Temoshí sat at a worn wooden table in a bustling tavern, his chair creaking as he leaned back, the lively chatter around him somehow both comforting and noisy. Tarot, as usual, was in the middle of it all, his face practically buried in a plate of food.
"This is so much better than peaches!" Tarot exclaimed, his voice muffled by a mouthful of something that definitely wasn't peaches. He stuffed another forkful in, looking as if he were preparing for some sort of eating contest. "I'm telling you, I could eat this every day!"
Temoshí watched with an eyebrow raised, then glanced over at Kyora, who was sitting next to him, shaking her head with a small, amused smile.
"At least he's quiet when he eats," Kyora muttered under her breath, half to herself. "I'd hate to see him try to talk while chewing."
"True," Temoshí replied, his voice dry. "Give him a few more bites, though, and we might need earplugs."
Across the table, Joker leaned in and whispered to Elliott, "Do you think Tarot knows what a 'diet' is?" Elliott didn't respond, his stoic gaze fixed on his food, but the slight twitch of his lips suggested that he did, in fact, find the situation amusing.
Meanwhile, Zharroth sat rigidly in his chair, his piercing eyes scanning the room, his stoic demeanor unfazed by the chaos around him. "We're here for a reason," he muttered, clearly not impressed by the spectacle of Tarot devouring food like a hungry beast.
Nayliin, on the other hand, was bouncing in her seat, her energy infectious. "Isn't it great?! I love how lively this place is!" she said, beaming with excitement as she watched the tavern patrons dance and laugh.
"Yeah, sure," Razor grumbled, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed. "But this food? It's pretty lame. Needs more spice." She shot a glare at her plate as if it had personally offended her.
Dr. Hugo, who had been silently observing the group, chimed in. "Spice isn't the issue, Razor. You'll ruin your taste buds before you get any useful results from that mouth of yours." He adjusted his glasses with an almost philosophical air, his tone calm as always.
"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that," Razor shot back, unbothered by the doctor's critique.
Stitch, sitting quietly with Phoebe beside her, leaned in toward Dr. Hugo, a slight frown forming. "He does have a point. I could really use a little more flavor in my life," Stitch said, though her eyes still reflected a deep weariness.
"I'd rather just eat it and get it over with," Phoebe muttered, pushing her food around her plate before picking at it with a disinterested sigh.
Fioren, ever the optimist, laughed brightly. "I think you're all overthinking it. I'm just happy we're all together, enjoying a good meal! Let's make this night count!"
Chiaki, sitting opposite, gave Fioren a wry smile. "I'm sure Tarot's night will count. His stomach's already making it a memorable evening," she said dryly, her gaze fixed on Tarot, who was now eyeing a second plate of food like it was his last meal.
"We're gonna have to roll 'im out of here," joked Shanya, sipping her drink with a smirk. "But seriously, do you think this place has anythin' spicy?" she asked, glancing at Razor as if she might know.
Nayliin giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Spicy food, big meals, loud music—this is the best night ever!" She threw her arms out dramatically, nearly knocking over a nearby mug in her excitement.
Temoshí leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his smirk widening. "Yeah, just as long as nobody else decides to act like Tarot and break the table with their appetite. Let's not turn this into a disaster," he said, his voice still calm but with an undercurrent of amusement.
Nathaniel, the quiet one, simply watched all the antics with a raised eyebrow. He opened his mouth as if about to say something, but decided against it. Whatever was going on, it was better to observe in silence. Besides, there was something strangely peaceful about just watching his companions bicker and laugh.
"All right, all right, enough talking," Tarot announced, slamming his hands down on the table for emphasis, "I'm getting another serving. Who's with me?"
"I think you're going to need help getting up first," Zharroth quipped, his tone deadpan.
The tavern erupted into laughter as Tarot shot Zharroth an exaggerated pout. "Oh, come on. You don't have to be so serious about everything!"
Fioren decided to have some fun with Chiaki while she was focused on her meal. Summoning her translucent ghostly arms, she mischievously reached under the table and grabbed Chiaki's thighs.
The moment the ethereal hands made contact, Chiaki's face went red as a tomato. Her heartbeat sped up, and she froze, unable to finish her bite of food. Dropping her utensils, she gasped and struggled to find her words. "F-Fioren! S-Stop it!" she stammered, feeling a wave of warmth rush over her. Fioren, however, couldn't resist continuing the tease, letting her phantom hands linger a little longer, sending Chiaki's thoughts spiraling.
Temoshí glanced over, noticing the sudden tension in the air, his half-eaten meat paused in midair as he raised an eyebrow. "What's going on, Chiaki?" he asked, a knowing look in his eyes. Chiaki was completely flustered, her voice shaky as she quickly turned away. "N-Nothing!" she sputtered, her face now as red as the food she had dropped.
Fioren couldn't help herself and burst out laughing at Chiaki's reaction. "You should've seen your face!" she teased, finally letting Chiaki go, much to her relief.
Chiaki let out a frustrated sigh, muttering under her breath, "You jerk..." as she tried to collect herself, still embarrassed beyond belief.
"Yo, Burnsy. What's up with Ralphie and the others? Spill the beans, man," she said, leaning on the table with her shoulder, clearly excited.
Temoshí casually sipped his coffee, unfazed. "Looks like they've got some kind of music show lined up in a few minutes. We're just waiting for it to kick off," he replied, sitting outside with the rest of the crew, gazing at the headquarters in the distance.
Aurora clutched her phone tightly, the pre-recorded soundtrack queued up and ready to go. Resting on her lap was a sleek guitar, its polished surface gleaming under the stage lights.
"This is insane… I've never performed in front of this many people before," she muttered, trying to steady her breath. She hummed quietly, finding her tone, hands trembling slightly as she adjusted the guitar.
"No worries. You've got this, Aurora," Celeste reassured her gently, dabbing a soft shimmer of powder and glitter across her cheeks.
Aurora glanced at her reflection, visibly flustered. "Do I really need all this sparkle? I look like a disco ball…"
Celeste chuckled, tilting her head. "Every popstar needs to shine, especially on their debut. You're young, talented, and this is your moment. We all worked on the soundtrack together—just focus on your voice and let it carry. The rest will follow."
The moon hung like a silver gem in the night sky, casting a soft glow over Cascade Cradle. The plaza shimmered with lights—strung from rooftops, curled around lamp posts, and woven into the stage where the city had gathered. Lanterns floated like stardust above, and a hush swept through the crowd as anticipation filled the air.
Behind the velvet curtain, Aurora stood frozen.
Her hands trembled slightly around the neck of her guitar. The gentle crowd noise filtered through the curtain like a distant tide. "Celeste, I… I don't think I can do this," she whispered, her voice nearly breaking.
"You're not here to be perfect," Celeste said gently, her hand on Aurora's back. "You're here to be seen."
Before Aurora could protest again, Celeste gave her a small, loving push forward.
Aurora stumbled one step—but that was all it took.
The curtain rose.
A spotlight found her immediately. A soft gasp traveled across the plaza, followed by awe-filled silence. Her skin shimmered with the sparkles Celeste had dusted across her cheeks and shoulders. Her white guitar caught the moonlight like crystal.
The punks who had once challenged her stood in the crowd—now quiet, their expressions slowly shifting from skepticism to stunned curiosity. Yumiko had just arrived too, standing at the edge of the gathering, arms folded, watching intently. Ralphie, Kou, and the others from the city were all scattered throughout the audience, cheering faintly as they saw her.
Stitch sat quietly near the front, and behind her, unseen by all but one, Hollow's ghostly form watched with a peaceful smile.
Aurora took a breath.
Her fingers strummed the first chord.
...
....
.....
...
~ I've been waiting for the stars to align,
Chasing dreams that are yours and mine.
Every step, I'm getting closer,
I can feel the world getting bolder. ~
Her voice was soft, trembling—but clear. The first few rows leaned in, captivated. The crowd was silent, listening, letting the warmth of her voice seep into their hearts.
The lights pulsed gently in soft colors—lavender, cerulean, and silver.
~ Light it up, we're ready to go,
Let the rhythm take control.
We're not afraid to let it show,
We'll burn brighter than we know! ~
The tempo began to rise.
Aurora stepped forward, a little more confident. A breeze tugged her hair, catching in the moonlight. Her fingers moved with rhythm now—muscle memory taking over.
~ We're gonna shine through the night,
Dancing under city lights.
Together, we're unstoppable,
Our hearts are untouchable!
No looking back, no holding tight,
We'll make it through, we'll take flight!
Shine through the night, feel so alive,
We're reaching for the highest sky! ~
The crowd began to move. Arms went up. People clapped to the beat.
Ralphie was nodding along with a wide grin. Kou whooped out loud. Even Nathaniel, typically expressionless, gave a soft smirk. Celeste stood to the side of the stage, watching with pride as her friend bloomed under the starlight.
~ Every heartbeat's a melody,
Every moment, we're setting free.
Chasing lights, running wild,
We'll stay forever, we're untamed and wild! ~
The punks who had once mocked her? They were cheering now—two of them even jumping to the beat, hands in the air like kids at their first concert.
~ Feel the beat, it's pulling us near,
We've got nothing left to fear.
We're not afraid to let it go,
We'll take on the world, and let it flow! ~
More joined in.
Lights flared from the ground, golden stars sweeping across the stage as Aurora's voice soared. Confetti shot from the sides—crafted like moon petals—and the plaza danced in a storm of light and sound.
~ We're gonna shine through the night,
Dancing under city lights.
Together, we're unstoppable,
Our hearts are untouchable!
No looking back, no holding tight,
We'll make it through, we'll take flight!
Shine through the night, feel so alive,
We're reaching for the highest sky! ~
Yumiko, in the back, couldn't help but smile. "Heh… not bad at all," she muttered, impressed.
Stitch's eyes welled with tears—maybe from the beauty, or maybe from something deeper. Behind her, Hollow's ghostly form gave a nod. The song seemed to touch him too.
~ And when the world starts to fade,
We'll keep on dancing, never afraid.
Every moment we live, every dream that we chase,
We'll keep on shining, with love as our grace! ~
By now, everyone was on their feet.
Even the rooftops were packed with people cheering, waving, singing along with the lyrics. The music throbbed through the city, a heartbeat of shared joy and hope.
~ We're gonna shine through the night,
Dancing under city lights.
Together, we're unstoppable,
Our hearts are untouchable!
No looking back, no holding tight,
We'll make it through, we'll take flight!
Shine through the night, feel so alive,
We're reaching for the highest sky! ~
As the final note rang out, the crowd exploded in applause.
Aurora stood there, trembling once more—but not from fear. From joy. From release. From transformation.
Celeste ran onto the stage and hugged her tight. "Told you," she whispered.
The moon watched from above, proud and bright.
And Hollow, behind Stitch, simply whispered one word:
"… Beautiful isn't it...?"
Stitch glanced over her shoulder, eyes narrowing. Nothing. Just empty air and moonlight.
"I swear I…" she trailed off, the ghost of a voice still lingering in her ears. She chuckled quietly, her eyes softening. "Heh… You liked it too, didn't you?" she whispered, closing her eyes with a content smile, then raised her hands and joined the crowd in applause, clapping with pride.
Meanwhile, outside the plaza, Temoshí took a long sip of his drink—only to immediately choke on it.
"WHAT IN THE—!" He sprayed coffee across the table.
Shanya blinked. "Seriously?"
She smacked him on the back hard enough to shake the bench. "Breathe, Burnsy. She just sang, not summoned a demon."
Temoshí gasped, wheezing. "That was a summoning. She summoned stardust and crushed the entire plaza with glitter!"
As fireworks shot across the sky and the final notes of Aurora's performance echoed through the air, the punks who had originally dared her were in complete meltdown mode.
"D-Dude… was that our challenge?!?" one of them squeaked, his sunglasses slipping down his nose.
"I—She—Did she just…go supernova on us?!" another stammered, tugging on his beanie like it was about to fly off.
The third one, wide-eyed and dazed, stumbled forward, dropped to his knees, and threw both hands to the sky. "I have seen the light! I am no longer punk—I am now… pop!"
"Bro. Bro. BRO," the smallest one said, grabbing his buddy's shoulders. "We just got obliterated by sparkles and high notes! We're done for! We gotta change professions!"
One of them grabbed a stick and began dramatically drawing a heart around Aurora's name in the dirt. "She's a goddess! A lyrical empress! The Queen of Moonlight!"
Another flung off his jacket and waved it like a flag. "I'm joining her fan club! Someone print shirts! NOW!"
By the time Aurora stepped offstage, the punks had already organized themselves into an impromptu "Aurora Alliance"—complete with makeshift signs, glowsticks (who knows where they got those), and one of them standing on a crate giving a speech about how they were all "enlightened by celestial song."
Aurora blinked in confusion. "Uhh… what are they doing?"
Celeste smirked. "Worshipping you, apparently."
Yumiko, arms crossed, looked at the scene, raised a brow, and muttered with a smirk, "Punks got punk'd."
As Aurora stepped down from the stage, still catching her breath, she suddenly noticed something unexpected—the cheers weren't dying down. If anything, they were growing.
Voices began to rise in unison, scattered at first, then building into a wave:
"We're gonna shine through the night,
Dancing under city lights!"
The front row of teens near the stage shouted it, jumping in rhythm. A group of older folks near the food stalls chimed in:
"Together, we're unstoppable,
Our hearts are untouchable!"
Even the punks, still riding the emotional high, formed a loose conga line as they sang out:
"No looking back, no holding tight,
We'll make it through, we'll take flight!"
People all over the plaza were clapping, laughing, singing together—strangers harmonizing under the full moon. It was as if Aurora's voice had sparked a collective euphoria no one wanted to let go of.
She stood still for a moment, overwhelmed by the sound of her lyrics echoing back at her from every direction. Her chest swelled, eyes misting up as she whispered, "They're really… singing our song…"
"What did you expect? You were incredible! That melody! That powerful, gorgeous voice!" Celeste beamed, eyes shining with admiration. "How was that your first performance?!"
Aurora, who had tried to keep a straight face, finally cracked into a wide, proud smile. The cheers still echoed faintly behind her. She looked out over the plaza and took a breath, steady and full.
"I know," she admitted, her voice soft with wonder. "I surprised even myself… But this? This feeling—bringing people joy with just my voice? I think this is what I want to do. What I'm meant to do."
The realization settled in her chest like a glowing ember. A dream. A path she could walk that didn't require swinging a blade or sailing through chaos. Just a voice, and the courage to let it fly.
"I may not be a fighter," Aurora continued, "but I can give people something real. Something that makes their hearts feel lighter. I want to keep singing. I want to become a popstar."
Celeste smiled warmly and clapped her hands, nodding in full support. "You've already won hearts here, Aurora. So keep going. Keep shining. And thank you—you gave something special to the people of Cascade Cradle tonight. I'll be watching, wherever your dream takes you."
Temoshí glanced over at Chiaki, who met his gaze. "Looks like Aurora figured it out," Chiaki said, a hint of approval in her voice. Temoshí nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she definitely found her path. But, honestly, we're all on our own journeys. We each have our own dreams to chase."
He stretched, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he glanced at the quiet night around them. "It's been a long day. Time for some rest."
As he made his way down the stairs, passing the empty seats where the crowd had been moments before, Kou spoke up from the corner, his calm voice cutting through the air.
"Hey, May… Aren't you gonna talk to Temoshí?"
May remained seated, her expression serene as she turned her eyes to the screen, which now displayed a replay of Aurora's performance, edited and trimmed into a neat video. She smiled softly.
"No. I think there's still time before we'll reunite. But… I truly wish all of you the best on the road ahead." She watched the screen, her gaze unwavering. "Seems Aurora's about to start her own journey too. Once that video goes public, she'll finally be a true singer."
To be continued...