CHAPTER 24

VILLKISS' REAWAKENING

The entire launch bay was in its usual pre-launch bedlam as the armourists rushed to get the first squads' Para-mail prepped to go after the escaped Brig. Cal was already mounted and running final checks on Siegfried's while below, Mei disconnected the charge cord from Siegfried's hull. "Ammo is restocked, and the Ice Bullet Launcher is charged." She called as she climbed up to the cockpit to check over Siegfried's screen. Cal meanwhile was momentarily distracted by the sight of a familiar red and blue artillery Glaive being moved into place.

"Woah." he said. "Is that my old Para-mail?"

"It sure is." Mei said proudly. "Since Miranda's unit is still in repair and we don't have any new Glaives, I've had to pull this one out of storage. I can't allow a great machine go to waste."

"You're incredible," Cal praised as he shifted his eyes to where Villkiss sat behind Ersha's Orange Hauser. "You got both my old unit AND that hunk of junk up and running in less than 10 minutes, Impressive." Mei's response was a sudden smack upside his head.

"It's not a hunk of junk you jerk!" Mei scolded him. "And you'd better make sure it doesn't get too damaged out there." As Mei began to run over Siegfried's final diagnostics Cal noticed the contemplative look on the young armourist's face.

"What's the matter?" Cal asked her in confusion.

"Nothing." Mei replied. "Fuel level and drive integrity is looking good. All systems are a go." But something was bothering her. 'Everything seems normal, but the calibration seems a little off. And how did he use up so much fuel in a short amount of time in the last fight?' But it looked like she'd have to wait until he got back to run a full diagnostic as it was already time to launch.

"Alright girls clear the way for the pilots." Mei called over the hanger. The armourers fell back just before the rest of first squad came running up and mounting onto their respected Para-mails. Miranda gripped the controls, her hands shaking out of nervousness of using a different model but calmed herself as she remembered it was Cal Senpai's old unit. 'I promise you Coco, I'll avenge you.' She vowed.


Behind the rest of the squad Ange clumsily mounted up on her new machine, her mind and body numb to everything. 'I just have to go out there one last time and then I'll be a princess once again." She daydreamed, the face of her mother flashing before her eyes. 'I'll be with mother again.' The thought was so blissful it was heavenly until a much younger face replaced her mother, a young cheerful looking girl with purple hair done in twin tails.

'I think you're incredible Miss Ange, you're smart and strong and very pretty.' Coco's voice echoed through her ears.

"I'm sorry but I'm not smart or strong or pretty." Ange whispered. "I'm a disgusting filthy Norma. I'm no Princess and I never was. And I got you killed because I believed I could go back to something that wasn't even real."

"I guess this is goodbye princess." Someone said. Ange looked down and who should she see but Commander Jill standing beside her new unit. "If you're going to die, then I can at least give you this." She tossed something to Ange who reflexively caught it. She opened her grip, and her eyes widened at the sight of her mother's ring.

"Thank you." Ange smiled sadly. Jill harrumphed in annoyance and walked away so the safety barriers could be raised. 'God, I hope this works,' she thought as she lit a cigarette. "This is her last chance. If not, then we're screwed.'


"Salia squad ready for take-off." Pamela announced.

"This is Captain Salia. First squad is ready to move out." Salia replied.

"Safety release confirmed, arresting gear released, begin lift off." Pamela announced. With the okay given, Salia shot out the hanger first followed by the rest of the first squad with Ange trailing behind. Rising higher and higher up to the clouds, they kept their eyes peeled for any sign of the escaped Brig. Cal checked his radar and saw one blue dot in the rear of the formation was swerving slightly.

"How you holding up back there Miranda?" He checked.

"Okay I guess," Miranda answered. "But I'm not used to this model. Any advice?"

"The controls are the same but turning and manoeuvring will be heavier so be sure to compensate." Cal explained.

"And If you need to use the artillery cannons," Rosalie interrupted, "then use the second pair of triggers beneath the primary."

"Okay I think I got it." Miranda gulped.

"Just don't rely on them since your new to the model." Rosalie instructed as she narrowed her eyes at the single rusted Para-mail in back trying desperately to maintain position with the rest of the squad. "Why is she coming with us? You expect us to work with that nut case who killed our Captain?"

"I'll kill her!" Chris growled. "I swear I'll kill her dead!"

"Focus Chris." Cal urged. "I'll make sure she doesn't repeat last time."

"That won't be a problem. I heard she's coming along for a suicide mission." Hilda announced.

"Huh?!" Rosalie and Chris double took.

"We're about to witness history." Hilda snarked. "A real-life princess is gonna kill herself." Hearing those words, a satisfied smirk curled across Miranda's face. Cal however cast a look back at the rusted unit and its pilot. Something about this didn't sit right with him. It wasn't that he was worried about Ange. Far from it. After all she had done, he'd be glad to be rid of her same as Hilda. But he couldn't get his mind off Gramps' letter or how the Commander said Villkiss was the key to Libertus. He still couldn't see how the hunk of junk that could barely maintain level flight was capable of that but if it was, why would Commander Jill risk it being damaged?

"Hey Salia!" Vivian suddenly called. "What's with that unit Ange is piloting? It's pretty cool don't you think?"

"Focus Vivian," their new Captain barked as harshly as she could. 'I need to keep my voice firm, or they won't take me seriously.' She thought.

"But don't you think it kind of looks like Big Bro's unit?" Vivian's observation struck something and Cal realized she was right. Villkiss's design was slimmer, less bulky, but it seemed to be a similar model to Siegfried. 'When I was almost killed against that Scarlett Monster,' he remembered. 'Siegfried changed.' Before he could put all the pieces together though, a large red dot lit up on his forward screen.

"Enemy found." He yelled. "He's right below us!"

"Everyone Get ready!" Salia warned. Down below, a dark shadow moved beneath the surf, growing steadily larger until in an eruption of sea foam, the Brig erupted into the sky. Despite it's right flank and wing still partially frozen from their previous fight, it spread its wings and angrily roared in challenge. 'You're going down you bastard," Cal vowed through gritted teeth.

"What's the plan Captain?" Hilda asked almost mockingly as she flew alongside.

"It's almost dead. So Let's finish it off!" Their new Captain ordered. "All units, get into destroyer mode and load up the freeze bullets!"

"Yes Ma'am!" One by one they all converted to destroyer mode, the long green spike extending from their machines' left elbow as they moved in for the kill. Salia quickly noted the Brig was flying with a limp and still bleeding from its bullet wounds. One or two freeze bullets should finish it off for good.

"Phalanx formation, attack now!" Salia ordered. With Vivian and Hilda taking the lead, Cal hung back with Ersha, Chris, Rosalie and Miranda as he pulled the Ice bullet launcher from Siegfried's right wing. The Brig however simply hovered in mid-air. 'Something doesn't feel right.' Cal's mind itched, 'No DRAGON makes itself an easy target like that.' No sooner had the assault units got within guard 200 meters of the Brig then it suddenly opened its jaws with a deafening screech. A sigil ring formed before its mouth and a light from below caught Cal's attention. Along the surface of the water, a second ring formed, and the water trembled like it was being boiled before dozens of glowing shards launched into the sky.

"Look out!" Vivian cried.

"Wait what…" Salia said in confusion, her eyes wide as she realized what was coming up towards them.

"Everyone move!" Cal bellowed. Vivian, Hilda and Salia scrambled out of the way, narrowly missing the barrage. Cal and the artillery team found themselves in their path next and while they were able to avoid getting shot down, Rosalie lost her right leg above the knee while Chris had her right arm and thruster taken off.

"Help!" Chris wailed as her unit wobbled in mid-air.

"Chris, Rosalie hang back!" Hilda shouted, putting herself between her two comrades and the barrage which she began to shoot down. Miranda flew above the squad as she tried to aim her cannons at the Brig that was closing in fast.

"I won't allow you to hurt anyone else!" She yelled in determination but failed to notice a few lone scales darting towards her. She noticed one through the corner of her eye and dodged back but not fast enough to avoid the triple rotary cannon being taken off entirely. More scales closed in but a flash of pink tore right through, saving Miranda from further damage.

"Sneaky lizard!" Vivian said, her pink Razor swinging around her rifle to throw up a typhoon of bullets while slicing any she missed with her boomerang blade. "I didn't know they had enough brains to set up a trap."

"There aren't any records of this." Salia murmured her eyes flying around in panic.

"Pull it together Salia!" Cal shouted, swapping the ice bullet launcher for his M4 rifle. Behind him, Ersha was rushed from multiple sides before her Orange Hauser's right leg and the barrel of her left cannon were sliced off, the loss of balance sending her spinning backwards. "Ersha!"

"I'm alright Cal!" Ersha assured as she regained control. "This is getting serious what do we do now?" Salia however was completely lost as to what to do. 'C'mon Salia think, do something.' she panicked. Cal put himself between Ersha and Salia to give them some cover but a few snuck their way through his barrage to clip Siegfried's larger wing.

"Shit!" He grunted. 'Screw it, but this is getting out of control, sorry Salia.' "Everyone huddle together." Cal ordered. "Anyone who hasn't taken damage pick a partner who's been hit to back up!" He felt bad taking over the situation from Salia but he'd worry about that later.

"Who put you in charge?" Hilda called. "I'm Vice Captain here."

"Just do it!" he snapped. With the foundation of a battle plan laid out; Hilda paired up with Rosalie, Vivian with Miranda, Salia with Chris, and Cal with Ersha as they huddled back-to-back, throwing up a full 360-degree field of fire to shoot down the remaining projectiles. Salia began to sweat, completely overwhelmed as she felt the pressure of the situation get the better of her.

"Captain Zola…" she murmured.

"You're the Captain now Salia." Cal told her. "C'mon we're counting on you!" A sudden screech caught Salia's attention as her eyes snapped open to see the Brig charging in fast.

"Pull back." She yelled. The squad darted off in different directions, but the Brig stretched out its wing and managed to snatch up Salia's Arquebus in its claw, the impact knocking her with enough force to nearly send her face first into her console as shards of metal showered all around her.

"Salia!" Ersha panicked.

"Oh no!" Vivian cried.

"Shit!" Cal seethed as he drew his Ice Bullet Launcher. He charged it up and took aim at the back of its wing but a sudden lurch in the Brig's movement caused him to miss.

"Salia hold on!" he yelled as he circled around for a better shot. As if sensing his presence, the Brig snapped its tail and swatted Siegfried aside like a fly, sending the Ice bullet launcher and one of his blades falling towards the sea. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!" Cal bellowed in frustration.

Inside her cockpit, Salia shook off the shrapnel that peppered all over her as she regained her senses. Unable to move her Para-mail, Salia did the only thing she could and opened her cockpit. From the sheathe mounted alongside her cockpit seat, Salia grabbed her assault rifle and stood up to fire at the DRAGON's head. But all she managed to achieve was catching its attention as it turned its head and moved in to snatch her in its jaws when something made it turn its attention away from her. In the skies ahead of her, something wobbled in flight as it closed in on their position and Salia recognized the familiar shape of Villkiss.


Lighting her third cigarette in a row Jill simply observed over the battle before her, while beside her desk, Inspector Emma looked even more tense than usual. "I hope that thing will be dealt with very soon." She gulped. "It's been out there for way to long."

"Calm yourself Inspector." Jill scoffed. "It's only one Brig and even if it does get away again, I'm sure the weapons and resources the human military has can take care of it."

"I guess you do have a point commander." Emma admitted calming down slightly.

"Commander something's wrong." Olivia announced.

"What is it?"

"The enemy's generating an energy pulse but radar isn't detecting any attack being launched."

"On screen!" Jill commanded. The overhead monitor switched to the Para-mail's onboard camera just in time to catch the image of a barrage of scales launching out of the sear towards First Squad.

"I didn't know a Brig type could do that." Emma observed as Jill crushed her cigarette in her prosthetic hand. 'A DRAGON setting a trap.' Jill noted. 'I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering what they really are.'

"Unit Ersha, Rosalie, Chris and Miranda have sustained major damage." Pamela announced. Jill could only helplessly watch as Salia's unit was in the snatched by the Brig's grip and Cal was knocked aside after trying to rescue her. And then, she noticed a third unit flying unsteadily towards the enemy.

"What is that girl thinking?" Emma wondered. Jill leaned forward and clasped her hands together. This was it. The moment of truth.


With her body still wrecked with pain and exhaustion Ange wobbled as she flew but she didn't care. "Come on…just a little further…almost there." Ange murmured.

"What the hell is she doing!?" Cal growled. The large purple DRAGON set its sights on its new target and began to charge right at Ange. "Almost…I can finally say goodbye."

"Look out!" Salia cried as soon as Ange was within distance. The Brig whipped around to smack Ange with its tail when a sudden shock pulsed through Ange's body and made her instinctively veer out of the way. However, she wasn't fast enough to fully dodge and the tail managed to graze the underside of Villkiss.

"Ange!" Cal yelled. Falling out of control, Ange felt her feet move on their own as they changed gears and pulled on the controls to stop herself from crashing into the sea. Ange panted in shock as she managed to lift her head up that was throbbing from the shock of impact.

"No not yet, one more try." Cal heard Ange over the com line.

"Ange stop!" Cal begged. He may have hated her for causing Zola and especially Coco's deaths, but her dying wouldn't fix anything. Cal dove forward in Siegfried but was forced to break off as the Brig sent out two waves of projectiles, one for him and another for Ange. Flying right into death, Ange felt blood run down her head from where her scalp injury had reopened but at the last second, she once more dodged out of the way. Cal heard her scream as she began to fall again only to once more pull up at the last minute. Now the Brig was giving chase and each time it attacked or struck at her, she dodged over and over as the DRAGON began to snarl with fury.

"What the hell is she doing now!?" Hilda grumbled. "I thought she said she wanted to die?" Cal gritted his teeth as he watched, powerless to do anything without his ice bullet launcher. 'If Gramps needed me to help support her then now's the time.' He had lost two comrades and he wasn't about to lose another two.

"Ange don't give up! You have to keep fighting!"

"Leave me alone." Ange pleaded to exhausted to do anything. "I don't want any help. I just want to die."

"Will you stop already!" Cal yelled. "Even if our fates are already decided you don't just surrender to it. You have to keep on fighting! Not just for yourself but for your comrades!" Cal circled back around and began shooting at the Brig's wing, hoping to make it loosen its grip on Salia. "It's your choice Ange. Your life is your own. So quit screwing around and fight!"

"My life…is my own?" she asked. Ange looked up and saw Cal had grabbed onto the edge of the DRAGON's wing and was desperately stabbing it in an attempt to force it to let Salia go. 'So kill the DRAGONS for your two dead comrades,' the Commander's voice echoed in her head. 'Just like he does for the one's he lost.'

'How…how do you do it…even after all you've lost…why do you keep fighting.' Ange wondered. In the midst of her daze, the Brig suddenly spun and managed to throw Cal off.

"Ange watch out!" Salia warned, too late to keep the Brig from closing the distance and seizing Villkiss in the webbing of its wingtips. The sudden lurch nearly sent Ange flying from her cockpit as she looked up just in time to see massive fangs closing in as the DRAGON began to pull her towards its gaping jaws. Before her very eyes, Ange saw Coco's body being torn in half in a shower of blood.

'Please take me with you lady Angelise.'

Zola's lifeless body laid across the top of her Para-mail, blood leaking from her empty eye socket.

'That's how we Norma live.'

The commander's cold angry cold face staring down at her.

'If you can't do that…then die!'

Her old friends from Ho-Oh Academy looking at her with betrayal and disgust.

'You lied to us, you filthy Norma.'

Ange's eyes widened in horror as the gaping mouth was getting closer, the fear freezing her in place as she wet herself. Then, a sudden break in the clouds cast a ray of sunlight down to reflect off her mother's ring, the same one Commander Jill had given back to her. And with it came the memory of when her mother was shot and her final words as she died in Ange's arms.

'Live on…Angelise…'

'I have to…I have to keep fighting.' she realized. 'I have to live. I…I don't want to die!' A sudden screech pulled Ange back to reality as the Brig's teeth were now within range to snatch her up.

"NOOOOOOO!" she screamed, a drop of blood from her scalp splashing onto the ring as the world vanished in a flash of light. The light continued to grow, enveloping Villkiss and making the Brig screech in alarm letting its prey go. In the same movement, it also released its grip on Salia and sent her hurtling across the sky.

"Salia!" Cal cried, launching Siegfried forward to catch her. The hard impact sent Cal slamming against the canopy and he felt something snap in his left wrist. "Salia answer me!"

"I'm fine." Salia groaned. As her head stopped spinning, she and Cal looked up and through the blinding radiance, saw that Vilkiss was starting to change.

"I don't believe it," Cal whispered in awe.


The flash of blue light died down as Ange looked around and couldn't believe what she was seeing. The wear and grime that had coated Villkiss had been cast off like hundreds of bright gold flakes. And underneath, shimmering white armour with streaks of blue and black while the rusted pneumatic gears now shined a dazzling bright gold. She had no time to question how or why, however. Already the Brig was shaking off its initial surprise and moving in to attack. "I don't want to die!" Ange gasped as Vilkiss shifted to Destroyer mode. "I do not want to die!" The DRAGON lunged and Ange jinked out of the way, spraying at her opponent with her assault rifle as the Brig raised a sigil shield to defend itself. From the side lines, Cal and the others watched the battle in a mixture of confusion and awe as Ange and the Brig circled around each other.

"Woah big bro what's happening to your unit?" Vivian suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Cal asked as he noticed the flashes of red light reflecting off Salia's Arquebus. Letting her go, Cal backed away and looked down to see Siegfried's red trim stripes were glowing along with the red gem in his bracelet.

"Geez Cal what did you do?" Rosalie asked.

"I…I don't know." Cal whispered. 'It's the Valkyrie system,' Salia realized. 'Siegfried must be having some kind of response to Villkiss awakening. But…how? And why her?' Meanwhile, Ange's barrage of lead finally overwhelmed the Brig's defence, so it countered with another wave of scales. Converting back to flight mode, Ange shot off to put some space between her and the attack before circling back around at full speed.

"I will not die!" they heard her scream as she once more shifted back to Destroyer mode. Drawing both sword and gun, Ange threw herself headlong into the attack, slashing and spinning as she weaved in and out of the swirling hurricane of razor-sharp blades.

"Ange watch out!" Ersha yelled. The Brig had taken advantage of her distraction and was closing in once again, but Villkiss's engines flared as she charged in as well.

"What the hell is she doing?" Rosalie wondered. By now Ange had broken free from the attack but the scales continued to chase after her. As if sensing what she was attempting, the Brig raised another shield in preparation.

"Ange stop!" Salia warned. "That shield is too strong for a sword to break through!" But Ange ignored her as she continued to charge in like someone possessed when a sudden explosion rocked the shield. The resulting shock both dissipated the barrier and disoriented the Brig long enough for Ange to plunge through and stab her sword right through the side of its neck. The DRAGON snapped back in shock as Ange released and moved out of the way just before the scales still chasing her impacted. The DRAGON screeched and helplessly flapped in mid-air as its torso and wings were shredded by its own attack but Ange wasn't done yet.

"Now you.." she bellowed, "YOU DIE!" A freeze bullet extended from its elbow before Villkiss dove in and planted the freeze bullet at point blank range. Ange took a moment to retrieve her sword from the Brig's neck as ice shards began bursting out from the ruptured torso and the defeated Brig finally fell, the sea below erupting into a massive column of ice on impact.

"Nice shot Miranda," Cal praised. From the muzzle of her remaining canon, a trail of smock from when Miranda had fired at the shield.

"Thanks." She sniffed tears, trailing from her eyes and down her cheeks. 'It's dead, it's finally dead.'

"Way to go Ange, you totally annihilated that DRAGON!" Vivian cheered. Hilda, Rosalie and Chris scowled while Ersha and Salia looked on in shock at how Ange had killed a Brig by herself. In her own cockpit, Ange's chest heaved as she picked herself up. It was over. She was alive. Ange trembled and softly laughed as a surge of relief and joy washed over her.

"What…what is this strange feeling?" She gasped. She felt a hand on her shoulder as a familiar voice spoke in her ear.

'Getting excited, are we?' Zola's voice echoed.

"No! No this isn't me!" Ange denied. "Killing just because I want to live…that's not me! It's filthy, despicable and selfish."

'That's what it means to be a Norma,' Zola reminded her. 'So keep pushing on and fighting dear Princess.' No longer able to deny the truth, Ange broke down as the clouds finally began to clear, her hysterical sobs echoing through the squad's radios.


"Thank heavens for that," Emma sighed. "The committee will be pleased about this."

"That's another crisis resolved." Jill said leaning up in her chair and grabbing the intercom. "All pilots return to base. Cal, make sure Ange gets back to base." She ordered. "Inspector, if you'll excuse me." Jill saluted her before walking out of the command centre as a smile grew on her face.

'She did it.' Jill beamed. Both Siegfried and Villkiss had awakened but there was still a lot of work to be done. Cal and Ange were still at odds but she didn't need them to be friends so long as they played their part. At least Cal had managed to snap Ange out of her death wish. And now that she had accepted the truth, she'd be easier to mould into an effective tool. 'The pieces are in place. The stage is set. At long last. Libertus can finally begin.'

And this time, she wouldn't allow it to fail.


It wasn't until the adrenaline died down that Cal's left wrist began to throb. The pain was excruciating and it got worse every time he moved it. "God dammit." He hissed feeling his hand swell.

"Cal what's wrong?" Chris asked.

"I don't know, I think I've sprained it when catching Salia. It really hurts." Cal winced.

"Aw poor baby." Hilda joked. "Are you sure you didn't wear it out thinking about the Princess?" Cal shot her the middle finger and Hilda stuck her tongue out at him.

Once everyone returned back to base the armourists got busy repairing the four heavily damaged para-mail. Mei threw a fit at Cal for dropping the ice bullet launcher, but Cal knew it would be found in a few days since the limbs of the damaged units needed fishing out the water. Ange and Cal were then escorted to the infirmary to check on their injuries, Ange hadn't suffered any serious injury aside from her head gash reopening so Maggie applied a fresh bandage and sent her on her way.

"Just a sprain and a few stretched ligaments," Maggie said as she applied a brace to Cal's left wrist and forearm. "But you should be good for training and battle so long as you don't do any heavy lifting. Be sure to tell Jasmine to take it easy on you during your shifts at the mall."

"You've never dealt with Jasmine before, have you?" Cal asked, making Maggie chuckle. "So…that was Villkiss?"

"That's right," Maggie nodded. "Jill's been waiting a long time for someone who could awaken it."

"And does it have to be Ange? Now that it's awakened can't we assign it to someone else?"

"Villkiss is…particular. I wish I could tell you more but I think Jill wants to wait until things are more favourable. Look, I get that you and the rest would rather not deal with her. But the fact is we NEED her for Libertus to succeed. And as the pilot of Siegfried, we need you to keep her safe." Cal groaned and flexed his fingers that stuck out from the brace.

"I don't like it, but okay I'll try and make an effort," he sighed.

"And who knows," Maggie purred. "Looking at those big strong muscles of yours every day might be just what she needs. Especially with you two sharing a room."

"God forbid," he groaned as he hopped off the exam table. Out in the hall, Cal found Salia, Ersha, and Miranda were waiting for him.

"Are you okay Cal? It looks serious." Ersha worried as she ran her hands along his wrist.

"Yeah it's fine," Cal assured them. "It should heal in a week or two." It was then he noticed the pensive look on Salia's face. "Hey, you okay?"

"Huh?" Salia gasped. "Oh…yeah…it's just…"

"I get it," he said. "I'm sorry I took over during the fight. I just thought…"

"It's fine," Salia assured him. "I guess I'm just still not used to being in command. I promise I'll work hard so you won't have to cover for me next time." Though Cal was relieved Salia wasn't angry at how he had overstepped himself, it still seemed to him that something was bothering her.

"If you're feeling guilty about me getting injured don't worry about it. I'd happily lose my arm or my big ears to save any one of you." Cal grinned in his goofy manner and Salia seemed to relax a bit as she giggled.

"I'm glad it's finally over." Ersha said. "Now Zola and Coco can rest in peace." At that Miranda began to tear up again and Ersha laid a hand on her shoulder. "Don't cry," she told the younger girl. "I know it still hurts but the whole reason we won was because you helped Ange."

"I know," Miranda said as she wiped her eyes, the conversation she had with Vice-Captain Hilda playing in her head. "I'm okay. And I'll keep fighting for Coco's memory."

"In that case come with me," Cal beckoned. "There's something I'd like to give you." Salia watched as Cal walked off with Miranda and frowned. 'Jill why?' she asked. 'You promised Villkiss to me.'

Upon arriving at Cal and Ange's room, Miranda watched as Cal reached under his bed and pulled out a lilac and indigo pilot suit in her size that was still sealed in its plastic wrap. "I meant to give this to Coco after her first flight." He explained. "I think she'd want you to have it." Miranda felt a lump in her throat as she hesitantly took the package from him.

"Oh…thanks." She knew Cal meant well but having something that was supposed to be for Coco felt wrong. After returning to her own room, Miranda threw the package into a shelf of her wardrobe and when she closed the door, a soft plop drew her attention to the floor where she saw a single tub of pudding rolling around under the edge of what used to be Coco's bed. Kneeling down to pick it up, she saw the pyramid of cups stacked under the bed. Still good thanks to the preservatives, they'd keep for a while so Coco could enjoy them whenever she wanted. Miranda's vision blurred and she held the container to her chest. It was the only thing she had left of her best friend.

"Coco," she whispered as she started to cry.


As the sun began to set and the horizon turned a brilliant orange, a lone figure stood in Arzenal's graveyard and looked at the two graves before her, her long golden hair swishing in the breeze.

ZOLA AXBERG

COCO REEVE

"Farwell." Ange said. "Beloved Father, Mother, Julio and Sylvia. This is my life now."

"Don't forget about them," someone said. Ange turned and glowered at the sight of the male Norma standing behind her. "But at least you're starting to fix that attitude of yours." Without a word, Ange drew her knife and Cal readied himself. But instead of attacking, Ange grabbed a hold of her hair and with one swift move, cut its length. She gripped the long golden clump for a second before letting go, the wind picking it up and carrying it off over the cliff edge. Cal looked to her and was taken aback. Ange now had a steely look in her eyes that her now chin length hair seemed to emphasize.

"I have nothing left." Ange answered. "No choice but to keep fighting. My mother died to save me so I owe it to her."

"We all fight to keep their memories alive. To keep remembering their names." Cal told her as he stared down at Naomi's grave.

"What was she like?" Ange asked. Cal looked over the setting sun with a sad smile.

"Beautiful," he told her. "And kind. She was the light that always brought me back from the darkness I was in." Cal took a moment to rub his eyes before turning back to her. "Look, I'll give credit where credit is due. You did good out there. But don't think this means you're off the hook. You've got a lot of work to do before I or any of the squad will even think about trusting you. Much less forgive you." Ange's eyes grew cold as she walked away.

"That's fine with me," she said. "I don't need anything. Not my name, my past, or comrades. I won't die the same as the rest of you. I will crawl on my hands and knees, eat dirt and cough up blood. I'll even kill. I will survive no matter what." Unknown to Ange a figure in the shadows was watching her leave. Once she was gone the figure walked out and Cal looked over to see Scarlett standing before Zola's grave. Her hair was a dishevelled mess and her eyes were red and puffy like she hadn't slept. Carefully, Cal approached her and took her shaking hand in his own.

"Hey." He whispered. "How are you feeling?" Scarlett looked to him and smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm hanging in there." She croaked, her voice sore and dry. "But I have to stay strong for my girls." Cal looked down at the headstone and the bouquet of red roses Scarlett had laid on them, the same as Zola's tattoos. "Zola always loved those."

"I'm sorry." Cal apologised. "I just wished I could have saved her and Coco."

"It's not your fault." Scarlett's hand tightened around his. "I've lost so many comrades and allies but losing her has definitely hit the hardest. But we'll make it through this. We owe it to Zola and Coco and all the others we've lost." Cal nodded in agreement as the two watched the sun vanish over the horizon and night began to creep over them. 'I'll get through this, Coco, Zola, Naomi and Gramps.' Cal thought. 'I'll keeping pushing further and further until day every Norma in this world is free. I'll make it happen even if it costs me my life.'


Across the sea, far from Arzenal, the once lively and dazzling streets of Misurugi were now empty and barren. The initial outrage following the revelation of Princess Angelise's true nature had died down and now, the citizens were picking up the pieces and trying to restore some semblance of order. The once bustling streets were now empty and barren save for the vandalized portraits of the Norma who had deceived them and the still smoking ash piles where nearly everything associated with her had been purged. Down one of these streets, a group of students in the uniform of the Ho-Oh Academy, three girls and three boys, skipped down the street.

"That was a waste," a tall boy with neatly combed brown hair grumbled. "And all for a stupid dress."

"Aw Araki you promised you would take me to get that dress I always wanted." A girl with chin length dark green hair cooed, hugging the sky-blue dress she had fished out of the disposal bin tightly against her chest.

"I didn't see the point, all over a piece of clothing Chiaki." A second boy with short straw hair sighed.

"Screw you, Ryuji." Chiaki pouted. "I didn't have enough time since I was training for the Iaria season, and they all got burnt this week."

"I still don't see why you would want something that was worn by a filthy Norma." The second girl grimaced; her plum-coloured hair tied back in a ponytail.

"You're one to talk Maki." Trent laughed. "I got you that same dress in green just a month ago for your 16th birthday. Maki slapped him in the arm for that.

"Not to mention that disgusting vermin use to be our princess as well your teammate, right Akiho?" The largest of the boys with broad shoulders snorted. A girl with short brown hair and green eyes held on his arm pouting.

"Hey that's unfair Kataoka." Akiho frowned. "It was her fault we lost the season. She deserved to be exposed for lying to us of all people. To think it was once our friend."

"Why don't we go to one of the stores that have the Rosenblum clothing?" Maki suggested.

"Yeah, you would look cuter in Princess Misty's dresses." Araki putting an arm around Chiaki when approaching footsteps suddenly caught their attention. From the entrance of a nearby alleyway, a tall man with short slick back black hair and dressed in a dark maroon uniform stepped out the darkness. His large black Roma overcoat hung over his frame which made him seem even more intimidating

"Good evening," The man greeted, his gaze spotting the sky-blue dress. "A little late for clothes shopping, isn't it?" Chiaki gulped and clutched the dress tighter as the man raised his finger which shone with the Light of Mana as he opened a screen which displayed all of their faces. "Araki Miwa, Ryuji Satoru, Kataoka Nobu, Chiaki Junko, Maki Michi and Akiho Mizuki. Students from Ho-oh Institute. You girls are all members of the school Iaria team." It was then that Araki spotted on the left breast of his black coat the emblem of Misurugi, a gold four-pointed star over a phoenix set against a blue hexagonal background.

"You're with the Norma Management board?" he realized. The three girls froze in terror as the man smirked, his flame orange eyes seeming to glow like fire.

"Those dresses were the same endorsed by the Norma usurper, weren't they?" he asked. "As I recall there's been a massive recall on them. All the stores that carry them have been shut down until they can properly dispose of them. Tell me, how did you manage to get a hold of one?" Chiaki shuddered as she felt herself freeze when Ryuji suddenly spoke up.

"We found it lying on the street," he said.

"Ah," the man nodded. "I see, and like responsible young people you decided to dispose of it. Well, why don't I take it off your hands for you. After all, if someone saw you with a dress associated with Lady Angelise, they might mistake you for a Norma lover. Or maybe even a Norma yourself." Chiaki looked down at the dress and felt like she was going to cry. Even if it was something that was worn by a Norma it was still a beautiful dress. Still, the fear of being mistaken for a Norma lover was far stronger than her desire to be fashionable. Slowly, hesitantly, she handed the man the dress which he accepted with a pleased grin.

"Thank you," he said. "Now why don't you all head on home. Good kids should be at home studying and preparing for their future." As they walked away, Chiaki turned her head to see the man dump the dress into a trash can. Her heart sank but there was little to do as they continued to walk on, wanting nothing more than to get away from him.


'Well that was a fun diversion,' Dutch thought. Before going to visit Master Embryo, he had received a tip of a Norma sighting. As it turned out, the girl in question had simply been underage drinking and was too plastered to use the Light of Mana. Dutch had personally gone down there himself to disperse the situation which had left him in a foul mood but making those pampered school brats sweat made him feel a little better. When he was younger, Dutch had long been treated as little better than a Norma himself by the popular crowd and being able to deny them something they wanted was quite cathartic.

As he made his way down the litter strewn streets, he came across a square where once had stood a large statue fountain of Empress Sophia Ikaruga Misurugi, now broken and smashed by the outraged citizenry. "You got what you deserved, traitor." Dutch grinned. All her lies and even her death was ultimately for nothing.

Upon finally returning his office, Dutch sat in his chair as he closed his eyes and waited. Finally, the sound of running water and bird chirps broke the quiet of his office as he opened his eyes to see the scenery had changed. Velvety emerald green grass spread all around him beneath a cloudless blue sky. Past a nearby cliff edge, mountains floating in mid-air poured dazzling waterfalls into a crystal-clear sea that reflected like a mirror. Dutch's eyes followed a huddle of rabbits hopping towards a single tree where a lone individual sat. Dutch approached the tree just as a blue songbird landed on his host's shoulder. "Master Embryo." Dutch greeted as Embryo looked up and closed the book he was reading.

"Ah Mr Villson sorry for my rudeness." Embryo chuckled as he stood up.

"No need to trouble yourself Master," Dutch assured him. "I came here to give you a report."

"Well, then let's get down to business." Embryo gestured to a white marble table. Dutch took his seat as Embryo poured himself a cup of Chamomile tea though Dutch politely declined as he had always detested the taste. "So, Mr Villson what did you want to share with me?" Dutch pulled open his Mana screen to display battle footage recorded by one of Arzenal's Para-mail squads. One unit in particular was larger than the rest and blue with red stripes and four large red wings. A second was white, blue and black with a form similar to the first but slimmer and more elegant.

"Villkiss and that revolting machine." Embryo said in disgust as he laid eyes on the ancient folk's attempt to copy his technology.

"I have reason to believe the Male Norma and the Princess are piloting those machines," Dutch explained.

"I see," Embryo grimaced. "If Alektra plans on repeating her mistakes then I suppose we'll have no choice but to teach her and her followers the same lesson twice."

"To think she was alive after all. The cockroach managed to crawl out the toilet bowl." Dutch mused. "But at least I have the location of the other cockroaches. My informants and agents may have found a possible location of the terrorist group. We tracked down three signals which we believe to be more para-mail. Two were last heading to the coast of the Enderant Union and the last signal we lost over the ocean between Rosenblum and Velda."

"You've done well Mr Villson." Embryo complimented, "I imagine your task wasn't easy considering the state of affairs in Misurugi."

"A trivial matter." Dutch scoffed. "The important thing is if the ancient folk have built more Para-mail alongside the traitors then who knows what destruction they will cause. And if they decide to contact Arzenal then we'll be looking at another rebellion on our hands."

"And that is why you want to use the Ragnarök?" Embryo mused.

"Yes," Dutch nodded. "I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget, just like we did 10 years ago when I took down their leader, and you their pilot of that so called machine of hope."

"Very well Mr Villson," Embryo resigned. "I hate the chaos of war but those savages don't understand any other language. Take whatever steps you feel are necessary."

"Thank you, Master Embryo," Dutch beamed. "By the way, there is something I must ask." Embryo raised an eyebrow.

"Go on." He allowed.

"It's about my brother and what he and the other scientists were working on regarding Subject Alpha. When I raided that terrorist base last month, some of the children who could use Mana had Norma for mothers…"

"It was all a failure." Embryo interrupted a sense of irritation in his voice. "Subject Alpha was something that should have never happened. Look at all the death and destruction it caused. I carry that burden since I gave the order."

"No sir you're not to blame." Dutch said his face contorted with anger. "It was Gavin's fault. And I failed you in capturing the Subject due to my personal relations with the man I once called brother."

"You needn't blame yourself Mr Villson," Embryo assured him. "Despite your failure I still have a lot of respect for you. You've been a faithful servant and you've more than atoned for it."

"Thank you," Dutch said with a slight bow. "You are my Master and my Saviour. You rose me from the flames, and I became purified by the truth of this world, it's people and the DRAGONS. I would gladly lay down my life for you."

"Then you have my permission to leave Mr Villson. I know you'll do well regarding the task at hand." Dutch rose out of his chair and was about to leave until Embryo stopped him. "Not to pry but, what did you do to your former friend?" Dutch didn't even turn around to look at him.

"I buried him. It took hours to find the body, but I buried him beside a large waterfall on the island." Dutch's fists clenched and his knuckles turned bone white. "He may have betrayed me, but he was once my brother to me, and he deserved a proper burial." Dutch expected further questions but instead the scenery changed back to his office. 'I'll make you proud Master Embryo.' He promised. 'You're the only one who hasn't seen me as worthless or thrown me out like trash.' Still, something didn't add up. Master Embryo's answer was more of a diversion than an explanation. So Dutch would have to get his answers from the one remaining person who knew. 'Okay Trager once I'm done with my mission, you and I are going to have a little chat.' Dutch vowed as he cracked his knuckles


Once Dutch's body flickered and pixelated out of sight, Embryo sensed a presence behind him. "I take it you were listening?"

"I didn't mean to pry." Out from behind the tree stepped Blackadder with a smug look on his face. "I know it was rather rude of me but it was touching hearing his little story. Though if I must say, you put far too much trust in him."

"I don't have time for your games." Embryo said, "Dutch is a soldier and a commander not your plaything. The man has enough on his plate as it is. I know your feelings regarding him but he's a faithful servant and a valuable ally for what's to come."

"We'll both need all the assistance we can get." Blackadder interjected. "But I must ask, do you think he'll stay loyal if he ever found out the truth of his brother and what is intended for Subject Alpha?" With his patience running thin Embryo stood face to face to his right-hand man.

"I brought Mr Villson back because I owed a debt to his brother. And he doesn't need to know." Embryo said firmly.

"You're worried he'll betray you," Blackadder whispered. "All the more reason to cut him loose. I however would never betray you…Master."

"I place far too much trust in you. But I need you for what's to come." Embryo said before leaving Blackadder alone, the young man's face twisting into an insane smirk.

"I'll show you that you don't need that pathetic excuse of a man. You are my everything Master Embryo."


To her relief, the male Norma had opted to spend the night with one of his lovers, so Ange had the entire room to herself. After returning from the Mall and Laundry, Ange hung her uniform up to dry as she ate the last of the burger she had gotten from the vending machine. As she tossed the wrapper into the bin, Ange saw a single yellow pudding and spoon inside, the same one Coco had given her which she'd thrown away.

As she picked it up, Ange thought back on how despite her behaviour over the past week the young girl still wanted to be her friend. 'Well, no sense letting it go to waste,' she though as she peeled open the lid and took a bite. It was vanilla sweet with a hint of chocolate and her royal palate could tell it was artificial.

"Urgh it's so gross." Ange grimaced as she took another bite

'I just wanted to thank you for the other day,' The memory of Coco offering her the pudding played over in her mind. 'I almost fell, and you tried to save me. Here. It's from my secret stash.' Ange took a third bite, though she didn't know why. 'I just think you're so incredible Miss Ange.' Ange took another as the overwhelming guilt hit her like a train. 'Lady Angelise let me come with you!' Ange began to cry as she kept on eating, each bite making her feel more and more disgusted with herself.

"Coco…I'm so sorry."