(Present)
As Will materialized in the courtyard, he saw the emperor. Immediately he ignited the saber and charged only to be met with an equally well-placed parry with the emperor's red saber.
"Did you really think I wouldn't learn after all these years? You're quite predictable. You wear your heart on your sleeves."
"After the torture you put Valentina through, it will be my pleasure to ensure you wear all your organs on your sleeves."
"Careful, we both know that won't bring her back, now will it, Will."
(Austria)
"What?" Will replied.
"Oh come on! Like you really think I didn't know you were from the future and all about your powers? I know you better than you know yourself."
"But how?"
"Allow me to explain," she said. "This is my real time, but I, unlike you, embraced my past. I accepted my pain and moved on. You, however, did not. You needed time to accept your pain. Why do you think it felt like millennia when you were training? It actually was for numerous millennia. You're a tough cookie."
"I'll take that as a compliment, but I'm still confused as to how you saved me."
"Well," she said, "that's simple. It actually was all a dream. I simply put you in a trance where you believed you jumped off a cliff. Really, you simply ran and then fainted in the middle of the woods by the cliff where you woke up and believed it was all real."
"But still, how?"
"We have a bond that transcends time and space. It's called true love. For some unexplained reason one night, I had a dream where I saw you falling and my instinct was to save you because I knew I loved you most true, but I didn't know who you were. I just knew I had to save you. It's only when you came here that I started to put the pieces together…that and Michael filled in the gaps after you trounced James."
"So he told you about my powers?"
"No, I deduced that on my own. Your scar, the fact that you can take on armies by yourself, the fact that there hasn't been lightning ever since I told you I was afraid of it…I can go on."
Will was blushing now, "I should have known I couldn't hide anything from you, my love."
"And don't you forget it." And with that she kissed him and the lovers resumed their sleep. The next morning would be their honeymoon. Will wasn't aware of this, but Valentina was visited by Michael again.
"Greetings, Valentina."
"Hello Michael, how's everything going? Has the crisis you spoke of been avoided?"
"I'm afraid not. The future is still in ruins."
"Then I am not his true love?"
"Are you?"
"Everything about myself tells me I am. Still, am I?"
"You are partly correct. The real answer is Will's good side is in love with you. Will, however, is not all good. You've seen his bad side have you not? It is the source of Will's powers. It is his strength, his cunning."
"How can you say Will has a bad side?"
"Because, it is how he was made. You see, in every one of God's children is the potential for great evil and great good. Will was one of the children entrusted with many gifts. Naturally, what he does with his life can have severe impacts? But once Will is created, God steps back unless called upon. It is up to the angels to recruit soldiers to our side, but Satan is also able to influence Will. And Satan was clever, he separated Will's true love by centuries. Hence, it was necessary to take such extreme measures to unite you two. But it remains clear that Satan is still going to win Will over. I need you to ensure that does not happen."
"How?"
"You need to kill Will's bad side, and by that, I mean only bring out his good side. Show him love. Be faithful, and do not break his heart. We must stop it."
"I understand," she lied.
"Good. I bless you and will take my leave."
As Michael left, Valentina was left to her thoughts. He must be wrong. Will was given darkness just like us all, but he is not a victim of it. He is in control. He is balanced. He is not someone who is a slave to darkness. He isn't two people. He is him, and I love him. All of him. Michael must be wrong. And I will prove it. Then Valentina cuddled in beside her husband. But how many times is the Archangel wrong?