Hibiki smiled at Kanade, and she smiled back. For how long had they been unable to do that, Hibiki wondered. Far too long, yes, even during their last days together at Majorland, before Hibiki set off, their glances exchanged nothing but anger and sadness. Not now; Kanade's smile said "let's fix this mess together", and Hibiki agreed.

They slept together the last night, and though their quarters were cold, Hibiki and Kanade were warm in their embrace. How Hibiki had missed that, and all the feelings that came with it. She missed kissing the top of Kanade's head as they wished each other goodnight, as she missed the feel of Kanade's soft skin, or the smell of her, or the way their bare legs touched and their fingers entwined as they held hands as they tried to sleep. Somehow they managed to sleep, though Hibiki had expected to stay awake all night, enjoying her lover, but she felt great peace and calm as they were side by side, and when she closed her eyes she dreamt they were playing together.

As dawn lazily began to shine, Hibiki felt a hand on her shoulder shaking her gently. She rolled to the empty side of the bed, and opened her eyes. Kanade was grinning, her hair unkempt, a great mess as it always was when she woke up. Hibiki loved that about her. She reached for Kanade, who helped her get up. And Hibiki did need all the help she could get, as she could only actually wake up so early in the morning if Kanade wanted. Were it Hibiki's choice, she'd get up only when lunch was about to be served, preferably by Kanade, and in bed.

"Will we practice today, Kanade?" Hibiki asked.

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry for waking you up," Kanade smiled, clearly not sorry at all, "but we should head to the music room before it's full of people and we can't practice in peace."

Hibiki nodded, though her first impulse was to just grab Kanade's hands and drag her back to bed. What good would it do to practice now? Yet she did not argue with Kanade, as she knew too well the pain of fighting, and did not want to feel that again.

As they walked through the Palace's corridors, hand in hand, they saw no one else but the two of them and the occasional guard that stood by a door or window, silent, always watchful. It felt so calm, much unlike how the Palace of Smiles usually was, with guests from all around, fairies playing together and great parties. Hibiki did not care much for the parties that were held every week, but they were always a chance for her to play for a larger audience. Even Reika did not seem very interested, as despite her greeting every guest with a smile, she seemed very bored those nights, as if she wanted to be somewhere else. It seemed that nobody else noticed that, and if they did, nobody dared to say a thing.

"What shall we play?" Kanade asked as she sat by Hibiki's side and stared at the piano keys. She held Hibiki's hand and kissed her fingers.

"We haven't played in a while, so how about we play something simple, like Fairy Fountain?"

"Fairy Fountain? Even children can play that one," Kanade complained and let go of Hibiki's hand. "We should play a song that's a bit more challenging, don't you think?"

"No, not really," Hibiki said, and Kanade frowned. Kanade opened her mouth for a fleeting moment, but said nothing. Hibiki knew she wanted to argue, to complain, but with great effort Kanade stopped herself from doing so.

And so they played together, with about as much harmony as a brick wall would have with a face. Kanade groaned in frustration at every missed or mistimed note, every mistake they made. Hibiki could only wond how poorly they'd play if they had chosen a more complex song.

"This is enough for today, I think," Kanade said, disappointed. "I'm sorry we weren't very good."

"No, I think we were good enough. We didn't argue."

"I guess you're right," Kanade said, but she sounded unconvinced. "Well, I have to go now," she got up. "Ellen said she needs to talk to me."

"Oh, really?" Hibiki said, surprised. Ellen did not really speak to anyone ever since they got to the Palace. Even when Queen Erika had asked her to sing, Ellen just made some excuses to leave and hide in her quarters. "What is it she wants to say?"

"I don't know, and to be honest, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you until Ellen said that it's alright if you know."

"I understand that," Hibiki said. Though Ellen was her friend for as long as she was Kanade's, she wasn't as open with Hibiki as she was with Kanade. Maybe it's because Kanade's usually more well-spoken and insightful than Hibiki, or at least that's what she believed.

They kissed each other and went on their ways. Even when Kanade turned to leave, Hibiki still felt her warmth on her lips, and wanted nothing but to call Kanade and embrace her again, yet again, and say silly sweet things to her. God, I'm so pathetic. Had they really been apart for so long that Hibiki would miss Kanade so much, and want her by her side all the time?

It was still so early, so lunch was not yet about to be served. In fact, that would take a while, far too long for Hibiki's liking. She did not want to play any more songs today, and she had taken far too many walks on the Palace's gardens. Maybe if Kanade was with her, but as she wasn't, they'd have to do that later. Inori, Miki and Falsetto had taken the fairies to a trip on the woods to the east of the Palace, and they'd only return by dusk. She looked for Bassdrum and Baritone, but they were nowhere to be seen. As Hibiki passed by Miyuki's office, she concluded she had nothing better to do and that perhaps she would like some help.

"Oh, hello, Hibiki," Miyuki said, and it seemed like the pile of letters on top of her desk was growing taller by the day. "May I help you?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could help," Hibiki said.

"Ha, I appreciate it, but Her Majesty did not receive any letters and unless you want to travel to Raventalon and then Solaris to deliver some messages, I'm afraid I have nothing to ask of you."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind doing that."

"Oh," Miyuki was taken aback. "I was only joking, I wouldn't even think of asking a guest to travel to Raventalon, half a world away. Do you even know where that is?"

"I know it's that old castle that Cure Black built ages ago."

"Old?" Miyuki giggled. "That's an understatement, Akane told me that castle is older than the Precure themselves!"

"How could it have been built before the Precure existed if it was built by Cure Black?"

"That's..." Miyuki was thoughtful for a while. "That's a good point, actually. I'm starting to think that Akane might have just been joking. Like that time she said the back of my head had turned green, and I spent a whole day trying to look at it."

"Yeah, probably..."

"Well, anyway, thank you, Hibiki, but I don't need any help today. I have so much work today, though, as you can see, I'm sure. Cure Marigold hasn't replied to my letters in two months, which worries me greatly, so I should investigate that as well."

Hibiki nodded, and she glanced at the letter Miyuki was opening. It had the Majorland seal, and a large signature that Hibiki recognized instantly: it was King Mephisto's signature, the one he wrote on the documents that made Hibiki and Kanade two court musicians at Operetta, the one he always used when he requested their services.

"Hm?" Miyuki noticed Hibiki staring at the letter. "You're curious about this?" Hibiki nodded. "Just a formality. I told King Mephisto of what happened to you, and I expected him to write a furious letter, but it looks like it was just a simple message that says he wishes you safety and that the culprit is brought to justice. Might be this wasn't actually written by him, but by his daughter."

Miyuki quickly put the letter in a drawer, once Hibiki looked satisfied with her answer, but she avoided Hibiki's gaze.

"And will the culprit be brought to justice?" Hibiki asked. She had almost forgotten that nightmare, even though she believed it was something she could never forget. Ever since Kanade had returned, even when there was a wall between them, Hibiki felt safe.

"Yes, I promise," Miyuki said. "To be honest, I think I know who the assassin is, but I'm trying not to act hasty and let the killer escape. I always act hasty, but March told me not to, and I'm doing my best."

"Can't you tell me who it is?"

"I'm afraid I can't. If the assassin happens to see you and notice the look on your face, the look of knowing, they may run away as soon as they can. And assassins can tell when they've been found, so I'm keeping this well-hidden."

Hibiki just nodded again, and turned to leave. When the door was half-open, Miyuki called her.

"Hey, Hibiki," she said. "Thank you for staying here with Kanade. We really need you for our attempt to become closer to our dear friends at Majorland. Our kingdoms have always had uneasy relations, but I believe that now that we have become allies and that Majorland has Precure as well, we are destined to a long and great friendship."

"Well, me and Kanade aren't really Precures, are we? I mean, we are, but we weren't touched by the World's Heart at the Precure Palace like Muse was."

"Oh, that's not important. There's still kindness and a beautiful heart inside you, or you wouldn't be Cures. I think that's more important than the light of the Precure Altar, is it? That's really just a formality, anyway. A pretty ceremony to make the transformation more grandiose. At least that's what Reik- I mean, Her Majesty, said. She always words these things so well, doesn't she? All I have to say is that I think you two are cool, ha."

"Thanks, Miyuki," Hibiki smiled. "What exactly do you need us here for, though?"

"Well, we'll have a big ceremony soon enough, and Majorland's royal family is coming, and it's very important to have you here before they arrive, so that you may practice some traditional songs we love here, yes, things like that."

Miyuki returned to her letters, and Hibiki let her alone. As she left, she could hear paper falling on the floor, a lot of it, and Miyuki moaning.

The great hall was very loud this afternoon, louder than usual. Had someone arrived, perhaps? It seemed like half the palace had gathered around to see what was going on, and Hibiki could see nothing. She got up on a small chair to try and take a good look, and she saw Reika talking to a tall purple-haired girl and by her side, a girl with long scarlet pigtails. Hibiki immediately recognized Yuri Tsukikage, the greatest Precure of these times, the amazing and powerful Cure Moonlight, who had disappeared not long ago. It made Hibiki happy to see that she was fine. Soon the crowd was dispersed by the Palace's guards, and Hibiki could get closer.

"Hello, dear Hibiki," Reika said. "These esteemed friends of ours have just arrived, Yuri Tsukikage, Cure Moonlight, as I'm sure you know, and Tsubomi Hanasaki, Cure Blossom, a rookie Precure."

Tsubomi seemed embarrassed at being called a rookie, but then again, she seemed embarrassed whenever she had to speak, or whenever someone looked at her. Nao had asked Tsubomi about her grandmother's health, and Tsubomi could do nothing but stutter until she calmed down and answered that Kaoruko was fine. Hibiki felt as if she should recognize that name, but she did not remember who it was.

For someone as admired, Yuri did not seem very impressive in person. Her hair was a mess, her clothes dirtied, and she kept looking at her own shoes, and when she was asked anything, she'd reply with a single word.

"As much as I am happy to see that you are well, may I ask what brings the two of you here?"

"T-The Desert Apostles attacked us, a-and I had to run away with Yuri. They wanted her. Sabaku and that dark Precure."

"Dark Precure?" Nao asked. "I heard tales of a Precure whose heart got twisted and rotted until she became a monster, but I thought it was only a tale we told children."

"Indeed it is," Reika said. "Might be they call her a dark, fallen Precure, but that's not possible. The World's Heart only chooses pure hearts full of goodness. She must be a different creature entirely."

"I-I don't know," Tsubomi's face grew redder and redder, and she kept saying she didn't know things. "All I know is that Sandstorm fell and the Desert Apostles took control of the Sunflower Aegis, and they have Marine and Sunshine..."

"I see," Reika said, unsurprised. "I had feared that this would happen someday, and we'll have to make arrangements to free Marine and Sunshine as soon as we can. As of you two, I'm so glad that you have not been harmed. I will find you the best quarters we can give you, Moonlight."

"Thank you," Moonlight spoke softly.

"May I ask you something, Your Majesty?" Tsubomi said.

"Call me Reika," she said, as she always did. "And of course you may ask what you want."

"Why did you have me, Erika and Itsuki replace Yuri as soon as she disappeared? Why did you not wait any longer?"

"Well, I don't want to sound too disrespectful, especially to someone I have such admiration for as Moonlight, but I feared that, perhaps, just perhaps, you might have turned traitor and joined your father. Family bonds are hard to break free of, I understand that, so I assumed the worst. It warms my heart to know that I was wrong, though."

Yuri said nothing. She just kept staring down.

"With that said," Reika changed the subject. "We will have a party tonight, in honor of your return, Moonlight! I understand you might be tired, but I promise you it will be a delight. I understand you don't have any proper clothing with you, so I'll have Miki find you a dress."

"Miki has left with Inori and the fairies, Reika," Nao said.

"Ah, yes, you're right. Well, someone will find you a dress, that's what matters! And of course, you too, Tsubomi. Oh, do you have a dress, Hibiki?"

"I do," Hibiki said. She never really had the chance to wear that red dress she bought at Fairy Drop, so she smiled at the opportunity. "Kanade will probably need one, too," Hibiki said, "as she came here in a hurry."

"You're right. Well, we'll sort it out in the end. Now, you must excuse us, we'll have to find nice dresses too," she said, and smiled at Nao. They laughed and left side by side, and in a minute a servant arrived to take Tsubomi and Yuri to their rooms.

The red dress still fit Hibiki perfectly. She looked at herself in the mirror, and then she looked at Kanade, who smiled in approval.

"It's a very beautiful dress, Hibiki," Kanade said. "Well, actually you are very beautiful. Also very late. Do you think it's proper to get dressed five minutes before an appointment?"

"Oh, that's enough time," she held Kanade's hand. "Let's get going," she said, and as soon as she started walking, she almost tripped. "Sometimes I forget that I'm awful at walking in heels."

"Hibiki," Kanade's eyes judged her. "I hope you do realize that when you are a Precure your outfit has heels, and you never complain."

"Well, I guess so, but that's different. I feel like I have greater balance, like I could stand on thin railing, and that my movements are more precise."

"Hm," Kanade was thoughtful. "You're right, I feel that as well. Greater balance and precision... Maybe that could apply to our music and harmony as well? We should try to play a song while we are transformed someday, I think."

Hibiki couldn't believe that Kanade was still thinking about that in such a moment; this was a time for them to relax and have pointless fun.

When they reached the luxurious party hall, they saw exactly that: people relaxing and having fun. Miki was the first to catch Hibiki's attention; she was by far the prettiest, her hair so perfectly brushed and braided, her long light blue dress gleaming in the moonlight that shone through the windows. She had only returned a few hours before, yet she looked better than everybody else. She was perfect indeed, Hibiki thought.

Then Yuri caught her attention, but for a completely different reason: her dress was plain, and she had already sat down at the large table in the center of the room, with Tsubomi at her side. She was uncomfortable being there, that was clear, and Hibiki felt so sorry for her.

"Not as many people as I expected," Kanade said. Indeed, there were only Precures there tonight, and Eas, who was there most likely at Love's insistence. Hibiki did not know if she could trust her, but it seemed like everyone else did, so she did not mind her presence there.

"It seems like Miyuki's not here," Hibiki said as she scanned the party hall. "The poor girl is probably still working hard."

Reika asked all the guests to sit down at the great table. She sat in the largest chair, almost a throne, with Nao by her side. They wore matching blue and green, dresses almost identical, but Reika's crown rested on her head while Nao only had a small tiara. It seemed obvious that it was Reika who had helped Nao get dressed, as she would usually only dress practically.

There were many unoccupied chairs, and Hibiki did not know where to sit down. If they were too close to Reika, Tsubomi and Yuri would be isolated, and they were uncomfortable enough already, but if they sat too far, that might be seen as disrespectful. Hibiki chose the seat next to Tsubomi, which was distant from Reika, but not so much so as to make it seem like she was avoiding the queen.

As they waited for dinner to be served, the Precures began to chat. Reika and Nao laughed together, Reika so quiet and elegant, Nao so loud and excited. Love, Miki and Inori tried to explain to Eas what the purpose of a party was, with little success. Tsubomi and Yuri, though, were silent, and Kanade seemed to have lost her enthusiasm rather quickly.

"Hey," Hibiki turned to Tsubomi in an impulse. The girl was startled, and she seemed about to run away in shyness. "Reika said you're a rookie, so are you a new Precure?"

"Y-Yes, but I swear I'm doing my best..."

"No, I'm not saying that! I'm a new Precure as well, or at least, compared to the other ones. And I've never been to the Precure Kingdom, so things are rather confusing here."

"Ah, I know that feeling," Tsubomi said, and Hibiki was glad she was talking now. "At the north everything is so different, it took me a while to get used to it, and even so, I still did not feel very comfortable."

There was a large flower on Tsubomi's head; when Hibiki asked about it, Tsubomi said that she picked it from the garden herself. Tsubomi explained what that flower represented in flower language, where it could be found, and how it smelled. Hibiki couldn't even pronounce the flower's name, and she found it quite impressive that Tsubomi could know something like that.

The food was delicious, though Kanade seemed like she wanted to criticize the cakes. Too sweet, she whispered, but Hibiki didn't care, to her it was delicious all the same.

"We've had so much fun," Reika said, "and it's still so early, isn't it? Perhaps we should find something that we all can enjoy together? Perhaps, if I may suggest, we might go to the music room and listen to Hibiki and Kanade's beautiful songs?"

"I-I don't know, we haven't practiced that much, and-"

"Oh, Kanade, it's quite alright, we won't notice every little mistake you make."

"Besides, I'm quite curious to hear you two playing together!" Nao said. "The prodigies of Majorland... Must be very impressive."

"Yes, we should listen to them," Miki said emphatically. "If you've never listened to their music, you should!"

It seemed like that praise was enough to convince Kanade. She smiled at Hibiki and agreed to play a few songs for the Precures.

"Hey, Hibiki, we can transform and see if it helps us with our harmony," Kanade whispered, while Hibiki just shrugged. As long as they were having fun together, she was content.

As Hibiki got up, the doors of the hall were opened with great force. Miyuki stood there, transformed, with soldiers next to her. Her face was stern, serious, in a way that Hibiki had never seen it before.

"What is it, Happy?" Reika asked her.

"Close the doors," she ordered the soldiers. "I have finished my investigation, and I have gathered all the evidence I needed earlier today."

"What?" Kanade jumped from her chair, and her eyes begged for an answer. "Who is it? What's the evidence? Who hurt Hibiki?"

"Calm down, Kanade," Hibiki pleaded.

Miyuki lifted her hand slowly, and then she pointed.

"No," Hibiki said. "It can't be."

She pointed at Miki. If Hibiki was surprised, Miki was completely baffled.

"You're wrong! You must have made a mistake, Happy!"

"Don't resist, Miki. You'll make it harder on yourself. My Queen?" Miyuki looked at Reika, who nodded without a word. "Arrest her," she told her soldiers, who grabbed her and took her away as she protested, to no avail, all the while Love just stared, horrified, eyes dead and empty.

This chapter is a bit late, I know, I've been very busy with college the past weeks so I've been overwhelmed by work and couldn't write a lot (and when I tried to, I felt bad about not doing schoolwork, heh), and I tried not to just rush a chapter just to get it done quickly, hence the delay. Anyways, thank you for reading and for waiting!