Sunset ^beta

Agnea was especially beautiful in the blush of dawn, but Giselle would keep these feelings locked away in her heart forever.

They stood together near the New Delsta anchorage, watching as the sun rose above the waters, the second dawn since that long night. Coda and Rico had remained in New Delsta, still hurting from the news of Tanzy's death and the truths revealed in her diary, while Agnea's traveling companions had already boarded their ship. Agnea said its name was the Grand Terry, and its mast was red with the image of a golden octopuff. They were all going their separate ways, so even without the shadow of Tanzy's death or the differences in ages, it wouldn't be right to confess her feelings now, Giselle knew.

So instead, she simply said, "The dawn truly is more beautiful than gold and gems, isn't it?"

Agnea smiled, a far cry from the anguished expression she had worn last night when telling Giselle of Tanzy's death. "Yes, it is. The eight of us really did it, didn't we? Making the sun rise again…"

More than anything Giselle wanted to reach for Agnea's hand, but remained still. "If anyone could do it, of course it'd be you and your friends. I only wish…"

Agnea's smile vanished. "Tanzy, right?"

Giselle let out a heavy sigh. "I just… don't understand. She saw how you shined at the Grand Gala, like I did. Our whole reason for traveling was to bring smiles to every corner of the realm." Her fingers balled into fists. "But that's unfair to say. She was hurting all this time, and I didn't notice at all…"

"We can't save everyone," Agnea whispered. "That's what Castti told me. She's an apothecary and she's lost patients, so she knows how much it hurts."

"But you still saved the world." Giselle tried to smile. "Thank you, Agnea."

Agnea folded her hands over her heart. "I won't give up. No matter how many people tell me it's wrong or pointless to have hope, I'll keep dancing and making people smile, just like Mama did."

"Hopes and dreams are what make us human," Giselle said, and, recalling the callouses on Agnea's feet, quickly added, "Just remember to take care of yourself too, all right?"

The blush that spread across Agnea's cheeks as she let out an awkward laugh was quite adorable, Giselle could not help but think. Her eyes fell to Agnea's lips, and she again thought of how badly she longed to kiss them.

However, the somber air soon returned, and the two of them fell silent. Giselle fidgeted, rubbing the back of her neck, and she looked toward the Grand Terry, and behind the ship the sun had risen further into the sky. Only a day ago she had feared the sun wouldn't rise, and she'd cried when she saw the dawn again. She hadn't known Tanzy was already gone.

Finally Agnea spoke again. "Well, I guess I should be leaving now. I'll be heading home to Cropdale to rest a while."

"You've certainly earned it."

"I could say the same to you." Agnea lowered her gaze, and her shoulders trembled. "I know how hard it is to lose someone you loved."

"I'm still happy, you know," Giselle said quickly. "It's hard to accept everything you told me about Tanzy and the Moonshade Order, but I really was happy to see you again."

Agnea's eyes widened, bright blue reflecting the sun. "Giselle…?"

Hesitantly Giselle pressed her hand to Agnea's cheek. It would be so easy to confess her feelings to Agnea now, but that would be selfish, she knew. Agnea was ten years younger than her, less traveled and experienced. Yet Agnea was also braver, bringing back the dawn itself with her traveling companions. In contrast, Giselle had only set out on her journey to escape an arranged marriage to a man she knew nothing about, and though she had traveled widely with her traveling troupe, none of them had truly understood Tanzy. That was the story of her life, after all - none of her romantic relationships with other women had worked out either, and she'd never forgive herself if she broke Agnea's heart. She wouldn't regret falling in love with Agnea, but better to keep these feelings locked away.

"Keep smiling, Agnea," she said instead. "I'm sure our paths will cross again one day."

Agnea's smile was as bright as the dawn. "It's a promise!" she exclaimed.

They exchanged a few more words of farewell, and soon, too soon, Agnea boarded the Grand Terry, and Giselle could do nothing more for the young dancer. Her dove Weiss sat on her shoulder, and she continued to watch as the Grand Terry set sail and eventually vanished over the horizon. Just like that, Agnea was gone, and tears stung at the corners of her eyes.

"It's better this way," she said to Weiss as she rubbed her eyes with her sleeve. "For all my talk about bringing smiles to the realm, I don't really understand other people's hearts, huh?"

Weiss cooed softly and nuzzled his beak against Giselle's cheek.

She laughed weakly. "But Agnea has the power to move hearts like no one I've ever seen. I'm not surprised she and her friends were the ones to bring back the dawn."

The sun continued to rise above the sea, and she'd never realized how beautiful such a sight was. She inhaled deeply, and then left to return to New Delsta, where Coda and Rico waited.

After Tanzy's passing, Giselle's Traveling Troupe struggled a while, but in the year since the return of the dawn, they eventually regained their footing and began to expand. Some new members were full-time, traveling all over Solistia with Giselle, Coda, and Rico, while others were part-time or guest performers, only joining when the troupe was passing through their home region. Traveling had gotten rather lively - and expensive, as lodging and carriages weren't cheap - and little by little the pain of grief eased.

Every so often she heard of Agnea dazzling on yet another stage, but each time Giselle seemed to just miss her. Sometimes she even dreamed of Agnea, of how brightly Agnea had shined at the Grand Gala, and that longing burned anew all over again.

The troupe reached Tropu'hopu by evening. It was as humid as ever and the air salty, but Giselle had a special fondness for this town and its floating stage, even more than New Delsta or Merry Hills. They traveled as a group of twelve for now, and the other members of the troupe had chosen to remain in New Delsta to cut back on travel expenses. After all, when they all traveled together, it could be difficult to secure enough inn rooms to accommodate all of them.

They made their way to the inn, and between the twelve of them, they settled into three inn rooms. Giselle let out a deep, content sigh as her gaze fell upon a bed; since the beginnings of her travels, she had learned to appreciate a proper bed. However, now was not the time to relax just yet.

Once their belongings were unpacked, she told the others where she was going and left the inn. Weiss also remained behind, having found a ceiling beam on which to perch. Thus her shoulder felt light as she walked upon the wooden platforms toward the floating stage. Today she at least had to inform the stage director her troupe had arrived, and in the following days they could finalize the plans for their performance.

However, much to her surprise, a crowd had gathered around the pathway to the floating stage. Excited cheers flew all around her, and as she nudged her way through the crowd, her heart leapt into her throat. As the base of the floating stage stood Agnea Bristarni herself, and as she did a brief twirl and waved, the crowd cheered even louder. Giselle could only stand still, awestruck and enthralled by that familiar dazzling smile.

"Thank you, everyone!" Agnea exclaimed as she clapped her hands together. "It's so wonderful to be here again!"

"Now, now, give the little lady some space," came the stage director's voice as he approached the crowd. "Her performance isn't for another few days."

With great reluctance the crowd began to thin, and Agnea's eyes met Giselle's. "Giselle!" she said brightly as she rushed toward Giselle, and her foot caught on a gap between planks and she tripped, and Giselle just barely had time to fling out her arm and grasp Agnea by the waist to save her from a painful fall.

"Nice catch," the director remarked, letting out an impressed whistle.

Agnea straightened herself as she blushed deeply. "O-Oh, thanks…" she stammered.

Giselle cleared her throat, hoping her own blush wasn't as obvious. "It's good to see you again too, Agnea."

Agnea giggled, and Giselle had forgotten how sweet that sound was. "I'm so glad! I heard your troupe is doing really well, but I always seem to miss you!"

"And now our paths have finally crossed again!" Giselle said with a theatrical flourish of her red cape. "A long awaited reunion!"

"That gives me an idea, actually," the director said, rubbing his chin. "What would you two think of putting on a show together?"

Both Giselle and Agnea jerked their heads toward the director and stared at him wide-eyed, and Giselle's heart hammered against her ribs.

He let out a hearty chuckle. "Miss Bristarni, it was Giselle's Traveling Troupe that introduced you to the audience the first time you performed here. The people of this town were your fans before you two made it big, so I think they'd really love to see you both together on that stage."

"I…" Giselle tried to say, and she glanced down at Agnea beside her, whose blush had deepened.

"Well, give it some thought, okay?" The director grinned broadly. "We've still got a few days before we have to finalize everything."

Giselle nodded lamely while Agnea beamed at her, again setting her heart aflutter. The three of them discussed the upcoming festival a little while longer, and eventually Giselle and Agnea bid farewell to the stage director. Giselle hardly managed to pay attention to anything he had said, too distracted by the idea of performing with Agnea.

"—selle?" came Agnea's voice suddenly. "Are you all right?"

Giselle froze, her foot just barely managing to catch the next step. "H-Huh? O-Oh, I was just lost in thought."

"Are you thinking about what the stage director said?" Again Agnea smiled. "I think it'd be a lot of fun!"

Giselle cleared her throat; did Agnea realize how dangerous that dazzling smile of hers could be? "In the morning, I can introduce you to the rest of the troupe and we can discuss things."

"Right, it is getting late." Agnea giggled faintly as she glanced at the sun setting over the sea. "But we still have time to catch up, don't we?"

When Agnea looked at her with that adoring, entreating gaze, Giselle could not refuse. "Of course, my dear star," she said, offering her arm, which Agnea accepted without hesitation. If she slipped into her theatrical persona, her heart would remain calm, or so she hoped.

For a while the two of them walked along the edge of town, reminiscing about the past year. Agnea spoke of her family in Cropdale and the various places she'd performed as a dancer and reunions with her traveling companions, and Giselle couldn't help but note the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of them. It wasn't so surprising, Giselle knew - the eight of them had brought back the dawn itself, so of course they would understand Agnea in a way no one else could.

Giselle, in turn, spoke of expanding her troupe and the towns they had traveled to. Agnea listened intently, bright-eyed and smiling, and Giselle tried to ignore the warmth building inside her. To any onlookers, they probably looked much like a couple, and Agnea held Giselle's arm tightly. She'd certainly dreamed of such, but she had been too busy rebuilding and expanding her troupe this past year to have any time to even think of romance.

"We stopped in Sai for a bit," Giselle went on. "We put on a show for local orphanage, and one of the girls talked about you and Hermes."

"Oh, you must mean Laila!" Agnea exclaimed. "I was there last month too, and she told me all about a traveling troupe I just missed. So it was you she was talking about!"

Giselle chuckled. "If our troupe had arrived just a little later, our paths might've crossed."

"Well, we're together now!" Agnea giggled as she gave Giselle's arm another squeeze. "And I couldn't be happier!"

They spoke nothing of Tanzy, nor of that long night.

Eventually they came to the inn, and night had fallen. They stood together at the entrance, and neither moved. Giselle tried to speak, but suddenly no words would form. Agnea's smile had vanished, replaced by a deep blush. She looked up and Giselle and then turned away, her hands fidgeting. "So, um, we'll see each other in the morning?" she said hopefully.

Giselle nodded stiffly. "I'll introduce you to the new members of our troupe," she managed to say at last.

"I look forward to it!" Agnea smiled again, but an awkward silence began to fall between them. She stared at Giselle a moment longer, and said, "Um, well… goodnight, Giselle."

"Goodnight, Agnea," Giselle forced out, and winced at how stilted she sounded.

They remained still a moment longer, and Giselle was the first to turn away and head to her inn room. She let out a deep sigh, and still her heart raced.

"You're friends with the Agnea Bristarni?" Miranda and Emilie exclaimed in unison.

"The one and only," Giselle said, and beside her Agnea blushed while Coda and Rico laughed.

Morning soon arrived, and as all of them gathered outside the inn, Giselle introduced Agnea to the other members of her troupe: Miranda, a magician who performed sleight-of-hand tricks and her lover Emilie, a songstress; siblings Margaret and William, who write scripts for many of their performances; Bellisse and Liricca, a beastling couple who write and recited poetry; costume designers and seamstresses Viola and Iris; and Antonio, in charge of props. Agnea nodded at each of them in turn, and she was sure to greet them all by name.

"There are ten other members, but they couldn't make it to Tropu'hopu this time," Giselle finished. "Some remain on one continent or the other, or only join us when we're in a certain region. Temporary or substitute members, if you will."

"You really have worked hard expanding your troupe!" Agnea said, clearly amazed. "I hope I can meet the other members too someday!"

"Enough with the introductions!" Emilie said, a smirk on her lips. "Tell us how you met Agnea!"

Agnea's smile widened. "We met here in Tropu'hopu, actually!"

"Yeah, our cart had gotten stuck in the mud and she helped us out!" Coda said. "She managed to get a large enough stick to pry us out just by being cute."

"I asked nicely," Agnea muttered, and again she blushed.

"And then, when our boss here got cold feet, Agnea's the one who found her and convinced her to come back to the stage," Rico added.

Giselle shot a pointed glare in Rico's direction. "You don't have to tell them that part…"

"We met again in Merry Hills, right before the Grand Gala." Agnea folded her hands over her heart. "Because I heard them all cheering for me, I was able to shine brightly."

Iris leaned back in her chair and grinned. "Well, isn't that a sweet story!"

Agnea nodded. "Giselle and her troupe have really helped me. And after the Grand Gala…" Her voice trailed off, and her smile vanished.

Giselle felt her chest tighten. "Agnea? Is something the matter?"

"Oh, it's nothing!" Agnea shook her head, and that familiar smile returned to her lips. "What do you all think of the stage director's idea of us performing together?"

"I love it," Miranda said. "And sharing the stage with the Agnea Bristarni will certainly bolster our reputation as well."

"I don't think you had to say that part out loud," Antonio replied.

The other members of the troupe also voiced their support in performing with Agnea, which Giselle was heartened to see. She had certainly fantasized about sharing the stage with Agnea, as in those fantasies her nerves never got the better of her.

"But what kind of theme should we do?" Bellisse asked, resting her chin in her hand.

"Oh, how about a knight and princess?" Liricca suggested with a wag of her tail. "Agnea is really pretty and Giselle taller than her, so they would look lovely together!"

Viola tapped her chin thoughtfully. "And we already have suitable costumes, so alterations won't take long at all…"

"Wait, you want me to perform on stage with Agnea?" Giselle said belatedly. It was one thing to fantasize, but to actually do so was an entirely different matter!

"Well, who else would it be?" Rico said, and Coda nodded in agreement. "You know her best out of all of us."

Coda added, "And you know a little of dancing thanks to your noble upbringing, right?"

"That's a different kind of dancing, though…" Giselle muttered, her shoulders slumping.

Agnea laid her hand over Giselle's. "I'd love to share the stage with you!"

"Agnea's dance can be the climax of the performance," Margaret said. "Give William and me a few hours, and we'll have a solid set list to share with the stage director."

After some further discussion, the group settled on a theme of partings and reunions for their performances. It would be promoted as Giselle's Traveling Troupe presents Agnea Bristarni, and Agnea was insistent that the troupe receive equal billing.

Once the initial plans were set, Giselle and Agnea set out to inform the stage director of their decision. He was unsurprisingly delighted, and as he and Agnea chatted animatedly, Giselle's gaze drifted toward the floating stage in question. It was actually quite large, she could not help but notice, and in a few days' time she would be sharing that stage with Agnea Bristarni herself. Dazzling, beautiful Agnea, the star of the Grand Gala and the dreamer who helped bring back the dawn itself.

For a moment, she remembered the sorrow on Agnea's face when she had spoken of after the Grand Gala, and without thinking Giselle reached for her shoulder.

Agnea blinked in surprise. "Giselle?"

Heat crept to Giselle's face. "Oh, I, um…" she stammered.

"I won't keep you two any longer," the stage director said with a grin. "I'm sure you have plenty of rehearsal to do."

They bid each other farewell, and as Giselle and Agnea left the floating stage, Agnea took Giselle's hand into hers. "Looks like we have time to ourselves again, huh?" she said.

Despite herself, Giselle could not stop her fingers from lacing with Agnea's. "Y-Yes, we do…" she forced out, and cursed how awkward she sounded. For all the theatrical airs she put on, she always seemed to lose her cool around women she fancied. Agnea was even ten years younger than her, and still she found herself tongue-tied more often than not. She risked a glance at Agnea and saw Agnea's cheeks were a faint shade of pink.

They found a secluded spot overlooking the sea, away from the eyes of others, and they sat upon the wooden platform and let their legs dangle above the water. Agnea inhaled deeply and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and Giselle tried not to stare. A feat easier said than done - Agnea's profile was lovely in the sunlight, and Giselle's eyes trailed down her slender throat toward her exposed shoulders and ample cleavage, and she blushed deeply, quickly tearing her gaze away and toward a fish jumping out of the water in the distance. She was almost thirty, she reminded herself, too old to be acting so lovesick! A year apart hadn't cooled her feelings at all.

"Giselle?" Agnea glanced worriedly at her. "What's wrong?"

"Just nervous, I suppose." Giselle chuckled weakly. "But I won't run off again, I promise!"

Agnea beamed. "If you do, I'll find you again, however many times it takes!"

Yet an awkward silence began to fall over them, and Agnea shifted beside Giselle, her hands tightly clenched in her lap. She glanced at Giselle out of the corner of her eye, and then just as quickly did her gaze dart away. She sighed and looked toward the horizon, and Giselle saw the shadow that flickered across her face.

"Hey, Agnea," Giselle said carefully, "when you mentioned the Grand Gala earlier, you thought of Tanzy, didn't you?"

Again Agnea sighed. "I have nightmares sometimes, of that long night. Some nights I'm even scared the sun won't rise again. My father and sister understand, but most people in my village don't clearly remember that night."

"I've noticed it too - it's like it was just a collective nightmare." Giselle clenched her teeth. "But I remember, and so do Rico and Coda, and… I have nightmares too."

"So we both understand." Much to Giselle's surprise, Agnea rested her head against Giselle's shoulder. "I'll probably always have nightmares, but that's why I'll keep dancing. When I see people smile, I remember why I fought so hard to bring back the dawn."

"Were you scared? Of facing the wicked god, I mean."

"Of course! Who wouldn't be? But I wasn't alone, and that made all the difference."

Giselle's eyes fell upon Agnea's bright lips. "You really are brave, setting out to realize your dream, and all the hearts you've touched along the way…"

"And so are you!" Agnea clutched Giselle's arm, and that longing in her eyes made Giselle's heart skip a beat. "You set out to make people smile too and met Coda and Rico and everyone else!"

"You know, I originally started traveling to escape an arranged marriage," Giselle said, and saw how Agnea's eyes widened. "I had no real goals, only to travel as far as I could. Eventually I met Coda and Rico - and Weiss too, of course," she added quickly, picturing Weiss perched in a secluded corner of the inn, "and thus Giselle's Traveling Troupe was born." She smiled grimly. "To muster the courage to take those first steps into the unknown - that was probably the hardest part."

Agnea's expression fell. "Sometimes it's hard to let go of the familiar. But nothing will change if you just remain still."

"To travel the world with Coda, Rico, and Tanzy was like a dream come true. Even if Tanzy was just using the troupe to do that woman's bidding, I can't imagine all the fun times we had were a lie."

"She was fortunate to have known you, even if only for a little while," Agnea whispered as her eyes watered.

Giselle got to her feet and held out her hand for Agnea. "Will a dance lift your spirits? Now is a good time to plan our routine, when no one is watching."

The smile returned to Agnea's beautiful lips, and she accepted Giselle's outstretched hand.

They made their way to the beach, a large enough space to move around but still away from the eyes of others. "We can't give away the climax of our performance just yet," Giselle said with a wink. Listening to the sounds of the waves striking the sands, Giselle put her arm around Agnea's waist as Agnea put her hand on Giselle's shoulder. For once, Giselle was glad of her taller height compared to most women.

Although it had been years since Giselle last danced with a partner, her body remembered the movements as she guided Agnea through the steps. A smile tugged at her lips; she rather liked this feeling of taking the lead. During the dance lessons of her youth, her parents had insisted that it was "improper" for her to take the lead, and how quickly she had grown so tall had intimidated many of her male dancing partners. But now, Agnea smiled so sweetly at her, following her steps with ease. They fit so well together, as if they had been dancing together their entire lives.

"This can be how the performance ends, right?" Agnea said, a soft blush on her cheeks. "The princess is dancing alone, and then the knight comes on stage to join her."

"A theme of partings and reunions, like the others were discussing." Giselle slowed a moment, guiding Agnea through a more complicated turn. "But do you really want me to be the knight?"

Agnea grinned widely. "I can't imagine anyone else I'd want to be the knight to my princess!"

"Just like a fairytale, huh…?"

"For us to meet again here of all places…" Agnea took her hand from Giselle's shoulder to press it to her face. "It can't just be a coincidence."

The smile on Agnea's lips now, alluring and longing, took Giselle's breath away. Giselle tried to speak, but her foot slipped on the sand and she stumbled, taking Agnea down with her. With a pained grunt, she lifted herself onto her hands and knees, about to apologize, but froze at the sight of Agnea pinned beneath her.

The two of them might've stayed like that only a moment, or as long as a day. Giselle opened her mouth, closed it, and simply stared, enthralled. Agnea's cheeks were flushed pink, and her lips slightly parted and her eyes wide, but soon a faint smile graced those lovely lips of hers. She raised a shaking hand to touch Giselle's cheek, caressing with soft tenderness, and Giselle remembered too clearly all the private fantasies she entertained late at night.

Giselle scrambled to her feet, trying to ignore that look of surprise on Agnea's face. "We should probably return to the others now," she said, holding out her hand but avoiding Agnea's gaze.

Agnea accepted Giselle's hand after a moment's hesitation, and Giselle helped her back to her feet. "Yeah, you're right," she said quietly, and Giselle felt her chest ache.

They exchanged few words as they returned to the inn. This was for the best, Giselle tried to tell herself. Agnea was still young, after all, and once this performance was over, they would again go their separate ways.

Yet still she dreamed of kissing Agnea and finally baring her heart.

The set list solidified in the following days, and the troupe grew more confident in their rehearsals. Agnea fit well into the group's dynamics, although more than once Giselle had to tell the other members to stop pestering her with so many questions and focus on the task at hand. Agnea, for her part, didn't seem bothered, and Giselle also had to muster the willpower to stop herself from being so distracted by Agnea's presence too.

They had been so close that day, close enough for Giselle to finally kiss Agnea…

She shook her head to try to clear her mind of such distracting thoughts. They had a performance to prepare for, and the audience had high expectations for this collaboration!

"All right, finished!" came Viola's voice from behind the dressing screen. "Presenting the lovely princess Agnea!"

The dressing screen was pulled aside, and Giselle could not help but gasp. Agnea wore a deep crimson dress that clasped at the back of her neck, leaving her shoulders bare, and she wore elbow-length gloves of a matching red. The top half was fastened with a lacy corset, and the dress portion was wide with frills down the front and dotted with white roses. Tear-drop rubies hung from her ears, and both her blush and smile were gentle. "How do I look?" she asked, a touch uncertain.

Giselle gulped; the fabric also hugged Agnea's torso closely, and emphasized her ample breasts. Straightening her back, she managed to say, "You look wonderful, Agnea."

Agnea giggled and curtsied. "Why, thank you!"

"Now it's your turn!" Iris smiled mischievously as she touched Giselle's shoulders and ushered her behind the dressing screen. While Giselle was glad to have these seamstress sisters as part of the troupe now, sometimes their eagerness for human dress-up dolls was a bit much.

Giselle's costume was more princely than knightly, keeping armor pieces to a minimum, and a midnight blue cloak covered half her torso. The color was meant to be more muted compared to Agnea's dress, but her sword belt was a vibrant red. Iris and Viola made the final adjustments to the costume, and then escorted her from behind the screen.

Agnea's eyes grew wide, and she said nothing for a tense moment as she stared at Giselle. She took a step closer, as if captivated, and Giselle found she rather liked the way Agnea watched her now. Only in her most private fantasies had she allowed herself to imagine Agnea staring at her with such longing. "You look really handsome!" Agnea finally said.

"Doesn't she?" Iris replied. "It's quite fun to design outfits for tall women. Now, let's see how you two look together!" She and Viola pushed Giselle and Agnea closer, and with a giggle Agnea slipped her hand into the crook of Giselle's arm.

"Perfect!" Viola exclaimed. "You two look like such a lovely couple!"

Agnea looked up at Giselle with an entreating look in her eyes, and Giselle wondered if the blush on her own cheeks would soon become permanent. She bit the inside of her cheek; she was a performer, they were simply playing at being a couple. It was only for a night, and Giselle had done such performances before. Afterwards, she and Agnea would again go their separate ways. But standing so close to Agnea like this, a part of her wondered if it could become real, if she finally unlocked the feelings hidden in her heart.

"All right, let's do a run-through of the final act while in costume, to make sure everything feels right," Margaret said. "Agnea, you take the stage first."

Agnea nodded, and Coda stood to the side of the makeshift stage (really just a large clearing on the outskirts of town) and read aloud from the script in her hand. As Coda's words filled the air, Agnea bowed and began to dance. It started slow, to symbolize the sorrow of parting. A princess waiting for her lost knight, but refusing to let the fire of hope burning in her breast be quenched. The frills of her skirt ruffled gently as she moved, not hindering her at all. Giselle smiled; Agnea adapted well to an unfamiliar dress.

For a moment Giselle imagined helping Agnea out of that tight dress, and baring her breasts and peppering them with gentle kisses, and the moans that would fall from her lovely lips…

"Boss, you're up," Rico whispered harshly to Giselle.

She could almost slap herself for such inappropriate thoughts. This was rehearsal, she had to be professional. Steeling herself, she approached Agnea as Coda's narration introduced the knight, and she offered her hand to Agnea and bowed deeply. "For you, my lady," she said in a theatrical voice, "I offer you my everything."

Agnea hesitated, longer than the script dictated, and Giselle's blood ran cold. Had Agnea somehow read her thoughts? Yet Agnea soon accepted Giselle's hand with a smile, and the blush on her cheeks seemed so very real. "If I am dreaming, then I don't wish to wake," she recited, a slight squeak to her voice.

Now came the actual dance. Agnea laid a shaking hand on Giselle's shoulder while Giselle placed her other hand on the small of Agnea's back. Agnea's body felt so very right against hers, and Giselle tried not to lose her composure at the alluring sight of Agnea staring up at her with such longing. She had always thought Agnea beautiful, as did countless other people, but this was no time to be distracted. They began to move, and she wasn't sure who stumbled first.

They recovered quickly, hearing worried murmurs behind them, but just as quickly did they stumble again. Giselle cursed silently; she and Agnea had done this dance perfectly in previous rehearsals, so what was she doing wrong now? She almost tripped and fell backwards, and then Agnea accidentally stepped on her foot. "S-Sorry!" Agnea stammered.

"Okay, let's stop here," Rico said, clapping her hands together. "We clearly need a breather."

"Is something wrong with the costumes?" Coda asked. "You two were doing so well earlier."

"Maybe it's the shoes…" Viola suggested, rubbing her chin.

"Oh, no, not at all!" Agnea said suddenly. "It's just that…" She chewed her lip, her eyes darting back and forth. "I'll be back in a moment!" she blurted out, and dashed away before anyone could stop her.

Giselle could only watch numbly until Agnea was out of sight. She laid her hand over her chest without thinking, and still her heart raced.

"Well, that was unexpected," Rico said after a moment of awkward silence.

"I…" Giselle's fingers curled into fists. She hadn't imagined it; there had been tears in Agnea's eyes. "I think it may be my fault."

Margaret gave Giselle an exasperated look. "Agnea was the one most excited about this. You didn't pressure her into this performance."

Giselle shook her head, and she felt too cold without the warmth of Agnea's body against hers. "No, it's not that. I… I need to apologize to her." Without waiting for a response from the other troupe members, she followed after Agnea, and she had a fairly good idea of where Agnea might be.

She followed a familiar path, and the scent of salt water filled her nose. She'd been a fool to think she and Agnea could fall into the same dynamics as before. A year had passed, and so much had changed in that year. It wasn't simply because she was too busy rebuilding her troupe she hadn't pursued a new romance in that time; her feelings for Agnea were still as strong as ever, it wouldn't have been fair to any potential partners. And now, when Agnea looked at her, a treacherous hope reached for the key to unlock those feelings. She could tell herself the same things - she was ten years older than Agnea, she was no good with romantic relationships, in desiring Agnea she was no better than those who only saw Agnea as an object of lust - but still that key turned.

Tanzy had locked away her heart and turned away from the dawn. Giselle didn't want to make that same mistake.

Eventually she reached a familiar secluded spot, and saw Agnea standing at the water's edge, watching the waves against the sands. Familiar fear filled Giselle; she could also tell herself Agnea was one of eight who had brought back the dawn, the second coming of Sealticge, the Lady of Grace, but that look in her eyes as she had fled was still so very human. Giselle took a step closer, careful and hesitant. If it were so easy to overcome fear and muster the courage to change, the Moonshade Order wouldn't have ensnared Tanzy and so many others.

Agnea turned to face Giselle, and her shock quickly morphed into an awkward smile. "Oh, Giselle! I didn't expect to see you here!"

Perhaps it was an odd sight, a knight and princess on the outskirts of a seaside town, but still Agnea appeared as beautiful as ever. "I remember this place well," Giselle said, trying to smile. "It's where you helped overcome my stage fright."

"It is a quiet place to gather your thoughts, isn't it?"

"What's on your mind, Agnea?"

"I…" Agnea fell silent, and Giselle remained rooted in place. She was so close to Agnea again, but the space between them felt so vast. Agnea inhaled a deep breath, and spoke again. "I'm happy to see you again, I really am."

Giselle bit her lip. There was an unspoken "but" at the end of that sentence, but Agnea fell silent again. So instead Giselle said, "I'm sorry, Agnea."

Agnea's eyes grew wide. "For what?"

"I'm just bringing up sad memories, aren't I?" Giselle paced back and forth; she would never forget the sight of Agnea's tears as they had read Tanzy's diary together. "I don't want to break your heart and make you cry again! But I'm also happy to be with you again, and I want to be close to you, and…!" She froze; she hadn't meant to ramble.

"Giselle." Agnea took a hesitant step closer, reaching for her hand. "You don't need to apologize. It's just that…" She paused a moment, and lifted her gaze to meet Giselle's. "It's hard, being so close to you again and knowing we'll have to part soon. I don't want that."

Giselle felt her heart skip a beat. "What do you mean?"

"I've thought about you a lot this past year." Agnea pressed her other hand to Giselle's cheek. "And when we're rehearsing together, as the knight and princess finally reuniting, I think… I think I wish that was us."

The way Agnea looked at her now, a gaze so full of longing and hope, was more than Giselle dared to hope for. She swallowed thickly, and stared at Agnea's bright lips. Agnea smiled sweetly, faintly, at her, and carefully stroked her cheek with her thumb. She didn't want to be afraid any longer, afraid of hope, afraid of desire. She traveled to spread hope and smiles. She would sometimes fail - the pain of losing Tanzy would never truly fade - but Agnea and her companions had fought so hard to bring back the dawn itself. She slid her hand beneath Agnea's chin; if she had given into fear, she never would've left home and instead have ended up in a loveless, empty marriage. Agnea's smile brightened, and Giselle finally mustered the courage to kiss her lips.

She wasn't the same woman of one year ago. She wasn't the same woman whose heart had been broken or had left behind broken hearts. She wouldn't make the same mistakes this time. Thus she promised herself.

Agnea's lips fell from Giselle's, and her smile was true. "I've wanted to do that for a year," she said with a giggle.

"Are you sure it's me you want?" Giselle asked in a quiet voice. "I'm ten years older than you, and I've never been very good at these kinds of relationships…"

"Yes, of course it's you I want." Agnea cupped Giselle's face between her hands. "It's like being a star - it's hard work and we'll stumble sometimes, but I know it'll be worth it."

"Maybe I finally have found the right woman." Giselle let out a faint chuckle. "Thank you, Agnea."

Agnea's blush deepened, and she lowered her gaze. "I've never been in a relationship like this before, so maybe I am just being naïve, but I really do love you, Giselle."

"And I love you, my dear dreamer," Giselle replied with a flourish of her cloak, and she dropped to one knee before Agnea and took Agnea's hand into hers. "Now, would you honor me with a dance?" she murmured, brushing her lips against the back of Agnea's hand.

Agnea laughed, a sweet sound to Giselle's ears. "Of course, my darling knight."

Giselle stood and took Agnea into her arms, and this time, as they danced, they did not fumble. Giselle's heart felt lighter than ever, and when the dance came to an end, Agnea lifted herself onto her toes to kiss Giselle.

On the day of the performance, a large crowd had gathered before the floating stage, and the director was excited to introduce the collaboration between Agnea Bristarni and Giselle's Traveling Troupe.

Behind the stage, Giselle gave Agnea's hand a gentle squeeze. After Bellisse and Liricca finished reciting their newest poem, they were up next. "Are you ready, my lovely star?"

Agnea smiled brightly. "Of course!"

The troupe's performances went off without a hitch, and Giselle was unsurprised to see the crowd cheer most loudly for Agnea. Dancing with Agnea on the stage with so many eyes watching had been a touch unnerving, but Agnea's honest smile kept her focused. After the final performance, fans gathered excitedly to speak with the troupe, and Agnea was especially excited to see Ochette.

"I heard you'd be performing in Tropu'hopu, so of course I had to come see you!" Ochette said, and the owl on her shoulder hooted in agreement. (Weiss, wary of owls and other large birds, had chosen to fly back to the inn.)

"It's good to see you again, Ochette!" Agnea replied with a wide smile.

The festivities continued well into the night, and eventually they all retired to the inn. They planned to spend the next day simply relaxing and packing, and then after that the troupe would be on the road again. Thus there were still things Giselle wished to discuss with Agnea first. That kiss from last night was only the beginning, after all. She headed toward Agnea's inn room, and gently knocked on the door.

The door opened quickly, revealing Agnea. "Giselle!" she greeted. "Come inside, please."

Giselle nodded and obliged, and together they sat on the edge of the bed. "You were wonderful, Agnea," she said in a quiet voice.

"And so were you!" Agnea giggled. "It was nice to see how much your troupe has grown."

"I won't lie, it was difficult for a while after we lost Tanzy." Giselle laid her hand over Agnea's. "But I remember what you told me and how you shined at the Grand Gala last year, and I can keep shining too. We all can."

"A new day means another chance to get back on your feet. That's what my mother always told me."

"Wise words." Giselle rested her head against Agnea's hair. "What do you plan to do next?"

"I'll be leaving with Ochette tomorrow to visit her village, and after that, since the Grand Gala isn't for another two months, I think I'll have time to rest a bit before heading to Merry Hills." She gave Giselle a beseeching look. "Will your troupe be there too?"

"Of course, my dear. So we'll be seeing each other again soon enough."

Agnea raised a hand to touch Giselle's cheek. "Seeing you again really did make me so, so happy. If I can see you again so soon in Merry Hills, then saying goodbye this time won't be so painful, I hope."

Giselle inhaled deeply. "You know, that gives me an idea. Maybe after the Grand Gala, you can travel with our troupe a while."

"Huh? Really?" Agnea exclaimed.

"I mean, only if you really want too! But this performance was quite fun and the other troupe members are fond of you too, so give it some thought, please? And perhaps I am being selfish, but we finally managed to unlock our feelings…."

Agnea laid her finger on Giselle's lips. "I think that's a wonderful idea." She let out another soft laugh. "Our performance earlier was all about partings and reunions, after all. It won't always be easy, I know, but I want to make our relationship work."

"We travel different roads, but sometimes they cross and we meet again, and there will be time we need to settle and rest a while." Giselle took Agnea's hand into hers. "For dreamers like us, we grasp that hope and share it freely." She pressed a gentle kiss to the back of Agnea's hand; with each dawn that rose, it brought her closer to another reunion with Agnea.

An alluring smile on her lips, Agnea closed the distance between them with another kiss, which Giselle welcomed without hesitation. She returned that kiss with equal fervor, delighting in the warmth of Agnea's soft lips. Agnea's fingers grew tangled in Giselle's hair, and they fell back onto the bed sheets, with Giselle on top of Agnea. Still they kissed, over and over, eager and breathless. Such intimacy wasn't new to Giselle, but that fire within her burned more brightly than ever. She always spoke of making dreams come true, so perhaps this dream shouldn't be any different. Agnea was with her now, and she was tired of being frightened and indecisive.

Agnea's hand found its way beneath the hem of Giselle's shirt, and their lips parted. "I want to be with you, Giselle."

Giselle brushed strands of hair from Agnea's forehead. "Have you done this before?"

A crimson blush spread across Agnea's cheeks. "No, I haven't, but I'm sure, as long as I'm with you."

"I've left behind a trail of broken hearts," Giselle said in low voice. "But I'm through with running away. If you'll still have me, it would be my honor."

"Thank you, Giselle." Agnea wrapped her arms around Giselle's neck to draw her closer for another kiss.

They made short work of each other's clothing, and staring at Agnea's nude body beneath hers, Giselle's breath caught in her throat. She had always thought Agnea beautiful, and the first time they met, she had wondered if Agnea was the second coming of Sealticge. But she was also a normal young lady with normal dreams, spreading hope to all those around her. She watched Giselle with such longing in her blue eyes, and her soft lips looked so very inviting. Giselle lowered her head to kiss those lips, and then trailed downward toward Agnea's throat. Even if ten years separated them, Giselle was truly blessed to have met Agnea.

As she left a trail of kisses along Agnea's neck, she cupped Agnea's ample breasts, and the way Agnea gasped was a rather sweet sound. "G-Giselle," she moaned, already squirming beneath Giselle.

"Yes, my dear?" Giselle whispered against Agnea's skin, and she gave Agnea's breasts a gentle yet firm squeeze, feeling how her fingers pressed into the soft, tender flesh.

"Mm—!" Agnea jolted, her fingers tightening around Giselle's shoulders. "More, please…!"

"My, I didn't expect your breasts to be so sensitive." Giselle planted a kiss in Agnea's cleavage, and Agnea's nipples stiffened against her palms. "And they're so very cute and soft as well…" She pinched both of Agnea's nipples, eliciting another sharp gasp from Agnea's lips.

The first time she realized she fancied women with ample bosoms, she'd been embarrassed, and for a long time she had worried there was something wrong with her, that she wasn't any better than the kind of man who treated women as objects of lust. But Giselle was tired of being ashamed of her desires, and Agnea pressed herself more into Giselle's touch, her smile inviting, and again Giselle kissed those lips.

Giselle continued to tease Agnea's lovely breasts, brushing her thumbs over Agnea's nipples and delighting in every sweet sound she managed to coax out of Agnea. She'd almost forgotten this feeling, the simple joy of sharing intimacy with another for the first time. Every move Giselle made, even as simple as fondling Agnea's breasts, Agnea smiled so sincerely in turn, begging for more. From Agnea's bright lips to her slender throat and then her beautiful breasts and toned dancer's thighs - Giselle wanted to feel all of her. As Giselle took one of Agnea's nipples between her lips, she slid her hand between Agnea's thighs, and felt the pleasure that jolted through Agnea's body.

That night, when they became almost as one, Giselle would never forget that expression of ecstasy on Agnea's face.

As the afterglow settled over them, they laid together on the bed sheets in silence, and Giselle held Agnea in her arms. Agnea pressed her face to Giselle's shoulder, her own arms tight around Giselle's back. "Giselle," she said at last, "thank you."

"This isn't goodbye." Giselle threaded her fingers through Agnea's soft hair, and hoped Agnea couldn't feel how she trembled. "We'll meet again in Merry Hills soon, and then plan out the next act of our lives."

"It's a promise." Agnea lifted her head and smiled. "We'll make all our dreams come true."

Giselle had spent too much of her life running away, but no longer. She brushed her lips against Agnea's hair, and Agnea giggled softly. An uncertain road lay ahead of them, but she wasn't frightened.