In the week following the downfall of Corazon and the destruction of the Bakunawa, Team Avalice find themselves busier than ever with public appearances. Thankfully, a chaotic seven days eventually comes to an end, and the trio finally get a day entirely to themselves at their Dragon Valley treehouse, a day they're talking full advantage of by sunbathing on the treehouse roof during the morning.
"At last, time to relax and do nothing," Carol sighs contentedly, half‑asleep in the warmth of the morning sun.
"Like every other morning for you then," Lilac teases.
"Don't tell me you're not enjoying our lazy morning," Carol retorts playfully.
"Do I have to break up your argument again?" Milla giggles, causing the other two to chuckle along before the trio falls silent, content to just relax.
Unfortunately, someone else has a different idea, the sound of their ATV engine interrupting the girls' relaxation.
Carol is the first to hear the engine, sitting up to see who it is. "Great: it's Spade," she growls.
"Want me to deal with him?" Lilac offers.
"Nah, I'll handle him," Carol decides, hopping off the roof and sliding down the ladder to the ground just as Spade parks at the base of the tree.
"Ah, good, you're here," Spade greets.
"What do you want?" Carol asks gruffly.
"To return two items to you that are rightfully yours," Spade explains. "I've been trying all week, but you're always out somewhere."
"You could have just left them on the doorstep," Carol replies flatly.
"Not these." Spade dismounts the ATV and unstraps a nondescript box from the rear. "I figured if anyone deserves to have these, it's you."
Curious, Carol accepts the box from Spade. "Thanks. You can go now."
Spade decides it's best not to hang around, especially as he can see a very annoyed Lilac descending the ladder, and quickly jumps on his ATV and rides away.
"What did he want?" Lilac asks, a little disappointed she missed the chance to give Spade a thorough berating.
"To deliver this," Carol answers, referring to the box.
"Are you going to open it?" Milla asks, joining her friends after Flutter Jumping down from the balcony.
Carol places the box on the ground and opens it to find a katana inside. Picking it up, she reads the inscription. "This is Corazon's sword! Why would I want this‽"
Lilac peers into the box. "I think there's another sword in there. Under the padding, maybe?"
Carol tosses Corazon's sword aside and lifts the padding. The instant she sees Coral's sword, her mood changes completely. With tears forming in her eyes, she lifts the katana out with great care, scarcely able to believe it survived the crash. "He… He found it…"
Lilac is speechless, but Milla isn't. "Coral's sword?" she asks.
"Y‑Yes," Carol confirms, her eyes fixed on her older sister's blade. "I thought… I'd lost it… in the crash… but Spade… that bastard… he only went and found it!"
Lilac finally finds her voice. "I guess this means you'll be using it from now on?"
"Absolutely not!" Carol exclaims. "Sorry, I uh… didn't mean to be so… aggressive, I guess," she apologises hastily.
"You mean 'passionate', and don't worry about it," Lilac assures.
"What are you going to do with it?" Milla asks.
"Mount it in a display case and put it somewhere as a memorial of my sister," Carol informs.
"That would be a better use," Lilac agrees. "What about Corazon's?"
Carol looks at the other sword. "By rights, I should get rid of it… I'll hide it away in the treehouse somewhere." She then turns back to Coral's katana. "Do you mind if we go get a display case now? I want to get this mounted as soon as possible."
"We don't mind," Milla answers, Lilac nodding in agreement.
"Thanks." Carol returns both swords to the box, then quickly takes the box upstairs and places it in the bedroom before rejoining her friends. "OK, let's do it to it."
"Did you steal that phrase from a cartoon?" Lilac asks.
"I don't think so?" Carol replies, unsure. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Lilac shrugs.
"Fair enough." Carol and Milla fetch their bikes, then the trio set off for Shang Mu.
Spade watches the trio depart from the treeline. "There," he grunts once they're out of earshot. "Are you happy now?"
"Yes," Sally answers. "Seriously, how hard was it to be decent for a change?"
"How does Danny put up with you?" Spade murmurs under his breath.
"He doesn't talk down to me," Sally answers.
"He also shows respect to his superiors," Spade retorts.
"Give me a reason to respect you, and I will," Sally counters. "Because right now, I see none."
Spade sighs in defeat. "Look, it's not easy being forced to keep secrets like that," he admits, his tone soft. "I wanted to tell them, I really did, but Corazon had spies at all levels, meaning if I did tell them, it would have led to the destruction of the Red Scarves."
Sally senses the genuine sadness in Spade's voice. "I wish you'd mentioned that sooner," she replies softly. "I didn't realise your situation was that difficult."
"While we've not interacted much, you should know me well enough to know I always have a good reason for what I do."
"Yeah… Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. And you're right: I should have explained earlier. Come on, let's get out of here."
"Yessir!" Sally salutes.
"Does that mean I've earned your respect?" Spade asks.
"To a point," Sally confirms. "Still gonna call you out on your bullshit though."
"I expect nothing less," Spade smiles.
After watching Spade and Sally depart, a two‑tone viridian wildcat emerges from the trees, scampers up the ladder, places a plain envelope on the table, then closes her eyes in prayer. My darling Caroline, you left because you were afraid you couldn't live up to the family name, only to prove yourself wrong in the most amazing manner. I am honoured and humbled to call you my daughter. I hope one day you feel confident enough to visit us; we all miss you terribly. May the Ancients guide you to your full potential.
Her task complete, the wildcat opens her eyes and looks around the den of the treehouse. This is a lovely place you've built for yourselves, and it's clearly an environment that allows you all to thrive. Coraline was right all along: the environment I created for you was ill‑suited, and it's to my eternal shame that I didn't realise until it was too late. With a contented smile, the wildcat departs and disappears into the trees.
A few hours later, Team Avalice arrives back at the treehouse with a brand‑new simple and elegant display case for Coral's katana. Once Carol's and Milla's bikes are parked, the trio heads up and into the treehouse itself. Carol then goes to retrieve Coral's sword from the bedroom while Lilac places the display case on the table. As she does so, she notices an envelope that wasn't there before. Curious, she picks it up and reads who it's addressed to.
"What's that?" Carol asks, returning to the den with Coral's katana.
"A letter for you," Lilac answers.
"I'll open it when we've mounted the sword," Carol decides. I wonder who sent it? Fan mail normally comes via Shang Tu Palace.
It only takes a few minutes to get Coral's sword mounted in the display case, and the case itself mounted above the chair Carol normally sits in. And once the job's complete, the trio stand back and simply look at the katana.
"Are you sure it's OK there?" Carol asks.
"It's where you want it," Lilac assures.
"Thanks," Carol smiles. "Where's that letter?"
"Right here," Milla answers, retrieving the letter from the table and handing it to her.
Carol looks over the envelope. "'Caroline'? I've not gone by that in years."
"Yeah, I found that odd too," Lilac admits.
Carol opens the envelope and reads the letter inside. It only takes a few seconds, but when she finishes, it's clear the words have had a profound effect on her.
"Are you OK?" Lilac asks, concerned.
Carol looks at Lilac, tears filling her eyes. "It's… from my mother."
"What does it say?" Milla asks.
Carol takes a deep shuddering breath, emotion threatening to overwhelm her. "It says, 'Coraline taught you better than I ever could, and her spirit lives on within you. It is my greatest and most humble honour to welcome you back to Yěmāo Shìzú. We all miss you terribly and hope you come to visit us soon.'"
"Wow," Lilac breathes. "I… I don't know what to say."
"You… don't… need…" Carol begins, soon finding herself unable to speak.
Lilac takes the letter from Carol, places it on the table, then pulls her friends in for a loving group hug.