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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Las Lindas and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Chalo/Chalosan and SoulKat.

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Chapter 2: At First Sight

Beta-Reader: Ant0nius

It was late afternoon, and their trip to reach their first two Crests was close to completion.

The train ride had been a bit of a surprise, but Lady Ambar made it quite clear that any lengthy traveling through Neo-Earth via a fancy and expensive jet plane would attract attention. Attention that was not needed. Hope was familiar with Paparazzis, so she knew how it was best to take a more anonymous approach when there was a likelihood of being ambushed and troubled while trying to enjoy some time 'alone'. Right now, Hope was having a bit of a blast with her 'Uncle'.

Sitting in front of him while Naerie alongside him, Matt hummed calmly as he shifted his Poker Cards he had going through another play. Chocolate bits were being used as chips, and while one would expect the insignificantly-valued price to lessen the competition, one failed to realize how gluttonous Naerie could be towards sweet foods. It was quite the intense brawl, no one could have prepared her for it. But it was fun, and distracted her from the hours that came from traveling through a small train all over Prism.

Hope was just quick to bore, anything at this point would work to soothe her boredom. She was quite intrigued by the game, but, at the same time, had some thoughts that had been cooking in her mind for sometime now. Mostly questions which she held back from asking. As she finally got the big tale of the Grand Knight and friends digested it, the girl had plenty of time to ponder on a few things. Both regarding his life, and her own life. Despite the major differences between the two of them, she couldn't help but find some instances where they shared similar experiences.

Mostly regarding her current romantic situation which was, in layman's terms, particularly complicated.

It's been recently that she finished college. Ever since she bounced back from a relationship to another and then to none. Hope was quite lost when it came to her social life. She had a chance at making it big as a singer in the near future, she could even entertain a stable economic income through her work as a Knight and yet she was quite unhappy with her most recent life choices. She made some poor decisions, and right now the Gazelle Prime would be lying if she said that she had her head entirely on this particular situation.

Then, as the game progressed, they took a break as Naerie had to go to the bathroom. It was just the two of them, and Hope would have kept quiet had it not been for Matt picking up some unease she was trying to hold back from showing. He shifted a bit, the girl purposely aiming her green eyes away and the man hummed.

"So, what's eating you?"

She huffed. "Just... romantic stuff."

"Oh?"

"I broke up with a few people-"

"Shin and Miles," He replied, reminding her that this was not a story he was unaware about and that she told part of it to him already.

"Yeah," Hope confirmed. "And I was just thinking... how do you cope with being the cause of a break-up?"

"You learn from it how to not make the same mistakes. Like all big messes one can do in life," Matt replied curtly, leaving the Gazelle Prime to frown.

"It doesn't help much-"

"That's because you are not understanding the bigger meaning behind these words. Your first break-up was a mistake on both sides, the second one was because you were lapsing on the same mistake but also being paranoid of being left because of your lack of interest," The human reasoned. "You, Hope, are not a stupid person."

"And yet I still made so many mistakes."

"Like many do," He argued and she snorted.

"Not as bad-"

"And yet not the worst," He interjected flatly, arms crossing. "The fact that you can recognize the mistakes you made is already a good start. And the fact you wish to improve through these is another step."

"But... how many steps would I need to take?"

"As many as you will need," He flatly rebuked, and that actually silenced Hope. "It's frustrating, I don't need you to tell me this. But you have made a decision or two with numerous ramifications to it. While the Shin's situation may as well be considered dealt with, you have unsettled businesses with yourself when it comes to Miles."

"I know-"

"And yet you are afraid of taking the next step. Why?"

"W-What if I mess up again?"

"Are you?" Matt pressed on, causing her to slightly falter.

"..W-What?"

"Do you want to mess up?"

She looked confused. "N-No."

"Are you going to mess up?"

"No, but-"

"Hope, you can't expect things to go well if you don't take a risk," The man interrupted once more, this time stressing his point with clearer words. "You are right to be paranoid of tripping and falling again, but if you want to get out of that hole, you need to take your chances."

Hope bowed her head. "I guess that makes sense, yeah."

"Then, you will make it. If you are determined enough and if you think about what you really want and how to get it, then you will have no issues. Just remember to think with your head and to soften with your heart."

She smiled at that one, and yet the girl had a bit of a cheeky comment left. "Sounds like the advice you would need."

"...Are you referring to what your mother and I had?"

"Her and Carmesi. And Adela. Naerie may be nice to not bring it up, but I think she knows too that you are burdened by those memories," The Gazelle Prime argued. "The way you fondly remember them- it's so frantic in a way, and I think you need that meeting to happen."

"As I mentioned in your case, it's not like that."

"Then If you are determined enough and if you think what you really want and how to get it, then you will have no issues," She literally parroted his own advice back to him. "Just remember to think with your head and to soften with your heart."

Cue her cheeks pinched for 'being a little brat'. She was slightly annoyed at the irritating feeling she had on her face, but the nature of such action was so amusing that she couldn't genuinely bring herself to hate it. Hope knew she was cheeky and deserved a bit of a punishment. It was a brief interaction as Naerie was soon back and they resumed their game.

She was sure that the seed of doubt had been planted in Matt's mind, just so that he could finally accept that avoiding her mother was just going to cause him more issues than actually doing what he had to do. Yet Hope didn't indulge her willingness to press more on the matter, deciding to let the thought stir in him and eventually act depending on his reaction.

The games soon ended, and it was time to sleep but... not everyone managed to get a proper slumber out of that night.

Hope's words rang some memories that I hadn't wanted to delve deep once more. Not this soon, not yet. But they were unrelenting and I was soon dreaming of those in my own sleep.

It was night, everyone was asleep, and I was unable to find the peace of mind to have a dreamless rest. I was stuck remembering the first time I met Grace, how peculiar that encounter was. A prison in a cold planet, she was being used as the source of a special drug meant to not only further subdue the minds of potential dissidents, but also force confessions out of them. She was unaware of this, treated as a sheltered prey whose main purpose was to provide for an Empire that sought to enslave and kill people like her.

"Who are you?"

Pure and pristine, Grace was younger and yet as angelic as she was now. So precious, and yet so curious. A poor victim of a horrible system she didn't know had become part of.

"I'm Theo and… I've come to get you out of here."

"I'm Grace and…" She leaned closer, pressing her forehead onto mine. "Are you a prince, Theo?"

Back then? Not truly. But I guess that now fits since I was bound to Addie- Well, I am still bound but... it's been so long.

"And this is your room."

Pink eyes widened as they were bestowed with the impressive size of the room. "This is all… mine?"

"Yep."

She never had a big room. Always small or put in cryo-stasis. She was also giddy for the bathroom since it wasn't the same as the one she had to use. The way she danced for the warm water... it was somewhat saddening and yet relieving to a degree. I could see how happy she was back then- how we were all happy about it.

I shook my head in my slumber, forcing myself to finally catch myself some rest and... get back to sleep. This time it wasn't just Grace. It was everyone else. And I felt the burden of my mind finally take a toll and draw me in an endless pit of dreams and nightmares which ended right as morning struck and it was time to prepare for their destination.

Hopefully meeting with Xeanica and Pulsar was going to put some of those memories at ease...

AN

The Journey is not just physical, but also mental. A trip down memory lane to fix what has been broken by the meddling of deities.

The title is also a play on the translation for the chapter in Among Stars where Grace is found.