a point with this chapter where I just need to post it or it won't happen. I've been editing and rewriting and editing some more a little bit almost every day since Chapter 30 was posted, so I hope you enjoy it! Chapter 32 will probably be sometime later, after the beginning of the school year has died down.

Thank you to Oribird and Titanic X for looking over this chapter for me!

Enjoy!

Copyright Info: SD Gundam Force is produced by Bandai and Sunrise. My OCs mentioned in this chapter are Aleda, Miku, Opal, Ace, Titan, Papillon, Amane, and Calypso. All other characters and settings were created by Bandai and Sunrise.

Chapter 31: The Promise

Tallgeese growled and smacked Vayeate's hand away. "That hurts! Be more careful, you bumbling blueberry!"

The robot jerked back. "I-I'm sorry, milord. I was trying to quicken your recovery..."

They, and Mercurius, were in the throne room of Lacroa Castle. Tallgeese sat on the golden chair in his normal non-Griffonized form, while his henchmen were attempting to magically alleviate his wounds and scratches. Two dark magic circles intertwined above their heads, and the marks on Tallgeese's armor were steadily diminishing. But Vayeate had made the mistake of touching his side where Aleda's fire magic had punctured him. The hole was so small he hadn't noticed it until he'd incurred his master's wrath. Vayeate regretted his mistake; his lord was so angry he seemed to be shaking with rage.

Just like the small hole was so well hidden, from the throne room they couldn't see the damage they'd suffered by the Gundam Force. This great hall with the petrified Spirit Tree had hardly a crack, but elsewhere passages had been widened by Griffin's wings and roof shingles had been marred by the Winged Knight's blows. Sure, this castle was only the relic of a conquered kingdom, but Tallgeese liked to keep his trophies intact.

To make matters worse, the Winged Knight and Feather Dragon had escaped. The Pawn Leos had been unable to catch up with them after they fled, and according to Tallgeese's growling remarks, he could no longer sense the great Spirit.

Deathscythe had also disappeared. Tallgeese kept cursing that "treacherous worm," so they probably should avoid talking about that, too. There was no buffer left between the brothers and their masters' wrath now that all distractions, including Miku, had escaped.

Miku.

The thought of the brown-eyed Arkian made Vayeate's chest ache. She'd betrayed them. Left them. Left him. He was alone, again.

At that thought, his magic circle wobbled. Alone. He wouldn't have anyone to talk to about the wonders of Ark and the rest of Sola Diorama. Related words came to mind: Rejected. Weak. Somehow this betrayal opened the floodgates of self-doubt.

He was surprised at himself. Him, "alone"? Such a strange thought. He had his brother, and Tallgeese. He wasn't alone. He was part of a great cause for the robots of Lacroa, to overthrow the oppressive humans and traitorous Gundams in their land. He didn't need a sneaky Gundamess bedwarmer.

He'd thought she was different because she was from Ark, where robots lived without any humans. And he'd thought she cared because of all the times she'd allowed him to hide with her, to crawl into a corner of her room when Tallgeese was in a bad mood or to cry on her shoulder when haunting memories surfaced.

He'd hoped she felt the same for him as he did of her.

"Brother?"

Vayeate was stirred out of his thoughts by Mercurius's inquisitive voice. His brother's square facescreen watched him, and his head tilted in an innocently curious gesture.

"What is it?" Vayeate said back.

"Is there something the matter?"

"Only our recent frustration with the Gundams. It will be pleasing when our Lord inevitably defeats them." He wasn't going to talk about it. He wasn't going to let Lord Tallgeese-and not even his brother-know that he'd fallen in love with a Gundamess.

And he wouldn't let that feeling stay. He'd stamp the traitor out of his heart, and out of the world if need-be.

...

Keiko sighed and rolled her eyes. "Your father's going to stay out again, tonight. I don't know why his recordings keep running so late..."

Shute nodded from the living room, where he was working on his homework. Or trying to. He was supposed to be balancing equations on the tablet screen, but his numbers kept becoming indecipherable squiggles. He couldn't help thinking of the happenings at White Base. Zero and Titan had crossed into Dark Axis territory many hours ago to rescue their kidnapped friend, but there'd been no word from them since, and it was almost nine. He felt like Captain was worried, too-he didn't know how he knew, he just did. He sure wished his dad were around. His mom was positive and upbeat, but his dad had a particular knack for making everything seem better.

"How is the homework coming?" Keiko said, coming to peer over her son's shoulder. She frowned at the squiggles. "It seems you're a bit distracted. Is everything alright? You usually love math."

"Oh, uh, yeah, everything's fine." The boy scratched the back of his neck. "I'm just a little tired is all."

She moved around the couch to get a better look at Shute's face. "Did something happen with your friends? I haven't seen them around in a while."

Suddenly, his vision was blurring. The sorrow flooded him. "They're doing alright," he made himself say. But his throat tightened, and his eyes teared up. He sniffed to try to suck it all in. After a swallow, he said, "They're just a little busy is all. They're going to... come soon..." He felt that his voice was going to crack if he pushed it any further. He let it die.

His mother's arms wrapped around him. He wanted to be tough. He wanted to say he was okay and didn't need to be hugged by Mom. He wanted to be a grown up member of the Gundam Force, but instead he found himself hugging her back and burying his face in her chest. "What is it, Shute?" she said softly.

He shook his head and started to sob. "Oh, honey," she whispered as she pat his head, "It can't be that bad. You'll be alright."

He wanted so badly to tell her. "You don't know, Mom! My friends are stranded in another world all by themselves, without us to help them! We don't know what's happened to them!" But he kept it all in. He had to.

"No matter what it is, I know you all can handle it." Her hands were running through his messy bangs. "There's nothing you, Captain, and the others can't do."

Shute sniffed. "How do you know? What if we mess up, and..."

"I know because I've never seen a pair like you and Captain."

The boy blinked, pausing his sniffles, and looked up. "What do you mean?"

His mom smiled down at him. "You two always tackle every challenge together, and win, whether it's homework, shooting a movie, or sneaking out for some adventures-" At his startled look, she poked his nose. "-Don't think I don't notice you running off when you think I'm not looking." She shook her head. "But whatever the challenge is, nothing ever stops you two."

Shute blinked. What exactly was she trying to say?

"No matter what, you'll make it. Nothing can stop you if you keep pushing through. So don't worry, Shute," his mother said. "You, Captain, Mr. Zero, and Mr. Bakunetsumaru will fix it. I believe in you."

Shute fell silent, turning over these words. The Gundam Force had been able to overcome all obstacles so far, and they'd been very daunting ones, too. Hadn't they been in this exact situation before, with their team stranded in Lacroa with no foreseeable way to return to Neotopia? And providence, or luck, or whatever Goodness there was in the universe had given them a way back. Couldn't Zero, Aleda, and Titan be just as fortunate this time?

"Shute?" Keiko quietly asked.

"I... I guess we have to win. Good has to win, right?"

A chuckle rumbled in her chest. "Yes, Shute, good wins in the end, and the whole way through we keep up hope, because the shadows can't put out a flame." She pushed away to smile in his tear-stained face. "And your heart is the brightest I've seen."

His lip quivered. "Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Shute." With another fond ruffle of his hair, she added, "You should head to bed."

He nodded. He felt tired enough to sleep through the whole next day. But hopefully things would be better when he woke up. Maybe he'd find that the morning would also be bright for his friends.

He still had these thoughts when he sank into bed in his superhero pjs and laid his head on the pillow...

...

Kao Lyn's excited hoots were becoming sparser, and his head bobbing slower. Bell Wood imagined there were deep circles under those yin-yang glasses. Even he himself was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Dang it, I should be used to this, he scolded himself. He'd pulled many all-nighters in his lifetime, both voluntarily and involuntarily. He could stay awake for 36 hours straight if he wanted, and he wasn't going to let sleep overtake him now! Not until they figured something out. They'd finished pinpointing Tallgeese's invisibility magic signature and updating the base's scanners at almost 0200 hours, but there was no blip on the interdimensional radar. They had no idea how their Lacroan friends were faring on the other side.

Zero and Titan had crossed with no voice changer to trick the Zakorello Gate, nor any communication device that could reach them (they simply did not have the technology, yet). As a result, they were possibly trapped permanently in another dimension, and the rest of the SDG had no way to know. Were they still sneaking around the Dark Axis homeworld? Had they reached Lacroa? Had they been discovered and imprisoned? Or had they even been... destroyed? Nah, nah, that can't be it! he thought. They're made outta tougher stuff! It irritated him that the thought even crossed his mind.

Bell Wood leaned back against a tower, sighing in frustration. "What now?" he whispered to Kao Lyn.

The elder scientist slowly lifted his head from staring at the tablet, and a moment passed before he said, "There's still no sign of interdimensional activity. I think we should try to tackle the problem instead of wait."

Bell Wood lifted a brown eyebrow. "Whaddaya mean?"

"The big question is, can we rip open an interdimensional portal for them?"

The boy blinked, then slid his arms comfortably behind his head, and his eyes focused on the ceiling, strangely sharp for his usually languid personality. Finally, his eyes brightened, and he said, "I think I got a way."

"Oh?" Kao Lyn crossed his arms. "Let me hear it."

He smirked. "Don't tell Baku, but my Dimensional Transport Device, though it needs that one part to let us pick where the portal opens-so it's not very safe without it, ya know?-but it can take people 'cross the dimensions another way, too."

"Go on."

"It can piggyback on other interdimensional doohickeys." His grin widened. "These kinda technologies tend to be a little sensitive and can mess with other portals."

"Like magic," Kao Lyn said, "when the mages called the Gundam Force."

"Yeah, exactly! Those kids probly weren't strong enough to do it on their own, so they latched onto the signal of my invention. We could do the same thing!"

"DTD on the Zakorello Gate?"

"Yep!"

Kao Lyn hummed. "Very specific things must be in place, but…. that just might work."

"Of course it'll work! I'm a genius!" The boy's characteristic phrase was underscored with a fist pump.

"Now we have to get the Chief on board."

Bell Wood rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, let's ask the other Chief."

...

Gentle shaking. "Wake up, sir."

Blue eyes opened. It was still dark. Zero blinked.

"Sir."

He blinked again. A dark face with friendly eyes hovered over him. Zero groaned, and his eyes dimmed again. "It is not even light out, Deed. Let me alone."

"Sir Zero, I am not Sir Deed. It's Ace."

"Huh?" Zero's eyes shot open. It was indeed his new ally Ace's black helm. How could I have mistaken him for Deed? He didn't even have the same teal eyes. "Oh. I beg your pardon…"

"Granted. Now it is time for your watch."

"Yes, straight away." Being in Lacroa again must have been affecting him. He hadn't seen Deed or the other Royal Knights in two years, and the familiar scenery made him miss them that much more.

Zero pushed himself up off of the small mat he had been lying on and dusted himself off before stepping onto the cold, hard cave floor. The usual swish of his cape was missing. He remembered he'd wrapped it around his Lady's bosom to defend her modesty, after that good-for-nothing Tallgeese had broken off some of her armor. That was fine, he could do without for now. The princess would be pleased he was using it for such an honorable purpose.

Zero was bleary-eyed from lack of sleep. But as long as he could protect his Lady and the rest, he would stay awake for ten—no, fifty nights if need be. He rubbed his eyescreens, and forms in the half-light began to solidify. Gundamesses clustered in the middle of the cavern, a patchwork of rugs, small blankets, and quilts underneath them. Most had blankets over them, though those were so small their feet stuck out. They huddled close together to share warmth. A couple shivered. Thankfully Aleda seemed warm enough in his cape, though she turned over with a groan and a fretful look on her sleeping face. He resisted the urge to go to her. It was more urgent to guard her life than her dreams.

The entrance to the small cavern was a slightly elevated, Gundam-sized hole. As his sleepiness began to wear off, Zero summoned his sword and shield and floated himself the rest of the way to the cavern mouth. He landed and crouched in the shadows to watch for any threat. All he heard at the moment was silence, but his thoughts came to fill the void.

This night the lives of eight Gundams rested on him, and who knew how many nights more it would be like this? They were in a hostile land, separated from their allies, and outnumbered. Fenn had flown elsewhere, and Zero wasn't sure when he'd see him next. Would the Spirit come if trouble befell them? He worried they'd run out of stamina and be cornered before they escaped Tallgeese's reach. Or the dark shadow he and Fenn fought would return for them.

Zero stared at the cave entrance with his sword and shield in hand. The cave was still quiet, except for a few drips in the background. And then soft footsteps came, from someone unsteady, weary, and shy. "Zero?"

He turned to see her green eyes-those eyes as beautiful as Phoenix's feathers. Aleda was holding herself and shivering now, even though the cape still enveloped her. "Milady? What are you doing awake?" Had she come to keep watch? Only the males had been assigned, as was proper. "It is my watch duty."

The Gundamess's wings drooped. "O-Oh, you're right. I should let you stay on guard." She dropped her gaze and shifted uneasily. "I'll go back so I won't distract you."

"N-No, it's fine! You are not a distraction. I was only letting you know, because you should rest..." If he'd had free hands, he would have reached to stop her. But just the step forward caused her to pause. "Forgive my rudeness. Please at least tell me what's bothering you?"

"…I'm having trouble sleeping," she whispered.

"Too cold?"

She looked away. "Nightmares."

"I understand your trouble…Would you like to keep watch with me?" Earlier in the night, he had had sleeping visions of Tallgeese crushing her and stamping her gem underfoot, so he could sympathize. It would be reassuring to have her beside him.

She gave a slight smile. "That would be nice."

Zero turned again to face the entryway, and the lady landed beside him. Together they stared out at the branching tunnels beyond. Shining crystals dotting the area cast a steady glow, but nothing moved. Only the breaths of the other refugees could be heard.

Aleda peered at the knight: a shy, quick dart that he barely noticed out of the corner of his eyescreens. "Is this... am I distracting you?" she said.

"No." Though he kept his eyes ahead, he whispered, "You may even come closer, if you wish..."

Aleda sidled in until she bumped into the shield. "U-Uhm..." She backed up and moved around it to come next to him. "Is this okay?"

"Yes. Your presence will help me stay awake. Please prod me if I start to drift."

"Mhm." She hummed. Then she quieted and started fiddling with her skirt armor. After a while, she began again, "Zero?"

His GunSoul thrummed, and he breathed to quell it. "Yes, milady?" The hesitance in her voice hinted that she wanted a deeper conversation about something she was deathly worried about. Something probably related to the both of them.

"I...Um... nevermind."

"I would be happy to hear whatever it is you want to say."

"No, really, it's okay."

"If you insist, milady." He couldn't help a small sigh.

For the rest of Zero's two-hour shift, they stayed side-by-side at the cave entrance, attentive and quiet, waiting for any sign of hostiles though they never came. Then at last the count ended and Zero woke the next Knight Gundam, Titan.

The navy blue robot shrugged off his sleep, and his hazel eyes caught sight of Aleda behind the Winged Knight. "You're up rather late, Lady Aleda," he said while looking narrowly at Zero. "No one's keeping you awake, are they?"

Aleda shook her head. "No, I just couldn't sleep. I asked Zero if I could stay with him while he was on watch. But I tried not to distract him."

"You were not a distraction, milady," the young knight said, smiling at her. Ignoring Titan's glare, he further added, "You were a wonderful help."

She smiled, her cheeks rosy. "Thank you."

"It is my turn, now, yes?" Titan interjected.

The knight nodded. "Yes. I have finished my watch and am going to attempt to get some rest."

"Then get off to bed." Titan pushed himself to his feet. "You need your sleep in a war zone."

Seeing the piercing green of his eyes and hearing the edge to his voice, Zero thought that he might have to worry about war on more than one front. He looked at his lady just in time to catch another one of her bashful smiles. Titan and I do agree on one thing, though, he thought to himself. I don't deserve her. With a returning grin, he slipped his hand in hers and led her away.

They started for the sleeping Gundamesses. Zero intended to let Aleda settle in for the rest of the night, possibly tuck her in like the time she collapsed after magic practice some weeks ago. But as they neared the group, Aleda still clung to his arm.

"Zero? I..." She paused.

His heart fluttered. "Is there something you need, milady?"

"I'm... scared to sleep... Though that's... um..." She squeezed her eyes shut and released him. "No, don't worry about it, it's stupid, I'm sorry..."

He shook his head. "It is no trouble. Do you want me to keep you company for longer?"

"But you need to sleep, too."

"I can sleep later. I..." He looked away, feeling his face warm. "I wanted to speak with you, anyways."

She nodded, and he heard her murmur, "I really do, too."

Zero took her by the hand and led her to the corner of the cave where his mat lay, unwrinkled it, spread it for her, and sat them down. They were side-by-side in the dim chamber, yet as silent as if still on watch.

For the first several minutes, they said nothing. Zero could have sworn he saw Titan sneak a glance from across the cavern, and he wondered if he was obsessive enough to leave his post and shoo him away from Aleda. But in spite of his nervousness, Zero collected himself enough to say, "How are you feeling? Is your GunSoul fully healed?"

"Yeah. It doesn't hurt, anymore."

"You have no other pains?"

"Nothing else hurts. I guess Lady Opal's magic is really strong."

"Yes, it indeed is."

What should he say, next, to lead to the words he wanted to tell her? With the pressure of Titan's watchful eye and Aleda's quiet apprehension, nothing proper was coming to mind. He let an awkward silence settle over them, though his GunSoul pulsed painfully with festering thoughts. His arm heated where her armguards grazed him, and her every movement caught his breath.

The Dream was all he could think about: the miraculous one that had set a blazing fire of hope in his GunSoul and cured him of his wounds. There was no other explanation for the healing than that they'd truly met each other across dimensions. Somehow, their desire to see each other and a miracle of Mana had bridged their minds as they slept. But Aleda was still so shy and uncertain around him, even after he'd already confessed his love for her during that vision. She must be wondering if it was real. Or maybe she has forgotten the dream? The latter thought horrified him. He had to explain to her what happened and make it plain so there would be no more misunderstandings. He knew her feelings (or at least thought he did) and he suspected she knew his. He just had to say it out loud, and they would be happily in love together. But in spite of knowing this, his nerves were choking him.

He considered how most naturally to approach the issue. Just blurting everything out with no cause would be too inelegant, and as a knight couldn't be fumbling his words like that. What topic could he bring up that would be easily directed to his feelings for her?

Zero peeked at the entrance and saw Titan's back turned. The other Gundam seemed to want Aleda to stay in Neotopia forever, as that was presumably the safer dimension, but Zero wanted more. And more importantly, Aleda wanted more. She'd said she planned to stay in Lacroa. With him. There, that would be a good place to start! Zero shoved down his processor butterflies and opened his mouth. "Milady?"

She started. "Y-Yeah?"

"I, um... I..." He was desperately fighting the heat in his face. "We had discussed what would happen after the Dark Axis's defeat. I wanted to discuss it, again."

"Yeah," she whispered, squirming.

"I said you could come to Lacroa Castle." Zero looked at her, as her arms slid around her bent knees. "If you desired so, that is. Is that still your wish?"

She hugged herself. "I... I think..." An inner conflict raged behind her green eyes. She was taking a long time to piece together what to say, and that in itself worried him. Eventually, she sighed and touched her forehead to her knees. "Zero, I need to... tell you something."

The Mmns in his stomach were even worse, now. "C-certainly, milady."

"I just..." She paused again before swallowing and regaining her voice. "When I was in the castle, I was so scared. I thought Tallgeese was going to make me like Griffin, and I didn't know anymore if I was even a robot."

Zero touched her arm reassuringly. "I'm so sorry, milady. It was my fault. I won't let you be taken ever again."

She shook her head. "N-No, that's not what I wanted to say." Her face was red. "All I could think of was how...Like, what kept me going..." She paused, choking on her words. The arm loop around her legs tightened, and she buried her face. "I stayed strong because I knew you were coming."

"Yes, of course. I'd never abandon you." This wasn't a rejection. But what on Lacroa was it, then?

Aleda trembled, rattling against his frame, and curled further in on herself. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I can't help it..."

"What is the matter, my lady?"

"You're giving me so much, but I want..." Her voice was hoarse. "I want..."

"Anything, Little Wing." His heart was sinking. She wanted to stay in Neotopia after all, didn't she? This had all traumatized her, and she didn't want to think of Lacroa, or him, anymore.

She lifted her helm, showing wet eyescreens, and her lips moved. But, she spoke so softly he couldn't hear.

"W-What did you say, milady?" He was almost afraid to ask.

Her face turned a mortified tomato red, and her fingers dug into her armor so much it squeaked. "I...I love you!" she said.

It took a moment to process.

Aleda had just confessed to him.

Warmth flooded him from helm to toe, inside and out, and his jaw fell open behind his mouthguard. She had just said it, out loud. She wanted more than just to live in Lacroa, she wanted…

"I wanted to say, too..." he began, then stopped as he choked on his emotions. His GunSoul's throbbing was too loud and the burning in his heart too hot for him to think. Those magic words had made him love her even more, for now he wanted to hold her so much it ached. Each point of contact-each rub of their shoulders and each brush of their sides-was sending jitters down his spine, and he wanted so, so much to throw his arms around her, to feel her warmth, to rest his chin on her helm while she snuggled into his chest.

The heaves of Aleda's sobs had stopped, but her head was still bowed as she waited for his response. My precious, troubled Lady. He smoothed his fingers over her hand, earning a shiver and a surprised gasp. "Milady." Gently, he edged underneath her death grip and pried her hand off the dented knee, then interlocked their fingers. "So it is me you want?"

Her hand was small and smooth and warm with the thermal byproduct of her circuits. It shook as she wheezed, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He squeezed her hand tight. "My Little Wing, I... I do not deserve such happiness, yet if you want me, then me you shall have."

He heard a sharp intake of breath, so quick it whistled in her vents.

Firmly, yet gently, he lowered his free hand under her chin and lifted her eyes to his. They looked like wide pools of emerald water, gorgeous and heart-breaking. A lump started to form in his voicebox, and his vision blurred, smearing the green all over. "I love you, too," he whispered. "And I shall make true the promise I gave you."

"Your promise?" she breathed.

He gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckle joints. "The one I gave in that dream." He swallowed and squeezed her hand, silently willing his voice to hold out just a minute longer. "I promised you all I have."

At that she gaped, then gulped, trying to swallow her tears before asking, "That was you?"

"Yes, it was." He stroked her chin, rubbing his thumb over her mouthguard. "I was truly there with you."

"But how?"

"Perhaps because we both felt the same," he said with a small smile, "We both wanted to see each other." He leaned in, just a tad, and looking straight into her eyes, said, "I told you in the dream that I missed you, did I not? Nothing I said was a lie, my love."

Her watering eyescreens overflowed, and she squeezed his hand like a vice. Her mouthguard flashed, but all that came out was a sob.

Zero used his other hand to pull her close. "You're not alone anymore," he said, willing his mouthguard to disappear. He wanted more, too-much more. "I'll be with you from now on..." His throat hitched on the flood of emotion, and he had to swallow a lump. "…my Aleda." Those words tasted so sweet. Her name was beautiful in and of itself, and to be able to put "my" before it amazed him. He brought his face just a little closer, and watched until her facemask also vanished, fully revealing her flushed cheeks and inviting lips. Then he closed his eyes and pulled her closer, pressing her soft mouth to his.

For a few treasured seconds he kissed her, just a few gentle brushes, a warm, tingling expression of affection, and she kissed him in return. Her clumsy nips betrayed inexperience, but to him they were the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted. With a last graze, he pulled away to look at her face. Aleda was rather still, staring dazedly, and furiously red, with no sound indicating that she was breathing. The only way he could tell she hadn't fainted was the smile emerging on her face. "Aleda?" He brushed his thumb over her soft cheek. "My Little Wing?" Then she moved, flinging her arms around him for a tight hug. Zero lost his breath, not because she held him too tight, but out of awe. She seemed to be afraid to touch me when we first met, he remembered. She always worried she would offend others. But now… He squeezed back, burying his face in her helm. She trusts me, and I swear to Mana I will continue to help her grow, as she does for me.

She smelled of dust and ash, fumes from the conquered castle, but also still faintly of cinnamon and lime, that sweet scent he'd learned to crave. He could tell from the light feeling in his chest and the shine that spilled on their frames that their GunSouls were resonating. He'd found his Lady, and she'd found him. No one could stop them now.