Broken Providence

(1) The Garden Amongst the Sky

Arielle and Claire laid on the grass at dawn. It was the only time they could be by themselves without interruption. Arielle laid her head on Claire's lap while Claire stroked her hair.

"Say, What's your favorite flower?" Arielle asked looking up at her lover. "I want to get crates full of them for you," she said with a lovesick grin. Claire giggled and shook her head.

"umm Dandelions!" she responded with an enthusiastic smile. "What's yours, Arielle?" Arielle cocked her head in confusion.

"Isn't that the softball weed my love?" she asked. Claire pinched Arielle's nose and sneered.

"Yes. It is the softball weed! but I don't know, I find it kinda mystical the way everyone wishes on it. I mean what better way to value a flower than to give it your greatest wish?" she said softly. Arielle quit her grin and looked lovingly at Claire. she was the sweetest person. She turned her head and reached for a dandelion that had grown near there. She held it above her and below claire's soft features.

"I wish we could be together forever, and that this stupid war ends so I can finally run away with my Claire to where there are fields of dandelions," Arielle whispered, it was only loud enough for Claire to head. Claire grew a grin. It was Claire's greatest wish too. She closed her eyes and imagined it, Arielle and Claire hand in hand running through a forest. They both blew on it.

Wishing that a simple flower would be enough to end wars, disasters, and hatred.

Arielle looked up adoringly at her partner.

"I love you," Arielle whispered as she softly grabbed Claire's hand and gently kissed the ring of her finger that she had given her at the recent Trinity Ball a month ago. Claire smiled and leaned down but just before connecting their lips she began to whisper back

"I lov-" She was interrupted by a loud siren. They both sprung to their feet. this meant danger in several ways.

"Squadron 2 report for duty. Suspected breach in the southern border near Asusan," an announcer spoke through the speakers that surrounded the base.

"Crap!" Arielle exclaimed, running out of the garden. It was the squadron she was in charge of. Claire followed behind her with a bag of their belongings. "Murphy's out with a fever, I'm missing one. I'll have to take one of the newbies," she groaned as she fastened her armor. Claire helped her put on her chest plate.

"I'll go with you," she said lightly. "It's probably just an inspection with minimal contact. I'm sure even a strategic can handle it," she finished. Arielle stopped to look at her, contemplating it. it was a simple mission, Claire has the training to be in combat,  but there was something in her stomach that said no.

"I don't know... I can just as that one core chief officer... um, what's her face...." Arielle held her fingers to her forehead trying to remember their name.

"Core chief officer Belm," Claire said filling in the missing blank. Arielle snapped her fingers. and began to open her mouth to speak but Claire beat her to it. "Chief officer Belm is too busy training new core recruits. Let me go, Ari," she said the end softly. "what could go wrong?"

.........

Hello!! I am back with yet another story! I really hope you enjoy this one. It's an oldie but I revived it and hopefully, we'll see it end!