Chapter 29 - Reconciliation! Unleash the Graceful Beast within - Project Leo!

After the encore - Stage Back

"Gwenelle, that's a great piece of solo that you played just now!" Honoka simpered as she tried to shake hands with the young Duchess, but was met with a cold shoulder instead.

"Shut up!" Gwenelle scowled and tried to took a deep breath. "I tried my best and all I get is defeated by some...some kids!"

"We are not kids in any way! We spent months back in our world getting things right, just like you! Difference is we don't let our passion get over our head so much that we compromised everything around us; that's what you're doing now!" Mimi sighed.

"I burnt myself out, just like you before and..." Honoka nodded, but was interrupted.

"That proved that you have a physicality of a weak baby!" Gwenelle snarled.

Honoka sighed softly.

"Woah, easy there!" Mimi frowned. "We're trying to help you!"

"Helping? What you're doing are just acts that amateurs do!" Gwenelle frowned.

"Oh, now you're just dropping the soap." Mimi facepalmed. "There is more to passion then just 'I have to do it alone'; your mother is supporting you - doing her best to prevent you from burning out - and you're assuming your mother of being a dictatorian?"

Gwenelle shot back, "She's not my real mother if she keeps me in a leash, thinking that she can gain Sudbury from me just because she's still related to my dad somehow!"

"She's only trying to prevent you from doing a crash and burn!" Honoka warned. "You're not weak; she's just concerned about you!"

"I am a grown-up now, not a child!" Gwenelle shot back and shook her head. "She means nothing to me in the grand scheme of things when she can't even settle her own!"

Honoka shot out. "She just wants you to lighten up every once in a while - it doesn't means neglecting your duties, no! She just doesn't want you to be sick at times where crucial stuff matters!"

"Besides, it's not your fault that this divorce happened!" Mimi facepalmed. "Neither is it your mom's fault, or Yannik's!"

"I know what she is doing! I thought both my mom and dad in love, but I was wrong; she did it out of greed! She divorced my late father just so she could gain complete control over Sudbury through me while being in love with someone!" Gwenelle shot back.

Lieke stood still, taking a deep breath as she tried to register whatever Gwenelle was yelling about...

"She's not my mother if she keeps me in a leash!"

"She means nothing to me in the grand scheme of things when she can't even settle her own!"

"I thought both my mom and dad in love, but I was wrong; she did it out of greed!"

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" Lieke shot out, silencing everyone on the backstage room.

"Yannik...Yannik and I have never been in love before! I simply obliged your father's request under Queen Fidelia's order so that he can have an heir, just so that Nova can be a stable place with a stable Sudbury, and that Sudbury and Merva can still be connected as sister duchies! I never ever wanted to take Sudbury away from you, I just want you to know that it's no fault of yours and ours that it happened; I didn't have an affair with your step-father - it's just political obligation!" Lieke shot back and ran away, tears flowing from her eyes as she slammed the door outright.

"Lieke? LIEKE! What the hell, Gwenelle! You done and majorly f-ed it up!" Leona shook her head, sighed deeply, and rushed out of the room with Lucille to search for Lucille's twin.

Gwenelle's eyes widened. "She...she what? She...obliged? My father...initiated it? Am I...not hearing things?"

"Yes! Your mother married Yannik because it is the latter's decision to have Sudbury's heir and to strengthen the sister duchies' ties before he passed on; Queen Fidelia even passed the edict! What, do you really think that Lieke married Yannik out of power, and that she cared for you only as a pretext of gaining Sudbury?" Mimi sighed.

"She...she never showed that any remorse..." Gwenelle shook her head while attempting to find a place to sit, her eyes dazed by the sudden realisation.

"She's trying to hide that pain in hopes that you will see her as a mother who's strong willed and not whiny all the time!" Umi shot back. "Just like all sensible mothers would do!"

"And now you have caused her to step on the breaking point! Like my sister said, you have done goofed!" Mimi chided.

"It's not your fault, nor your mom, that your father died, Gwenelle." Honoka frowned. "But you didn't listen, and now you are hurting everyone around you - your mom included."

"Why...why didn't she just tell me...?" Gwenelle stammered. "I thought...she divorced Yannik to have an affair with my step-father because she wanted eventual power to Sudbury, that she didn't like us...that she only 'cared' for me to gain power over Sudbury..."

"You never gave her a chance, Gwen!" Mimi shot back. "You simply jumped the gun, letting your mother's divorce cling on you like a child demanding candy every single time, and smashed them together into one whole festival of hate!"

"While you could have just asked her and get it done over with, you let that hatred blind you to the truth! You kicked yourself into overdrive; learning every single subject in the hopes of numbing that pain in you, when what you're really doing is losing every bit of your own identity, failing to enjoy even the simplest joys in life - being with your loved ones - and ended up hurting everyone as you go along!" Honoka sighed. "It's also why you lost...you focused too much on the technical side of your talents and never put in the 'soul' needed to unleash that potential of yours!"

As the rest of Team Muse went out to find Lieke, both Honoka and Mimi turned towards a dazed Gwenelle, who was shaking her head.

"I guess she just needs time to digest those facts..." Honoka sighed softly.

"To think that miscommunication can cause so much friction between loved ones." Mimi nodded. "I just hope it's not too late."

"We have to find Lieke first!" Umi frowned. "Let her have some time to simmer down first...hopefully."

As they closed the door off, Gwenelle hung her head in shame while shaking her head.

"Is it...am I...really going too far? I never knew that thet divorced because...because they never loved each other in the first place; that it was for a political...reason." Gwenelle stammered.

Miniutes later, Second Floor Balcony - Party still going on.

"She's right here!" Leona reported as the search party arrived shortly.

"Where's Bennett?" Mimi frowned as she approached the saddened mother of Gwenelle. "Shall we get him over?"

Lieke stood looking over the balcony while taking steady, deep breaths in between small sobs.

"Don't call for my husband..." Lieke forced a smile upon her face, albeit a sad one. "It's my fault for not being assertive enough... don't let him take the blame too."

"Sis..." Lucille sighed deeply as she wrapped her arms around her suffering twin.

Team Muse, Clarte, Mimi, and Leona looked on, but Honoka stepped forward and, placed her right hand on Lieke's left shoulder, gripped it firmly, and gave her a hopeful gaze.

"We did our best...you did yours. It's up to Gwenelle now, Madam Lieke; I feel that she has hope still." Honoka simpered. "She did feel a bit surprised and regrettable about what you revealed when you burst out..."

"R...Really?" Lieke wondered.

"Just give her time to simmer down for now." Mimi sighed softly.

Lieke nodded silently and returned Lucille's heartfelt embrace while the others watched on, relieved that Lieke was not doing anything silly.

After the party

"My apologies for dampening your day in a time like this." Lieke bowed softly as she shook hands with the team members.

"It's no fault of yours, Madam Lieke; you did whatever you can as a mother should. It's no fault that you had to oblige Yannik in the first place; I'm sure Gwenelle will understand and eventually accept your help once in a while, hopefully." Honoka simpered as she returned the handshake.

"Don't let it get to you; I'm confident that you will do whatever it takes to prevent her from burning out. Heck, even Elodie supported you, that's good enough!" Mimi grinned.

"I'm sure we will find some way to talk to Gwenelle again someday, as the Queen of Nova, that, I assure you." Elodie simpered.

"Your support and blessings are more than enough, your Highness." Lieke bowed. "And thanks for the entertainment despite the small blip - the nobles there really love your display of talents and culture brought forward from your world!"

"On a lighter note, maybe I can teach you how to unwind next time, eh? Our way!" Mimi beamed.

"Or maybe teach you how to make some of our traditional cakes; hopefully be able to bond with you and your daughter!" Honoka cheered.

"Aie!" Lieke chuckled softly.

As Team Muse, Clarte, Leona, Mimi, and Elodie left for the castle, Lieke sighed wistfully and returned back to her house; it was close to evening.

Hours later...

Worried for Gwenelle, Lieke approached the former's door and knocked on it slowly - almost certain that her daughter would reject her, however.

"Come in, mother..." Gwenelle's voice was soft, yet sad.

Gwenelle's eyes widened slightly, yet managed to collect her thoughts as she entered the room where she saw her daughter sitting on a big, royal mattress. Gwenelle's legs straightened up as she held up a embroidered pillow close to her chest, embracing it like if it were a precious toy to her.

"That's...my gift for you..." Lieke wondered.

"You never told me...told me that your marriage to Yannik was just an obligation from him." Gwenelle shook her head sadly.

"I wanted to tell you everything, Gwenelle...you just didn't let me have the chance to do it." Lieke sighed softly. "But I can't blame you...I can never blame my beloved daughter."

"Do you really think...it's my fault?" Gwenelle asked slowly, her gaze slowly met her mother's.

"No matter what happened, Gwenelle...it is never your fault that this divorce happened. Your father initiated the arranged marriage in the first place; there was never any spark between us at all. What Mimi and Honoka said were true; Yannik did this just so he could secure an heir and to prevent Sudbury from going disarray without a Duchess or a Duke. He cared for Sudbury as much as he cared for you." Lieke simpered.

"Since it's arranged...does that mean..." Gwenelle looked down in shame.

"But never be mistaken, young lady...I still love you with every bit of my heart. I know you might mistake me as thirsting for Sudbury's power, but I will protect you from any danger, even if it is cost me." Lieke simpered.

"All the times I wanted to guide you, it's so that you can enjoy the little things in life eve when you are a noble - to prevent yourself from burning out. Yes...you have to be serious at times when you make decisions, that I cannot deny. But sometimes...being too passionate will cause you to lose sense of yourself - I don't think that's what neither Sudbury 's citizens would want, nor your dad, right? I'm just here to guide you, never to command you...Gwenelle."

"It's never your fault, dear."

"Mom..." Gwenelle blushed lightly as tears slowly streamed down her face.

"What is it...dear?"

"Just...just call me Gwen." she replied softly. "Please?"

Just as Lieke and Gwenelle were about to share a heartwarming embrace, a guard came rushing in, breaking up the tender moment abruptly with a horrid news.

"The miners in the mountains they are facing a massive influx of bandits; it's a bandit attack!"

Back at the palace - Kotori, Umi, Rin, and Hanayo were bathing.

"Ah shoot!" Mimi facepalmed. "I forgot my hankercheif!"

"Wait what? You forgot your embroidered handkerchief with a gun pattern sewn on it?" Leona looked on in amusement.

"Of course! It's my baby!" Mimi pouted as she recalled. "I guess I must have placed it at the backstage...oh crap!"

"Has anyone seen my winged motif that I used for the solo just now?" Honoka rushed in.

"Nope, didn't you have it on you earlier?" Kotori wondered.

"Oh great, you never go on for a few days without your clumsiness acting up again, aie?" Clarte chuckled softly. "I think it maybe on the backstage; you lots must have forgotten about it after the hoo-hah with Gwenelle and Lieke earlier in the day."

"We can teleport you there..." Leona chuckled softly when...

*RED ALERT! ADVENTURERS' GUILD DILATION ROOM RECEIVING DIMENSIONAL SATELLITE TRANSMISSION*

Upon the screen, the team present were shown to a fight between the Sudbury's guards and a bunch of bandits pouring in from the direction of a mountainside!

"Oh my christ..." Honoka frowned. "According to the geographical locations, Sudbury is located in places where natural resources and mountainous region lies...a feasible places for the bandits to attack Sudbury's workers and nobles!"

"Gwenelle and Lieke need our help!" Mimi frowned.

"Wait, without Elodie's permission?" Clarte asked.

"There's no time to ask! With such an ambush happening, given that it's red alert, it's gonna be bye bye Sudbury by then given Gwen's way of handling bandit situations!" Mimi shot out as she activated the teleportation system.

"Honoka and I will deal with em; sis, you instruct the others on standby for analysis, local teleportation systems, and mission control!" Mimi continued.

"Why would you wanna do that? Are you sure Gwenelle will accept your help?" Maki asked.

"We're willing to take a gander that Gwen isn't as bad as we think she's supposed to be." Honoka nodded. "She's just affected by the divorce; thinking that it's her fault and her assumption over her mother wanting control over Sudbury. If we never rescue her, there wouldn't even be a tomorrow for them!"

Maki then sat on her chair and readied her side. "Alright then, just give the word!"

"Projecting coordinates!" Leona nodded.

"Systems go!" Clarte reported.

"Signal updated!" replied Honoka and Mimi. "LET'S ROCK!"

"TRANSFER!"

"Activation: Project Leo."

"Activation: Project Palla."

Back at Gwenelle's home

Both Gwenelle, Lieke, and Bennett made their escape into the gardens, but were ambushed by a group of red bandanna-wielding bandits, some of them wielding blades, some of them wielding spears. The skinny ones wore grey clothing with cloth wrapped around their waists, and brown pants. The big ones, presumably the 'generals', wore brown-scaled armor and silver shoulder pads with waist belts meade of leather and fur.

"Argh!" We're not fast enough..." Gwenelle frowned. "Our other troops must be engaged on the other side..."

"Hehheh...So, you lots just partying away till the evening; got you lots where I want to after all ye nobles have gone! No one can protect you know after the skirmish we unleashed!" one of the bandit generals snickered.

"Don't think you lots can get away!" Gwenelle snarked. Our troops have dealt with yours last time, we can do it again!"

"Do you really think we did not spot your weaknesses?" said the general. "You have forced all of your troops to exhaust themselves rapidly through your excessive trainings, thinking they will work well! Ha! What we did last time was just mere strategic retreat; we come back stronger than ever! Now we sliced through your defense like a slice of bread!"

Gwenelle's eyes widened as she heard the sounds of her troops agonising screams; the exhaustion was real - her troops had indeed being stressed out over the past few weeks due to her 'seriousness'.

"You may as well give us your riches now; heheh...and the natural resources that you all owned in the mountains for that matter!" one of the mooks snickered.

As the bandits inched in closer, however...

"Big damn heroes always saved the day, eh?"

"Optic Shot: Lightning Burst!"

A swift bullet covered in lightning descended from the skies and crashed towards the ground, shocking the mooks with electricity and sending the whole party of bandits back several tens of meters.

Gwenelle, Bennett, and Lieke looked up and saw two back-to-back silhouettes revealing themselves upon the evening lights.

The girl who shot Lightning burst wore a black sleeveless turtleneck dress with black collars and armor platings upon her corset and belly area, a grey robe that extended all the way from her waist to her feet, armored greaves that covered all the way from her legs down, armored shoulder pads, and two mechanical earphones shaped as 'ears'.

The other girl wore what was to be a battle ballgown version of her Leo Constellation Costume. It was a battle ballgown with frilled armor layers upon her corset, a pair of armored shulder pads, a blue starry cloth filled with stars and constellation signs that wrapped around her waistlines, a starry robe, gauntlets with the same design as the waist, and boots of similar design. She wore a blue cap with zodiac embroideries, a gold pin with the Leo Sign, and a gold star robe pin with a ruby stone pinned upon her left shoulder.

"Fancy that, our clumsiness stumbled upon a whole bunch 'ol mooks for us to clear!" the gunslinger leapt off the rooftop and revealed herself.

"M...Mimi? Wait...that means?" Lieke's eyes widened.

"Honoka Kousaka, at your side!" a huge burst of fire engulfed her body as she leapt from the rooftop, performed a huge dive, and landed with her feet on the ground - her Project Programme, Leo, prevented any shock damage.

"M...Magitek?" Gwenelle's eyes widened.

"Alright, you all, we can do it! Open the Doors to our Dreams!" Honoka rallied, pumped her fists up in the air, and channelled her fiery determination via arcane magic. Lieke, Gwenelle, and Barrett soon felt a warm glowing aura engfing their bodies, coursed through their veins, and rippled through their swords - every noble were expected to have some sort of self-defense in fighting.

"Mom?" Gwenelle closed her eyes as she felt the warm glow rippling through her sword, restoring her confidence. "Shall we?"

Lieke simpered softly, as she nodded readily. "Let's!"

Benette's eyes widened. "Did something happened? Both of you suddenly..."

"It's a long story, dad." Gwenelle simpered as she gazed upon both Honoka and Mimi and gave a gaze of gratitude.

"Shall we?"

"Ya need to ask?" both Mimi and Honoka closed their eyes, concentrated their energies onto their Project Programmes...

"Honoka." Chris simpered as she approached the leader of Team Muse, a day before the final battle with the Ultimate Feral Beast of Hatred; a week before the Final Live - the entity that represented everything about the misguided hatred surrounding Japanese Idol Culture.

"Chris-sensei...thank you." Honoka simpered and bowed. "Leona-sensei, Alito-sensei, and you have held Team muse for nearly two years now, words can't describe how happy I am right now!"

"No...I should be the one who should thank you." Chris nodded. "Thank you for allowing me to learn more about Humanity's true worth. Sure...there's still much more to learn, and more at stake, but I am confident that I ain't gonna stop here. You gave me more reason to believe in Humanity, because of that passion that ignited within you - the passion that gave me the opportunity to continue living till the day I find the true meaning itself!"

Honoka nodded and gave a soft smile once more.

"We can face it...the Ultimate Evil of Misguided Hatred...right?" Honoka nodded. "It's scary, but...but I believe, I believe in my friends, my loved ones, my fans, Mimi, you, Leona, Clarte, Alito, Mom, Dad, Sis, and Team Muse!"

Chris simpered as she took out a glowing core reactor trinket with a ruby installed upon the reactor's middle; arcane flame 'tongues' slowly swivelled around the core, glowing like a young star ready to be released from the depths of the nebula.

"C...Chris-sensei?" Honoka's eyes widened in shock. "You...you mean?"

Chris nodded. "It's yours now - the Project Programme that I have spent a year crafting in your image...the passion that emblazoned inside you, properly channelled via this arcane reactor - a symbol of your ability to balance your passions without burning inside out! Project Leo!"

It was the very final battle, where her experiences with Team Muse, conquering her own fear, accepting her weakness and strengths of being adventurous, the lessons that she learnt about balancing passion, and her determination to protect the her loved ones, that gave rise to her Operational Mode.

"Life is full of wonder, oh yes it does!"

"Passion is nothing without control; nothing without balance!"

"With the bonds I held with my friends...with my mentors...with whom I treasured all the most..."

"With the determination that I wield, let me wield this passion so that I won't yield!"

"Let my passion led me through the light! Let my heart burst with fire, a star that ignites!"

"Face through my fears, soar into height!"

Project Leo's Operational Mode activated.

Arcane energy exceeding capacity - Processes up 500%

Body process up by 600%

Regeneration process up 600%

Latent abilities activated - Operational Mode abilities online.

Honoka's confident smile etched across her face as she spread her arms, and unleashed a huge burst of aura; solar prominences that engulfed Honoka in a nucleus formation, encased her in an orb of solar energy, and spread her arms outright as she burst out of the energy orb.

Honoka revealed herself in all her blazing glory - a sleeveless crimson armor corset that exposed her cleavage with a ruby jewel upon her chest, a midriff all the way down from her chest and end at her hips, and a pair of crimson inside sleeves filled with intricate gold patterns. She wore a flaming fauld that wrapped around her hips and down her thighs, a pair of stockings made out of fire with likes of pink surrounding it, and a ruby necklace worn around the exposed part of her crimson armor corset.

Her hair became longer as it waved around like the blazing fire, and her aura soon materialised a huge lion filled with arcane flames bursting out with energy; its mane erupts with the brightness of a hundred suns, and jaw so big, yet so proud. Its flaming legs had armored spikes and 'wings' that erupted from their joints, and a tail that spreads out wide and proud with confidence.

"Our souls intertwine, our passions are as one."

"I am Leo, the Heart of Courage, and the bane of Fear."

"Let my might guide you through, and our wisdom soar."

"Together they shall hear, our Kingdom's ROAR!"

"Awaken, LEO!" Honoka declared with gusto.

"It's nearly bedtime for you kiddos!" Mimi grinned and tapped her feet as a huge burst of electricity, fire, and ice surrounded her entire body. A huge aura in the shape of a mechanical goddess with magitek wings, a light blue battle ballgown, gauntlets, greaves, black sleeves, a white veil on her head, and armor corset implanted upon her chest. Two giant Gatling guns made out of pure arcane energy materialised from the aura's sides.

"I have used this thing's years ago...no need for explanation, yeah, Proiettile?" Mimi grinned.

"You and I are one and the same, how can I say no to this, eh?"

"I am the Goddess of Guns and Swords - Proietelle!"

"Rock this world alight, as we shall dance our night away!"

"Ready?" Honoka shot out.

"LET'S!" Bennett, Lieke, and Gwenelle nodded readily.

"CHARGE!" Honoka roared as she twirled herself, and spread her arms out wide, unleashing huge claws made out of fire that swept across the back row of bandits!

"Passionate Blaze: Inferno Claw!"

A huge trail of fire slashed the bandits almost immediately as they comically burst into flames, blasted back into a wall, crashed through it, and dunked into a mud pool that was just outside Gwenelle's home compound!

Three buffed looking bandit generals jumped in from behind to bash Mimi in, only to realise that she vanished when they thought they have caught her dead on!

"Hey! You guys looked like potatoes, got just the thing you need!"

The three generals could feel a tug upon their underpants as they turned their heads behind; Leona is holding the middle's underpants, with Proietelle holding both sides' underpants!

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, WEDGED POTATOES!"

*SNAP!*

"OWWWWWW!" the generals yelped like a whiny kid demanding candy from his parents and fell upon the floor on the butts...

Only to be snapped in their butts by three well placed Flare Trap - with teethes!

"Oh sh..."

*BOOOM!*

The three generals ran around like headless chicken as the intense fire seared them nice and tight.

Leona then manifested an electromagnetic field around her to power up her dual revolvers - Cielo and Terra - twirled around, pointed her guns - one over her head and another straight in front - unleashed a fan-shaped blast of electricity, shocked her fair share of bandits and bandit generals, and blasted them straight towards a wall!

Mimi then double jumped in the air, flipped upside down, concentrated huge amount of pink arcane energy upon her revolvers' arcane orb, executed a spin and shoot technique, and unleashing a huge of heart-shaped bullets that pierced through the bandits' armor and shot through their chest!

All at once, the Mimi landed on the floor, and blew a kiss towards them, taunting sultrily, and winked in return.

"Now there...who wants a piece of me?"

The love struck bandits blushed as the arcane energy from the bullets took effect; their eyes charmed with hearts as they turned against one another in return!

"She's mine!"

"No, she's mine!"

"I will get her, you guys stay out!"

"No, screw you!"

All at once, a huge pillar of flame came erupting from the floor and incapacitated them into comically charred bits!

Both Honoka and Mimi stood beside each other and did a brofist.

"Charmed!" Honoka grinned,

"As always; fragrance-induced arcane bullets gets the best out of weak-willed people." Mimi chuckled.

A pile of bandits soon sprang behind them!

"They never learn, do they?" Mimi grinned.

"Aie!" Honoka nodded and fistbumped Mimi - just as both turned around and lashed back at the ambushing troops!

"Ahhh...hot, hot HOT!" Bennett's eyes became squiggly as he ran around screaming and slashing hard like a madman upon the frantically escaping bandits!

Lieke and Gwenelle faced the bandits back to back.

"Mom, shall we?" Gwenelle nodded and simpered.

"Let's, Gwen!" Lieke grinned as the charged along with simple sweeping slashes that scorched the bandits' armor and sent the bandits running around, crashing upon one another.

"Looks like they can't handle the heat!" Gwenelle grinned.

"Gwen?!" Lieke chuckled. "You do puns too?"

"You did too?" Gwenelle blushed lightly. "Well...I did want to learn some from you in the past..."

"Let's give them what they want first, yes?" Lieke winked.

"Sure, mom!" Gwenelle grinned. "Make 'em hot!"

A huge pillar of flame slashes greeted their side of bandits as they twirled around and slashed across them, enjoying every moment of their bonding.

"That jewel of yours, you crafted it?"

"Of course, Gwen; I have been a big fan of embroideries when I was young, sis even gave me a beginner kits to begin with when I was fifteen." Lieke chuckled as she dispatched another group of bandits her way.

"I do want to learn it at some point...mom, can I? Together?" Gwenelle simpered.

"All you need is to ask, honey." Lieke nodded and simpered as both of them launched a backhand-offhand attack - with their flame-imbued swords - against a bunch of ambushing bandits!

"Passion Dance: Pirouette Slash!"

On the other side, Mimi whipped out her dual pistols, charged up loads of arcane energy, unleashed huge sweeping slashes, a flurry or arcane punches from her pistols, several back to back twirling karate chops, several uppercut slashes, and unleashed a huge assortment of bullets in different gun-kata poses top keep them up in the air.

"Passion Dance: Rising Peacock!"

Mimi then swiftly charged up large amounts of arcane energy, leapt into the air, supercharged her brain with intense arcane energy, spun around in a pirouette, and unleashed a barrage of fan-shaped electrical and fire bullets! Mimi then aimed down, launched a big shot of electricity and fire that imprisoned them inside a dome shaped barrier, and engulfed them in a huge explosion!

Mimi then proceeded to twist around to slam the mooks upon their heads, punched them rapidly in a fan-shaped area-of-effect while spraying them with bullets, locking arms with one of the generals while shooting several mooks over the shoulders, and smashing the general's skull with her right knee. Mimi then proceeded to twirl around, waving her arms gracefully in the air at precise angles to blast her enemies; including doing several karate chops that unleashed flurry of bullets, alternating between twirling around and spreading her arms out wide to shoot at precise angles, and even shooting mooks while holding her Terra over her head with Cielo extending straight.

Leo Form Honoka gave a confident grin as she faced her side surrounded by numerous bandits and generals - the mountains sure had aplenty going for it - crossed her arms, charged up her arcane energy...

"Passionate Blaze: Noble Roar!"

Honoka spread out her arms as she and the Aura of Leo unleashed a deafening roar, shaking the confidence of the surrounding bandits and their fellow generals; lowering their attack.

"Passionate Blaze: Azure Halation!"

Honoka then dashed towards the bandits and unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches according to Snow Halation's choreography - except offensive-based. Honoka unleashed several sweeping slashes with her magma claws imbued by the Aura of Leo, followed by a flurry of bullet punches filled with flaming balls of arcane energy, then swiftly turned around to strike more bandits from behind, leapt off the ground, and unleashed numerous flame towers with her legs upon the ground!

Several enemies managed to get in and slashed Honoka, but the reduced damage from Noble Roar - combined with Honoka's Leo Aura imbuing her super armour - allowed to brave the rain.

She then executed a few dance moves, weaving both her arms in the air , commanding huge streams of fire that were inflicted upon the surroundings to surround her, then spread her arms out wide as a huge arcane circle filed with the Leo Symbol and multiple runes emerged from her feet.

"Passionate Blaze: Leo's Pillar!"

The Aura of Leo roared as Honoka twirled around and weaved her hands up in the air, scorching the group of bandits that attempted to attack her with the brightness of a red giant, and recovered her wounds completely!

"Leo's Blaze: Calamity Inferno!"

Honoka focused all her arcane fire energies upon her fists and legs, swiftly blitzed between different directions, unleashing kicks and punches utilized from a hodgepodge of Team Muse's dance moves, and scorching her enemies with huge waves of magma balls!

Lieke and Gwenelle managed to stab one of generals with their enhanced blade and threw it to Mimi.

"CATCH!" they both shot out.

Mimi grinned as she turned around and unleashed huge roundhouse kick that sent the huge figure crashing over the window, and into a snooker that flung out numerous billiard balls straight past her. Mimi then swiftly channelled arcane energy, raised her Cielo in a tilted position, fired a highly pressurised arcane bullet that sent the billiard scattering, and smashed the enemies' skulls in with them!

"Shall we call it a night?" Lieke shot out.

"Let's!" the rest shot out.

As a last wave of mooks surrounded them and came charging towards them, Lieke and Gwenelle stepped back and faced their on share.

"Mimi, Honoka, it's all you!" Gwenelle simpered.

Both Honoka and Mimi nodded at each other; no explanation was needed.

Both Honoka and Mimi dashed towards a huge amount of mooks, engulfing them in their own auras as they transported them into another illusionary battlefield similar to Kotori's ultimate attack.

Honoka's Leo Aura flared up with utmost luminosity; its body surrounded by streams of fire that gathered itself into a Atom formation as she began charging up huge streams arcane fire upon her arms and Leo's mouth.

Both Mimi and Proietelle raised their arms up high as a pair of huge Gatling guns rose up from the ground, began taking aim at the mooks, flick the gear-shaped hammer to charge immense amounts of fire and lightning arcane energy. The electrical and fire arcane energy began glowing intensely, glowing brightly as it became denser; a huge arcane circle with runes materialized under her legs.

"Leo's Blaze: Inferno Blazer!"

"Ultimate Bulletstorm: Exceed Gatling!"

Huge streams of fire and electric bullets began pouring out of Mimi's Cielo and Terra; Proitelle's huge streams of elemental arcane bullets began following simultaneously, dancing surrounding the revolver's arcane shots. Honoka then followed up swiftly with a huge burst of concentrated blast of fire right up upon the skies in the shape of Leo, swiftly engulfing the Gatling and revolver bullets, and rose up towards the skies...

"Wonderful Rush: Meteorburn Omega!"

A huge crackling thunder rumbled through the skies as streams of magma, ashes, ice, and volcanic lightning danced around the arcane-infused meteors, and descended upon the mooks with relentless velocity. Huge bursts of magma wave and inferno pillars torched the battlefield soon after, sending them to their scorching defeat.

As both Honoka and Mimi synchronized their dance step in the form of 'Wonderful Rush , felt their breaths merged as one, and felt the arcane energy burning through their fingertips as they controlled the meteoric showers like puppeteers performing the greatest performances of their lives.

Within the last beat, both Honoka and Mimi spread their arms high up the air as a huge pillar of flame erupted from the ground, blasting the rest of the bandits upon their areas into oblivion!

Gwenelle and Lieke's side

"Shall we?" Lieke smirked.

"Let's torch em good!" Gwenelle grinned.

"Our reconciled bonds start here! Mother & Daughter: Prominence Flare!"

Huge streams of flame began dancing and slashing the mooks in an intricate display of swordsmanship between the reconciled bonds of mother and daughter; uppercut slashes, jabbed sashes, sweeping slashes, and even cleaves synchronised to perfection as flames began torching the heartless bandits up.

Raising their swords up the skies, with standing back to backs, the unleashed a huge pillar of light that scorched their share of enemies into oblivion; the deed was done.

The bandits were eliminated, the day was saved.

With a whiff of her hands, Honoka absorbed all the residue fires upon exiting their ultimate attacks, and healed the team members with her Leo's Pillar.

"Now that's a great workout!" Mimi grinned as Honoka embraced the gunslinger.

"Teamwork, that's how we roll and how we burn with our passions alight!" Honoka cheered.

As soon as their Operational Mode's aura dissipated away, Honoka stumbled and nearly fell upon the floor in a moment of weakness, had Mimi not caught her.

"Honoka! Miss Honoka, are you alright?" Lieke asked in concern.

Honoka nodded and managed a weak smile as she managed to sit up, with Mimi and Gwenelle supporting her.

"Honoka should be alright, she had been using Operational Mode for the second time." Mimi nodded softly. "Her main arcane weaponry should be ok after a day or two as opposed to three to four for first timers."

"What about you?" Lieke wondered.

"Have used it numerous times, each usage increases its recovery usage." Mimi explained.

Gwenelle looked at Lieke and nodded. "Let's bring Honoka back into the visitors' bedroom. Both of you can stay there for tonight!"

"Right...I am sure my sis won't mind!" Mimi nodded softly.

"It would be best for you both to stay in Gwenelle's apartment tonight, less any 'aftershocks' happen." Leona followed. "Good job out there!"

"W...What about the injured soldiers, are they alright?" Gwenelle wondered.

"Seems a bit surprising that you would be caring about the soldiers, huh?" Maki sighed.

"My Operational Mode's Leo's Pillar will heal anyone within a large radius...they will be fine soon enough." Honoka simpered.

"You don't have to talk much; just rest for now...okay?" Gwenelle nodded softly.

Visitors' bedroom - after all is said and done.

Honoka slowly opened up her eyes as her Project Leo rebooted to basic functionalities.; two days to recover main arcane usage for second-timers.

"Honoka!" Mimi wrapped her arms around the brunette tightly. "Thank goodness you're alright..."

"Silly..." Honoka chuckled softly. "Of course I would be alright, cha?"

"Well...that was surprising!" Maki wondered.

"Surprising what?" Lieke wondered.

"I guess she's surprised at how Gwenelle suddenly changes, you know? As if she realised the mistake she had pulled..." Mimi nodded.

"You're right..." Gwenelle sighed deeply.

"Huh?" the rest wondered.

"I...I really thought that my mother would only marry Yannik for the fame, money, and eventual control over Sudbury. I thought this is the only reason she would ever, EVER, divorce my late dad." Gwenelle shook her head. "I never expected for Lieke and Yannik's marriage to be only 'political arrangement'; that they are never in love to begin with and that it's only so that my late dad can have a heir - me - to look after Sudbury..."

She then continued, "After my dad died, I swore that I will do whatever I can in preventing Sudbury from being looked down upon. I obsessed myself with studying every single stuffs; economies, military, self-defense, the arts; everything that the nobles are expected to learn - you name it, I learned it...It's hard at first, but I just numbed it all, thinking that it will be worse if I failed."

"But at the same time...I denied Lieke the chance to even reason herself; my self-loathing...my grudge against the divorce that was actually just a political obligation to begin with...blinded me and denied her the chance to reason herself." Gwenelle shook her head, trying her very best to keep her tears upon her eyes. "That...and I eventually lost all my sense of reasoning about why I wanna learn those subjects in the first place; it eventually became just a matter of 'I do it for the sake of doing it.'. I begin doing it well...but everyone around me keeps saying that I lack a certain something; I just ignored them and placed myself into overdrive. I got so obsessed that I even risked my entire troops dying of exhaustion during g the last bandit raid...but at that time I just didn't care..."

"It's just so hard to admit one's own mistake...dammit..." Gwenelle looked away and lowered her head in shame.

"I will give you that, it's always a hard job to swallow one's own pride to admit one's own mistakes. But you shouldn't bash your head over that mistake either." Mimi simpered wistfully.

"You're only fifteen, Gwen." Honoka simpered. "There is still much more you can enjoy in life; more than enough time for you to understand your mom more now that you realised your flaws."

Gwenelle lowered her head, and eventually smiled.

"I guess I know why now..."

"Wha?" the rest wondered.

"My mom...actually cared for me. I just let the divorce affect me so much, when it actually is neither my fault - nor my mother - to begin with the first place. I just begin to assume that what my mom used to do is all just she could gain control of Sudbury, when in reality she's just trying to guide me; to prevent me from making the wrong decision while pursuing my dream to govern Sudbury in the first place." Gwenelle simpered.

"My daughter..." Lieke simpered. "Remember what i just said? It is never in my desire to have Sudbury; all I ever want is to guide you into taking it easy every occasionally. Heck, I'm sure that you're on the right track when you grasp the basic subjects so well, it's just that you are so obsessed with wanting to prove to me that you can govern Sudbury on your own that you began to lose touch with me. As a mother...it hurts too."

Gwenelle leaned her head on her mother's shoulders.

"Sorry...mom..." Gwenelle replied softly as she held Lieke in a soft embrace.

"I should be the one who should say sorry, for causing you so much trouble..." Lieke simpered.

"Haha..." Mimi chuckled softly. "See how heartwarming it is, Gwen? Told ya it ain't so bad after all! You ain't weak, you are very good in what you did, but sometimes you need to learn to take a step back and take it easy!"

Honoka followed, "After all, who's gonna be there for Sudbury if their precious Duchess fell sick, aie?"

"Yeah...thought so." Gwenelle simpered.

"The fact that the both of you have experiences in that department helped a lot, Miss Honoka and Mimi." Lieke bowed. "It's surprising just how one incident can help in developing one's own character; admitting one's own flaws and acknowledging their strengths too, yeah?"

"Hidden depths, they like to call it." Mimi simpered and blushed as she looked at Honoka, who blushed in return. "It's just like when I have to take care of Honoka after she fell down with a cold during the prelims of an idol singing competition."

"Really?" Gwenelle wondered.

"Mmmhmm...I was just like you before - running myself to the ground after exerting myself overtime just so that we can win the first Love Live tournament. Had it not being for Chris-sensei and Mimi...god knows if we will even be here helping Nova today." Honoka simpered. "Chris-sensei may have helped us in the general resurrection of Muse - picking the rest of us up, dealing with the Hatred Blob swarm from the corrupted Chains of Balance, and restoring my confidence - but it was Mimi who lay the foundation for my return - nursing me back to health whenever Chris is away reducing the damage every morning or so."

"And I nearly busted my entire shoulder just because I become way too passionate about firearms that I wanted to try the Big Guns first; talk about jumping the gun - literally!" Mimi chuckled sheepishly.

Gwenelle simpered readily as she embraced her mother once more - their feud finally over after a night of epiphany and realisations.

Honoka and Mimi simpered as they gazed upon the heartwarming scene; no more needs to be said about what is revealed to them, right in front of their eyes.

Their hands held together, softly, but surely, as they slowly drifted off to their dreams, their breaths intertwined, and a smile etched across their face.

"Come, my dear daughter...we have many to catch up on." Lieke simpered.

Gwenelle closed her eyes and gave a gentle smile. "Yes!"

*Record Scratch*

"Though...where is step-dad?" Gwenelle wondered in amusement.

"Bennett? OH NO!" Lieke shot out in amusement and horror.

(Camera zooms to a frantic Bennett running round the gardens frantically)

"HOT! HOT! VEEEEERY HOTTTT!" Bennett yelled in pain as he tried his very best to swing cool of the blade in the wind!

Arc II end!