A/N: Hi, it's me. I'm back again. Extremely late, as per usual. But I promise this story is not abandoned! I just update very very slowly...

Sorry about that.

I woke up early the following morning. It was still dark outside, and moonlight poured over my head in one long streak from between the curtains. I grabbed the alarm clock from the bedside table and squinted. The little hand was on...four. It was four o' clock in the morning.

I took a deep breath and let the clock slip out of my hands. It clattered to the table's surface as loud as gunfire. My eyes widened in surprise.

I laid back down and stared at the ceiling, knowing I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. My mind was already racing about this upcoming battle. It was quite likely going to decide the outcome of the war, so if we lost...?

There was a knock at the door. I blinked a few times, waiting a moment to make sure I hadn't imagined the sound. When I heard it again, I stood up to answer. Maybe Tanya couldn't sleep either. It brought me some relief that I wouldn't be alone until it was time to get up for the day.

I opened the door, expecting to see messy blonde hair and light blue eyes reflecting the moonlight, but was instead met with a pair of eyes the color of the ocean. I could see shadows of sleeplessness beneath them.

"Eric?"

He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "I know this is a little weird. Sorry for popping up in the middle of the night."

I shook my head and opened the door wider for him to come in. "It's alright, I was already awake. I don't think I can sleep anymore."

"Same problem here." After a moment's hesitation, he took my offer and stepped inside. "It's a common problem for me. I get choppy sleep before battles, especially if I'll be on the front lines."

"How many battles have you fought in?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Usually I'm on patrol duties. I've been in a few small-scale combat scenarios, but nothing like...what we're about to do tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I...I'll be able to handle it. It's just that I can't sleep." Eric began to pace, wringing his hands as he walked.

I nodded again, shutting the door as quietly as I could. "I understand. I'm sure most people have this issue - I mean, this is the most important battle of the war."

"I know. I'm trying not to think too much about that."

I sat down on my bed. "You should sit, Eric. You'll wake up whoever's below this room if you walk too much."

As if on queue, his next step came down on a loose floorboard. It let out a high whine.

I chuckled as he scurried over to sit.

"So, you're nervous, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, of course. But I trust Major Degurechaff."

He nodded. "Yeah. I do too. I'm honestly really excited to work with her. But at the same time...haven't you wondered what exactly we're walking into?"

"It's probably going to be the largest amount of Republican soldiers we've ever seen at once," I said. "And then some."

"It won't just be Republicans," he added. "They have their allies too. And there are probably going to be a lot of mages among them."

"Yeah," I agreed. "But even if our mages are outnumbered, remember we have Tanya. Major Degurechaff, I mean."

"I know. And it could be enough." He took a pause. I watched Eric stare down at his lap, eyes squinting through the dark. He was wearing his uniform pants but not his jacket or boots. The only things on his feet were white socks. I saw his fear in the way his shoulders were scrunched up tight, the creases on his forehead, the intensity of those bags under his eyes. I thought at first that I should be shocked by this. Eric was so confident back in flight school, and such a loyal fan of Tanya too. Now, not only was he looking more concerned than I'd ever seen him, he was doubting Tanya's ability to win this war.

But, at the same time, I knew I couldn't possibly blame him. He was trying to come to terms with the very real possibility of failure. Of death. He probably did trust Tanya to be a good leader, to do the most that she possibly could with the cards she was dealt. But no one can know for sure if someone's best is really enough.

I put my hand against his back. It was strong and solid. I realized for the first time how much bigger he was than me, how much more of an adult he was. It gave me a vague feeling of irony that I couldn't quite place. "I'm scared too," was all that came out of my mouth.

"Yeah."

"But...we're going to have to believe we can win. Because you have to believe it to make it come true, right?"

"Right. And failure isn't an option anyway."

"Right. And even if our best isn't enough..."

"Then what? The Empire falls? We're all killed in war?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Then at least we kept our honor, and everyone will know that we weren't too afraid to try."

Eric looked up from his lap, his head turning toward the window. I could tell he was looking out at the full moon. I saw the light dance over his face, washing out the darkness from under his eyes. "Well, yeah. I guess so."

When he left for the night, I pulled the curtains back until my entire bed was flushed with moonlight. Then I climbed back under the covers and propped myself up on my elbows so I could watch for shooting stars until daybreak.