#When that lady said ons did so much for women's tennis i cried a little

[faeryaesther]

This was hilarious 😭

#THIS WAS GENIUS HELP #When that lady said ons did so much for women's tennis i cried a little #ADM is too good at this i love it #Maria Sakkari #Ons Jabeur #Daniil Medvedev #Andrey Rublev #Holger Rune #Alex de Minaur #what is the difference between yada yada? “they are for hands” 😭😭😭HOLGAH

[bard-of-worlds]

Chapter 2 Beginning in Kalos

“Where is he?  He should’ve gotten off that plane by now.”   A teenage girl sighed as she leaned against a pillar in an airport in Lumiose City.  She looked light she had just come from a Gothic rave, her dark hair was done in a twintale style that reached her butt, two purple streaks went down her hair facing her front.  She was wearing a black tube top that had a small v that showed the sides of her large breasts and that exposed her midriff with a black open vest over it with a tight short skirt that ended at her upper thighs with a belt around her waist with six pokeballs, knee high black boots completed the outfit.  Her face was heart shaped; her lips were a shiny black and her eyes had purple eye shadow that brought attention to her blue eyes, a pair of sunglass with black gems in the frame was around her neck on a chain. Next to her was a small bag, out of place for a traveler if not for some tech from home.  She snorted as she saw some of the other women glare at her and the men around her stare at her in lust but not a single one had even an ounce of courage to approach her.  A few of the younger girls were staring at her in wonder and a few might have talked to her if their mothers hadn’t been there but then again this wasn’t home so maybe she could cut them slack based on different culture.

So this is why everyone back home hate outside assignments so much. She thought to herself, this was why they preferred to stay in their home; at least there people could dress how they wanted without people talking about them, at most they commented about the fashion behind hands and doors, and if a man looked at her like some of them were he would have at least walked over to talk to her by now.  Lady Camilla had grabbed her from that party her cousin had dragged her to and thrown her on that train to the airport so fast she had to have two of her Item Cubes with her full wardrobe and her Aura Equipment sent to the airport. And she only got it a half hour before she was told to board the plane, so when she got to the travelers hotel later tonight she could put her cloths and outfits for her mission in order, but she had to be carrying her ‘Party Clothes” Cube in her bag with her Cube Reader, ‘Founding Day is an excuse to dress differently at every party you go to’, she would never listen to her cousin about stuff like that again.

 “Boss I really, really hope that old man was right about her and him; for your sake at least.”  She muttered as she looked to the doors to the tarmac as they opened and she glazed upon the woman walking in with a Helioptile on her shoulder.  For an instance seeing it brought a flash of rage to her face, but she forced herself down, the woman wasn’t one of those sexiest Inquisitors, those bastards had been slaughtered by Sir Mordred and a woman would never be one of the Knights!

 “Hmm, good figure, clothes and makeup could do with some work but her muscles seem to hint that she’s someone who makes a living by traveling so she probably has some stamina, not the best but I’ve recruited worse.  At least if it not really him…” She trailed off as she saw the figure follow her in. A blue short-sleeve jacket, a red hat on black hair, darker blue jeans, red shoes and a black shirt under the jacket and his face, it was like looking at a younger version of the boss.  The Pikachu riding on his shoulder sealed the deal, this was her target and by the boss he was who they hoped he was.

 “I will never ever bet against the longshot ever again.” She grinned as she reached down and grabbed her bag and started to watch her target walk with the woman over to a city map outside the airport.  They talked for a minute before he ran off.  The woman he had been with smiled good naturally as she watch him dash off, but this left Lilith with a dilemma.

 “Hmm, I could try to catch up with the princeling… or I could chat up that cutie and get his destination from her directly, what should I do?” She smirked as she brought a black painted nail to her lips, a smirk on her face as she looked at Alexa.

   Alexa smiled as she and her Helioptile shared a look with each other about their friend's exuberance. She did feel a little bad that her sister had to have gone on a journey without sending any word to her, but that was her sister for you.  As she walked back toward the airport to her get her bag she collided with someone as she walked through the door.

 "Ohmph." Alexa cried as she fell backwards, her Helioptile fell off her shoulder and she fell on her bottom.

 "Sorry about that, I wasn't looking where I was going." A female voice said as a hand with black nail polish reached down to help her up. Alexia grabbed the hand and got to her feet checking that her pokemon was okay before turning to the person she bumped into.

 "No problem. .." Alexa trailed off as she stared into blue eyes that seemed to take up her entire view.  She felt herself drifting away, until all she could see was the color blue.

 "Say, about that boy you were with, could you tell me where he was going?"

  Alexa shock herself awake as her Pokémon started to shake her, looking up she realized she was inside the airport with her bag siting by the escalator.

 "Helioptile, how'd we get inside and get my bag?  I… it doesn't matter, let's make sure we didn't miss our bus and have to have Gogoat take us home once we get out of town."  Alexa said as she and her Pokémon walked away, not noticing a female shadow with a grin on its face, a fang poking out of her mouth as she blew a kiss after Alexa.

 "Thanks for everything Alexa dear, we'll meet again and we'll see what side you’ll be on when we're done."

   “So the prince is headed for the cities gym, a fierce start worthy of his father.”  Lilith mused as she walked toward the gym.  All she had to do was watch the entrance, scan him and send a report back home.  As she got insight of the tower she stopped dead when she saw Ash and his partner thrown out of the pokeball symbol on the building.  She raised her hand began to cast a spell when she heard two voice much closer to her target

 “I’ll try to catch that boy!”

“I’ll catch Pikachu!”

 Lilith stopped her spell as she saw a blond boy in blue and yellow jumpsuit and black and white tennis shoes throw a backpack under the prince that released a crash pillow while a blond little girl wearing a dark brown blouse with a black ribbon on the chest, white skirt, black shorts, and pink Mary Jane flats grab the prince’s Pokémon. She breathed a sigh of relief as the blond girl was shocked by the Pikachu.  

 “Quick thinking you two now let me cast a quick scan while I can.”  Lilith muttered as she put her sunglasses on.

 “Tool to see, Sight beyond, Show me that which hides from All.” She chanted as her glasses glowed pitch black.

 “So the two of them are brother and sister hu, the boy’s aura shows that he has quite a mind and the girl is someone who wants her brother to have someone in his life, something about their father and mother?  Looks like I could teach her a few things, but let’s take a look at the prince.…how in Arceus’s name is he able to walk let alone think with those seals on him?”  She asked herself in horror at what she over a hundred seals on his Aura.  She reached with a shaking hand to touch one of the gems in her glasses and started to chant.

 “Sights Seen, Sights Unseen, capture them for All to See.”  She popped the gem out and ducked into a nearby alley to and grabbed one of her pokeballs.

 “Fly high, Murkrow.” She called as the ball opened in midair and released a black flying type with a crooked yellow beak.

 “Murkrow, Murkrow.” The Flying type chanted as it appeared and landed on an out stretched arm.  Lilith slipped the gem into a necklace around its neck, reached into her bag and pulled out two blue colored pieces of hollowed metal shaped like her wings which were met with a look of worry from the Flying type.

 “Girl, I know these make it so you can’t fight with your wings, but you need the Wing Sheaths to make it back even sooner than with the Wind Road alone, this report has to get to Lord Magnus sooner then you could normally, it’s that important.” Lilith said as her Flying type looked her in the eye before raising its wings straight up to make equipping the Wing Sheaths that much easier.  After a quick fastening she was ready, Lilith had a look of pride on her face as she gave out her orders.

 “Thanks girl, now go, as fast as you can, but stay safe.  The boss has to find out what the state of his son is so the prince can be helped as soon as possible.”  Lilith said as she scowled at what had been done to Ash.  If his mother had anything like that done to her, the boss was going to find the people responsible for this affront of Aura itself and impale them alive, and they would deserve  it.  As her Murkrow shot off into the open sky, climbing higher as she flew away from the alley, Lilith looked down at her cloths and remembered the airport and gave a short sigh.

 “Better hide behind an illusion for a while.   To Walk Unknown Upon the Land, Change my Form to What I Command.”  Lilith chanted as a black flash covered her body.

 As the flash faded away a completely new Lilith had completely changed her appearance!  Where a gothic party girl was, there was now a teenage honor student stood in her place.  She wore a white dress; grey heels with only a hint of makeup on her face, red hair flowing down her back and a modest figure with B-Cup breasts.

 "So not my style; but beggars don't slip by the hungry Snorlax." She muttered as looked for her target, but was unable to spot him.

 "The seals must have shocked me more than I thought to lose track of him so.... Mandibuzz, take flight!  Fly around and find me a trainer with a Pikachu with two blonds!" She cried as she released her other Flying type.  Her Pokémon had a Searcher Gem in a tiara on her head, so she could identify types from above, and she was trained to identify targets in groups. She would soon know where he was, and with a chant she would see what her Pokémon saw.

 "Sight Of All, Sights Beyond, Share with me What the Searcher Saw."  She chanted as she closed her eyes, and saw through the vision of her Pokémon augmented by the Searcher's Gem, a rainbow of colors representing the Pokémon and humans within the city.

 After spotting an electric with three normal auras next to one of the town's Pokémon arena, she ended her spell and ran toward the battlefield, mentally going over how she would interact with the prince, as a Trainer or a Coordinator?  She did have a flare for glamor and showmanship from her time on the circuit, but she had a few powerhouses with her, maybe bring out her whip and say her family lives in one of the Old Regions that still followed the Treaty of Defense?

 “Wobbuffet, time to Shine.”

 “What is this?” Lilith muttered as she hid behind a tree.  She saw two people in white with red R’s on their cloths behind a Meowth and a Wobbuffet face down the blonds and the prince, she recognized the uniform from tactical information about Kanto.

 “Team Rocket of Kanto, after the prince; are we?”  She snarled as she started to release a purple aura as she watch the prince’s Pikachu be hit with its own attack by the Wobbuffet.

 “ We’d better retreat. Using Mirror Coat reflects special attacks with double the power!” we can’t stand up to that kind of strength.” Blondie boy said he looked at Ash

 “Gotta give Blondie points for tactical ability; but minus points from turning away from the threat to talk to someone.  But this might give me an opening.”  Lilith mused as she grabbed one of her pokeballs.

 “We’ve always stood up to them before and we always will! As long as Pikachu is okay, as long as Pikachu doesn’t give up I’ll be right here, battling to the end!” Ash cried as he stood back up and unfelt by all but Lilith, he released a spike of aura energy before the seals sapped it back.

“Boss, if I doubted he was your boy, its’ so gone now.” Lilith said in a tiny bit of awe in her voice over the feeling Ash’s speech had invoked in her had echoes of his some of his father’s speeches.

 “All you’ll get is reruns.” The Female Rocket cried in response to Ash’s words.

 “Now, Pikachu, Electro Ball” Ash commanded.

 “Pik! Pika! Pika! Pika! Pika!” Pikachu cried jumped up and generated the attack its trainer ordered.

 “We’ll help you out, too! Bunnelby, use Mud Shot!” Blondie cried.

 “You’re on, Wobbuffet!” Female Rocket cried out.

 “Wob! Buff! Buff! Buff!” Wobbuffet cried as it jumped up, dodging the Mud Shot while activacting Mirror Coat, bouncing the Electro Ball back toward Pikachu.

 “Pikachu!” Pikachu cried out as its mouth dropped open before a small blue pokemon jumped between the attack and the electric type.

 “Froakie!” It cried before the attack hit and exploded.

 The blue pokemon land after the attack with Pikachu in its arms, electric sparks crawling over its blue skin.

  Ash gritted his teeth; Pikachu was fine but only because a small blue pokemon had intercepted an electric attack sent back by Wobbufett, a rookie mistake!  The pokemon in question was a small one that had light blue skin, white hands, and a dark blue stripe from the center of its oval head to its nose, its eyes were closed.  By its skin tone he had to guess it was a water type, but it had a mane of…clouds around its neck that he was made him wonder if it was a dual type.

 “It’s a Froakie!” Clemont cried as he and Bonnie ran over to Ash.  At the look Ash sent him he went on.

 “It’s a water-type that new trainers can get in Kalos. So that Electro Ball must have done lots of damage.” Clemont continued as he looked back as Froakie tensed as electricity ran over its skin.

 “So where is its Trainer?” Ash asked with a worried look in his eyes as he, Clemont and Bonnie looked around as Froakie hoped toward Team Rocket.

 “Where’s Froakie going?” Bonnie asked in confusion.

 “Froakie Froak!” it cried out.

 “What’s with the yapping?” Jessie wondered.

 “I think that Froakie wants to help us.”  Ash said as he stood back up.

 “Fro!” Froakie cried as it opened its yellow eyes and glared at Team Rocket

 “Froakie’s saying bad guys rub it the wrong way!”  Mewoth cried as its mouth dropped open

 “You can’t take them on if you’ve been hurt! Stop!” Ash cried as he raced to Froakie as it inflated the back of its mane and jumped toward Team Rocket.

 “Froakie!” Ash cried as he looked on in concern.

 In midair it grabbed the inflated part of its mane with its hand and threw toward the Rocket operatives.

 “Wow, Froakie just used its Frubbles!” Bonnie cried out as her and her brothers mouths dropped open in shock.

 “Big whoop! We’ll just send that right back at you!”  Jessie sneered as Wobbuffet jumped and activated its Mirror Coat, only for the move to have no effect as the Frubbles hit Wobbuffet, forcing it backwards as the remaining Frubbles hit Jessie, James and Meowth.

 “What’s this?”

 “I Can’t get this gunk off!” Jessie and Meowth cried as Team Rocket struggled against the sticky frubbles.

 “How come it didn’t bounce back?” Ash wondered in confussion.

 “Of course!  Froakie’s gummy Frubbles isn’t a move, so Wobbuffet’s Mirror Coat was completely ineffective!” Clemont exclaimed as he realized what had happened.

 “Awesome, Froakie, way to go! Pikachu and I can take it from here!”Ash cried as he and Pikachu advanced to stand by Froakie as the frog like Pokémon looked at Ash.

 “We’ll lend a hand, too”

“Bunnelby!”  Clemont and his pokemon proclaimed as they stood next to Ash.

 “You guys better not forget about me!” Bonnie declared as she ran next to Ash on his other side and puffed her cheeks.

 “Now, Bunnelby, us Dig!”

“Bunnel-brree!” Clemont command as his Pokémon jumped and used its ears to tunnel into the earth, coming up under Team Rocket, sending them skyward.

 “Yeah! Way to go!”

“Nice work, Bunnelby!” Bonnie and Clemont cried as they saw Team Rocket fly into the air.

 “Let’s wrap this up! Pikachu, Thunderbolt, go!” Ash cried as Pikachu and Froakie both jumped into the air, Pikachu fireing a Thunderbolt and Froakie throwing a water bubble that merged and hit Team Rocket together.

“We’re blasting off again!”

“Wobbuffet!”  Team Rocket cried as they disappeared into the sky.

 “Wow! Awesome power!” Bonnie declared as both Pikachu and Bunnelby ran to their trainers.

 Froakie groaned as it collapsed to the ground.

 “Froakie!  Something’s wrong!”  Ash cried as he ran to the water type and took it into his arms as the others gathered around them.

 “Froakie needs help right away.”  Clemont said as he looked at the water type, seeing the injuries he had sustained in their defense.

 “Is there a Pokémon Center?” Ash demanded as he stood up with the water type in his arms.

 “Well from here, I’m trying to think…” Clemont trailed off as he looked around, trying to remember where the Pokémon Center was.

 “I think it would be a lot quicker if we brought Froakie to the Professors lab instead!”  Bonnie declared as the others looked at her.

 “The Professor?

“Yeah, Professor Sycamore’s Research Lab! There’s no doubt he’ll know how to help Froakie!” Clemont answered Ash as he turned to his Pokémon hold out its Pokeball.

 “Bunnelby, return Thanks a lot!  You really helped out!”  Clemont said with a smile.

 “Come on Ash, this way!”

“I’m coming Bonnie!”  Ash ran after the younger girl with the water type in his arms, Pikachu on his shoulder, Clemont grabbed their bags before hurrying after his sister and his new friend.

 If he’s this strong with only one Pokémon, I can’t wait to see what he’s like with a full team!  Lilith thought with a smirk on her face.  She signaled her Mandibuzz to follow their target, while she trailed the elder blond.  After a while she saw him go into a building behind a steel gate, this must be the Professor Sycamore’s lab.  Seeing her searcher in a tree along the road, she then moved into a nearby ally, quickly checking to make sure that no one was looking or could overhear her, she chanted a spell.

 “Send my Voice, Unheard to Others, To my One Amongst them all.  Girl, I’m heading to the hotel.  Stay here, head over once and perch across from where my room is supposed to be so I can recall you when you get there.”

 Seeing her Pokémon nod, she move deeper down the alley, dropping her illusion around herself, time to rest from all the traveling she had been doing.  Slipping back onto the main roads, she headed toward where her hotel was.  Her target had finished with the only excitement he was going to have today, so time to finish her planning.  As she walked her mind went to the older and started to walk with a swing to her hips.   She didn’t know why, but there was something about him….  

  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  The flying type had flown through the Wind Road with the aid of the Wing Sheaths, dodging flocks of migrating flying types as she flew toward her destination.  For the last few minutes she had felt something, was she being hunted, on the Wind Road, the neutral territory for all flyers?   She hugged her wings to her body and dropped 50 feet, dodging a silver blast of energy by seconds.  Pumping her wings she risked a glance backwards, spotting a trio of Skarmory in arrow formation pointed at her.  Hearing the other flying types react to the attack she increased her knowing they were after her she flew faster she tried to think why they had committed such a taboo, what could she do?  Angling down she flew out of the Wind Road, she would need every advantage to escape.  Barreling to the right as she her instincts screamed out at her, she saw one the Skarmorys fly by with a white glow about it, as it flew past she realized with horror, that they were trained!  They had to have been looking for something, did their trainer know about her mission, her trainer’s mission, what she was carrying?!!  Looking ahead she spotted a group sea-stacks ahead of her, she was nearly home, and she could use this, she had to gamble on her movability to escape she just had to bait them.

 Flying slow with while trying to act like her wing was hurt she flew between the pillars as the three Steel-Types followed her. The three Skarmorys flew faster as they moved in for the kill; their master will receive a prize soon.  Dodging blasts of silver energy from her pursuers she flew between the rocks hoping to escape them.  After a while she looked back and saw a single Skarmory chasing her before…. She was blindsided by one of the other two, it had come at her from above, tackling her onto one of the sea stacks

 She moved her body up from where she had crashed and saw the three Skarmory land around her and slowly walk toward her.  She prepared herself to fight to her end when six energy rays hit the three Armor Bird Pokémon.  Around her landed three Pidgeotto while two more hovered with a Pidgeot, each had a look of anger on their faces for the actions that the three had performed on the Wind Road, it was neutral territory for all who used it.  The three Skarmory didn’t even reacted as 5 more of them landed on surrounding rock pillars as one of the three in formation gestured with a wing at her and convoyed the command to leave her and go.  As the Bird Pokémon braced themselves for battle a blast of fire hit two of the Skarmoys on the pillars behind the standoff before energy blasts hit the other three.

 “I didn’t want to believe what my boys told me, but it seems they had seen the situation clearly.”  A gruff voice said as a shadow covered the pokemon.  Raising her head, the Dark Flying type saw an Aerodactyl, one of the Elites was here, she and her rescuers were safe, with that realization she let herself stop fighting, and passed out.

  She awoke to the smiling face of one of the Pidgeotto in a room with medical supplies all around it, she was in one the Homelands Care Centers, she was home.

 “That one wouldn’t leave until you woke up, I guess what they say about Pokémon loyalty is not to be questioned.”  A melodies voice said from the doorway.  Walking into the room was a pale woman with red hair in a bun wearing a nurse’s outfit under a lab coat with a smile on her face that turned to a frown as the nurse saw the effort her patient was making to rise and leave the bed the Flying type was in.

 “You were only out for about two hours, so if your message is time sensitive you should make it on time. You can go as soon I slip this note for your trainer around one of your legs.”  The Nurse said as she moved toward the bed, did what she said and opened the window.  With a bow to the healer the Murkrow took flight.

  Joy sighed as she saw the Murkrow leave with the Pidgeotto flying into the sky, it was to early for this. In all the years she had be in residence here at Castle Town, Pokémon on missions for their Trainers always gave her such problems, they always pushed themselves for ‘time sensitive missions’, really, drama queens 9 times out of ten the lot of them.  Not to mention the problems Founding Day always brought to her Care Centers.

 “Headmistress Joy? Headmistress where are you?”  A female voice called worriedly from outside.

 Back to the grindstone, at least the patents from Founding Day parties are all almost gone.  Joy thought as she walked out to see a black haired woman in a business suite running toward her.

 “Yes Sara, what problems have come up now?”

 “The Skarmorys that were brought in their all dead!  No, they were dead BEFORE the General and his team killed them, they had machines inside!” Sara stammered as Joy lost what little color she had, what her assistant described was one thing only, a thing that her King had tried to destroy down to the roots of knowledge.

 “Frakenmon.”  Joy whispered in horror before her eyes hardened and she walked down the hall.

 “Have the most intact of the corpses brought to Operating Theater 1, contact Lady Camilla with what findings we have.  I want a full security team ready to transfer whatever I can carve out for a full diagnostics wherever it’s decided to send them, contact all off duty morticians report to theaters not in use to carve up the rest of them.”  Joy ordered as she pounded her way to her Theater, time to find some answers about where the bastard who made these things might be hiding.

  As the Pidgeotto followed after her she heard it call out a traditional parting she returned as angled upwards before she saw the castle above the town.    There was her target.  She flew as fast as she could and when she reached the window she started to peck when it opened to let her in.

 The room was full of occult books and tapestries, model of the solar system hovered near the ceiling without wires, near the door rested a staff.

 “I believe you have a scan of my Nephew for me to look over little friend?”  A cultured male voice said as the Murkrow proudly landed on a desk and puffed out its chest, the gem it had protected had reached its destination and the person who would help the Prince.  After a rest and some food she would return to her trainer with her mission completed.  

 “I think this is the Flying type me and my team rescued a few hours back my friend.  Good thing I decided to bring the patrol a few miles out after all.”  The gruff voice from the Aerodactyl said as the gem left the necklace and a hologram of Ash with seals running all over his body appeared over the desk.

 “I don’t think the Master will like what has been done to these two comrades.”  A voice sighed the three shadows converged at the desk.

  Item Cube: Arcane Science device that turns inorganic items into digital data through the power of users Aura

 Cube Reader:  Arcane Science device that reads Item Cubes’, must have code for Cube to recall items

 Aura Equipment:  Catch all term for items which increase or give abilities to humans or Pokémon depending on item; items must be tailored for species that uses said item

 Wing Sheaths: Aura Equipment; Pokémon Armor Type. Appearance;  Hollow blue metal shaped like wings that fit over the wings of the Pokémon using them  Increase flight speed of Pokémon with wings, denies moves that use Wings as mediums

                   Searcher Gem: Aura Equipment; General Gem Type. Bestows Aura Sight on user

 Wind Road:  Bands of wind in upper atmosphere that Flight enabled Pokémon use to migrate around the world.

 Treaty of Defense:  In time of old after a war that covered the known world, a treaty was signed, this treaty granted the right of self-defense with a weapon to all travelers.  In the centuries that followed and new lands were settled, countries that still followed this ancient treaty became known as the Old Worlds, and those places that paid it no mind became the New Worlds

 Frakenmon:  Pokémon reanimated by Arcane-Science.  Forbidden practice punishable by death or enslavement.

#Pokemon AU #Pokemon Fanfiction #Beginning in Kalos #Ash-Harem #Dhampire Ash #World Building

[naruwitch]

Code Geass: Paladins of Voltron Chapter 26: Reunion Over the Pacific

The bridge of the Avalon was buzzing with anxious energy. The crew was tensely watching every monitor, searching for any sign of the Lions that had ambushed the base. Their sudden arrival had forced the Avalon to rush through the rest of the preparations. Still, they managed to get airborne before the fighting became too chaotic.

Despite their escape, however, the tension didn't leave. Especially after they got a report from the base that the Lions had retreated almost immediately afterward. According to their monitors, though, they weren't pursuing them either.

"Prince Schneizel, the Lions don't seem to be pursuing us. Perhaps they have given up? They wouldn't dare attack now, not without risking Princess Nunnally's safety," Kanon said as he looked at the Prince.

"As appealing as that sounds Kanon, I highly doubt that that's the case," Schneizel answered, "With Knightmares as advanced as that, I don't think they would give up without a fight."

'If anything, my little brother is likely flying right into the trap that we set up,' Schneizel speculated. He knew that Lelouch wouldn't give up on his sister that easily. He would do anything to ensure Nunnally's safety. However, such behavior also made him predictable. Yes, Nunnally was the perfect bait when it came to Lelouch.

"Report! Four of the Lions have been spotted pursuing the Avalon, sir! The red, blue, yellow, and purple ones are in close pursuit!" a soldier exclaimed through the radio.

Schneizel blinked. Four? There had only been three that had attacked the base when they departed. And hadn't it been the orange, green, and black ones that had come?

The only way this made sense was for the first three Lions to be a preliminary strike, and now these other four were beginning the main attack. Where were the other three Lions, though? They disappeared once the Avalon had taken off.

"Prepare for battle, but be on guard," Schneizel ordered. "We don't know if the other three Lions from earlier will show up or not."

o~o

"Haaa! Got ya!" Kallen shouted as Aka's jaw blade easily sliced through a Britannian plane like it was nothing but butter. Her role in the rescue was pretty simple. Since Aka was not only one of the smaller Lions compared to the others, but also the fastest, her job was to keep the Britannian fleet busy. During this time, the other three Lions would drop off the infiltration team onto the ship. Lelouch had specifically warned Kallen to try and go easy on the Britannians, considering they needed as many able-bodied people as possible when Zarkon eventually tracked them down, but…

…Let's just say that some Britannians couldn't get a clue when the situation was a lost cause.

With most of the helicopters and planes focused on Aka's nearly erratic flying (and yes, Kallen was doing that on purpose too), the other three Lions managed to fly smoothly towards the Avalon. Polaris and Maeraka each landed on a wing, and Yoru perched at the top of the ship itself.

On the right wing, where Polaris dropped Rai off before quickly leaving, Rai raced towards the side of the ship and jammed his katar into the dense metal. Making a large enough hole for him to climb through, it wasn't long before the Green Paladin slipped into the hall.

The same happened on the other wing with Maeraka as Milly dropped Shirley and C.C. off on the left side. The two women quickly sprinted to the main body of the ship. C.C. then used an Altean knife she borrowed to wrench open the emergency hatch on the side, where they slipped into the flying fortress.

Finally, Yoru touched down on the very top of the Avalon. Suzaku watched anxiously as Lelouch and Sayoko exited Yoru and descended onto the smooth metal. A large part of him still yearned to go inside with the duo to get Nunnally, but Lelouch's logic always stopped him. If his identity was discovered, on camera or by a soldier, his people, the people of Japan, would suffer greatly. He couldn't afford to let that happen, no matter what.

Lelouch, fully donned in his Zero Paladin armor, cape and all, brandished his mother's knife and dug it into the roof of the ship. He effectively made a hole in the top that he and Sayoko jumped through. They were all on board. Now they needed to find Nunnally.

o~o

Once their feet hit the metal ground, Shirley grabbed C.C.'s wrist and turned her Geass on, extending its range as far out as she could. She was pleasantly surprised that she was able to cover almost all of the ship. Then again, they only needed to be unseen on their side, as Rai would be taking out the engines on the other end. They should be invisible to any soldiers and security cameras now. The more they avoided, the better.

Shirley held her breath as she and C.C. pressed themselves against a wall as a small squad of soldiers rushed past them. The Orange Paladin sighed in relief when the team turned a corner out of sight.

"You never answered my question earlier, Shirley," C.C. said sternly when it was safe.

Shirley flinched a little at the reminder. She hadn't forgotten what C.C. said on the flight over in Maeraka. However, the reality of having to fight and possibly kill people didn't hit her until now.

"You're not a schoolgirl anymore, Miss Fenette. You're a Paladin, a knight, a soldier, whether you like it or not, you will have to fight and kill to stay alive," C.C. said gravely.

Shirley gulped a little before shaking her head to clear it, "We have a job to do. Let's go!"

C.C. sighed and shook her head. She would hate for Shirley to learn the hard way how valid her words are.

o~o

"System ready?" Nonette asked urgently as she leaped onto the Lancelot.

"Float system nearly ready," Cecile confirmed as two other scientists finished attaching the new flying system onto the Lancelot. When footage revealed that the Lions could fly, a rush order was put out on the experimental Knightmares that could fly, as well as the custom one for the Lancelot. They had not had time yet to officially test the system, but in order to defend the Avalon as much as possible, they didn't have time to.

On another helicopter, Cornelia, Guliford, and the rest of her guard were doing the same. All of their Knightmares had been equipped with a float system to fly and fight in the air.

"You, Zero, will pay dearly for this!" Cornelia declared as her Gloucester was launched out into the air.

o~o

A startled gasp from Kallen caused Milly, Rivalz, and Suzaku to pause their assault, "Everyone, incoming!"

Once the debris from another fallen jet cleared, the three Paladins were shocked to see dozens of Knightmare frames exiting helicopters and carriers rapidly.

"What the-!" Rivalz exclaimed.

"They can fly?!" Milly shouted, sounding shocked.

Suzaku grit his teeth and narrowed his eyes. He knew through Lloyd that Britannian had been in the very beginning stages of adding a flight mode to the Knightmare frames, but to see them being used now? His best guess was that the military had put a rush order on the devices to prepare them to fight the Lions, and that was only a few days ago.

"Just be careful," he advised as calmly as possible. "They still look like prototypes, so they may have trouble maneuvering! Kallen, can you see who's flying the Lancelot? The white Knightmare?"

"Um, not sure why you want to know, but…" the Red Paladin's Geass quickly scanned the battlefield. It didn't take long for her to locate the white Knightmare that had just launched from another airship. She was able to see her, but she didn't recognize the woman behind the controls. "...No clue, I don't recognize her."

"Her?" Suzaku asked, making sure he heard correctly.

"Yeah, just some lady. I don't recognize her, though."

"...Okay, leave the Lancelot to me," he said promptly before speeding off its direction.

"Suzaku!" Milly called out, but heard the Purple Paladin cut communication, "What's gotten into him?"

"...Guys, did you know that Knightmare was called the 'Lancelot' before we got back to Earth?" Kallen asked. Now that she thought about it, even with the Black Knights, no one had given that white Knightmare a proper title. And yet, Suzaku called it with a name. Something was off.

"Um, no?" Rivalz said, sounding more confused, "Why would we know? It's a military Knightmare."

"...Then why would Suza-ugh, forget it! We have a mission to accomplish!" Kallen snapped in frustration before speeding off as well.

"Hey, wait up!" Milly shouted before they darted forward as well.

The Paladins weren't the only ones ready for a fight. Nonette smirked as she spotted Yoru racing towards her. "Round two, huh? Okay, bring it!"

o~o

Another Britannian soldier hit the ground, twitching as Rai's katar returned back to him. The Green Paladin was making little work of the soldiers on the ship. Their bullets barely dented his Paladin armor, bouncing off it like tennis balls on a backboard. The shock function on his Bayard helped quite a bit with only knocking the soldiers out too.

It didn't take long for him to make it to his destination: the circuit box on the starboard engine. After making sure he was alone, and promptly destroying the camera in the corner, Rai held up his gauntlet to the box. He wore a slightly sadistic grin.

"You guys must have put a lot of work into this… Too bad!" he grinned before cackling and pressing a single button on his gauntlet's screen, "Demolition in session!"

o~o

Lelouch grunted as another soldier cried out in pain and surprise. He landed hard on the other end of the hall, uniform smoking slightly as the last traces of electricity coursed through him.

Sayoko just finished dispatching a pair of soldiers herself before turning her attention back to the prince. She would admit, she was quite shocked to see her young master with such a power at his disposal. But, she certainly wasn't complaining about how effective it was against their enemies.

Lelouch stalked over to the soldier he just zapped and grasped him by his uniform collar. The soldier was barely conscious as Lelouch's helmet lowered to look the soldier in the eye.

"Where's Nunnally vi Britannia being held?" the Black Paladin demanded calmly.

"At-at the center of the ship," the soldier stuttered through the pain, "down the hall to the left. In the Garden."

"Thank you," Lelouch said before dropping the soldier. He stood up and glanced at Sayoko. She nodded when their eyes met before they raced down the hall once more.

o~o

Despite the military being reasonably new to the float systems, they seemed to have trained enough with them to fight well. The Paladins were quite surprised at how easily the Knightmares maneuvered in the air. It made sense, though. Being in midair gave more space. And more space gave better places to run and dodge.

It also made the Knightmares faster. But not as fast as the Lions.

"Lord Guliford, look out!" a soldier exclaimed as Polaris intercepted Cornelia's knight. What alarmed the squad, though, was the large, cannon-like instrument that literally materialized on the Lion's back.

"Oh god, what is that?!" Guilford gasped, scrambling to fly off out of range.

"See if you can take this!" Rivalz shouted, slamming down on the shift. With a roar, Polaris fired her sonic cannon straight at the knight and his platoon.

Guilford attempted to dodge the attack but was shocked to see the Knightmare's system begin to glitch and shut down in front of him.

"Wha-what is this?!" he exclaimed. When he looked at his screen, he was shocked to see the rest of the Knightmares also shorting out and falling towards the ocean. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness from the sea's impact was a blinding flash of light engulfing Darlton's group above.

'Princess Cornelia…'

"Agh! I can't see!" a pilot shouted as the light fired from the Yellow Lion engulfed their vision. Darlton grit his teeth, his eyes watering from the brightness before he felt a hard jolt from behind. When he could finally see clearly again, the only thing left to greet him was the blue water below.

'I failed you, Viceroy! Forgive me…'

"That's my girl Maeraka!" Milly cooed, petting her dashboard. She giggled when she felt her Lion purr happily back to her.

"Well, it looks like your soldiers aren't having the best day right now, Princess!" taunted Kallen as she faced off a flying Gloucester with a flowing cape behind it. It was apparent that the pilot was the Viceroy herself.

'I know you're Lelouch's sister and all, but I'm going to enjoy kicking your ass. Again.'

With a scream of fury, the Cornelia launched at the Red Lion, which promptly ducked and flipped around her quickly. The shoulders from the Gloucester than snapped open and a dozen missiles fired out towards Aka. Despite the close range, though, Aka was able to dodge nearly all of them. The two that were lucky enough to actually hit only jostled Kallen slightly from the cockpit.

"Where the Black Lion?!" Cornelia demanded, before charging the Lion again. "Is Zero too much of a coward to face me directly?!"

Kallen snorted, "Nah, you're just not worth his time right now."

This response only made Cornelia more furious as her movements quickly became erratic and sloppy. Even Kallen had to admit, the way the Viceroy was fighting right now was laughable, even embarrassing.

"Stop! Moving!" Cornelia roared, aiming her gold scepter at Aka's eye.

"Yeah… nope!" Kallen quipped as Aka ducked down at the very last second, throwing Cornelia off balance and flipping forward.

Kallen took the opportunity to summon Aka's jaw blade. With a swift jerk of her head, Aka ripped the Viceroy's float system in two. The Red Paladin watched apathetically as the Princess's Knightmare collided with the ocean's surface below.

"Wow, and they say I got a temper," Kallen chuckled, shaking her head. Her seat vibrated slightly beneath her as Aka's growling guffaw joined her.

Down below, Cornelia was able to wrench open her cockpit door and gasp for air. Glancing around her, she saw several soldiers and pilots doing the same.

All the Viceroy could do was glare lividly up at the sky, at the small figures in the air that continued to demolish Britannia's great army.

"Just you wait, Zero," she growled venomously, "I will have my revenge! One way or another!"

o~o

"Oh my, my!" Lloyd exclaimed in awe, eyes twinkling once more. He and Cecile were currently viewing the battle from another escort ship. The ship was mostly staying out of range of the gunfire.

"These Lions… they're incredible, but also completely terrifying to witness," Cecile murmured and flinched as she watched the Yellow Lion's jaws clamped around another Knightmare. It shook the machine like a dog would a chew toy before letting it drop to the sea below.

"I must say, despite being the clear enemy, I give praise to whoever created these Lions," Lloyd said with a grin. "If I ever get the privilege to meet the mind behind these machines, I will personally approach them and shake their hand. Nothing wrong with two scientists being civil to each other when off the battlefield, after all."

The Earl's eyes then lingered on the Purple Lion that was in the middle of clashing with the Lancelot. It was like the two were locked in a deadly dance of wit and strength.

Lloyd's eyebrows shot up, though, as the Lion suddenly dodged a downward kick from the Lancelot that several Knightmares failed to even notice before the attack actually struck. However, it seemed the Lion not only was aware of this move but had been anticipating it for a while. Literally, a split second before the foot would usually collide with the target, the Lion side-rolled out of the way, dodging the hit, spectacularly.

"Hmmm, curious…" he stated, folding his fingers in front of him. There was something vaguely familiar about the Purple Lion, or more precisely, the person piloting it. He couldn't seem to put his finger on it, though.

o~o

Lloyd wasn't incorrect. Unlike the other Knightmares that were dropping right and left, the Lancelot was holding a fairly decent fight against Suzaku. He had managed to hit the float system and make inoperable, but the slash harkens allowed the white Knightmare to remain airborne by hanging and jumping from numerous aircraft. It would sometimes even use other Knightmares as stepping stones.

The best Suzaku could do for now was to keep the Lancelot and its pilot away from the Avalon. Not only could they not damage the flying fortress without risking Nunnally's safety, but he didn't want to give the pilot the chance to board the ship either. If they were this good at piloting the Lancelot, he didn't want to think about their hand-to-hand combat. He knew Sayoko and C.C. could handle themselves, and Rai likely had combat experience as a gladiator, but Lelouch and Shirley he wasn't so sure about. Though he was getting better thanks to the Paladin training regime, Lelouch was still the most physically weak of all of the Paladins. While Shirley was athletic due to her involvement in the swimming club, she wasn't one for confrontation. She tended to avoid and sneak around enemies than actually fight them. Her Geass's power was perfect for her.

However, a sudden jump directly towards him caught Suzaku off guard. The white Knightmare landed right on Yoru's face before vaulting onto her back and leaping right towards the Avalon. The one place that Suzaku was trying to keep the Lancelot away from!

"No!" he shouted, pivoting around. The Lancelot's slash harkens attached itself to the side of the ship before flipping up and landing on the lower platform.

"You're trying to keep me away from the ship. Plus, you've made no move to actually attack the Avalon," Nonette said calmly. "So, I can only guess that you're goal is to capture Princess Nunnally, correct?"

Suzaku didn't answer but grimaced. He knew if he explained, he ran the risk of his voice being recognized, and they couldn't afford to let that happen.

"I'll take your silence as a 'yes,'" Nonette deduced, before readying the VARIS, aiming it at Suzaku, "I won't let you pass."

o~o

Shirley shot down the camera that was positioned in the corner of the port engine room. The immortal was already in the process of connecting to the system on their side. It would take a few minutes for Rai to connect the engines and then be ready to shut them off. They also still needed the signal from Lelouch telling them that he had Nunnally. They didn't want to risk sinking the ship with any of them still on board, after all.

Shirley glanced back at the immortal again, but C.C. paid her no mind as she messed with some wires. As the two of them had sneaked and fought their way down the halls, Shirley had been lucky enough to not fatally hurt any people aboard. C.C., however, showed no such restrictions. She wasn't afraid to lift a gun to a head if it meant completing the task. The Orange Paladin swallowed as she remembered the immortal's warning from earlier, how she would have to eventually make that same call. Someday, her hands would have blood on them, whether it was human or Galra. Whether she liked it or not.

A bullet whizzing by her head snapped her out of her trance. With a gasp, she whipped around to the hall, readying an arrow. On the other end was a dark-skinned woman with a gun aimed at Shirley.

"Drop the weapon and surrender!" the woman shouted, running towards the engine room, continuing to fire at Shirley. Fortunately, none of the bullets penetrated the armor, so Shirley wasn't hurt.

The Orange Paladin tried firing several energy arrows at the woman, trying to aim for her arms or legs. However, the soldier was quickly able to maneuver around each shot. As she got closer, the woman put the gun away, drew out a knife. With a gasp, Shirley lifted her arm to block, just before the knife dragged across her gauntlet. Just like with the bullets, the armor wasn't even scratched.

This only seemed to irritate the woman as she started to swing widely and harshly, attempting to strike the black under-armor spandex instead. Shirley quickly summoned her shield to block a blow that was aimed for her neck. The force of the swing was strong enough to make her stumble. The woman took that opportunity to deliver a hard kick to Shirley's abdomen.

The Orange Paladin gasped as the air was knocked out of her. She tumbled back, landing hard on her back. Her head bounced against the floor, hard enough that her helmet went flying off to the other side of the room. She rolled several more times before coming to a stop on her side, back towards the woman.

Shirley grunted as she pushed herself to her knees. Noticing she had some distance between them again, she summoned her bow once more. Notching an arrow, she turned to face the woman soldier, eyes narrowed.

The woman gasped and took a step back. Her eyes widened.

"You-you're one of the students?!"

o~o

After checking to make sure the cameras were effectively destroyed, Lelouch slowly removed his helmet. He and Sayoko stood in front of the doors leading to what they were told was the garden area. Two more soldiers lay unconscious on the ground beside them as Sayoko punched in the code they had received from one through Lelouch's Geass.

Despite knowing she would be waiting on the other side, Lelouch was nervous. What on Earth would he say to Nunnally? He disappeared without a trace for nearly two months, and now because of that, he had unintentionally endangered her. Would she disapprove of him being Zero and using Voltron to fight Britannia? Speaking of which, how exactly was he going to explain that to her? About the Alteans? The Galra? A universal war that had been going on for 10,000 years?! And Earth's-

Sayoko placed a hand on Lelouch's shoulder, shaking him out of his panicking thoughts.

"My lord, no matter what happens or what you've already done, she'll still love you. And I'm sure once she knows the entire situation, she'll understand your actions."

Reassured by the maid, Lelouch breathed deeply and nodded.

The door opened before them, and Lelouch could see on the other side of an extended platform was a small figure in a large wheelchair.

"...Nunnally," Lelouch barely whispered, his eyes misting with tears as he and Sayoko slowly approached.

"Who's there?" the young princess asked as she looked around in the direction of the door.

o~o

"Wha-Wait, that's-!"

"It's Prince Lelouch! Princess Nunna-"

Both of the men standing watch over the cameras were suddenly gunned down from behind.

"Their reunion is starting," the assailant, eyes ringed with red, stated blankly, "they must not be disturbed."

o~o

"Lady Nunnally," Sayoko said, "It's me, Sayoko."

"Sayoko?" Nunnally asked in surprise, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"That's not important right now milady. I have someone with me that has been waiting to see you."

"Huh? Who?" Nunnally asked, confused but still curious about what was happening.

Lelouch took another deep breath to calm himself before he slowly approached his sister. He swiftly removed his armored glove and reached unsteadily out to her. With a tremble in his fingers, he rested his hand gently on top of Nunnally's.

Nunnally gasped. Slowly, the princess reached with her left hand, turning Lelouch's over in her right. She grasped his hand gently as if it would break if she held them too hard.

"This is-" Nunnally could barely get the first word out before streams of tears fell from her eyes. She gripped Lelouch's hand harder as she brought to her face, "Thank heavens! Lelouch… I knew it! I knew you'd be alright!"

"I'm here, Nunnally," Lelouch said softly as tears of his own coursed down his cheeks.

Hearing her brother's voice, Nunnally leaped forward. She nearly fell had Lelouch not caught her as she sobbed louder, burying her face in his shoulder. Lelouch hugged her too, one hand rubbing her back gently, the other combing through her hair.

"I'm so sorry I made you worry, Nunnally," Lelouch said softly after he found his voice, "I didn't mean to be gone for so long."

"Where have you been?" Nunnally demanded softly as Lelouch helped her sit back in her wheelchair.

"It's complicated, Nunnally, and I promise I'll explain later."

"What about the others? Suzaku, Milly, Shirley, and Rivalz? And Rai and Kallen, are they okay?"

"Yes, they're all fine. They're all okay," Lelouch told her reassuringly.

"Oh, thank goodness," she sighed in relief.

"You'll see them soon. Right now, we need to get out of here though," Lelouch went to kneel down and lift his sister up when her voice stopped him.

"But I can't big brother!" Nunnally protested.

"What?" he asked. He turned to look at Sayoko, but she looked just as surprised and confused too.

o~o

Shirley winced a little. Lelouch had told them that they couldn't risk anyone knowing their identities. Now someone had not only seen Shirley's face but identified her too.

'I don't want to kill her… maybe we can-'

Her thoughts were interrupted when the woman spoke again in a more accusatory tone.

"If you're… You're a Britannian citizen! Why are you supporting someone like Zero?! Why is a Britannain supporting a terrorist?!"

Shirley gripped her bow tighter, her vision blurring from angry tears, "Zero's not a terrorist! He's a hero!"

The woman blinked and took a step back before her eyes narrowed, and her mouth formed a sneer. "What on Earth are you talking about? Zero's done nothing but kill officials and endanger civilians. He even admitted to killing Prince Clovis! You realize you're supporting a person who has murdered royalty, correct?"

"Zero's not a murderer, Clovis was!" Shirley spat, remembering what Kallen and Lelouch had told her about Shinjuku and all the people that died there. Mothers, fathers, children. Grandmas and grandpas. Husbands and wives!

The woman's eyes widened again before they narrowed dangerously, "You dare-"

"Zero didn't just tell us. He showed us what happened! What you did! What Britannia did! And it's wrong! So, so, so wrong! How can you not see that?! Everything Britannia has taught us was about how we're the greatest nation in the world, and how we're proving that through all this prejudice and violence. That's nothing but a lie! Tell me, what's so righteous about any of that?! About slaughtering innocents? You're just hypocrites! I… I can never be apart of that!"

The woman just stood there, apparently trying to process the words that had come out of her mouth. It was likely the first time this soldier had ever heard a fellow Brittanian talking so harshly about their own country. Sure, maybe a couple months ago, Shirley would have felt the same way. After all, when she had heard out about Shinjuku and Clovis's death-

Wait…

Shirley took a closer look at the woman, and her eyes widened. She recognized her! She was one of the soldiers at Clovis's funeral. She was also one of the soldiers, one of the Purebloods to be exact, that had tried to have Suzaku executed for a crime he didn't even commit! What was her name? Vanessa or something?

"Were you one of them?" she asked tartly, "In Shinjuku? Were you doing nothing but killing innocents too?!"

Villetta frowned, "Terrorists had stolen poison gas. We were ordered to retr-"

"That's a lie!" Shirley screamed, "There was never poison gas! That was just an excuse you were given to kill the Japanese in that ghetto, right?!"

"You don't seriously believe were there to just kill everyone, do you?" Villetta exclaimed angrily, "And besides, how is it our problem if a few Elevens die? They should just stay out of the way of military business."

"That's it! Right there! You call them 'Elevens' just now!" Shirley shouted, pointing at Villetta. "You're treating them like they're not even human! Do you have any idea what it's like for them?! The Japanese, they don't see Britannia's greatness! They hate us! They're terrified of Britannia! They're scared that if they take one wrong step on the street, they'll be shot or worse! Britannia stole their home! Britannia murdered their friends and loved ones and condemned them to a life of pain and hopelessness! Can you imagine if somebody did the same to you?!"

Shirley's thoughts wandered back to the Balmera and about the conditions Shay and her family were forced to live in. Though she hadn't been there to witness it herself, if Shinjuku was anything like the Balmera was, and Clovis had ordered the people there to be killed, she could never forgive, much less support, someone who would do that. And the soldiers didn't question it. Sure, one may make the excuse that they were just following orders, but that didn't mean the crime wasn't still there.

Shirley was on her feet now, visibly shaking and crying tears of sorrow and rage. Seeing that Villetta hadn't responded to her rant, the Orange Paladin continued.

"I can't be a part of that. I can't be a part of something so... so... evil! I may be a Britannian, but I can't serve under that monster you call an Emperor! I am a Paladin of Voltron, and that means I protect the weak and helpless from bullies and monsters like Britannia! From bullies and monsters like you!"

Villetta was standing there frozen. This Britannian, a student no less, had just openly proclaimed she'd go against her own nation and called out its beliefs and philosophies. She even went as far as to not only insult the late Prince Clovis but the Emperor as well! She also called the nation that she was a citizen of evil.

The soldier sighed and shook her head. She wasn't sure what exactly Zero had said or did to her, or to the other students for that matter, but it was clear she needed help. No one had to die. She would see to her treatment and rehabilitation personally if she had to.

"Look, I don't know what Zero did or said to you to make you think those things," Villetta said carefully, "but I am going to bring you in, even if I have to tie you down and drag you there myself." She pulled out her gun again, "Put down the weapon, and no one gets hurt."

"You first," Shirley growled, hand trembling.

The tension seemed to thicken in the room as the two women faced off, neither one of them moving to drop their weapon, but not firing either. Shirley's mind raced. Just like she though earlier, this woman had seen her face and identified her. If she let her go, her parents could be in danger. Plus, the military would likely figure out who the rest of the Paladins were too. Right now, she could only see one solution. The problem was, did she have the guts to do it? Could she… kill this woman? Even if she was a Britannian soldier, she was still a human being-

A gunshot cut off any further thoughts from Shirley's head as she jumped in surprise. She stared as Villetta's eyes widened in shocked horror before she collapsed in a heap on the floor. C.C. was standing stoically behind her, gun raised and smoking. Shirley had been so focused on Villetta, she had wholly forgotten that C.C. was in the room too!

"Wh-why did you do that?!" Shirley exclaimed in horror, glancing frantically between Villetta and the immortal.

"She saw you. What was I supposed to do?" C.C. responded matter-of-factly.

Shirley winced and frantically tried to think of a response. However, a pained groan interrupted her again. Looking towards the source, Shirley gasped in shock and relief to see that Villetta was still alive.

Her relief soon shifted to panic again as C.C. leveled the gun at the woman again, this time aiming for her head.

"Wait!" Shirley shouted, running towards her, "Don't kill her!"

"Why not?" C.C. asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"W-we-well," Shirley stuttered, scrambling to come up with an excuse, "Well, why kill her? She's a soldier, right? I-If we take back to the Castle, she may have some information that could help us! Lelouch can Geass her and make her tell us! I mean, the more we know about what's going on in the military, the better. Right?"

C.C. stared at Shirley for about five seconds. It was long enough for Shirley to fidget uncomfortably.

Finally, she sighed and put away the gun, "Grab her other arm."

Shirley sighed in relief that C.C. agreed and comply with the order, pulling Villetta's arm around her shoulders, C.C. doing the same on her other side.

"You were lucky this time, Shirley," C.C. said, "but you're going to have to make the call someday. Someone's not always going to be there to make it for you. You can't avoid it forever."

Shirley grimaced but nodded before the two departed the sabotaged engine room.

o~o

"Nunnally, Father's just using you. Whatever he's told you or offered, it's not going to change anything. He believes that might is always right! Do really approve of that, Nunnally?"

"Lelouch, you don't understand!" Nunnally gasped, "Father didn't send me to do this! I asked him to send me!"

"Y-You what?!" Lelouch gasped, stepping backward. Sayoko also gasped in shock, her fingers brushing her mouth.

"I think that with a peaceful approach, I can make the world a gentler place," Nunnally explained, "Even big brother Schneizel said he's willing to help."

Lelouch scowled. Had things been different, he may have been willing to let this go for his sister's sake. However…

"...Nunnally, such intention is noble of you. But this situation isn't just about Britannia anymore. There's something much more dire and complex at play here now."

"...I don't understand," Nunnally murmured softly.

"I know, and I promise I'll tell you everything, but not here. I have… I have so much to tell you, Nunnally, but there is one thing I'll say right now."

"What is it?" she asked as Lelouch knelt down in front of her again.

Lelouch glanced back towards Sayoko, who nodded. Taking a breath, he spoke two words. "I'm Zero."

There was silence within the garden for about a minute as Lelouch watched Nunnally's reaction. Her expression shifted to one of shock to sorrow again, tears gathering in her eyes once more.

"I-I didn't want to believe it…" she choked out.

Lelouch gasped, and Sayoko's eyes widened as well. "You knew?!" Lelouch exclaimed.

"I-I always had a feeling," Nunnally confessed, "When you appeared to save Suzaku, and I heard your voice on the radio, my heart told me it was you, but didn't want to believe it. Because if it was you… everything you've been doing, you've been risking your life, and putting yourself in danger all this time!"

Lelouch gaped before grimacing. He never stopped to wonder if his actions could negatively affect Nunnally. He never realized how much it could hurt his sister.

"I'm sorry, Nunnally," Lelouch whispered, "But, I had no choice. I couldn't stand by and watch what Britannia was doing. I had to do something."

"Lady Nunnally," Sayoko said calmly as she stepped forward, "I know you still have questions. But as your brother said earlier, he will tell you everything later. Now is not the time nor place for this."

"Yes," Lelouch nodded as he held Nunnally's hands again, "Nunnally, I promise, if you come with me now, I'll tell you everything. No more secrets. And I'll never leave you again. Okay?"

"...You promise?" Nunnally asked softly as she held out her pinky.

Lelouch smiled softly as he hooked his pinky with hers, "I promise."

The peaceful moment was destroyed moments later as the garden doors burst open. Lelouch snatched his Zero mask from his waist and slipped it on as he whipped around. He leaped to his feet as Sayoko placed herself between the siblings and the soldiers, kunai drawn at the ready.

"There they are!" one soldier shouts.

"Wait! Don't shoot! You could hit the princess!" a superior officer ordered from near the back.

"Quiznack, this is bad," Lelouch hissed as he stood protectively by his sister.

o~o

"And… done!" Rai confirmed as he pressed a final button on his gauntlet. C.C. had alerted him moments earlier that she was finished on her end of the ship.

"Going down," he smirked as the engines on both sides of the Avalon shut down. The flying airship began to slowly descend from the sky to the water below.

o~o

"Prince Schneizel, engine failure on starboard!" a crew member reported from the bridge.

"Failure on port side as well!" another shouted in panic. "We're going down!"

"Have you tried restarting them?!" the head engineer demanded as he leaned down over the railing.

"We have! The computer won't accept any of our codes!"

"Sir! Look!" a female member exclaimed, pointing to the main screen at the front of the bridge. The screen began to glitch out of focus momentarily before brightened again. However…

"...What in the world?" Schneizel asked. His expression was one of complete bewilderment as he sat on his throne. A cartoon image of Voltron's head rocked back and forth on the screen, electronically laughing as load screen appeared underneath it. The second it filled up, more systems began to shut down on the bridge, computer images going black, and screens locking the crew out of the controls.

o~o

Nonette grunted as the ship beneath the Lancelot suddenly jolted. Looking down, she gasped in shock to see the turbines on the Avalon had stopped spinning.

"Oh no!" she gasped as the Avalon began to slowly descend towards the ocean.

"That's our cue!" Suzaku shouted to the three other Paladins as a green digital thumbs up appeared on his dashboard. It was Rai's signal telling them they were ready for pick up.

"Right!" Rivalz confirmed as the sonic cannon dispersed from Polaris's back. He then fired his boosters and raced towards the Avalon.

"On my way!" Milly shouted, twisting around and speeding off towards Shirley and C.C.'s entry point.

Both Lions successfully landed on the Avalon's wings once more as they waited to pick up their passengers. Rai was quick to leap from the hole he had made earlier and onto the wing. Snagging Polaris's canine, the Blue Lion swallowed the Green Paladin back and jumped gracefully from the ship.

Milly was relieved to see both Shirley and C.C. exiting the porthole, but her relief soon turned to surprise as the two women were dragging an unconscious Britannian soldier with them.

"Who-?"

"Don't ask," C.C. snapped as she and Shirley loaded themselves and their prisoner into Maeraka's mouth, "just get us out of here!"

"Um, okay," Milly said as Maeraka leaped from the wing, swiftly following her blue sister.

Suzaku grit his teeth. He couldn't land on the ship yet, not with the Lancelot standing on the roof. He couldn't risk injuring Lelouch and Nunnally.

"I've got to finish this quick!" he exclaimed as he flew forwards, aiming to blast the Lancelot directly off the ship.

He didn't see where the VARIS was aiming until it was too late.

With a grunt, Yoru took a direct hit from the weapon, knocking them off course as Suzaku's hand accidentally slams down on the laser's button.

"No!" he gasps as Yoru's mouth laser collides with a part of the ship further down.

o~o

With a sudden explosion from below the garden, the occupants of the area stumbled and struggled to remain balanced. Wind began to wildly whip through the garden, flower petals, and plants blowing in all directions.

The explosion shook the room so violently, Nunnally was rocked out of her wheelchair. She would've have hit the floor had Lelouch not dove down and grabbed her, holding bridal style against his chest.

Looking down, Sayoko and Lelouch saw the glistening water of the ocean beneath them approaching closer and closer.

"Brother, what's happening?!" Nunnally exclaimed as she clung to him in fright.

Lelouch, through his mask, looked frantically between the ocean and the soldiers. There was no way that he, Nunnally, and Sayoko could survive a fall from this height. Even though the ship was descending, they couldn't risk waiting for the water to be in close enough range either. Every second spent up here had the risk of the soldiers shooting them, and possibly Nunnally as well. From the sounds outside, the other Paladins were still engaging enemy Knightmares and planes, so they couldn't be picked up either.

Grimacing, Lelouch realized they were trapped, unless he tried one more thing.

He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind.

"Listen, I need your help. I know that you probably felt me doubting you after… Zarkon. But right now, I need you! More than anything! Someone I love needs my help, and I can't protect her without you. Please!"

Opening his eyes turns to Sayoko. She nods before he turns back and whispers to his sister.

"Nunnally, do you trust me?"

Nunnally was silent for a few moments before she smiled and held tighter to her brother, "I do Lelouch."

Lelouch smiled as a lone tear trickled down his face. He felt Sayoko grip his arm.

"Then hang on," he whispered.

This was the only warning Nunnally received before they leaped from the platform and through the hole below them. They heard the shouts of disbelief and panic from the soldiers behind them as the wind whipped their hair.

Nunnally screamed as she held onto her brother with all her might, bracing herself for what was likely a hard impact below.

Suddenly a loud roar rips through the sky as a large splash erupted from the ocean. The Black Lion burst from the water and, with a single snap of her jaws, caught the three humans safely in her mouth.

From above, Nonette froze as she spotted the Black Lion erupting from the water. This moment of distraction cost her, though, as Yoru body-slammed into the Lancelot, forcing it off the Avalon and sending it crashing into the ocean.

"...He did it," Suzaku breathed with a smile as he and Yoru regained their aerial balance.

Zinnia and Zerith were quick to follow after their sister as they emerged triumphantly from the sea as well. The two Lions joined their pride, un-manned, in the air above the falling Avalon.

Lelouch sighed in relief as he finally relaxed in Zen's seat. Sayoko was standing by his side, and Nunnally sat in his lap, still holding him tightly. She was looking around almost frantically, causing Lelouch to wince. He could only imagine how confused and frightened Nunnally felt right now. He figured the only thing keeping her from screaming was the fact that he was with her still.

"Thank you… Zen," he said quietly with a smile. He felt the Black Lion nuzzle his spirit reassuringly. He, in turn, projected his regret of having doubted her.

"Lelouch, are you okay? Did you get Nunnally?" Suzaku's voice asked as the Purple Paladin appeared on the screen in front of him.

"We're fine, Suzaku," Lelouch answered as he glanced down at his sister.

"Huh, Suzaku's here?" Nunnally asked, turning her head in confusion, trying to locate the Japanese boy.

"I'm right here, Nunnally!" Suzaku answered with a smile, spotting the princess in his friend's lap, "I'll see you really soon, okay?"

"Okay," Nunnally nods with a smile.

"So Lelouch, now what? Do we finish this off with Voltron?" Kallen asked as her face, and the faces of the other Paladins lit up the dashboard.

"No. We came to get Nunnally, and we did. Our work here is done," he said sternly before smiling genuinely at everyone, "Let's go home."

From outside, the Britannian forces could only watch as the seven lions ascended into the sky and disappeared.

o~o

As the Avalon finally hit the water, warning lights and alarms were ringing from every part of the ship. The airship had completely lost power and was dead in the water. Nothing the crew did could get it up and running again. They weren't sure who created the virus that infected the system, but it had been thorough and had done its job well.

"Prince Schneizel," an officer exclaimed as he approached the Prime Minister, "we just received a report. Princess Cornelia and Lady Enneagram are both alive and are in the process of being rescued. Also…"

"What is it?" Schneizel asked, noticing the soldier's hesitation.

"...Princess Nunnally was captured by the enemy. I'm sorry your highness, we tried to stop them," the officer bowed deeply.

Schneizel frowned deeply. He was certainly not expecting this outcome.

'They sabotaged the Avalon and went with a more 'surgical' route as opposed to using a blunt weapon. This allowed them to not endanger Nunnally in the process, as well as keep casualties to a minimum,' the Prince smirked as he looked up absently at the sky.

'Well played Lelouch. Well played.'

o~o

Hours had passed since the battle, and most of the clean up had been finished on the ground. The base the Avalon originally left from only had a few unoccupied Knightmares lining the platform.

A lone figure gracefully walked onto the runway, glancing around curiously.

"So… this is the home planet of the new Paladins. Interesting," she mused aloud.

A small commotion to her side caused her to look to her right. She raised an eyebrow as a reasonably well-built Earthling hobbled deliriously towards her. He was leaning against a thin piece of wood and clutching his left eye in pain.

"I swear I'm not Orange!" he exclaimed almost manically, reaching out to her, "Zero!"

The man then collapsed forward, all his remaining strength gone.

Haggar stared at the fallen human for a moment, then a sinister smirk split her features.

"Perfect…"

#Fanfiction #AU #Voltron #Code Geass #lelouch lamperouge #nunnally lamperouge #c.c. #sayoko #kallen kozuki #suzaku kururugi #rai (lost colors) #shirley fenette #milly ashford #rivalz cardemonde #villetta nu #schneizel el britannia

[greegorygrimlee]

A Little Journey

By RAY BRADBURY

There were two important things—one, that she was very old; two, that Mr. Thirkell was taking her to God. For hadn't he patted her hand and said: "Mrs. Bellowes, we'll take off into space in my rocket, and go to find Him together."

And that was how it was going to be. Oh, this wasn't like any other group Mrs. Bellowes had ever joined. In her fervor to light a path for her delicate, tottering feet, she had struck matches down dark alleys, and found her way to Hindu mystics who floated their flickering, starry eyelashes over crystal balls. She had walked on the meadow paths with ascetic Indian philosophers imported by daughters-in-spirit of Madame Blavatsky. She had made pilgrimages to California's stucco jungles to hunt the astrological seer in his natural habitat. She had even consented to signing away the rights to one of her homes in order to be taken into the shouting order of a temple of amazing evangelists who had promised her golden smoke, crystal fire, and the great soft hand of God coming to bear her home.

None of these people had ever shaken Mrs. Bellowes' faith, even when she saw them sirened away in a black wagon in the night, or discovered their pictures, bleak and unromantic, in the morning tabloids. The world had roughed them up and locked them away because they knew too much, that was all.

And then, two weeks ago, she had seen Mr. Thirkell's advertisement in New York City:

COME TO MARS!

Stay at the Thirkell Restorium for one week. And then, on into space on the greatest adventure life can offer!

Send for Free Pamphlet: "Nearer My God To Thee."

Excursion rates. Round trip slightly lower.

"Round trip," Mrs. Bellowes had thought. "But who would come back after seeing Him?"

And so she had bought a ticket and flown off to Mars and spent seven mild days at Mr. Thirkell's Restorium, the building with the sign on it which flashed: THIRKELL'S ROCKET TO HEAVEN! She had spent the week bathing in limpid waters and erasing the care from her tiny bones, and now she was fidgeting, ready to be loaded into Mr. Thirkell's own special private rocket, like a bullet, to be fired on out into space beyond Jupiter and Saturn and Pluto. And thus—who could deny it?—you would be getting nearer and nearer to the Lord. How wonderful! Couldn't you just feel Him drawing near? Couldn't you just sense His breath, His scrutiny, His Presence?

"Here I am," said Mrs. Bellowes, "an ancient rickety elevator, ready to go up the shaft. God need only press the button."

Now, on the seventh day, as she minced up the steps of the Restorium, a number of small doubts assailed her.

"For one thing," she said aloud to no one, "it isn't quite the land of milk and honey here on Mars that they said it would be. My room is like a cell, the swimming pool is really quite inadequate, and, besides, how many widows who look like mushrooms or skeletons want to swim? And, finally, the whole Restorium smells of boiled cabbage and tennis shoes!"

She opened the front door and let it slam, somewhat irritably.

She was amazed at the other women in the auditorium. It was like wandering in a carnival mirror-maze, coming again and again upon yourself—the same floury face, the same chicken hands, and jingling bracelets. One after another of the images of herself floated before her. She put out her hand, but it wasn't a mirror; it was another lady shaking her fingers and saying:

"We're waiting for Mr. Thirkell. Sh!"

"Ah," whispered everyone.

The velvet curtains parted.

Mr. Thirkell appeared, fantastically serene, his Egyptian eyes upon everyone. But there was something, nevertheless, in his appearance which made one expect him to call "Hi!" while fuzzy dogs jumped over his legs, through his hooped arms, and over his back. Then, dogs and all, he should dance with a dazzling piano-keyboard smile off into the wings.

Mrs. Bellowes, with a secret part of her mind which she constantly had to grip tightly, expected to hear a cheap Chinese gong sound when Mr. Thirkell entered. His large liquid dark eyes were so improbable that one of the old ladies had facetiously claimed she saw a mosquito cloud hovering over them as they did around summer rain-barrels. And Mrs. Bellowes sometimes caught the scent of the theatrical mothball and the smell of calliope steam on his sharply pressed suit.

But with the same savage rationalization that had greeted all other disappointments in her rickety life, she bit at the suspicion and whispered, "This time it's real. This time it'll work. Haven't we got a rocket?"

Mr. Thirkell bowed. He smiled a sudden Comedy Mask smile. The old ladies looked in at his epiglottis and sensed chaos there.

Before he even began to speak, Mrs. Bellowes saw him picking up each of his words, oiling it, making sure it ran smooth on its rails. Her heart squeezed in like a tiny fist, and she gritted her porcelain teeth.

"Friends," said Mr. Thirkell, and you could hear the frost snap in the hearts of the entire assemblage.

"No!" said Mrs. Bellowes ahead of time. She could hear the bad news rushing at her, and herself tied to the track while the immense black wheels threatened and the whistle screamed, helpless.

"There will be a slight delay," said Mr. Thirkell.

In the next instant, Mr. Thirkell might have cried, or been tempted to cry, "Ladies, be seated!" in minstrel-fashion, for the ladies had come up at him from their chairs, protesting and trembling.

"Not a very long delay." Mr. Thirkell put up his hands to pat the air.

"How long?"

"Only a week."

"A week!"

"Yes. You can stay here at the Restorium for seven more days, can't you? A little delay won't matter, will it, in the end? You've waited a lifetime. Only a few more days."

At twenty dollars a day, thought Mrs. Bellowes, coldly.

"What's the trouble?" a woman cried.

"A legal difficulty," said Mr. Thirkell.

"We've a rocket, haven't we?"

"Well, ye-ess."

"But I've been here a whole month, waiting," said one old lady. "Delays, delays!"

"That's right," said everyone.

"Ladies, ladies," murmured Mr. Thirkell, smiling serenely.

"We want to see the rocket!" It was Mrs. Bellowes forging ahead, alone, brandishing her fist like a toy hammer.

Mr. Thirkell looked into the old ladies' eyes, a missionary among albino cannibals.

"Well, now," he said.

"Yes, now!" cried Mrs. Bellowes.

"I'm afraid—" he began.

"So am I!" she said. "That's why we want to see the ship!"

"No, no, now, Mrs.—" He snapped his fingers for her name.

"Bellowes!" she cried. She was a small container, but now all the seething pressures that had been built up over long years came steaming through the delicate vents of her body. Her cheeks became incandescent. With a wail that was like a melancholy factory whistle, Mrs. Bellowes ran forward and hung to him, almost by her teeth, like a summer-maddened Spitz. She would not and never could let go, until he died, and the other women followed, jumping and yapping like a pound let loose on its trainer, the same one who had petted them and to whom they had squirmed and whined joyfully an hour before, now milling about him, creasing his sleeves and frightening the Egyptian serenity from his gaze.

"This way!" cried Mrs. Bellowes, feeling like Madame Lafarge. "Through the back! We've waited long enough to see the ship. Every day he's put us off, every day we've waited, now let's see."

"No, no, ladies!" cried Mr. Thirkell, leaping about.

They burst through the back of the stage and out a door, like a flood, bearing the poor man with them into a shed, and then out, quite suddenly, into an abandoned gymnasium.

"There it is!" said someone. "The rocket."

And then a silence fell that was terrible to entertain.

There was the rocket.

Mrs. Bellowes looked at it and her hands sagged away from Mr. Thirkell's collar.

The rocket was something like a battered copper pot. There were a thousand bulges and rents and rusty pipes and dirty vents on and in it. The ports were clouded over with dust, resembling the eyes of a blind hog.

Everyone wailed a little sighing wail.

"Is that the rocket ship Glory Be to the Highest?" cried Mrs. Bellowes, appalled.

Mr. Thirkell nodded and looked at his feet.

"For which we paid out our one thousand dollars apiece and came all the way to Mars to get on board with you and go off to find Him?" asked Mrs. Bellowes.

"Why, that isn't worth a sack of dried peas," said Mrs. Bellowes.

"It's nothing but junk!"

Junk, whispered everyone, getting hysterical.

"Don't let him get away!"

Mr. Thirkell tried to break and run, but a thousand possum traps closed on him from every side. He withered.

Everybody walked around in circles like blind mice. There was a confusion and a weeping that lasted for five minutes as they went over and touched the Rocket, the Dented Kettle, the Rusty Container for God's Children.

"Well," said Mrs. Bellowes. She stepped up into the askew doorway of the rocket and faced everyone. "It looks as if a terrible thing has been done to us," she said. "I haven't any money to go back home to Earth and I've too much pride to go to the Government and tell them a common man like this has fooled us out of our life's savings. I don't know how you feel about it, all of you, but the reason all of us came is because I'm eighty-five, and you're eighty-nine, and you're seventy-eight, and all of us are nudging on toward a hundred, and there's nothing on Earth for us, and it doesn't appear there's anything on Mars either. We all expected not to breathe much more air or crochet many more doilies or we'd never have come here. So what I have to propose is a simple thing—to take a chance."

She reached out and touched the rusted hulk of the rocket.

"This is our rocket. We paid for our trip. And we're going to take our trip!"

Everyone rustled and stood on tiptoes and opened an astonished mouth.

Mr. Thirkell began to cry. He did it quite easily and very effectively.

"We're going to get in this ship," said Mrs. Bellowes, ignoring him. "And we're going to take off to where we were going."

Mr. Thirkell stopped crying long enough to say, "But it was all a fake. I don't know anything about space. He's not out there, anyway. I lied. I don't know where He is, and I couldn't find Him if I wanted to. And you were fools to ever take my word on it."

"Yes," said Mrs. Bellowes, "we were fools. I'll go along on that. But you can't blame us, for we're old, and it was a lovely, good and fine idea, one of the loveliest ideas in the world. Oh, we didn't really fool ourselves that we could get nearer to Him physically. It was the gentle, mad dream of old people, the kind of thing you hold onto for a few minutes a day, even though you know it's not true. So, all of you who want to go, you follow me in the ship."

"But you can't go!" said Mr. Thirkell. "You haven't got a navigator. And that ship's a ruin!"

"You," said Mrs. Bellowes, "will be the navigator."

She stepped into the ship, and after a moment, the other old ladies pressed forward. Mr. Thirkell, windmilling his arms frantically, was nevertheless pressed through the port, and in a minute the door slammed shut. Mr. Thirkell was strapped into the navigator's seat, with everyone talking at once and holding him down. The special helmets were issued to be fitted over every gray or white head to supply extra oxygen in case of a leakage in the ship's hull, and at long last the hour had come and Mrs. Bellowes stood behind Mr. Thirkell and said, "We're ready, sir."

He said nothing. He pleaded with them silently, using his great, dark, wet eyes, but Mrs. Bellowes shook her head and pointed to the control.

"Takeoff," agreed Mr. Thirkell morosely, and pulled a switch.

Everybody fell. The rocket went up from the planet Mars in a great fiery glide, with the noise of an entire kitchen thrown down an elevator shaft, with a sound of pots and pans and kettles and fires boiling and stews bubbling, with a smell of burned incense and rubber and sulphur, with a color of yellow fire, and a ribbon of red stretching below them, and all the old women singing and holding to each other, and Mrs. Bellowes crawling upright in the sighing, straining, trembling ship.

"Head for space, Mr. Thirkell."

"It can't last," said Mr. Thirkell, sadly. "This ship can't last. It will—"

It did.

The rocket exploded.

Mrs. Bellowes felt herself lifted and thrown about dizzily, like a doll. She heard the great screamings and saw the flashes of bodies sailing by her in fragments of metal and powdery light.

"Help, help!" cried Mr. Thirkell, far away, on a small radio beam.

The ship disintegrated into a million parts, and the old ladies, all one hundred of them, were flung straight on ahead with the same velocity as the ship.

As for Mr. Thirkell, for some reason of trajectory, perhaps, he had been blown out the other side of the ship. Mrs. Bellowes saw him falling separate and away from them, screaming, screaming.

There goes Mr. Thirkell, thought Mrs. Bellowes.

And she knew where he was going. He was going to be burned and roasted and broiled good, but very good.

Mr. Thirkell was falling down into the Sun.

And here we are, thought Mrs. Bellowes. Here we are, going on out, and out, and out.

There was hardly a sense of motion at all, but she knew that she was traveling at fifty thousand miles an hour and would continue to travel at that speed for an eternity, until....

She saw the other women swinging all about her in their own trajectories, a few minutes of oxygen left to each of them in their helmets, and each was looking up to where they were going.

Of course, thought Mrs. Bellowes. Out into space. Out and out, and the darkness like a great church, and the stars like candles, and in spite of everything, Mr. Thirkell, the rocket, and the dishonesty, we are going toward the Lord.

And there, yes, there, as she fell on and on, coming toward her, she could almost discern the outline now, coming toward her was His mighty golden hand, reaching down to hold her and comfort her like a frightened sparrow....

"I'm Mrs. Amelia Bellowes," she said quietly, in her best company voice. "I'm from the planet Earth."

[hope-for-olicity]

When a King is Really a Queen 1/4

Oliver Queen writes romantic suspence novels under the name Olivia King on his way to reveal his true identity he meets one of Olivia King's biggest fans, Felicity Smoak, and she is not very happy.

This is based on the Hallmark Movie "A Novel Romance."  I'm writing as a bit of a love letter to all the amazing romance writers that bring me happy. I so hope you enjoy! Also available on AO3.

I am doing my own proofing so all mistakes are mine.

New York City

“I think it’s time you tell the world you are Oliver Queen!” Oliver’s publisher said like it was a genius idea.

Oliver and his publisher Tom Edwards, or Edwards as he was known, were the only two people sitting at long boardroom table.

“I don’t have to tell you that the sales for your last book have been less than spectacular.” Edwards continued.

“No, you don’t. But I don’t have to tell you I’m not surprised. The reviews all said what I knew they would, given what you had me do to Julia. It was completely out of character. My fans are mad and rightly so. I’m trashing their heroine!”

“Maybe we were wrong about her wanting her to take on more of a domestic role.”

“You think?” Oliver stood up from the table and walked toward the large window that replaced one of the walls. As he looked out, he ran a hand through his hair. He really was trying to keep his cool.

“We just thought with the political climate that many people would relate to Julia becoming a stay at home wife.”

Oliver turned around to face Edwards “It’s not that Julia became a stay at home wife, there absolutely nothing wrong with that, if that was her choice. But I didn’t show why she made that choice. People read my books because Julia’s job as an undercover CIA operative takes them to places they would never go. Her job was exciting and that’s why people loved the books. Now suddenly, for no reason, she gave that all up to marry a man neither my readers nor I like. She loved her job and I gave no reason for her to suddenly quit. This was insulting to both stay at home and working wives who are the bulk of my readers.”

“So, we were wrong. Now we have an idea of how to get your readers back.”

“I’m not sure if that’s possible. Smart Bitches Trashy Novels and all the other big sites have written articles condemning me. They say I’m moving feminism backwards. And they are not wrong! How do you think they will react when then find out Olivia King is really Oliver Queen? This might be the worst time to point out I’m a man.”

Edwards stood up from the table and began to walk toward Oliver. “Men can be feminists too.”

Oliver made a grr sound. As if he didn’t know. He considered himself to be a strong feminist raised by Moira Queen after his father died, she drilled her feminist beliefs into he and his sister Thea. Of course, he believed women are equal to men. He spent all his time writing from a woman’s point of view!

“I am a feminist Edwards. I think I’d rather start a new book saying the last one was all a dream - no, a nightmare.” Oliver sat down in one of the many empty seats at the table.

“Will you at least consider to our idea?”

******

One Week Later

Oliver stowed his carry on bag in the compartment above and got settled into his window seat on the plane. Was it just him or were the seats getting smaller? And forget leg room. Oh well, he would survive, first world problems, he reminded himself.

He noticed the beautiful petite blonde as soon as she boarded the plane. She was dressed in jeans and a bulky red sweater with tennis shoes, but she was striking as if she were wearing a ball gown. There was just something about her.

And she stopped right next to his seat.

Felicity could not help but notice the super attractive man who appeared to be looking at her. Super attractive men with piercing blue eyes don’t normally check her out.

“Do I know you? It’s just you are looking at me like you know me.” Felicity said as she attempted to put her bag in the overhead compartment. She actually began to jump a little to give herself leverage.

“No, I don’t believe we have met.” Oliver stood, well hunched to get out of his seat and into the aisle.  “Here let me help you with that.”

Once her bag was secured, he turned “Hi, I’m Oliver. Sorry for the staring….I must have been off in my own little world.” He quickly scooted back into his seat.

Of course he was, Felicity couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

She sat down, stuffed two books into the pouch of the seat in front, and put her seat belt on and held out her hand. “Hi. I’m Felicity.”

Oliver could not be sure but he thought one of the books Felicity had was his. Should he mention? No probably best not, all things considered.

“Nice to meet you Felicity.” He smiled suddenly feeling like a teenager and totally at a loss for words. This did not normally happen to him, he had no problem schmoozing the ladies. But this lady seemed just a little bit different.  

“Nice to meet you,” Felicity smiled and then began looking at her phone. They still had sometime before all electronic devices had to be put in airplane mode.

Oliver decided to check his phone as well and sent a quick text to his mother saying he was on board the flight and he would see she and Thea soon.

*****

They had just reached cruising altitude when Felicity hauled his book out of the pocket in front of her. Oliver hesitated saying anything. If he did say anything he should tell her who he was - he was after all about to tell the world.

He had decided to follow his publishers’ advice and tell the world that best-selling author of romantic suspence Olivia King was actually former billionaire playboy Oliver Queen. He had to admit he was a little nervous.

“Did you read it?” Felicity said holding up his novel. “The way you are looking at it, I think you know it.”

“Yes, I know it.” Was all he could get out before Felicity started talking.

“Isn’t it terrible? I mean beyond terrible. King created this amazing heroine built her up for five novels and the does this?! I really don’t understand. I want to shake her! What was she thinking?! To be honest the first time I read it I cried. But I’m trying again. You know I want to give her the benefit of the doubt maybe there was some reason I missed that she decided to suddenly marry that man that she was way too good for and stay home and cook and clean for him. I mean come on! It’s 2017. Our President might be moving backwards but women aren’t.” Felicity suddenly realized she had unloaded on a complete stranger.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. I should not have said all that to you! You must think me a terrible seatmate. I’m so sorry. I’m just so upset about this book and yes, I know it is just a book - but it isn’t for me, you know?” Felicity looked up at him seeking understanding.

Oliver could not help but smile. This woman had just torn his book apart but they were all the valid reasons he had. Wow. He wished he could bring her to his publisher and say - SEE!

“Don’t worry. I get very passionate about books too. I liked hearing your opinion. I actually feel the same way.”

She looked at him a little suspiciously. “You read romantic suspence? Not that that is impossible - it’s just most men won’t give it a chance.”

“My mother was a big fan of the genre. Julie Garwood, Amanda Quick who is Jayne Ann Krantz by the way and so many others. She left them around. I read them and became hooked.”

“Wow. I don’t usually see many men into that section of the bookstore.”

“They are missing out.” he smiled.

“Yes, they are. It’s always been my favourite genre. Especially when you have a magnificent heroine like Julia Quinn.”

Okay now Oliver really felt like he should tell her. But maybe she would be embarrassed for the things she said and there really was nowhere for her the go. It’s not like he’d see her again. He decided to be a chicken and not tell her - to spare her the embarrassment of course.

“I think I’ll just read my other book,” she said hauling out a Sarah MacLean - historical romance. “Do you read these?” Felicity asked with her eyebrow raised.

“No. But here they are quite good. Would you recommend that author?”

“Yes, you should give her a try.” Oliver took out his tablet and quickly typed the name of the book and author. Feeling inspired by his conversation with Felicity, he opened a new doc and began brainstorming the outline for his new book. It might start with it was all a bad dream - no - her husband drugged her! Much more exciting! As Felicity said no one liked that character anyway.

*****

As the plane landed in Star City, Felicity turned to him and said “Are you here for business or pleasure?”

“A bit of both actually. This is my hometown so I’ll see my family but I have some business to attend to as well. What about yourself?”

“I actually live here. Was just in New York for business and pleasure. Now I’m back to reality.”

They began deplaning. “If you wait a second I’ll get that bag down for you Felicity.”

“Thanks! There are lots of good things about being short, but overhead compartments are not one of them” Oliver raised his eyebrow. “What?” She smiled “I had no problem with the legroom on this flight.”

“Touché.” he couldn’t help but smile. He turned to grab his belongings from the pocket and realized he really did want to see her again. He turned to ask her for coffee and she was already gone. Damn. He was so disappointed

He took one look back at their seats and noticed she had left his book in her pocket. Maybe not by accident? He swiped it anyway and looked inside and sure enough her name - Felicity Smoak - was written inside.  He just had to find Felicity Smoak in Star City.

*****

As Felicity exits arrivals with her bags she saw her roommate and co-business owner Caitlin Snow waving at her. She smiled this was a surprise!

“Hey,” Felicity hugged Caitlin. “What are you doing here? I was just going take a cab.”

“Thought I’d save you the money. Plus, I know how sad it is when there is no one here to greet you.” Caitlin began to take one of Felicity’s bags and lead her out.

“Wait. Do you see that guy?” Felicity spoke lowly, Caitlin turned, “don’t be obvious. But do you see that really hot guy that just came out of arrivals? You know the one with the awesome scruff and the body of super model. You know like one of the guys in our books?”

Caitlin didn’t need to look long. But she did. “Did you sit next to him on the plane?” Caitlin did not keep the eagerness out of her voice.

Felicity nodded.

Caitlin could not help but smirk. “Do I know Oliver Queen? Well, not personally but we did go to the same high school but I was a few years younger. I knew his sister, Thea better.”

“Oliver Queen? As in Queen Consolidated Queen?” Felicity was shocked.

Caitlin nodded and smiled.

“But, but he didn’t say anything. He just told me he was Oliver.”

“Well his name is Oliver.” Felicity and Caitlin began walking toward the exit. “Did you tell him your full name?”

“No,” Felicity admitted.

“I suspect that’s why he didn’t. So you sat next to him on the flight. Did you talk? Is he as nice as he is hot?”

“Caitlin, shh he might be nearby!” Felicity blushed.

Caitlin looked around “I don’t see him. Spill!”

“Why don’t wait until we are at least in the car!” Felicity began walking faster.

*****

“My beautiful boy! You are home!” Moira enveloped her only son in her arms.

“Mom. It hasn’t been that long. I was here this summer.” Oliver said hugging his mother.

“It feels like it’s been a long time Oliver. Perhaps, you could move back? You don’t need to live in New York City to write you know.”

“We haven’t even left the airport Mom, be careful or he’ll board another plane.” Thea reached up to give her older brother a hug.

“I was just letting him know how much we would like it if he chose to move back. You understood that right Oliver?”

“Yes, Mom” Oliver grimaced “But New York City is my home.”

“Are you seeing anyone darling?” Moira asked as they began to leave the airport.

“No…” Oliver looked around hoping to see Felicity Smoak. Maybe she was still here.

“Looking for someone Ollie?” Thea turned back to look at her brother who had stopped following them out of the airport.

“Nah, just thought I saw someone I knew,” Oliver walked to catch up with his Mom and Sister and listened to his mother as she listed the reasons who should move back to Star City. He smiled as he knew she only did this because she missed him.

*****

Felicity loaded her bags into Caitlin’s trunk and got into the small blue Volkswagen Golf that Caitlin had owned for years. Caitlin turned the key in the ignition as Felicity buckled her seatbelt.

Caitlin turned out of the parking lot and began their drive home. “So...we are in the car. Spill. Tell me all about Oliver Queen!” Felicity could tell from Caitlin’s smile she couldn’t wait for gossip.

“Sorry. I don’t really have anything thrilling to share. Except to say he was very nice. He did not ignore me after I totally unfairly freaked out about the new Olivia King book to him...although I guess there was nowhere for him to run…” Felicity stopped talking and started thinking. Maybe he wanted to run.

“Earth to Felicity,” Caitlin waved her hand in front of her friend.

“Oh sorry! Lost in my own thoughts!” Felicity smiled at her friend. “So yes, he was very nice and if possible even better looking in person.”

“Tell me more! What did you talk about?”

“We talked about books, well mainly I talked and he listened. He is a very good listener.”

“Did you tell him about our bookstore? Maybe he’ll come by.” Caitlin sounded like she was trying to think of a way she could make this a good thing for their store.

“Oh no, I completely forgot to mention our store! Sorry!”

Caitlin looked a little disappointed but quickly the spark came back in her eyes. “Anything else? You do realize you did what many women dream of doing? I’m totally fangirling now!”

Felicity could not help but laugh at her friend. But if any man deserved fangirling it might be Oliver Queen. She honestly didn’t think real men could be that attractive! “Oh my God! I almost forgot he was a total gentleman. He helped me put up and take down my bag from the overhead compartment.” Felicity grinned at her roommate because she knew Caitlin loved that can of stuff.

“Were you jumping? Please tell me you weren’t jumping to get it in at first?” Caitlin made a face that could only be described as a cross between worried and mocking.

“I jumped a little. But I didn’t know he was going to help me and, and I’m short.” She said a little exasperated.

“You are short but you are also cute. I’m sure he noticed!” Caitlin said turning to smile at Felicity as they stopped at a red light. “When are you going to see him again?”

“I don’t think I will. It’s not like we run in the same circles and besides he’s only here for a visit. He lives in New York City.”

“Don’t give up hope,” Caitlin rubbed Felicity’s arm. “Did he say why he is here? Come to think of it did he say what he does in New York City?”

“He said he was here for business and pleasure. But no we didn’t talk about what we did for a living. Oh well let’s chalk it up to my Felicity meets a celebrity moment.”

“You never know. He is in Star City. You could see him anywhere.” Caitlin said as she pulled into their apartment complex.

*****

Morning came too soon and Felicity felt like she just went to bed when her alarm went off the next day.  She lured herself out of bed with the thought of Merlyn’s coffee. Merlyn’s was the local coffee shop near her bookstore and lucky for her made the best coffee anywhere. She had missed it while in New York City.

She quickly got ready for the day. She left a good morning post it on Caitlin’s door. Felicity worked the earlier shift and Caitlin the late and they overlapped in the middle. It worked for both their schedules.

Felicity threw her black trench coat on over her black pencil skirt and vintage Bangles t-shirt. With a bounce in her step she breathed in the fresh Fall air. This was Felicity’s favourite season. The air was fresh and the leaves were changing colour.

She was so glad that she and Caitlin had found an apartment downtown as it enabled them to walk to work. Something Felicity, who grew up in Las Vegas, never took for granted.

Before she knew it she was at Merlyn’s. The bell above the door rang as Felicity walked in and got in line with the rest of the morning rush. Still keeping with her good mood, she bounced along to the poppy but not too annoying music coming from the overhead speakers.

Felicity began scrolling through her phone checking her email, Twitter, Facebook and she saved the best for last Tumblr. Those ladies always made her smile. She was so engrossed in her phone she didn’t realize it was her turn to order until she heard someone clear their throat.

“Oh my! I’m so sorry! Good Morning! Can I get a large Merlyn’s Awesome to go please?” Another thing Felicity loved about Merlyn’s - how he named his coffees.

She grabbed a lid for her to go cup and headed out the door. Now everything was perfect. It was a beautiful day, she had her coffee and thanks to her New York business trip she had some new books coming - all and all things were grand.

Felicity was so busy thinking about all the happy, she almost collided with none other than Oliver Queen.

Truthfully, Oliver had seen her coming but he didn’t want to avoid and he was having another awful moment when he couldn’t think of what to say. So “accidentally” colliding seemed like as good a plan as any.

As he had the upper hand in the collision he reached to ensure she didn’t fall or spill her coffee.

Felicity smiled up at him, “Good Morning stranger. Long time, no see”

Oliver felt even more nervous. She was so beautiful and nice. He wondered if she would be so friendly if she really knew who he was.

When Oliver didn’t say anything in return for a moment. Felicity felt like she had to fill the quiet. “So I know who you are. You are Mr. Queen. No, Mr. Queen was your father but he died so now your Mr. Queen. Oliver Queen. My roommate recognized you at the airport. I’m not from Star City. But I have heard of you. I mean I have hear of your family. I’m going to stop talking now.” Felicity was blushing furiously by the time she forced herself stop to talking.

“Yes, as you say I’m Oliver Queen. Nice to meet you officially Felicity Smoak,” he didn’t miss Felicity’s raised eyebrow when he included her surname.

“How did you know?” She asked more than a little surprised.

“You left your book in the seat pocket and your name was inside. I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a stalker. I had the best of intentions, in case you wanted the book back of course.”

It was so sweet that Oliver had collected her book just in case. He clearly had no idea she owned a bookstore!

“That was so kind of you to collect my book. I’m so sorry but I have to rush off to work right now,” Felicity looked down at her watch definitely running late.

“Oh I’m sorry to have held you up. Of course, don’t let me hold you up!”

Felicity had just begun to walk away when she heard steps behind her and “Felicity.”

She turned and there was Oliver.

“Yes.”

“Can I get your number. You know, so I can text you and return your book. If you don’t mind giving out your number.”

Oliver looked so nervous. Felicity didn’t think men like Oliver Queen got nervous. Turns out she was wrong.

“Of course! Hand me your phone and I’ll add myself to your contacts.”

Oliver quickly handed Felicity his phone. She entered her details and handed it back.

“I’ll text you later.” he said with a smile.

“Sounds great. See you later Oliver Queen.”

“See you Felicity Smoak” and Oliver could not lie there was a bounce in his step as he walked away.

// @almondblossomme // @mel-loves-all // @memcjo // @tdgal1 // @vaelisamaza // @stygian-omada-fan // @miriam1779 // @laurabelle2930 // @lalawo1 // @oliverfel4 // @felicity-said--yes // @geneshaven // @nalla-madness // @captainolicitysbedroom // @pleasantfanandstudent // @spaztronautwriter // @somewhatinvisible // @dmichellewrites // @charlinert // @marytagus // @mammashof // @wherethereissmoak // @bringbackianto // @jaspertown //

#olicity fanfiction #When a King is Really a Queen #au #alternate universe #oliver queen #felicity smoak #My Fanfic #MyFanfic

[rebuildingrebeccagloria]

Physical Therapy: Getting back on my feet....literally

I have only four sessions (possibly) left, and some previous conversations brought some insight to my journey.

I’ve had some wonderfully great and wonderfully awful therapists in my 18 weeks or so of therapy. The only PT I have ever really had was when I sprained my ankle after tennis my sophomore year, then the SHAPE clinic at OU during 110 season. So I had a pretty good idea going in, which made it less scary….think Saw 2 instead of Saw. I knew it was going to be scary, but I was still diving into the unknown.

The Good:

- The therapists (both OT and PT) were wonderful at OSU, what little I could do. They understood the pain, but they pushed me like no other. I knew if I could do it a day after post-op and still make it through, each day would get better. Every day is better than the last. It’s hard when you don’t see results immediately, but every little bit helped. (I even met a therapist at OSU who went to Mohawk, a high school in my county! *cue ‘Its a Small World After All’*)

- How my therapists at Nursing Home #1 could work with one good leg and one leg in a fixator, plus one good arm and one bad arm, is beyond me. They were simple, but helpful. Nothing was scarier than actually standing up for the first time, but it also gave me hope. Even though I had one leg that still needed work, and a multitude of things could have happened, I knew that someday I would be back on my feet again.

- My PT at Nursing Home #2 became my personal ally. He got me back on my feet. He got me to be mobile again. He was able to confront my fear of getting back into a car, instead of being strapped down on a stretcher. He found my inner strength and was able to push me to my limits. Within the month of December, I went from being immobile in my bed with my hospital gown to being dressed in a cute skirt and carrying gifts down to the room on Christmas Day. And I can’t leave the one OT I actually got along with out of this. It’s hard when you have only 1 ½ arms to work with, and she did it. I left with a good foundation for my left arm to start healing.

- My therapy at the local hospital here has been so great. My doctor said it would be helpful to do maybe a month more of therapy. My main goal was to get on a cane - from there, normalcy and life would be able to transition me to walking on my own. My therapist was able to meet my goal with such an ease. I was able to go from a walker to a cane with no difficulty. (She even had a cat cane!)

The Bad:

- At one point in the hospital, I remember the therapists screaming at me because no one had cleaned my neck brace. I started choking up, feeling helpless because these women were interrogating me, asking why my care hadn’t been better, why my brace wasn’t cleaner, why no one took care of it. I felt so low; I know it wasn’t my fault, but I felt responsible. There is no worse feeling than when you are rendered helpless but you ask yourself why you can’t do more.

- I once was told I had to transfer from bed to wheelchair and vice versa using a transfer board. I originally had the therapists assisting me, but then they wanted the aids to do it. (God bless STNAs, btw.) Only half of them had been trained properly and one day I got the two that weren’t. Also didn’t help that they were both weak and one barely spoke English. They both were nice ladies, which made this process feel even worse. We were unable to get me out of the wheelchair - I was so weak, and I’m not tiny. Nothing ruins your already destroyed self-esteem than being stuck in a wheelchair. We had to get a therapist to assist - and since I was already at a bad angle, I slid and landed head-first into my bed. Sometimes we over or underestimate our body’s abilities, but throughout all of this, I have had a pretty keen sense of my body’s worth. I knew what I could and couldn’t do. Having to tell professionals brings a whole “do we push them or do we let it go” argument, and some of them push because they think that’s the best answer. I can’t blame them too much; I’ve been in enough classrooms to know that sometimes you have to. But on the patient side, pushing isn’t always the answer in my case.

- Second example: In Nursing Home #2, my OT was in charge of bringing me back to my room. She thought we could transfer back into bed with me, her and a board. I said multiple times: just one more person. Please, grab an aid. She was headstrong and remained positive that we could do this!

Boy was she wrong.

Mid-transfer, the board started flipping up and I ended up falling. Fortunately, I reached out for the bed and landed safely. However, this could have ended in a worse way. The lady offered a half-hearted apology (“it was the bed’s fault, it started moving”) and I never trusted her throughout my stay! 🙃

- At least she would work with me. After a long argument of a lift vs a transfer board that I wanted to lay to rest after I made my point, but was brought up multiple times, I had an OT come into my room to work. She starts stretching my arm in a way that was hurting my wrist - all I could think of was “you’re twisting/pulling/bopping it” (okay maybe not bopping). She snapped, saying she wasn’t twisting and I was just sore. Let me just state this - after all I’ve been through, I would THINK I have an idea of what “sore” feels like. Trust me when I say this: it’s not sore. I tried to communicate the best I could, which is what a patient/therapist relationship should be all about.

Instead, she stood up and walked out. “You do better with the other therapist, so we’re done here. I can’t deal with this.”

I know I look young, but I’m 25. I have a decent idea of what professionalism is. That was not it.

- Another case of non-professionalism, we tried not having a raised toilet. (“We only have one bed commode and we have a new patient who needs it so we’re taking yours”) My therapist asked me to sit on it and I did - it hurt and I had to use all my might to get back up, but I did it. To him, that means A-OK! I cried, and explained to my mother that if I have to use it more than twice a day, it’s going to be rough. I asked her to try it, since I said it was unusually low for a normal seat. So she went in and sat, then got back up.

“Aw hell no!”

She fought and they “looked” for a raised seat. The solution? My wonderful boyfriend - who works for a completely different medical company - had to bring one in.

Then, the therapist barged in asking what the problem was - “You were doing it just fine! You don’t want to go backwards! You don’t need it!” Mind you, he was screaming these “facts” of his, confused by why someone who has weak arms and legs wouldn’t want to use such a low seat multiple times a day! How bizarre! That was the last straw. My mother and I had to tell him to leave multiple times. I appreciate trying to be a cheerleader, but a cheerleader doesn’t come in uninvited to scream at the subject. Yelling isn’t going to make me magically believe, “Oh yeah! I can do it!” But no, his bruised ego couldn’t take that maybe I didn’t trust his judgement - which wasn’t the case, but he made it the case. By the way, I still use a slightly raised toilet seat. We’re in the process of getting rid of it, but there are more important things in life like walking with a cane or being able to put my own socks on.

The Ugly:

I only left one story for the ugly. I know some of the previous stories were ugly, however I saw them as “bad” because of the people involved. All of those stories could have ended quite differently had some people had different attitudes (even myself, I can admit that.)

But this one…there’s no getting around it:

The day after I had my second leg surgery, my therapists came in. They wanted to at least get me to the side of the bed, if not standing. My doctor promised me, “We’ll have you trying to stand the next day!” Well, she wasn’t wrong. See, the difference between my first leg surgery and my second is that during my first surgery, I was so out of it. Whether it was strong drugs or being on the brink of possible death, I was unaware for the most part. However, the second surgery came with full awareness. The pain meds were even making me nauseous, which didn’t help that we took out the feeding tube. So the therapists come in, ready to work. My boyfriend was there for moral support and I have to be honest, I am torn between whether I really wanted him there or not. Because what he saw, I wouldn’t have wanted to see happen to him. I was screaming in agony, I had never felt such a pain. I was already in a ton of pain, every joint was on fire. We had to do it, I know, but it was awful. I couldn’t stop crying, I just wanted it all to end.

The one therapist told me then, Every day is better than the last.

If life is troubling you, just remember that. If I can go from screaming any time they tried to sit me up on the edge of the bed, to walking everywhere on my own, then so can you.

#therapy #physicaltherapy #occupationaltherapy #rehabilitation #rebuildingrebeccagloria