Chapter 2
Version 2.1 re-edited July 17 (Australia EST)
Nearly 10 YEARS AGO:
Baka! Bakero!
They shouted from the glass covered observation deck. "What are they thinking?" Hiroshi Suzuishi couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Idiots! You're supposed to be on our side!" Tsuyoshi Seidō shook his fists at the crowds below. "Let me at 'em! I'm going to pound some sense into them!" He slammed his fist with his palm.
Isamu Kurogane folded his arms and shook his head. "Stupid masses. After what we did for them."
The GoLion pilots were staring down at the Castle's entrance gates where angry townsfolk picketing with their banners and shouting in angry chants and placards, "Power to the People of Altea!" "Go Home Earthmen!" "Down with the monarchy!" "Altea doesn't need GoLion!"
xoxoxo
Staring at the shatterproof windows of her sitting room, Fala Hime angrily left her meeting a few minutes ago. She was with her minister Raible and kingdom's town council leaders and the meeting reverberated hostility and anger.
She and her fellow GoLion pilots defeated the Garla Empire six months ago with their mighty mecha robot. Peace in their galaxy was finally secured, yet in the Leo Alliance of planets, domestic planetary concerns had risen like wildfire in a very short period of time.
Emboldened when the galactic wars have ended, the Alteans presented their demands. Yet their demands were not a united front. The elders, mostly old men who continued to cling to power, wanted the future of the kingdom of Altea secured and have the princess marry adjoining kingdoms and produce an heir. While a new and younger generation of young men and women of Fala Hime's age, wanted a more democratic leadership, governed by the people and not through a monarch or a royal minister. They kept on repeating that monarchical rule was outdated. Reconstruction was too centralised and too slow.
What united both discordant groups was one specific issue that surprised Fala Hime. The Alteans did not want the Earthmen. They did not want to do anything with these hooligans, what the deceased royal court Lady Hys repeatedly named these men who piloted GoLion. The Alteans believed that the power of GoLion should have been given to fellow brave Alteans and not these men who are neither royal nor from Altea.
The meeting did not end well. Fala defended the Earthmen over her own people much to the annoyance of the council of decrepit old men. The younger generation of Alteans replied that they don't care whoever Hime would chose to bed and wed. The fresh generation wanted action and governance given to the people.
Her minister Raible was unceremoniously quiet throughout the meeting. Did she feel she was just thrown to the wolves? But these are her own people, why would she feel that way? Fala Hime eventually lost her temper, shouting at everyone. Have they forgotten how her Earthmen just saved the entire planet and not just their insignificant kingdom? After giving a piece of her mind, Fala Hime stormed out of the conference room.
xoxoxoxoxo
She was lost in thought and didn't hear her door hiss open.
"Fala Hime…" Fala heard a deep voice and steady footsteps approaching her. She knew straightway he was sent to check up on her.
"Raible asked me to see how you are doing," Kogane said, he stood by her side as he looked at the blue Altean sky. There was so much of Altea reminded him what was once beautiful on Earth.
Fala stared blankly at the Altean countryside, unmoving. Why did her strategist send Kogane to check up on her? "So much anger, Kogane. I did not expect that from my people," Fala said, her voice steady but there was anger behind her words. "Why did I not see that coming? Was there any indication that I could have prevented this escalating into an angry mob?"
Kogane was her soundboard. Fala was never hesitant to express her opinions with Kogane. Apart for being their chief, Kogane was a good team leader and listener.
"Looks like your meeting did not go well?" he asked.
Fala shook her head. She was all stately and regal with her formal pink dress. But then again, pink dresses were only her wardrobe's colours. Was pink too soft to drive a message through? Was it because she was female? The Royal Arusian Crown was always headed by a male. Were these old men such misogynists after all?
"Kogane, would you mind if you join me in that meeting next time? I am hoping you could help me knock some sense to my people."
Taciturn Kogane simply nodded to Fala Hime's request.
"Seriously, Kogane? What more do they want? Were we not busy defending our side of the universe? We are rebuilding and we are doing our best. Why are they being so impatient?" Folding her arms and furrowing her brows, Fala turned to face Kogane. She could be herself without her royal mask when she was with Chief, Moody, Shorty and Hothead.
(To Be Continued)