Ringo wa ukanda osora ni…
Ringo wa okkochita jibeta ni…
It was hell.
Hoshi ga umarete uta ga umarete
Ruru ameru wa waratta tokoshie to
Hoshi ga kisu shite uta ga nemutte
Fires were everywhere.
Kaeru toko wa doko deshō…?
Kaeru toko wa doko deshō…?
She reached out in the destruction to the one girl that stood in the center of it all.
Ringo wa okkochita jibeta ni…
Ringo wa ukanda osora ni…
The girl turned around with a haunting smile with blood dripping down her face. But the smile was one of reassurance.
"Thank goodness…"
Another figure ran at her, trying to pull her to safety. But the ceiling collapsed around them, bringing down debris and hiding them from view.
They were gone.
Maria Cadenzavna Eve snapped back to reality. That hellish memory… why did it have to resurface now, of all times? She looked at the cracked pendant in her hand, expression softening. Her eyes hardened again. No, now was not the time to get sentimental. She had a mission to do.
It had been three months since the battle against Finé, and two months since the school had been restored. It seemed as if everything would just go back to normal…
Rui Tachibana snorted. Of course it wouldn't, not with the lives they all had. Though, at least this one was a relatively simple mission.
Tsubasa, who had gotten to the top of the ranks as Japan's Top Idol Singer (Maia was sobbing tears of joy when they found out), was going to sing with Maria Cadenzavna Eve, America's Top Idol Singer. The collaboration was a dream come true to every idol fan out there. In fact, Miku and Hibiki's friend trio were in the crowd too. But as for herself? Well, she was sitting in Tsubasa's dressing room, watching as the girl talked to Ogawa.
Rui leaned back, listening to music on her phone. She remembered the quick briefing that she, Maia and Shuri had gotten. Just in case things went south for some reason, the three of them were positioned throughout the performance location, since the concert was going to be pretty big. Not only was it the first time Tsubasa would take the stage with another after several years, it would also be broadcast worldwide. Shuri was with Hibiki's friends, while Maia had volunteered to patrol the halls of the arena. This left Rui staying at Tsubasa's side until the girl was about to perform. It wasn't really her choice, as she remembered that Maia had insisted.
"Why me?" She had asked as they walked through the halls of the rebuilt Sector Two.
"Because you're the most serious one of us, and I trust you, partner." Maia had replied. "I would have said Hibiki or Chris, but they're gonna be off on that mission together."
Rui creased her brow. "Why do I feel like you have an ulterior motive?"
Maia looked around for eavesdroppers, before leaning in close. "Well, I also think that Tsubasa's got a bit of a thing going for that Maria girl."
"...they just met."
"My love senses don't lie, Rui!" Maia had said, pointing to the sky.
"...you're about a subtle as a brick, you know that?" Rui had snarked. "I doubt your "love sense" is accurate."
Rui chuckled at the memory, but agreed to keep an eye out. Then again, she herself did wonder about just what kind of person Maria exactly was.
She was about to get an answer right away, as the door burst open. Ogawa and Maia turned to look as Rui took out her earbuds.
"I'm coming in." Said a voice, as Maria walked through the door. She flipped her hair with a confidant smirk. "Good luck today. Try your best not to get in my way, okay?"
Rui rolled her eyes, while Tsubasa simply smiled and held out a hand to Maria. "Once the curtains go up, we'll be on a battlefield. I still lack experience, so I'd be grateful for your assistance out there."
Maria didn't take the hand, the same confident expression on her face, though Rui swore that for a moment that Maria had looked at her. "I'll see you again on the stage, I have high expectations."
Maria simply walked out the door, as it closed behind her. Tsubasa and Ogawa stared at the closed door for a bit.
"...the fuck was that?" Rui asked.
"She left quite the intense impression." Ogawa commented. "As expected of a foreign top artist."
"So that was Maria Cadenzavna Eve." Tsubasa said.
"What are your first impressions like?" Ogawa asked the two, just out of curiosity.
"I dunno." Rui said. "Kinda bitchy, really. Could be just a stage personality or something."
Tsubasa put a hand underneath her chin. "She's the cute type… I think."
"Eh? Cute?" Ogawa asked, surprised. "What we just saw? Was it really?"
Tsubasa began to explain. "She seems like… A girl always on the verge of tears, with a messy room that she never cleans. A troublesome personality, but she's the cute type, no mistake."
Rui imitated picking up a phone. "Hello Miss Pot? Miss Kettle called. She says you're blac-!"
"It seems somehow, fellow artists can understand each other on a different level." Ogawa said, speaking over Rui's statement.
"We can connect through song, I guess." Tsubasa said. "I'll be happy at the end of today's performance if we know each other a little better."
Rui was very tempted to smash her head through the wall, since part of her knew that Maia would brag about how she was right.
"Well, it's time to get ready soon. We'd better go." Ogawa said, looking at his watch. "Rui-san, what are you going to do?"
"I'll probably join Maia in patrolling the hallways." Rui said, stretching. "Maybe watch the performance through some of the hall TVs that show the stage."
"Good luck, Tachibana." Tsubasa said.
"I just hope everything goes well." Rui said, giving the idol a thumbs-up.
Maia whistled as she walked through the hallways. The job was boring, but she couldn't afford to get lazy, since it was almost time for the concert to start. She saw a familiar face right outside the costume department though.
"Yo! Rui!" She said, waving.
Spotting her friend, Rui walked over.
"Anything out of place?" Rui asked.
"Nah, it's all good." She said. "How's my little sis?"
"She's doing fine." Rui said.
"And… did she have anything to say about that Maria?" Maia asked with a smirk.
Rui hesitated, before shaking her head. But this was all Maia needed.
"Ah, she did say something? What is it?"
"I'm not going to give you an answer." Rui said.
"C'mon, tell me!" Maia said, before holding up her hands ominously. "You don't want me to unleash the tickle fingers, do you~?"
"Unless you want all of them to be broken fingers." Rui said, cracking her knuckles.
"Fine, fine." Maia dismissed, though she knew Rui was serious. "But can you tell me? I do have a right to know."
"Why?"
"...uh, hello? I'm her sister?"
Rui groaned. Maia did have a point.
"So… you gonna tell me now?" Maia asked.
"Fine. Tsubasa thinks that…" Rui hesitated for half a second. "...that Maria's the cute type."
"I knew it!" Maia cheered with a fist pump. "My love sense never lies!"
"Please just shut up." Rui muttered.
"Guess who was right? Me!"
"Guess who's gonna get a one way trip to the hospital if she doesn't shut up?" Rui threatened.
"Oh fine, I won't brag about it… much." Maia said, before looking at one of the televisions to see that Maria had taken the stage. "Oh hey, it's starting!"
The crowd was cheering, chanting Maria's name over and over again.
"That's Maria Cadenzavna Eve for you! She just rocks live!" Yumi said from the VIP seating she was in with her friends, waving her glow sticks like crazy.
"She only just made it onto the US charts a few months ago, but she's already got a great stage presence." Shiori added.
"I thought we could do something like this for the next school fair, but there's no way we could pull off an event of this scale." Yumi said, sitting down.
"That plan of yours was doomed from the start, Itaba-san." Shiori said.
"I couldn't imagine myself doing it." Shuri Yukine said, sitting still with her hands on her lap. "I don't do well in front of large crowds."
Miku worryingly looked at her watch.
"Still no word from Bikki or Kinechri?" Kuriyo asked. "The show's about to start."
Miku shook her head, looking down. Shuri stayed silent as well, though she and Miku knew why the two hadn't shown up.
"And Kazanari-san extended her a personal invitation, too." Shiori said. "I can't believe she'd miss tonight's special duet."
"C'mon, she never lets anyone down!" Yumi said, as the lights dimmed and the crowd went quiet.
An extension in the center of the stage rose, as the spotlights shone. Maria stood in a beautiful pure white dress that seemed almost European. Tsubasa wore a black and red dress that seemed to be a modern take on a traditional outfit to contrast Maria. The two carried microphones that resembled swords.
"Show me the blade you draw on the battlefield." Maria said to Tsubasa, who briefly smirked as if to comply.
The duet had begun.
(Huuh…) Masa ni koyoi, ima sekai wa (Cold moon…)
Hitotsu ni naru, todoki tamae, (Blue shine…) kanae tamae
Sā… hajimarō
3, 2, 1 Ready go! Fly!
Rui and Maia watched on the televisions, as the camera angles gave them perfect shots of the performance.
"The choreography is pretty good." Rui noted, seeing that the screens behind them transformed into different imagery depending on the lyrics. The spires of flame helped too.
"Is that really what you're paying attention to?" Maia asked, leaning against her friend (even though Rui was shorter than her). "What about the song?"
"Well… it's pretty good." Rui said, as Tsubasa sang alongside Maria.
"Only pretty good?" Maia repeated.
"...fine." Rui said. "It's really good. I'm not being sarcastic. I genuinely think that it's good."
"That's what I wanted to hear." Maia said, pushing off her friend, before briefly wiping her eyes.
"Are you crying?" Rui asked. "It's that good?"
"No, it's not that." Maia said. "It's just… look at how happy Tsubasa looks."
Rui looked at the screen again, seeing the shining expression on the sentinel's face.
"Wow… I never knew Tsubasa could smile like that." Rui said, surprised.
"Seeing her like that… it's so relieving." Maia said.
"Is her smiling really such a big deal?" Rui asked.
Maia frowned. "I… never told you how Tsubasa took it when I came back, did I?"
"No. You didn't."
"Blunt as always." Maia chuckled. "But… it wasn't pretty, to say the least."
Kanade Amou yawned as she stretched her arms. She walked up and down the stairs of the empty stadium. They had just finished dress rehearsal for a concert, and she was waiting for Tsubasa to finish up in the dressing room.
"Man, sometimes I forget how exhausting it can be." She sighed, sitting down in one of the seats. "But, it is pretty fun. Bet Tsubasa thinks the same too."
"Tsubasa always did love to sing." Said a similar sounding voice.
Kanade turned around to see a familiar head of blue standing on the steps.
"Oh, Tsubasa. You're done getting cleaned up? C'mon, I found this awesome ramen place-"
She stopped and looked again. The dressing manner was a bit more rebellious, akin to a delinquent. Her hair was also shorter, though she had the same hairpiece that held up a ponytail.
"Whoa… that's a new style. And you cut your hair too?" Kanade said, standing up. "Wait, did you do this for me?"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not Tsubasa." The double said. "I'm Maia Kazanari."
"Huh?" Kanade said, confused.
"I'm Tsubasa's older twin sister." Maia explained.
"Twin sister-?" Kanade sputtered. "Basa never told me about you."
"Tsubasa never spoke of me, huh… guess I can't blame her." Maia said looking down. "Where is she?"
"Um… she should still be in the dressing room." Kanade said. "I'll take you there."
The two walked through the empty stadium, and struck up a conversation.
"Wow, so you were so smart that you studied in universities overseas?" Kanade said. "That's crazy."
"It was an offer, but yeah." Maia explained.
"But still, I never expected Basa to have a twin sister." Kanade admitted. "Though, I like your style."
"Thanks." Maia said. "I always preferred wearing stuff like this. Makes me feel less trapped and more free."
"No way, me too!" Kanade said with a smile. "It feels awesome wearing stuff that doesn't hold you back."
"...maybe not that free though." Maia noted, looking at the fairly skimpy top and shorts Kanade wore.
Kanade laughed as the two stopped outside the dressing room. Maia was about to open it, but Kanade briefly stopped her.
"Before you go in there, I need to ask. How is Tsubasa going to react?"
Kanade's expression had become serious, and Maia sighed.
"I… don't know." Maia admitted. "Because I basically ran away… left her behind…"
Kanade crossed her arms, before leaning against the wall.
"Go on in." She said. "I'll be here if things get out of hand."
Maia nodded, before taking a deep breath and opening the door and walking in. Tsubasa was sitting by the mirror, buttoning up her shirt and facing away.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Kanade." She said. "I just finished up. Where did you want to-?"
"Hey, Tsubasa."
Tsubasa froze at the voice. It was a voice she hadn't heard in so many years. One that sounded so similar to her own. She slowly turned around to see Maia.
"Maia?" She said, voice shaking. A name she hasn't said in years.
"Yeah." Maia said, giving a half-hearted attempt at a smile. "I'm back."
Tsubasa stood up and walked forward as Maia held up her arms. Half of her thought that a hug would happen.
The other half came true instead, as Tsubasa slapped Maia across the face. Hard. She was sent stumbling and caught herself on the wall.
"Yeah. I deserved that." Maia groaned, rubbing her chin. "You've gotten stronger, little sis."
"Why did you come back?" Tsubasa said in a low voice, eyes shadowed by her hair.
"I've finished studying." Maia said. "Graduated and everything."
"Why did you come back?" Tsubasa repeated.
"Because I wanted to see how much my baby sister has grown?" Maia said, standing straight again.
"Did you now?" Tsubasa said, tightening her fist, her voice slowly rising. "After so many years, you finally decide to visit me? You just suddenly remember the sister that you threw away?"
"Tsubasa-"
"SHUT UP!"
Tsubasa grabbed Maia by the collar and pinned her against the wall.
"Do you have any idea what you did?!" Tsubasa screamed, punching Maia in the face. "Everything I've been through, I've been suffering, alone!" Another punch. "You promised me that you'd always be there, but you abandoned me!" Another punch. "And then you come back, as if everything's fine?!" Another punch. "Kanade's been more of a sister to me than you ever were!" Another punch. "What do you even possibly have left to say to me?! To the sister was nothing more than an afterthought?!"
Maia coughed, as the blood ran down her face. Tears started to form in her eyes. "You've grown so much."
"Why are you crying?! I should be the one crying!" Tsubasa yelled. "I should be the one… crying..."
"Does it feel better?" Maia asked, as the tears started to flow. "If not, you can keep on punching me."
"Why…?" Tsubasa asked, shaking, as she let go.
Maia slumped to the ground, leaning against the wall. Her clothes splattered with blood and tears, she looked up at her sister.
"Tsubasa… I'm sorry. I'm… so sorry." Maia apologized, heart heavy with regret.
Tsubasa's mask of anger started to crack, as tears of her own started to drop. She got down on one knee, until she was eye to eye with her sister. Maia's eyes started to close as she fell forward, but Tsubasa caught her, pulling her into a hug. Maia shakily put her arms around Tsubasa as well, gently patting her on the back of the head.
"Neesama…" Tsubasa sobbed. She had missed her sister's warm hugs.
Kanade looked into the room with a soft smile.
Rui's eyes were wide when Maia finished her story. "Wow…"
"Yeah." Maia said, rubbing her cheek as if the pain were fresh. "Things were always a little shaky even after that, but Kanade managed to bring the two of us back together. I couldn't be any more grateful to her, for helping mend our relationship."
She looked up at the screen, as the performance finished up.
"She would be happy with where Tsubasa is now." Maia said.
"I bet she'd be happy with you too." Rui said.
"Eh?"
"You really became that sister the Tsubasa needed." Rui said, smiling.
"Heh, thanks." Maia said. "You know, you look better when you smile."
The smile almost instantly was replaced with a scowl. "Why does Chris and everyone else always tell me that?"
"Oho? Any reason why you said Chris in particular?" Maia said with a mischievous grin.
Rui blushed furiously, before socking Maia in the stomach.
"Gah!" Maia held her stomach. "What was that for?!"
"Partly because you ran away and left Tsubasa, since you so conveniently neglected to mention that the first time. The other reason is for the teasing." Rui said, turning back to the screen.
Maia laughed weakly, before turning back to the screen.
"Thank you, everyone!" Tsubasa spoke to the crowd, who cheered for her. "Every day, your support inspires me to do my very best. That's why I hope my songs can give a little inspiration in return to everyone who listens to them!"
The crowd cheered once more, before Maria held out an arm.
"I'll make my songs reach all around the world!" She declared. "Never looking back, always charging ahead! Keep up with me if you can!"
It was almost as if the crowd's cheers had doubled, no, increased tenfold. Tsubasa and Maria felt as if they heard the audience from the entire world.
"I'm grateful for the chance to stand on this stage tonight, especially alongside Kazanari Tsubasa, Japan's most famous singer." She said.
"I'm also honored to have met a wonderful singer like yourself." Tsubasa complimented, holding out her hand.
Maria took the handshake, smiling. "We must show everyone the true power of music."
"Power that can change the world." Tsubasa agreed, before the two let go.
"And that's not all." Maria said, stepping forward, causing Tsubasa to raise a brow in confusion. Maria held out her arm once more.
As soon as she did, Noise materialized in front of the stage, before peppering themselves throughout the stadium. The crowds screamed in terror and panic. Tsubasa's expression turned to horror and betrayal, as she looked at Maria.
"Don't panic." Maria said quietly, almost to herself. She put the mic closer to her mouth and shouted. "Don't panic!"
Her loud and commanding voice caused all the screams to die down.
"What the hell?!" Rui shouted.
"Noise?! Here?!" Maia exclaimed. "How?!"
"I don't care how." Rui said, before pressing a button on her belt and activating Kagutsuchi. "I'm going out there!"
She quickly ran off, but Maia stayed glued to the spot, watching the events unfold on the screen.
Sector Two was already analyzing the situation as best as they could.
"Confirmed! A large mass of Noise have appeared!" Sakuya said. "Location: the Queens of Music concert hall!"
"What?!" Genjuro shouted, standing up.
"That took long enough." Said an elderly voice.
A woman with dark blue hair was observing the situation from a command room, far away from the location of chaos. She was sitting in an advanced wheelchair that supported her.
"But now we can finally set our plan in motion." She said two figures behind her, hidden in the shadows.
Though shining around their necks were crystal-like pendants...
"What's going on?" Yumi asked, watching it all unfold down below. "Why is this happening again?"
"Hibiki…" Miku said, hoping her friend would get her quicker.
Shuri silently pulled out an icy blue pen, ready to use it at a moment's notice.
A chopper flew through the air, en route to the stadium. Hibiki and Chris had finished up their escort mission and were on their way. Though, they weren't expecting another crisis to pop up so soon.
"Roger." Aoi said, into the communicator. "I'll be arriving at the scene in forty minutes with the two combatants. We'll get the situation under control then."
She put it down, and turned to the two Symphogear users.
"You heard what they said." Aoi said. "I know three battles in a row must be exhausting for you, but you're all we have left."
They nodded, before looking at the screens that covered the chaos.
"And something's controlling the Noise here too." Chris noted.
Hibiki looked closer at some of the cameras, and saw that her sister had just made it to the inner arena. Looking up high, she saw Shuri positioned, already aiming Okami.
"I know oneesan and the others can hold out until we get there." Hibiki said.
Aoi frowned. "We don't know the details yet, but…"
"But what?" Hibiki asked.
"When you consider the targeted Noise attack on Solomon's Cane, and the events at the arena right now, it's almost certain that the incidents are related." Aoi said.
Hibiki and Chris contemplated the fact, and their worry only grew.
Shuri aimed Okami at several Noise that were closest to the crowd. While they weren't moving, she was ready to fire at a moment's notice. She saw Rui down below, and the two locked eyes, nodding at one another. Kagutsuchi's armored greaves weren't out, so Rui could hide the belt under her hoodie until it was needed.
Up on stage, Tsubasa looked around, before pulling off her outfit's collar to reveal her pendant.
"Aren't we scary?" Maria said. "You're still ready to fight, even at such an overwhelming disadvantage. But you shouldn't be so hasty. Do you really think you could stop the Noise from slaughtering the audience?"
Tsubasa grit her teeth. While hidden in the crowd, Rui did so as well, tightening her fist.
"Not to mention…" Maria looked at all the screens around the stadium. "This show is being broadcast all over the world. While the Japanese government disclosed the technology behind Symphogear, they said nothing about its users. Am I right, Tsubasa Kazanari?"
"Do you think so little of me?" Tsubasa asked. "Do you really believe I'd hesitate to draw my sword?"
"I kinda like that about you." Maria admitted, expression growing a bit sad. "If everyone had the guts to fight for each other like you do, the world might have been a better place."
"What…?" Tsubasa said, confused at the sudden change in tone. "Maria Cadenzavna Eve. Who are you?"
"Hmm, right." Maria said. "I guess it's time to start the real show."
She flipped the microphone in her hand, before moving it up to speak into it.
"We hold dominion over the Noise! Thus, we claim rulership of all countries throughout the world!"
"She's turning the whole world against her?" Tsubasa muttered. "This is-"
Ogawa was running through the halls and came across the TV that Maia was watching. "A declaration of war!"
"Holy hell…" Maia said, not noticing that Ogawa had arrived. "That girl's got some serious nerves of steel."
"And so…" Maria said, throwing her microphone into the sky. "Granzizel bilfen Gungnir zizzl~"
Maria smirked as she was engulfed in energy, a red pendant glowing on her neck.
"It can't be!" Tsubasa shouted.
"Those wave patterns!" Sakuya shouted. "This is-!"
"Gungnir datto?!" Genjuro yelled.
"No goddamn way…" Maia said, staring at the screen in shock with Ogawa.
Shuri's eyes widened as Maria's transformation completed. Tsubasa and Rui were left completely stunned as Maria was now garbed in black Symphogear armor that was unmistakably Gungnir.
Hibiki and Chris joined in on the other's shock as they looked at the screen.
"A black… Gungnir?" Hibiki said.
Maria caught the microphone as it came down, before speaking into it once more.
"I… We are Finé! Yes… We are the ones named "the end!""
"Finé…?" Rui repeated, rubbing her leg as she remembered the pain. "What the fuck is going on…?"
A/N: Welcome back to Symphogear X2, everyone!
I know several people have mentioned to me that this fic is merely just a rehash of regular Symphogear, so I decided to add some more scenes focusing on the POV of the twins.
The intro scene of Symphogear G with Hibiki and Chris did happen in canon, it just wasn't shown here. (Because really, why would you be reading this fic if you haven't seen the show yet?)
I also decided to incorporate some of the OVA skits into the thing, to help fill out some more of it.
And now, a big thing I should mention, to those who were looking forward to twins for Maria, Kirika and Shirabe, know that I heavily considered writing siblings for the FIS Trio, but then I realized that it would effectively double the cast, making it even hard to write around them due to the many, many factors that would involve them (Also, power to Maria and Serena's mom if I did that). Not to mention that Kirika, Maria and Serena's cases are also a lot more complicated due to their Parallel Selves's situations. So unfortunately, they will not be in the main story. I hope you all understand.
However, I do have something in mind regarding them, and it's something I might do once this story is over. I wouldn't keep your hopes up though, since I don't know if I might do it yet.
But still, thank you to everyone that's stuck with this fic. It means a lot to me.
See you all next time.