Nikki spent the next two days locked inside her apartment, basking in the joy that was her Valkyrie. She cashed in her sick days, she shut off her phone and she pretended that there was nothing to the world but four walls and Celeste. If the future would force her alien lover to leave the Earth, then they would exist in the eternal now. They held each other, made love with all the tenderness they could muster, and when their bodies were spent and exhausted, they continued their affections in hushed whispers:

Your eyes sparkle with the radiance of a rare, blue moon. Your lips call to me like water melted in the dead of Tendricide's darkest winters. I desire to drink deeply from them.

You are so much hotter than all the Nintendo princesses combined. And I'm including human!Midna on that list, okay? God, you boobs are so perfect!

When the outside world came knocking for them, it did so with the sound of explosions.

"Te nai!" They were playing video games when Celeste tackled her to the floor and covered her body like a shield. The life-saving lunge was flattering, but -

"Celeste, it's just fireworks…"

She took her Valkyrie to the window and pulled back the blinds. Brightly coloured starburst pops and fizzlers decorated the sky over the marina district.

"It's the fireworks festival," Nikki explained. "It's this annual cash grab by the city – they hold a big tournament of fireworks displays and it's supposed to get everyone down to the carnival grounds so they can spend their money on old, rickety rides, rigged games and junk food."

Celeste's eyes sparkled. "It looks incredible."

Nikki gave a sarcastic snort. Please, I've seen better carnivals in my video game- She held that thought. Fireworks. Carnival rides. A pretty girl inviting her to sneak away together. "It's just like the Golden Saucer," she gasped. "Oh my god we seriously need to go. Now!"

Celeste gave her a crooked grin. "I would happily accompany you this instant, chiletto." The Norai slipped behind her, bending down to nibble her ear and hug her bare chest.

"But perhaps we should first locate our clothes."

Down in the streets, no one batted an eye at Celeste's blue and white alien cocktail dress, other than to admire the detail in her costume. The Norai wore no make-up over her frosty skin, no covering over her silver hair and horns, and no one paid her any mind. Half the crowd was dressed as bizarrely as she – cowboys, skeletons, pirates and animal suits paraded past the alien mercenary.

After all, it was part of the celebrations. Everyone came to the fireworks festival in costume.

They stood at ground zero for the festivities: the Corkscrew Carnival fairgrounds, a year-long amusement park built at the edge of the marina. Celeste rotated on the spot, drinking in the extreme overstimulation of neon lights, carnival game stalls and whooshing roller coasters. Overhead, the tinny, organ grinder music piped through the loudspeakers was accompanied by a barrage of crackling fireworks. Every gunshot pop and burst of light sent the crowds cheering, but they only made Celeste grip her hand a little tighter.

"You okay?"

"Fine," Celeste assured her, but her breaths were far from a resting pace. "I realize they're simply decorative combustions, but my reflexes…"

Another explosive bang cut her thought short. Nikki wrapped herself around Celeste's arm to ground the alien.

"Do you wanna go back and grab a gun?"

That got Celeste to smirk, and she raised her empty hands in surrender. "No, my behavior is entirely irrational. You were right, Nicole: there is nothing for me to fear on this planet. I need not be an armed mercenary, or the Koru-Shikai. Tonight, I can merely be Celeste."

Then she put on that hungry grin that never failed to make Nikki shiver, leering deviously as she gathered her human lover into her arms. "Though if you feel unsafe, chiletto, you need only come closer."

"Celeste…" she whined, though her heart raced happily. They were in the middle of a crowd of sight-seers, after all. "They'll stare…"

"How could they help but stare when you appear so heated?"

Nikki groaned. "Okay, first of all, it's 'hot', as in you look so hot. Second –" She paused to reach on her tiptoes and peck Celeste's cheek, "You're gonna have to tone it down until we get home tonight."

Celeste purred and licked her cheek. No promises. "You look so desirable in those garments."

For once, Nikki had to agree. She'd torn her closet upside-down looking for something that didn't scream 'shut-in loser', finally remembering the little pink boutique bags that Audrey had brought last weekend. Inside, she found a beautiful, knee-length black dress with a wide collar. The fabric over her shoulders and forearms was sheer and see-through but it had full-length sleeves and a belt to bring out her hips. It was like an upscale version of her baggy sweaters, one that showed off the best of her curves and sent Celeste growling in approval.

And it came from Audrey. The diva had even picked out matching flats and a tasteful gold necklace carrying – get this – a Legend of Zelda Triforce pendant from a hobby shop! Nikki had been dreading a frilly Lolita dress with more layers and ribbons than a wedding cake; who knew that Smellrose would actually go out and buy something that made her look pretty?

"Nikki? And Celeste! Oh, hey guys!"

The pair turned to the upbeat greeting. "Tiffany?" Nikki exclaimed. "Oh, hey!"

The cheerleader fawned at the two. "Aww, that dress is super-cute, Nikki! And Celeste, you're a … blue, alien goat-lady? Oh, this is another video game character, right?"

"Yeah, let's go with that, your majesty." Tiffany had to be a Disney princess, what with that sparkling, white ballroom gown, gloves and delicate tiara. No big stretch for little-miss perfect. "We figured we'd come and check out the festival. As a date," Nikki grinned.

Tiffany glanced between the two of them. "Oh! So you're … well good for you!" It was an awkward congratulations, so Tiffany took her friend into a big hug to make her message clear.

"Sorry, you just ... Caught me off-guard, but you two look so adorable together. I'm excited for you. Are you happy, Nikki?"

"I'm so happy," she nodded. "And guess what? We had sex. In the shower!"

Tiffany just stared with a sour lemon face.

"Um, sorry. Too much?"

"Way too much," Tiffany confirmed. "Hey, Celeste? Can I borrow Nikki for a second? Got some girl talk to take care of."

Was she in trouble? Wanting to get to the bottom of this mystery, Nikki gave Celeste some cash to try a shooting gallery booth and let the blonde pull her aside.

"Nikki, I've been trying to reach you all week; what happened to your phone?"

"My phone? Oh, I kinda … shut it off. Yeah…" Since her heart-to-heart with Celeste, Nikki had eliminated everything that might disturb their love nest: phones, e-mail; even her digital alarm clock got unplugged. There'd be no outside distractions in their perfect world.

"Listen, I really need your help: Audrey, did she stop by your place last weekend?"

Thinking nothing of it, Nikki shrugged. "Audrey? Oh yeah, last Sunday she came by with this bullshit apology. I basically slammed the door in her face and told her to screw off."

She expected Tiffany to gasp at her boldness, to whoop and high-five her for slam dunking Smellrose like the piece of trash she was. She never expected the gentle blonde to grab her collar with a fury unbecoming of a princess.

"You!" Tiffany hissed like an alley cat. "You did this to her!"

"Me? Wait, did what?"

"We had an agreement: Audrey was supposed to call me after she went to see you, but she never did! I called, I texted; she didn't even come to classes the next day! I didn't see her until Monday night when I got home from cheer practice." She bit her lip. "Nikki, she was passed out on my doorstep."

Nikki's eyes went wide.

"She had these … pills with her. Anti-depressants," Tiffany explained. "I think she took them from her parents. I had to call an ambulance; get her to the hospital. Don't tell my dad; that's all I could get out of her. She's been crashing at my place ever since, just sitting in bed and staring at her phone." Fury. "What the hell did you say to her, Nikki?"

The shock over Audrey's state gave way, and Nikki shoved the blonde off her. Why was she getting chewed out for the bitch's lousy coping skills? "Why's it always my fault, huh? Ever since I came out she's been a god-damn bitch to me! I've done nothing wrong here!"

"You know, you can be every bit as mean as her, Nikki Ann-Marie. Maybe you don't have Audrey's mouth; maybe you don't say it loud like her, but when you bite, you're cruel. Even when someone's trying to help, you won't even stop to hear them out!"

The hurt look on Tiffany's face. Why did it make her thoughts retreat to that awful night with her love fairy?

"Nikki, you don't know what Audrey's been through these last months. What I put her through," Tiffany choked. "I know Audrey always puts on this tough front, but it's only because she's been hurt so much. Nikki, she needs to know that she can trust people. She needs you."

Silently, she digested all that Tiffany had to say. "I didn't … I mean," she started over. "Well… tell her that … maybe I overreacted. I guess."

"Tell her yourself," Tiffany snapped. "She's right there."

Even with Tiffany's finger guiding her, Nikki had to squint to hunt down … Audrey? No, that couldn't be the loudmouth party girl.

A raven-haired girl stood apart from the crowds, limp and lifeless as a scarecrow among the corn. Black. No highlights, no bows, no braids; just a defeated, dangle-off-the-shoulder black. No party dresses, no extravagant Lolita fashion, just a jacket, a striped top and a stained jean skirt from the aisles of a thrift store. This wasn't Audrey, this was a firecracker that had fizzled out into black chaff.

This new Audrey slumped through the carnival goers without makeup or glitter; not even a purse. Her eyes glazed to her cell phone, pausing only to take the occasional sip from a slushie cup. She wasn't lining up for games or jumping on rides or flirting with the available guys; just putting in the barest effort to stand, shuffle forward and tap at her screen.

A group of laughing middle schoolers bumped into her; Audrey's drink pitched over her shirt. Nikki braced herself for the F-bomb onslaught, but Audrey just rolled her eyes and dabbed at the cold stain with her jacket. She couldn't give a damn.

Nikki stepped close. "Audrey?" The raven-haired corpse stiffened, but turned. Her eyes were resigned and weary.

"Oh. It's you."

It was the shortest quip to ever pass through Audrey's lips. Nikki soldiered on.

"What happened to your hair?"

"Oh, this?" Audrey flipped her colourless fingernails through her black mane. "Yeah, it's my new style. I call it Zero Fucks, because apparently when you don't give a shit, everything good just falls into your lap." She retreated to her mobile game, grunting with frustration when she hit a game over. "These candy games are so god-damn cheap. How do you play this shit all night?

Wait … are you trying to be like me?

"Tiffany said you were in the hospital. That you ODed on Prozac or something."

Audrey raised a glowering eye. "Tiffany needs to know when to shut up. And it was Symbyax," she added. "Anti-depressant my ass. I still felt like shit after the first, so I kept going. Should've known. Never did anything to help mother."

She continued mashing violently at her phone, but her focus was shot. Stamping angrily, Audrey buried the phone in her pocket and fished out her cigarettes and lighter. An angry click, a greedy inhale. Nikki coughed at the smoke blown into her face.

"What're you even doing here? Shouldn't you be at home, getting finger-fucked by your perfect, dyke girlfriend?"

Nikki's cheek twitched."Why do you have to be such a bitch all the time?"

"Fuck you," Audrey retorted. "You roll out of bed looking like horse shit; you act like a fucking pill and you still get all these hot guys and girls lining up to drill you! Anton, Celeste! I just –"

Audrey's hands fell to her sides in defeat. "I work my ass off trying to look good, trying to be fun; trying to be somebody worth a damn! The one time I find someone, it turns out he's a fucking rapist! I fucking work for this shit, and I've still got nothing!"

Her burning cigarette stabbed the air like a knife. "I'm done. I'm done with everything! Fuck you and your fucking blind luck, Nikki Ann-Marie!"

Nikki's jaw dropped in disgust. "Luck? You're always Miss Perfect – perfect clothes, perfect skin!" Even with her cheeks and eyelids scrubbed of eyeliner and rouge, Audrey still looked naturally pretty. "You do all this stupid shit and smoke all these stupid drugs and nothing bad ever happens to you! You –"

They were doing it again – provoking each other. Yelling and hating and accusing. She could keep it going, Nikki realized. Keep up this burning hatred and rage at the shadow of a girl she thought she knew.

The thought made her sick. Sick and tired.

"Hey Audrey?" She exhaled. Blew out all her frustration and tossed out something new.

"Thanks," she grunted. "For the dress, I mean. It fits nice. And Celeste really likes it. Thank you."

Audrey took a long and thoughtful drag of her cigarette, saying nothing. Nikki wondered if she was even coherent enough to hear her.

"Whatever," she finally grunted, turning to walk away.

I tried. Wearily, Nikki turned as well, finding Tiffany and Celeste watching from the sidelines. Tiffany approached first, touching her shoulder in sympathy.

"Just go," Nikki sighed. She wasn't mad, not really. "She needs you more right now."

Tiffany nodded. She picked up her skits and hustled after the ruined Audrey.

Celeste came to her from behind and pulled her into a tight hug. "You did all that you could, chiletto. Some are so consumed by their beliefs, they can never be reached."

She said nothing, just lost herself as Celeste's fingers combed through her hair.

"Do you desire to return home, Nicole?"

Nikki shook her head. "No. We came here to have fun; she can't take that." Spinning around, a fresh sparkle overtook her eyes.

"C'mon, we're gonna get some cotton candy, and then we're gonna loot the shooting gallery booths." An alien sharpshooter and the Galaxy Arcade's light-gun master gamer. Those carnies wouldn't know what hit them! "And then, we're gonna ride the Ferris wheel, and we're gonna make out under the fireworks 'til they kick us off!"

Celeste gave her sexiest tiger growl. Hand in hand they set out to conquer the fair grounds. Nikki's eyes drank in the colourful fireworks, and her palms squeezed Celeste tight while she breathed the sweet and heady scent of -

Sugar? Nikki froze and darted her head. That smell... Like an intoxicating cocktail of all the sweetest chocolates, syrups and honeys, stirred together into an inescapable lure. She hadn't breathed that scent since -

There, ducking behind a corner booth! A head of pink hair, sparkling skin and - no, it couldn't be - crystalline insect wings.

Jessie?

She looked like Jessie, but the mischievous green eyes that winked at her belonged to Kyu Jones, the cop Rondarr attacked. She even gave Kyu's same loony grin, waving a handkerchief to catch her attention. "Hey, Champ! Hey, listen!"

Dear lord, was she quoting Navi from Ocarina of Time? What was going on here?

"Chiletto?" Celeste startled when she broke their grip, but Nikki paid no attention. A love fairy was calling to her. She had to get to the bottom of this!

"Chiletto!" Celeste's cloven feet clomped after her as she jogged deeper into the carnival. Nikki kept her eyes locked on Kyu, flitting ahead like a sparkling, pink firefly. Had she looked carefully at the costumed party-goers she passed, Nikki might have noticed certain girls dressed like police cadets take an interest in her wild running.

Each one locked on to her fleeing body like a security camera. Each one allowed Celeste to dash past them, and then each one marched in pursuit.