15 days after Rose's birthday, Ashley woke up to the sound of rain hitting her window. Ashley looked out and saw that it was raining hard. No thunderstorm, though. Ashley looked and saw Ciel still sleeping. Ashley smiled a little and went in the bathroom to get in her clothes. Then she went into her closet and grabbed the other tiny box with the second opal necklace.
"Today is October 19th, also known as Ciel's birthday. Should I give this to him now?" asked Ashley in her head. Ashley nodded to herself and went over to Ciel. She stroked his cheek, which woke him up.
"Good morning." said Ciel. His voice was still weak.
"Don't try to speak, Ciel. I got you a birthday present." said Ashley as she laid the present on his lap. She helped him sit up so that he can open it. He did open it and inside was the other opal necklace.
"Thanks, Ashley. I don't know what to say." said Ciel, his voice slightly improving.
"Here, let me help you put it on." said Ashley. She bent his head a little so that she can put the necklace around Ciel's necklace. But then she noticed another necklace around his neck.
"Where did you get this one?" asked Ashley as she held the gold necklace in her palm. It was a locket, a gold heart.
"It was from Soleil. It's all I have left of her." said Ciel. Ashley opened the locket and saw a picture of Soleil. Ashley smiled a bit. Then Ashley put the opal necklace around Ciel's neck. The opal started to glow.
"You should know by now that Trickster is giving away his necklaces. Opal is your birthstone." said Ashley. After a few seconds, the opal stopped glowing.
"Ciel, you remember when we first met?" Ciel tried to nod, but couldn't.
The date was October 19, 2008. It was a windy day outside, and Ashley was raking leaves. Append, Blue Moon, Asymmetry, Eraser, and Starmine were helping her.
"Hey, Ashley, come here! Someone collapsed on the ground." said Blue Moon. Ashley followed her friend and saw Append, Asymmetry, Eraser, and Starmine gathered around a body. It was a boy, possibly a Len module, with blonde hair put up in a ponytail like all of the Len modules. He was wearing a black shirt with a yellow tie around his neck, along with a locket around his neck, possibly with a picture in it, and a white coat not fit for the winter weather. He was wearing blue shorts and white boots.
"I haven't seen him before." said Append.
"Me either." said Asymmetry.
"We should bring him inside. He'll freeze." said Ashley. Everyone else nodded. She carried the boy bridal-side style inside the house while everyone else followed. The boy woke up in Ashley's arms.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked Ashley.
"Your new home. I'm your manager now. I couldn't just leave you out here all alone." said Ashley. When everyone got in the house, Ashley put the boy on the couch. The boy looked around.
"This is your house now. So, tell me something. Why were you out there all alone in the cold?"
"I was trying to find this place, but I guess I just got tired and collapsed on the ground."
"Well, you're safe here. These guys are your new brothers. This is Kagamine Len Append, but just call him Append. This is Blue Moon. This is Asymmetry L, but just call him Asymmetry. This is Eraser, and over there next to him is Starmine. And I'm Ashley." said Ashley. The Len modules waved or said 'hi'.
"Nice to meet all of you. My name is Ciel. I perform Soundless Voice with my twin sister Soleil." said Ciel.
"I heard that Soundless Voice was a sad song." said Ashley.
"Ciel is French for 'heaven' or 'sky', right?" asked Blue Moon. Ciel nodded shyly.
"It's okay if you're shy, Ciel." said Ashley.
"I remember the day when I saved you from the cold wind." said Ashley. Ciel tried to nod again, but couldn't.
"Well, I better get downstairs. I'm hungry. I'll see you later." said Ashley as she gave him a hug and left the room.
"So, Ashley. How's Ciel doing?" asked Receiver.
"Still sick. But I managed to get him to talk a little bit. And I gave him his birthday present already." said Ashley.
"Wait, birthday present? Today is Ciel's birthday?" asked Jersey. Ashley nodded.
"Oh, now I feel bad. Because Ciel's sick. And I haven't gotten something for him." said Asymmetry.
"It's okay, Asymmetry." said Council as he patted his shoulder.
"Well, I'm done. I'll be going back to my room." said Ashley as she put her dishes in the sink and went back upstairs.
Ashley went in Ciel's room. The room itself just looks empty. Ashley looked at the fireplace. It's not full of life like it was whenever Ciel was in the room. And Ashley looked at the space where a piano used to be. The piano was burned down in the fire in Ciel's room last year. And Ashley promised to buy him another one, whenever she had the money. Suddenly, she heard noises trying to come upstairs. Ashley saw everyone trying to push a brand new piano upstairs.
"Hey, guys. Don't scrape the stairs. And don't wake Ciel up." said Ashley.
"Sorry." said Eraser.
"Remember Rolling Girl?" asked Dark. Ashley nodded.
"What about her?" asked Ashley.
"Well, her piano wasn't working. But Council went over to fix it. When he did fix it, Rolling Girl was like 'Just take it back to your house. I heard that Ciel was sick, and he loves to play the piano. Trickster told me about the fire that you guys had last year and that his piano was destroyed in it. It's okay. I'll buy another one'." said Polar.
"So, she decided to give her own piano to Ciel?" asked Ashley. Everyone nodded.
"We want this to be a surprise." said Punkish.
"But we kinda need help. Ashley, can you?" asked Asymmetry. Ashley nodded and helped Starmine, Punkish, Rose, Crane, White Edge, Stylish, Council, School Wear, Aitetsu, and Append with pulling the piano. The other 10 modules pushed the piano. Once they found the right spot, they stopped to relax their muscles.
"Phew. That thing was heavy." said Jersey.
"Yeah. So, when do you guys want to surprise him?" asked Punkish.
"How about tonight?" said Asymmetry.
"I like what you're thinking." said Yukata.
"Ciel is going to have the best birthday ever." said Jersey.
That night, everyone was hiding in different places in Ciel's room. Ashley went over to her room to see if Ciel was still asleep. He was, so Ashley had to wake him herself. She gently caressed his face, which woke him up.
"Ashley?" asked Ciel. His voice was getting better every time he talked.
"Listen, you have to come with me."
"But why? I can hardly move out of the bed."
"I can carry you." said Ashley. She put her arms underneath. One arm was holding on to his back and the other was underneath his legs. Ciel was holding on to her for dear life.
"Close your eyes, Ciel."
"Why?"
"Just do it. And don't let go." Ciel closed his eyes. Ashley carried him to his bedroom. The room was pitch dark.
"Okay, I'm going to put you down. Just lean on me if you have trouble standing up on your own." said Ashley. She put him down so that he was standing on his own two feet. Ciel leaned on her because he was having trouble standing up already. Ashley put a hand over his eyes. She then turned on the light.
"Surprise!" said everyone in unison. Ashley removed the hand that was covering his eyes.
"Ciel, you can open your eyes now." said Ashley. Ciel opened his eyes and gasped. There was a fire in the fireplace and the piano was put in place.
"You got me a new piano and fireplace?" asked Ciel to Ashley.
"Not just me. Everyone else helped as well." said Ashley.
"Thank you, guys." said Ciel as he hugged everyone one-by-one.
"Well, try out your new piano. We want you to play Soundless Voice." said Receiver. Everyone gathered around the piano. Ashley helped Ciel over there. But Ciel's hands were trembling.
"I can't. I'm sorry, guys." said Ciel. And then Ciel coughed up blood again.
"Oh, that's okay. Some other time." said White Edge.
"Guys, you better get to bed. I got to help Ciel to bed, too." said Ashley as she carried Ciel bridal-side style again. Everyone exited the room and Ashley went back to her own room and laid Ciel down on the bed.
"Thanks for the birthday surprise. I loved it, even though I can't play piano right now." said Ciel.
"Oh, you're welcome. Now, go to sleep. I have to talk to Trickster now. But I'll be back soon." said Ashley. Ciel nodded and went to sleep almost instantly. Ashley went back downstairs to find Trickster making tea in the kitchen.
"Ciel was happy for once ever since Soleil died." said Ashley as she sat down.
"But that doesn't mean that his health is improving. That's the reason why he can't play piano." said Trickster as he gave Ashley a cup of tea.
"That's the first time I've seen him happy ever since May. It's nice to have a change every once in a while." said Ashley.
"Yeah. So, have you decided on who to give the multicolored necklace to yet?"
"I decided on either Starmine or Ciel. Because they're my 2 favorites. But I can't really decide." said Ashley.
"You still have 2 months left to have your final decision." said Trickster.
"I know. But what does the multicolored necklace do?" asked Ashley.
"As I said before, I really don't know. But I do know that the necklace is the most powerful of them all." said Trickster.
"Well, I'll let you know by the end of November. I better get going to bed. It's getting late." said Ashley. She got out of the chair and went back upstairs to her room. She saw Ciel still sleeping. Ashley got in her pajamas and went to sleep as well. But it was then she noticed that she needed to rescue Phoenix before anyone knew that he was missing. Ashley quietly got out of bed and went over to Phoenix's room. She saw the time machine still there. Ashley pushed a button on it and it sprang to life. Ashley jumped in the time machine.