The war between Holfort and Fanoss is coming as the time is running out. but before the war, there comes the time for the kingdom to have its traitorous roots to be sown out of the ground.
Currently, Kira flies his Strike and have it land straight at the castle's garden area where it kneels and helps its pilot come down from the cockpit.
Kira placed his foot down on the land as he sighs a bit before he turns and sees Bernard standing nearby, waiting for him.
"Bernard-san?" Kira spoke as he came near the Earl. "why are you here?"
"I've come to guide you straight to the throne room, Count Bartfort." Bernard said as he bowed his head and then motions a hand to the nearby hallway. "please follow me."
"yes." Kira nods as he begins walking alongside Bernard. "how is everything?"
"things have been progressing quite well thanks to the Queen." Bernard said as he wipes off some sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief. "although our forces are only half of what they used to be, we might be able to pull off a counterattack against the Principality when they come and attack."
"I see.." Kira nods in understanding. "be assured that the military forces will be increased with the help of my friends in the academy who will be lending a hand."
"that's great to hear." Bernard said with a nod and a small smile before he sighs and then stops walking. "Count Bartfort, before we go inside the throne room. May I ask you something?"
"what is it?" Kira asks while stopping as he turns and faced the man.
"Can you win? Depending on your answer, I wish to evacuate my family to safety." Bernard asks. "the Principality has the Magic Flute, the Lost Item which is similar to your own, and their astounding number of military forces comprised of Airships, Armors, and Monsters. can you really win against them all?"
"I will win." Kira nods. "with everyone be unite as one, I'm certain that we will achieve victory."
"I see." Bernard nodded with a relieved smile. "it's nice to know that you are a very brave and kind young man, Count Bartfort." He chuckles a bit and waves a hand to the side. "How about it? When the war is over, will you accept Clarice as your bride to be?"
"that's…" Kira was about to reply with a no for an answer to the little joke, but the moment he saw Bernard's face he paused cause the man is showing a very serious look which means that the joke wasn't a joke at all. "that's…"
Kira is looking rather scared because he saw Clarice as a senior and friend, nothing more. he would've accepted her if he hadn't already met Lacus but he was sure that he didn't want to be in love with anyone else but the pink haired diva herself.
"i-I'm sorry, Bernard-san…you shouldn't really say such things during times of war." Kira said as he chuckles a bit awkwardly. "I mean, there is still the chance of failure and therefore we shouldn't make such promises beforehand."
As if accepting his answer, Bernard smiles and nodded in understanding.
"you're right. It's a rather bad omen to do something like that" Bernard chuckled a bit before he turns and begins walking. "come now, everyone is waiting in the audience hall."
"y-yes." Kira nods, a bit shaken by the fact that Bernard wanted him to marry his daughter so seriously.
Ten minutes later, Kira arrives to the audience hall with the help of Bernard who escorted him straight to where Duke Redgrave and his son Gilbert is standing by.
"welcome, Count." Vince said with a nod to Kira. "You are a very astounding young man. To think that you managed to get the help of many young nobles from the academy."
"you have the makings of a great leader." Gilbert added in with a smile. "I've no doubt that we can win this war with you leading us."
"you're overestimating my capabilities." Kira said while shaking his head. "it's true that I am capable in battle, but I'm no leader."
"you're being modest yourself." Vince said as he nodded. "Skills aren't the only thing that makes someone a great leader. It's their will to protect others." he then patted Kira's right shoulder. "you will be a great leader, Count Bartfort. I just know it."
"that's…" Kira was about to reply but he heard some commotion from the doorway entrance as he along with Vince and Gilbert turns to see the Marquis Frampton and his faction entering.
"seems that they have arrived." Vince said and Gilbert nodded.
Kira looks and finds the Marquis who had framed him. the older man looks tall but rather skinny and stressed like cause his eyes seem a bit bloodshot and tired.
In time, everyone begins to stand in line with one another and face the throne where Roland along with Mylene and Lacus made an appearance. The king sits on his seat and look at all the nobles who have gathered around.
"The number of people here has become really few, isn't it?" Roland spoke as he sees how few nobles have remained after the conflict with the Principality began. "But it's none other than the people who remain here who are the true heroes!" he raises a fist up. "The principality despicably bring monster with them and invade our kingdom's territory. Gentlemen! now is the time to risk our life!"
Nobles begin to chatter one another but they are mostly coming from the Marquis' faction and not the ones who are against them.
"Count Bartfort!" Roland called out to Kira who turns and face the king. "come forth!"
"Yes!" Kira replied as he went and then kneels to the king.
"In order to stand against the principality, it's necessary for us to fight as one! Therefore!" Roland yelled out as he points a finger at Kira. "I appoint you as the supreme commander in this critical juncture. Surely there are also those who make light of you due to your youth and foreign background and There surely are also those who won't trust you due to your lack of experience. But, only you possess the strength to break through this situation. Count Bartfort, can you win this battle?"
"If that is what your majesty wishes for." Kira replied as he looks very determined to Roland who for some reason showed a very angry face that confused him. "eh?"
"This greenhorn." "I guess that's what he really is. A child and nothing else." "I give him 70 points for that." Murmurs and whispers came from the nobles on Vince's side. The Duke chuckles while Gilbert sighs and shakes his head.
"what's wrong?" Kira whispers to himself as he looks at Roland who is still looking angry and then at Mylene who is blushing and looking very embarrassed and lastly at Lacus who sighs with a smile to him. "d-did I say something wrong?"
"very well…" Roland spoke as he is calming down his unknown source of anger. The King then stands up and waves out a hand. "We will tackle the final battle against the principality from here on with Count Bartfort as the supreme commander!"
As Kira is named the Supreme Commander of the battle which surprises the young man himself. Marquis Frampton raises an objection.
"Please wait your majesty!" Frampton exclaimed. "This upstart cannot be trusted. This person was suspected of treason! Are you telling us to fight under someone like this?" he swung his right hand to the side. "Is it your intention to ridicule us?!"
"That's right. We should negotiate with the principality instead." "Please leave it to me. I swear I'll make the negotiation with the principality a success!" "It's a mistake to rely on someone like that!" The nobles who agreed with Marquis Frampton also spoke their objection.
Kira stood up and looked at his majesty and Mylene-sama's faces. His majesty got his eyes closed but Mylene-sama opened her mouth expressionlessly.
"Stop with the unsightly act. The Count isn't a traitor." Mylene spoke as she faces Marquis and his followers. "You all are the one who fabricate the accusation. Besides, it's his majesty who appoints the supreme commander." She hardens her gaze at the group. "Are you saying that you are disobeying?"
Hearing her words, Marquis Frampton turned red in anger.
"What?! Even for the queen that way of speaking is inexcusable!" Malcom shouted as he pointed a finger at Mylene. "We won't unite to fight together if the circumstance is like this!"
"then it's a good thing that we won't be uniting with the likes of you." Vince spoke out as he steps forward and then did a loud finger snap which called in soldiers and knights of his household that came running into the audience hall.
"just what are you doing, Vince!?" Malcom exclaimed as the soldiers and guards went and started to apprehend the Marquis and his followers. "What is the meaning of this!?"
"Have you not understand your situation, Marquis Frampton?" Lacus spoke as she steps down and faced the Marquis. "you are under arrest for treason in conspiring with the Principality and bringing this war to the kingdom."
"w-what!? what are you saying!?" the Marquis shouted angrily. "Where is the proof that we're connected with the principality!?" he then looks at Roland. "Your majesty! This is a mistake! We did nothing wrong!"
Before Malcom could get a reply from Roland, Lacus proceeds to take out a small pile of letters that she threw in front of the Marquis.
"there is your proof, Marquis." Lacus spoke with a very stern voice. "proof of your conspiracy and treason against the Kingdom."
"t-these are!?" Malcom started to look surprised and he begins to sweat. "just h-how did you get them!? They should've been burned!"
"if you believed that you were able to hide the fact that you have been conspiring with the Principality in secret, you are wrong." Lacus spoke as she held up one letter to the Marquis. "I along with Mylene-san have been keeping an eye on your every movement and made records of every thing that you've done. From calling the Principality to attack the vessel airships of the Holfort Academy's school field trip to bringing this war upon us."
Marquis Frampton started to look very angry and irritated as he glared at Lacus and then at Kira.
"This must be your work. This treacherous fiend!" Malcom shouted angrily. "he must be really a spy if he has such evidence! He's not to be trusted! He is!"
"Marquis Frampton, that's unsightly." Mylene spoke with a pitying look at the Marquis. "This is your defeat."
"I-I am not defeated! This is hardly can be a full evidence of anything! I didn't do anything wrong! I!" Malcom shouted as he struggles against the knight who had him restrained.
"Princess Hertrude left you a message, Marquis." Lacus spoke as Hachi made an appearance and projected a hologram video recording of Hertrude. "please listen to this."
Malcom looks at the hologram screen in surprise as it showed Hertrude speaking.
"that old man? Oh, right. Tell him that he was unexpectedly useless and that he is a real fool." Hertrude spoke in the hologram video screen that replayed once it ended.
Seeing the video and hearing it, Malcom started to look more furious than ever.
"T-That little girl!" Malcom growls in anger as he looks very mad and begins screaming out. "why don't you all understand!? Why won't you all understand who is the real threat here!?" he looks at Kira. "that brat there is a foreigner who could win against a dozen of airships with just one large one! Don't you all know what danger he could bring to us all!? do you!?"
"We do and we would've acted in a more reasonable manner." Lacus stated with a very serious look at the Marquis. "yet you allowed your paranoia to get the best of you, Marquis Frampton. You allowed your fear to take over your actions and in result, you fell in the hole of your own making." She turns and begins walking away. "you've reaped what you've sown and therefore this is your karma."
"take him and his cronies away." Vince ordered one knight who nodded and the others begin to get Marquis and his followers to the Dungeon where they belong.
"y-you! You! YOU BRAT!" Marquis shouted as he struggled and break free from the knight who restrained him. the old noble make a dash straight for Lacus. "HOW DARE YOU MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME! HOW DARE YOU!?"
"Lacus!" Roland shouted while Mylene gasps as Lacus turns and looks in surprise to see Malcom coming straight for her but the princess was saved by Kira who appeared and did a round house kick straight at the old noble's face and send him flying to the air before crashing to the floor where he gets electrocuted by two of Hachi's worker robots.
Now tased till he was unconscious, Malcom lies on the floor and smoking.
Lacus saw the scene as she looks at Kira who looks rather furious.
"DON'T YOU EVER DARE HARM HER!" Kira shouted very angrily. "YOU HARM HER AND I WILL DESTROY YOU!"
"Kira…" Lacus gently held his hand and Kira grasped it back. the young man looks at the princess for a moment before he turns to look away.
"Duke Redgrave." Kira spoke out as he looks at Vince who looks back at him. "I believe I can trust in your to deliver a fitting punishment to the former Marquis and his followers for everything that they have done?"
"yes, I believe you can." Vince said with a nod as he looks at Malcom who is getting dragged away by two knights. "not only the kingdom, but he dare put harm to my daughter." He then looks at Kira. "I'll see to it that they are given fitting capital punishments."
"Thank you." Kira nods in gratitude to the older man before he turns and smiles a bit to Lacus who sighs with a smile while gently massaging his arm as a sign of thank you for saving her and to calm him down.
After the little drama, business returns to the Audience room. Kira faces the other nobles with Lacus standing by his side.
"I know that you all cannot fully trust me because I am a foreigner and very young but please put your trust in me." Kira said with a hand placed to his chest. "I am your ally and I will do my best to protect this kingdom and its people. However, I cannot do this alone." He then bows his head. "I need all your help. Only united can we stand a chance." He raise his head and showed a very determined face. "so please, help me win this war."
And with his speech, he receives some roars and cheers of agreement from some nobles and knights.
With eliminating Marquis Frampton and his followers from the picture, things are progressing very well for the Kingdom's preparation against the coming enemy.
After an hour or so in the Audience Hall, Kira and Lacus are now heading off somewhere in the castle.
"Where are we going now?" Kira asks Lacus who is leading him.
"The inner area of the castle where the Royal Airship is stored at." Lacus replied as she and Kira turns a corner and arrived at an entrance with stairs where they begin walking down upon. "think of it as the hangar where the airship is placed upon."
"I see." Kira said before he sees Hachi's drone hovering near him. "what is it, Hachi?"
"I have reports regarding the incoming invasion forces." Hachi replied as the AI's drone projected a hologram screen showing the map of Holfort and the outside border landscape as the Fanoss Forces are marked as red triangles that have been split into three groups with one more forward than the other. "they have split their forces into three and one force is advancing faster than the rest."
"it could be another advanced force." Lacus stated. "perhaps their mission is to attack the kingdom first while rescuing Princess Hertrude from our confinement."
"that's a huge possibility." Kira nods in understanding. "by the way, where is Princess Hertrude and her bodyguard now?"
"she's being confined at the academy while her bodyguard had returned to the Principality and joined their forces." Lacus said as she looks a bit serious. "I have no doubt that you will be facing him in the upcoming battle, Kira."
Kira nods silently as he knew that his battle against Canard is fated just like how the elven chief predicted.
The two continues to go down the stairs and they soon reached the end where there is Angelica, Olivia, Clarice, and Deidre who seem to be waiting for them along with Tori and Haro who came straight to their owners.
"ah! it's Kira-san! he's here!" Olivia cried out as she is the one who spotted the young man and pink haired princess arriving down the stairs.
"Livia? All of you?" Kira spoke out in surprise to see the group while Tori came perching onto his shoulder and Haro jumped into Lacus' arms. "Why are you all here?"
"I guess you could say that we are here because it's basically the only safe place for us." Angelica replied as she begins explaining how her father along with Clarice's and Deidre's got them to be in the castle where they are safe, Olivia being there was because of the Duke's daughter direct request. "after we got many citizens evacuated, we were brought here for safety purposes."
"I see." Kira nods in understanding before he looks at Clarice and Deidre. "I suppose that the both of you are here as well for safety purposes?"
"yeah, we are." Clarice nodded in reply before sighing. "everything is sure becoming chaotic after what the Marquis did." she shakes her head before she smiles. "but what is more chaotic is the fact that you kicked the snot out of him when he tried to attack Princess Lacus."
"I would've paid good money to see that." Deidre chuckles while holding out her fan to her lips that forms a big smile. "that Marquis always gives me the bad vibes and hearing that he got kicked in the face by you sure gives me the shivers~!"
"r-right…" Kira nods with an awkward face before he looks a bit serious. "so then, anyone know where we are?"
"um, we have no idea?" Olivia replied as everyone turns to see that they are currently in a large hangar base but there is no airship to be seen. "we were brought here so that we are safe but we have no idea where we are."
"This is the hangar where the Royal Airship is stored." Lacus said as she begins to lead everyone to a large hangar door that seems to be locked. "or rather, where it is sealed."
"sealed? What do you mean by that?" Clarice asks as they all wondered what did the pink haired princess mean.
"the Royal Airship was sealed away when the kingdom's founder established Holfort." Mylene's voice is heard as everyone turns to see the Queen and King along with Marie and her five lovers coming by but under the eyes of 10 guards who are watching them. "and it's been kept here until the time comes for its power to be used once again."
"I see. It make sense if it was a very powerful weapon." Angelica nods in understanding.
"well then, let's unseal it and get it ready for war." Clarice said.
"it's not that simple." Lacus shakes her head.
"indeed." Mylene added in before she pointed to something large covered under a sheet and had two guards standing near it. "there's only one way to unseal the Royal Airship and that is with this device."
Everyone looks curious as they went to the large object and the two guards pulls the sheet off to reveal a heart shaped pedestal with a heart shaped backdrop.
"This thing is?" Kira asks as everyone looks at the weirdly strange pedestal.
"the trial of love pedestal." Mylene stated in a serious voice as it sounded very weird for Kira, Lacus, and Marie while Angelica and the others look a bit interested.
"trial of…love?" Lacus spoke as Mylene nods.
"When two people who genuinely love each other stand there, the seal will be undone and the Royal Airship will be awakened." Mylene stated in explanation as she pointed to the small golden treasure chest. "in order to unseal the royal family's airship, we must pass this trial to do so."
"that sounds a bit…" Kira spoke.
"stupid?" Hachi stated on his comms. "utterly cliché in a way?"
Kira nods as he was sure that no one else should hear the AI's comment.
"The royal family Holfort, and then the branch family Marmoria House. In addition is Field House, Arclight House, and Seberg house." Roland stated as he looks at his son and his entourage one by one. "They are heroes who formed a party in the past. It must be destiny for their descendants to be all present here like this."
"heroes?" Kira asks as he looks at Lacus.
"History has written that the Holfort Kingdom was built on the foundation of a party of six people who founded the kingdom together." Lacus explained to him. "five of the six are the ancestors of Julius and the others, but there is no record of the last member whose name has been lost in history."
"we have to try every possibility of seeing who can match perfectly to get the Royal Airship." Mylene stated as she looks at Julius and the others. "we have the members of the royal family and the four households that are five of the hero's households, but there is also the last party members of the heroes whose descendants are unknown." She looks at Kira and the others. "that is why we gather you all here, to see who could ever open the chest."
'so it's like a matchmaking game?' Kira thought with a sweatdrop behind his head. 'we match up to each other and see who wins with the highest score?'
"perhaps this world is not too fantasy like as we had thought?" Hachi told Kira who just nods quietly.
"have you all resolved yourselves?" Mylene asks as she faces everyone. "This isn't an easy device at all, just so you know?"
Kira and the others watch Mylene who steps onto the pedestal as she was followed by Roland who looks rather awkward and is walking a bit slow.
"first we will show everyone how to use this device." Mylene stated as she watches her husband slowly come to the pedestal. "Is that alright, your majesty?"
"i-indeed.." Roland nods as he tried to look serious. "It should work without fail this time!"
"is there something wrong with the King?" Olivia asks as everyone notices how Roland is looking nervous and awkward to Mylene who has a strong doubting gaze at him.
No one answered her as they just watched the King and Queen got onto the heart shaped stage as there is a line that lid up at the center.
Kira and the others just watched as the heart shaped stage just shines and made a blue light shine on where Roland stands while pink is to where Mylene is.
"Man-25 point! Woman-58 point! Unfortunate!"
A robotic like AI voice is heard from the stage as everyone instantly had a question mark appear above their heads that they tilt to the side.
Hearing the words, Mylene begins hitting Roland with a very angry face.
"you liar! 25 point! what's with that!?" Mylene shouted. "That score is already in the level of stranger or acquaintance!"
"s-shut up!" Roland retorted "Even your score is just 58 point! Even you don't love me anymore! Yeah, that's right. I'm not seeing you as a woman anymore! What's bad from that!?"
"this machine is a game for laughs, isn't it?" Hachi asks Kira who just facepalms while shaking his head.
"we're in a war and our hope is blocked by such a machine?" Kira asks in a whisper as he felt a mixed of emotions to see how the machine actually works.
"so to get the royal family's airship, we must reach a perfect score with a machine that can calculate the level of affection someone has for the other?" Angelica spoke to Mylene who gets off the stage, a bit fuming and angry at her husband who retreated in defeat.
"yes." Mylene nods. "we have tried to reach the perfect score but as you can see, it always fails." She turns and sends a glare at Roland who flinches a bit before running away. "because of that someone."
"so basically we have to match up with everyone and see who can actually get a perfect score with the other, is it?" Clarice spoke as she crosses her arms under her chest and looks away uninterested. "sorry, but I don't think I want to match up with anyone from that side."
"I as well." Angelica added in.
The two girls looking away from one direction and not wanting to look at a certain group that would be Marie and her lovers.
"please understand that we must find the perfect match." Mylene told the girls. "I understand the little situation that you two have with my son and his friend, but this is to get the royal family's airship." She begs the girl. "we just need to see and check, that's all! please!"
Angelica and Clarice just looked away with a huff as they were sure that they do not have any intention to get on the love calculator thing as they already knew the result would be low.
"Marie! Come with me!" Julius suddenly shouted as everyone turns and sees the former crowned prince getting on the stage with Marie. "we shall obtain the royal family's airship with our love!"
"eh!? Ehhh!?" Marie looks in complete confusion and shock as she was dragged to the stage in the midst of being puzzled.
When the two got on stage, the device lit up as it shines a pink and blue light under Julius and Marie just like what it did when the King and Queen got on it.
The device started up and measured the two's love in number.
"Man-90 point! Woman-17 point! It ended up in an extremely unfortunate result!"
Hearing the results, Kira and the girls couldn't help but feel pity for Julius and his one sided love.
"she is beyond redemption, isn't she?" Hachi asks Kira who nods his head twice.
When the result came out, Marie looks away from Julius who is just all smiles.
"If this is the result than I can accept it." Julius said with a refreshed smile. He looks at Marie with a growing smile. "Marie, I shall proclaim here. I swear that one day I will make you turn toward me."
"does he have a screw loose?" Clarice asks with an awkwardly deadpanned face. "her score was beyond pity, right?"
"d-don't say it out loud, Clarice-senpai!" Olivia cries out as she wants her to read the mood.
Kira sighs as he shakes his head before he looks at Angelica who seems uninterested.
'she must've gotten over him for a while, huh?' Kira thought as he looks away and sees Jilk coming towards Julius who gets off the stage but left Marie on it. 'I can't blame her, after seeing that score. She decided to move on no matter what.'
Jilk gets on the stage as the device lit up once again and calculate the number of the love between him and Marie.
"Man-89 point. Woman-12 point. It ended up with a sad result."
"more like pathetic." Clarice stated as she looks away with a huff. "I'm so glad I don't have any interest in him anymore."
"I don't know why, but I think I should apologize for that…" Mylene whispers when she heard what Clarice said.
"It's vexing that I lost against his highness but, I also cannot lose." Jilk said with a smile to Marie while having a hand to his chest. "Marie-san, I swear that I too will absolutely make you turn toward me."
"Jilk…wait…" Marie cries out as she wanted to explain but Greg butts in.
"move!" Greg pushes Jilk away as he got on the stage and grins to Marie. "Marie, this is my feeling!"
The machine counts his love for Marie as it lits up the pink and blue light.
"Man-91 point. Woman-22 point. It's an unrequited love, just give up."
Deidre let out a snort as everyone looks at her and the Roseblade daughter quickly opens her fan and holds it in front of her mouth, covering her amused smirk that was made by the result of hearing the machine's calculations.
While Deidre was amused, Greg just smiled powerlessly hearing the score.
"It's painful. But you know, I'm feeling refreshed with this." Greg said as he chuckles a bit before grinning to Marie once again. "Marie, do you understand my feeling now? I'm not gonna give up on you."
"Greg! Listen to me! i!" Marie cries out but was once again cut off by Brad.
"Next is me" Brad stated as Greg jumped off from the device and let him get on stage that lits up when the male partner switched.
"Man-98 point! Woman─9 point. What an amazing discrepancy."
"I don't think I can watch this anymore…" Kira whispers as each result is just too downright pitiful to even watch and hear.
Angelica and the others nod in agreement as they too felt the same.
"so my score is the lowest" Brad smiled a bit sadly.
"i-I'm sorry! But i!" Marie cries out but Brad kneels and grasps her hands.
"but this is where it starts!" Brad cries out with a big handsome smile directed at Marie. "I now have a goal! I will aim to become Marie's number one from here!"
Last was Chris who took Brad's spot after the purple haired man gets off.
"Certainly we are unreliable. But we…." Chris spoke as the love meter checks his love for Marie and vice versa. "but we have nothing else but Marie!"
"Man-87 point. Woman-30 point! Isn't this woman too cold?"
"more like worthless, pathetic, and unforgivable." Angelica stated while Clarice nods in agreement.
"now now…" Olivia calms the two down as she understands how much the two despise Marie.
"everyone, you're wrong!" Marie cries out "Listen to what I have to say!"
Marie was cut off for the last time by Julius who took her right hand and led her down from the device.
"we understand. It's pathetic but, we were unable to protect you." Julius said with an apologetic smile "It's only natural that Marie is disgusted with us. We were unable to be by your side when it mattered."
"It would seem that those five thought that it's natural for Marie to be disgusted with them for allowing her to be sent off to war." Hachi told Kira who just sighs because the girl didn't actually love them, and they are too blind to even realize it.
"Don't worry Marie" Julius said with a nod "we won't let go of you anymore."
"You're wrong! That's why, listen to me!" Marie cries out.
The group moves away as Kira and the others just watch with pitying faces.
"What goes around comes around, is it?" Clarice asks as she scoffs a bit. "serves her right for thinking she can do whatever she wants."
"agreed." Angelica nods.
"n-now now! I understand your frustrations but let's focus on the big picture!" Mylene cries out with an awkward smile. "we still have to past the trial and unseal royal family's airship!"
"but you've seen the result of your son and his entourage with Marie Fou Lafan." Kira stated as he sighs a bit. "we doubt we can get a high result if we match Angie and the others with them of all people."
"not necessarily." Deidre stated as everyone glances at her. "there were six heroes in the legend, correct? The identity of the last hero is unknown and therefore it could be any person in Holfort Kingdom who might be the descendant of the last hero."
"your point is?" Clarice asks while raising an eyebrow.
"any of us here might be the descendant of that last hero!" Deidre stated as she waves her fan out and smiles a bit towards Kira. "even our hero here might also be the descendant of that hero! Let us test which of us is the perfect match for him! and perhaps we may achieve victory!"
"but I'm not even…" Kira spoke but was cut off when Angelica, Olivia, Deidre, and Clarice suddenly tugs his arms and caused Tori to fly away in fright. "e-everyone!? What are you?!"
"if that's the case, let me and Kira-kun try first!" Clarice exclaimed as she begins to pull Kira's left arm to the side. "I'm the senior here!"
"I'm in the same year as you! Therefore I am also eligible!" Deidre exclaimed while pulling on Kira's back shirt which in result is causing the collar to choke the young man's neck.
"no! we're his friends and therefore we should be the ones to go first!" Angelica cried out and Olivia nodded her head a few times while the two were pulling on Kira's right arm at the same time.
"s-stop it! please!" Kira cried out as he's getting pulled apart like he was a doll.
"Please stop" Hachi spoke as the AI's drone appeared and fired small plastic pellets at the girls' foreheads, making them let go of Kira and hold their heads in pain. "further violence will be met with more harsher punishments."
"t-thanks, Hachi." Kira breathes in relief as he is spared from being torn apart. "just what were you guys even thinking?"
"you heard what Deidre said!" Clarice said while rubbing a hand to her forehead. "we have to test every possibility for a perfect match! And we need you, Kira-kun!"
"but I'm not..!" Kira retorted but was stopped by Clarice who instantly dragged him straight to the machine's platform. "h-hey!"
"hey, Clarice! You can't just pull him up there!" Angelica cried out while Olivia had gasped beforehand.
"Early Bird gets the worm!" Clarice said with a grin as she and Kira stands on their designated spots and the machine activates and begins calculating their affection points before giving out the results.
"Man – 80! Woman – 90! Oooh~! It's a growing relationship~! Keep it up~!"
Clarice looks rather happy to hear the result as she hugs Kira out of happiness.
"I'm going to get that score to a perfect match no matter what." Clarice said on the young man's chest and Kira looks a bit confused as he thought he was mishearing what she said.
"pardon, what?" Kira asks but Clarice just leaves the stage with a big smile on her face.
Kira looks awkwardly confused as he wondered what she just said but he soon shivers in fear when he felt a hard angry gaze that is coming from Lacus who is holding Haro very tight. The pink ball robot cries out "THIS IS BAD! THIS IS BAD!"
"L-Lacus…" Kira looks scared to the pink haired princess as he was sure that he just made her angry after receiving the hug from Clarice.
"I am next!" Deidre exclaimed all proudly as she walks up to the stage and stands beside Kira whose hand she forcibly grabbed. "witness these results!"
The machine counted the love between the two and announced it out loud.
"Man – 50! Woman – 96! It's slow and steady for these two~!"
"hahahaha! He only has love for you in that score!" Clarice laughs at Deidre's score and the Roseblade girl fumes at her.
"hah! At least my love for him is at 96! While yours is at 90! You don't have the right affection for him!" Deidre retorted.
"he has an 80 point love score for me though! You only got 50 out of him!" Clarice barked back.
This started a cat fight between the two seniors as this fight lasted for a few minutes before being broken apart by Olivia who cuts in between them.
"mark my words, Count!" Deidre exclaimed as she swung a hand and pointed her folded fan at Kira who made a surprised face. "I will make sure that you change your mind of my standing in your life and I will ensure that I make a mark in your heart! Understand?"
"y-yes?" Kira replied in confusion while Lacus looks at the Roseblade daughter with a very wary look and not tightening her grasp on Haro.
After her proclamation, Deidre gets off the stage but leaves Kira there for Olivia to come up next.
"just what are we trying to prove here?" Kira asks while the machine calculates the affection that the two have for each other. "this machine is like a joking game machine, you know? you can't actually calculate love in such a way."
"w-we just have to test and try everything, Kira-san!" Olivia cries out. "yeah! That's right! We have to test everything!"
Kira sighs as he waits for the machine to finish calculating and announce the score.
"Man – 90! Woman – 98! Ooh! Such a distance between the points! Keep up your game, girl~!"
Olivia blushes with a big smile as she glances at Kira who seems confused at her reaction.
"I will keep up my game on you, Kira-san!" Olivia said as she came near and showed a very determined face to him. "I will do my best!"
"o-okay?" Kira looks at her confused before he looks surprised when Olivia tip toed and gives him a small kiss on the lips before she giggles with a smile and then hops off the stage. "w-wha?" he then shiver sin fright as he slowly looks at Lacus who instantly frightens him because the pink haired princess is smiling very sweetly to him while tightening her grip on Haro who is crying like it was in pain. "o-oh no.."
The next on the line is Angelica who stood beside Kira with a rather nervous face.
"Angie? Are you alright?" Kira asks in seeing her face's expression.
"i-I'm fine! Just a bit nervous, that's all!" Angelica replied as she and Kira waits for the machine to calculate the love they have for each other. "this machine gives out scores of our affection for each other after all!"
"they're just points, they don't actually mean…" Kira spoke but was cut off by the machine's announcement of their score.
"Man – 99! Woman - 99! What a tie! What a score! What a perfect duo who could be tied together forever!"
The score was heard as this got Olivia and the others to be surprised but for Lacus; she instantly made an even more sweeter smile while a fiery red aura instantly grew around her body.
"K-Kira…you have that much affection..for me?" Angelica asks in a small yet curious voice while blushing and staring at the man who is embarrassed and looking away. "I knew that you care but..for you to have that level of a score…" she went and slightly leans her chest against his side. "Kira…do you really find me attractive?"
"w-well…i-i…" Kira spoke as he sounded very nervous, awkward, and embarrassed. "well…you were…well…" he coughs and tried his best to look away. "you were wearing that beautiful red dress that night during the first term's social party…..and you look very pretty and beautiful and…I guess..that…"
Kira is extremely embarrassed and awkward towards Angelica who just looks happy.
'so he likes girls like that, huh?' Angelica thought before she went and made him face her. the blonde smiling to him before she proceeds to give him a very loving yet brief kiss on his lips which surprises the young man.
"hey! Angelica!" "Olivia was one thing, but how dare you!" Clarice and Deidre cried out angrily while Olivia looks a bit happy for her friends.
"just like you said, Clarice." Angelica said as she got off the platform and gave her two seniors a proud smirk. "the Early Bird gets the worm, was it?"
"w-why you!" Clarice and Deidre looks frustrated and jealous at the same time.
"just why is this happening?" Kira asks as he sees how Angelica is just smirking at Clarice and Deidre who were frustratedly complaining against her. the young man thought that things were confusing, but they became frightening cause he hears Haro's cry for help because the pink machine ball is slowly getting crushed in Lacus' very tight grasp, the pink haired princess is now blazing in a red aura of anger that instantly made him have cold sweat. 'SHE'S MAD! SHE'S VERY MAD! WHAT DO I DO!? WHAT DO I DO!?'
"wait a minute! Why are you going up there, Mylene-sama!?" Clarice soon suddenly exclaimed as she and the others sees that Mylene is going up the platform after Angelica.
"Mylene-san, you are not a descendant of that unknown last hero, right?" Lacus asks her mother figure with a confused and surprised face, temporarily forgetting her anger at Kira.
"w-well! We are testing every possibility, right?!" Mylene made up an excuse while looking embarrassed. "I mean, we have to test to see if I may or may not be the descendant of that unknown hero, right!? For all we know, that last hero disappeared and may or may not have moved to another kingdom! So we have to test everything that is possible!"
Lacus and the others look at one another as they couldn't help but sense that Mylene had an ulterior motive.
Mylene shyly made her way to the stage and stands besides Kira who looks rather awkward.
'just got to see how attractive I am to young men..' Mylene thought as she waited for the machine to check on the love score.
"Man-98! Woman-80! A little one sided but your love can grow~!"
"EEEhhh~?!" Angelica, Olivia, Clarice, and Deidre screams in shock while Lacus looks shocked to the point she unconsciously dropped Haro who begins to roll away to safety from its owner.
Mylene looks baffled too as she blushes very red while looking at Kira who is in the same state.
'I thought I could get a score of 40 or maybe 50! But 98!?' Mylene thought in shock as she looks at Kira who is looking away in embarassement. 'am I still that attractive!? Or does he have an attraction to me!? wait! No, Mylene! You're over 30! You have a no good husband and a stupid son! You have a family! He's way too young to be with you! And!' her face started to steam when she remembered the little incident she had with the young man back at his island's hotspring. 'is it because of that!?'
Mylene moves away from the stage as she is stuck in her train of thoughts filled with the forbidden love that cannot be shared between her and Kira.
"to think that Kira-san has that level of affection for the queen…" "I just concluded that he has a fetish for women wearing beautiful dresses, but for him to have such a score for Mylene-sama!" "is there a secret between those two!? There's no way the score can be that high if those two only meets several times!" "there has to be some sort of foreplay here!" the girls minus Lacus chattered with each other as Kira looks rather awkwardly embarrassed.
"This will lead to trouble for you once again, Kira." Hachi spoke, the AI had watched the entire scene and can only compute that Kira will be in big trouble.
"you think I don't know that, Hachi?" Kira asks as he tries to calm himself down.
As the situation was calming down a bit after the little surprise score of Mylene and Kira, Lacus approaches him and gets on the stage.
"Lacus..i-i…the scores are just.." Kira spoke as he wanted to tell her that he only loves her but the pink haired diva silence him with a finger to his lips. "um?"
"let the heart explain, Kira." Lacus told her beloved man in a voice that sounded a bit dark and jealous in a way which just made Kira shiver in fear.
The machine flashes its lights as it calculates the love shared between Kira and Lacus which it soon announces.
"MAN- 1000! WOMAN – 1000! You two are a matchmade in heaven! Congratulations!"
The score is heard, and a blast of pink and blue confetti exploded behind the stage.
"t-they did it!" Olivia cries out while clapping her hands.
"I knew that they had something going on…." Clarice spoke with a small sad smile. "guess they were the right pair for the job after all."
"indeed…." Deirdre nods with her spread out fan covering her mouth.
Angelica stays silent as she watches Kira and Lacus get off the stage together. The girl knowing that there is a strong bond of love shared between the two, but she didn't want to say anything as she let it be as it is.
Kira looks a bit relieved for a moment as he somehow managed to prove his heart is only for Lacus.
"Thank goodness…." Kira whispers before he felt a tug on his hand that made him turn to face his pink haired princess. "Lacus? What is it?"
Lacus didn't reply as she went near Kira and circles her arms around his neck to gently pulled his head down to her height. The princess then took a quick glance at Angelica and the others who looks confused as to what was going on. She showed them a small smirk of a smile before she looks at her beloved man and proceeds to take his lips for a deep and passionate kiss that surprised them all.
Kira was surprised at the sudden kiss as he didn't understand why she was doing it, but feeling how strong her arms were around her neck, something told him to just accept it and return it.
The girls watched in awe and with blushes on their cheeks to see the kiss between Kira and Lacus that lasted for almost a minute before the two separated with a small thin string of saliva that connected their lips and soon breaks when they are far away from one another.
"Lacus?" Kira looks at Lacus in confusion before the pink haired princess pulls him down for a hug. "what's wrong?"
"you're a very bad boy, Kira~" Lacus whispers into Kira's ear while using a voice that sounded very eerie and sweet at the same time which instantly made Kira shiver in fright. "getting a hug is one thing, but you just received a kiss not only from two girls but you've received them more than once….so very bad, Kira~."
"L-Lacus..that's…" Kira tried to explain the situation, but Lacus didn't allow it.
"Not only to those girls, but you showed a very high level of affection to Mylene-san as well…" Lacus whispers as she sounded even more scarier than before. "I wonder why…" her hands gently grasps his back before slowly griping them to the point that Kira winced. "I wonder why you have such affection to her…"
"L-Lacus…it's just…i…" Kira spoke, the young man trying hard to think on how to explain the situation to her.
"After this war is over, I'll make sure that you learn your lesson.." Lacus said as she slowly parted with Kira who looks pale blue because he saw that the pink haired princess' eyes had become hollow of life. "Alright~?"
"Y-Yes…" Kira replied in a very frightened voice as he looks very pale while Tori came flying back to its owner right shoulder and looks at the Ultimate Coordinator with its head tilted a few times.
While the commotion slowly eases down, everyone heard rumbling coming from the large hangar door that begins to rumble and move up as it is slowly opening.
"That is?" Kira spoke out as everyone looks at the opening hangar as an airship or rather a mobile spaceship slowly came into view.
"I had a feeling that there was such possibility since you've found the Archangel along with the Strike and Hachi, Kira." Lacus said as everyone watches the ship coming into view. "but to think that it was sealed here of all places."
Kira glances at Lacus for a moment before he looks back and he soon made a surprised noise when he saw that the Royal Airship is actually a very familiar spaceship that he knows very much.
"T-The Eternal?" Kira muttered out as he laid eyes upon the very same space vessel that had a major role in the battle of Jachin Due.
The FFMH-Y101 Eternal, a one of a kind space warship built by ZAFT to specifically support the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the ZGMF-09A Justice Gundam in battle. The ship's large frame is equipped with necessary armaments and has the accommodations to support the two specific mobile suits in battle. The vessel now entitled as the Royal Airship of Holfort even though its considered a spaceship built by the people of Kira and Lacus' original world.
"so this is the Royal Airship…" Angelica whispers as she and the others looks at the ship in amazement.
"it's rather pretty." Olivia commented, liking the pinkish color that the ship has.
"but look at its frame." Clarice stated as she pointed at several areas of the ship's very frame. "it looks like it's been damaged and untreated for some reason."
"Considering that it's been sealed away for a long time, I'm certain that it was never cared well." Deidre stated while fanning herself. "I'm not sure if it is possibly capable to go into battle in such a state."
"indeed." Angelica nodded before she and the others look at Kira and Lacus who looks at the ship with a small sense of nostalgia in their eyes. "this is?"
As Angelica is pondering on why does the two have such a look in their eyes, Hachi's little drone came flying to the two while a bunch of worker robots entered the hangar and started to give the needed and proper maintenance to the Eternal.
"Do you think that the Eternal can go into battle, Hachi?" Kira asks Hachi who made a few beeping noises.
"it's impossible." Hachi replied. "the Eternal has considerate amount of untreated damages on its outer frame and its thrusters are in a stalled mode. Also, considering that the ship was made for space battle, I do not believe that it can function too well on the planet."
"I see…" Lacus said as she started to think. "if we can't use the Eternal.."
"no, I think we can." Kira said as Lacus looks at him taking out his phone and begins to check on something. "Hachi, do you think we can retrofit the Eternal's Engine and Thrusters with the parts we've discovered in some ruins before?" he then showed the AI, the image in his phone screen which shows a schematic of changing the Eternal's engine and thrusters. "and if its possible, how long do you think it will take to do so?"
"considering that we've already retrofitted the parts for the use of the Archangel's repairs, it is possible to retrofit them once again for the Eternal." Hachi replied as the AI made some calculations. "but with retrofitting the parts used only for the Archangel into use for the Eternal would take an estimation of 4 hours and 50 minutes at the best."
"And what about the Fanoss Advanced forces? What's their ETA?" Lacus asks and Hachi made a few beeps.
"ETA 3 hours 40 minutes and 20 seconds." Hachi replied. "if I focus on making preparations to repair its frame and retrofitting its thrusters, it shall take only 2 hours at the best."
"do it." Kira nods to Hachi's drone and then looks at Lacus. "I'll work on its weapon systems and its life support systems to hasten things up." He then started to check on something on his phone. "I'm going to call in more worker robots to help its repair as well."
"I understand." Lacus nods. "I'll continue make preparations for the upcoming battle."
Kira nods back before he looks back at Hachi's drone that made a few loud beeping noises.
"Kira, there's also something you need to know." Hachi said. "I found something when I reactivated and accessed the Eternal's systems." The drone then projected a hologram screen showing a worker robot entering the hangar of the ship and going straight towards something. "I believe it belongs to you."
"That is…" Lacus spoke out with a slightly surprised face.
"I guess that since I found the Strike on the Archangel, and the other Gundams at the Elven island.." Kira spoke out as he slightly hardens his gaze when the young man sees the worker robot standing by the feet of a large mobile suit. "it should be obvious that these two would be within the Eternal."
Kira and Lacus looks upon the Hologram screen as it shows the image zooming out and revealing that the large feet belongs to the deactivated ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam that stands high and mighty upon its base along with the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam that stood beside its brethren.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye