Hello! I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I've been really swamped. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pretear, nor the song enclosed in this chapter.
As Alara slept under the shade of the tree in Leafenia, her head pillowed softly on Sasame's warm chest, she had the strangest dream. She dreamed she was in Leafenia, alone. Well, she thought she was alone. She saw the shadow of a man from her past and turned away in fright, then arms slipped around her and she looked into Sasame's eyes, and he smiled before fading away, and she suddenly felt very sad. She sang,
"If there's a prize for rotten judgement,
I guess I've already won that.
No man is worth the aggrivation.
That's ancient history,
Been there, done that."
All of a sudden, Hajime, Shin, and Mannen jumped out from behind a tree behind her.
"Who'd you think you're kiddin',
He's the earth and heaven to you,
Try to keep it hidden,
Honey we're not buyin' it."
Alara turned away from them, hopping across some stones that were laid in the fashion of a stepping stone bridge across the water.
"No chance, no way,
I won't say it no, no."
The tiny knights of Water, Ice, and Plants appeared before her in one of Shin's gigantic roses.
"You swoon, you sigh,
Don't deny it uh, oh."
She turned away again.
"It's too cliche. I won't say I'm in love."
The knights shrugged to each other in exasperation.
Alara walked through a field full of flowers, and for some strange reason, typiis of every color flew by her in the shape of hearts. She hurried on.
"I thought my heart had learned it's lesson.
It feels so good when you start out.
My head is screaming 'get a grip, girl,'
Unless you're dyin' to cry your heart out.
Ohh oh ohhhh..."
She covered her ears as the knights shot out of a pool of water, sitting on a spurt of water; no doubt Hajime's power. Little Shin tried to offer her a white rose, but she turned away again, memories from her past causing her to shudder. They followed again, singing,
"You can keep denying
Who you are and what you're feelin'
Honey, we're not buyin'
Hon, we saw ya hit the ceiling"
Alara tried to drown out their voices.
"No chance, no way,
I won't say it no, no"
The knights wouldn't allow it. She saw a cloud in the sky sahped strangly exactly like Sasame, and smiled.
"Give up, but give in,
Check the grin you're in love."
Her smile faded, and she headed under the leafy cover of a grove of trees, and leaned against the bark of a weeping willow, thinking she was hidden.
"This scene won't play,
I won't say in in love."
No such luck. The trio were relentless.
"You're doin flips,
Read our lips,
You're in love."
She turned to leave the grove, but Goh appeared from behind a tree, not singing, but blocking her way.
"You're way off base,
I won't say it."
She tried to go another way, but Kei stepped from behind a tree, also not singing, but he, too, not letting her escape from Mannen, Hajime, and Shin's words.
"She won't say it, no."
She tried yet again to leave, but Hayate blocked her way, the same as the other two older Leafe Knights.
"Get off my case,
I won't say it."
Shin took her hand and led her out of the grove, then again offered her the white rose.
"Girl, don't be proud,
It's okay you're in love."
Alara smiled at the youngest Leafe Knight and at the grouped other knights who had come out of the trees and were watching her. She sat down on the grass, giving up at last.
"Ohhh...at least out loud,
I won't say I'm in...
Love..."
Mannen, Hajime, and Shin cuddled around her, their mission completed.
"Sha lalalalala...haaa."