This 'fic takes place after the last episode of Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, so if you haven't seen it, there may be SPOILERS. It's mainly about one of the cutest couples in anime that I've ever seen.

Uncertainties
A Saber and the Star Sheriffs Fanfic
by Fushigi Kismet



April, Fireball, Colt, and Saber Rider gazed at the Ramrod Equalizer Vehicle II.

"We've come a long way, haven't we?" April asked.

"Yeah," Fireball replied. "It's hard to believe that we've finally defeated the Outriders."

"I wouldn't say defeat, pard," Colt spoke up. "If I know anything, those slimy sidewinders'll be back!"

Saber Rider let himself smile a little at the vehemence in Colt's voice and in Fireball's next response.

"Yeah, but who'll be there waiting?!"

"Why, we will of course!"

"Star Sheriffs—"

"NUMERO UNO!" they all shouted, and laughed in comradeship.

Then they sobered. "But until then, what'll we do? There's no use for us." Fireball sighed.

"There'll always be a use for the Star Sheriffs! Whenever the people need us, we'll be there." April whacked Fireball lightly on the arm. "So cheer up, Fireball!"

Fireball put his arm around her. "I guess so."

She leaned into him and chidingly bopped him on the nose. "I know so."

Colt rolled his eyes at the couple. What a pair of lovebirds! "Well, I know what I'm goin' to be doing with all of this free time we've got."

"Robin and you should share some quality time together!" April and Fireball said in unison.

"Hey, how'd you guys know?" Colt said, a little taken aback.

"Spending time with her is the least you can do," April said, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, once she lets you out of the hospital, that is. Which might be never after the scare you probably gave her," Fireball retorted, chuckling.

"Hey, it's not my fault that I knew you guys needed me to save the day!"

"But it is your fault for getting hurt in the first place!"

"Well-!" But Colt found he had no reply for that and didn't want to argue the point for once, either. "You're right."

April blinked. "Do mine ears deceive me?" She broke into a mischievous smile. "Care to repeat those words, Cowboy, so I can record them?"

"N-No way!"

Fireball turned to look at their leader who had been unusually quiet. "Saber, what are you going to be doing?"

"There's some people I need to see." He thought of his parents and of the girl who had captured his heart, and smiled.

The other three Sheriffs looked at him quizzically and realizing that he had a goofy look on his face, he laughed sheepishly.



"So, April, what are you going to do, now that we know that the Outriders can't come back for a while?" Fireball asked later as the two of them walked together along one of the canals that still existed on Planet Yuma. Twilight was setting in and her face was shadowed as she replied.

"I think I should get back to my technical studies. Maybe take up tennis again on the side."

Fireball stopped short. "But, you've always said that the only school that you would ever apply to to advance your degree is on Planet Bismark. That's the furthest planet on the New Frontier!"

Still not looking at him, she answered in a low voice, "I know. It may be the furthest away but they've got the most up-to-date technology and their technological advances are really impressive! If I want to learn more, that's where I have to go. You understand, right?"

"Of course I do, April, but what about . . . us?"

"Well, I know you've probably been thinking about going back to racing, even with both Red Fury Racers destroyed. I . . . wouldn't want to stand in your way." Her voice caught, and Fireball's heart-strings tugged painfully.

"That's not what I meant."

The lightness in her voice was forced as she said, "You know what they say, Fireball, sometimes you've just got to know when to let go."

"Do you want to let go?" Pain stabbed through him as he looked at her standing so still. "Are you telling me it's o-"

She grabbed his arms before he could finish the words, her eyes filling with tears. "Meet me at the hanger bay tomorrow!" she cried, then turned and broke into a run.

"April! WAIT!" He started to run after her but stopped when she cried back.

"Just-Just wait for me!"

As he watched her disappear into the night he whispered to himself, "April, I'll wait."



When April walked up to the hangar bay the next morning, he was already there, leaning against the wall by the door.

They both looked awful. She wondered if he had spent the night there too look that tired. He wondered how long she had cried to have such red eyes.

"Good morning," he said weakly.

"Good morning."

He stepped aside as she keyed in the access code and the doors slid open. "April, what is this all about?"

"You'll see." She tried to smile. She gestured at the open door. "Well, go ahead, go in!"

Shrugging, he entered, then caught his breath as he saw it. "No way."

The original Red Fury Racer was parked in the center of the hangar bay. The lights shone on it and it seemed to sparkle. It shone, better than new and twice as pretty.

"April, how—?"

She cut him off. "I know how much you loved that car, so I drew up some plans and had a new one built to my exact specifications. They just finished it the other day. It's not the Red Fury, but it might be a little faster."

Fireball jumped into the driver's seat and sat there, savoring the feel of the steering wheel beneath his hands. "April, this is awesome! It's like I'm about to take the old Fury out for a spin!"

A ghost of a smile briefly lit her lips as she took in his boyish excitement. She drew in a breath. "It's my going away present to you."

Instantly, all the good feeling washed away and was replaced by a cold sick hollow in the bottom of Fireball's gut. "April?"

"Yes, Fireball, I made up my mind. I'm going to Bismark."

Fireball slowly got out of the car and shut the door behind him. "If that's your dream, don't let me stop you, but could I just say something first?"

"Go ahead."

"I'm grateful for your gift, but I'm not going to race anymore."

"Why—?"

He shook his head. "Just let me finish. After being a Star Sheriff and finding a cause to fight for and a purpose to my life, I've realized that I can't just go back to racing and pretend that nothing's happened. Things have changed. I've changed."

"Maybe we all have."

"Maybe we have. But April, there's one thing I'm certain has never changed and never will. I love you. And nothing will ever make me stop loving you. You can go to the ends of the universe without me, but I'll still be waiting for you when you come back."

"Fireball . . ."

"Do you love me, April?" he asked, his eyes searching her face.

"You know I do!"

His expression cleared and he shut his eyes. When he opened them again his brown eyes were more intense than she had ever seen them. "Then say you'll marry me, April."

"Fireball! I'm going to Bismark. You can't ask me to stay!"

He smiled. "I'm not asking you to stay. The solution's simple - I'll just go with you."

"But what about what you want? How can I take you away from your life here?"

"I don't have a life here without you. And what I want is to be with you."

"But what would you do if you came with me?" she protested weakly, and Fireball knew that what she wanted was what he wanted.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "I don't know. That part comes after this part. It'll be okay. We'll figure it out. Together."

"Are you sure?" she said, and he knew what she was really saying was, Please say this is real.

"More sure of this than anything in my entire life. So April Eagle, will you marry me?"

Gazing up at him with her sky blue eyes, and feeling the strength of the love that they felt for one another, what else could she say but, "Yes, of course, Fireball!"

Fireball pulled her into an embrace and as their lips met, all of their uncertainties vanished in the certainty of their love.