Archive of Our Own

Work Text

╬╬═════════════╬╬Year 200 A.D.E. (After Dead Earth)Earth had become a dying planet, its resources depleted, its skies choked with ash, and its lands deserted.Those fortunate enough escaped to the vastness of space, building lives among the stars.Those left behind could only cling to the crumbling remnants of their home…The EarthTwo rulers now presided over humanity: one governing Earth, the other reigning over the colonies in space.Greed consumed them both, their endless hunger for power ignited a bitter rivalry.The nobles in space turned Earth into their battleground, a place where their disputes were settled with bloodshed, staining the soil with the lives of the innocent.In response, the Earth President made a desperate, resolute declaration: spacians—an Earth-coined term for those who had fled to the stars—were forbidden from setting foot on their planet. Any who defied this decree would face immediate execution.Without trial or mercy....In the year 150 A.D.E. (After Dead Earth), humanity was in big trouble. A hundred years earlier, a huge war wrecked the planet, leaving it ruined and empty.But this wasn't just any war—it was a fight between people who wanted to stay on Earth and those who had moved to space.What most didn't know was that some countries had been secretly building colonies in space. When the war started, these hidden bases became super important, deciding who would win.
As the war went on, Earth paid the ultimate price.Cities were reduced to rubble.Life was extinguished on an unimaginable scale.Oceans turned toxic.…What remained of the world was a shadow of its former self—a grim reminder of what had been lost.But in all the chaos, people talked about a secret weapon… one that could change everything.
Chernobyl beam…
It was a grave mistake by the space-dwelling people who had built the machine to move asteroids, but there was a miss calculation that went horribly wrong.Instead of hitting an asteroid, it hit the Earth.And so, as the dust settled and the last echoes of battle faded into silence……When everything calmed down and the war endedEarth met its demise in a catastrophic mistake that wiped out billions of lives.Now it was nothing but a dead wasteland.…But it wasn't just the initial impact that ravaged the planet; it was what came after.Deadly toxins flooded Earth’s air and waters, turning the atmosphere toxic and the oceans into acid. The aftermath of the disaster didn’t just destroy life—it suffocated the planet itself.The toxins spread slowly but relentlessly, poisoning the air until it can no longer be breathed. The water became so corrosive it could melt human bones.Little by little, Earth withered away.Those fortunate enough to escape fled to space and built new lives. The less fortunate were left behind, doomed to die along with the dying planet.It took hundreds of years before humanity could even think about returning to Earth.Even then, survival was harsh.They lived underground, only venturing on the surface of the earth in protective suits.Drinking water came from filtering the toxic remnants of what once was clean and pure.Centuries passed, but Earth remained lifeless.In the end, it was greed that killed the planet.It took them a hundred years, yet Earth is still dead.To survive on the poisoned Earth, underground homes were built, seeking refuge from the deadly surface.But Earth’s people weren’t the only ones who suffered from its loss.The space-dwellers spent hundreds of years searching for a habitable planet to call home. But no matter how far they traveled, they found nothing.In their struggle, the space people developed advanced suits called SentinelX. These mobile suits were built for exploring the space, operated by a driver and a manager who controlled the internal systems. The SentinelX allowed them to travel between cities in space, offering protection and mobility in the harsh void.SentinelX was originally designed for exploration, but when the Spacians realised its potential, they transformed it into a weapon. Paranoia and fear of betrayal among their own people led them to reshape the SentinelX for one purpose—war.As they fought for dominance in space, Earth became their dumping ground. Scrap metal and waste rained down on the planet, turning it into a massive trash heap. At first, the Earth-dwellers accepted this, burdened by their misfortune. But over the years, their anger grew. They decided they’d had enough of being the Spacians’ trash can.At first, they created missiles and bombs to defend themselves. But Over time, they turned the Spacians' discarded scraps into combat suits—disguised as exploration gear for the toxic Earth but also designed for one purpose: to strike back at the SentinelX.Meanwhile, the Spacians, chosen from the wealthiest and brightest, abandoned the idea of settling on a planet. Instead, they built cities on massive asteroids. These domed cities, called AsterCities, became their new homes, floating amidst the vast emptiness of space.And so, two factions arose from Earth’s ashes: the Terrans, fighting for survival on their ruined world, and the Astrolites, thriving in their glass cities among the stars.Two worlds—different yet forever tied by the tragedy of their lost home.Astrolites who chose to build new lives on asteroids that were chosen by the wealthy and intelligent.Terrans—those left behind on Earth—faced a harsh reality. Life on the ruined planet was a fight to survive. Only those strongest who could endure the poisoned air and toxic water could live. Even nature itself decided who lived and who didn’t.This…This is where Minnie and Miyeon’s live—two people from two completely different worlds.━─━────༺༻────━─━
“I want to see a tree! A big tree with apples on it!” Says the young Nicha to her mother who only looked up at her tiny hands trying to demonstrate the tree “how big is a tree mommy?”

“Ahm, I don’t know. Maybe much bigger than us” Minnie’s littlest eyes shine as she imagine herself on top of the tree

“Nicha!” Minnie flinched at the loud voice of Yuqi who slapped her table to wake her up from her reverie.
“Sorry, what was it?”
“Your father decided on his own again” Yuqi sighed as she informed Minnie who was just starting outside watching the floating rocks outside the capsule they are in, they are on their way to the Office where they would meet her father for an important meeting.
“This time he wanted Earth tsk! Aren’t they tired? Geez give that garbage planet a break” Minnie furrowed her brows at her before turning to look at her “you’ve never been there” she pointed out to her friend who just rolled her eyes.
“No need to go see that” Yuqi pointed outside where they could see the Earth, it was a mixture of blue and green from the pictures before the war, now it was just brown… probably from the garbage they’ve caused.
“It’s our fault Earth ended up like that,” Minnie said again, her voice heavy with guilt.Yuqi rolled her eyes, already tired of this conversation. “What do you even mean it’s our fault? We weren’t even born then! Don’t drag us into their mess.” She couldn’t understand Minnie’s obsession with Earth.That ruined wasteland deserved to be forgotten, not worshipped.“Honestly, Minnie,” Yuqi scoffed, “you’ve got to stop romanticising that dead rock. Those books you read are filling your head with nonsense. And don’t even get me started on that blind old hag. Her stories are poisoning your brain.”Minnie didn’t respond, lost in her thoughts as the shuttle’s hum filled the air.“Commander,” one of the guards interrupted, giving them a crisp salute as they approached the docking area. “We’re about to land.”The shuttle slowed, descending onto one of the many asteroids connected to the network of asteroid offices. These massive chunks of space debris, linked by gravity harnesses and light bridges, served as the hubs of Spacian society. Unlike Earth’s past civilizations, the Spacians didn’t live on planets. Their lives were spread across floating rocks and sprawling spaceships, a far cry from the stability of a true home.Yuqi smirked as they prepared to disembark. “See, Minnie? This is what survival looks like. No romanticised fairy tales, just the real world—or asteroids.”As soon as they stepped off the ship, a team of military personnel greeted them, guiding them through the vast, glass-walled corridor. The view was breathtaking—endless floating rocks drifted past, connected by shimmering bridges that seemed to stretch into infinity.They soon arrived at the door to her father’s office, where the guards bowed to them before stepping back, leaving them alone.Minnie sighed, taking a deep breath before knocking and entering. As expected, her father’s office was cluttered with maps, plans, and charts—a sea of strategies for war.“There will be a war—”“I don’t want to fight,” Minnie interrupted, her voice low.Her father’s cold gaze met hers, his face an unreadable mask, but she could feel the anger simmering under it, Yuqi glanced at her friend worried about her.She always knew Minnie didn't want to fight, Minnie had never wanted this life—she hated war, Yuqi still remembers their first battle, it was messy…She remembered Minnie locking herself away from everyone and keeps on washing her hands, she said she can see the blood of the people she took their lives with.And it never stopped… it never changes.She always hears Minnie’s cries from the cockpit of her suit, the sound of someone caught in a war they never wanted to be part of.Minnie never lost… but she never truly won either.
“The Earth is preparing a rocket missile aimed at us,” her father’s voice thundered, shaking the room. “They plan to exterminate us! Do you understand what’s happening, Nicha!? Your people’s lives are in your hands!”
“You push me to do it! You know I never wanted to fight! I wanted to—-‘
“You wanted to what? To plant trees and crops? You want that more than you want to save your people?” Minnie clenches her fist at her father’s words, it’s not just her dream it’s her mother’s too.It’s their dream…“I can talk to earth’s president to stop the war, maybe we can have a treaty? Maybe we can—-“ Her father cut her off by a loud slap that made Yuqi gasp but didn’t have the courage to stop him, she was just Minnie’s manager, nothing more.
Minnie’s life was always in her father’s hands.“Stop hallucinating!” he roared, his voice full of anger. “It will never happen! Have you forgotten? Those bastards killed your mother!”He was livid now, his face twisted with anger. “And stop reading those damn books I told you to stay away from! Those things on Earth—plants, trees, beaches, mountains—they’re gone! They’ve been gone for years!”Minnie had always dreamed of seeing the world her Mother described—lush forests, sandy shores, and towering peaks. But to her father, those were nothing more than fantasies, lies fed to her by her imagination.To him, Earth was just a barren wasteland, nothing more.“Fix yourself and study these plans!” he shouted, throwing a pile of papers at her.Confidential— a cold chill ran down Yuqi’s spine as she read.She knew what it meant.
They were going all out this time— Once again, they were on the brink of war.━─━────༺༻────━─━“Then there were trees!” Miyeon exclaimed, her finger pointing toward the barren field that now lay scattered with metal scraps from the space debris. The children gathered around her, their eyes wide with wonder as she told them stories of the old Earth.She described a world that was once so green and blue, where the skies stretched endlessly above and the land was rich with life. “Kids could run barefoot through the soft grass,” Miyeon continued. “They could jump right into the sea without worrying about anything—no suits, no fear. The water was clear, warm, and full of life.”The children listened, amazed by her words, but Miyeon’s smile faltered as she looked at the protective suits they wore just to go outside.The air on Earth was too toxic now—too dangerous. People could no longer breathe without masks, and the very ground itself seemed to reject life. Even the youngest among them had never known the world she described.Miyeon’s father stood at a distance, watching his daughter as she told the same stories he’d told her when she was younger.He’d never seen a tree or a sea, but he’d spent his life fighting, hoping—hoping that someday, somehow, someone would see the world he could only dream of.…Someone would see them for him.He sighed, a deep, weary sound, as he watched Miyeon’s hopeful face.He just hoped, more than anything, that one day Earth would finally breathe again—that the world they’d lost would come alive once more.━─━────༺༻────━─━“Why are you sad?” The old lady chuckled, sitting in her rocking chair as she looked out the glass window, gazing toward Earth.Even though she was blind, Old Lady Luz always liked facing Earth. She said it made her feel connected to it, as if she could still sense its pulse, despite not being able to see it.“How can you tell that I’m sad? I might be smiling right now,” The old woman chuckled again, rocking her chair back and forth. “I can hear your heavy sigh. What’s bothering you? Is it about your father again?”Minnie nodded, even though the old lady couldn’t see her.“Yeah... he says my dream is stupid. He believes Earth will never change. It’ll never stop fighting.”“Why don’t you try?” Old Lady Luz asked, her voice soft but firm.“Huh?” Minnie replied, confused.“I’ve been here long enough to know that the people use to make peace is through war” The Luz chuckled at the irony of the two “But I never even once heard them talk with their hearts, they only talk with money and guns” Minnie went towards her and kneeled to put her head on the old woman's lap which she cares as soon as Luz felt it.
“Why don’t you try? To talk to earth with your heart, I knew from the start you are different from the people here” Minnie chuckled at the memory of how she met the old woman.She found her when she was a little, she was speaking things she only heard to her mother, Minnie thought she was talking to her. It wasn't until later that she realized Luz was blind.Every day she goes to hear her own version of earth aside from the books that she read… because Old Luz is from the Earth.“My father would never understand,” Minnie said quietly. “He thinks no one would listen to a Spacian talking about trees and the sea, especially when I’ve never even seen one.”This time, it was Luz who chuckled softly.“Maybe if your father had seen a tree, he would’ve believed it,” Luz said.Minnie looked up, curious. “Have you seen one?”Luz gazed longingly at the distant Earth, her eyes full of memories.“Maybe... maybe I’ve seen the last tree on Earth.”━─━────༺༻────━─━“Are you crazy?!” Yuqi whispered shouted as soon as she saw Nicha and her stupid plan.
“What on space are you doing there?” Yuqi tried to see what Minnie was doing but that gave her even more headache.

She was packing.

Ghad! I will be headless by the morning if the director knew that his Commander daughter is planning to escape to earth.

“I’m not even asking you to come with me Yuqi—“
“I might as well come with you because even if I don’t my head would be out of my body as soon as your father knows about your craziness, wait me here” Minnie shrugs as she watches Yuqi walk away from her room.
She only packs the essentials since some might get suspicious if she was carrying a lot of items with her.
Minnie contacted one of the garbage collectors through a different name to drop her off at the Earth which she received a ‘are you crazy’ look because who would have even traded their life here in space to go to Earth?Yep, only Minnie—and maybe Yuqi, too, since she's forced into it.Yuqi came back with her own bag, if Minnie thought of being caught, well obviously Yuqi didn’t because she was now carrying a luggage with her and her stupid human size teddy bear; Kiki.
“What the heck was that? We are trying to be as discreet as possible Yuqi!” Yuqi just rolled her eyes at her as she continued to drag Minnie at the coordinates that the garbage ship is parked.
“You know I pack a lot, and you know I cannot leave Kiki, if you have any complains let’s just go back”
“No no no! I’m pushing this! Maybe this is the chance I always wanted” Yuqi watched Minnie, still fascinated by her dream she could no longer save her friend from being delusional.
“Earth is toxic Minnie, you don’t even know if you can breathe the air there”
“That is why I bought suitss!” Minnie threw her another suit which has a different name on it.Whoever it belonged to, that person didn’t even mind washing this.
“Eww, it smells rotten Minnie” she shrieked as she pinched her nose but Minnie just watched her in happiness as she happily wore her suit.
“Are you Minnie Mouse?” They turned to look at the man wearing the same suit as them before they nodded.

of all the code names she has to use, why does she need to use the one close to her name?

“I should've warned you first, after we dropped you off of earth we cannot pick you up as soon as possible, it would be another year for us to come back again to pick you up; plus” he glanced up and down towards them.
They seem to grow in richness, he probably thinks they cannot even survive a day on earth, they are probably one of the bored curious rich people kids “Plus life on earth isn’t easy as here, are you sure you still want to go?”
He warned, Yuqi was about to protest that they wouldn’t come but the over enthusiastic Minnie happily nodded, dragging her along with her as they entered the garbage ship.
The driver just shook his head at these poor kids— They don’t know what they were setting themselves into.
As Minnie descended upon the desolate surface of Earth, her heart pounded with a mix of anticipation. This was the world she had only heard of in stories, a planet whose beauty had been described in books and whispered in hushed tones by those who remembered its past glory.
But as she watched the scene before her it shattered every expectation she had formed.
The once beautiful oceans, once thought to be deep and full of life, had become wide stretches of thick, poisonous mud. Toxic fumes rose from still pools, swirling into the air like dark tendrils, spreading a shadow over the land.
And then the silence that greeted her was even deafening…It was a sharp contrast to the lively scene she had imagined from the stories she had heard. Instead of the lively sounds of nature, she was met with an eerie silence.
The air was thick with the smell of decay, a foul stench that stuck to everything. It was nothing like the fresh, clean breezes she had imagined, she wanted to turn around and escape this nightmare come to life.But she didn’t.Even with the horrors around her, she knew that beneath the thick muck, there were still signs of a world that had once been told to be incredibly beautiful.And if there was even the faintest glimmer of hope for restoring it, she had to find it.With each step she took, she could feel the weight of the planet's history pressing down upon her. The ruins of once-grand cities stood like tombstones, their crumbling facades serving as silent reminders to the mistakes of mankind.“I feel like I’m inside my favorite dystopian game, huhu. Are you sure this is Earth, not hell?” Yuqi complained, her voice tinged with disbelief.
As the sun sank lower in the sky, its warm light spread across the broken world, turning the sky into soft shades of orange and pink.The long shadows stretched over the ruins of cities, silent and still. Minnie stood still for a moment, feeling a deep sadness in her chest.She looked around at the destruction—the Earth she had once dreamed of, now a shadow of itself, lost to time and ruin.But maybe, just maybe, Earth could be restored. She holds onto that thought.She promised herself that she would do everything in her power to help bring the planet back to life.
But as soon as they took another step, the harsh reality hit them. It was as if the Earth itself was reminding them of the consequences of their actions, almost as if it were trying to push them back into space or drag them to its grave.The toxic air seeped through their suits, giving them a taste of what it felt like in a Terran’s shoes, making it hard to breathe. Every breath was a struggle, the air thick with poison.
“Minnie… I—I can’t breathe”━─━────༺༻────━─━“Are you… okay?” Minnie blinked her eyes open. Though her vision was blurry, she could see how beautiful the girl standing in front of her was. Her eyes sparkled like distant stars, and her perfect nose was pointed right at Minnie. “Are you an angel? Are you here to fetch me?”She heard her chuckling softly, but before Minnie could fully process what was happening, she felt a smack to the back of her head. It was Yuqi, standing next to her, her face scrunched in disgust.
“Are you… crazy?” Yuqi mocks her, rolling her eyes.
Why did I have to bring this stone-brained pink-head with me again? —Minnie just sighs before slowly pushing herself up with the help of the angel, still in dazed. “Where are we?” she asked, seeing how strange and unfamiliar everything around her looked.
“You guys from space?” Minnie and Yuqi froze. They both knew how much the Terrans hated them. The Earth people blamed them for the trash from space that had been poisoning their world.
“N-no,” Minnie stammered, but the girl's smile faded for a moment before it came back, even brighter.“I’m Miyeon!” she said cheerfully, extending her hand for a handshake. Minnie eagerly grabbed it—only to be met with the texture of sandpaper. Not exactly what she was expecting, but she doesn’t care."I'm Minnie, and this is Yuqi." Minnie couldn’t help but stare at how stunning she was, and for a second, she had no idea why her heart was racing. Did the toxic air mess with her?Yuqi wasn’t having it. She saw Minnie’s lovesick look and groaned. “Eww, love,” she muttered before making a disgusted face.“Where are you from?” Miyeon asked, leading them out of the makeshift infirmary. Minnie glanced at Yuqi, silently asking her to answer, but Yuqi just sighed, struggling to think of something to say from all the Earth reports she had read.“We… we live in a Garbage truck,” Yuqi said awkwardly. Minnie looked at her, giving her a look like, Really? That’s the best you’ve got?“Oh! I see, you’re the ones with the garbage from space,” Miyeon said, flashing a bright, almost blinding smile. Yuqi squinted, still not used to how intense that smile was.Minnie winced when Miyeon mentioned ‘garbage from space.’ It felt like a painful reminder that they, too, were part of the reason Earth was dying—something that somehow hurt her…That’s why she’s here—to have a peace talk, something she had always dreamed of.Miyeon looked at them with concern. “But the truck will come back next year, where will you stay?”Yuqi and Minnie exchanged glances before looking around. They were surrounded by what seemed like a makeshift space, a shelter built from scrap metal. It wasn’t much, just enough to protect people from the harsh world outside.“You can’t stay on top of the Earth,” Miyeon explained, pointing at their suits. “You’ll die the moment you breathe in the air. That’s why we wear these suits.”Yuqi’s eyes widened in shock when she saw the suits, but she quickly kept her cool.Those weren’t just suits…They are mobile suits!According to the reports she read, those were missiles—missiles that they were planning to launch.Miyeon smiled brightly, completely unaware of Yuqi's thoughts. “Ah! I know now! I’ll be back, I just need to talk to my father about your situation!”As soon as Miyeon was out of earshot, Yuqi grabbed Minnie and pulled her to a secluded spot, away from everyone else.“Okay, we need to talk,” Yuqi whispered urgently, looking around to make sure no one could overhear them."Right, you see how beautiful she is? She’s mine, so don’t even think about competing," Minnie said dreamily, her eyes still glued to Miyeon. "I wonder how someone as perfect as her was even made."Yuqi just scrunched her face, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, sure, keep dreaming."Sure, Miyeon is beautiful, but she was also way too sweet for Yuqi’s taste. She preferred fiercer girls, the type who didn’t need saving.Miyeon was like a princess waiting to be rescued from a dragon, Yuqi’s type is the dragon and Minnie? Well, she definitely liked the princess.
"Yeah, her parents had sex just like how they made us, Minnie," Yuqi replied dryly. "It’s not the time for your sapphic thoughts."Minnie sighed, still lost in her thoughts about Miyeon. “Isn’t she lovely?”Yuqi rolled her eyes. “Minnie, something is wrong.” Minnie barely heard her, still looking at Miyeon’s retreating figure.“Minnie!” Yuqi snapped, this time louder to grab her attention. “Listen to me. You see those?” She grabbed Minnie’s head and turned it toward the suits Miyeon had pointed out earlier."Those are the missiles in the report, idiot!" Yuqi hissed.Minnie stared at them, confused. There were five suits, not nearly enough to challenge the space fleet her father was always worried about."But she said they’re suits for roaming Earth to look for food," Minnie replied, still processing.Yuqi squinted at the suits. She should have felt relieved, especially knowing how harmless they looked compared to the mobile suits like SentinelX. One of those suits could probably take down all five of these. So why was this so confidential?Yuqi frowned— Something wasn’t right....“This is Minnie and Yuqi,” Miyeon said as she introduced them to a girl with short, curly orange hair. Her hair looks greasy, she was holding a wrench, with more tools hanging from her belt.Yuqi has the same looks as Minnie earlier…looking like a fool."Wow," Yuqi muttered, before Minnie elbowed her in the ribs, she quickly bowed and said, "It's nice to meet you, Miss...?"“Soyeon! Her name is Soyeon!” Miyeon replied with a huge smile. "Now Soyeon has a friend besides me because she usually shuts everyone down with her mouth," Miyeon added happily.Minnie stretched out her hand for a handshake, but Soyeon completely ignored it and went straight for Yuqi. Without saying a word, she grabbed Yuqi’s hand and shook it—leaving greasy fingerprints all over her skin.Yuqi stood there, stunned, not sure what to feel. Part of her felt disgusted by the oily mess on her hand, but there was also a strange excitement bubbling up inside her.Confirm, Soyeon was definitely a dragon.“Your hands are smooth…” Soyeon said as she walked past Yuqi. “Makes it hard to believe you lived in a garbage truck.”Yep, definitely her type—brave and full of sarcasm.━─━────༺༻────━─━
Yuqi and Minnie stared down at their plates of food. Minnie was doing her best to hold it together, trying not to show that she was on the verge of vomiting. Yuqi, on the other hand, wasn’t even trying to hide it—she was making disgusted noises like she was about to lose it any second.“From a garbage truck, huh?” Soyeon sarcastically said with a smirk.Miyeon softly spoke up to defend them "Soyeon, give them a break, They’re probably not used to the food here. Maybe the garbage truck food was better? After all, it was rich people’s trash."Minnie and Yuqi winced at the innocent jab. They knew Miyeon didn’t mean anything; she just spoke so innocently. But somehow, those innocent words still stung.Soyeon just sighed and rolled her eyes at Miyeon, clearly frustrated by her naive way of thinking. She couldn’t understand how she ended up being friends with someone so… gullible.Miyeon was always clumsy, always falling for things and getting into trouble, but Soyeon knew one thing for sure—Miyeon was the most genuine person she knew.And those kinds of people are rare nowadays.Miyeon always tries to see the best in people.She listens to their side of the story before judging, and even when she doesn’t understand, she still wants to help.But these two idiots don’t even appreciate what that kindness really means."Miyeon gave you her rations today. Do you know what that means?" Soyeon asked like a mother scolding her kids. Minnie and Yuqi shook their heads, unsure of what she meant."It means Miyeon won’t be eating for the next two days just to give you that garbage you're trying not to puke on," The room went silent as Soyeon stormed out.Miyeon quickly apologized, bowing slightly. "I’m sorry. She’s just tired and probably upset about the suits not working. We have no way to go up to Earth to gather food. Please understand her."Minnie gave her a warm smile. "It’s not your fault, Miyeon. We understand. We’re sorry for how we acted."Miyeon smiled back before softly saying, "I’ll just go after Soyeon for a moment."...Minnie stared at the large screen in front of her, showing Earth’s surface. It looked like a pit of fire, just like how the books described volcanic magma, but now it felt more like staring at the sun.She couldn’t even imagine that this was the Earth the books talked about. It was nothing like what she’d read—this was something else.“You seem to like the view of Earth’s surface,” a man’s voice suddenly came from behind her. She flinched, quickly hiding her necklace.“Are you Minnie or Yuqi?” the man asked in a rough voice. He looked like he was in his 50s, half of his body covered in scars from fire.Minnie stared at him, especially at his scars.“This scar?” he asked, pointing to one of the larger ones. “I got it when I went to Earth years ago to search for food. The suits took some hits from SentinelX, almost didn’t make it out alive.” He smiled a little, remembering the past.“But I did, for Miyeon,” he added, his gaze fixed on the screen. “Miyeon loves telling stories about Earth,” he said, and that made Minnie’s head snap to attention.She had never met anyone who shared her dream before—everyone always called her crazy.
“Miyeon tells the children stories about Earth, about how green it used to be.” He pointed toward Miyeon, who was surrounded by kids, probably telling them one of her stories again.“But no one here believes her.” Just like no one believes her…“To them, it’s just a far-off dream or a distant memory. After all, none of us have seen the Earth the books talk about. We’ve never even seen a tree,” he said. Minnie’s grip on her necklace tightened.“My baby Miyeon is the purest of them all,” he said, his voice growing serious. “She’s the only one untouched by greed or anger, the only one who still believes in the goodness of people. Her smile, so bright, so innocent—she’s the last genuine thing this broken Earth has given me.”His eyes grew distant, filled with sadness. “Everyone else here, they’ve been corrupted, twisted by the years. But Miyeon? She’s untouched, pure as the day she was born. How effortlessly she trusts, how she believes without question. Her heart is untouched by the bitterness of the world around her.”“It’s rare, especially here.” His gaze locked with Minnie’s, as if emphasizing his words, as if searching for something in her. “Miyeon gave up her rations to make sure there was enough food for both of you. She even sacrificed her bed so you could have a place to sleep. That’s how we survive here—if someone is added, something else has to be taken away to keep things balanced. We can’t afford any inconvenience,”He didn’t show any expression, but Minnie could tell from the look in his eyes that he was warning her.“I don’t know what your plans are, but whatever they are, spare the Earth... Spare her, Spacian.” he said before walking away, leaving Minnie standing there....“Hey! Hey!” Yuqi struggled to keep up.How the heck is this dwarf walking so fast? — “Hey, I was calling for you!” Yuqi managed to catch up and grabbed Soyeon’s arm to stop her. “Really? Because I never heard you say my name,” Soyeon replied without even looking at her.Right... Why does Yuqi always end up liking people like this? Stubborn and impossible to read?“I…” Yuqi tried to speak, but Soyeon’s intense glare nearly burned her.It was both exciting and terrifying.Great, of all the times for her gay hormones to kick in, it had to be now."I'm sorry, okay? I'm eating already, look!" Yuqi said quickly, shoveling food into her mouth, desperately trying not to wince under Soyeon’s unblinking gaze.
"Like them! Aren't they sweet? I'm enjoying my food just like them," she pointed at an old man, tears streaming down his face as he fed his wife."See? They're even crying for joy because the food is so delicious."Soyeon’s fist clenched tightly as she watched them. "They're probably just thankful for the food—""Can you shut up?" Soyeon snapped. "You don’t even wanna be like them. They're not happy about that food. It’ll probably be their last meal before they become a sacrifice."Yuqi froze. "Huh?"Soyeon’s eyes were sharp, as if slicing her alive,"We're running out of food and air rations. There's not enough for everyone... so they need to go.” Yuqi stood frozen, unable to process the weight of her words.“The old, the crippled, the sick—they all need to go to save the rest of us! They don’t even get a choice, and we don’t get to choose either, don’t you get it?” Soyeon’s voice cracked like thunder “They have to sacrifice themselves so we can survive!"She slammed her finger into Yuqi’s chest with force, each word hitting like a blow, as if every jab was meant to make Yuqi realise how lucky she was not to have been born a Terran.“I’m… I’m sorry I didn’t mean about what happened earlier I’m just wasn’t use to—”“Not used to eating shit?” Soyeon shot a glance at Yuqi before turning back to her work on the suit, her hands moving with focused precision.“Yes—I mean no! No!” Yuqi said as if dismining what she just said “I’m really sorry I was just shock it was
my first time seeing the food”“You know you should really shut up now” Soyeon said as she put down the wrench she’s holding as she’s fixing the suit “Because the more you open your mouth, the more you blow up your cover”“Yes I’m sorry—wait what?!”Soyeon gave Yuqi a cold, piercing look before grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a dim room. Inside, rows of bunk beds were stacked high, like a prison, with people packed together, barely enough room to move. Yuqi didn’t understand why Soyeon had brought her here.“These are Terrans, Yuqi,” Soyeon’s voice was sharp, almost growling as she pointed to the people. “These are the ones you’ve been killing with your trash.”She pointed to each person, her eyes filled with disdain. “These people don’t even live past fifty. They just disappear, sacrificed to make room for the rest of us to survive.”Soyeon turned and walked away, leaving Yuqi standing there, stunned. She stood frozen, struggling to breathe as the weight of Soyeon’s words sank in.Yuqi's chest tightened, and for a moment, she could feel the heat rise in her face.Holy fuck, that was so hot Ms. Soyeon....“How did the talk go with my father?” Minnie peeked out from the cramped space she had tucked herself into, hidden between the walls. To anyone else, it might’ve felt suffocating, but for her, it was oddly comforting—like the walls were hugging her. No one had ever done that for her.She was the strong one, the one people leaned on, the one holding their lives, but here… here she could be fragile for a moment.She looked up and was met with the brightest smile she’d ever seen—Cho Miyeon.She read her name.So the man from earlier was her father.It hadn’t even been a full day, and they were already making mistakes, blowing up their cover. They might not even make it back to the truck in a year; Maybe this would be their grave.Miyeon reached out and gently wiped the tears from Minnie’s face. “Why are you crying? Is it because you miss your parents? Or you didn’t like the food?” she asked, her voice full of innocence. Minnie chuckled softly.
Yes, she was really that innocent.
“Can you tell me about Earth?” Minnie asked, changing the subject. Miyeon smiled warmly and sat beside her. They both gazed into the dark hallway, the only light coming from the glowing fireflies, their glow made brighter by the toxins in the air.
Miyeon began to share stories from the books she’d read, describing Earth as it once was. She spoke of the leaves, the way they felt, and how she longed to see them. She told Minnie about the sea, how vast it was, and how the Earth was once filled with birds and plants you could eat.Minnie listened, doing her best to hold back the tears that threatened to fall again.For the first time, she found someone who shared her dream.For the first time, she realized her dad had been wrong.Someone wants to see the earth again…“Then, when we have healthy soil again, we can plant trees, Minnie!” Miyeon said excitedly, her eyes glowing in the dark. “And we’ll eat the fresh fruit we plant!” Minnie smiled, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.I think you’re wrong, Father. Someone wants to plant trees and crops… with me....“Didn’t you annoy me enough? Why are you here again?”
Soyeon grumbled, her voice dripping with irritation as she wiped her greasy hands from fixing the suit. Her face was smeared with dirt.
Yuqi stood nearby like a puppy that had just been scolded. When she saw Soyeon’s dirt-smeared face, without thinking, she reached out to wipe it off gently. But Soyeon immediately smacked her hand away. They both watched as the handkerchief slipped from Yuqi’s hand, maybe she should’ve just stayed quiet.“I just wanna say I’m sorry—”"You’ve apologized a thousand times already," Soyeon interrupted, her tone flat, almost tired.Yuqi, despite looking like a walking disaster, couldn’t hide it—her face was just too clean, too pristine. Her body, untouched by the scars of hardship, Her whole appearance screams she was from space. Unlike her, Soyeon was constantly greasy, her hands never getting a chance to be cleaned because the water was too scarce—she’d rather drink it than waste it on washing. She didn’t have time to fix herself up like some stupid, pink-haired giant dog standing next to her.And when Yuqi tried to wipe her face with a handkerchief. Soyeon felt insulted. A handkerchief. In space, it was probably some fancy, soft cloth for personal use. Here, though, that was a luxury—one that could only be used to clean things, not for personal care. It was a reminder of how different their worlds were, and the nerve of Yuqi to use it like that made her blood boil.Still, it wasn’t Yuqi’s fault she wasn’t born like them. If given the choice, she was sure no one would ever pick this life. But it irritated her how this space kid could take it all for granted. The simple things they did, like washing or having clean hands, were nothing but dreams for her.People like Soyeon didn’t have the same privileges Yuqi had.They didn’t have the luxury of choosing, of resting, or sleeping in a comfy bed.They didn’t have the time to clean themselves up… because they were too busy on surviving they forgot how to truly live.They had to endure the heat, the pain just to stay alive. They struggled every day to gather the food they desperately needed…anything that they can eat they will, anything that won’t kill them they would take it.They didn’t have the luxuries that Yuqi took for granted in space…they didn’t have a choice to say ‘No’“Look,” Soyeon tapped the wrench against the suit to get Yuqi’s attention. “There are only two of you here. We could kill you before you even report back to space,” she said coldly.“Or maybe you’re a spy? Did space send you here before they followed?” Soyeon snapped, grabbing Yuqi by the collar. Yuqi quickly shook her head.“No, no, you’re mistaken. We came here on our own!”“So, you really came from space...” Soyeon scoffed, tossing Yuqi aside.
—How can this little dwarf be so fucking strong and cunning at the same time?Soyeon’s eyes narrowed. “You know, if there’s one thing I know about Earth, it’s that fish get caught when they open their mouths.” She pointed the wrench threateningly at Yuqi’s neck.“What’s the real reason you came here?”...Minnie stood at the door, unsure whether she should knock or not. But then, the memory of Miyeon’s warm smile gave her the courage to try.
Maybe I should at least try...Even if it didn’t work out, I could say I tried my best.
She knocked quietly and waited. After a moment, the door clicked open and was met with a questioning raised eyebrow.“Minnie”“Huh?” his brow clearly puzzled.“My name is Nicha Yontararak, the commander of AsterCity, but they call me Minnie.”The man blinked, taken aback by her boldness. “What are you doing, kid?”“I came here to talk... to the president of Earth.” he studied her for a moment, “Adan.”“Huh?”“My name is Cho Adan.” He opened the door wide, allowing her to step inside.That night, Soyeon didn’t kill Yuqi—at least not permanently, just broke a few bones. Yuqi stumbled out alive, but with some few bruises and little bit battered. That little dwarf... she might be short, but damn, she hits like a giant.That night Minnie also tried to be brave…
“You did WHAT?!” Yuqi almost screamed, waking up everyone in their cramped bed, realizing they were stacked up like human Jenga pieces in the hallYuqi hated to admit it, but she already missed her space life. She missed cuddling with Kiki—mainly because she forgot to grab her teddy bear from the garbage truck.But no worries, in space, she had a hundred other toys named Kiki. Kiki the 1st, Kiki the 2nd, Kiki the... okay, she kind of had a problem… she has separation anxiety okay, she hates being alone, But it was fine. Her lovesick fool Kiki was still with her, and she even found another orange-haired dwarf Kiki, who just gave her some bruises earlier. It’s fine—she could live without her non-breathing Kiki.Minnie, knowing Yuqi’s big mouth wouldn’t stop, pulled her out of the hall to talk somewhere no one could overhear.“I told Miyeon’s father I wanted peace,” Minnie said, but it made Yuqi’s eyes grow wide. “When?”“Earlier—”“No, when are they killing us?” Yuqi asked in panic, grabbing her hair as she mentally ran through all the worst-case scenarios.I didn’t even have my first kiss with Soyeon! Yuqi thought, her mind spiraling.“Yuqi, relax! Breath okay, relax” Minnie grabbed her shoulder to stop her from pacing back and forth, “He said he’ll do his best to talk peace with my father,” Minnie said, calming Yuqi down.“Really?” Yuqi stopped, disbelief crossing her face.She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. She never imagined it could be this easy, or that it was even possible.
Grandma Luz was right... sometimes, it’s our hearts that need to make the decision.
Minnie’s hand reached for her necklace, gripping it tightly with hope.“I hope your father will listen,” Yuqi said. Minnie gave her a tentative smile.It doesn't hurt to try, does it?━─━────༺༻────━─━“I heard those are missiles,” Soyeon froze at her words. She turned to face Minnie, her expression empty of emotion.“They’re not,” Soyeon said, her grip on the wrench tightening. “They’re more than that. Stop insulting my mobile suit.”“Sorry… are they fast?” Minnie asked, still curious.“Are you gathering intel so you can beat us Spacian?” Soyeon mocked, but Minnie just stared at her. A clear pain painted in her eyes.She knew friendship was impossible between them. Their different statuses and past actions created a wall and she knew others would only see it as taking advantage of each other.
She glanced at the mobile suit—it was the first model ever released years ago, but it had been discarded due to how dangerous and unstable it was.…Pilots who used it rarely survived—and those who did were left permanently crippled.“Astrolites... That’s what we’re called,” Minnie said, her voice soft as she turned her gaze back to the mobile suit.It was called the cursed mobile suit for that reason. Minnie had no idea they were still using one—let alone keeping a 200-year-old version. The fact that the Terrans had chosen to pilot such a deadly machine made her heart ache.“You know about its curse, right?” Minnie asked.Soyeon grips her wrench tightly.She knew, deep down she knew, she didn’t need anyone to remind her—it was a truth that lived in the back of her mind that would haunt her every day…maybe even forever.This wasn’t the first time someone had ridden the cursed Mobile Suit. She’d seen it all before, from when she was young—the countless lives it had claimed, one pilot after another falling victim to its curse.And yet, they kept choosing this path.Because there wasn’t really a choice,
It was either die now or die later.
Every. Single. Time— they chose later.
Even knowing the end would come, they still clung to that fleeting chance of survival, no matter how slim.
Soyeon clenched her fists tightly, her calloused hands, the deep scars crisscrossing her skin—wounds that told the story of every sacrifice, every desperate struggle. She knew someday, just like how everyone else in her place, she knew these hands would be stained with blood that could never be washed away.The same fate of those who came before her, she was no different.Minnie stepped closer to the suit, her fingers brushing against the scrap metal that had been hastily put together in an attempt to repair it.A sad smile crept across her face.“Does it still work?” she asked quietly.Soyeon rolled her eyes, her tongue poking her cheek in annoyance, but before she could respond, Minnie climbed into the pilot seat, her hands quickly working to operate the suit.Suddenly, the mobile suit hummed to life.“It’s working,” they both shouted in disbelief.One in shock, the other in happiness.It works… Soyeon thought to herself, her eyes glued wide to the mobile suit with awe as the suit powered up.Not only could it walk, but it could fly now.Soyeon stood there, completely mesmerized, as she watched Minnie pilot the mobile suit.
It was her first time seeing it actually fly—its hands, its head, everything moving in perfect synchronization. Up until now, she’d only ever seen the suit walking like a clunky robot. That’s why she had thought it was discarded. She never imagined it could do this.After Minnie successfully parked the mobile suit, a crowd gathered, staring in awe, their jaws practically hitting the floor.Just as Minnie was about to speak, she was greeted by a bone-crushing hug.“You made it! You made it work and it’s flying!” Miyeon exclaimed, hugging Minnie tightly, her voice full of excitement that Minnie couldn’t help but smile.“Yes, I just tested it to see if it’s working,” she replied, “Soyeon did all the hard work. I just tweaked a few things. Now, Soyeon can fly it.”Miyeon tilted her head, clearly confused. “Huh? But Soyeon isn’t a pilot?”Minnie’s smile faded slightly as she frowned. “What do you mean?”“I’m the pilot of that mobile suit!” Miyeon proudly said while pointing at the suit she had just controlled.
For the second time, Minnie’s heart shattered....“I’m telling you, Miyeon cannot pilot that cursed mobile suit!” Minnie’s voice shook with fear and frustration as she keeps pacing back and forth in Mr. Cho’s office.Her eyes were wild, desperate for someone to listen.
Mr. Cho massaged his forehead, exhausted by the same conversation. “Miyeon is the only one the suit recognizes, Minnie,” he said, his voice tight. “Without her piloting it, we can’t scavenge for food. We’ll all starve.”His words cut deep, like a bitter truth Minnie wasn’t ready to face. The look in his eyes—strained, pained—told her that he didn’t want this too much more than she did.But there was nothing he could do.Minnie’s gaze locked with his, her eyes burning “I’ll do it.”Mr. Cho snapped back, shaking his head. “You don’t even know where to search, Minnie.”“But Miyeon’s life—” Minnie’s voice cracked, but she forced herself to finish. “I can’t let her die for this!”“I know!” he shouted, more to himself than anyone else, his voice heavy with guilt, anger and frustration. “She’s my daughter! Every day, it kills me a little inside to watch her climb into that suit, but what choice do I have? What choice do we have? If she doesn’t, people will die.” He pointed toward the window, where the desperate were fighting over scraps of food."Do you see them? They’re scraping for what’s left. If Miyeon doesn’t pilot that suit, they’ll all starve.” The weight of those words crushed Minnie’s chest… The sacrifice wasn’t just for one life—it was for all of them.“Go back when you have a better suggestion,” Mr. Cho said coldly before disappearing into his room, leaving Minnie standing there, stunned.Minnie was about to leave when Miyeon suddenly stumbled as she opened the door, her eyes wide like a deer caught in the headlights. She froze mid-stumble, hands outstretched like she was about to fall, but somehow, still trying to act casual."I... uh... was just, uh, checking the door," Miyeon said, grinning nervously. "You know, for... safety reasons."“Miyeon—”
“It’s okay, Minnie yah!” Miyeon said brightly, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at her, as if this was completely normal. “It’s not the first time, don’t worry about me!” she added, wiping away her tears—because, apparently, she’s now a human fountain of tears.“Why are you such a crybaby, Minnie?” Miyeon teased, gently patting her tears away. “Is that how much you’re worried about me?”Minnie felt her heart twist.
“I’ll come back, don’t worry!” Miyeon said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood, but Minnie couldn’t hold it in anymore. She let out a small, frustrated sob.Minnie’s chest tightened. She swallowed back the words she so desperately wanted to say, the words that would explain how much it hurt, How much it scares her, how she felt powerless to protect her.Because for the first time… Minnie is scared to lose something…“I’ll be okay, I promise,” Miyeon whispered, but Minnie couldn’t stop the tears from falling, each one a silent plea.You don’t understand, Miyeon— Minnie thought, her heart aching as she let the quiet sobs take over.━─━────༺༻────━─━Yuqi secretly glanced at Soyeon, who was nervously biting her nails as they watched Miyeon ride her Mobile Suit. Soyeon, her ‘manager,’ was on edge, keeping a lookout for Miyeon, as usual.
“Opening the container,” Soyeon said into the mic connected to Miyeon’s suit.“Roger,” Miyeon’s voice crackled through the speaker.Everyone held their breath, clasping their hands in a prayer position, as if that would help Miyeon come back safely—like they always did when she went down to the Earth’s surface.
They all watched, hearts in their throats, as Miyeon carefully navigated the terrain. The toxic air threatened to seep into her suit, while Minnie, squished into her cramped little hiding space in the hallway, prayed for Miyeon’s safe return like a tiny, cramped guardian angel.“Where is Minnie?” Miyeon’s dad asked, his eyes fixed on Miyeon navigating the Earth’s surface.“I don’t know, check all the cramped spaces. She might be hiding there, crying again,” Yuqi said, her eyes never leaving Soyeon as she watched her manage Miyeon.They watched anxiously as Soyeon became Miyeon’s eyes, guiding her carefully through the hazy toxins fogging the surface of the Earth. Every step felt like a gamble. Their hearts nearly stopped when Miyeon stumbled, her foot slipping dangerously close to the mud that could melt through her suit with its toxic acidity.Soyeon shouted a warning, her voice sharp and urgent, Miyeon steadied herself just in time. The group collectively held their breath until she found her footing again.Finally, Miyeon returned safely to the site, staggering slightly a wave of relief washed over everyone they even let out shaky cheers.But no one approached just yet. They stayed back, watching her go through the meticulous process of cleansing the toxic air from her suit and body. It was a routine drilled into them, but now, it felt excruciatingly slow. Only after Miyeon signaled she was clear did they let themselves exhale fully, ensuring she was free of contamination and hadn’t brought back any trace of the deadly virus.
They all silently thanked whatever luck had brought her back in one piece.One by one, people shuffled back inside, dragging in the scrap food Miyeon managed to salvage.But Yuqi stayed behind, her gaze fixed on the Mobile Suit Miyeon had just used.Her eyes narrowed as she read the markings on the side…J0131
She frowned, tapping her fingers against her temple, trying to remember where she'd seen it before.The thought nagged at her, teasing at the edge of her memory, like something important lurking in the shadows of her mind.Then, it hit her.The suits... those suits... they were in the confidential files report...."Found ya!" Miyeon's cheerful voice echoed through the air, causing Minnie to jump, startled. Her tears were still fresh, glistening on her cheeks. Miyeon’s smile was as bright as ever, the kind that could light up even the darkest corners of the world, shining through like the first rays of sunlight after a storm."You’re crying again!" Miyeon whined, her voice teasing as she plopped down beside Minnie. She tilted her head, a playful frown crossing her face as she studied Minnie "Have you been crying since I left?"Minnie bit her lip, nodding slightly, unable to stop the small sniffle that escaped her.Miyeon’s eyes widened in surprise. "Are you that worried about me?" she asked softly, leaning in closer, her voice warm and comforting.Another nod from Minnie, this time followed by a tearful hiccup.Without missing a beat, Miyeon wrapped her arms around Minnie, pulling her into a gentle, soothing embrace. The warmth of it was so different from the cold, unfeeling metal Minnie had clutched before.
At first, Minnie froze—unsure, not used to such feeling—but then she let herself melt into it her tears soaking into Miyeon’s sweater."I'm fine," Miyeon whispered softly, her hand stroking Minnie's hair in a slow, calming stroke."See? Nothing happened to me," Miyeon said confidently, pulling back and guiding Minnie’s hand to her arm to prove she was perfectly fine. But somewhere in the process of doing so Minnie’s hand missed the mark and landed—right on Miyeon’s chest.The world stopped.Both girls froze like statues with their wide eyes locking in a moment.Her face turned a shade of red that could rival the fire outside, while Minnie’s cheeks followed suit, as though the accidental touch had ignited a chain reaction.Miyeon cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Uh, Minnie…"Minnie yanked her hand back as if she’d touched a hot stone, her face now radiating enough heat to power a small city. "I—uh—heart! I mean, over your heart! Not—uh—" She fumbled, gesturing vaguely in the air."Yeah, I know where my heart is, thanks!" Miyeon squeaked, hugging herself defensively as if to guard against any further.Minnie stood there, looking like a deer caught in headlights not knowing what to say, "So... you're really fine?""Y-Yeah," Miyeon stammered, glancing away. "Totally fine.”“Except for the part where I might die of secondhand embarrassment." Miyeon mumbled, her words tangling like a bad set of earbuds. She quickly jumped back, waving her hands in the air like she was trying to fan away the flames of awkwardness. "See? I’m fine! Totally fine! No need for you to cry anymore, okay?!"Before Minnie could respond, Miyeon bolted to her feet, stepping back like the floor under Minnie might explode. Her face was still as red as a tomato, and she seemed determined to escape before the situation could get any weirder.But just as Miyeon turned to make her great escape, a sound stopped her in her tracks—Minnie’s laugh.
It wasn’t loud or exaggerated, just a soft, melodic chuckle, but it struck Miyeon like lightning. She froze mid-step, her ears practically perking up like a startled cat.She turned her head just enough to peek at Minnie, who was still sitting, a small but genuine smile breaking through her previously tear-streaked face."I’ll be back soon, okay?" Miyeon called out and managed a little wave while pretending her heart wasn’t doing any drumming inside.Minnie nodded, her smile lingering. "Okay."As Miyeon walked away, her face still pink and her heart fluttering, she couldn’t suppress the tiny grin tugging at her lips—until Yuqi’s voice shattered the moment from the hallway. "Hey, Miyeon! Why’s your face red? Did Minnie kiss you or confess?"Miyeon groaned, speeding up her pace. "Shut up, Yuqi!"━─━────༺༻────━─━“What do you plan to have the two presidents talk about, Minnie?” Yuqi asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and frustration as they sat on the cold bench, watching the towering park mobile suits in the distance.Minnie’s gaze remained steady on the scene before her, her expression unreadable. “We have to wait for the garbage truck to pick us up again—”“But that could take a year!” Yuqi interrupted, her voice tinged with disbelief. She gestured to the surrounding area, her frustration bubbling over.Minnie turned her gaze away from Yuqi and looked toward the makeshift shelter around them. Her eyes landed on the people scattered across the cramped, worn-down space—families huddled together on rickety beds, children sleeping in awkward positions and adults trying to find comfort.“Let’s enjoy being here for a while, Yuqi,” Minnie finally said, her voice soft but heavy “We’ve only been here for a little over a month, and you’re already finding it hard. Imagine how much harder it must be for these people… They’ve been stuck here for years.”Yuqi followed Minnie’s gaze, her eyes lingering on a small child curled up in a corner with a blanket that was far too thin for the cold air. Her shoulders slumped, her face mirrored Minnie’s—filled with a sadness too deep for words.After a while Yuqi broke the silence. “We should really make that talk work, Minnie,” she said quietly. “It’s our only chance for peace.”Maybe this could be their chance for a change. “I hope your father listens,” Yuqi continued, her voice laced with both hope and doubt. “Because I’m sure that peace is what Miyeon’s dad wants, too.”At the mention of Miyeon’s name, Minnie’s lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her hand drifted to the necklace she always wore, her fingers brushing over the pendant.“It will work,” she said firmly, her voice carrying a quiet determination.Yuqi looked at her friend, seeing the faint flicker of hope that Minnie clung to. “And if it doesn’t?” Yuqi asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.“It will,” Minnie repeated, this time with more conviction. She turned to Yuqi, her lonely eyes now glinting with a quiet fire. “It has to.”Minnie tightened her grip on the necklace, as though it was the only anchor keeping her from breaking.Yuqi glanced at her again, seeing not just her friend but someone carrying the hopes of many on her shoulders....“Minnie, look!” Miyeon grinned as she shoved a piece of paper so close to Minnie’s face.Minnie, who was already struggling to get comfortable with Miyeon perched on her lap in the cramped cockpit of the Mobile Suit, leaned back to get a better look.. She squinted at the chaotic mess of lines and squiggles, trying to make sense of it.“Uh… Miyeon, what exactly is this?” Minnie asked, her tone cautious, not wanting to hurt her feelings.Miyeon turned around—well, as much as she could in the limited space—and glared at Minnie, her face full of mock offense. “What do you mean, what is this? It’s a tree, Minnie!”Minnie blinked at the drawing, tilting it to every angle imaginable trying her best to see the ‘tree’. She even held it upside down at one point. “A tree? Are you sure?”“Yes, I’m sure!” Miyeon huffed, pointing dramatically at the paper. “After the war, we’re planting these trees right there.” She jabbed her finger toward the spot where the other Mobile Suits were parked.Minnie bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “Miyeon, I don’t think the trees will appreciate growing in a toxic parking lot.”Miyeon just ignored her, “And then we’ll build our house by the sea! Because I love the sea.” She turned to face Minnie, her eyes wide with excitement, stray hairs falling into her face.Minnie chuckled as she gently tucked Miyeon’s hair behind her ear. “Near the sea, huh? Won’t the waves keep us up all night?”Miyeon pouted, poking Minnie’s arm. “No, because our house will be so cozy we’ll sleep like babies! And we’ll build it far, far away from Yuqi!”
Minnie giggled. “Why far from Yuqi?”“Because your friend keeps teasing me! I don’t understand why Soyeon hasn’t pushed her off a cliff yet,” Miyeon said with such innocent frustration that Minnie couldn’t hold back her laughter.Miyeon snatched the paper back and held it up proudly. “Anyway! I’ll show this to Soyeon. She’ll help me make a proper plan!” Before Minnie could respond, Miyeon leaned forward, planting a quick kiss on Minnie’s cheek, and then wiggled her way out of the cockpit like a happy little kid.Minnie sat there, stunned, her hand flying to her cheek as her face turned crimson. She could still feel the warmth of the kiss.Damn… the Princess just kissed me— Minnie grinned her eyes turning into slit as she blush.━─━────༺༻────━─━“Nicha Yontararak, are you even listening to me?” Yuqi snapped, narrowing her eyes at Minnie, who was still holding her cheeks with a shit eating grin plastered on her face.Yuqi’s expression twisted in disgust as she grabbed Soyeon’s oil-stained cleaning towel and launched it at Minnie’s head. “Snap out of it, you lovesick idiot!”Minnie yelped, dodging the towel. “What the hell, Yuqi?” she whined, finally snapping out of her daydream. “What’s your problem?”“My problem is you! Now pay attention!” Yuqi crossed her arms, leaning in as if this were a life-or-death matter. “What do you think Soyeon would like?”Minnie blinked, confused. “Huh? Like what?” she tapped her chin dramatically. “Hmm… more wrenches, probably? Or maybe a fresh set of screws? Oh! And definitely oil. I saw her grinning like a psycho the other day when she found a full can of unused oil.”Yuqi stared at her, completely dumbfounded. “You’re… you’re unbelievable. How are you even Miyeon’s favorite person?”“Because I’m smart and beautiful,” Minnie quipped with a smirk, tossing her hair over her shoulder.Yuqi rolled her eyes. “No, it’s because you’re a cry baby, and Miyeon probably thinks you’re one of a stray alien— but that’s not what I was asking! Focus! I’m talking about call signs, not her toolbox wishlist.”This time it was now Minnie whose face was twisted in disgust, turning to leave. “Whatever, Yuqi. I’m going to find Miyeon. Talking to her is way more fun than whatever nonsense you’re on.”Yuqi shouted after her, “You can’t just ignore me, Minnie!”But Minnie was already halfway down the hallway, muttering to herself. “Call signs? Pfft. The only call sign Soyeon might say is ‘Roger’ tsk as if Soyeon would ever answer to something as lame as ‘baby.’”Yuqi groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Why am I surrounded by idiots?”..."Daddy, look! I think the monitor learned a new trick!" Miyeon beamed, proudly showing her dad the screen, which was monitoring the surface of the Earth."Look! It knows how to play ‘Twinkle Twinkle’!" Miyeon said, watching the monitor blink in a pattern, clearly impressed with herself.“See! It’s winking at me! So cute!” Miyeon giggled like a child, tapping the screen.Her dad, not looking all that impressed, gave the monitor a little tap herself. The monitor blinked twice.“Is it because it's so old the monitor is giving up? Maybe I should change the monitor it’s probably broken—”“Minnie!” Miyeon practically screamed when the door to the monitoring room opened. "Come here! The screen learned a new trick! It can wink at me now!"Minnie smiled softly at Miyeon, she stepped closer and pressed a gentle kiss to Miyeon’s cheek, her lips lingering for a moment before pulling away. “What do you mean?”Miyeon’s father cleared his throat so loudly followed by a dramatic gagging noise. He even shot them a death glare that was so obvious, it practically came with a warning label but Minnie only apologetically smiled before leaning in to get a closer look at the screen, her arms wrapping around Miyeon in a back hug. "I don't see it, Miyeon," Minnie said."See! It’s winking at me!" Miyeon insisted again, pointing at the screen.Minnie frowned and turned her gaze to the monitor.Miyeon wasn’t lying.The screen really flickered.Minnie squinted, her eyes not leaving the screen.But it wasn’t the screen.It wasn’t winking.It’s the Earth…The Earth was blinking... a code.A Morse code from space…Minnie’s face hardened as she read the message.…Space is planning an attack on Earth...“J0131,” Yuqi muttered to herself as she paced back and forth at the foot of the mobile suit. “Hmm, where have I heard your name before?” she mused, looking at the suit as if it might magically answer her.“J… What does the J stand for again? It’s so old that no one uses it anymore! Ugh, why can’t I remember this?!” Yuqi growled in frustration. She had always been at the top of her class, so this simple detail should’ve been easy for her to recall.“Jericho,” came a voice from behind her.“Right! Jericho!” Yuqi spun around, startled, to find Soyeon standing there, wrench in hand and a smirk on her face. “I thought you were top of your class? How can you forget something so basic?” she teased, raising an eyebrow.“Excuse me?!” Yuqi snapped. “That’s because this one is no longer in use there! Plus—” Her rant was cut off abruptly as the shrill wail of the emergency siren blared through the air, sending a shiver down everyone’s spine.Without missing a beat, Miyeon shot up and bolted toward the mobile suit. “Soyeon, help me pilot it!” she called, her voice already filled with urgency. Soyeon nodded instantly, her expression going from playful to deadly serious as she followed Miyeon’s lead.Yuqi froze in place, unsure of what to do."The space is attacking! Go evacuate!" Mr. Cho’s voice rang out, but Yuqi barely heard him. She stood there, feeling numb, her mind spinning.No, this is not her first time… She’d been through many battles before, but this time felt different.This time it’s definitely her first time… her first time that they were on the losing side.Minnie, running toward her with determination written all over her face."Yuqi! Help me pilot the suit!" she commanded, her voice firm and commanding.Yuqi had no idea if they could both actually manage this ancient suit—its mechanics were probably as outdated as the suit itself, and the controls might as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphs. But like the Terrans say... they had to do what it takes to survive.It was like a switch flipped in Yuqi’s brain. Even in her trance, she immediately snapped to attention, moving into action without a second thought as she watched Minnie take the seat of the suit.J0600“Eh Another Jericho?”“Yuqi focus!” Yuqi’s hands flew over the controls with an ease that was nothing short of mesmerizing. It was as if she had piloted this exact model a thousand times before. Each press of a button, every lever pulled, was fluid and precise. Her movements were so instinctive that even the outdated, creaky suit seemed to respond with a new life.“Right there, Minnie! Adjust the throttle—no, just a bit more—perfect!” Yuqi’s voice was steady, calm, and commanding. Her eyes never left the screen, where numbers and coordinates flickered with the urgency of the situation.Minnie followed her instructions to the letter, her hands trembling slightly but her focus unwavering. The suit hummed to life, its movements becoming smoother with each passing second, guided by Yuqi’s expertise.From the corner of the room, Soyeon watched, slack-jawed. she had seen many people struggle with this ancient suit—hell, she’d seen people panic and fail at the simplest adjustments—but Yuqi made it look easy, like she had been born to manage this thing.“How… how are you doing this?” Soyeon asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Yuqi barely spared her a glance. “Oh! It’s because I’ve watched you manage Miyeon before plus I learned this when I was three” Her grin was almost smug as she continued guiding Minnie effortlessly through the chaotic controls.Minnie’s heart clenched as she spotted Miyeon piloting her mobile suit, maneuvering through the chaos of the battlefield. Though Miyeon had spirit, Minnie’s experience in combat surpassed hers. With quick reflexes, Minnie pushed her suit forward, cutting off Miyeon’s line of sight to force her attention.“Go back, Miyeon! I’ll talk to them,” Minnie pleaded, her voice urgent through the comm link.“No!” Miyeon shot back, her tone sharp with determination. “This is our Earth! I can be the voice of our people, Minnie. You’re a spacian; your opinion won’t matter to them!”Miyeon stubbornly insisted, Minnie usually loved her headstrong attitude but this time it only frustrates her.Out of all time, Miyeon chose this time to be stubborn…“Listen to me, please—” Minnie began, but her words were drowned out as the Astrolites launched their assault.Out of the shadows, two sleek SentinelX suits emerged, the latest technological marvels from space. Their designs were sharp, deadly and vastly superior to anything Earth’s forces could muster. Without warning, the SentinelX suits opened fire, unleashing a barrage of missiles that shook the ground beneath them.“This is Commander Minnie of Aster City!” Minnie called out desperately, trying to communicate through the chaos. “Stand down! I repeat, stand down!”But the SentinelX suits gave no response.They advanced with calculated precision, tearing through Earth’s defenses with ease. Minnie’s heart raced as she glanced back to check on Miyeon, who was struggling to keep up with the SentinelX’s speed.Miyeon’s movements were growing sluggish, her older model barely holding together under the assault.Minnie’s instincts screamed at her to protect Miyeon, but before she could act, two SentinelX suits closed in on her. They flanked her on both sides, their weapons pinning her down. Minnie’s suit groaned under the pressure of the attack, alarms blaring in her cockpit as the frame began to collapse.“Miyeon!” Minnie screamed, her voice cracking with panic. She tried to move toward her, but her controls were unresponsive. The SentinelX suits delivered a final blow, and Minnie’s suit powered down, locking her inside. She could only watch helplessly as the screen went black.Minnie watched through the small window of the container as the SentinelX flew her toward her father’s spaceship, which was parked above the toxic land of Earth.Once inside the space station, she tried to break free, desperate to get to Miyeon. But as soon as the container doors opened, her father’s guards were there, blocking her escape.“Let me go!” Minnie yelled, thrashing in their grip. She kicked wildly, Her broken body hurt with every move, but she kept fighting.One guard grabbed her arms, while another held her legs down. She managed to break free for a second, but a hard hit to her side sent her crashing to the floor. She gasped for air, still struggling but the guards kept pushing her down, not letting her escape.They overpowered her easily. They beat her, punishing her with each strike, every struggle made the pain worse, but she didn’t stop…she can’t stop.This isn’t over. Not yetAs they dragged her towards her father’s office, ignoring her attempts to escape. Her body was bruised and bloodied from the fight, but she doesn’t care.She couldn’t let Miyeon fall. She couldn’t give up..They threw her into her father’s office. Her knees scraped painfully against the floor as she tried to steady herself. She glared at her father, who stood before her, his face as cold as ever.“Welcome back, daughter,” his tone laced with disdain.She staggered to her feet, voice trembling with desperation.“The Earth wants peace! I’ve already talked to them—they said they’ll try their best to reach an agreement. Please, do your part!”Her father’s gaze didn’t waver, his expression unreadable. “You believe these rats?” he sneered, gesturing to a screen showing Miyeon’s desperate battle. “Look at them—clinging to scraps, fighting with outdated machines. They’re pathetic.”Minnie’s fists clenched as he continued, his laughter filling the room. “Fools, scrap relics against the SentinelX. She looks like a rat trying to fight with cats!”“Stop it!” Minnie’s voice cracked. “This isn’t a game! They’re fighting for survival!”“And you,” her father spat, stepping closer, his eyes burning with anger. “You’re supposed to fight for us! But you sacrificed everything—for what? Trees? Ocean? Is that what’s driving you mad? Did they brainwash you to go on their side?!”Minnie slapped him, the sound echoing through the room. “They didn’t kill her! Miyeon isn’t the same as the people who hurt Mother!”Before her father could respond, Yuqi’s frantic voice crackled through her earpiece.“Minnie! Minnie!, listen to me! I’ve figured out the meaning of J0131!”“Not now, Yuqi,” Minnie muttered, her body weak and trembling. “Help Miyeon. Please—”“No! You have to listen!” Yuqi’s voice was filled with panic, something she rarely showed.“Jericho. J0131—it’s Jericho, Minnie. Like the city from the Bible. A symbol of judgment, destruction and the end of an era. Once the Jericho system activates, it wipes out everything—no matter who they are—and then… it destroys itself.”Minnie’s breath caught, her body went cold as Yuqi’s words hit her “No…”She bolted, ignoring the pain coursing through her body. She had to stop Miyeon. She couldn’t let her activate Jericho.━─━────༺༻────━─━
Yuqi sat in a classroom years earlier, half-listening to a lecture about the first-generation mobile suits.

“Jericho,” the professor said, pointing to an image on the board. “A marvel and a curse. All the mobile suits are linked to it, like a heart. It was designed to end wars, but instead, it was considered too dangerous to exist. Once activated, it destroys all perceived threats—friend or enemy—and then self-destructs. No one has ever survived its activation…the chernobyl beam”
Yuqi had ignored it before—no one used them anymore, they were forgotten and tossed aside. But now, as she watched Miyeon’s suit glow with the strange energy of Jericho’s awakening, her stomach dropped.“Yuqi!” Minnie’s desperate voice snapped her back to the present.“Tell Soyeon to stop Miyeon!” Minnie shouted through the comms.Yuqi quickly relayed the message, her voice urgent and shaky. "Miyeon, please, stop! You have to stop now!"Soyeon, standing next to her, pleaded with everything she had. "Miyeon, please! Don’t do this! It’s not too late!"The screen flickered and Miyeon’s face appeared it was calm yet heavy with a sad smile that made the air feel still.Her eyes were tired, as if she had already made her decision.If only I could…“I can’t go back now, Soyeon,” Miyeon’s voice was soft, almost a whisper, her sad smile breaking their hearts as she glanced at the sky, where more SentinelX suits descended like a plague. “It’s now or never. If I don’t fight, we all die.”Miyeon closed her eyes as she surrendered to Jericho’s control, unleashing its devastating power....Minnie stood before her mobile suits, Dahlia, her first and favorite suits. The dahlia painted on the side of the cockpit seemed to mock her—a symbol of beauty, strength and grace—but also a reminder of what she had become.Her fingers brushed against the cool surface, tracing the petals of the flower, the same design her mother had lovingly painted. This was her mother’s gift. The first SentinelX model ever made, crafted with care and precision—just for her.The first mobile suits that is not linked to the power of Jericho, a manual suits that was created to protect the pilot.But instead of using it to protect, she had used it to kill.Under her father’s command, she became a weapon. The weight of every life she had taken, every person she had destroyed they clung to her like a shadow. Her mother’s creation, the thing she had once hoped would be a symbol of her strength, had turned into a tool of destruction.She looked at her hands and could still see it… the blood that cannot be washed… How could she have let it all go this far? How could she have become what she despised?But she knew, deep down, that she couldn’t change the past. She couldn’t undo the lives she had taken. All she could do now was move forward, even if that meant carrying the weight of her actions with her.Call her a fool but despite everything, despite the pain and the blood on her hands, Minnie couldn’t bring herself to hate her father.He had raised her, shaped her, taught her. Even if she had become his instrument of war, even if she had followed his orders blindly, there was still love for him buried deep inside. She wanted to hate him, to blame him for everything she had done, but the love she had was stronger than any hatred she could ever feel.She took a deep breath
before she climbed into Dahlia’s cockpit. The familiar hum of the suit around her was like a comforting embrace, but it was also a cold reminder of everything she had lost.As the cockpit closed, she looked at the painted dahlia one last time, the colors flickering in the cockpit’s dim light.“I’m sorry, Mom,” she whispered. “I wish it had been different.”...Yuqi’s voice trembled with confusion. “If Jericho is that powerful, why not just make a new mobile suit that’s not linked to it?”
The professor shook her head slowly, her expression pained. “It’s like our body, Yuqi. Jericho is the heart. Once it stops, everything connected to it stops, and it all destroys itself. We can’t just create a new heart and expect it to work. That’s how Jericho was designed—either as a peacemaker or a destroyer.”

Yuqi’s mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. “So, is that why we’re destroying them?”

“Yes,” the professor said softly, her voice heavy with the weight of truth. “Once they’re destroyed, Jericho can’t be activated anymore. Remember, mobile suits are just that—suits. They’re not power. Jericho is the power. And once it’s gone...”
Yuqi fell silent, the full horror of what that meant sinking in. She realized the fight wasn’t just about suits or wars—it was about destroying a force that could wipe out everything, even themselves.Yuqi couldn’t tear her eyes away from the monitor. What she was seeing made her stomach churn. The Astrolites truly went all out—every last one of them had descended to Earth.It was like a rain of fireworks falling from the sky…They weren’t just here for a fight anymore. They were here to end it all. Today.They were going to destroy everything.The battlefield turned into a blinding storm of light and destruction as the SentinelX suits fell one by one.The battlefield was chaotic, but Minnie’s mind was sharper, working furiously for a solution. She couldn’t let the Jericho system fully activate.She couldn’t let Miyeon become the weapon that would destroy everything.She thought of everything: severing the connection remotely, disabling the SentinelX units around her, even detonating her own suit as a last resort. But every idea needs to have the same answer—she had to reach Miyeon directly.“I’m sorry,” Minnie whispered, her voice trembling as her fingers tightened around Dahlia’s controls. She would have to cut through anyone standing in her way—even her own people.Even if it meant breaking her heart even more, her hands were already stained with blood. Nothing would change—the guilt, the lives she took, the weight of it all—she would carry it, eyes closed and move forward.“I promise, Dahlia... this will be the last time you’ll be a killing machine.” Her comms buzzed with frantic voices from her team. “Commander Minnie! What are you doing?!”Minnie’s voice was cold, yet there was a tremor of sorrow in it. “I have to stop the Jericho.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Stand down, or get out of my way.”Her words were met with resistance. Her own forces—loyal soldiers who trusted her—tried to block her advance, thinking she had gone mad. Minnie clenched her jaw and pushed Dahlia forward.She disabled her comrades’ suits with precision strikes, avoiding lethal damage where she could, but when forced, she didn’t hesitate to destroy them completely. Tears streamed down her face blurring her vision as she whispered apologies to each one. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”Her Dahlia—once a symbol of pride—was now scorched and marred with the remnants of her betrayal painted with blood. But Minnie didn’t stop. Her eyes locked onto Miyeon’s glowing suit in the distance, and she pushed Dahlia to its limits.“Miyeon!” Minnie screamed through the comms, desperation lacing her voice. “Stop! You’re going to kill yourself—and everyone else!”Miyeon’s voice came through, faint and shaking. “I can’t stop it, Minnie. It’s too late. The Jericho is activating, and if I don’t fight, they’ll destroy the Earth. I have to protect them.”“You don’t have to do this alone!” Minnie yelled back, tears blurring her vision.Miyeon didn’t respond.The glow of the Jericho grew brighter, and Miyeon’s movements became faster and more precise—almost as if she weren’t fully in control. She cut through SentinelX units with ease, but the toll on her suit—and herself—was obvious.When she finally reached Miyeon though her suit Dahlia battered but was still working. She slammed it into Miyeon’s, stopping her in her tracks. “Miyeon, listen to me!” Minnie yelled, their suits locked together.But Miyeon’s reflexes, enhanced by the Jericho, acted before she could think. Her suit lashed out, an energy blade piercing Dahlia’s cockpit. Minnie gasped, a sharp, cold pain pierced through her side her hand flying to the wound, feeling the warmth of her blood seeping through her fingers.The blade had struck close to her heart—a cruel unexpected blow. Her body faltered and for a moment everything turned blurred as blood spilled from her mouth, a bitter taste filling her senses as her heartbeat pounded in her ears, each thump more painful than the last.“Minnie!” Miyeon’s voice trembled, full of fear. The glow in her suit flickered for a moment, and she briefly regained control, her breath hitching as she looked at Minnie eyes wide with shock.Minnie smiled weakly, her trembling hand reaching for the comms as blood trickled from the wound, staining her suit, but she couldn't stop herself from reaching out, from trying to touch Miyeon one last time. “It’s okay, Miyeon, See I’m not even crying” she whispered, her voice soft but steady. “I’m glad… I reached you.”Using her remaining strength, Minnie activated Dahlia’s manual override. The cockpit hissed as it opened, exposing her to the cold, hostile air. She climbed out, her body weak and bleeding and moved toward Miyeon’s suit.“Stop, Minnie! You’ll die!” Miyeon cried, but Minnie didn’t listen.With trembling hands, she pried open Miyeon’s cockpit, the glow from Jericho almost blinding her. Miyeon reached for her, tears streaming down her face, but Minnie was quicker. She disengaged Miyeon’s seat with precise movements, even as the system fought back. Sparks flew, and the glow flickered violently.“It’s done,” Minnie breathed, her voice barely audible.She reached for her necklace, the one her Grandma Luz gave her before going here on Earth and carefully placed it into Miyeon’s hand.Before Miyeon could react, Minnie pulled her out of her suit and shoved her into Dahlia’s cockpit, locking it shut. “Minnie, no! What are you doing?!” Miyeon pounded on the cockpit glass, her screams muffled.Minnie smiled at her one last time, her bloodied hand pressing against the glass. “I promised I’d protect you, Miyeon. Always.”She climbed into the Jericho-powered suit, now glowing erratically, and took off. The engines roared as she flew it toward Earth’s outer atmosphere, away from the battlefield. Alarms blared inside the cockpit, warning of imminent detonation, but Minnie didn’t flinch.She didn’t hesitate.Every warning that screamed for her to turn back, every reminder that this would be the end, only made her more determined. Her hands tightened on the controls, as she pushed the suit forward, away from the battlefield, away from the destruction and the people she had fought so hard to protect.This time, she was determined to prove she was worthy of being a commander, to live up to her true vision of being the one who protects—She was going to make sure the Jericho ended here…she was gonna make sure this will be the last war… the last dance of their own Mobile suits.Miyeon’s desperate and broken voice echoed through her Mobile suit comms, “Minnie, come back! Please, don’t do this!”“I love you, Miyeon...” Minnie whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Tell Yuqi it’s Jagiya, Soyeon would like it.” She turned off the communication link between them, unable to bear hearing their voices or her own screams. She didn’t want Miyeon to hear the pain in her heart.Minnie wanted to go back too, but she had no choice.With the last of her strength, she pushed the Jericho to its limits. As it broke through Earth’s atmosphere, the friction burned around it, leaving a fiery trail behind. The glow from the Jericho grew brighter and brighter, almost too blinding to watch—too violent— As the energy surged uncontrollably, the suit trembled under the pressure. Cracks began spreading across its frame, splitting it apart as it struggled to contain the overwhelming force.Minnie closed her eyes, her mind calm and filled with memories of Miyeon’s smile, her laughter, and the warmth they shared.Can I see you again Miyeon?— she thought.The Jericho streaked upward, leaving behind a trail of golden light that shimmered like a comet’s tail. The glow grew, swelling and burning brighter, as if it were gathering all the stars in the universe into one place.Then, with a sudden, breathtaking burst, it erupted.The explosion lit up the sky like a firework, a brilliant flash that painted the heavens with blinding light. It was as if day had broken in the middle of the night—a star born in the emptiness.The shockwave followed, rippling out like rings in water, powerful enough to make the Earth itself tremble. It was a sight both beautiful and terrifying, the kind of light that seared itself into memory, lingering even after the darkness returned.In that instant, the synchronization link between the SentinelX units and the Jericho was severed. Across Earth, the war machines froze in place, their systems shutting down in perfect unison, as though they were nothing more than discarded puppets.The heart…stopped—Yuqi thought, watching everything unfold. Just like her professor had said—once the Jericho was shut down, everything else would follow.Miyeon, safe inside Dahlia, could only watch as the explosion lit up the sky. Her screams were swallowed by the deafening roar of the blast.And then, there was silence.A deafening, suffocating silence that swallowed everything. The sky, once burning bright, now faded into a cold darkness.The battlefield below grew eerily quiet, the sounds of war gone in an instant. The war machines, the Mobile suits, the destruction, the pain—everything was still.The war had ended, and the world paid the price for the peace they had all longed for...
Minnie

Her last waltz
I always knew that someday, the lives I took for our comfort would come back to bite me… to haunt me.Was it for revenge? For judgment? For retribution? I don’t know. All I know is that I was ready for it, always ready.I always stare at my hands, thinking about how much blood they've stained through all the battles I've fought. Yuqi says she’ll carry the burden with me—the guilt of the lives I’ve taken—but I know she’s also scared of the responsibility. We were both forced into something we never wanted.Though sometimes, I wonder…I wondered whose hands it would be?—someone I fought against? Someone close to me? Or maybe someone I tried to kill before? I thought I was prepared for anything... but I never imagined it would be with someone I dreamed of growing old with, someone who shared the same dream as me.But that is okay, that is more than okay.Because I don’t know how much I could bear if these hands were the ones to take hers. Maybe that’s the time I’d use them on myself—because I’d rather be the one to end it, if it meant losing her.But I’m glad it didn’t come to that.I’m glad it was Miyeon.I just wish I had said all the things I haven’t told her because I thought I had more time…I wish I told her how beautiful she is, how her smile makes the butterflies flutter in my stomach, how she effortlessly brings a smile to my face that turns my eyes into slits. I hope she stays just the way she is, forever.I wish I told her I wanted to live close to Yuqi because she’s been my friend for so long, I don’t even remember when it started. Maybe it was when we both liked the same guy, only to find out he was flirting with both of us? Or maybe it was when we realized how much we were alike, and we both hated it.I wish I had told her—how much I love her, how much I wanted to plant trees next to hers, how much I dreamed of a house by the sea, cuddling her to sleep. And then, if Yuqi teased her again, she could just push her off the cliff herself.Miyeon, if you have time, please sing her a song. She loves listening to music more than anything. If my obsession is trees and oceans, her heart belongs to melodies, she always says that’s why she is Song Yuqi. Maybe she’ll finally get along well with Soyeon if she knew that, because I always hear her humming while she fixes the mobile suits... Miyeon, Please look after her for me.Because I always knew…I always knew I would never see the green Earth I always read about, I always knew I would grow old looking outside my bed gazing at the rocks you; Terrans called stars.If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself: when you find your dream, hold on to it tightly. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s out of reach. So many people search their whole lives for what you’ve already found. And once you find it, go after it. Run for it, claim it, no matter how steep the path.Because you only get one shot at this life, Don’t let it slip away…LIke the future ‘Minnie’ did, because I lived my life not like the stories I used to love. It wasn’t filled with perfect endings or neatly wrapped-up chapters. It was messy, unpredictable, but it was mine.
My life was about the books my father always insisted I read, it was realistic, grounded in harsh truths, it was not the life I always fantasize about.And when I had the chance to make that dream come true, I didn’t have much time. So Miyeon, please be the one to tell the kids how hard we fought.Tell them how we sacrificed everything so they could have the kind of life we once dreamed of—like the stories in those books…in those fairy tales.Don’t forget to tell them about Grandma Luz, how she gave me hope, the kind that led me straight to you..please tell them how we gave up so much, just so they could see a tree.━─━────༺༻────━─━
Three years later
The director of Astrolites—Minnie’s father, who had tried to flee—was captured with the help of Yuqi and imprisoned on Earth, along with Minnie’s manager, Yuqi.All the space dwellers were captured and imprisoned as well.The minors were taken and tasked with teaching the Terrans some of the knowledge they had learned during their time in space.Including reading and writing.Once some of the prisoners were released, they began building machines and robots, helping Soyeon fix suits and turning them into tools for searching for food and cleaning the toxic waste that plagued the land.Little by little, they could see changes in the Earth’s terrain. Now, they could roam the surface without mobile suits, though they still wore safety suits like the astronauts they had read about in books.But even then, some things hadn’t changed… Well, not completely.Because even in prison, Yuqi wouldn’t stop pestering Soyeon. She leaned against the bars of their cell as she grinned mischievously at Soyeon, who was busy trying to fix something with an old tool.“Do you think ‘Baby’ would suit me? Or maybe ‘Love’? How about ‘Honey’? Do you like that call sign, Soyeon?” Yuqi asked, batting her eyelashes.Soyeon just rolled her eyes as the prisoners collectively groaned in perfect sync at the sound of Yuqi’s voice. Here she goes again, her nagging voice was the kind of sound you’d expect to hear on a broken record playing on repeat—unwanted, loud, and endlessly annoying.“Come on, just answer her! Just choose anything to make her shut up. She's been pestering all of us for hours with that goddamn call sign!” one of the other prisoners grumbled, sounding like they were about to lose their mind.Yuqi flashed them a wink, then turned back to Soyeon. “See, they love me, they even support our love, don't get shy with them. Is ‘Baby’ too sweet for a tough girl like you? do you like Wrenchie? Bolty? Screwdrivery?”Soyeon sighed. “You’re still this annoying, even locked up? Can you even shut your mouth for a day?” Yuqi gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “But this is me professing my love to you!”Soyeon rolled her eyes as she walked away from the prison. As she rounded the corner, she unexpectedly bumped into Miyeon. “Huh? Why are you grinning like an idiot, Soyeon? And why’s your face so red? Are you sick?”Two years later, Yuqi was released and married her—Soyeon.…And three years after that they saw the first seed; the one that Minnie hid inside her necklace, a gift from Grandma Luz before she left for Earth. Miyeon had been holding it so tightly when it accidentally opened… along with a letter on how to grow that seed…it was an apple seed.Miyeon couldn't help but smile, thinking about how Minnie must've kept it close to her heart all this time.They spent countless hours researching, working with Yuqi and Soyeon, who couldn't stop arguing about who would be the first one to find the best soil to plant the tree. They even made a bet that the winner could name it. Each time, their silly little competition led them to different parts of the land.But in the end, it was Miyeon who found the perfect soil."See, Minnie? You're wrong. This isn't a toxic parking lot," Miyeon said, smiling to herself as she carefully buried the seed.…And years later they would see the first tree on Earth.Miyeon named it the one who save.“What’s the name of this tree?” asked an old man in a gentle voice. His white hair flowed down his back, and his smooth skin showed no scars. Yet, his eyes—clouded by time—betrayed a sense of longing. He was a spacian, standing quietly in front of the tree, lightly touching its leaves as his soft smile never left his face. “So this is what it feels like... too bad I can’t see it, what’s the name again young lady?”“Nicha,” Miyeon answered, staring at the blooming tree. The old man smiled before gently picking up the flowers that had fallen. “Nicha…” he whispered, as if savoring the name he hadn't said for a long time.Miyeon watched him confused as he gently touched the tree while tears silently streamed down his face. “I’m sorry, Nicha.”Who is he? Are all spacians crybabies? —she thought as she kept watching him carefully touch the ground to pick the small flowers. “Dahlia…” he murmured, his voice soft and distant.“Huh?” Miyeon blinked, confused. Did he hear her wrong? She had already said Nicha, not Dahlia. Dahlia was the name of her baby’s mobile suit.The man turned to Miyeon, gently handing her the fallen flowers. “Her favorite flower was dahlia, just like her mother,” he said. Miyeon stood there, speechless, unsure of how to respond at how warmly he smiled at her. “It’s nice meeting you, Miyeon.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a soft, lingering smile.The children began to gather around Miyeon once again after the old man had left — it was time for her daily storytime. She no longer told them tales of the old Earth, for they could now see it with their own eyes.Yet, Miyeon never stopped telling stories of things they couldn’t yet imagine, just as Earth once seemed like a distant dream.This time, she tells them stories about Minnie — the love of her life, the one who had given them hope when all seemed lost. Miyeon loved telling the kids how Minnie first came to Earth, clumsily pretending to be a Terran. Their acting was terrible — Miyeon and Soyeon had figured them out on day one, But Miyeon let Minnie keep up the act because it was funny — and, honestly, she lived for the way Minnie’s face turned bright red every time she slipped up and scrambled for an excuse.“She’d knock over a chair and be like, ‘Ah yes, Earth gravity is... unstable today,’” Miyeon snorted.The kids would burst into laughter when Miyeon described how the fierce, fearless Minnie would bawl her eyes out every time she watched Miyeon hop into a rusty old mobile suit to scavenge for food.“She acted like she could fight an army,” Miyeon would say, “but the second I flew off, she cried like I’d died.”But even then...Miyeon would tell them how Minnie dreamed of the life they had now — a world full of colour and music — because back then, everything felt like an endless grayscale survival game. She’d share stories of singing Minnie to sleep, or the ridiculous fights she had with Yuqi, who somehow the pink-haired wife of their music professor, Soyeon. The kids would gasp when they learned that Soyeon, the musical genius, used to be a master mobile suit mechanic and manager.“Yeah,” Miyeon would laugh, “She fixed giant robots by day and scolded me for breaking them by night.”So much had changed. The world was brighter, and life was... kinder. But Miyeon never stopped telling Minnie’s story... she never would.The cold ring on her finger — the one Minnie had slipped on with shaky hands and teary eyes — reminded her of that every day.Many years would pass after they saw the tree… they would finally see the colors of the Earth Miyeon told them.They would finally see the sea…
a water so clear you wouldn’t need a suit.But Miyeon…Miyeon would still need to wait for a long time—for the day she could see Minnie again.
~Fin