-3: 115
After making my escape from Rapunzel who DEFINITELY wanted to jump my bones...
And from being tempted to let her, considering she was, well, objectively a blonde bombshell.
I immediately returned to my office to check on Indi and remind myself what a good father would do.
When I peeked in her room, Indi was still fast asleep. And judging from the candy wrappers around her that definitely hadn't been there earlier, she'd probably be asleep for a while from the sugar coma.
A lesson she'd learn the hard way later with her upset stomach...
But some lessons only came after being experienced and not taught.
So I cleaned up her mess, tucked her in again with a soft pat on the head.
While my multitool hadn't completely charged up for teleporting somewhere like the Ark again, it was definitely enough to pop back into Indi's room if she needed me.
Since that was the case, I made sure to hook up the cameras to keep an eye on her, wrote her a note to call me if she needed me, and dropped a few sliced pieces of fruit and bottled water for healthy refreshments when she woke up.
After that, I headed upstairs to change into my commander's outfit.
The thing which, now that I thought about it, I hadn't worn for months now since I was always just wearing my armor over comfortable clothes.
Huh.
I chuckled as I changed into the brown uniform and said, "Guess my costume's going to be a normal commander for once instead of a guy on the frontlines."
===
By the time I was sure I had completely cleared my docket of any last minute tasks so that I could just focus on having fun, when I arrived at the hall where the gala was taking place, the party was already in full swing and it was already close to midnight.
Taking a look around, I saw Nikkes I had never met, probably coming up from the Ark. There were ordinary humans too, the former denizens of the Outer Rim, now just people living in the Outpost.
But of course I saw the usual crowd that I was familiar with.
The Ark Rangers were chatting by the punch bowl.
Drake and Laplace were doing their usual antics, except dialed up to eleven now that Syuen and Vanitas were included in the mix.
The members of Maid for You, including Ade and her fellow maids that I hadn't quite had a chance to introduce myself to were wandering around in witch attire and serving beverages in cute little potion bottles.
Marian, Rapi, and Shifty were seated off to a corner and chatting with each other.
Mildly concerning, but not that much.
Endless, Neon, Maxwell, and Eternity were also in a corner and happily chatting with each other, all of them making wild gesticulations that looked concerningly like they were miming holding various firearms.
Still, not my problem.
Yet.
Problem for future me.
Anis, Mint, Prika, Nami, and Avistar (I think that was her name) were all on stage doing a trial run of their concert, upbeat music blaring as mass-produced Tetra Nikkes did backup dancing.
...And they were all wearing scandolous costumes too.
Seeing Anis in that succubus outfit... Mm.
Yeah, let's not stare too long.
Hana was LITERALLY dressed like Monika and gave me a minor jumpscare before I realized it was her.
Yuni and Mihara were slow dancing together, surprisingly wearing elegant gowns instead of their usual fetish- I mean, usual attire.
Suri was dressed like a primadonna with a sparkling blue dress... and clearly still on duty since she was constantly scanning the crowd despite Rose handing her drinks to relax.
Altogether, a fun time, everyone already having a blast.
...And by everyone, I mean a 90% female population.
Which, of course, meant that it was full white-girl style partying with people cheering, teasing, sharing drinks, doing dares, some kissing in the back...
"Huh." I grabbed a glass of wine off the nearby rack and said, "I may have miscalculated just how wild a party of mostly women could be."
At that time, I noticed someone approach me. A woman with gray slacks, leather shoes, a white dress shirt with a black tie... and overall looking kind of like a cop?
She had burgundy colored eyes and her black hair tied up in a ponytail with a pink ribbon while a black suit jacket rested over her shoulders.
And she also looked familiar. Except... it couldn't be, right?
I hesitated and said, "...Ingrid?"
The woman paused. Then she chuckled. "No. But I guess we would look similar like this. It's E.H., Commander. Ah, well... If it's you, I guess you can call me Harper?"
I blinked. "Harper? Wait, look similar..." I stared closely at E.H.'s face. Then my eyes widened in realization. "Ingrid has a sister?!"
E.H. chuckled and said, "That's the reaction I expected." She let out an amused smile and said, "It's been a while though since I called her that. Ah, she's my older sister."
"Oh, I figured that. She looks a lot older than you."
E.H. laughed. "You really have no fear when it comes to reprisals, do you, Commander?"
"What's she gonna do, fight me?" I chuckled.
E.H. smiled. "True. I don't think she has anything on you anymore. In fact, I don't think anyone in the Ark really has anything to stop you anymore."
I finished my glass of wine and set it aside. After that, I walked with E.H. towards the food trays and grabbed a plate, handing one to her. "Well, don't let them realize it just yet. I'm enjoying this little breather, you see."
"Yeah." E.H. nodded, taking the plate from me. After that, she took a look around at the lively surroundings and said, "This is nice. Just... peace. And people being treated like... people. Not less than or other."
"Well, at the end of the day we all bleed red." I paused. "Technically. My blood is kind of purplish, so it's complicated..."
E.H. chuckled. "I see you still have a habit of dropping information on people unannounced, Commander."
"Well, it keeps people on their toes and also makes me keep track of who knows what."
"I suppose that's true." E.H. grabbed a few cheesecake slices and cookies. After that, she took a bite of a cookie and let out a content sigh. "...You could never get something like this in the Outer Rim without giving an arm or a leg..."
"That highly concerns me. But thanks, I guess?"
"You're welcome." E.H. smiled, her eyes soft. "...And thank you. For giving us all a chance."
"No, no. Thank you for not thinking I'm a homocidal maniac who just wanted to turn people into lab experiments. I heard a few of the rumors going around when people first showed up..."
E.H. laughed. "Well. Even if that was true... I think we'd have all come anyway." She took a look around and said, "...Being in the Outer Rim was barely living. Every day was just... survival. But here? We can actually live. But I guess you knew that." She fixed her eyes on a few mass-produced Elysion models, all with their hair in different styles, along with different costumes too.
I noticed her gaze and said, "Everyone has a choice to decide to live or die. I just made it easier for them to choose to live, that's all."
"...You're a good man, you know?" E.H. smiled at me and said, "If someone like you was around when I first tried to change the Outer Rim, Heavenly Ascension wouldn't have been needed."
"Well, yeah. I would have already run a coup on the Central Government."
E.H. burst out into laughter and said, "Can you even say that?"
"What are they gonna do? I have more resources, better fighters, and the ability to drop a nuke on all of us and go full mutually assured destruction."
E.H. froze. "What?"
"Well, it's a last resort. But I'm prepared to run a deadman's switch. Considering how crazy a few people in the Central Government seemed to be, I figured it's a decent threat. Of course the nukes are a dud since it's depleted uranium... but they don't know that."
...As for the source of said depleted uranium...
Neon.
It was always Neon.
She's like a chaotic little sister I never thought I needed in my life, but also that completely terrified me in my life too.
E.H. let out a sigh of relief before giving me an amused look. "You're terrifying. But I suppose you'd have to be to pull this off." She vaguely gestured towards the surroundings and said, "You realize that having so many mass-produced Nikkes in one place like this is already bad enough, but having unique Nikkes too... it's the Central Government's worst fear. So much firepower is concentrated here right now."
"Technically." I nodded as I started filling my plate with sweets too. "But right now, everyone here is just a person, not a fighter or military asset."
E.H. chuckled. "Says the man wearing a commander's outfit."
"That's the joke. Somehow, this usually isn't my job."
"...It isn't?"
I laughed. "Ask anyone from the Brave Squad. Usually I'm out there doing their job for them. Sadly, I've recently been demoted to pencil pusher due to 'health concerns.'"
"Oof. For a man like you, that must be terrible."
"Right? I-"
"COMMANDER!" Anis shouted from across the room and pointed at me. "Stop flirting with women and come up here to dance with us!"
E.H. held up her hands, smiling at Anis. "He's all yours."
I walked towards the stage, munching on my sweets. As I did, I said, "Jealous already, Wifey?"
Catcalls immediately erupted in the room.
Surprisingly, the loudest came from Rapi and Marian.
"Go get her, Commander!" Rapi shouted, a sly smile on her face.
"Let people know whose star Anis really is~" Marian called out too, looking amused.
Laughter and various other Nikkes' voices filled the air. Along with the rare cheers from the VERY few men in the room.
But I ignored them all and finished my sweets before handing the plate to Ade, who had made her way towards me already anticipating my needs.
'Huh. She really is a great maid.'
I'd have to have a proper chat with her one day about that. Indi could use a babysitter when I'm busy...
But for now...
I held out my hand to Anis. "Shall we dance, milady?"
Anis grinned and pulled me onto the stage. "Alright, hot stuff! Since you said you're so good at dancing, let's do THIS!" She snapped her fingers. "Hit it, girls!"
The moment she pointed at the musicians, an upbeat idol song started playing, along with a cheery female voice.
[Play: Pretty STAR (Pretty for you)]
*Believing in your future, I'll shine the hidden light!*
"Huh." I tilted my head. "...I don't know this song."
*Even new clothes, even the excitement, I'm absolutely no match for you~*
Anis gasped, genuinely upset. "You don't know Pretty?!"
*180 degrees, from any angle I'll show you an illusion you'll fall for.*
"Pretty?" I blinked. "I mean, I know when people ARE Pretty, but otherwise... Should I?"
Mint covered her mouth, the sudden motion causing her witch's hat from her witch outfit to fall out. "You don't know about Pretty?!"
Prika walked over, dressed as a werewolf with wolf ears, paws, and furry boots. She frowned and said, "You know about T.T. Star and not about the idol who inspired us?"
"Whatever!" I laughed and said, "You wanted me to dance, right?"
I listened to the song a bit to catch the rhythm and waited for the build up.
*Melting softly I'm already prepared to step into the sky... Here I go!*
"Alright, here I go too!" I spun towards the crowd and started dancing, singing along to the song as the lyrics flashed on the screen opposite of me. "I'll deliver the light towards tomorrow, smile for you~ I'm always searching, because you are living right here. If it's you, I'm sure you can overcome it! Look straight ahead, dedicated only to you, Pretty for you! Hai, hai, hai!"
===
*Of someone who resembles you, even the gestures, it's meaningless if it's not you.*
Mustang froze the moment he entered the hall where the gala was taking place. "That voice..."
It was a voice Mustang hadn't heard in decades. One he stopped listening to because of the memories it brought back.
*180 degrees. From anywhere, because I want to reflect only you.*
Mustang's bright smile slowly faded. The flashy golden suit he was wearing suddenly seemed meaningless as he properly listened to the song lyrics. Something he hadn't back at the time.
*These heavy feelings, I want you to overlap them all...*
"Oh."
*Together with the special you, even deeper, I'm already prepared to step into the dream...*
Mustang-
No, Hanson quietly moved towards a part of the hall and out of sight. As he did, his eyes drifted towards the stage where Commander Hoopa was, ridiculously, dancing the perfect choreography to Pretty's song and singing along.
*I won't let you escape, you know?*
Cheers erupted as the crowd laughed, enjoying the upbeat and ridiculous performance.
But Hanson didn't see that or listen to it. Instead, he quietly paid attention to the lyrics and the message he hadn't realized until now.
*Now, believe in the light towards tomorrow, smile for you. Even on days you might lose your way, I won't let go of you.*
"...Oh, Freesia." Hanson murmured, covering his face. "...You always knew. Didn't you?"
The fact that Hanson would throw everything away to become Mustang to change everything. The fact that he would never forget what happened to Pretty and try to change it. The fact that even worse things might happen, but that he would keep going anyway.
*If it's you, I'm sure you can live strong.*
A chastisement, a blessing, a wish from the past carried to the present. One that Hanson only realized just now.
"...It was never for them, was it? No, at first it was, but..."
The lyrics were too on point. Too close to home.
Especially now after all that Hanson had done as Mustang.
*Has it properly reached you? Dedicated only to you, Pretty for you!*
A love confession disguised as a song.
One that Hanson only heard decades after she was long gone.
"Ah... mon amour. You never play fair." Hanson murmured as a teary smile filled his face, watching as Commander Hoopa ended the song with Pretty's signature pose, holding his hand out to the crowd.
It was silly.
It was ridiculous.
After all, the commander was a grown man dancing an upbeat idol song meant for a petite beauty with a cutesy voice.
But.
As the song looped again with Anis and the other members of T.T. Star joining in for an encore...
'Hm?'
Something was off.
Hoopa clapped his hands and said, "Alright! I've got it now! Everyone sing with us! One, two, three... Believing in your future, I'll shine the hidden light!"
Hanson felt the shift in the air. Something electric, like energy was actually crackling around them.
Anis moved on the stage and sang, "Even new clothes..."
Mint swapped out with Anis and sang, "Even the excitement..."
Prika stepped up next and sang, "I'm absolutely no match for you."
Hoopa twirled and pointed at the crowd. "180 degrees, from any angle I'll show you an illusion you'll fall for~"
And as if on cue, the clock struck midnight, a toll echoing in the distance.
The moment it did...
Golden light shone behind T.T. Star and Hoopa.
Hanson immediately sat up straight, his eyes wide in shock.
And he wasn't alone.
Everyone else there gasped too, pointing.
But Anis, Mint, Prika, and Hoopa were too busy performing to notice, just thinking it was a reaction to their performance.
Anis took center and turned to face Hoopa, singing, "With all these feelings, I want you to understand everything..."
Hoopa held out his hand and took Anis's before smiling at her and singing, "Together with the special you, melting softly... I'm already prepared to step into the sky..."
And at that time, someone appeared in a flash, winking at the crowd and singing. "Here I go!"
Anis gasped.
Mint and Prika stumbled.
Hoopa froze.
And Hanson...
"FREESIA?!"
...He broke character and started rushing towards the stage, hand reaching out and fearing it was just an illusion.
A petite beauty with a sleeveless red dress held up by a single strap. Trailing brown hair with rainbow stars glittering around her. Reddish brown eyes and a one-ear red headpiece...
It was like she had stepped out from the past in that final concert to finish her last song.
Winking at Hanson with a teary smile, she held her hand out and sang. "I'll deliver the light towards tomorrow, smile for you. I'm always searching because you are living right here. If it's you, I'm sure you can overcome it. Look straight ahead, dedicated only to you, Pretty for you!"
Standing right behind her, Hoopa staggered back shouted, "HOLY SHIT!? A REAL GHOST?!"
Anis grabbed Hoopa's uniform and shook him. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW?!"
Hanson staggered to the front of the stage, looking up at the girl he had lost so many years ago.
Pretty- No, Freesia let out a trembling smile and kept singing, but now looking directly at Hanson. "Of someone who resembles you... Even the gestures. It's completely meaningless if it's not you."
Hanson threw away all pretenses and jumped on the stage, lacing his fingers with Freesia's outstretched hand.
And when he did, he realized it.
She was real.
She was here.
Somehow, someway.
So, with a teary smile just like hers, Hanson sang the next lines. "180 degrees, from anywhere, because I want to reflect only you."
Freesia stepped close to Hanson and softly sang into his eyes. "These heavy feelings, I want you to overlap them all... Together with the special you, even deeper, I'm already prepared to step into the dream." She smiled and whispered the last line. "I won't let you escape, you know?"
As the guitar interlude kicked in, Hanson hugged Freesia and murmured, "How...?"
Freesia hugged him back and let out a breathy laugh. "I guess when enough people believe, even miracles can come true? And..." She cupped her hands around Hanson's face and murmured, "I've been watching. You've done so well, Hanson."
Hanson's breath hitched, his vision blurring. But he quickly blinked his tears away, fearing that Freesia would vanish along with them.
As the guitar solo drew to a close, Freesia laughed and said, "Come on, sing with me." She held her hand in the air and shouted, "Everyone, sing with me! Anis, you and the others too!"
Hanson grinned and quickly stepped back with Freesia.
Anis, Mint, Prika, and Hoopa quickly adapted to a makeshift dance formation with Hanson and Freesia as the center. And then everyone sang the next lines together.
"Now, believe in the light towards tomorrow, smile for you. Even on days you might lose your way, I won't let go of you~"
Hoopa laughed and pumped his fist in the air before saying, "Sing it with us! One, two, three... If it's you, I'm sure you can live strong. Has it properly reached you? Dedicated only to you, Pretty for you!"
The crowd's roar of 'Pretty for you' shook the hall.
And afterwards...
Freesia-
No.
The Ark's shining star, Pretty, grinned and said, "Thank you for coming to my comeback concert! Sorry for the hiatus~!"
Laughter filled the hall at Pretty's words. And shortly after that...
"PRETTY! BOSS!" Anis sprinted forward and hugged Pretty and Hanson.
Hoopa laughed again and saluted the crowd before letting out a mischievous smile when he noticed some people entering. "And for my next trick... Now entering, the Legendary Commander and the Goddess Squad!"
Gasps echoed as everyone turned and looked to the entrance to see Andersen walking in with Red Hood, Snow White, Scarlet, Dorothy, and Rapunzel, everyone wearing either a black suit or a black dress with white lilies embroidered all over.
Andersen paused, adjusting his suit coat before he did a triple take when he saw who was standing on stage. "WHAT IN GOD'S NAME?! PRETTY?!"
Dorothy immediately stared at Hoopa and shouted. "JACOB IAN ANDERSEN, EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"
Hoopa coughed. "...Fairy godmother?"