Key:
Italics: thoughts
Wishes Unfulfilled 3: Torment
"I see... so all that happened," Kaoruko listened to Tsubomi and friends with her hands on her chin, distressed.
"What should we do now?" Itsuki questioned, "We have absolutely no lead to Yuri-san's whereabouts."
"Do you know anything? Tikki? Plagg?" Erika asked.
Plagg gave an unhelpful shrug, "Who knows?"
Noticing glares flashed at him all across the room, Tikki immediately flew in front of him, "Please don't be mad at him, he's telling the truth. We really know nothing about any locations related to Hawkmoth."
"Yeah, not to mention this time is a special case," Plagg continued, "The victim he evilizes always just appear after the akuma flies away."
"So," Tikki looked at everyone with her big, adorable eyes, making it impossible for anyone to be angry at anything, "we really have no idea, I'm sorry."
"Then will we ever find Yuri-san~desuka?" Chypre sighed.
"I might know a way," Kaoruko smiled mysteriously.
"Really, grandma?" Tsubomi's eyes sparkled back to life as she heard that, "What is it, grandma? What is it?"
"Chypre, Coffret, bring us the Heartcatch Mirage," Kaoruko requested.
"Yes-desu."
Seconds later, the fairies returned and dropped the Mirage off on Kaoruko's hands.
"Though, what does anything has to do with the Mirage-desuka?" Coffret asked.
"I'll tell, but first," Kaoruko looked at the kwamis, "Tell me, how dangerous will this mission be, namely, how powerful is this Hawkmoth person?"
"He has the power to manipulate others," Plagg explained, "But only when the person's heart is in a weak state."
"He has no lack of that if Yuri-chan is with him. How good is he in a fight?"
"He usually stays out of them, and it's highly unlikely that this time will be any exception," Tikki deduced, "But should he join, he is presumably a very formidable opponent."
"Highly unlikely?"
"Yes."
"Cure Flower, why are you asking that-dechuka?" Potpourri inquired curiously.
"I was hesitating," Kaoruko replied simply, "Let's assume that Yuri-chan has indeed been captured by him, and disregard whatever rationale he had for not turning Yuri-chan into Eclipser directly, but we know for certain that he still has the ability to. That implies..."
"You were worried that we might have fight Yuri-san," Itsuki finished for her.
Kaoruko nodded silently.
"Tsubomi?" Erika grasped her best friend's hand.
Tsubomi didn't say a word, instead, she looked at her grandmother, expecting her to continue.
"The empty Eclipser alone could hold up against you girls and Ladybug and Cat Noir," Kaoruko proceeded, "should Yuri-chan be manipulated, I'm willing to wager she'll be much more powerful. If this Hawkmoth joins in as well, you'll be in great danger."
"But grandma, we can't just..."
"I know, and I have no right to stop you girls from doing the right thing, I'll let you go," Kaoruko gazed at the Heartcatch Mirage, "The Mirage can teleport all of you to where Yuri-chan is, if your emotional connection is strong enough."
Every face in the room brightened up.
"Then that means we can find Yuri-san~dechu!" Potpourri cheered.
"This is great news!" Tikki beamed, "Ladybug would be so delighted to hear this!"
Just as the Cures were about to enquire about how to use this power of the Mirage, a sudden radiance from the heart mark on Coupe's belly interrupted them.
"What now!?" Itsuki questioned.
"This!" Coffret exclaimed as he delved inside and took out the shining Heart Pot, "This is just like what happened when Potpourri was born!"
"Now!?"
"No, something feels different," Kaoruko said, she spun the turntable on the Mirage, the reflection of the greenhouse from the mirror changed into an image of the Great Heart Tree.
"What is that tree?" Plagg said, "It doesn't look edible."
"Stop being rude, Plagg," Tikki uttered.
Chypre flew to look closer at the Mirage, she gasped, "Cologne-san! Cologne-san is there!"
"Eh!?" the Cures crowded around the Mirage, "No way! It's true!"
The image now zoomed in on a male fairy, slightly taller than Coffret and had purple highlights instead of blue — Cologne. An eerie halo surrounded his body, but everyone pretended that they didn't see it.
"Cologne?" Tsubomi probed.
Cologne opened his eyes, first spotting his kouhais, "Hello, Chypre, Coffret."
"How did you come back?" Coffret whispered shakily.
Cologne looked down and shook his head.
"What?" Erika was confused.
"You... didn't come back, did you, Cologne?" Kaoruko spoke.
"No," Cologne closed his eyes, his body went translucent for a moment. Erika and Itsuki inhaled sharply, unable to withstand such cruelty, Tsubomi just looked away in fear, stifling a scream.
"Blossom, Marine, Sunshine," Cologne became seemingly tangible again, "it is thanks to all the Heart Seeds you've been collecting that I can stay like this, gratitude from the bottom of my heart."
He nodded politely, then he narrowed his eyes, his tone turning very solemn, "I'm sorry to ask of things the first time we meet but I don't have a choice. I implore you, please, help Moonlight.
"Shrouded with rue and grief, her heart is now gravely vulnerable, I can feel it. Please save her! The consequences would be irreversible if this goes on!"
The Cures nodded to each other before looking back at him, their eyes no longer filled with shock, but with determination.
"Rest assured," Itsuki said, "We'll definitely save Yuri-san, as Precures, and as friends."
"That's right!" Erika exclaimed, "We promise you!"
Cologne smiled, "I'm counting on you, Heartcatch Precure!"
"Alright," Tsubomi stood up, everyone followed, Tikki and Plagg hid in her purse, "let's go! Grandma, we're off."
Kaoruko nodded with confidence as her granddaughter and friends head out with the Heartcatch Mirage in hand, "Good luck."
And be careful, Tsubomi!
"Stop... stop this already..." Yuri muttered weakly. Despite having no injuries aside from the minor burn on her back, her arms were already shivering when she supported herself to sit up, let alone having the strength to stand.
"I feel sorry for you, Tsukikage-san," Hawkmoth feigned sympathy, "Watching your beloved fairy dissipate into ashes, scattered by the wind, not leaving a trace behind," he deliberately made his descriptions as detailed as the scene he saw from the depths of Yuri's sorrow.
"C-Cologne..."
"Worse yet, knowing that it was all your fault must've really been agonising."
"My fault..." she didn't want to allow herself to show weakness, but she couldn't help it, a few drops of tears trickled down her cheeks.
But she soon bit her lips and held them back, "No, I refuse to fall for your psychological tricks." She sounded fairly confident, but she wasn't at all.
Hawkmoth easily saw through it, "Oh really? Psychological tricks? No! These are the truths I learned from your memories. They already happened."
"No... these aren't true..." Yuri backed into a wall, leaning against it so that she could free her hands and clutch her head fiercely with them, "I didn't..."
"They are," Hawkmoth insisted, "and you need to accept this truth, you know?"
Yuri breathed rapidly as she trembled in fear, "C-Cologne... he..."
"It was an admirable act."
"E-enough..." Stop this! I can't take this anymore!
"He protected you."
"Sh-shut up..." I know he did, I know! And I'm forever in his debt for that, but still...
"He was like a brave little martyr."
Yuri panted, her palms now sweaty, but clutching onto her head more violently. Don't go any further! I don't want to remember! I don't want to hear it!
"He died for you, because of you."
These words hit Yuri like a rapier, impaling her and twisting her flesh, she screamed in horror, "N-no! It was my fault but... I didn't! I didn't..."
Her mind kept replaying that tragedy repeatedly, and each time, it convinced her a little bit more.
And eventually, tears came pouring out of her eyes, she muttered under her breath, shuddering, "He d-died because of m-me... I... I killed him..."
Hawkmoth showed a twisted grin as he witnessed Yuri falling into complete despair. He waited for a while before he continued, "You want to atone for your mistake, don't you?"
Yuri couldn't speak.
"That is exactly what I'm offering you here, Tsukikage-san, a chance to make up for your blunder."
This time, it seemed like she was finally willing to lend an ear.
"A chance to retrieve the irretrievable past, a chance to see him again..."
"I could... see him again...?"
"Yes. You could make up for your mistake, you could live a life of pleasure and contentment with your loved ones again, free from regret, free from sorrow, only love and happiness."
"... I could be... happy again..." Yuri repeated, then she suddenly gasped, "No! I won't fall for this!"
"Think about all the things you can do together again," Hawkmoth knew Yuri was in too deep already, despair was not something one could just fend off, "Think about all the time you could spend together, all the happiness, wouldn't it be a dream come true?"
"It..." she started, but something suddenly appeared in front of her — her Precure Seed.
She picked it up and gazed at it.
Hawkmoth converted another butterfly into an akuma, sending it straight at Yuri, it fused with her Precure Seed again.
"Consider with care, Tsukikage-san."
"I..." Yuri stared at her Seed, not caring about the butterfly that merged with it.
I will... atone for my blunder... no matter what it takes... I will see him again.
Purple and black smoke spread from Yuri's hands to her shoulders, her chest, it suddenly stopped.
I can't do this, this isn't right... Cologne would be ashamed if he sees me like this.
But the smoke proceeded a few moments later, completely engulfing the poor girl.
Hawkmoth cackled, "Eclipser, go get the Ladybug Miraculous and the Cat Miraculous, both of our wishes depend on them."
"Yes, Hawkmoth," Eclipser looked just like the last one, but now she had a voice and sentient eyes, though being filled with despair, they weren't much different from blank eyes.
I've come this far, now there's no turning back. I will bring Cologne back, no matter the cost.
End of Chapter 3
