Disclaimer: Last Song does not belong to me. Rather, it belongs to the composer of the soundtrack of Bravely Second, Ryo of Supercell. I do own the CD, though.
Chapter 7: One Last Song for the Shattered World of Flowers
The trail in the Norende Ravine was typically desolate and grim, but today, the road formed an exceptionally bleak atmosphere, threatening to choke any unfortunate traveler.
Agnès Oblige (it will be Arrior soon, she thought) stood on the ledge where she saved Tiz's life. Absentmindedly rubbing her ring, as if it calmed her nerves, she patiently waited for the person who called her. He contacted her that morning, requesting that they speak privately. Although Tiz wanted to join their conversation, there were chores to take care of and sheep to watch over. To ease his nerves, she had the location of their chat in the ravine.
What could Yu possibly want from her? Maybe Jean did something rash…
"Agnès!"
The echo from his shout resonated throughout the enclosed path, and the former pope turned around to find Yu running up to her, his breath ragged and uneven.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Agnès." She shook her head at his apology. "No, it is alright. Now, what do you want to discuss with me?" Her question made him uncomfortable, as he shifted hesitantly on his feet.
"Well, you see…"
As he explained the events that occurred the week before, the halcyon calm Agnès acquired from her peaceful days with Tiz gave way to feelings that she have not experienced since her journey as a warrior of light. Her eyes flickered from bewilderment to shock to guilt.
When Yu brought up Magnolia's egregious injury, a hand instinctively covered her choked gasp.
"Is she well?"
"She's recovering at the moment. I imagine she won't be up for a while." His tone was sharp and chilling.
She was silent for a moment. "Jean, what have you done?" Too wrapped up in her thoughts, Agnès did not notice Yu frantically attempting to regain her attention.
"Agnès!"
She slightly recoiled at his tone. Yu was uncharacteristically grouchy today; his friendly smile was gone, and his eyes reflected an icy blue rather than a comforting green. She humbly bowed. "My apologies."
The guilt caught up to him, and he scratched the back of his head, avoiding her gaze. "No, I'm the one at fault. It's just...I can't seem to make sense of the situation." The familiar determination associated with him is now back in his voice. "Please, Agnès, tell me. Do you know what I should do? Is there any way for me to understand?"
The retired pope fell silent again. Considering the two options she had, which one? To tell Yu about what Jean had told her would break her silent vow, but to keep quiet and risk more suffering and misunderstandings…
"Forgive me, but this is one promise that I will have to break."
"Yu," Agnès started, "I know of Jean's intentions."
"You do? Really?"
"Yes, but Yu, before I tell you what I know, I need you to keep an open mind," she warned. Her former protector nodded in understanding. "I will," he assured.
"Very well then. Yu, do you recall our conversation about lost memories?" He nodded again. "Yes, I remember. My first mission…" An instant of hesitation grabbed Agnès. It gripped her breath, momentarily crushing it to oblivion. And just as quickly as the panic started, it vanished.
It was comparably the same as when she debated over whether to break the crystal or go with Airy's plans…
"Agnès, are you alright?"
She weakly nodded back. "Ah, yes. I believe so." Feeling a bit better, she continued the conversation. "Jean remembers everything about that week. And he went out of his way to inform the people who were involved at the time." She realized those weren't the correct choice of words, for Yu glared at her with overt anger.
"So Jean thinks this doesn't concern us?!"
"Please temper your anger, Yu! I understand your concern, but you have to trust Jean on this! Please...let me explain." The last portion of her plead dampened his fury, and he gritted his teeth.
"Yu, let me tell you what he remembers."
Then, Agnès launched into a story that bewildered the captain of the Orthodox Knights. He first met Amy in those conditions? He had known what a demon was? The wind temple was attacked by some beast?
And yet, the part he paid the most attention to was to one name.
Magnolia.
Her name came up constantly. It seemed like no sentence was complete without her. And as Yu absorbed the information given, he felt a multitude of emotions.
Sadness, anger, surprise, doubt, confusion.
By the time she concluded her tale, Yu had his head down.
Agnès tentatively stepped closer to her former protector. He, in turn, spoke up. "Agnès, does this mean I met Magnolia before? That meeting Magnolia in Eternia was not our first?"
"Yes, indeed," she replied back.
There was a relapse of silence. The dim fog on the trail dropped in temperature, sending a shiver up Agnès's back. Yu still had his head bowed, processing his thoughts over this new revelation.
"So, Magnolia had been to Luxendarc before. Wait, does that mean…?!"
The former wind vestal tentatively stepped forward. He paid her no mind, and she breathed out an uneven sigh.
"Yu, do you believe me?"
Ignoring her question, Yu whispered in a daze, "Magnolia asked for our help before." Agnès grew worried over his musings. "Yu, what is the matter?"
"Back during our camping trip, when I fell unconscious, I saw some sort of vision. Someone asked for help, but I can't recall what that person looked like. If what you said is true, then…" He faced Agnès's taut demeanor.
"Yes, I believe you."
The sage's angel breathed out in relief. How wonderful it was for her to hear those words!
"But why won't Magnolia or Jean tell me about this?" came the anticipated question. He choked when he said it, as if he couldn't push his mouth to talk.
The conflicted look on his face stilled any motion Agnès was planning to make. Unable to come up with anything acceptable, she chose to relay Jean's reasoning.
"Jean truly did not want to jeopardize your relationship with Magnolia. He believes that the bonds you forged with her should not be broken by his doubts. And yet…"
Yu picked up where she left off. "And yet, Jean needed answers. He confronted her that night, but before things grew out of hand, I intervened. Had I not gone there..." He once again had his head down. Agnès shook her head, distracting him before he could indulge in such thoughts.
"That does not matter now. What matters now is how to properly approach this." She halted her train of thought. Something about the situation bothered her. It hasn't come up until now, but the nagging feeling inside of her is stronger than ever.
If Jean's suspicions are right, then her behavior does not make sense.
"Yu, did Magnolia...recognize you when she landed in Eternia?" He shook his head without hesitation.
"Was Magnolia surprised when she saw Jean and Nikolah on the other side of the battlefield?" This time, a firm nod.
"Did she even recognize Jean and Nikolah then?" Another shake of the head.
"If this is true, then..."
Yu was confused over her mumbles and questions. Did she also question Magnolia's innocence? Despite his utmost trust in his lover, he worried for her. If Jean and Agnès doubted her, then...
"Of course. That has to be it!"
Yu jumped back, eyes wide over her sudden realization. He stuttered, "A-Agnès, what is it?" She, in turn, had her eyes flickered with slight hope, giving away the elation she felt.
"I have something to-" she stopped as she searched her pockets. Her head shook in disbelief as panic subtly took over her joy.
"Looking for this, Agnès?" echoed the voice of Tiz Arrior.
Both turned to find Tiz standing there, with his hair still disheveled as Yu knew during their journey, holding a certain hourglass.
"How did you-" she was once again cut off by her fiancé. "I had a feeling that this might be something vital to your conversation. The sheep are close by, so I decided to come see how you two were doing." He faced Yu.
"I don't really know what is happening between you and everyone else, but I know that losing people like them will be something that can crush you. That's why..." Tiz handed the hourglass to his younger teammate.
"This is hope. It's from those who care about you," said Tiz.
Agnès, smiling, followed his example. "Have the courage to think and act on your own."
Together, the two of them said, "And have the courage to disobey." Standing in disbelief, Yu absorbed their words, not realizing the importance of them.
"Tell this to Magnolia, and give her back what she lost, Yu," assigned Agnès. He could only salute her, his fist crossing over his chest.
"I will!"
Party Chat: Give or Take
Agnès: I hope Yu is able to fix the situation.
Tiz: I didn't hear much of the conversation. I feel like I'm being left out of some inside group.
Yu: Tiz, this doesn't concern you as much. But, I do promise to bring things back to normal because...I hate to see my friends fight.
Agnès: I am positive you can do it, Yu.
Tiz: Mmm. Good luck, Yu.
Yu: Thank you! I will do my best. Oh, speaking of which, Tiz, are you able to meet us in Caldisla next week? I don't really know why, but the others wanted me to relay the message to you.
Tiz: The others? Oh, sure, I guess.
Agnès: Isn't our wedding...
Tiz: Ah! The sheep! I completely forgot! Come on, Agnès!
Agnès: Wait, Tiz! Tiz!
Yu: They're cute together. Haha.
...
Magnolia was bedridden for several days. At first, the pain from her injury prevented her from getting up from her bed. Nikolah, upon finding Yu and Jean drag her into the inn they were staying in, came and apply Curaga until the ugly slash dulled to maroon red. Afterwards, Yu left in a hurry, shouting Agnès's name frantically into his communication device. Jean stayed silent throughout the entire thing.
Her gash was mostly healed by the next day, but she was still passed out, lying in a prone state. She, on occasion, would flutter her hand to her head and feel the shattered petals hiding in her tresses. Magnolia would then cringed and go back to her original position.
Jean expressed his apologies, but that didn't stop Yu from yelling at him with unforeseen fury. The words he threw at the fencer were harsh, but Jean remained uncooperative when it came to his motives. Although, Nikolah had an inference for his real reasons...
By the time Yu came back, she was up and walking. While her injury healed to a faint scar across her back, she still felt the sting associated with it. Yu spent the next few days accompanying her, making sure she didn't collapse on the ground.
Yu noticed the way she touched her destroyed magnolia. Her eyes would dampen with unshed tears, and her fingers gently, almost hesitantly, brushed against what petals left on her head.
Magnolia refused to take the flower off.
Party Chat: Broken and Devoid of Beauty
Yu: Magnolia, are you feeling any better?
Magnolia: Yes. Thanks to Nikolah's healing, I should be ready for combat by tomorrow.
Yu: I see...
Magnolia: Hmm...
Yu: Hey, umm...why do you still have that magnolia?
Magnolia: I can't just part with this. This is a symbol of our first meeting, a symbol of the bonds we have together! How can I just...
Yu: I'm...sorry.
Magnolia: What for?
Yu: Now that she put it like that, I feel bad...for letting her flower wilt. I was forgetting...why it was so important to me. How could I...
Magnolia: Yu?
Yu: Forgive me...Magnolia. I will set things right.
Magnolia: Yu…
...
"I wonder where she could be..."
Yu stood at the entrance of Istantal, waiting for Magnolia to come. The Crystal Orthodoxy assigned Yu to check the wind temple after an acolyte reported some disturbance. Seeing this as the perfect time, he invited Magnolia, who accepted, to join him.
"Yu!"
Her voice never failed to turn his head, as he instantly whipped his head around to the now-equipped black mage. The black dress that came with the job was replaced by her plain tunic.
"You're late, Magnolia," Yu lightly scolded. She swung her hips to her left, her lips forming a thin line.
"S-sorry. I was preparing for emergencies."
Despite his slight annoyance (probably due to anxiety), he gave a tiny smile. "It's okay. To the temple, we go?" Magnolia nodded at his request.
"Okay."
...
They got to the temple by sundown.
When they walked inside, the acolytes all ran to them, crying something about a giant beast guarding the wind crystal. Yu and Magnolia looked at each other, nodded, and proceeded to the altar.
What awaited them was a dark-skinned ogre with a club spiked with thorny edges. Magnolia's gaze remained fierce and battle-ready, but Yu's eyes shifted to disbelief.
"What? How is this still here?!"
"Yu! Focus! It's coming this way!"
Her warning only gave him enough time to ready his fists before the monster attacked.
The beast did not pack so much of a punch, but it felt impossible to beat. With patissier as a side job, Magnolia was capable of exploiting multiple weaknesses, with the most common cake being a red frosted one, which she threw before setting the ogre on fire.
With Yu, he had on Barras's asterisk, borrowing Alternis's dark knight as a side. For the most part, he utilized the monk skills, throwing punches and jabs to the monster's thick skin. When his health was low, he would switch to dark knight, taking advantage of the famed Minus Strike.
After what seemed to be hours of fighting, Yu and Magnolia dropped to their knees, gulping the thick air down their throats. The beast stood unscathed, roaring itself into berserk mode.
"Damn, what do we do?! How can this thing not feel any pain?!" Magnolia hoarsely wailed. Her partner gritted his teeth. "Could he be absorbing energy from somewhere?" Yu huffed out. He reached into his bag, brushing his fingers against the smooth surface of the hourglass.
"Magnolia, I have an idea! Is Withering Ripple ready to go?" The black mage nodded, but she didn't have the slightest clue of his plan.
"Leave it to me then!" she shouted.
She twirled her wand in a petite circle, the end glowing with the ominous, but oddly beautiful mixture of dark purple and blue. The mage released the orb, and it spun around the enemy, accelerating faster and faster until it explodes, effectively weakening the enemy.
"Yu, what now?" she asked, bringing her shield up to block the incoming swing.
He snatched the hourglass from his bag. Upon the reveal, Magnolia started to panic. "Yu! You can't! There has to be another way!" The monk shook his head. "It's okay, Magnolia," he tried to assure.
Magnolia didn't change her expression. Yu sighed and outstretched his hand to her.
"Do you trust me, Magnolia?"
A moment of silence. And then…
"Yes, I do."
Those three words gave him the incentive he needed to activate the device. He lifted the hourglass up.
"Bravely Second!"
As the familiar stopping of time commenced, Yu stepped forward, tightening his hands into fists.
"Here I go!"
He felt the crackle of electricity coursing through his veins. It materialized into twin orbs, and Yu slammed them into one. He swung his fist back before punching the electrified sphere with all his might, sending it hurtling to the ogre. The monster grunted one last time before crashing to the floor. Yu turned around and found Magnolia's eyes glazed over and ready to slip into unconsciousness. He quickly ran to her and grabbed her hand.
The world turned white.
...
"Magnolia, so this is where you went." His voice attracted the attention of the girl, and she turned around, stunned at his presence.
"Yu? Why are you here?"
"I had a weird feeling. Just a tiny bit...If there is something troubling you, I will be happy to help. Even though I do not particularly know what I can do." She shook her head at this.
"I'm sure you know what to do. You really saved me back there." Shifting to her thinking position, she stared down with a sort of gratitude.
"Yu and everyone, I did not think I would get this much help." Magnolia then hesitated.
"But...I don't want to go home yet."
Yu felt a tinge of confusion. "Eh? Go home? What do you mean? Didn't you say you couldn't go back home?" Her head is still down.
"I might have cheated a bit there...but...I ran out of time…" As soon as she said that, her body turned more translucent, flickering back and forth between existing and vanishing.
"Huh? Wha-? Magnolia? What...what is this...your body i-is disappearing...?!" Magnolia closed her eyes, already resigned to her fate.
"Everyone, including you and me, will probably forget the events that occurred…" she then lifted her head and smiled.
"But, that's alright."
Yu was never more confused in his life. He expressed this, crying out that he doesn't understand a word that she is saying. But she ignored him, instead replying him with, "I'm sure we'll meet again soon. I'm sure of it."
Her final words to him struck him in the heart, tearing his emotions apart until only desperation was left.
"That's why...see you soon, Yu...our time together was fun."
And then she vanished into thin air.
"Magnolia! Wait, Magnolia!"
It wasn't until a few moments later did he realize the impact of her absence.
"...Magnolia…"
A few quiet minutes passed…
"Oh, Yu is there. What are you doing here?" Jean called, Nikolah trailing behind him. Snapping out of what seemed to be a trance-like state, Yu whipped his head around before centering his vision on his two comrades.
"Jean? H-huh? What am I doing here?" His voice was quiet.
The blue-haired male grew worried for his leader. "Hey, are you alright? You didn't hit your head or anything like that?" Nikolah crossed his arms, already thinking of a possible reason.
"He's just probably tired. No wonder, since it has been a long journey," was his explanation.
Yu couldn't shake off this ominous feeling inside. Something saddening and oh so very wrong…
"Is that so...I just have a weird feeling…" Jean then noticed something was sticking out of Yu's pocket, the object completely hidden by his cape except for a small white portion.
"Hey? Yu, what is that in your pocket?"
He reached for the object, pulling out a familiar flower. "Huh? What is…? This is...a flower?" Of course, he could not determine the source of the white flower. He stood dumbfounded, gaping in awe at the flora.
"Yu surely is hiding something from us. Tell us, who did you get it from?" Jean lightly joked. Yu's mode did not change. Instead, he turned from them, his head aligned with the stony bridge. With his voice far away from rational thought, he muttered, "Flower...huh...what is this? This somehow...feels odd…"
Jean felt thrown off by Yu's solemn, almost longing daze to the night sky. "O-oi! W-wait a moment! Yu, you are…" Jean didn't get a response back, the seconds draining away slowly. Getting the hint, Nikolah whispered to Jean.
"...Jean, how about a suggestion? Let us leave him be...for a while, alright?"
The fencer asterisk-holder did not question any further. "Ah? Okay, I got it. I'll leave now," he replied back. And with one last glance at their leader, the two older men left Yu to his thoughts.
"What is this, this feeling? I feel like a giant hole opened up inside me," his lips murmured to the empty city.
"..."
A voice vibrated into his head then. "I'm sure we'll meet again soon. I'm sure of it." Her voice, filled with promise and hope, gave Yu just enough memory to remember her words. He stared at the flower in his hand one more time.
"That's right. I'm sure we'll meet again," he said to the flower.
"We will...meet again."
The blinding white light faded, and Yu snapped his eyes open, finding himself bathed in the lush green light of the wind crystal. His hand was intertwined with Magnolia's, gripping it tight. Her head snapped up from her trance.
"What was that? Are those..."
"Ah. Those were memories, Magnolia. Memories that you have forgotten," Yu said. She fell to her knees, staring blankly ahead. Yu, in response, knelt down and patted her shoulder.
"Yu...can I have some time to think to myself? This is just…" her voice cracked, and she attempted to clear her throat. Yu nodded at her request.
"Okay, tell me when you want to talk."
…
Magnolia stood alone on the bridge in the center of Istantal. The night was young, with the moon round and clear for all to see. She was staring at it for quite some time ever since Yu and she came back from the wind temple.
The mention of the wind temple dragged Magnolia back to the flashback she witnessed during Bravely Second. She now knew the reason why this city was nostalgic, even poignant, in her mind. She had parted from Yu here, barred his and everyone else's memories of her here.
And...she remembered how her own memories vanished as well. The struggle, the machine, and of course, the crushing despair...
"..."
She continued to look up at her homeland, seeing the pale moonbeams fall onto the stone floor. None of those beams touched her, and she was left in the dark.
"Magnolia, there you are."
I remember you
And I want to tell you
That the blue of this Earth,
Even from a faraway place,
Shines so bright.
She whirl her body around to face Yu. Even now, she noticed, he looks the same, and maybe not at the same time. He has certainly grown in their journey together, and yet, he remained the sweet, helpful young adult that she can now clearly recall. Her stomach fluttered at his presence.
"Yu, are you having trouble sleeping?"
He nodded slightly, his head drooping in a way that betrayed his tiredness. When he closed his eyes, he let out a little hum.
I'm sorry
For saying goodbye without telling you.
But you know…
I am sure, being you, you will understand.
"Yu, I...I remember everything. And...I want to apologize for what I have done to you, to Jean, and to everyone involved," Magnolia started, lowering her head down into a slight bow. Yu tried to dissuade her, shaking his head in disagreement.
"I'm sure you had your reasons. It does not bother me as much."
"Still...I will need to apologize to Jean and the others."
"If that will calm your conscience..."
I would like to someday tell you
That I love you.
I have always thought it would be nice if I could…
"Yu, will you be there? When I apologize to them, that is?" The question seemed odd to Yu. Why would she need him? He noticed her slightly shaking, her hands clutching her chest.
She is vulnerable right now. Shattering the barrier to her memories had done a lot more damage than he anticipated. How? If Magnolia back then foretold that everyone will forget, then why was her reaction more severe than Jean's?
Disregarding his doubts, he muttered, "Of course."
Hey, if I were to say it to you,
What kind of face would you make?
I want to know...
She looked at him with teary eyes. The tears had yet to fall, and Magnolia reached to wipe some out of her eyes. Her voice came out cracked and dry.
"Yu, thank you. I knew...I knew you would always be by my side. I cannot believe that all this time, we had a deeper connection than anyone could have thought. I always...I always…" She tackled Yu into a desperate hug, her tears finally falling.
Hey, I missed you.
And I don't need a thing
Other than you, not a single thing!
Until the far off future, every second,
I want to go on by your side.
"I'll always be by your side, Magnolia. Even now, after we have been separated, we came back to each other. And, I will not let go this time," Yu whispered in her ear. A small breeze brushed against the ends of their hair, but they paid it no mind, fully intent on enjoying the warmth between them.
If, without a word,
You'd embrace me with those arms,
That'd be my only wish.
Cause I belong only to you.
"Yu, I...I want to say it."
"Eh? Magnolia?"
She pulled away from his grasp, keeping eye contact with him. With her eyes twinkling from the light of her homeland, Magnolia appeared more beautiful to him than he ever imagined her to be. Her eyelids sealed her vision, and Yu could feel the tickle that came with her close breathing.
Whenever your present and my present
Cross paths again...at that time,
Y'know, I want you to tell me you love me.
I'm sure all the pain would fade away,
And I can grow stronger.
"Yu, I'll always love you."
The grip on his arms grew tighter, afraid for his withdrawal, even if that fear was misplaced. Yu felt his face burn red as he observed the (possibly) same color form two small, yet hypnotic orbs on Magnolia's face.
Nothing changes by merely wishing.
So I'll keep going onward with you...forever!
"Umm…" she awkwardly hummed.
Yu could not help but smile at her bashfulness. Where was the confident Ba'al Buster who confronted Diamante and Providence? He liked this reticent side of Magnolia, though. It gave him a better chance to view a side Magnolia would only show to him.
He smiled at the thought.
"Magnolia?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
I'd like to someday be able
To tell you that I love you.
I've always thought it would be nice…
"I will always love you, my forgotten Magnolia."
And before she could respond, her lips were sealed by his.
Whenever your present and my present
Cross paths again...at that time,
Y'know, I want you to tell me you love me.
I'm sure all the pain would fade away,
And I can grow stronger.
Her eyes didn't close; instead they widened as far as they could go. His arms held her in, leaving little room for her to move around. When her brain finally processed the kiss, she leaned in humming. Her senses shot straight to the moon, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
And as they rocked each other in their arms, a tiny song ended its last notes.
Then you...call my name,
When we meet again...