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The morning began with so much promise, so much hope.

How could it have ended like this?

Olivia had finally found her family again.

Only to lose them once more.

And in her rage and grief, Olivia had slaughtered not only Martha's killer but his innocent wife and child.

She had….innocent blood…on her hands.

The moon was high in the sky when Olivia finally opened her eyes, finding herself laying in her bed with the curtains drawn and an oxygen mask over her mouth.

She faintly recalled Walter screaming her name as she was placed on an operating table and Dr. Trevilian, the organization's doctor, telling her she was going to be alright before everything faded into a warped kaleidoscope of color.

She dreamt she was back in that flower field, wearing the blue dress her father bought for her and holding her old slingshot. In the distance, Olivia could see her family—her real one—running through the fields: her father had Akos on his shoulders while her mother had Mark snuggled in her arms; they haven't changed at all in six years. They were beautiful and unharmed, nothing like the horrid state she last saw them in. And then, a figure zipped past her and joined her family, clasping her mother's outstretched hand with her lace gloves.

It was Martha, wearing her wedding gown and looking as ethereal as Olivia knew she would look.

"Wait…" Olivia reached out to them, watching as they moved further and further away. "Wait! Come back!" She broke out into a full-sprint, crushing flowers under her feet as she desperately tried to latch onto her beloveds. "Don't leave me! Come back! Come back! Take me with you!" But they didn't head her pleas and continued to move farther out of her reach until they were nothing more than specks on the horizon.

"DON'T LEAVE ME!" Olivia fell to her knees, blood gushing from the flowers she crushed under her hands and feet. "Don't leave me alone….I'm sorry…" She covered her face with blood stained hands as she sobbed violently. "I'msorryi'msorryi'msorryi'msorryi'msorry…"

The flowers wilted as blood—the blood of her family and the innocents she had slaughtered— ran down their stems and formed a pool while the air became like ice as Olivia felt herself fade away bit by bit.

Suddenly, a gust of rose petals danced around her, and she turned around to find Sir Hellsing, Walter, and Alucard standing amongst a patch of red roses. Walter and Alucard stood in the forefront while Sir Hellsing lingered in the back, his arms crossed and a cold expression on his face. The blood continued to rise until it crept up Olivia's neck, threatening to drown her if she didn't make a decision.

Would she drown in the blood of the deceased or would she join the living in the rose patch despite how the thorns would pierce her flesh?

'Which do you choose, Olivia Emese Song?" came Alucard's voice as both he and Walter held a hand out to her. 'Will you follow the dead or will you remain among the living?'

The blood rose up to her nose yet she still didn't move, staring at their outstretched hands while her family's laughter still beckoned to her.

Which path would she follow?

Did she deserve to have a family anymore?

What was the point of being a solider if she couldn't repent for her sins?

What was the point of living when it only caused her pain?

And yet, just as the blood reached her eyes, Olivia sprung forward and grasped their hands tightly as they lifted her out of the bloody sea and into the rose patch.

And that was when she woke up.

'Why had she taken their hands?' Olivia thought to herself as she stared up at the dark ceiling, tracing shapes from the moon's shadows. 'Why did she choose life above death? Why?'

Someone cleared their throat, and Olivia turned her head to the left to find Sir Hellsing sitting on a stool next to her bed, his arms crossed as he regarded her with cold eyes.

"You pulled through." Arthur stated in a frank tone. "They nearly lost you during the surgery, but miraculously, you held on and survived."

"…Would you have preferred it if I died, Sir Hellsing?" Olivia replied in an equally straightforward tone. She wouldn't hold it against him if he did.

"No, you belong to Hellsing and I will not tolerate any of my soldiers dying before their time." Arthur sighed, standing up and moving towards the door.

"Then what is my punishment, Sir Hellsing?" She whispered, wincing as she sat up on her arms. "I failed to protect Ma—."

"Don't say her name!" Arthur hissed, the intensity of his gaze and words causing Olivia to fall back. "You did your duty by eliminating the vermin who dared to challenge us, and nothing more. We are the Hellsing Organization, and we protect England from monsters! We do not allow silly things like emotions to cloud our judgement…" And for a fraction of a second, Arthur's icy mask slipped and Olivia could see the heartbroken man he really was. "It was my fault for forgetting my place and allowing myself to indulge in the life of the common man."

"Sir Hells-."

"You are nothing but a solider, Olivia Emese Song, and I will not have my soldiers out of commission when there is a war raging beyond our gates." The mask was back on and Arthur was the Iron Hearted Director once more. "We have indulged in a fantasy for far too long and have brought shame upon the Crown!" His fists trembled as his eyes hardened. "I am Sir Arthur Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, leader of the Hellsing Organization…..and you are a soldier. We are the monsters who kill the other monsters. And that is all we will ever be….never forget that." He opened the door and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Rest, Olivia. That is an order."

The door shut gently behind him and Olivia stared at it for a moment before slowly sitting up, wincing slightly as her wounds screamed in protest. She wore nothing but bandages wrapped around her torso, legs, and right wrist, yet she didn't feel cold.

Sliding the oxygen mask off her mouth, Olivia crawled out of bed and limped towards the window where the moonlight was illuminating the room.

Feeling lightheaded, Olivia collapsed to her knees and gasped painfully, recalling the sensation of bullets tearing through her flesh. She had been shot four times, yet here she was; it hurt to breathe and she couldn't move her right hand, yet here she was; she had failed to protect her family again and again, yet….here she was. They had all died…while she lived on.

Why….?

Why?

"Why indeed?" Alucard's voice drifted from behind her as something warm was draped across her shoulders. "I've been wondering the same thing."

"Alucard…" Olivia mumbled, glancing down to find it was his coat. "What are you doing here?"

"I was curious. When the bullet lodged in your heart was removed, the doctor and nurses were unable to stop the bleeding and it appeared you would die. However," He reached out and swept her hair out from under the coat's collar "you held on and the surgery was successful. But why? You could have given up and joined your family in the land of the dead; you could finally be at peace. So why give that up and remain here on Earth?" He bent down until they were face to face, him upside-down and her right-side up. "I would like to hear your answer."

He wasn't wearing his hat or glasses, allowing Olivia to see the yellows and oranges mixed within the red of his irises.

It always seemed every time she was at a crossroads, Alucard was there; she didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.

"I could finally be at peace?" Olivia scoffed, placing a hand over her chest. "No, there is no peace in my life. Even if I did die, I would die with a burdened soul. I came to this organization as a child to atone for my sins and protect others from the same fate. Yet, I lost Martha and I became a monster and subjugated an innocent woman and boy to the same horrors that vampire did to me six years ago. Except…no one stopped me and no one saved Francesca and Toby. They cried out for help, yet no one came. That bastard was the guilty party, not them. But, he killed Martha to protect his family…I am no different than him, Alucard, I truly am a monster." Olivia's hand curled into a fist as she glared at Alucard. "I let my anger consume me and I slaughtered innocent blood; I let down my guard and allowed an innocent woman to be killed; I disobeyed my parents' wishes and allowed my innocent family to be massacred! I have never died when I was supposed to! Do you know why I didn't give up?!" Olivia grasped the back of Alucard's head and yanked him closer. "I didn't give up because I don't deserve to die on a surgeon's table or on a battlefield! I deserve to die a miserable, old woman whose life was dictated by love and death! My love for others has led them to their deaths, and my love for the dead drives me to the end of insanity! I am a monster because I am a human being! I am weak and let my emotions consume me! So I will not allow death to take me when I have years of suffering ahead of me! We are not in this life for peace! We are in it to suffer, and I will carry all these burdens with me until I die alone and gray! That is the only punishment I will accept! If Sir Hellsing won't kill me, then I will hold on until I am old and full of regret and sorrow! I am Olivia Emese Song, a soldier of Hellsing and I will continue to slaughter my lord's enemies, whether they are innocent or guilty. That is why I came back! Because I refuse to run away from my sins. I will carry them for the rest of my days. Because I am a monster….because I am a human being. And while my past weighs heavily on me….I will not allow it to cloud my future. So make note of this, Alucard, I will never give up! I refuse to let their deaths be in vain! If my punishment is to suffer a long, cruel life without my family, then so be it!"

It was dead silent for a moment before a large smile grew across Alucard's face as he laughed in utter glee.

"Finally." He cackled. "Finally! The warrior I have been waiting for! What a wonderful show you have put on for me, Olivia! Truly magnificent! Ah! What a shame you aren't of Hellsing blood! You would make for a fascinating master!"

"Don't even joke about that…." Olivia mumbled, closing her eyes and dropping her hand onto her lap. "I'm not worthy to be anyone's master, let alone yours."

"Lies!" Alucard stood up and moved in front of her. "I knew under that timid, rabbit exterior was a fearsome warrior waiting to come out. You were knocking on death's door and yet you were still able to avenge our master's fallen bride with only one arm!" He cupped her face in his hands and leaned in close, the tips of their noses touching. "Show me more of this beautiful warrior! This vengeful, yet merciful warrior!"

"Merciful?"

"Yes, you can deny it all you want but I could smell it on your blood. You covered that woman's eyes so she wouldn't have to see her husband's sorry state, and you killed that boy so he could die alongside his family instead of subjecting him to whatever grim fate awaited him! A fearsome warrior is wonderful, but a warrior who kills with the human heart—who has the strength to shed tears—makes my blood boil!"

And he was right. Francesca and Toby's deaths were inevitable whether by her hand or someone else's, and in her own warped sense of mercy, she decided she would give them the most peaceful death if possible. Francesca's fate was sealed the moment she married 'William', as was Toby's the moment he was born.

It was the nature of war…..and despite everything, Olivia didn't regret her actions.

"You have become all I knew you could and more,….Hercegnő." Then, taking a step back, Alucard fell down on one knee and bowed his head.

Olivia's eyes widened at the title and the action, and she could only sit there frozen in place. Even when kneeling, Alucard still towered above her.

Why was he kneeling before her? And….why did he call her a princess?

Was that…a form of respect?

Was this the cost of finally earning Alucard's respect?

The prospect didn't thrill her, but it didn't bother her either.

In response, Olivia simply grasped him by the chin and tilted his head up to face hers.

"If I had been a princess during your time, I don't think we would've gotten along very well." She hummed, not sure what emotion reflected in his eyes. "As I recall, Hungary and Romania had a love-hate relationship."

"Regardless, it would've been thrilling to face you on the battlefield as an enemy or an ally." He replied, closing his eyes as she swept his bangs out of his eyes. "To be honest, I wouldn't have minded being bested by someone like you."

"Then it is a good thing we are meeting now as comrades." Olivia reminded him firmly, retracting her hand.

"A very good thing." He smirked, still kneeling before her.

With a heavy heart, Olivia studied his face and recalled that night in his coffin. His regrets of abandoning his humanity and damning himself to an eternal life without rest. She was a monster…but not a monster like him. Never like him. She clung to what little remained of her humanity, therefore she had that above him.

And thus, why he was kneeing before her now and beheld her like she was someone great.

Olivia didn't want that.

Monster shouldn't kneel before each other.

"All the same, regele meu*." She kissed his forehead—the first kiss she had ever given him—and stood up, tugging on his hand to follow suit. "All the same."

His eyes widened for a moment before that smile graced his face again. Then he stood up and gently took her injured right hand in his.

"I will see you on the battlefield then." He whispered before placing a chaste kiss on the bandaged limb and disappearing into the darkness.

Olivia nodded and stared out the window, pulling Alucard's coat tighter around her shoulders.

"The battlefield it is then." She whispered, shedding one final tear. "I have nothing to fear….not anymore."

The once blessed wedding had become a woebegone funeral with hundreds in attendance.

Olivia sat up front with Sir Hellsing and Walter, adorned in a black dress and bandages while ignoring the scathing glares and biting words of gossipers.

"I heard that little girl was the departed's bodyguard." One woman whispered. "What was Sir Hellsing thinking assigning a meek thing like that to guard his bride-to be?"

"Look how she stares ahead with her chin high." A man murmured. "What gall she has to show her face after failing her duties!"

Olivia bit the inside of her cheek, trying to focus on the priest's eulogy, when the man and woman from before yelped in agony. She peered over her shoulder to find they had cuts across their arms; Olivia immediately turned to Walter to see him retracting his wires without sparing a single glance at her.

'Walter…..' Olivia sighed, fingers ghosting over her right wrist. 'Thank you….'

After the service, Olivia watched as both Sir Hellsing and Walter went up to the casket first, a bundle of daisies in both of their hands.

Martha had been buried in the dress Olivia had sewn for her graduation performance and a handkerchief had been placed over her face. Sir Hellsing refused to have her buried in her wedding gown and had it stored away in one of the chests in the attic. The only piece of the wedding that remained was the blood stained engagement ring nestled on Martha's finger.

Martha's father and brother were also in attendance, both of them crying their eyes out and sending death glares in Olivia's direction.

'Good,' She thought to herself. 'I don't want your forgiveness or pity.'

Then, from the corner of her eye, Olivia spotted Sir Islands beckoning to her from one of the side hallways.

Grasping her crutch, she quietly hobbled over to where he was, not missing the curious glances shot her way.

"Yes, Sir Islands?" Olivia mumbled, nodding her head in respect. "Is something wrong?"

"The one who orchestrated the attack." Sir Islands muttered. "You know who he is, don't you?"

"….Yes." Olivia turned around and leered at Richard Hellsing as he 'wiped his tears away' in grief for his 'dear sister-in law'. "Who else could it be?"

"Arthur will never believe you." Hugh pointed out, crossing his arms. "He loves Richard too much for his own good."

"My lord is a fool." She agreed, wishing she could gut Richard from head to toe in front of the entire congregation. "But….even if he did believe me, there isn't any evidence linking Richard to the incident. As far as the law is concerned, it was an assassination plot by an Axis spy."

"And what does Arthur think about it?" Hugh gestured for a chair to be brought into the hallway for Olivia. "Does he believe it was a mere assassin or does he suspect something more?"

"I don't know, Sir Islands." Olivia held up a hand when Hugh gestured for her to take a seat. "He hasn't shed a single tear since he held Martha's body in his arms. He is being the Iron Commander now, but I suspect he may blame himself for what happened to Martha."

"Arthur may be the Head of Hellsing, but he is allowed to want the beautiful, simple things in life too." Hugh turned towards Martha's coffin and closed his eyes in prayer. "Martha was a good woman, and Arthur is better for having known her."

"We all are." Olivia breathed out, watching as Arthur placed his and Martha's wedding rings in the casket with a blank expression. "I intend to make Richard pay for his crimes one day, but until then….I will continue to protect Sir Hellsing with my life."

"Please do, and don't fret, Olivia. I will ensure justice will be served somehow." He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"Do hurry, Sir Islands. I will wait patiently for a while, but the moment you run out of time and that bastard is still breathing," Olivia pointed her fingers in the shape of a gun and aimed at Richard's head, "I'll deliver justice myself."

After returning to the manor, Walter found Olivia sitting under her favorite tree with her crutch resting on her lap.

"You know who was truly responsible for Martha's death, right?" was the first thing Olivia said as he took a seat next to her.

"So what if I do?" Walter fired back, lighting up a cigarette and taking a drag. "It's not like we can murder the brother of our master without proper evidence and trial."

"He blackmailed that man by using his family against him. No matter what horrible demons and vampires we will face, I will always believe Richard Hellsing is the worst monster of them all."

Giving a tiny nod, Walter studied her face in his peripheral vision, searching for any eye bags or dried tears.

But her face was without blemish, and Walter felt his heart sink slightly at realizing Olivia had become a warrior and shed her rabbit skin. Yet, Walter could still see the pain evident in her eyes, and he knew if Olivia had any tears left to shed, she would've bawled at Martha's funeral.

As for Walter, he didn't know how to feel. He never meet his parents, so he couldn't grieve their deaths, and Walter saw death every day that he became desensitized to it.

But Martha….he grew up with her constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure he never got burned or bandaged his wounds when he was first learning how to master his wires. Walter never paid any heed to her presence before, but now that she was gone….he was once again reminded of how weak and pathetic humans were.

How disgustingly fragile and small they were.

Walter had heard Sir Hellsing when they were placing the daisies in her coffin.

"Today, I leave my memories of you in this box, my love. After this day, you will cease to exist in the Hellsing manor."

The only thing Martha would be remembered for was how her life was taken from her and not about her years of service to the Hellsing family.

'Humans….are such disposable creatures.'

"Here." Walter reached into his coat and pulled out a large, folded handkerchief. "These are yours."

Olivia took the 'gift' without question and unfolded it to find Sic Parvis Magna and one of her bracelets nestled in the middle.

"I was wondering where they were." Olivia carefully slipped the bracelet back onto her right wrist, making sure not to agitate her brace. "Thank you, Walter."

"I was able to wash the blood off the bracelet, but I couldn't do the same for Sic Parvis Magna." He pulled out his cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke. "Sorry."

"No," Olivia shook her head, stroking the limbs of the now red Sic Parvis Magna. "It is fine. Thank you for trying, Walter."

He grunted in reply and continued to enjoy his cigarette as Olivia settled back next to him.

The old Olivia would've wrapped her arms around him while patting his hair or something else equally childish. But now, Olivia simply laced their fingers together and stared off into the distance, seeing something he couldn't.

Walter hated human emotion and gagged at the thought of feeling anything 'mushy', but for right now, just after the loss of Martha, feeling Olivia's warm hand against his cold one….he didn't mind it at all.

And so, the two of them sat under the tree, hand in hand and pondering all that had been lost and all that will be lost in the battles ahead.

Translations: (I apologize if anything is wrong!)

Hercegnő- Hungarian for princess

Regele meu- Romanian for my king

A/N: This brings an end to the final arc before The Dawn section! Olivia has changed so much, but it was inevitable in the Hellsing world. Everyone has changed at least a little in this arc. Lol. And this chapter explains why Sic Parvis Magna was red in the original cover art.

Please look forward to the next chapter! And Please~~~leave a review! I love them all so much!

I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! See you in the next one! :D