A/N: Oh my God. I live. I LIVE!

College is wild, ain't it? These past 2 years I haven't been able to update this story, but you guys keep on reading it? Over 3,000 reads strong? I am impressed! Well, good news. We are BACK with Marble, baby! And this time, the story is gonna get extra intense. Thank you so, so, SO much for reading on anyways, because I didn't know if anyone would still read it!

Without further ado, here is - finally - the next chapter!


Nagisa dreaded hearing the inevitable wails at 2 AM in the morning. At the same time, she and Honoka prayed for it. Constantly.

It had been 3 months since the entire incident with Blue. The countless events from that day - the scare of losing her wife and child, declaring war on Blue and Sora going missing...it replayed in her head like a mantra. After nearly losing their daughter to that monster, the two didn't take their eyes off of her unless they absolutely had to.

Hikari helped, of course. The two usually took shifts each night to calm her down, simultaneously easing their anxieties about her being kidnapped once again. But Hikari would take over on occasion when both were tuckered out from the day's usual business. Yes, Nagisa took her maternity leave from the lacrosse team to stay with her family. But still, even with that...

Babies are harder than I thought... she would mentally sigh. I can't say I regret it at all, though.

Sora truly was the world.

Nagisa couldn't sleep until she heard the smallest hint of crying though. They made it a rule to lock all the doors and windows of the house. They absolutely made it a priority to have no mirrors in Sora's nursery. So, she shouldn't be too worried, right?

...wrong. It was 3:30. Sora usually woke up around 2:15. God, what if her proposition was true...?

If her crib was empty...!

Before Nagisa could shoot out of bed from the lack of crying, she nearly collapsed in relief when she heard a wail down the hallway.

"Your turn..." Honoka's tired voice sounded briefly before her quiet snoring sounded again.

Gladly.

Nagisa headed down the hallway in a hurry, though not as much as she would if she didn't hear any cries at all. She approached a decorated door with stars, clouds, and galaxies all around it. An engraving was on it.

Sora, our universe.

Once she made it to the door, she opened it to see a peculiar sight in front of her.

"Sora, mepo~! Watch this, mepo~!"

Mepple was trying in vain to calm his niece down. And horribly at that. He floated in front of her before transforming into Nagisa's Heartful Commune, falling into the side of the cushions of the crib.

"Tada, mepo~!"

Sora briefly stopped crying and made little whines in confusion, reaching out to where Mepple once was.

...and started crying again. Louder.

Groaning in tiredness and irritation, Nagisa had to rescue this situation. She approached the crib before taking Sora in her arms, cradling her before swaying back and forth, keeping her close to her chest.

"Mepple, when I said 'try to be creative when calming her down', I didn't mean disappear on her." She chastised softly.

"What was I supposed to do, mepo~?" He hissed back as he transformed back into a fairy.

"How about anything else but that?"

In the familiar arms of her mother, Sora's wails lessened more and more until they were just whimpers. Nagisa leaned down to kiss her restless child's head, sitting in the rocking chair next to the crib.

"I know, baby. I know Uncle Mepple doesn't know what he's doing..." She sent a slightly playful look over to her pouting fairy. Snapping her fingers, a bottle of milk appeared in her hand as she started to feed Sora. She and Honoka, little by little, started to notice what each of her cries meant. This one meant she was hungry.

"I'm still starting to get used to that, mepo~..." Mepple trailed off as he floated over to where the two were.

"You think I am?" Nagisa laughed a little as she fed her. "I just didn't want to go downstairs to warm up some. Takes way too long, and it's more convenient."

Sora seemed satisfied after practically swallowing the entire bottle of milk. Her eyes started to droop gently, her little hand reaching up to wrap around her mother's ring finger once more.

"Aww..." Nagisa cooed into her ear, her face flushing lightly and her eyes lightly beading with tears. "Wanna hold Mama's hand? You can..."

A gentle knock came at the door. At the very least, she thought it was Hikari. But she was met with a special surprise.

"Noka?"

"I couldn't sleep anymore." Her wife admitted, yawning softly as she approached the two in the rocking chair. "She sounded hungry."

"I've got it covered. It was 'my turn' after all." She winked at her. Honoka gave her a look before sitting on the floor, reaching up to caress Sora's head.

"Is she asleep?"

"Not yet." Nagisa shook her head. "She's going to need more than milk, pacifiers and bottles, it seems..." The two gave each other a knowing look and giggled softly. Nagisa moved her finger so Sora's tiny hand would be more secure.

"I love you,

Yes, you! The skies above,

The heavens' in our home..."

Her voice was as soft as a pillow. Honoka smiled lovingly and held onto Nagisa's arm with her other hand as she sang after her.

"I love you,

Me too! Our light in darkness,

You will never be alone..."

Sora's blue eyes finally started drooping as her mothers started to sing together. Her little grip on her mother's hand never got weaker, though.

"We love you,

We do! Truly and deeply,

As you sleep tonight..."

Mepple watched the two sing to their child, a feeling of helplessness coming over him. If only he could be as good as they were with her. Perhaps then, Sora would have been fast asleep by now...

"We love you,

Yes, you! Now and forever...

Sora, heaven's light..."

Well, he couldn't ponder it too much. He fell asleep with Sora after the lullaby was over.


"Look, it's the know-it-all!"

"Doesn't she have to go brag to someone about her immaculate standing?"

"To someone? To who? Ahahaha~!"

Just keep your head down...

This sort of language down the halls wasn't new to Ju Lan. At 10 years old, she knew she was more adult than the children around her. She had no choice but to be. Living with Li An was hard enough, but she had to support the both of them every day.

It all started when she woke up.

When the doctors asked her 'Tell us your name, young lady.' at 6 years old, she couldn't answer them. She didn't know her name, or anything about the events that happened prior before she ended up at the hospital. The little girl was just at a complete loss, and her head hurt immensely.

The doctors couldn't understand her, neither could she understand them. They spoke completely different languages at the time. So, they communicated through a translator.

"You have amnesia."

The automated voice read back in Japanese to the girl. She took the phone and typed back in Japanese, the translation sounding in Chinese. This was repetitive.

"What's that?"

"It just means you have no memory little one. You aren't alone. Another girl is here in the recovery room. We'll try to find your families. Until we do, we'll give you a name to identify you by. Would you like that?"

"Yes."

"Okay. What name would you like?"

The girl was so nervous that she picked several chrysanthemum and orchid flowers from the pot on the table next to her. She held them close to her chest for comfort, some of the flowers falling to the ground.

"I don't know." She typed back briefly before clinging to them again.

"Well, you seem to like those flowers a lot. I don't blame you. Chrysanthemums and orchids are lovely."

The doctor thought for a second before nodding with a kind smile.

"Ju Lan. Chrysanthemum orchid. How is that for a name?"

It felt so wrong to her. But she nodded anyway.

She was escorted to where the girl that the doctor mentioned was lying in the bed, wide and awake. She looked out the window having a lost expression as she looked outside at the rising sun.

"Hello?" She asked out loud in vain. There was no way this girl would understand her.

However, she miraculously turned around and let out the most surprised gasp.

"You speak Japanese too?!"

"Yes," she smiled in relief. "Can I sit down next to you?"

The younger girl immediately scooted back in bed as Ju Lan sat down next to her, getting instantly enveloped in a tight hug.

"Ah! A little less tight, please!"

"But I like you!"

Ju Lan finally pried the eager child off of her, looking at the wound on her forehead. She had bandages there too, it seemed...

"What's your name?"

"I don't know." She shrugged simply. "I don't know anything."

"Me neither," she laughed embarrassedly. That was one thing they had in common. "The doctors called me Ju Lan. Did they give you a name?"

She nodded firmly. "Li An."

"Li An? Why?"

"Quiet plum is what they said it meant," she whispered to her as though it was a secret. "Not because I was quiet at all. But in hopes that 'I would shut up'."

There was a thick silence for a minute. Ju Lan tried to hold in her laughter, but ultimately the dam broke. She covered her mouth and laughed wholeheartedly. Li An gazed at her in curiosity before starting to laugh too.

As a new friendship and a new dawn rose, the two had a lingering feeling in their stomachs.

'She looks familiar...'

"Ju Lan...Ju Lan..."

...


"JU LAN!"

"Huh?"

Her eyes opened at the noise - rather, the voice that snapped her back to reality. Snowflakes fell at her feet all of a sudden, and she was transported back to the reality that was the wintery forest. It was nearing nighttime now, and all of a sudden it had begun to snow.

It's like this forest has all 4 seasons at once...

Black waved her hand in front of her eyes teasingly.

"Rise and shine~. Wakey-wakey~."

"Stop that." Ju Lan blushed lightly and turned to the side. "What is it?"

"White has a surprise for you!" Black smiled as she stepped out of the way to make room for her wife. "Noka! Go ahead!"

"Close your eyes, sweetie." White gently advised.

"Alright...?" So the teenager did close her eyes, the snowflakes gently falling on her torn and roughed up jacket. Soon, though, the snowflakes felt like they were gathering more and more on her outfit. She felt a gentle shock on the bottom of her coat which jolted her, but didn't harm her in the slightest. Then another, then another. Shock after shock came to her outfit as ions gathered around her rapidly, Ju Lan wondering whether she should scream or open her eyes. But despite knowing her for such little time, she decided to trust White on this one.

...something soft landed on her head.

"Alright! Open your eyes!"

Once she opened them, Ju Lan was astonished. Looking down at herself, she saw the rugged, beaten and worn out rags replaced with nothing but white, fur and warmth. It was a pure white and cozy coat, buttoned up from the bottom. On her shoulders was a hood that fit, and her head held a soft white beanie.

And it was all just her size.

"I...I..."

She looked at herself, wordlessly and trying to make sense of what she wore. What could she say? Was she supposed to be happy? Shocked? Angry, even? She had no idea how to feel. Her instinct was to say something like 'I appreciate this, but...' as she didn't feel like she was worthy of such beauty. But that wouldn't be right. Not at this rate.

So, she said the next best thing on instinct.

"T...Thank you..."

"Do you like it?" White questioned. "I can make it heavier if it's still cold. Or lighter if it's weighing you down. Is that hood fitting you alright? And those gloves, they look so thin...!"

"White, i'm fine." Ju Lan laughed a little bit nervously. "You didn't have to do this for me...I really don't deserve it."

"But of course you do! I'll make sure you're nice and warm, honey." She smiled and placed the hood on her head, pinching her cheek afterwards.

"...ouch."

...honey?

Statement of the evening - these two were weird.

The moon was now fully present over the sky while they walked through the snowy terrain together. Ju Lan noticed that the night never seemed to end - it was ongoing, like a clock that was ticking.

"Do you guys ever get sunlight?"

"Sun?" Black smiled a bit. "Now that's something I haven't seen in a while. The bright rays of the sun on my face..."

"It's almost always dark here except for the moon." White smiled sheepishly - and a little sadly. "No one gets the sun these days."

Not one person...?

At least in Hong Kong, there was at least a hint of sunlight during the daytime. Li An always loved the sunlight, for what it was worth. It was never much at all. But it was enough to her just for it to exist. Ju Lan always read picture books about the sunlight - about its rays and its glories. It mesmerized her to no end.

"How lonely that must be." She frowned and her gaze lowered to the ground.

...until it snapped back up again. Looking down at the violin in her hands, she had sparked an idea.

"How about I try to make it come back?" Ju Lan smiled at the Cures, making them look at her in surprise.

"How?"

"Well, I played a while ago," She lifted her violin. "And all this stuff started happening. The snow started falling, flowers bloomed, and even doves came down. What if I played the violin so that the sun could shine again, if just for a little bit?" She raised the bow with the engraving on it. " 'Let your music live forever'...we should let the sun live too." A small smile spread on her features.

She had hardly smiled the whole evening. This was something to celebrate for Black and White.

So Black smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you think you can do it, nothing's stopping you. We'll be your audience, right, White?"

"Of course." White nodded and guided Black backwards to make room for her to play.

Ju Lan took a good look around the forest, noticing how the snow fell from the dark skies peacefully. A few landed on her shoulders, and on her hand. Something about the snow, oddly, was familiar. Something as unpredictable and scarce as snow being familiar was not natural.

In the corner of the trees, she could have sworn she saw an icy blue butterfly floating around without a care in the world...

Relaxing in its presence, she lifted her violin and tuned it before beginning to slowly play a chipper, energetic, but calming tune. It sounded like a warm summer's day, opening and blossoming up for the world to see once again. Like a farewell to a lover. Or even a lullaby a mother sung to her baby. But at the end of the day, anyone could interpret it as they pleased.

It was gentle, and free. Ju Lan began playing with all the might within her heart, and only gentle and soft notes were like poetry through her music.

Black gently held White's hand as she listened. "I don't think we need the sun right now." she whispered. "We found ours."


"ATTACK!"

"I'M COMIN' FOR YOU!"

Li An had never had a pillow fight. Ju Lan wasn't really into them.

She remembered she would much rather prefer to study and hide herself away in their hut than do anything really exciting. Most days she wasn't in the mood for it.

Li An loved her. Of course she did. She was her closest friend - probably the only friend she had. It was just that…she wished she would smile more. Do something really special to make herself happy.

'I hope she'll take up my offer with the violin as soon as we're up and out of here…'

A pillow hit her smack dab in the face.

"Hey!" She yelped before being pulled back down behind a fort.

"Game plan!" Dream said and pulled her close. "Let's hide out here until I give the cue, and then we're gonna sick 'em!"

"Okay!" Li An nodded determinedly. "I'm excited," she giggled.

"Wait for it…"

About 10 seconds of no pillows had passed, and Dream tugged her hand. "Now!"

Both shot up from behind the fort and started pelting pillows at the women behind the opposing fort.

"Agh! She gained brain cells!"

SMACK!

"AGH!"

In truth, Li An was having a lot of fun with the sound of pillows hitting flesh, screams of excitement, and lots and lots of jumping.

"Get her!" Dream ordered with a grin while they both tackled Rouge to the ground.

"AGH!" The redhead yelled. "When did you become so freakishly strong?!"

"Now I have double the weight!"

"We're the same size!" Li An exclaimed proudly.

"Did she feed you sugar today?"

"Uhhh…" The brunette looked up in the air confusedly. "Dream didn't give me anything…sugary. I think…."

"Dream?"

"Well…"

"Dream."

"…I gave her caffeine."

"DREAM!"

"She likes it!" Dream pouted.

"...Aqua! She did it again!"

Li An covered her mouth and started giggling into the sheets uncontrollably.

"Oh god! Dream!"

"What? She said she wanted it!"

"Why am I the sole brain cell holder?!"

"You aren't the only one~" Lemonade hopped on the bed and tickled the girl. "We just like having fun with her~!"

"You get an excuse because you're the youngest! Dream is required to have brain cells or else my life becomes Hell!"

Rouge began to say this, however, when small icy snowflakes hit her hair and nose.

"Hey! Hell's freezing over!"

"LEMONADE!"

"Ahahaha! Ahaha…woah…" Li An's eyes widened at the snow falling. She then gasped. "It's…it's just like my dream! He must be here!"

Dream's expression shifted. " 'He'?"

"My friend!" She leapt out of bed and ran to the door, looking outside for someone. She then pouted when no one was there. "Drat…"

"Who are you looking for, sweetie?" Mint asked.

"Someone i've been…" She then realized her next words would sound very, very weird. "I've been having dreams about somebody lately. It always snows when he's in them." Li An sat down on the bed. "It sounds weird….."

"I don't think it's weird," Dream assured. "Tell me about it."

Li An looked up at Dream's reassuring expression - it also held a bit of nostalgia and hope in it too.

Does she know something?

"Uhm…" she swallowed as she got comfortable as Dream wrapped an arm around her. "So, he's really calm, right? And relaxed…and funny too!" She gasped. "But very tall…taller than me. And you. And any of us…"

"Taller than Aqua?" Rouge asked. "Tell me he's not a Karen."

The bluenette kicked her.

"HEY!"

"Continue." Aqua smiled angelically at the girl.

"Well, he always takes me to this castle when I dream of him," She clasped her hands together in wonder. "He shows me around the whole place…I think there's a…an entrance here…" she pointed to the side of the room. "Leading to the main grand hall here…" she pointed to the center of the bedroom.

The adults were amazed by how the snow started to fall heavily on the ground, creating a mini structure in midair.

"I can't see his face, but I can tell he smiles at me. He tells me how pretty I look," Li An smiled fondly. "And that I look like a princess."

"Really?" Dream smiled.

"Mhm! He says he likes that I try so hard at school too. And that I'm clumsy." Her face turned a bit red. "He also knows about my crush."

"Aqua, go pour the tea so we can spill it," Mint said.

"Don't ruin this moment," Aqua smiled through gritted teeth.

Dream smiled more. "Crush~?"

"I-I-yeah!" She blushed mad. "Not important."

"C'mon! We're all girls here!" She paused. "Except for Rose. She's a demon."

"Demon?!"

"Uhm…." Li An twiddled her fingers. "Promise not to tell her?"

The adults all choked. "HER?!"

"….meep." She squealed and hid in a pillow.

"That means Ju Lan," Rose said. "Why else would she ask us not to tell?"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

"Meeeeeep…!" She kicked her feet in embarrassment, but Dream hugged her from behind.

"Oh, sweetie, don't be embarrassed about that." She smiled.

"But she doesn't like me," she protested. "I know she doesn't."

"Why do you say that?" Lemonade asked.

"Because she's a mess on her own!" She looked up wearily. "She doesn't trust anybody in Hong Kong. Nobody except me, and even with me, I know she only tolerates me…." She bit her lip. "And how could she like me…she doesn't even like herself…" She looked down. "But she's just so cool! And smart. And… so pretty. And she smells nice. And her smile…she hardly ever smiles…but when she does….it's like…the sun comes out."

"Mint, stop." Aqua flicked the notebook out of her hand.

"No."

Knock knock!

Lemonade gasped. "Quick! Act like you hate each other!"

Rouge then kicked Aqua in the jaw. "How's that?"

"OWWW!"

Li An stood up and went to the door, opening it smoothly. "Hello?"

A frightened gasp left a muddied yellow Shadow as she backed away from the door. "Uhhh…"

"Hi." She blinked. "Can I help you….?"

"I-I was wondering if you heard that…"

"I heard Rouge kicking Aqua, but that's very loud." She blinked. "Heard what?"

"Try and listen…"

"Guys?" Li An turned around and spoke to the women in the room. "Could you be quiet for a second? Sunshine wants us to be quiet."

"Aqua broke it." Rouge pointed at her.

"Fuck you."

"Shhhh!" Dream shushed them both.

"She started it!" They said.

"Listen!"

The room went dead quiet. Save for the sound of a distant and faint violin.

"Woah…" Li An's eyes glistened at the sound, and she walked over to the balcony and looked out into the cold, shadowy and darkened land. "It sounds pretty…"

"It is," Aqua placed a hand on her shoulder. "I haven't heard a violin in a long time. That's the 'Last Rose of Summer', you know. It's a famous piece by Ernst."

"Do you like the violin?" Li An asked her softly.

The bluenette nodded. "I love it. I used to play when I was around your age."

A sheepish laugh left her. "Before we came here, I tried to convince Ju Lan to take up violin. I know you kinda gotta start young, but she seems like she could be really good."

That's when Aqua laughed. A laugh that sounded very nostalgic and hearty.

"What's so funny?"

"Just… reminiscing…" she smiled.

"Huh…" Li An nodded while looking back into the land.

'That's such a beautiful sound…if only Ju Lan would play. Oh god, now I'm getting the lovable thoughts of her…'

Shadow Sunshine looked out of the other side of the balcony, closing her eyes and swaying to the music. Her clothes eventually began to turn not so muddied and more vibrant; more fitting to her name. "Hmm…" she smiled. "It's pretty."

"Sunshine?"

The Shadow turned to Dream quizzically. "Yes?"

She smiled while rubbing Li An's back. "You're very pretty."

The blonde blushed. "T-Thank you…" she smiled.

Li An gazed in wonder as the pitch black heart in the center of her chest turned a bright blue.

"Sunshine…you…" Li An couldn't finish her sentence at the sparkle that came back into her eyes.

"I what?" The blonde blinked.

"Look beautiful…" the younger girl smiled. "Now you're really shining."

The older woman covered her mouth and then giggled into it. "You're too sweet." She ruffled her hair.

Li An couldn't help but think about her friend, at that moment. How he'd love to hear the strange and sweet music right now. How he'd like to be there…

'Where are you anyway?'

'Somewhere else.'

In her mind, she saw him leading her towards the castle of her dreams. His cape nearly flew in her eyes to the point where she couldn't see him.

'I'd love to see your face one day… I bet you're very handsome.'

He paused and turned around to face her, lifting her hand to kiss it.

'I'm sorry.'

'For what?'

'Everything.'

'Well, that's alright. I know it is.' she smiled. 'You know what? I've decided. When I see you one day, I'm gonna take you to meet my friends. All of them!'

He smiled. 'I'd like that.'

'Come here.'

She had to stand on her toes to hug him. He was that tall. At least, tall in her eyes. She always wondered if he was tall, or if she was just shorter than she gave herself credit for.

Maybe both.

She made a note to take back her comment about Ju Lan's height.


Another thing Blue couldn't stand about Marble - aside from the fact that she disobeyed him often - was how she always took charge.

It would only make sense that a God of the Earth who has been around for over 3,000 years would teach a group of children how to become Precure before they are born. But no; a child was their main teacher.

Hmph. That reminded him so specifically of what happened over 30 years ago. There was another child that annoyed him so much.

"Now. What is Blue?"

One kid raised their hand. "Mean!"

"Yes!"

Little Black seriously got on his nerves.

"And what else?"

Another hand. "Stupid!"

"Perfect!" The ginger child in a black dress bounced up and down. "And what do we say to him when he comes near?"

"Go kick rocks?!"

"Close!"

"Say nothing and throw the rocks at him?" Tiny Peach asked.

"Almost!"

"Oh! Oh!" Small Lovely stood up happily. "Choke him with the rocks!"

"Is that even possible…?"

"Choke him with more rocks!"

"We shouldn't choke him."

That only came from a redheaded child from the very back, holding a blanket to her chest.

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!" Her classmates shouted.

"But that's the fun part!" An extremely short bluenette - Marine - shouted.

"We could write something really mean to him and slide it under his door?" She reasoned softly.

"I vote with Rouge!" A donut haired pinkeye cheered. Of course, at least Dream was the pacifist.

The children looked at each other, rather bored of this proposition.

"…who still wants to clock him?"

"ME!" Everyone raised a hand except for the redhead and rosette.

Rouge whispered to the rosette. "We should write that letter."

The rosette giggled at the whisper hitting her ear.

Truly, Rouge herself was certainly not like the other children. In fact, she was an enigma to him. She had to be the weakest one.

She was easy to break.

Rouge loved Dream. This was common knowledge to him, and certainly to the other children in Preschool. She would do anything for her, even the most painful of things, and walk away without batting an eyelash.

A love for someone like that could control the universe.

"Oh," She looked up at the clock on the wall. "Blue-sensei wanted to talk to me soon. I don't think I'll be gone for long."

"Nuuu! You gotta stay!" the rosette hugged her.

"I'll be fine. Besides, Blue-sensei doesn't want much from me." Rouge smiled softly at her.

"Rouge…"

"I'll be back." She pressed a kiss to her forehead, making the rosette gasp.

While the future fire cure was easy to break, she was certainly stubborn at her core. Thus, when she entered Blue's room, she did so with the quietness of a dove.

"You wanted to see me, Blue-sensei?"

"Ah, Rouge." He smiled at her - an odd smile at that - from his desk. "I've been expecting you."

"Am I in trouble?" she asked.

"Not in the slightest. However, I do have a favor to ask you." He mused while filing a few papers.

"No thank you," she said.

"I wanted to - what?"

"No thank you." She shook her head and clutched her blanket closer. "I wouldn't like that."

She…!

He smiled in a sweat. "I don't think you let me finish, Rouge."

"I said no thank you." She said simply. "I don't want to." She then turned to walk out.

"That wouldn't be very nice, Rouge," His voice stopped her from exiting. "What about Dream?"

"Dream likes me as I am. Everyone does." She continued her trek. "I don't want to lose myself."

"Wouldn't it be a shame if you let her down?"

"I never let her down."

"She would hate you forever."

"She doesn't hate me-"

Rouge yelped as she was dragged back by the arm. "Don't walk away from me."

"Let go please."

"Not until you listen to- AH!" The God yelped and fell to the ground at the feeling of a geyser hitting his back.

"Thank you," the redhead quickly left.

"What's wrong with you?" A bluenette barked at him. "What do you want from her?"

"None of your business," he spat.

"Rouge never hurt you! Why do you want to hurt her?" It was taking everything in the child not to drown him right there. "She's nice!"

"Aqua, go to your room. Leave this to an adult."

"I would but I don't see any around." She grit her teeth. "So why don't you just get lost before I show you a real storm?!"

"Aqua, don't you dare-AGH!"

She kicked him square in the nose before running off. When she turned the corner, she saw Rouge curled up into a ball over her blanket.

"Rouge," She kneeled down. "You alright?"

The redhead hugged her. "Can we get orange soda?"

"Mhm." Aqua kissed her cheek and led her back to the classroom.

Rouge looked behind her, fright within her small eyes.


"Is this the same kid who said she couldn't play?"

Ju Lan couldn't help but play a lot of pieces while their journey for the Stone Heart continued. Pieces she didn't even know the names of, but her fingers moved as though she knew them her entire life.

She flushed while walking ahead of the adults. "It's therapy."

"It can't be! You're too young to have issues!"

"Lots of people have issues, Black," she argued while switching to a waltz. "Even kids. Especially kids."

"But she's…" she looked to Ju Lan. "How old Are You? Like… 2…? 3…?"

"I'm 14 years old." She deadpanned.

"But your short."

The teen looked to White. "If something happens, can we use her as a sacrifice?"

"You got it."

"HEY!"

"Told you. Adults are crazy." Ju Lan whistled innocently.

"Young lady, get back here!"

"No."

"Okay."

"Black!"

"What?!"

"Ugh…"

"I think I like it over here."

Ju Lan smirked as she continued to idly play. 'Perhaps these adults aren't as bad as I initially thought…but they're still cheesy.'

"Any song requests~?"

Black raised a hand.

"I know nothing from the 30s, Gramma."

"CHILD, I AM 36!"

"Uh-huh."

"Do you know Happy Birthday?" White smiled.

"Who doesn't?" she giggled. "Everyone knows that-"

"No, no, I mean your Happy birthday."

"I… think…" she said. "It's like any other rendition right?"

"Not yours," White shook her head. "Yours was composed for a very special reason - and a very special someone."

"Oh god don't let it be a boy…" both Ju Lan and Black mumbled.

Smack!

"Ow! MEAN!" Black pouted as she held her cheek.

"I'm not sure if I can play a different version of a song everyone knows…"

"You managed to play everything else." White held Black's hand tightly. "Try to play this."

"I'll try." She shrugged and lifted the violin to her shoulder. "Just brace yourself for a hot mess."

However, when the child closed her eyes to play, she swore a vision entered her mind. A vision of a grassy field, and several balloons in the sky. A castle in the distance, and multicolored stones leading to it.

She felt herself standing on the stones, playing this exact piece. And someone standing right in front of her as she played.

A smile painted her features.

"Happy birthday."

She swore she heard happy clapping.

That sound…!

The teen stopped playing, looking down at her violin in disbelief. "I….Did Li An follow us here?" she looked around.

Black looked around. "No. No one but us."

"Am I hallucinating?"

"Aren't you too young?"

"Aren't you too old for an outfit like that?"

"You…!"

The teen stuck her tongue out at her. White whispered into her ear.

"She's got your attitude."

"Nokaaaaa…"

Rustle rustle…

Ju Lan stopped teasing her when she heard the sound of leaves rustling from the snowy bushes. "You guys hear that?"

"Actually yes," White noted. "Is someone there?" she called.

THUD!

A harsh thud sounded in the deep depths of the woods, bringing all 3 on edge. Black then felt something tugging at her, and she walked forward.

"I'm gonna go check it out…stay here." She guided Ju Lan towards White before rushing into the forest.

"Is she gonna be okay…?" the teen asked.

"I'm sure she will be-" White was cut off by a shrill scream in the forest.

"NO!"

"Black?!" White picked up Ju Lan and ran. "Black, what's wrong?! Are you okay?!"

The child got a bit of a whiplash from being picked up so suddenly. However, it died down into fright when she saw Black weeping over an unconscious, beaten brunette young man.

"Oh my God…" White covered her mouth, while Ju Lan was confused. Who was that?

"Arienai…" Black sobbed. "This can't be… how did he even…"

Regardless of who he was, Ju Lan had to wince - he looked like he had been through a fight, and a bad one too. His sweater was soaked with blood and sweat, his face was bruised badly, and his head…

That looks really bad.

Ju Lan tugged on White's bow. "Let me play for him."

The adult looked to her. "You're sure?"

"I am," She nodded. "I have an idea."

With that, White let her down on the ground gently. The teen watched Black sob over the man, feeling her heart break. She didn't know her relation to him, but seeing Black and him in this state was gutting.

She raised her violin to her chin and began to play a free and resounding aria. Once more, she did not think and only played while she concentrated.

'I don't know who you are. But please, be healed… please be okay….'

Black clutched the man protectively while she wept, muttering soaked apologies over and over. She didn't notice his body began to glow, and each bruise he suffered began to heal itself bit by bit.

"I'm sorry…" she mumbled. "I'm so sorry…"

A - now healed - hand shakily raised to touch her cheek. "N-Nagisa…"

Her eyes widened at the touch and voice. "R-Ryouta…?"

The man opened his eyes slowly as tears fell from them. "You're okay….."

"Me? What about you?!" She wept. "You're all messed up…!"

"I didn't think I'd see you again….." His voice was cracking.

"I didn't think I'd see you…" she sobbed.

"I missed you…" He cried while she held him to her chest, wailing.

"Ryouta…!"

White blinked back tears in her eyes before she whispered to the girl who had finished her aria.

"That's her little brother…"

"Arienai…" Ju Lan whispered back.

She herself didn't have any siblings - so, she didn't know what that was like. But she knew that this new information hurt her heart even further. How long has Tenebris kept them apart?

"…Oh!" Black sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Ju Lan, over here!"

The teen stiffened, but obeyed and approached them, kneeling down in the snow in front of them.

"This is my brother," she said.

"Oh…" the teen noted. "So he's the one who didn't stop you from running around in a 50 year old outfit from your glory days?"

"I-I wouldn't say that…" The adult sister sweatdropped.

"Hmmm…" She narrowed her eyes. "Well, anyway - I'm Ju Lan. And I-!" She was cut off by a tight hug from him. "Oh…" She hugged him back, feeling compelled.

'He likes to hug, doesn't he? I kinda like it.'

White reached down to hold Black's hand. "It'll be okay." She whispered to her. "That's another reason."

"I know…" the ginger whispered. "Do we take him back with us?"

"We can't just leave him here…" White looked back at Ryouta and the teenager. "We'll have to take him with us. But back to the castle as well…besides, he needs to be there. To free…."

"I know…" she swallowed and gave a little smile. "How do we tell your Mom?"

"Ughhhh…" she groaned and looked down at the violin on the ground.

"Let's just cross that bridge when we get to it."

"We can just blame Marine."

"True.."


"Before anyone sees…"

Cleaning up after a food fight…eh. Things could be worse. But they also weren't getting any better. Porcelain, glass, and dust galore rested on the ground after the fight of the century. And everyone had to stay behind to clean it up.

Except for Dream and her "posse". Weirdly, they were not around. Which was not ideal, given they could use 6 more pairs of hands.

And that intern…

"Ah!"

Muddied gold bumped into dark maude as both tumbled to the ground, glass breaking beneath them. The latter growled and shoved her off of her form.

"Watch where you're going, dipshit! You nearly stabbed me!"

"S-Sorry…" She scrambled, shaking as she tried to clean up.

"What's with your outfit?"

"H-Huh?" she halfway put pieces of porcelain in a bag when she heard those words.

"Why are you bright yellow?"

"Oh, i-it's just a…it's just the light," she tried. "It's the dust…"

"Dust dulls, not brightens."

"I-I know but-"

"Guys," Moonlight called with a dark smirk. "Come see Sunshine's new look."

"But there are no guys here," Marine reminded.

"She's sparkling."

"WHAT?!"

Before Sunshine could rebut, she was being bombarded with curious and confused Shadows.

"Saiark?!" A bubbly blue Shadow rushed up and shook her shoulders.

"I don't know how it happened, Princess!"

"Saiark~"

"I'm not lying!"

"Your hair got brighter," Shadow Whip tugged on a long pigtail.

"OW!"

"Saiark?!"

"No it's still not edible and it never will be."

"Saiark." She pouted.

"And your bow!" Marine tugged on it. "It's blue now~…" She gasped in awe. "THIS MEANS YOU'RE-"

"If you sing that song…" Sunshine groaned.

"Sunshine, just what are you now?" Beauty asked quizzically.

Sunshine thought for a while before smiling a bit. "I don't know. What do you think?"

"Hmmm…"

"Saiark?"

"Princess, you have a dirty mind." Sunshine shook her head before smiling wider. "Let's play charades!"

"SAIARK!"

"Only people who can say more than one word."

"Saiark…." She pouted and sat in the corner.

"Charades? I love charades! I think." Peace muttered the last part.

"No, this is an easy game! You just gotta pay attention," Sunshine said and stood in front of the group. "1 word." She lifted her finger and then laid down to pretend she was sleeping. Then, she yawned and sat up, looking at the 'watch' on her hand before scrambling to her feet and running across the dining room.

"Oh! Oh!" Shadow Happy bounced. "Beetlejuice!"

Sunshine stopped in the center of the room, bowing to no one in particular before sitting down in a chair while holding her chest in exhaustion.

"Late? You're late?"

"For a very important date no time to say hello goodbye you're late you're late you're late?" Marine asked.

She then got up and groaned in annoyance, miming putting on a belt before taking on a karate stance.

"Oooh! Everybody's kung fu fighting?"

"Can you ONLY speak in running jokes?!"

"Yes."

Sunshine, however, stopped 'practicing', when she noticed something invisible in the air. She gasped in wonder as she kneeled down to draw her attention to it. Then, she smiled and hugged the air. "Hey…" she said. "I missed you."

Now the Shadows were extremely confused. But Blossom most of all - she was trying so hard to figure out what the word was she was trying to get them to say.

Then, Sunshine jumped up and gasped, pointing at something 'looming' overhead. Quickly, she ran and hid behind a chair.

Blossom didn't know why, but she felt herself running in front of the chair to protect her. Sunshine looked up in disbelief, but managed to keep her character as she watched Blossom, not wanting to disturb her.

She watched her charge.

She watched her protect.

Sunshine turned to Moonlight, who seemed to be holding her head in pain. A bad headache had come over her.

"…Moonlight!" She raised her finger, signaling there was still the word to figure out. She pantomimed spraying on perfume before posing in a heroic stance.

"What are you doing?" Marine asked.

She then pulled out a tambourine, making something click in Moonlight's mind. When she started hitting it and leaping to tall heights, that's when it hit her like a meteor.

"Oh my god…"

In her vision, she saw herself, standing in front of an overgrown tree, and someone fading in and out before her.

"This can't be real…" she whispered. "How did I even…."

"Thank you, Moonlight."

She felt tears in her eyes. "….C-Cologne…" she fell to her knees. "I…I'm sorry…"

"Moonlight?" Marine carefully approached her. "I-Is something-" She cut her off, the blue Shadow yelping when she hugged her tightly.

"Remember me…" She hiccuped.

"I…" she was caught way off guard. When her tears hit her shoulder slowly, that's when it began to click into place.

_I

YR_I

YURI

LUNA

"…Damn it…" She hid her face in her shoulder and wept. "Oh, how could I forget about Luna…?"

The older woman smiled and hugged her. "I missed you too."

Blossom watched the reunion in disbelief, and then looked at Sunshine in bewilderment. "What is…"

Sunshine smiled nostalgically. "I don't remember ever saying I was a boy."

Blossom just grabbed the nearest curtain and screamed into it. "Aaaagh, shit shit, SHIT!"

Sunshine just laughed and went over to hug her from behind.

"I missed you more."

"It was Marine's idea, I hope you know…"

"NO REGRETS!" Marine shouted while holding Moonlight. "COME HUG ME!"

The blonde and rosette did as told. As the reunited team embraced, Li An looked down at the scene over the balcony.

'So they're getting along, finally…' she smiled warmly. 'Good.'


Heartcatch is back again! Oh, that is a relief for sure. I don't think anyone would be able to handle Shadow Marine for too much longer. But as you can see, things are certainly not over. What happened to Princess? How did Ryouta get there? Why did Blue want little Rouge? :(

Stay tuned to find out - we are BACK in business!

- Sings