Ch 2: Reawakened Talents
The next few days were the happiest that Bunny and Darien ever had. It was summer holiday so they could be together almost 24 hours a day. They only time they were apart was when Darien had to work. But that was usually at night, when Bunny could talk to her friends, or be with Rini, or sleep. Bunny's dreams were all happy and filled with the future. If she remembered the past it was only the good times. For whatever reason her sad memories had emerged, they seemed to have finished haunting her. Darien never asked her about the memories, but he could tell that they weren't bothering Bunny anymore. She was once again the cheerful, happy Bunny he love so much.
After a few days they heard about a competition that was being held in the park. A very famous violin player, Monsurie Backmen, was holding a competition to find a promising young violin player he would be giving free lessens to. The competition would involve playing 2 songs, of the competitors choice, in front of Monsurie Backmen and whoever wants to attend.
"Oh, free violin lessons with world famous Monsurie Backmen. That's so cool!" exclaimed Bunny.
Darien looked surprised at Bunny, "I never knew you were interested in playing the violin Buns."
"Yes, I've wanted to learn to play since I was young, but never could get lessons," Bunny admitted.
"It doesn't surprise me in the least that you want to learn. After all, you were the best violin player in the Moon Kingdom," Luna told them, matter-of-factly.
"What! I used to play on the Moon? No way, how come I don't remember?" Bunny asks Luna.
"Well, that was a whole other life time. You shouldn't think you can remember all of it, without some help. There were a lot of memories," Luna told Bunny.
"Yeah, it's sort of coming back to me. Even on Earth we knew the music you played, and composed," Darien remembers.
"Right, we had many concerts on the Moon. My mother was so proud of me, she just had to show me off. I remember those concerts, piano, flute, violin, singing, and dancing. Those were some of my happiest times," Bunny says dreamily. "The only problem was, that the people of the Earth were not allowed to come. Not because we didn't want them, but because of the stupid law that forbid communication between the Earth and the Moon."
"But, I would come anyway. I knew how much you loved those concerts, and the recordings we were allowed to listen to on Earth just weren't enough. I would be right up front, disguised," declared Darien. "I never told you, but I used to think that you would look right at me through most of the performance. Though I knew that couldn't be true. If your mother had found out…"
"Ah, but she did know. She was the one who told me after the first concert. She never cared that you where from Earth. Like me, she never understood why the people of the Moon and Earth couldn't get along. She noticed you, and recognized you from my descriptions. After she told me, I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. You were risking so much to come and see me. You gave me the strength to do my best," sighed Bunny. "You've always given me strength."
They returned home, discussing these newly awoken memories. However, Darien had made up his mind to surprise Bunny the very next day. He left for work earlier then usual, after suggesting that Bunny go and spend time with her friends, which she had been, somewhat, ignoring the past few days. Darien went over to Michelle's house to get some advice. Luna followed, suspecting what Darien was up to. If she was right she would have to talk to Michelle as well.
"Hello Darien. It's nice to see you. Please come in," Michelle said as she opened the door. "What brings you here?"
"Well, I've come to ask for some advice," Darien started. "Perhaps you've heard of the competition being held in the park by Monsurie Backmen?"
"Yes, I have. I've made plans to attend. I do love hearing aspiring young musicians."
"You see, Bunny, ever since she was little, has wanted to learn to play the violin. This competition has reminded us of the concerts that used to be held on the Moon, the ones staring Princess Serenity. And I was wondering if you would give Bunny lessons."
"Yes, I would love to help Bunny reawaken her old talents! I understand that she has already awakened her talents for singing, dancing and the piano," Michelle answered, looking very pleased.
"I was right! I thought you would be trying to help Bunny learn to play the violin," Luna came into Darien's view, though Michelle had known she was there all along. In fact, they had just exchanged a quick smile. "You know that if she is going to play she will need a violin." Luna and Michelle were sharing a secretive smile.
"You're right. And I think I have the perfect one for her in the music room. If you would just follow me please." Michelle then lead the way to the music room. Darien was looking from Luna to Michelle with a puzzled look on his face. It almost seemed like they had planed for this question for a while. "Here it is. The perfect violin for Bunny." With this Michelle picked up a very nice violin. A professional violin, with moons and stars engraved all over it, giving it a very elegant look.
"This is a really nice violin. Are you sure you want Bunny to have that? I would think you would want to keep one this beautiful," Darien claimed while admiring the instrument.
"Well, it is beautiful. And I wouldn't mind keeping it. However, it is not mine to keep." Now Darien was looking at Michelle with an even more puzzled look. "This violin belonged to the best violinist I have ever heard, and her… shall we say partner, asked me to keep it for her, for a short while."
"Then it's not yours to give. Wouldn't the violinist be upset if someone else uses it? Who does it belong to?" Darien was now taking a step back from the beautiful violin.
"Well, she would let others play it, from time to time, myself included. This would be… Princess Serenity's violin. Luna retrieved it from the Moon and ask me to take care of it until the Princess's memories of violin playing returned."
"That's Bunny's violin? Wow, she'll love it. You must have taken good care of it."
"Yup, that's Bunny's violin. And I think that once she has it in her hands she has a good chance of wining the competition," declared Luna.
After some discussion with Luna and Michelle, Darien carefully brought the violin home, after work. Bunny returned from Raye's temple just moments later. Darien just had time to hide the violin under the living room table.
"Sorry I'm so late. We had a lot of gossip to catch up on. Ummm... Why do you look like you have a surprise for me?" Bunny inquired when she had sat down next to Darien.
"Wow, you can read me like a book. Yes, I do have a surprise for you." At that Luna jumped into Bunny's lap. "But first, what do you think about going to the violin competition on Saturday? I hear Michelle is going to be there. We could make a day of it, with all our friends," Darien questioned, trying not to look to anxious.
"We were just talking about that at Raye's. We thought it would be fun, even invited Hotaru along, seeing how she is taking violin lessons from Michelle. By the way, how did you know Michelle was planing on going?"
"Oh, you know, just bumped into her. Had a little chat. Reminded her about the old concerts on the Moon. Did you know that she has always remembered them? Probably because she is so into music. She asked me to give you something, seeing how you are at the point of reawakening your violin playing skills," at this Darien pulled the violin case out and handed it to a very puzzled looking Bunny.
"Why, it's - it's… Why do I recognize this violin?" Bunny asked, rather puzzled.
"Come now Bunny. You mean to tell me that you don't recognize your own violin. The one your mother gave you before your first concert. Really now, you must remember that," Luna said looking almost as happy as Bunny.
"Of course, my violin. My mother had it specially made. Oh, were did you get this Darien?"
"Well, from Michelle, who was keeping it for Luna. I guess she knew you would eventually want to play again..."
"Yes, and I thought your own violin might make you remember some of your old talents," Luna chimed in. "Why don't you play us something?"
After just a moments hesitation, Bunny began to play a beautiful song. It was a song they knew from long, long ago. A love song that Princess Serenity herself had composed, entitled "Oh Starry Night." By the time she was half way through Bunny was not only playing it perfectly but singing and dancing to it as well. When she had finished she could hardly believe what had happened. Had she really just played and sung a song she had written in her past life? This was so unbelievable. She sat down again, extremely tired yet happy, next to Darien, who immediately kissed her.
"That was incredible. Just like on the Moon. Your mother would be so proud. You should enter the contest on Saturday. It says that it doesn't mater what your skill level is, as long as your two songs are each at least a certain length. And the ones you composed most certainly are," Darien said hugging Bunny encouragingly.
"Enter the contest? Do you really think I have a chance? I don't know if I could play in front of all those people, all those strangers," Bunny said, somewhat reluctantly.
"Oh, you can do it. It will be just like the concerts on the Moon. I'll be in the front row, center. Promise, only this time I won't have to be in disguise."
"All right then. I'll do it."
They went to bed and fell asleep perfectly happy.
"Rini! No, we're not your enemy. Why are you fighting us!" Bunny woke up with a start. It was another one of those memory dreams. Only, this time she was remembering Rini turning into Black Lady. She didn't understand this. First she was remembering Beryl taking Darien away, and now she was remembering the Dark Moon taking Rini away. She looked over and saw that Darien was awake. He looked concerned.
"Did you have another one of those dreams?" He inquired.
"Yes, only this time I was remembering Wicked Lady. I don't get it. Why do I keep dreaming about the past?" Bunny was getting rather worried, and looked like she was about to cry.
"Don't cry Buns. We'll figure this out. We always have," Darien rapped his arms around Bunny. He had to figure this out for her.
"Why don't we go to Raye's and see if she can tell us anything."
"Luna, that's a great idea. Raye should be able to tell us what's happening," Bunny pulled Luna it to a huge hug of gratitude.