[February 27] [Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime] Tears of Yesterday

[mingyi.livejournal.com]

Title: Tears of Yesterday
Day/Theme: February 27 - 27. the filial child
Series: Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime
Character/Pairing: Altessa x Bright
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All characters and related titles are copyrighted to BIRTHDAY, Hal Film Maker, TV Tokyo, etc.
Spoiler warning: If you don't know what happens after episode 27 and don't want to find out yet, this will make no sense to you.

Altessa finally concluded her story, her book of memories to Bright. She plainly stood there, arms outstretched as to protect Fine and Rein, eyes begging him to stop his rampage.

"Onii-sama, don't you remember now? Don't you remember when you were still your kind self?" Altessa's voice fell short against the raging dark tornadoes spinning around her, but she gulped, bravely continuing. Her hope and love seemed to be the last that could bring Bright back into is senses.

It was as if Altessa's words slapped her brother in the face. "A-Altessa..." Bright rasped, cold sweat breaking on the side of his face.

"It's working!" gasped Fine in awe.

Bright nearly stumbled, but the dark crystal perched on his crown glowed. Regaining his stance, he merely smirked, unaffected by Altessa, and chuckled in a cruel manner. "I'm the king of the Mysterious Planet,"he solemnly said, a hint of laughter lilting his voice."I'm only doing what's best for everyone. What, you think doing something generous for our citizens is evil, Altessa? Your logic only bemuses me."

Altessa swallowed, and courageously took a small step towards Bright. "Onii-sama... you would never do anyone harm in order to achieve peace. Remember when you told the peasants that you were giving them help? Please, Onii-sama, please be yourself again!!" A jeweled tear fell from her long eyelashes.

Bright faltered as he saw Altessa's sincere words, but regained his posture as the Black Crystal shimmered again. "I... I'm... but I'm king... yes, I can give them help whenever I want... ack!" He grasped his forehead and howled.

"Onii-sama!!" Altessa rushed to her brother's side, but Bright held his boomerang in front of her, shielding her from his body.

"Stay back, Altessa,"he ordered in between breaths. "I'm warning you. Just go away."

"I..."

Bright struggled to his feet, one hand holding his boomerang and the other his forehead. "Don't make me say it again. Get away. I don't ever want to see you again. Didn't I tell you that? Stay away before I have to reprimand you again."

Scared, Altessa obeyed. She took one step back, but Bright had collapsed again, fighting the power of the Black Crystal.

"Onii-sama!"

"I.... I... what's going on?" mumbled Bright to himself, his muscles tightening by instinct as he restrained an unexplainable force from grabbing control of his body again. "Why is this happening... it... can't..."

He suddenly rose, raising his offensive weapon into the air. He screamed, unleashing many dark crystals impaling the ground as they rose, and the line of crystals headed towards Altessa.

Fine and Rein quickly regained their ability to move. "Altessa, move!"

"Ah...!" Altessa was too stunned to run away, but was pushed away by the twins, safely landing to the side. After doing so, they raised their Sunny Rods, posing in a defensive position, ready to take action before Bright could hurt anyone again.

"Fine... Rein..." whispered Altessa, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please don't hurt him... he's..."

"Of course we're not going to hurt him!" chirped Rein with a smile. "He's Bright-sama, after all! It would hurt me as much as it would hurt you if Bright-sama became wounded because of us!"

"Just believe in us, Altessa,"added Fine. "We'll bring him back to normal before we get home."

Altessa stared at her surroundings. Everwhere was covered in Black Crystals, and Bright had the upper hand of the match at this point. Fine and Rein had used up most of the Prominence while Bright still had tons of where his own power came from. Shade and Tio weren't there with them, but even if they were, neither of them could do anything. Everything was hopeless. Everything couldn't be done. It was all over; the Mysterious Planet was doomed, Bright would stay evil, and everyone would suffer under the hands of the new evil monarch.

"Al-tes-sa." Fine's voice rang out in a sing-song tune. "You're doubting us again, aren't you?"

Altessa blinked and was so full of dismay that she couldn't answer the red-haired princess. It was true; she believed that nothing could be done.

Rein grinned. "Remember everything that we've done? Compared to them, this won't be much of a problem as long as you believe in us.

"We'll shine in the dark because we are from the Sunny Kingdom,"stated Fine, quoting something off of one of her father'sbooks. "If Princess Grace did it once, we can do it too!"

Another scream erupted from Bright, and another line of crystals started shooting themselves up towards the twins. Fine and Rein shot glances at Altessa, worried.

"You have to believe in us, Altessa, just like everyone else! It's the only way our power can work!"

"I can't!" was all Altessa could say.

"Don't say that you can't!" Rein demanded. "You can do it, and hurry! If everyone else believes in us, you can too!" She grasped Altessa's hand with her gloved ones, staring at her with a fire that burned in her aquamarine eyes.

Another pair of hands grabbed Altessa's wrists. Fine was looking at Altessa with the same passion as Rein, and tightened her grip. "We promise we'll bring him back, and don't you worry! Everything is going to be all right!"

Altessa looked at Fine, then Rein, and vice versa. Their serious faces showed their determination to bring Bright back, and even though Altessa had nearly given up hope, they hadn't yet. If what they said was true... Altessa nodded, the magic words spilling out from between her lips. "I believe."

The crystals were closing in. Altessa squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see the gory future that could happen. She let out a cry, half-expecting something stabbing her. Instead, she felt herself bathed in a warm essence. Confused as to what was happening, Altessa's jade-green eyes quickly opened, and she saw that Fine and Rein had created a barrier.

Altessa's eyes widened. They had saved her, and it was from her belief that they were able to regain their power again. "Fine... Rein..." Her expression transformed from surprise into relief, a smile starting to form on her face. They could do it! She just needed to believe!

"It was all thanks to you, Altessa." Fine grinned, flipping the blonde a wink.

"With the power of Princess Grace, everyone's hearts, and the Prominence we'll be able to save Bright!" Rein added with a fourish, turning back to face her opponent.

The twins of the Sunny Kingdom raised their Sunny Rods, releasing golden light from their wands. "Twin Twinkle Bloo~mish!"

Rein's voice became a loud echo. "Destroy the..."

"... Black Crystal!!" finished Fine, and both wands unleashed a storm of rainbow sparkles fluttering over Bright. All the crystals around him started to shatter into thousands of miniscule pieces. Bright screamed in response, his power torn from him. An aura of dark violet suddenly engulfed him, leaving nothing but his yell.

"Onii-sama!" Altessa screamed, rushing towards where her brother once lay, but the light was too bright for her to handle. She yelped, taking a step back. Her hands shielded her large eyes from the overwhelming intensity. The light glowed brighter and brighter, taking everything in....

The next thing Altessa knew the light had died down. She opened her eyes, finding herself in a field that glowed of dull gold. Fine and Rein stood before her, along with Poomo, looking as relaxed as ever. Altessa was surprised that they had the strength to remain as strong though they should've been pooped out by now from the confrontation with Bright.

"Fine, Rein,"came a hollow but motherly-sounding voice. "You have accomplished your mission. I am very proud of your success."

"Who said that?" Altessa asked, quickly looking around. There was no one else around them, and Altessa knew those couldn't have been Fine or Rein's voices.

"Don't be afraid!" piped up Rein, pointing ahead.

"It's Princess Grace!" mentioned Fine, following Rein's suit.

A figure with flowing pink hair rested in front of them. A soft smile gently covered her features, and her amethyst eyes glowed with pride. Altessa squinted and then recognized the woman -- it couldn't be, but it was! She remembered in her studies, there was a legendary princess by the name of Princess Grace, and years ago she had rescued the Sun's Blessing.

"Princess Grace,"murmured Altessa, speechless.

"The Mysterious Planet has been saved,"continued Princess Grace. "Everyone is finally returning to their own lives again, and everything has been restored to the way it was before."

The girls giggled in relief and satisfaction. "That's great!" yipped Fine, throwing her arms into the air.

"It is!" agreed Rein. The two of them leaped into the air, shouting in happiness. Though Altessa couldn't really convey her feelings in an unprincessly manner like those two, there was no doubt that a cheerful feeling was bubbling up inside her heart.

"We won! We won! We won, we won!" sang the twins, performing another one of their silly dances.

When their dance ended, Rein suddenly remembered something. "What happened to Bright-sama?" she questioned in curiosity.

A look of discomfort contorted Princess Grace's expression. "Bright has been banished,"murmured Princess Grace in her soft, comforting voice.

"Banished?!" echoed Fine and Rein, eyes wide in shock.

"Yes. Because of the awful deeds he has done to the Mysterious Planet he has been banished into the 18th level of hell."

Everyone shuddered, understanding how horrible the punishment could be. To have such a perfect prince fall for such a thing... Altessa raised her fists, gritting her teeth. "What do you mean? It was the Black Crystal! He was under control by the Black Crystal! Chancellor Roman set that thing free! Onii-sama should not be blamed for this at all!"

Princess Grace sadly shook her head. "That cannot be done. Bright may not have been the source of the problem, but he participated. It is out of my power to set him free."

"But... but you're the legendary Princess Grace!" Altessa sputtered. Tears started to reform itself in her eyes.

A soft hand brushed Altessa's face, smoothing her tears away. "There is a way to bring Bright back,"Princess Grace whispered in her usual harmonic voice.

"Really?" squealed Fine and Rein.

"De Poomo?" added Poomo in surprise.

"Yes." Princess Grace still did not smile. "It will cost another to do so, since the balance must be maintained. In order to have Bright come back and retain his normal life, someone must take his place in the 18th level of hell."

"... what?" screeched Fine and Rein, aghast.

"Can't there be some other way, de Poomo?" asked the white mascot.

"I'm afraid not."

"How about we combine our powers?" suggested Rein.

"Great idea!" praised Fine. "That's just like Rein!"

Again, Princess Grace denied the thought. "It cannot be done."

"We don't know if we don't try!"

"Fine, Rein, it just won't work that way. I'm sorry, but there is no other alternative."

"I'll go."

Everyone's glances shot towards Altessa, who suddenly had wiped away her tears. "I'll go,"she repeated.

"Altessa --" Fine started, but her sister cut her off.

"-- you can't!" cried Rein.

Altessa looked around at the golden scenery. She wondered where Bright was right now, what he was doing, and how he was feeling. She sighed. "I really don't want to do it, but if it's for Onii-sama, I will. I... I don't really think I'd like life knowing that he's in pain. I just can't. To me, Onii-sama is the most important person in my life." She looked up, facing the citizens of the Sunny Kingdom. "I can't bear to leave something as treasured as that in a horrid place."

"But, Altessa!" the girls protested again. Altessa raised her hand before they could say any more.

"Don't. It was my choice. You guys have nothing to be sad for."

"Is this really what you want?" spoke up Princess Grace. "The change will be irreversible. Bright will forget you if you sacrifice your life for him."

"I won't forget him,"said Altessa glancing at the glowing legendary princess. "Even if he forgets me, I won't forget him." She turned to the twins before dropping into a hasty curtsy. "Fine, Rein, thank you. I won't forget you either."

"Altessa..." Fine was about to stop the blonde again, but was pulled back by Rein, who simply shook her head. After exchanging looks, Fine smiled. "We'll support your decision, Altessa! We won't ever forget what you've done!"

"That's right!" agreed Rein. "Wherever you are, we won't ever leave your efforts in vain!"

Altessa was taken by their words, but smiled. "Are you ready to go?" asked Princess Grace softly.

The princess of the Jewelry Kingdom turned her full attention over to the legendary princess. "Yes. Let's do it."

Altessa's body started lighting up, just like Princess Grace's. Within a few seconds, a wave of gold splashed over her tiny figure and everything turned dark.