Work Text
Once upon a time, the world ended. It didn’t burn down in fire, nor did the oceans rise and swallow the earth whole. The end of the world was quiet. Dark. Cold. Buildings were slowly overtaken by nature- whatever was left of nature, that is. Cities became ghost towns.
In such ghost towns, it was unlikely that things changed rapidly- if they changed at all. Objects remained where they were. But sometimes there were structures that were unstable. And sometimes that made the difference between life and death.
A plumbing pipe, long since rusted, snapped in half. As it fell, it hit a large green cocoon. The pipe impaled the membrane surface, slowly splitting it in half. The pipe fell onto the flow, blissfully unaware of what process it had just begun.
Hyuuga Saki was not a complicated person. She had things she liked, things she didn’t. She did her best to be a good person every day. She hated waking up early, but would if it meant she got to see her girlfriend. Complicated things did have a tendency to happen to Saki. It was unfair, truly. Magical foes, creatures from other worlds- and now this. When Saki opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was all the green goo. It had a gelatinous texture and was leaking onto the floor. As Saki blinked her eyes, trying to get her eyes used to the… lack of light in the building. That was the next thing she noticed: how dark it was. She could barely make out the room in front of her. She lifted her hand to rub her eyes, but quickly stopped as she realized the green goo was all over her too. “What the heck is going on?” Saki asked. She was shocked at how her voice sounded. It was quiet, raspy. Like she hadn’t used it in years. She took a step forward and nearly fell over. Saki turned around to see where the green goo was coming from and saw a giant green cocoon. A human sized cocoon. With a her sized hole in it now. Saki sat down and started pulling the goo off. Think, Saki, think. What was the last thing you remember? Saki… had been on a date with Mai. They had gone to an art museum. Saki hadn’t understood a thing, but Mai was so happy. Then…Then they were attacked by something. No- multiple someONEs. They had shot at Mai, and Saki had jumped in front of her. And then it went black. And now she was here. Okay. Multiple questions. Where was here? Where was Mai? Was Mai okay? How long had she been here? It was midday when she and Mai got attacked, and now it was clearly night. As she peeled the last off the goo off herself, she raised her hand to get started on her hair… which she found to be much longer than it had ever been. Saki ran her fingers through her hair, trying to figure out how long it was (and how much goo was in it). It seemed to end in the middle of her back. So. Maybe she’d been in that cocoon for longer than a day then. Saki took a deep breath and stood up. Her legs wobbled, but she didn’t fall again. She had to find Mai.
Finding Mai was harder than she thought. First, she could barely see what was in front of her, even as her eyes adjusted to the minimal lighting in this abandoned building. Second, the building itself seemed to hate her? Everywhere she stepped she had to jump out of the way to avoid an exposed nail, or glass or whatever. The point was: the building hated her. Third, her voice wasn’t working. Her legs were still jelly-adjacent, but they were functioning enough! Her voice, however, had yet to get the memo. She couldn’t exactly shout for Mai when she couldn’t say basically anything!! She couldn’t give up though. She was going to find Mai. She could feel Mai, in her heart, in her soul. They were partners bonded by magic and she could feel that bond. She knew Mai was alive. Despite herself, Saki sighed. She wasn’t getting anywhere in this stupid ghost tower. She headed to a window (or, what was left of a window) and tried to get a lay of the land outside. What she saw… confused her.There were no city lights, despite her clearly being in the city. Huge apartment complexes, layers up layers of infrastructure, but not a single sign of a human life. No cars, no street lamps, no nothing. As she looked closely, she could tell that many of those buildings were covered in… some kind of plant, but for the life of her she wouldn’t be able to identify it. It just looked… wrong. As weird as it was, Mai was most likely out there. She just had to get out there. Hastily heading to the stairs on her wobbly legs, Saki realized that a huge chunk of the wall had been ripped out. The stairs lead down to what once was a courtyard, and then to nowhere at all. “Are you kidding me?” She said to herself, mostly out of frustration. This stupid freaking building… She didn’t have much time to curse the building however, as she heard an odd creaking noise from behind her. She turned and saw a monster. It had a long snout with rows of razor sharp teeth. Its body was more like a fish, except for the fact that it was using its fins to swim through the air. As it realized she was there, its large golden eye widened. It wasted no time in lunging. Saki ran. She couldn’t get very far with her legs the way they were, but if she made it back into the center of the building, the concrete would provide some shelter. Unfortunately, the world was against her. Her legs crumbled beneath her before she could make it through the courtyard. Saki closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. She heard something collide with the freaky fish- and loud THWAP followed by the sound of rushing wind. Saki cautiously opened her eyes. The fish was no longer in front of her. It had indeed been thrown to the other side of the courtyard. Standing where the fish once was was a woman. The woman was tall- taller than Saki, at the very least. She wore a dark leather jacket and combat boots. Her dark gray green pants had enough pockets to sneak at least a whole rotisserie chicken into a movie theatre. Dang. Now Saki wanted chicken. Anyway. The most noticeable thing by far about this woman was her hair. This woman’s hair was a vibrant orange (possibly the most vibrant thing Saki had seen since that green ooze) and it was glowing. Saki had to squint, trying to adjust to the whole new level of light in her field of vision. Was this woman’s hair made of fire or something? Before Saki could ask any of her (very critical) questions about this woman’s magic hair, the fish began its counter attack. “Look out!” Saki cried. The woman didn’t move. She waited as the fish charged up and sped towards her. Once the fish was almost at its target, the woman jumped up, grabbed by its snout, and flipped it on its back. Saki was almost too stunned to speak. This woman didn’t look like a Precure, but clearly she had some access to magic. A regular human could never have done that! As the fish floundered (ha!) Saki carefully walked up to the mystery woman. “Excuse me?” Saki asked. “Look I’m- I’m really lost and could use some directions. And it seems like you kinda know your way around this place…”Saki trailed off as the woman turned to face her. The woman’s brow furrowed. “You- that’s not possible. Saki-san?” Saki blinked. “How did you know my name?”“That’s you? You’re Hyuuga Saki?” “As far as I’m aware!” Saki tried to smile. “What’s going on? Who are you?” The woman’s face broke out into a huge grin. She pulled Saki into a huge hug. Saki was struck, suddenly, by warmth. She hadn’t realized how cold she was. “Oh, Saki-san, you have no idea how great it is to see you!” She said, still smiling. “Oh, um, I am aware this is probably a lot to take in, but it’s me! Hino Akane!”Saki stared. Hino Akane? Hino Akane was a hot tempered but well meaning bundle of energy- not a hyper-competent warrior! Although, as Saki looked at her, the similarities were there… Her face resembled Akane’s, that was for sure. “Akane-san did not have glowing orange hair.” Saki managed to say. Akane (?) paused. “Yeah, well. I do now. It’s just one of the many changes you’re going to have to get used to.” She said, her voice suddenly much quieter. Akane released Saki from the hug. Saki regretted questioning her immediately. Now she was super cold. “Listen, Akane-san..” Saki began. “Where am I? How did I get here? Where’s Mai?” “One question at a time, please!” Akane plastered a smile on her face again. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you just got let out of a gross green cocoon?”“Yes! How on earth did you know?” “Not my first rodeo.” Akane replied. “Can you show me where it was? Those things hold a lot of important stuff.” Saki nodded. She began leading Akane through the ruins of the building. Akane stayed close, which was great, because her new magic hair was both a light source and a heat source! Two for one baby! At some point, Akane realized Saki’s legs weren’t working like they should, and she forced Saki to lean on her for support. Saki got extra warm! Once they returned to the cocoon, Akane had Saki sit down. From one of her pockets she pulled out a folded up bag, and another a large knife. “What are you doing with those?” Saki asked. Akane didn’t answer right away. She began slicing thin layers of the ooze. “This stuff is super nutrient rich.” Akane explained. “It’s what’s been keeping you alive, but it also makes for great fertilizer! Which is hard to come by right now.” “It’s been what?!” Saki said. “How long was I in that cocoon??!!” Akane hesitated. “I don’t know if you want to hear that from me.” “Well who else is here??” Saki asked. “What is going on?? Why are you harvesting that thing???” Akane put down her knife and her bag. She walked over to Saki and grabbed her hands. “Saki-san.” She said quietly. “The last time anyone saw you was eight years ago. We all thought you were dead.” Eight years? That wasn’t possible. That was so close to ten years! She wasn’t 25! She had just been 15 a few minutes ago!Eight years- did Mai think she was dead? Her parents? Her sister? Karou and Micharu??? How had she ended up in that cocoon? EIGHT YEARS? Saki ripped her hands away from Akane and ran to the nearest ledge. She proceeded to empty whatever was in her stomach. Akane came behind and started rubbing her back. “How old am I?” Saki whispered. “23.” Akane said. “I think. Your birthday was in August, right?” Saki nodded. “What about everyone else? My family? Mai?” Akane winced. “Are they okay, Akane-san? What happened to them?” “Let’s sit back down.” Akane said, dodging the question. Saki tried to protest, but Akane grabbed her like she weighed nothing and placed her down on a rock. “Akane-san. Answer me.” “... Eight years is a long time.” Akane said, like Saki didn’t already know. Like she hadn’t just had the rest of her adolescent stolen from her. Akane continued. “Um, these cocoons… they were built by fairies native to Earth. You know how all the Precure fairies come from other worlds? Well, Earth has some too and hooo boy.”“Earth fairies?” Saki asked. Ok. Sure. Whatever. “Why would they attack a Precure? We’re allies with fairies.” “Not eight years ago we weren’t.” Akane sighed. “They were… a little power hungry, let’s say? And they came up with a plan to defeat the Precure by splitting us up. Many Precure, like you, were trapped in these cocoons that kept you alive but out of commission while they attacked.” Saki looked outside. At the world overrun with nature. “Did they win?” She asked, her voice small. Akane shook her head. “Nah, we kicked their asses! Also there was some lovers drama that led to a dramatic betrayal. Honestly a classic Precure adventure.” Akane smiled, remembering these events. Her face fell as she continued. “But it was a trap for all of us. While we were fighting each other, a dark force lurked in the background, waiting to make his move.”Saki held her breath. “The One King, he called himself. Once he knew that the fairies were defeated and we were weakened, he pounced. We didn’t have the numbers to fight against him, and he knew that. We didn’t have the time to find everyone, and he made sure we didn’t have any. And so, he reached out into the heavens and stole the sun and the moon.” Akane paused. Saki looked at her. “I”m sorry, he stole the sun??” “Yep.” Akane said. “How?” “I have no clue.” Akane admitted. “But he has control over where the sun shines. The whole world is in the dark- except for where he allows the light. Obviously the governments freaked out. Turns out the sun is kinda critical to our survival, y’know? So some people made deals with him. To make sure they had even a taste of sunlight.” “What about the Precure? Couldn’t we rally? Fight back?” Saki asked.“We tried. We lost.” Akane said, her voice resolute. “Now we try to help other people survive.” Saki’s head was spinning. The sun and moon, gone? “... And my family? Mai?”“I don’t know.” Akane told her, face hung in shame. “We kinda… lost contact with a lot of the other Precure. And your family… I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Those first few years… a lot of people died.” Saki felt her heart stop. That- that couldn't’ be true. Despite everything that happened, despite the sun literally no longer shining, that couldn’t be true. Her sister was just a kid. “Deep breaths, Saki-san. Deep breaths.” Akane said. Saki tried to follow Akane’s advice. In, out. In, out. Focus on what you can feel. Mai. Mai was still alive. She could feel her. “Mai’s still out there.” Saki eventually said. “I have to find her.” Saki didn’t know what else was left.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Akane remembered when the world ended. She was there when the sky went dark and people began to panic. She was there when it became clear there was nothing to be done. She was there when people began to die, one by one.
But at least she was there. She didn’t have to have the whole thing recounted to her after missing eight years. She knew who was alive or dead. She knew who she could look for and who was in the ground. Saki didn’t have that luxury.
So when Saki starts talking about how she could ‘feel Mai’ and about how ‘Mai was still out there’, Akane didn’t immediately shut her down. Saki needed something to hope for. Akane couldn’t crush that just yet.
Besides, as Saki kept talking about Mai, Akane could tell Saki was about to pass out. The cocoon life wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, and Saki needed time to recover. Once she was out, Akane would finish gathering this goo, and carry her back to the base.
Right on cue, Saki began to sway, and Akane grabbed her shoulders to make sure she didn’t hit her head. She layed Saki down and grabbed her knife.
She only had a small window before Saki woke up and began asking questions again. Akane was just thankful Saki wiped out before she could start questioning Akane’s hair.
Thankfully, Saki stayed asleep the whole trip back to the base. Akane made note of her physical well being- Saki had lost weight, but thankfully nothing too bad. Saki had been favoring her right leg, and her voice had been… off. That was unclear if that was from disuse or injury, but they’d know for sure once they got to the med-bay. Her right eye had also been a bright, unnatural green, but Akane suspected that was just a result of too much cocoon time. Hopefully it would fade.
She suspected Saki was also vitamin d deficient, but so was most of the world, so. Not much to do when the sun was being controlled by a maniac.
Saki stirred and Akane stopped, readjusting Saki in her arms so they were both more comfortable. Saki curled back into herself and kept sleeping.
The truth was: Akane knew where Mai was. Or where she had been. Mai was with the rest of what was left of the Precure resistance in the north. If she hadn’t been killed yet.
Back when the apocalypse had first started, they were much more unified. They had sent groups to look for the girls who were still in cocoons for
years
. Mai was the only one who hadn’t given up on Saki. But as they faced loss after loss, it became too hard to spend resources to look for one Precure.
Frankly, Akane was shocked to see Saki alive. They had found other Precure before Saki who had died in these green cages, the resources ran dry. Whole teams stuffed into one cocoon, pilling out as barely more than skeletons.
Akane won’t forget when they found the Happiness Charge team.
Saki might have been saved because she was by herself. No one else to share the goop’s food supply with.
Akane just hoped she could keep Saki alive outside the cocoon as well.
Luckily, they made it back to the base without too much fuss. Akane signaled to be let into the building. She paused, before signing that she would need Rikka out here.
The signals and signs were Rikka’s idea- a remnant of when they were part of a larger threatening force and they needed to make sure people were truly who they said they were. Akane followed them out of habit, mostly. Rikka was much more enthusiastic.
They met in the middle. Akane was carrying Saki inside, heading to the med-bay when Rikka came running.
Hishikawa Rikka had been transformed by the end of the world. She had been stuck in a cocoon for three years before she was found- but had to spend nearly a year in recovery because her leg had been broken inside the cocoon. It had taken her months to walk again, and even to this day she favored her left. Her hair had been cut short, and her glasses had been cracked years ago, but they hadn’t managed to find anything that matched her prescription since. The biggest change came in her hands, now tainted blue at the fingertips, as if she was constantly in a state of frostbite. If you looked closely, you could see trances of that blue everyone. At the corners of her eyes, her joints, the cool undertones of her lips.
A side effect of the magic that was keeping them alive.
“What happened?” Rikka asked.
“Hyuuga Saki.” Akane lifted Saki up to prove her point. “She’s alive. She’s been alive the whole time.”
“What? That’s not possible.” Rikka said. “That- eight years. She would have to have been in that cage for eight years.”
“Yep.” Akane said. “You gonna help me patch her up?”
Rikka looked at Saki and inhaled quickly. They headed to the med bay and Rikka pulled out a cot.
“Tell me everything. Where did you find her? Was she awake?”
“Found her just south of the Cat’s Claw. She was- walking and talking and everything. She… wanted to find Mai. She didn’t about the Fae War, or the One King.”
“That’s to be expected.” Rikka gestured for Akane to lay Saki down. She complied.
Rikka grabbed a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor. As she checked Saki’s vitals, Akane went to grab some vitamins from their medicine cabinet.
“The fact that she could walk and talk is a good sign.” Rikka told her. “Vitals are good. Honestly, she’s probably the healthiest person I’ve seen in years.”
“So we don’t need to worry about scurvy?”
“I said she was the healthiest person I’ve seen, not that she was healthy. Scurvy isn’t our main concern, but I want to make a meal plan for her.”
Akane nodded. “I’ll go let everyone know we have a new mouth to feed. One upside though: I got some new fertilizer!”
Akane held up her bag of goop. Rikka rolled her eyes but smiled.
“We shall feast like kings.” Rikka said before turning back to Saki. Akane grabbed Rikka’s shoulder and squeezed it. Rikka laid her hand on top of Akane’s.
“You got this.” Akane whispered.
“Thank you.” Rikka whispered back. Akane slipped out of Rikka’s hold and left the med-bay.
Honestly, they were lucky. Thanks to Rikka’s ice powers and Akane’s connection to the sun, their home base was basically a paradise. They could grow food, make sure people had light, and overall keep a sense of normalcy. Akane and Rikka had bonded over a desire to rescue people who had lost everything when the world ended, and they achieved that goal.
People were raising their families here. People got to live here. That’s all she could ask for.
She didn’t have anything else left.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Saki woke up with a massive headache. She sat up, feeling around to find her nightstand, only for it to come rushing back to her.
This wasn’t her room. She hadn’t been home in eight years.
Her head was still pounding, but she forced her eyes open. She was in a small room- no windows and one door. It was better light than the building she was in before- and her eyes strained from disuse. Didn’t help with the headache.
“Oh, Saki-san, you’re awake!” A voice called from behind her. She turned and saw… Hishikawa Rikka? Or at least someone who looked similar.
“Rikka-san?” Saki asked. Her voice was still sore. Rikka’s eyes brightened.
“Okay, your voice isn’t damaged, just hasn’t been used in eight years. Take your time, don’t strain yourself, but you should be able to talk again soon!”
As she talked, Saki took in how much Rikka had changed. Just like Akane, although Akane was almost unrecognizable. Rikka didn’t have glowing hair, but her hands were painted in blue.
“Rikka-san… what happened to your hands?” Saki asked. Rikka paused.
“Akane didn’t tell you?” She asked. Saki shook her head. Rikka pulled out a seat and sat next to Saki’s bed.
“Well.” Rikka began. “How much did Akane tell you?”
“She told me that some crazy guy stole the sun? After we got into a fight with earth fairies?” Saki said. Rikka hummed.
“That is what I heard too. I missed the beginning of the apocalypse. I was stuck in one of those cocoons too, so I don’t know much about those early days. But as for my hands… We tried to fight back, as I’m sure Akane told you. We even learned that Precure who drew from their power from the sun and the moon could defeat the monsters created by the new darkness- like that fish I heard you got attacked by. But at some point we learned that if we… fused with the sources of our power, we could have an actual chance.”
“You fused with what?”
“It’s a little complicated, I admit.” Rikka laughed. “But you basically have to push past your limits as a Precure and connect with the core of your magic. There’s some weird side effects, ie, my hands. But I can create ice wherever, whenever and however I want. It means we have a constant supply of water. Speaking of which..”
Rikka got up and got Saki a glass of water. She downed it immediately.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize how thirsty I was.” Saki admitted. “So Akane fused with her magic too? That’s why her hair glows?”
“Yes, exactly. Akane is the only person who can actually call forth the power of the sun- that’s how we can survive out here. She provides the light, I provide the water. We get to be independent.”
“That’s… amazing.” Saki said. “What about the other Precure? Did they fuse as well?”
Rikka’s face did something funny.
“Some of them.” She said. “Want another glass of water?”
“Yes please.”
Saki was not allowed to leave the med-bay for a full week. Akane and Rikka both came to visit, which was great and fun and FINE, but she still was not allowed to leave.
Rikka explained this was because she needed to monitor Saki’s recovery from being the ~cocoon~ but what was Saki doing for the past eight years?? Laying around in THAT DAMN COCOON. She was fine!
She was ready to go and try to find Mai.
“You’re still unsteady on your legs.” Rikka pointed out when Saki brought up her extremely valid criticisms. “How would you get there?”
“I’d figure it out!” Saki said.
“Right.” Rikka said nonchalantly. “Just like you figured out how to get out of the building you were trapped in?”
Saki glared at her.
Still, even as she was kept in one location, Saki began to learn more and more about the world she now found herself in.
The base Akane and Rikka had made their home was once an old mall. Most of the first floor had been converted to agriculture, which was tended to by a growing group of civilians that Akane and Rikka had taken in. So far they had all avoided Saki, most likely so as not to crowd her. Also most likely on Rikka’s orders.
Saki hated to admit it, but Rikka was probably right on that call. Everything was overwhelming. Saki had one escape attempt where she wandered the halls of the old mall and had a panic attack so bad Akane had to carry her back to the med-bay.
So, yes. Rikka was probably right to keep people away.
But even if she couldn’t see them, Saki could hear them. Children laughing, old women gossiping, a pair of lovers sneaking off while they were supposed to be cleaning. It was all very… mundane.
Saki further learned that Rikka and Akane were the only two Precure here. They refused to explain why. Rikka would freeze up whenever Saki asked and Akane had apparently learned the art of deflection when the world ended, so she was stuck trying to figure out why on her own.
It just didn’t make sense that the Precure would be so separated. Procure stuck together, especially in times of crisis. It’s what gave them strength. The only thing that would make sense would be they had been forcibly separated by some villain, but if that was the case, why were Rikka and Akane being so cagey about it?
Saki was going to have to ask one of the civilians what was happening at this point.
The other thing she learned (well. Eavesdropped a conversation that she was not supposed to hear) was that technically, this mall commune was against the law.
She had gone to grab a glass of water, when she heard Akane and Rikka speaking in hushed voices. Naturally, she leaned her ear to the door and tried to hear what was being said.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now.” Akane said shortly. “I already made a big enough scene when I fought that Bluegrass Fish. We don’t need any more eyes on us.”
“I understand that.” Rikka replied. “But we need to take Saki to see Her Highness sooner rather than later. She’s struggling pretty bad. I want to give her something to motivate her.”
“Besides Mai?” Akane said and- Saki didn’t like how she said it. Like a joke. Like Mai wasn’t something to fight for.
“If Saki thinks Mai’s alive, then I believe her.” Rikka said. “But in case she isn’t, we just need
something.
Eight years is a long time. She deserves compensation more than anyone.”
“I agree, I’m not saying I don’t.” Akane paused. “But I wouldn’t be able to take her.”
“So? You can’t enter any Sun City, that’s why we stop by Green Grove-”
“I can’t go to Green Grove, Rikka. There’s been an uptick of monsters since Saki woke up. He’s looking for me. If I even go to Rin’s I’ll be turned in.”
“... Fuck.” Rikka said quietly. “You’re right. Okay, when do you think it’ll calm down?”
“I don’t know.” Akane paused again, and then Saki heard her nudge Rikka’s shoulder.
“Hey, when you were 15, did you think you’d end up running an illegal commune with me?”
“Obviously not.” Rikka said. “I thought I would be running it with Mana.”
Akane laughed.
“Damn, it’s late. Should we head in for the night?”
“You go on. I need to check on Saki-san, and then I’ll join you.”
Saki froze. As carefully and quickly as she could she headed back to her cot. Rikka entered not long after.
“Saki-san? How are you feeling?”
“Good!” Saki squeaked. “Just thirsty.”
“Alright, I’ll get you a glass of water.” Rikka moved away from the cot. Saki spoke before she could even think.
“Rikka-san? What’s… what’s Akane-san to you?”
Rikka hummed.
“Akane… she’s the light at the end of my tunnel. I never would have made it without her.” Rikka turned back to Saki, her face sad. “We’re truly the most wonderful of friends.”
…
So. The other thing Saki couldn’t figure out was Akane and Rikka themselves. Were they friends? Lovers? A secret third thing??
Just another thing Saki had to talk to the civilians about. Once she was free from the stupid med-bay.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Rikka was waiting for an escape attempt. Saki had taken her instructions well so far, but Rikka had been in charge of medical care long before the Precure split up, so she knew better than to trust a Precure to sit still and heal for once. Saki wasn’t the worst patient she’d ever had. That title went to Tsukikage Yuri. Rikka was always concerned that Yuri was going to collapse from blood loss from how little time she spent recovering. Just getting Yuri in the med-bay was an achievement. Yuri had been laser focused on defeating the One King and bringing the sun and moon back, and therefore considered long term medical care a hindrance. Not that it mattered. She died anyway. Rikka shook her head, forcing herself back to the present. Saki was here. Saki was real, Saki was alive. Saki could still be saved. So when she found Saki crawling down to the gardens, she wasn’t as mad as she could’ve been. “Hyuuga Saki-san. You better not be doing what I think you’re doing.” That didn’t mean she wasn’t mad. “I’m… I got lost?” Saki said meekly. “You got lost. From the medical bay you aren’t supposed to leave.”“... Yes?”Rikka pinched the bridge of her nose. Saki was desperate to leave, to find Mai. Rikka got it. She’d spent years trying to find her family after she got out of her cocoon. It was something to latch onto in an unfamiliar world. HOWEVER. “You aren’t cleared to walk around by yourself yet.” Rikka said sternly. “The physical therapy we’ve been doing has a point, you know.”“My legs feel fine!” Saki protested. “Plus, I was walking fine even when I got out of that stupid cocoon. Ask Akane!”“I’m well aware that’s what you think. However, your leg muscles were out of commission for eight years. We need to spend time building them up again before you do shit like this!” “Oooh, is there a fight happening out here?” Akane’s voice called out from behind her. “Saki-san, did you try to escape again?”“Again?!” Saki looked to the ground. Akane walked up in between the two of them, two children hanging off her arms. Rikka smiled despite herself. Akane was a favorite of the children, her glowing hair, supernatural warmth and the fact she was willing to be a human jungle gym made for the perfect storm. “Hello Yuuko. Hello Eji.” Rikka said. “Heeyy Rikka-san!!!” The children said in unison. “I wasn’t trying to escape!” Saki countered. “I just wanted to see the gardens.” A likely story. Rikka felt herself prepare for another spat, but Akane placed her hand on her shoulder. “I’ve been thinking.” Akane said. “Saki-san has yet to see Green Grove, right?” Rikka frowned. Where was she going with this? They both agreed Akane had to lay low for a while, so there was no way Akane could take Saki to Green Grove. “What’s Green Grove?” Saki asked. Yuuko gasped. “You don’t know what Green Grove is?? It’s only the prettiest place on Earth!” “Yuuko.” Akane admonished softly. “Remember what we said about Saki-san?”Eji spoke up, “That she doesn’t know anything because she was stuck in a cocoon?” “Some things. I said she doesn’t know some things. I can’t take you two anywhere, can I?” Akane shook her head. “Anyway, Rikka, I think you should take Saki to Green Grove.” Rikka blinked. “Me?” “Yep! C’mon, Rikka, you could use a vacation.”“I won’t find any relaxation at Green Grove.” Rikka spat. “Are you kidding me? You know I hate it there!” “Well I can’t take her.” Akane countered. “Plus, maybe Anna knows something about where Mai is.” Rikka pursed her lips. It was true, Green Grove was the center of a lot of trade… and information. Anna was bearable but her wife… “But I hate it there.” Rikka said fully aware she was whining. Akane let out a little laugh and brushed a piece of hair out of her face. “Just for the day,” Akane said. “And then you can get those sugar candies as a reward.” “... Fine.” Rikka relented. It would be a good test of Saki’s PT. She turned to Saki, who was staring at them with a baffled expression. “You ready to go to the Red Light District of the apocalypse?” Saki gaped. “The what?”
Green Grove was a city on the outskirts. It had been founded eight years ago, when a subsection of the Fae population defected from the Fae kingdom and joined the Precure. Rikka wasn’t there for that part, so she had no idea what it looked like at the beginning. As the world ended, Green Grove became something else. A safe haven for travelers. The Fae were creatures of nature, so they had more luck that others with growing food. As the city grew, resources became more scarce, but thanks to Lady Anna DuPaul’s wife, that problem was soon solved. Rikka shuttered just thinking about Anna’s wife. The city was lit entirely in lanterns, giving it’s titular red light appearance. Like Rikka’s commune, it technically was against the law. Cities were signifiers of connection to the One King, and therefore got to bask in his sun… for a price. Green Grove existed outside the main hierarchy because of one simple fact:Green Grove was probably the last place on earth you could get good booze. Rikka explained all of this to Saki as they traveled to Green Grove. Surprising (or maybe not, considering the whole... cocoon thing.) Saki listened with rapt attention. Once they entered the city, Saki was much harder to tie down. Rikka understood, of course. Green Grove was gorgeous, illuminated by floating lanterns and candles. It was bursting at the seams with colors- firecrackers, graffiti, everything was celebrating color. There was, of course, the other side of Green Grove. People drinking themselves into a stupor. Rikka had to gently guide Saki away from an ally where she was 98% sure a couple was having sex. Green Grove was about celebrating the pleasures of life, in many ways. Rikka didn’t have to like all of them. Once they made it to Anna’s house, Rikka braced herself. It had been a while since she’d come here by herself. “What is your business here?” The guard asked. Rikka sighed.“I’m Hishikawa Rikka. I’m here to see the Lady of the House.” “Hishikawa? Where’s your other half?” The guard joked. Rikka rolled her eyes as Saki mouthed the words ‘other half’. “Henri, we both know you know who I am. Let me in.” “This is a good bit!” Henri countered. “Akane loves it!” Akane had a broken sense of humor. Rikka did not say this. Regardless, Henri let Rikka and Saki in. “You know him?” Saki asked.“Of course!” Rikka said. “We grow some of our crops to be sold here, bring them to the Ladies, and then get medical supplies or something similar. We’re not fully self-sufficient. Normally Akane travels here, though.” “I gathered.” Saki said. “Your… other half?”“Why are you saying it like that?” Saki did not have a chance to answer as they entered the main hall. Rikka saw who was at the front and swore. Saki squinted. “Who’s that?”“The wife.” Rikka said darkly. “Who is it?” The wife asked, not looking up from her papers. “Hishikawa Rikka.” Rikka replied. “And I bring a guest.”“Ah, Hishikawa-san.” The wife turned. “You aren’t even going to introduce me?” “Oh motherfuc- Natsuki-san, it’s Saki-san!” “Natsuki-san…” Saki muttered. “Are you- RIN-SAN???”“Saki? As in Hyuuga Saki?” Natsuki broke into a smile. “We thought you were dead!” Natsuki set down her paper and headed towards them. Rikka moved out of the way as Natsuki wrapped Saki in a huge hug. “Rin-san- what happened to you??!” Saki exclaimed. Rikka snorted. Out of all the Precure who fused with their magic source, Natsuki Rin was the most… flamboyant. Natsuki’s hair was pulled back into a ponytail, the very ends of which had transformed into flame. As if that wasn’t enough, Her whole left arm was a cacophony of fire, light and heat in the shame of an arm. Rikka preferred Akane’s glowing hair stick to this copycat. “What, has Hishikawa-san not explained fusion to you yet? For shame Hishikawa-san! For shame!” Natsuki said, never quite letting go of Saki. Saki gaped. “I mean, she has, but you- how- fire arm??” Saki said eloquently. Natsuki nodded in understanding. “Yes, yes, it is a lot to take in.” Natsuki said. “How long has it been since you woke up?” “About two weeks.” Rikka reported. “She’s been recovering well.” Natsuki frowned and took Saki’s face in her hands. Rikka rolled her eyes. Trust Natsuki to doubt her medical expertise. “What’s wrong with her eye?” Natsuki asked. Saki flinched. “Nothing, except for its coloration.” Rikka told her. Natsuki narrowed her eyes. “I think we should get a faery’s opinion on that.” Natsuki turned to her guards. “Can you summon my wife?”“Okay, um, gotta ask this- how did you get married to a faery???” Saki asked. “The ones we were apparently at war with too??” Natuski smiled at Saki. “Well, it is a very long story. But the short version is: she was sent to defeat me in battle, but I stole her heart. She defected and together we fought against the Fae King and won! All of this before the One King showed up, mind you. Once the world ended, it made no sense not to have our love be solidified in matrimony.”“Right.” Saki said. “Cool. I definitely don’t have any follow up questions.” Saki did not get the chance to ask any of her follow up questions, however, as the Lady of the Swans, Anna DuPaul herself, had finally arrived. Anna DuPaul was deceptively beautiful, as many fae were. Her hair was silky smooth and almost iridescent, changing in between hues of purple, blue and pink as light hit it. She had embraced the night, wearing an evening gown with stars embroidered at the bottom. Her eyes, more than anything, marked her as fae. Her sclera was dark, near black, and her irises were a vibrant purple. She glided across the room to Natsuki, and the two shared a passionate embrace. “What is it, mon coeur?” Anna asked. Natsuki relaxed slightly in her arms. “A friend of mine has just woken up from a terrible dream.” Natsuki said. “I want to make sure she’s okay.” “What?” Saki asked, her voice a whisper. “Just. Let them have this.” Rikka said, too tired to explain these weird ass flirting rituals. Anna turned her attention to Saki. “Hmm.” Anna walked up to Saki and stared. Saki, to her credit, only flinched a little. “You can still see out of this eye?” Anna asked. “Um. Yep.” Saki said. “I do believe it is superficial.” Anna said. Rikka glared at Natsuki. See? Rikka knew what she was talking about. “However,” Anna continued, “I can’t say for sure it will remain that way. I think we should take her to see Her Highness.” “We were going to do that anyway.” Rikka countered. “But she’s not ready to make that trip.” “She is also right here!” Saki said. “And she would like someone to tell her what’s happening!”Everyone paused. Rikka wished, once again, that it was Akane who was here and not her. “I’m sorry, Saki-san.” Rikka said. “You’re right. We shouldn’t have talked over you.”Saki crossed her arms but spoke. “Who even is Her Highness and why are we going to go see her?” Rikka opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. Her Highness was a loaded topic. “Her Highness, the Fae Queen.” Anna eventually said. “She’s also the acting regent until the Princess comes of age.”“What happened to the other guy- the Fae King? And why is she just the regent?” Saki asked. “The Fae King died a few years ago. The Fae Queen couldn’t claim the full title because she wasn’t born a faery. She’s human.” Anna explained. “Oh. Wow. And the reason I need to see her?” “When Her Highness married the Fae King, she had some… conditions.” Anna said. “The Precure who had been trapped in cocoons, when they were found and if they were still alive, deserved to have compensation for what happened to them. Money, food, magic items, almost anything as an apology for the time they lost.” Saki blinked. “That’s… insane. And he agreed?”“Yep.” Rikka joined in. “Where do you think I got all my good medical supplies?” “Scrounged? I don’t know?” Saki hesitated before she spoke again. “Why did Her Highness care that much about the Precure?” “Because she was one.” Natsuki said, her face carefully neutral. “Who?”“Can’t say.” Natsuki said. “What?”“No, I mean I literally can’t say her name.” Natsuki said. “She gave it up when she got married.”“That’s… awful.” Saki said. “A lot of people had to make a lot of awful choices.” Rikka told her. “That’s been life for the past eight years. We just have to keep moving forward.” Saki looked distraught. Rikka felt terrible. They were trying to let her into the loop slowly, so as to not overwhelm her. Eight years where so much had happened- Rikka had felt completely lost with just three years gone. But she had forgotten what it was like to be in Saki’s position: people you knew had changed in ways you didn’t- couldn’t understand and there was no way to get that time back. Rikka couldn’t deny wanting to shield Saki from some of the harsher truths. She didn’t want to tell her about the end of the Precure Resistance. She didn’t want to tell her about Hikari, or the Happiness Charge team, or god, the Strike Team. The Daylight Massacre. How that day changed everything. Saki would need to know. She deserved to know. But maybe Rikka was being selfish. Maybe Rikka didn’t want to be the one to tell Saki these things- force herself to relive some of the worst moments of her life. And she didn’t want Akane to have to tell her either. Akane, who had been at the forefront of every disaster. Akane, who held more grief in her chest than air. Akane, forced to be the sun in a world without one. And so Rikka closed her mouth and let Saki sit in the silence.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
They stayed in Green Grove for the rest of the day. Saki was hesitant to push anyone to talk about the past anymore- they seemed genuinely upset just talking about Her Highness. Saki understood, Her Highness (whoever she might be, although Saki had a few theories), seemed to have lived a super tragic life just to make sure the Precure were treated fairly.
Still, though. Saki was filled to the brim with questions.
Rin took them to some of the shops in town (including the one that sold the sugar candy Rikka apparently loved so much), all the while chatting up a storm.
In another life, it would’ve been great.
But.
But all Saki could focus on was how much she was lost.
Seeing Rin again was a wonderful surprise. She and Mai had been super close to the Yes Precure team, as well as Honoka and Nagisa. She’d hung out with Rin one on one more times than almost anyone else outside of her own team. Seeing Rin not only surviving the apocalypse but thriving in it? It gave her hope.
But it didn’t fix the pit in her stomach.
Rin was happy- or as happy as one could be in a world with no sun. Rin had gotten married. Rin was in charge of a whole town.
Rin hadn’t mentioned Nozomi once.
Saki didn’t want to press- she’d seen the pained expressions Rin and Rikka had when talking about Her Highness. Even if Nozomi wasn’t Her Highness, something had clearly happened if Rin wasn’t talking about her.
But it’s not like anyone was going to tell her anything without her pressing for it!! Someone was going to be uncomfortable!!
Saki was just… so tired of having to piece information together with scrapes.
As Rin led Rikka to the store with the candy, Saki elected to stay outside. She had no desire to figure out how different candy was- or if she could even still count it as candy.
Rikka entered the store, but Rin stayed back.
“You doing okay?” Rin asked.
“I’m fine.” Saki said. “It’s just… a lot. And I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up.”
Rin nodded. “A lot of your life was stolen from you. Frankly, you’re handling it way better than I would’ve.”
“I don’t feel like I’m handling it well.” Saki admitted. “I’m so angry all the time.”
“You have a right to be angry.” Rin said. “We’re all angry at something, right now. But that doesn’t mean you should grieve what you’ve lost, or be furious at the injustice.”
“How are you so well adjusted in the apocalypse?” Saki asked. “Last time I saw you, I asked if you were mad at your team, and you said no, and then punched a tree so hard it broke a branch!”
Rin laughed.
“Well, I’ve had eight years to grow.” Rin reminded her. “And Anna has been a huge factor in why I’m so… not angry. We remind each other what’s important.”
Rin paused, staring out to the market in front of them.
“Plus,” Rin began, “I’ve been angry for a long time. And then this all happened and I was even more angry. The One King pissed me off more than anything- how dare he steal our future like this? But then I realized that there’s some things he can’t take away from me, no matter how hard he tries. He can’t take away my joy, my hope. I wouldn’t let him. I’d carve out a corner of the world where people could feel joy again, something he couldn’t take away no matter how hard he tried.”
It was so different from the answer the Rin Saki knew would’ve given, but it was still Rin. Stubborn to her core, refusing to lose.
“What… happened between you and Rikka?” Saki asked. It hadn’t gone unnoticed that the two of them were on a last name basis. Rikka even called Rin ‘the wife’ instead of her name.
Rin laughed. “Oh, Rikka thinks I’m a sell-out. That I gave up on the cause.”
Saki blinked. From her point of view, all of them had given up.
“But none of you are fighting back any more?” Saki pointed out. “How can she hold that against you?”
“There’s more to resistance than fighting, Saki.” Rin said quietly. “Sometimes living is enough. But Rikka never got the chance to fight, so I won’t hold it against her to be mad at me that I stopped.”
Saki thought Rikka was being super hypocritical , considering she was fine with Akane not fighting. More than fine with it, actually. But whatever.
Rin spoke up again. “How much do you know, exactly, about us fighting back?”
“Basically nothing. Akane told me we lost.” Saki said. Rin closed her eyes and sighed.
“Right. We did.” Rin looked to the ground in quiet contemplation.
“If there’s anything you want to ask me, go ahead. I’ll tell you whatever information you need.” Rin said.
Saki blinked. Open and honest communication? FROM RIN? The world really had ended.
“Do you know where Mai is?” Saki asked, the words forming before she even had a chance to speak.
“I- not specifically. Last I heard, she was in the North with the rest of the remaining Precure.” Rin said. “Her Highness might have more information.”
Another reason to meet Her Highness. But wait- what else did Rin say?
“The remaining Precure are in the North?” Saki questioned. Rin winced.
“Right, so this is more complicated than it looks.” Rin said. “The Precure resistance had been fighting a war against the One King and losing for a long time. Once Akane fused with her magic- things changed. Priorities changed. Coco and Honoka and all the other leaders became convinced that fusion was the way to end the war. And from your end I suspect it looks glamorous and fun, but there’s a reason it took the sun being stolen to cause us to consider it. It’s dangerous, difficult, and can go wrong very easily. Around four years ago, something went incredibly wrong during one of these attempts, and it caused a massive storm to split the country into two pieces. Crossing it is high risk with limited reward, so communication is limited. Organization is limited. And it just solidified separation that was already happening. Anna and I had already taken over Green Grove, Her Highness had left years before, and Akane…”
Rin trailed off. Saki decided to probe at the question that she knew wasn’t going to get answered by anyone else.
“What about Akane?” Saki asked.
Rin looked at her sadly. “Akane lost a lot fighting the One King.”
Saki waited for Rin to continue. Rin shifted uncomfortably.
“When Akane showed us that fusion was possible and powerful, for many people it was like a spark of hope. A new chance. For Akane it was the nail in the coffin.” Rin eventually said. “Akane had been part of a Strike team, made up of all the Sun and Moon cures, because we learned their magic was most effective against the forces of the One King. They’d been at the front for a while, and one day leadership decided they were going to ambush one of the King’s Generals. I don’t know all the details- I wasn’t there. But what they told us- before anyone got back, was that during the battle, the sun shone. They had regained control of the sun- for a limited time, something like fifteen minutes. But it was something, and it was wonderful. And then only Akane came back.”
Saki inhaled sharply. It was one thing to know that people were dead in an abstract sense. This was concrete.
Tsukikage Yuri. Myoudouin Itsuki. Kaguya Madoka. Amamiya Elena. All of them were dead.
“Oh God.” Saki said.
“They called it the Daylight Massacre.” Rin said. “And Akane kinda… stopped listening to the leadership after that. She did whatever she wanted. Mostly that involved saving civilians, starting that commune. But, yeah. Sorry Saki, your cocoon just happened to be on the side of Japan where all the defectors are.”
Rin’s tone was joking, but her words weren’t. Saki was surrounded by people who’d been broken down and beaten, and had decided they couldn’t fight anymore.
On one hand, Saki couldn’t blame them. On the other hand, Saki didn’t know what else she could do. Saki needed to fight, needed to find Mai and make the world right again.
Whether the people around her joined her in that quest was up to them.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Her Highness woke up like any other day. The sky split open, and sunlight began to spill onto the city. It had been strange, getting used to a world with sunlight but no sunrise. She figured it was just another one of the One King’s reminders of his power. He gave them the sun, and could take it away.
The palace, placed at the very center of the city, was the first to see the sun. Her Highness always woke up to see it. She had spent nearly two years in total darkness. She wanted to appreciate it when she had it.
She wasn’t the only one who liked seeing the sun bath the city in light.
She heard the little feet before she saw them.
“MAMA!!!” Tamiko screeched, diving into her bed. “THE SUN!!!!”
Her Highness pretended to roll over. This was her favorite part of the day.
Tamiko climbed over her. “Mama! Mama wake up!”
Her Highness waited. Tamiko was too easy to trick. Tamiko pushed and prodded, but eventually seemed to consider that her mother wasn’t waking up. As soon as she felt Tamiko’s weight start to shift, scooting down the bed, she pounced.
“What’s this I have here? A little princess, away from home?” Her Highness trapped Tamiko in a huge hug, Tamiko squealed, but melted into the embrace.
As Tamiko calmed down, Her Highness took a moment to look at her daughter. Soon, they would both have to get up. Tamiko would have to go with her tutors, and she would have to go to meetings with advisors, trying to manage a kingdom that did not belong to her.
Before her husband died, she had more time with Tamiko. Her job was ensuring the survival of the heir, not running the kingdom. She and Tamiko both had to adjust with the new arrangement.
She hoisted Tamiko onto her hip and headed out to the balcony.
“The sun, Mama.” Tamiko said, just as in awe as the day before.
“I know.” Her Highness said. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
The rest of the day progressed normally. Or, well, as normally as it could. She met with her advisors to talk about the increased demand for food in their ever growing city. They didn’t have enough to feed everyone, and what they imported from other cities never lasted very long.
Her Highness stared at maps for hours, trying to find a spot of land she could convince the One King they needed. If she had a place outside the city where she could grow food that could help make up some of their losses.
Her people were starving. And she couldn’t do anything.
The problem was, ultimately, that the city was overcrowded. This was a problem for every Sun City in the whole world. People flocked to them once the One King established only cities he sanctioned would have access to the sun. As far as she was aware, the only cities that existed outside of the One King’s rule were one’s like Green Grove, and the only reason the One King’s army hadn’t conquered it was because Green Grove was one of the few places on Earth that still created alcohol.
Trade was also limited, due the moon being lost as well. The ocean transformed overnight and those who were once confident enough to brave the waters soon got lost, one by one. If you wanted anything from another continent, you had to be in the One King’s good graces.
As stressful as this was, these were her normal problems now. She had to figure out how to remain in the One King’s favor, despite the fact that all she really wanted to do was spit in his face.
She was not meant for the political life. Curse her stupid husband. Curse the fact that he got himself killed.
Right after lunch, however, something changed.
Her head of guard came up to her, explaining that the Lady of the Swans and her wife had requested an audience. Strange. Usually Anna and Rin requested meetings weeks in advance. It must’ve been something important.
Her Highness canceled her next meeting and headed to the throne room.
There were three people waiting for her. Two, she recognized immediately. Anna and Rin were frequent faces in court- they were the only trading partner who wasn’t technically under the jurisdiction of the One King. Rin in particular was incredibly popular (she was, by fae standards, an incredible catch. Anna had done some hard work to keep people away from flirting with her wife).
The third, though. The third made her pause. She was young, in a way that Her Highness hadn’t seen in years. Young in spirit. Energetic, boundless. It reminded her of Tamiko.
Moreover she looked familiar. Someone Her Highness had known before…
She locked eyes with the newcomer and it clicked.
Saki
.
Saki seemed to recognize her too, if the way her mouth was agape was to be trusted.
Saki attempted to speak.
“N- na- m- why can’t I say your name?” Saki finally asked.
Her Highness smiled.
“Hello Saki. It’s wonderful to see you.”
“When did YOU get so formal? Give me a hug!” Saki claimed. Her Highness felt something in herself snap, and she rushed into Saki’s embrace.
It was exactly as she remembered.
Her Highness remembered when Saki disappeared. She was a different person, then. Had a different name. Her Highness remembers spending weeks looking for Saki, only to be disappointed.
She remembered when Mai was the only one convinced that Saki was still alive.
“How are you alive?” Her Highness said through her shock. Saki shrugged.
“We think it’s because she was in a single cocoon, by herself.” Anna said. “She wasn’t sharing the nutrients with anyone, and it allowed her to stay alive longer.”
As she’s looking at Saki, she can see the side effects of being trapped in that cocoon evident on Saki’s face. One of her eyes is a bright, violent green. As Her Highness looks at it, she can tell no magic she knows of is going to be able to change her eye back to normal. A permanent reminder of the time Saki had lost.
“But!” Saki said, still smiling. “I’m back, baby! And I’m ready for… recompensation?”
She turned to Rin as she said the last part, and Rin nodded. Her Highness understood.
“Of course.” Her Highness gestured for the guards to give them space. “Walk with me Saki?”
She and Saki began walking through the halls of the palace. Her Highness gave the spiel that all the other imprisoned Precure had received, years ago.
“We acknowledge that we lost the war against you all. We recognize that you have lost something no one can truly give back. Whatever you desire, we will give it to you, if it is in our power.”
“That sounded… super scripted.” Saki said. Her Highness laughed.
“It was! But it’s also binding. Whatever you want, you get. That’s the terms I made when I married in.”
“Was it a fun wedding?” Saki asked. Her Highness sighed.
“Not really. I didn’t know anyone or what I was getting into.” She lead Saki down to the weapons room. “Now, I know you are used to fighting as a Precure, but until you can find Mai, I suspect you would like some form of defense?”
“Oh my gosh.” Saki squealed. “Magic weapons?”
“Yep.”
“This is amazing. I have hated having to rely on Ak- I mean. Other people’s help.”
Her Highness caught the slip. Luckily, someone seemed to have told Saki that it was important not to mention Akane in her presence.
If Her Highness knew anything about Akane, or even that people knew Akane, she’d have to report them to the One King.
She really hated politics.
Saki weaved her way through all the weapons, picking some up to test, and leaving others where they sat. Saki’s eye rested on a battle axe.
“Na- gah.” Saki coughed. “Tried to say your name again. This sucks.”
Her Highness agreed.
Saki continued, “All these weapons are great, and I’m definitely taking one! But I also have some other requests.”
“Of course.” Her Highness smiled. “What do you need?”
“Mai. I need to know where Mai is.” Saki said, resolute, hand curling around the battle axe. “Please.”
“Right. Anything else?”
“Um, maybe, how do I get to her once I know where she is? Or maybe tell me how to fuse with my magic so I can- I don’t know, be able to strengthen our connection?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I can tell Mai’s alive- I can feel it, y’know, like a string pulling on my chest- but that's about it. I can’t tell where she is, or how I can find her. You know what I’m talking about, right? You and Honoka- I could’ve sworn you had the same thing.”
“I do.” Her Highness said, her voice quiet. She remembered exactly the feeling Saki was talking about. She remembered honing it, so that no matter where they were on the battlefield, she and Honoka could find each other. That constant pull, reminding her that no matter what, she wasn’t alone.
But she gave that up with her name.
“I can tell you where Mai is.” Her Highness finally said. “Take your pick of a weapon, and I’ll show you where she is.”
Saki brightened. She grabbed the battle axe with both hands and headed toward the door. Her Highness let out a breathy laugh.
She led Saki to her chambers, where she kept the Orb. It was a wedding gift from her husband, a consolation prize. Or perhaps a cruel joke. Either way, it provided her the ability to check up on the people she loved.
She guided Saki to her side and began picturing Mai in her head. It had been years since she’d seen Mai, so the image was a little foggy. But it would do.
Saki sat, fully attentive to what she could see in the orb. Her Highness took notice of what she could.
Mai was dressed in all black and dark blues. In the dim light of her surroundings, it made her blend into the environment. She was carrying a large bag, and was in the middle of an argument.
Saki gasped.
“Mai.” She said, her voice breaking. Her Highness did not comment.
Instead, she zoomed out. It was one thing to see Mai, prove that she was alive. It was another to find her exact location. Her Highness closed her eyes and saw the map appear.
Quickly, she grabbed a piece of paper and sketched out what she had seen.
“Here.” She said. “This should lead you to Mai.”
Saki nodded. “What about the giant storm? I love my new magic axe, but I don’t think that’s going to be good enough to get through that.”
Her Highness paused. There were two obstacles embedded into crossing the storm. First, the creature causing it. Second, the guardian.
“You’ll have to rely on others.” Her Highness said, hoping Saki would understand. Saki’s eyes widened and she nodded again.
If Saki could convince Akane to cross the barrier, this could be the catalyst for something much bigger than a reunion. Akane had been avoiding conflict with the One King, and understandably so, but if Saki could push her out of hiding then…
Her Highness remembered the Daylight Massacre. She remembered the soul crushing grief, remembered where the bodies were buried, remembered how she became obsessed with checking in with the Orb for weeks, paranoid that the same fate would befall anyone else. Befall Honoka.
But before all that, before anyone knew the cost, she remembered
sunlight
. Uncontrolled, unfiltered sunlight, covering the world in warmth for the first time in years. She remembered her husband turning to her and saying,
“That son of a bitch does have a weakness.”
And goddamn, if she wasn’t going to whatever she could to exploit that.
When Saki went to leave, Her Highness pulled Anna aside privately.
“If Saki goes to the Storm Wall, I think you and Rin should help escort her. And if she and any of her companions make it through, you come back right away and let me know.”
“You have a plan?” Anna asked.
“I have something. But most importantly, I have hope.” Her Highness felt herself grin despite herself. “And the promises of an Oracle.”
Anna smirked.
“Alright, Your Highness. I trust you.”
Her Highness couldn’t ask for anything else.