New Goal

Fifteen years might have been but the blink of an eye in the vast universe, yet for Xia Ya La Flaga, a boy whose soul had been reincarnated from another world and who carried heavy memories and a grand determination, they had been an unforgettable, lengthy journey that utterly changed the course of his fate.

The beginning of his memories was not the warmth of swaddling clothes, but the towering flames from when he was three.

It had been a night that should have been peaceful, yet the Flaga family's luxurious mansion was swallowed by sudden flames.

Young Xia Ya had not even understood what was happening. He only remembered the choking smoke that left him unable to breathe, the scorching heat licking at his skin, his mother's hoarse cries, and the hands that had tried to push him out of the inferno before finally falling limp.

He had been dragged from the blaze by the loyal old butler, Alfred, who clutched a soot-blackened music box bearing the family crest in his arms. His mother had often wound it for him, and it played the only lullaby of his childhood.

But his parents, Al Da Flaga and his gentle, beloved mother, had remained in that sea of fire forever.

His older brother, Mu La Flaga, had already been a teenager attending training elsewhere and narrowly escaped disaster. Yet because of that, he also bore the immense pain of being unable to face the ordeal alongside his family.

Xia Ya knew that the fire had not been an accident.

Faint fragments of memory, combined with the unique precognitive intuition he had inherited from the Flaga Family, vaguely pointed toward one name—Rau Le Creuset.

A vengeful man lurking in the shadows, whose soul had been twisted by the suffering caused by his genetic defect, leading him to pour his hatred upon Al Da Flaga, the man who had created him, and his family.

What three-year-old Xia Ya had felt in that disaster was not merely the scorching heat of the flames, but a freezing, bone-deep malice that coiled around his senses like a venomous snake.

That sensation had been so clear, yet he had been so powerless.

He had only been a child, a toddler incapable of even ensuring his own safety.

He had watched helplessly as his mother was buried beneath a collapsing beam while protecting him. The final look in those ever-gentle eyes, filled with love, reluctance, and a trace of apology for failing to protect him to the end, became a scar in Xia Ya's heart that would never heal.

Again and again, he returned to that night in nightmares, reaching for his mother, only to wake amid heart-wrenching cries. He would stretch out his hand uselessly toward the empty room, his fingertips touching nothing but cold air and deeper guilt.

He hated his own weakness. He hated that he had lacked the power to save those closest to him in that moment.

That helplessness and guilt clung to his soul like maggots to bone, gnawing at him and shaping the prematurely mature, melancholy foundation of his personality.

After the disaster, the Flaga Family seemed to vanish from the social stage overnight.

The outside world only knew that Al Da Flaga and his wife had died in an accident, leaving behind their two young sons.

No one knew that Al Da Flaga, a legendary man renowned for "making the impossible possible," had long amassed astronomical wealth through his nearly supernatural business instincts and technological insight.

Even fewer knew that he had used the powerful intuitive precognitive ability passed down through the Flaga Family, something akin to that of a Newtype, to carefully select a group of servants with absolute loyalty and exceptional capability, arranging every possible escape route for his sons before his death.

Xia Ya and Mu inherited that enormous secret fortune.

Under the stewardship of the old butler Alfred—an elderly man of iron will and wisdom who had likewise been selected through the family's precognitive ability—they moved from their former residence into a secluded estate on Earth, far from the bustle of the world.

The place was heavily guarded. Every servant performed a specific duty, not only tending to the brothers' daily lives but also forming a tight protection network and information-filtering system. It ensured that the Flaga Family's enormous wealth and the brothers' very existence remained hidden from outside eyes, especially from forces that might covet the inheritance or bear hostility toward the Flaga Family, such as Rau Le Creuset.

Young Xia Ya soon displayed the special abilities in his bloodline.

His intuition was extraordinarily sharp. He could often sense minor dangers in advance, such as avoiding a vase about to fall, or knowing what the butler was going to say before he spoke.

More importantly, he could vaguely "see" blurry fragments of the future, as well as sense subtle fluctuations in others' emotions and their hidden intentions.

This ability was proven when selecting servants—those who passed Alfred's rigorous vetting and made Xia Ya feel "at ease" and "pure" were retained, forming this loyal and reliable core team.

Alfred strictly carried out Al Da Flaga's will, creating the illusion that the Flaga Family had fallen into decline and could barely survive on a small trust fund.

The days passed in an unusual calm. The vast estate was like a gorgeous birdcage: materially carefree, yet spiritually filled with the shadow of losing his parents and uncertainty about the future.

Xia Ya immersed himself in books and simulation training, greedily absorbing knowledge, especially history, politics, military affairs, and Mobile Suit technology.

He knew the world he was in—Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

This realization had awakened at the very beginning of his reincarnation, but what truly turned it into the determination to act was the choice made by his only family member.

Mu, meanwhile, took on the role of older brother and surrogate father, awkwardly yet sincerely shouldering the responsibility of caring for his younger brother.

The loss of their parents weighed just as heavily on him, but he forced himself to grow up quickly, using exercise, study, and care for his brother to fill the emptiness within.

The two brothers depended on each other, sharing their grief, fear, and hopes for the future. Within the quiet estate, they built a small world that belonged only to them.

Xia Ya could feel the heavy sense of responsibility deep in his brother's heart and his desire to protect him. That close bond became the warmest light in the gray memories of his childhood.

Time came to C.E. 68. Xia Ya was twelve, and Mu was nineteen.

That year, the world's balance was quietly undergoing tremendous change.

The conflict between the Earth Alliance and P.L.A.N.T. grew increasingly sharp. The seeds of discrimination and hatred spread wildly between Naturals and Coordinators. The news was filled with reports of conflicts and friction, while the clouds of war pressed down on everyone's hearts like lead.

The history of the Cosmic Era was irreversibly sliding toward the devastating war known as Jachin Due.

At this moment before the storm, Mu made a decision that shocked Xia Ya—he would join the Earth Alliance.

When Mu stood before Xia Ya in a brand-new reserve cadet uniform, his gaze carrying a determination beyond his years and a trace of barely perceptible sorrow, Xia Ya froze.

He looked at his brother's upright figure and the uniform symbolizing strength and order. In an instant, countless scenes from the "original work" flooded his mind: Mu piloting the Moebius Zero through brutal battles in space, his emotional entanglement with Murrue Ramius, his courage and helplessness on the battlefield, and... his tragic end, sacrificing himself to shield the Archangel from the Positron Fortress-Breaker Cannon.

"Why?" Xia Ya's voice trembled slightly. He could not understand.

They had wealth enough to live comfortably for a lifetime and loyal servants to protect them. Why choose to throw themselves into the coming bloody meat grinder?

Mu crouched down and gently stroked Xia Ya's soft blond hair. His tone was more serious than ever. "Xia Ya, this world... isn't safe. What happened to Father and Mother cannot happen to us again. The Flaga Family's wealth and power will ultimately be castles in the air if we lack the means to defend ourselves. I'm joining the Earth Alliance to learn the strength needed to protect us, so that... I can protect you."

Mu's words struck like thunder, shattering the fixed way Xia Ya had always thought.

Although he had always known this was the world of SEED, he had subconsciously treated it as a "story," a script with a known ending.

He sympathized with the characters' fates and worried about the tragedies that would befall them, but it had felt more like an advanced player watching an immersive film.

"────No. I don't want my brother to go somewhere dangerous."

He still clearly remembered how those impulsive words had nearly slipped out of his mouth beyond his control.

But now, Mu's choice, the resolve in his eyes to enter the flames of war to protect his younger brother, and the sense of responsibility revealed when he spoke of their father's wishes all struck Xia Ya squarely in the heart.

Mu was not merely the character "Mu La Flaga." He was a living person—his brother, a real existence of flesh and blood, with feelings, fears, and determination.

Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala, Lacus Clyne, Cagalli Yula Athha... behind every name he knew stood a life that could cry and laugh, love and hate.

Their lives were not predetermined scripts, and their fates were not unchangeable.

If he did nothing, this world would continue along the path preserved in his memories.

The Bloody Valentine massacre on Junius Seven would happen. P.L.A.N.T. and the Earth Alliance would erupt into all-out war. Countless lives would become cosmic dust, including his brother and, quite possibly, other characters he cherished.

The moments that had once moved him or filled him with regret before a screen would be reenacted in this world with real blood and tears.

No! He could not accept that!

He was not merely a reincarnated person. He was now Xia Ya La Flaga, a part of this world.

He possessed the Flaga Family's wealth, status, precognitive ability, and, most importantly—knowledge of the "future."

That knowledge should not become a tool for watching tragedies unfold. It should become a weapon for changing fate and protecting what he cherished.

He loved the world of SEED, not merely for its thrilling battles and profound themes, but also because after countless hardships came that comparatively "happy" ending—Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne together, Athrun Zala and Cagalli Yula Athha side by side, Mu and Murrue reunited... Though the shadow of war had not entirely faded, the peace and reunion the main characters welcomed in that moment was the "treasure" he most wished to protect.

He hoped this real world could also have such an ending, perhaps an even better one.

"Brother..." Xia Ya raised his head, his eyes gleaming with determination far beyond his age. "I understand. I'll wait for you to come back."

At that moment, twelve-year-old Xia Ya La Flaga truly awakened.

He was no longer an observer standing outside the game. He would become a player within it, a chess player capable of influencing where the scales would tip.

His goal became clear: use every resource and advantage at his disposal to intervene in the course of this world, avoid tragedy wherever possible, protect those he cherished, and guide the world toward the "happy ending" he desired.

And becoming a powerful Mobile Suit pilot, especially one who piloted the GAT Series units destined to play key roles in the early stages of the war, was undoubtedly the most direct path to entering the heart of the story and approaching its key figures.

As he grew older, Xia Ya's determination became ever firmer. He used the estate's resources to voraciously acquire every kind of knowledge and skill related to Mobile Suits.

Although Alfred did not fully understand why Xia Ya was so obsessed with Mobile Suits, based on his trust in the young master's precognitive ability and the Flaga Family's potential need for self-defense, he tacitly allowed and even secretly supported Xia Ya's actions, providing him with the most advanced simulation cockpit and relevant technical materials.

Xia Ya's talent was astonishing.

Within the simulator, his Mobile Suit movements were fluid and precise, his tactical judgments seasoned and decisive, and his rate of improvement far surpassed that of ordinary people. He could even conduct targeted adaptation training in advance based on his "foreknowledge" of the GAT Series units' capabilities.

At the same time, he closely monitored developments in the world situation through Alfred's intelligence network.

In C.E. 70, the Bloody Valentine tragedy occurred as expected. The remains of Junius Seven became a field of fragments under nuclear attack, while Siegel Clyne, chairman of P.L.A.N.T.'s Supreme Council, issued a declaration of independence and declared war on Earth.

War had finally erupted.

When the news arrived, Xia Ya's heart sank to the bottom. Though he had expected it, the reality of tragedy unfolding still left him suffocated.

He knew this meant the gears of fate drawing Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala, and the others into war had begun to turn. He did not have much time left.

Around the end of C.E. 70, Xia Ya had just turned fifteen. He believed the time had come.

He needed a legitimate identity to enter the military system, gain access to the GAT Series development program, or at least become a pilot as soon as the cutting-edge units were deployed.

He went to find his brother Mu, who was about to graduate from the Earth Alliance officer academy and receive his formal unit assignment.

"Brother, I want... I want to join the Earth Alliance too." Xia Ya tried to make his tone sound calm and mature, despite the anxiety and anticipation filling his heart.

He had prepared an entire argument: following in his brother's footsteps, defending their homeland, using his abilities to contribute to the Alliance, and so on.

However, Mu's reaction far exceeded his expectations.

Upon hearing Xia Ya's words, Mu first froze, then his expression changed dramatically. He objected almost immediately. "No! Absolutely not!" His voice carried rare sternness and a trace of barely perceptible panic.

"Why?" Xia Ya frowned. "I'm not a child anymore. I can protect myself, even..."

"Even what?!" Mu cut him off, emotionally grabbing Xia Ya by the shoulders. "Xia Ya, you have no idea what kind of place the military is! This isn't some simulation game you play! It's a real battlefield, where people die! I joined the military so you could stay far away from all this! How could you..."

Seeing the stubbornness and determination in Xia Ya's eyes that did not suit his age, Mu's tone suddenly softened. His voice caught, and tears even welled in his eyes. "Xia Ya, Father and Mother are already gone... You're all I have left. Promise me you won't go to a place like that. The Flaga Family doesn't need anyone else risking their life on the front lines. Staying here and living safely is the greatest support you can give me, and also... the best comfort for Father and Mother."

Mu rarely showed such vulnerability before Xia Ya. Holding back his tears, he tightly embraced his younger brother, as though he feared that the moment he let go, the only family member before him would disappear. "Please, Xia Ya, don't leave me."

That sudden plea, filled with such deep affection, struck Xia Ya's heart like a heavy hammer.

Every reason and argument he had prepared seemed pale and powerless before his brother's sincere tears and pleading.

He could not tell Mu the truth.

He could not say, I know what will happen in the future. I know you will face danger. I know the course of the war. I know the corruption and darkness within the Earth Forces. I know ZAFT will seize the GAT Series. I know the Neutron Jammer will plunge Earth into an energy crisis...

Such "spoilers," beyond the understanding of the era, would only make Mu think he was mentally unstable and might even bring unnecessary trouble and surveillance upon them.

More importantly, he saw the profound fear in Mu's eyes—the fear of losing his last remaining family member.

That fear was so real, so heavy, that Xia Ya could no longer persist.

He realized that forcibly enlisting would not only hurt the brother he most wanted to protect, but might also destroy the precious trust between them because he could not explain his motives.

After a long while, Xia Ya gently returned Mu's embrace. His voice was low and hoarse. "All right... Brother, I promise you. I won't enlist."

Mu's tense body finally relaxed. He hugged Xia Ya tightly, as if he wanted to knead him into his own body. Only after a long time did he release him, wipe the corner of his eye, and force a smile. "Good boy, that's right. Don't worry. As long as your brother is here, I'll protect you."

Looking at Mu's relieved smile, Xia Ya felt a tumult of conflicting emotions.

He had temporarily abandoned the direct path of joining the Earth Alliance, but that did not mean he had abandoned his goal.

After watching Mu leave the estate to report to the military where he would soon serve, Xia Ya stood alone before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant sky. His eyes became sharp and deep once more.

The direct path of enlistment had been blocked, but it was only one route to his goal.

He still had the Flaga Family's vast resources, Alfred and the loyal team's support, his own extraordinary ability, and knowledge of the future.

"If the Earth Alliance won't work, then... what about Orb?" Xia Ya murmured to himself.

Orb's ideals of neutrality and technological strength, particularly its investment in independently developing Mobile Suits such as the M1 Astray, as well as Cagalli Yula Athha's presence, made that path quite appealing.

Or perhaps he could use the Flaga Family's wealth to secretly fund or establish his own private armed force? Or even... contact the Clyne Faction within P.L.A.N.T.?

No, it was not time yet.

He needed a more thorough plan, greater strength, and a more suitable opportunity.

The GAT Series units would soon be completed. The Archangel would soon set sail. Kira Yamato's fate was about to be rewritten... He had to find a way to intervene at these critical junctures.

Becoming a GAT Series pilot remained his goal. Only the means of achieving it required new planning.

Xia Ya clenched his fist.

Fifteen years had transformed him from an ignorant reincarnated soul into a boy carrying a heavy past and a grand determination.

The road ahead remained shrouded in mist, and challenges would come one after another, but the flame in his heart—the resolve to protect this real world's "happy ending"—had never burned so fiercely.

He turned and walked toward the simulation training room deep within the estate. The screen lit up, illuminating his young yet extraordinarily resolute face.

A new course was about to begin. And Xia Ya La Flaga was ready to face the battle that belonged to him.

He would not only change his own fate, but also attempt to shake this world's predetermined course—for the people he cherished, and for the future he had resolved to protect. The wind had begun to rise.