Day after Day past full of nothing but monotony in Castle Knightley. Krista spent her days all but trapped in her room with very little more to do than study about wattiez, with each lesson only reminding her that she was different. That she was untethered. Her only respite was her Grand Auntie.
Cassandra could probably plainly see how difficult of a time this was for her Grand Niece. She even took an extended leave from the Stellar Commission of Wattiez in order to stay beside her in this time of transition. Though what gave Krista life were those moments just before she drifted off to sleep where her Grand Auntie would tell her stories.
Stories of great warriors of old, warriors called knights from a place called Journey, who, without wattiez, fought valiantly for their kingdoms. In fact, seeing just how much Krista loved these stories, Cassandra decided that she would sneak her out the castle to spectate New Dawn's only untethered platoon, the Guardians.
The Guardians led by the magnificent Thelma were among New Dawn's greatest warriors in history regardless of their deficiencies. They were the subject of many of the other stories Cassandra told Krista to keep her spirits up, and she was dying to watch them.
Once she had the chance, Krista saw that they were everything she had imagined and so much more. They were strong, agile, and quick-witted, though Krista only watched them train, she knew only the battlefield they could not be underestimated. Thelma was particularly amazing to watch, not only a woman like herself, she was the only untethered general in the force.
She always did more than any other soldier and never asked of them what she wouldn't off herself. If they ran 10 miles, she ran 12. If they had to lift 100 pounds, she did 120. She always gave more than 110% she gave 120!
Eventually, Cassandra had to go back to the S.C.O.W, leaving Krista alone once again. Cassandra promised that she'd be back in a couple of months, but Krista had learned to know that any time her Grand Auntie said that she'd do something at some time, she probably actually meant way later.
Without her Grand Auntie to give her excuses to leave the castle, Krista had to find ways to leave herself. Luckily, her parents were always busy with some battle or some other problem, so Krista was pretty much left in the clear.
One day a Guardian called out to her, "Hey kid, why are you always coming to watch us train? You want to join us?"
It was a large man along with a tall woman, "Jim, what are you saying, we can't let a civilian train with us?"
The man just laughed her off, "Don't worry Kim, she's just a kid. Also, I bet she's one of us."
Krista didn't know what he means by that, then it hit her, "If you're asking if I'm untethered… yes, I am."
Krista siffled as she fought to hold back her tears. Then two of them walked over to her, when Kim spoke up, "You know what Jim, you're right! Little girl, you seem pretty capable, and you're one of us. Why don't you follow? You're more than welcome."
Krista couldn't believe this was actually happening. She didn't know what to say, so she nodded instead. The two of them chuckle and they walked off together. She would finally be able to meet with the Guardians, maybe even Thelma.
"Everybody this is Krista! She's one of us, untethered, so she has been coming out every day to watch us train, therefore today we've invited her to come train with us."
Krista was only five turning six, so the rest of the members of the Guardians were confused as to why these two brought a child with them, "Jim, Kim, I get what you two are trying to do, but are you sure she should be training with us, I mean look at her."
She was wearing her nonroyal garments, as opposed to those gowns my parents usually made Krista wear. Krista had even fallen into some mud on the way here, so they were also a bit dirty.
"I may not look it, but I've always thought you guys were the coolest, and I want to be just like you some day, so please let me stay!" cried Krista indignantly.
She really wanted to do this, and Krista didn't want anyone to stop her. Soon, a short man walked over to them. The medal on his chest that showed that he was a higher ranked officer.
"The general is out for quite some time, so why don't we let her train with us," he said, "I don't really see a problem as long as she promises not to get in our way." Krista looked up to the smiling man at a loss for words, "Well than miss, I'm Captain Lewis, would you like to join us?"
Her throat felt dry, so Krista stood there blankly. She hadn't actually expected a positive response, she just spoke from the heart. It wasn't until she received a gentle push from Kim that she could speak.
"Y-Yes!"
"Alright then!" Lewis replied, "All soldiers at attention!" Everybody immediately got up from their relaxed positions and stood up straight in neat rows, "Who are we!"
Everybody spoke in unison, "The Guardians!"
"What do we do!"
"This is amazing," thought Krista.
"Protect New Dawn!"
"The way they all seemed to act as one is incredible."
"Why do we do it!"
"Even Jim and Kim who seemed to be the laid back types were at total attention."
"Because even if we don't have wattiez, we have the power to do so!"
Immediately all the members ran out the building, and within 5 – 10 minutes they were all back wearing their uniforms and carrying large packs on their backs.
"Today is your lucky day, since we have… what's your name!"
Even when asking that question, Lewis didn't stop yelling, "Kri-shi!"
He looks at Krista closely for a moment. Krista had accidently sneezed while speaking, but she was far too afraid to correct herself, "Since Krishi is with us, today we're only going to do a half run, Krishi, just try your best to keep up!"
Immediately everyone faced forward and began jogging with Krista following close behind. After 10 minutes of running, Krista's lungs stated to burn, and her breath became ragged. Krista could tell that some of the other Guardians were slowing down for me, because every two or three minutes or so, whenever she began to feel like she couldn't move anymore, they would stop and do sets of pushups, sit ups, or anything that kept them in place. Giving her ample time to rest.
After five more minutes of running, Krista could barely move her feet, so she had to drag herself as far as she could take herself. Kim had decided to slow down considerably more than the others, so she wouldn't get lost in the woods they were running in. When they reached the camp, Krista was a sweating mess, apparently, they had only run one mile, four miles less than they were supposed to, Kim had even led her on a shortcut, so they'd get back faster.
About a minute or so, the rest of the troop had run the rest of the way. The others reached the camp they found Krista having a coughing fit and Kim was getting her water. Rather than help, the others paid them no mind and continued their training.
"Hey Krishi, dying happens to everyone, it's not living that really kills ya" Kim said as she rubbed Krista's back, "Go ahead and take a break."
Kim left to rejoin her unit, leaving Krista to wallow in her own misery, "I'm so useless, no wattiez and I can't even do this!"
Krista looked to everyone continuing their workout and knew that this wasn't the end for her, "I can't give up now!" she cried even though it felt like she was dying inside, "Who cares if I die, like you said Kim, I'll live how I want to!"