[February 28] [Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime] Tears of Yesterday

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Title: Tears of Yesterday
Day/Theme: February 28 - 28. return to my heart when I am dead
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.

The next thing she saw was nothing. She felt her body falling in an endless abyss, drifting off into nowhere. Her eyes were closed as if she were in an eternal slumber, but she knew even if she opened them, she could not see anything.

Everthing was dark.

Where am I?

Everything was in a complete black color.

Am I dead yet?

Yes, answered a little voice from the back of her head. You are forgotten. You are dead.

Oh, I see how it is.

She felt herself floating somewhere. Somewhere, not towards anywhere, because it was too dark to tell. Altessa's eyelids opened slightly, but she could not see anything. Everything was as dark as the night.

The worst punishment is to have everyone forget you. I guess this is why it's the 18th level of hell.

Everything was silent. She was alone.

It was my choice. I can settle for this. It's not like anyone could save me, even if they tried --

"-- tessa!"

It seems very lonely here, though.

"Al -- sa!"

At least I won't have to spend my time with those annoying, clamorous, unprincesslike --

"Altessa!"

Altessa dazedly blinked. Is someone calling my name? she wondered, straining her ears to catch the sound again.

"Altessa!!" There it was again. Was she dreaming? Had she gone insane?

Who's calling me?

"Altessa!"

The voices sounded familiar, as if Altessa had once heard them. As her name continued to echo around the endless pit, Altessa could almost distinctively pick out individual voices.

Altessa clutched her head, attempting to block the call. No, no. Not here.... to hear their voices... I must be going crazy, that's it....

They continued to rattle, and this time Altessa let out a scream. Please stop! Just stop it!

"Altessa! You must believe!"

"That's right! You can do it!"

Where had she heard those words before? Altessa couldn't help but try to remember... a flash of red and aqua eyes crossed her mind. She gasped, letting her arms drop. "Who are you?!"

"Altessa, it's us! Fine and Rein!"

"Don't you remember?"

Fine and Rein, the blonde repeated to herself. Suddenly, the whole picture came into place. Of course! But why were they here to save her? Didn't they say that they were going to...?

"Altessa, can you hear me?" clamored another voice in a wave of panic. Altessa knew that this must be Prince Auraa of the Windmill Kingdom.

"Can you hear me too?"

Soft, musical, and seemingly always cheerful. It must be Sophie.

"A-Auraa? Sophie?" she timidly called.

A relieved sigh broke through. A voice that sounded like Fine yelled,"Don't worry, Altessa!"

"We're here to get you out of there!" called another voice that sounded like Rein's.

The question that rose up in Altessa's mind spilled from her lips. "Why?"

"They just couldn't leave you alone,"broke in a wise voice. Shade, maybe? Yes, it was definitely Shade. "We all decided to come over here and try to get you out."

"You can leave everything to me!" trumpeted a scratchy voice. Altessa smiled. That had to be Tio.

"Just believe in us!" rang Milro jubilantly. Gurgles bubbled from Nalro in agreement.

"Everyone,"Altessa whispered, feeling the euphoria of happiness welling inside her heart. Suddenly, her smile faltered. "I'm sorry, I can't."

A gasp, and then sudden silence. After a few awkward moments Lione piped up. "Why?"

"Babu, babu!" chimed in Milky.

"Why not, Altessa?" chorused the Seed Princesses.

Altessa sighed. "Thank you,"she began, clutching her brooch. "You've all been so kind tome... but, what about the balance Princess Grace was talking about? If you upset it, won't everything fall apart?"

"Our power can fill in for that,"suggested Rein."The purity of our feelings can weigh the other side."

"Yep,"agreed Fine. "You don't deserve to stay in there."

Altessa knew Fine and Rein had no boundaries nor hindrances to bring her back, but felt stupid for her actual reason of her hesitation. She swallowed, but asked,"What about..."

"About?" pressed Solo.

"... Onii-sama,"finished the princess of the Jewelry Kingdom. "Princess Grace said that he won't remember me. Even if I go back, things won't be the same..."

"That's not true, Altessa,"broke in a deep voice that sounded like...

"Onii-sama?" gasped Altessa in surprise.

A chuckle. "I'm glad you remembered me."

"Onii-sama..." Altessa felt tears trickle in heavy rivers down the sides of her face. "Onii-sama!" she called again, breaking into sobs. "How did you...?"

"How can I ever forget you, Altessa? You've done so much for me, and you never gave up when I was in danger. You even risked your life for me." A pause. "I can't even do that if I tried,"Bright solemnly admitted, a hint of laughter in his voice. "Thank you... I was saved because of you, Altessa."

Altessa was too happy to speak. Her brother was back to his usual, cheerful self, and even remembered her! Life was going to be normal again!

"Will you return?" questioned Bright in his soothing, gentle voice. Altessa noticed how long it had been since she heard that voice.

"Yes, Onii-sama. Everybody. I want to leave. I want to come back."

"Altessa!" was all thetwins could say, overjoyed that their friend was coming back. In unison again, they shouted,"Let's do it!"

The same warmth that Altessa felt earlier suddenly came rushing back. The roar of the brightened light overcame Fine and Rein's voices, and after a few seconds, the sensation stopped. Altessa found herself resting on her feet in the garden of the Sunny Kingdom, where all of her friends were standing.

"Altessa!" The majority of the crowd acted on impulse rushing over to embrace the little girl.

Altessa yelped in surprise, and then squirmed under their grasps. "Aghhh! Okay, guys, you can stop it now. Yeah. Thanks. I'm back, okay. Will you let me go?"

"We missed you!" cried Sophie, tightening her grip on Altessa that the blonde nearly suffocated. "We thought we lost you forever!!"

"Grkk -- I missed you too! Okay, let me go now!" rasped Altessa, trying to loosen Sophie's intense hold.

"It's good to see that things are coming back to normal,"commented Shade with a smirk, watching the scene from aside.

"Isn't it, Master?" Tio eagerly asked his "mentor."

After what seemed like forever, Altessa was finally set free, more dead than alive. She clutched her throat, gasping for air, and then a shadow fell over her. Ignoring her choking state, Altessa recognized the figure immediately, and nearly cried from relief.

"It's been a long time, Altessa,"Bright said with a smile. "I'm back."

Altessa had longed to hear those words, and now they finally fell from his mouth. The sincere, gentle Bright was finally back, and he wasn't kidding about it either. With a laugh, Altessa threw herself into her brother's arms, sobbing in jubilance at something she had wanted for a long time. Bright embraced his sister, happy at least things were going back into the way it had been before the invasion of the Black Crystal.

She returned back into his heart even though she was supposed to be "dead", but of course she knew she was never considered to be dead by her dear brother, the one who cared for her, helped her, and talked with since the day she was born.