A/N: I have never before done a story for Pretear. This is my first one ever. Now that I've cleared that up…I hope you like it. Please review and let me know what you think, and I will try to update promptly. Thanks!

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The Final Piece
Chapter One

Himeno let her head fall ungracefully to her desk, and groaned in pain. Since they had returned the Princess of Disaster to normalcy, Himeno's life had hit a flat note. Her services as a Pretear weren't needed, and while the Leafe Knights were still a constant presence in her life, things had become, for lack of a better word, dull.

Of course, she didn't ever want to actually have to fight again. She shivered at the very thought.

"You all right? Is something wrong?" It was Hayate. Himeno hadn't even heard him coming into the room.

She nodded with enthusiasm and displayed one of her best smiles. "I'm fine. I was just thinking is all…"

"Well, don't hurt yourself." Hayate laughed.

Himeno blinked. "Hey! That wasn't very nice!" She pointed an accusatory finger at the Knight of Sound as she jumped up from her chair.

Hayate looked like he was getting nervous, but he was saved by Shin and Mannen, who rushed into the room at precisely the right time.

"Himeno, can we go get ice cream?" Shin tugged at her skirt.

Himeno looked down to Shin, and then to Hayate. "Shall we?"

"Fine with me." He smiled. "The others are going to be jealous, though. They decided to stay in Leafenia today…"

Mawata was standing near the front door when the group came downstairs. Himeno smiled at her step sister and gestured to her friends. "We're going for ice cream and you have to come," she grinned.

The group, now with its extra member, made its way down the sidewalk. The ice cream parlor was just around the corner. Shin was talking with Mawata about Sasame's radio station when Himeno stopped dead.

She suddenly felt very cold. It was an odd and unwelcome feeling. Then came a feeling as if she had been punched in the stomach. She gasped, and fell to her knees. She knew what this feeling meant, although she couldn't explain it, and it had never been this strong before…

"Himeno!" Hayate yelped, dropping to his knees beside her. "What is it? What's wrong?" he demanded.

"I feel…but it can't be…" Himeno groaned.

"What?" Mannen, Shin, and Hayate chorused.

"There's…there's a demon larva nearby. It feels so strong. I don't understand."

Hayate's eyes widened in shock. "You're sure?" He waited for her to nod, and then turned to Shin and Mannen. "Take Mawata back to her house, and then quickly go and get the rest of the knights!" he commanded them.

They nodded and began to ran in the opposite direction.

"Himeno, come on!" Hayate grabbed her hand and helped her up. "Where is it coming from?" he looked around. "This way!"

They had reached an alley, and the demon larva they found there was already hatched. Himeno paled. "Where did it come from? Why didn't I notice it earlier?" she gasped.

"You idiot! It's going to kill you if you keep standing there and staring at it! Pret with me!" Hayate yelled, reaching out for her hand.

"But Shin isn't here!" Himeno realized. "How are we going to contain the battle?"

"For crying out loud, Himeno!" Hayate snapped in an almost whiney voice.

"All right!" Himeno relented, finally taking his hand.

"Okay," came Hayate's voice from inside her. "I know it's been a while, but we're both praying you're not as rusty as I think you are, aren't we? Just take out the core quickly. We have to figure out how this happened…"

"I'm not stupid, Hayate!" Himeno snapped as she aimed at the core of the demon. She missed, and had to jump out of the way of the demon's attack. From inside her head, she heard Hayate yelp in pain. "Sorry!" she gasped. "Are you okay?"

"Just shoot the damn core! I'm fine!"

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"Himeno, are you all right?" asked Goh as the group ran onto the scene. The battle had just concluded itself. Hayate emerged, and Himeno gasped.

"You jerk! You were hurt! You lied to me…are you all right?" she whispered.

Hayate's shoulder was bleeding. "It doesn't matter." He shrugged. "The important part is how or why there was a demon larva in the city. The Princess of Disaster doesn't exist anymore. Takako is back to normal, so I don't understand…"

"Maybe that's who we need to talk to?" Sasame whispered his suggestion.

"What?" Hajime gasped. "But…she didn't do anything! She's good!"

Kei nodded. "Yes, that is true…however, she may know how something like this could be possible. She was in that position once, after all."

Himeno frowned. "I don't want to have to talk to her about such things. We will certainly be opening up some old wounds…"

"I will do it," Sasame volunteered. "I'll talk to her, if it's all right with everyone else?"

The group nodded.

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"I let myself lose it. I let my power get corrupted, and so I became the Princess of Disaster…" Takako whispered. "It's very easy to travel the wrong path, you know…unfortunately, once you are there…" she shivered slightly. "I was such a horrible person…"

Sasame hugged her. "No, you're not. You've made up for what you did. I'm not here to crucify you…we need your help. The demon larva have resurfaced, and we can not figure out how. Last time was because the Princess of Disaster was released. The demon larvas were all associated with the Princess of Disaster…"

"I don't understand it, either…unless…" Takako's eyes widened.

"What?" Sasame worried. "What is it?"

"Unless there's someone else who has somehow managed to control the demon larva." She said finally. "It is possible."

Sasame nodded in understanding. "If that is the case, then I must warn the knights and Himeno as soon as possible…" he whispered. "We have to figure out who is doing this. We can not have another incident like the one this afternoon…"

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A/N: I know…kind of weird to leave it here, but I had to. It's short, but the next part is quite a bit longer. You'll see:D Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Please review!