Chapter Text
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"…So does this mean I failed?"
"No. You have done what you could.. thank you for saving her."
"…"
"Worry not, Princess. I will not walk out of our agreement. I will fulfil my promise."
"I shall see to it."
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"Kid? Hey. Hey, kid.. wake up."
An unfamiliar voice gracing her ears and a gentle tap on her shoulder prompt Still in Love to jolts awake. She gasps, blinking her sleepiness away, then looks up to find an umamusume staring at her in concern. The umamusume has a light brown hair, a pair of clear blue eyes, wearing a straw hat with two holes from which her tall ears jut out.
Realizing the lack of looming presence around her, Still in Love shots up from her laying position. That causes the other umamusume to leap away in surprise. Looking around, Still in Love feel her lungs constricting. While a good part of the cropfield is ruined, there is no sign of the dragon anywhere. Only the deep gashes on the ground and the poisoned arrows tell her that what transpired last night was true events.
"Hey, you okay?"
A call from her side reminds Still in Love that she has company. She turns to look at the other umamusume and bows.
"I—I.. yes. I am quite.. fine, ma'am. I'm sorry, but.. have you seen a dragon somewhere?"
The brown-haired umamusume tilts her head. "Dragon? No. Did you come here with one?"
Still in Love nods. "Yes.. my friend. She was badly injured and we fell here.. but…"
Still in Love can't bring herself to finish her sentence. Tears well up in her eyes, and she looks down, trying not to break down in front of the other umamusume.
Before she can collect herself, a hand lands between her ears. She freezes as the hand gently rubs her hair.
"'Sorry for your loss."
She can't hold it anymore. Again, Still in Love sobs, covering her face with both her hands. She doesn't fight when the foreign umamusume pulls her into her embrace, allowing herself to cry on the latter's shoulders.
She has forgotten how a human's embrace feels like after so long isolating herself with the dragon. This umamusume's hug feels so nice, kind, warm and accepting, that she thinks she doesn't want to let go.
After a long while of crying, Still in Love pulls away. Ashamed to break down in front of a stranger, she introduces herself while muttering her thanks to the other umamusume.
The latter nods, before in turn introducing herself as Narita Taishin, a farmer from a nearby village, whose crop field got destroyed by Still in Love and her dragon. When Still in Love apologizes, Narita Taishin shrugs it off, and she offers Still in Love to come to her house.
"You must've been out there for a long time," says her, eyeing the rugged cape worn by Still in Love. "Come with me. My wife would love to take care of you."
"I wouldn't want to trouble you.."
Narita Taishin shakes her head. "There won't be any trouble. Come."
Despite her earlier hesitation, Still in Love finds herself following Narita Taishin. Still in Love always thinks she's a bit short, but it turns out that Narita Taishin is even smaller than her. Even so, the brown-haired umamusume's demeanor tells Still in Love that Narita Taishin is much older than her.
Narita Taishin leads her to a small cottage not far from the field. There, another umamusume greets them, then proceeds to gasp when she locates Still in Love behind Narita Taishin.
"Oh my God! Tai-chan, who is she?"
"Name's Still in Love," Narita Taishin answers, "found her at the field. A dragon took her there."
"A what?"
As Narita Taishin explains Still in Love's situation to the umamusume before them, Still in Love takes her time to regard her. She must be Narita Taishin's wife, considering how they address each other the way a wedded couple would. Narita Taishin's wife is very tall. She has chocolate-colored hair tied into a loose braid, and her eyes are the same blue as Narita Taishin—just a bit darker. Still in Love also can't help but notice how she is more.. well-endowed than both of them.
The tall umamusume turns to Still in Love once she's done hearing Narita Taishin's explanation, ears folded backwards and blue eyes filled with pity. "Oh, you poor girl. I'm truly sorry it happened to you."
She steps out of her house to approach Still in Love, wrapping an arm across the latter's back. She pauses when Still in Love flinches. Her blue eyes seem thoughtful, searching into Still in Love's own red eyes, before gently putting her hand on Still in Love's shoulder and rubs her.
"My name is Super Creek, or you can just call me Creek. Would you come inside? I will prepare some food for you. When was the last time you ate?"
There's wariness growing in Still in Love's heart while receiving Super Creek's attention. She looks gentle, kind and caring, but she can't help to be reminded of her late mother.
Alas, Still in Love can still think straight, and she knows that these people wouldn't mean her harm. If they are, Narita Taishin would've harmed her first—maybe by attacking or casting her away—considering she has destroyed a good portion of the farmer's field.
"I ate yesterday. It's alright.. I can still eat every day when I live outside."
"Well, that means you haven't eaten today." Super Creek smiles at her. "Don't worry, Still. Come in."
Super Creek treats Still in Love to a very warm bath, clean clothes, and delicious homemade meal. Narita Taishin stays around for a meal, but then departs to clean and replant her destroyed field. Once Narita Taishin is gone, Super Creek offers Still in Love to rest in their bedroom, to which Still in Love decline. Super Creek doesn't push. Instead, she offers Still in Love to follow her tending her small tomato garden behind the house.
Still in Love accepts the offer. The two works around the garden for the remainder of the afternoon. Super Creek is the one who mostly talk, telling Still in Love about her and Narita Taishin and their life in the village. She asks about Still in Love's past, to which she only smiles when Still in Love refuses to answer.
Narita Taishin returns home just after sunset. Still in Love has to grit her teeth when the shorter umamusume taps her feet a few times at the doorway. It reminds her of the dragon's habit of flapping its wings once it landed.
She has to cast her gaze away when Super Creek leans down to kiss Narita Taishin, before the latter gasps and jumps away from her wife, reminding her that they have a guest in their house. Super Creek giggles and addresses Still in Love.
"Oh, I'm sure Still-chan is old enough to see. How old are you again, Still-chan?"
"I will be twenty next year."
"See?"
Narita Taishin grumbles, her face as red as her flannel jacket. "Might make her uncomfy. Sorry, Still."
"It's okay, Taishin-san."
Still in Love joins the couple for dinner that night. Narita Taishin is apparently not the type to talk much. Super Creek dominates the conversation, with Narita Taishin and Still in Love answering here and there in turns. After dinner, Still in Love offers to clean the dishes as a token of gratitude, and Super Creek allows her.
When it's late, Super Creek puts a few pillows and blankets on the couch in the living room.
"We actually have another room at the attic, but it's too dirty right now. You will have to sleep here for a few days, Still-chan."
Still in Love shakes her head. "N-no, it's fine. This much is far more than enough for me, Creek-san."
Super Creek chuckles. "Make yourself comfortable, yeah? I'll see you tomorrow, Still-chan."
With that, Super Creek enters her bedroom. Still in Love sits on the couch for a long while, thinking about her situation.
She knows that her dragon, her friend for the past few months, is dead. Still in Love doesn't know how a dragon usually dies, but dragons themselves are still considered mysterious creatures. There are some being who'd disappear into thin air as soon as they passed, and so, for a dragon to do so doesn't seem to be impossible.
And now, she's been taken in by an umamusume couple. Still in Love touches the cotton dress she wears. It belongs to Narita Taishin, so while it's not too tight, it is still a bit short, but the issue is resolved by wearing Super Creek's pants underneath. The clothes are much more comfortable than the singular fabric she's been wearing before.
Super Creek and Narita Taishin are so kind. So welcoming of her, even though she technically had caused a big loss to them. But she can't just stay here forever, right?
With a sigh, Still in Love reclines.
The blankets are warm. The couch is soft.
And yet, she wishes she'd have heavy claws resting over her chest, smooth scales under her palm, and a warm chest behind her back.
Tears prick at the edge of her eyes. Still in Love pulls the blanket over her head, wishing that the total darkness might help her in visualizing the creature that had accompanied her in her worst.
The dragon that she had come to love.
With a strain in her voice, Still in Love whispers.
"Good night, Ms. Dragon… for the last time now… farewell…"
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A day turns into a week, a week turns into a month, and suddenly, Still in Love already spent the entire winter with Narita Taishin and Super Creek. When she first expressed her gratitude of their hospitality and that she is going to find her own place, Super Creek adamantly refused to let her go. She begged Still in Love to stay, saying that she loved the younger girl's company and that she didn't have the heart to let Still in Love roam around by herself.
Narita Taishin didn't add much, but she quietly said she'd preferred to have more hands helping her to prepare for winter.
And so, Still in Love stays.
She accompanies Narita Taishin while she tends her crop field. She helps out Super Creek when the latter cooks dinner. She follows the couple to the market, helping them out in selling their products and getting to know other people in the village. She learns how to cut logs into firewood. She even uses her magic to make their life easier, and to make winter more bearable for the three of them.
Before Still in Love knows it, she has fallen to love her new life.
All day round, there are so many things to do. So many people to talk to. With Super Creek acting as her guardian, Still in Love manages to find her place in between the villagers. She is now part of the community, a member of the village. She also has, despite unofficially, become the third member of Narita Taishin and Super Creek's little family. She has her own room in the attic, complete with her own bed, wardrobe, and many other things that catch her eyes whenever they go to the market.
It's during Christmas when Still in Love tells her life story to the two umamusumes. From the events leading to her birth, her life as the court witch's child, her mother's execution, her meeting the dragon and living with it, until the day it died and left Still in Love at Narita Taishin's field.
Super Creek cries at her story. She hugs Still in Love, whispering sorries for her awful experience and thank you for her to keep fighting. Super Creek's wholehearted appreciation and hopeful promise that her life will get better, melt Still in Love. She finds herself hugging the older umamusume back, reciting the same hope from the deepest part of her heart.
That same night, Narita Taishin approaches her in her room. The shorter umamusume leans on Still in Love's doorway, arms crossed over her chest, before she addresses the latter with a quiet, tender voice.
"Creek had always wanted kids, y'know." Says Narita Taishin, her gaze unreadable. "We're both stallions, though, so… well. We're not that much older than you, but she seems so much happier since you came. Thanks for staying, Still."
Still in Love blinks, then smiles, bowing slightly at Narita Taishin. "I should be the one to say thank you. Thank you for accepting me here, Narita Taishin-san."
Narita Taishin nods, a small smile forming on her lips. "Well, it's late. Night, Still."
"Good night, Taishin-san."
From then on, her life goes on. Winter makes way to spring, and soon to summer. Still in Love celebrated her birthday with Narita Taishin and Super Creek, along with the majority of the villagers as well. She is now brave enough to travel further than the edges of her village. She had accompanied Narita Taishin a few times to the town, picking up tools and selling their own wares. She has friends that would invite her to fish or to camp by the lake a few hours away from their village. Sometimes, only when she has nothing else to do, she'd go to the woods, practicing her magic under the guidance of nature.
Still in Love still mourns her dragon whenever she is alone. The pain of losing has long since dulled down, but she still misses her old companion. She always remembers the dragon's arrival habit of beating its wings by Narita Taishin's taps of feet whenever she returns home. She sees the same warmth in Super Creek's blue eyes with the one she used to see in the dragon's heterochromatic eyes. She looks up to the sky and will still see the silhouette of a dragon, soaring far above the clouds.
She wonders how different her life would be had her dragon survives. Will they still be together, making a new nest somewhere safer? Or will they live near the castle of the umamusume kingdom they often visit? Maybe she will find her own place in the town, while her dragon lives on the cliffside with the red dragon. They will still be able to meet up often, and she will ask to ride it across the town until nightfall, until she needs to rest and it might drop her off near her home.
Alas, Still in Love had accepted their fate. She had learned to fully let her dragon go. She had made a promise that she will enjoy the remainder of her life happier than she ever did. She will not stop reminiscence the dragon, endlessly thankful of their time together, but will not let its memory burden her with grief.
The dragon had protected her—all of her life and her happiness—and she believes it will want to continue do so even in its death.
It takes a long time for Still in Love's life to finally settle. Comfortable with her routine, happy with all she has, only for another turbulence to come along the thundering gallops of horses.
It's halfway through summer when the knights arrive. Narita Taishin, Super Creek, and Still in Love had just harvested their crops a few days prior, and so it's a resting period for both the farmers and the soil. They have no plans for the day, only lounging around the house, when their neighbour Winning Ticket yells at their house from behind the fences.
"Taishiiiinnnn!!! Creeeeeeek!! Still-chaannn!!"
If it's not for Super Creek holding back her wife, Narita Taishin would've ripped their door of its hinges to answer Winning Ticket.
"Good morning, Tickezo! Energetic as always, aren't you?" Super Creek greets their neighbour with a smile while Narita Taishin is left grumbling inside the house.
"Morning, Creek!" Winning Ticket waves with a yell. Her lips are pulled into a big grin as she leans on the fences. "Hey, hey! Everyone is invited to come to the village center! Hayahide-san said Princess Admire Groove and her knight are coming to visit!"
Super Creek raises her eyebrows and rests her chin on her palm. "Princess Admire Groove? Are you sure about that?"
"Yup yup! Hayahide-san told me herself!" The stallion nods vigorously before showing two thumbs up at Super Creek. "Well, just come there, okay? They said she's looking for someone! I'll be off to find the others! Bye!"
With that, Winning Ticket runs off somewhere else. Still in Love exits the house to find Super Creek still rubbing her chin on the patio.
"What is it about, Creek-san?"
"Hmm, Tickezo said that Princess Admire Groove had come to visit."
"Princess Admire Groove?"
The chocolate-haired umamusume hums. "Right, you probably never heard of her. She's the kingdom's crown princess. Rumours have it that she was assassinated after she rejected a marriage proposal from our neighbouring kingdom two years ago. But, if she's here right now, it means she either survived or those were just baseless rumours."
"Assassinated? Just for rejecting a proposal?"
Super Creek smiles. "Well, some nobles are quite extreme."
Still in Love can't comment further when she remembers just how her earlier life went by. Narita Taishin shows up from behind them by then, clearing her throat as she nudges her wife away from the door.
"Tsk. I don't really like them nobles, but guess we have to go. Can't risk angering the kingdom for not humouring the Princess."
Super Creek just laughs. She links her arm with Narita Taishin while her other hand grasps Still in Love's, leading them towards the village center. Narita Taishin heaves a long sigh when she sees a large crowd gathering.
Unsurprising. For the crown princess to come this far into the countryside, to the village at the outermost edge of the kingdom, of course she would garner everyone's attention. Super Creek greets the other villagers while Narita Taishin retreats, opting to watch from afar. Still in Love follows Super Creek, listening to what the older umamusume talks about with their neighbours.
"She came all the way here with only one of her knights? On horseback? That's so bold of her."
"Well, the princess is also a knight herself, isn't she?"
"She said she's looking for someone."
"Hey, maybe that could be you, Still-chan."
Still in Love blinks. She wasn't really paying attention when one of the villagers suddenly addresses her. "Pardon?"
"Yeah, the Princess is looking for a mare about this height, red hair and red eyes, small white marking on the bangs. That kinda looks like you, Still-chan."
The claim sounds so ridiculous that Still in Love can't help but guffaw in confusion. "M-me? Why would the princess look for me?"
"Who knows, eh? Just an assumption." The villager shrugs.
Still in Love looks at Super Creek, searching for a second opinion. The older umamusume has her head tilted and a small smile on her lips, but her eyebrows are furrowed—indicating her running thoughts. She looks back at Still in Love and nods before her smile grows wider.
"I think she has a point. Why don't we try to greet her, Still?"
"I'm.. not sure it would do good.."
"Let's just try." Super Creek assures her. "At the very least, we should still be respectful to her as our crown princess."
Still in Love is still genuinely confused, but she follows along. The two waits in line to greet the crown princess. Apparently, many of the villagers also utilize this chance to express their wishes and dissatisfaction towards the kingdom's lack of care. Some of them stop by to talk to Super Creek after greeting the princess, recounting their conversation with her. The princess' responses to all of them are pretty much similar—she writes down their complaints while saying she will try to look more into them and try to have them resolved.
"The princess seems nice," Still in Love comments after the tenth or so villager that greets Super Creek on their way back.
"It would seem so." Super Creek agrees with a smile. "I heard she was one of the best knights in the kingdom prior to the assassination rumours. Many people from the town also seem to like her, because she was very practical and actually delivered results. Though, some said she was hard to approach. A bit too formal and stiff."
"That doesn't sound like too much of a drawback."
"I think so too."
As they move up the line, Still in Love manages to see this so-called princess. She is quite a tall umamusume, maybe about the same height as Super Creek. Blue mane, somewhat akin to the sky color, with slashes of white at the front part of her bangs. She wears a dark blue headband and ear covers. Her attires consist of a leather armour over a light blue tunic, a pair of black trousers, and thigh-high leather boots. A short cape covers her right shoulder while a small metal armour covers her left. She also seems to have worn gloves, but is now discarding it as she shakes hand with the villagers as she converses with them.
Still in Love was just able to make out her voice, calm and collected and a bit on the husky side, when the villager before her moves and the princess turns her gaze at her.
She sees magenta first. A color that has become so familiar to her that it hurts, and even more so when the princess freezes.
Still in Love suddenly feels acutely aware of her surroundings. Trepidation climbs up her spines when the princess apologizes to the villager she is currently talking with, before she approaches, her steps urgent. Still in Love vaguely senses Super Creek moving away as the princess stops a few distances away from her.
Up close, the princess looks stunning. Her sunkissed skin unblemished, her nose a gentle slope atop her thin lips. There's a faint scar at the left edge of those lips, just above a small beauty mark on her chin.
Then, there are those magenta eyes. With the same slit pupils and the same sharp look, that grows infinitely more tender as they meet Still in Love's own reds.
"My lady.."
The princess calls. A myriad of emotions restrained behind her whispered voice.
As she lifts her hand to rest above her chest, leaning forward into a slight bow yet still keeping their eye contact, Still in Love feels her world becoming empty.
Filled only with herself, and the princess, and the exhale she slowly lets out.
"..I have finally found you."
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Their house's dining room feels so crowded and suffocating with five people inside. In hindsight, they probably should've accepted the village chief's offer to converse in her house. But, the princess wished to see Still in Love's house, and so here they are right now.
Sitting in between Super Creek and Narita Taishin, Still in Love watches, nervously, as Admire Groove casts her gaze around. Standing beside her is her companion knight, a red-haired and golden-eyed mare named Loves Only You. As they only have four chairs available in the dining room, the redhead had chosen to stand instead of sitting on the living room's couch.
Once she is satisfied enough in appreciating the house's interior, Admire Groove clears her throat. "Pardon my manners. You have such a lovely house."
Super Creek bows deeply at the compliment. "I am glad you find our house satisfactory, Your Majesty."
The princess nods. "Please, don't be so formal with me. After all, I come here to fetch Still in Love."
That makes Still in Love's stomach churns. After their dramatic interaction in the village center, Admire Groove asked her to introduce herself. Upon hearing her name, the princess had repeated her name multiple times, mentioning that she liked the way it rolled on her tongue, causing Still in Love to blush for everyone to see. She then expressed her intention of coming to the countryside, before she requested to have a private conversation with Still in Love and her acting guardians.
"If I may ask, Your Majesty, can you elaborate on what do you mean by that?"
Admire Groove nods at Narita Taishin's question. "Of course. I suppose I must start from the very beginning, as to make you all understand what truly had happened."
The princess crosses her arms and leans back on the chair. She closes her eyes for a while before she opens her mouth. "You must've heard about the plans of my marriage with the prince from our neighbouring kingdom, two years ago. For one thing and another, I decided to decline the proposal, but my decision was accepted poorly. The king felt offended that his son was rejected, and he sent his witch to befall a curse on me."
Still in Love worries her lips. The princess' sharp magenta eyes are piercing through her. Goading her to talk, to tell the idea that had come to her since the first time she laid eyes on the princess. Still in Love looks up, finding Admire Groove's eyes still directed at her, and she takes the bait.
"…to become… a dragon?"
A look of relief washes by Admire Groove. Happy to be recognized and remembered, perhaps? Or is it something else that Still in Love cannot guess?
"You are correct."
The princess clears her throat again and continues. "I was cursed to have my soul departed from my body, and my soul became a dragon while my body was put into dormancy. My friend here, Loves Only You, was also unfortunate enough to get caught in the crossfire, and turned into a dragon alongside me. I then left to isolate myself in an abandoned building outside the border, while Loves Only You stayed near the kingdom."
Still in Love takes a glance towards the red-headed knight. Only by then she recognizes her. The red dragon she often met before had the exact same colors with the knight. The dominance of blazing red hair, complemented with a lighter pink framing her face. Bright golden eyes that turn into crescents as the mare smiles at her.
"About year ago, the witch came to me."
That startles Still in Love. "A year ago? But.. that was when she.."
"Yes." Admire Groove cuts, knowing that Still in Love can't finish her sentence. "She did not come to me in person. Instead, she came to me through my dreams, with a request and a promise."
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"Why must I care about you and your daughter?"
Admire Groove snarls. Her throat grows cold, preparing to launch an attack to the woman standing before her. Even though she knows that this dreamscape is controlled by the witch, it doesn't hurt to try and fight her.
"I understand your feelings about me, and they are wholly justified," says the woman, hands raised in deference.
Despite her continuous snarl, Admire Groove holds herself back. The woman before her might look the same as the witch who cursed her, but she feels just how much her attitude had changed. The witch looks tired. Mournful. Resignation clear in her eyes. No matter how much she hates the witch for ruining her life, Admire Groove still feels compelled to know, as to why the once proud witch could even look this way.
"My daughter is, perhaps, the only one I truly have." The witch tells her. "I.. love her. Even if I cannot convey it properly. Even if I didn't take care of her like a mother normally would. And I know she probably despises me, but I still want her to live."
Admire Groove snorts. "And you want me to protect her?"
The witch looks up at her. Crimson eyes meeting her own heterochromatic. "Just enough to keep her alive. Just enough to shed that curse off you and your friend."
That piques Admire Groove's interest. "She can shed this curse?"
"Her presence alone will be able to cancel my curse, but not immediately," says the witch. "Because I have died, I cannot cancel this curse myself. I can still pass my powers through her, and by one year mark, you will return to your true body."
Admire Groove tightens her jaw. She glares at the witch, who bravely returns her glare with a levelled stare.
"I beg of you, princess." The witch tries again when Admire Groove doesn't answer. "She is the only person that allowed me to truly felt love. My precious daughter.. I promise you; she is a good kid. She will not cause you harm, and your curse will be lifted. This.. I promise."
Closing her eyes, Admire Groove feels her resolution crumbles. It would be easy to just walk away. Afterall, she had come to somehow enjoy living as a dragon. She has no responsibilities. She can fly off wherever she wants, she can breathe ice, and she can still visit her family.
But she remembers her parents—how they broke down when they saw her towering over them. How her baby sister had promised to do everything she could to find out how to break the curse. How she had to comfort her friend, scared and in denial to be dragged into this mess, and how Loves Only You still has the same grief in her eyes whenever she overlooks her family from above.
Even if not for herself, the least she can do is to lift the curse off of Loves Only You.
"Fine."
Admire Groove's grumble is met with a relieved smile from the witch.
"I'll keep her safe for a year, then after I turn back, I will let her go on her own."
"It's alright with me. Thank you, dear princess."
Admire Groove only snorts and turns her face away. She hears the witch expressing her gratitude one more time, before her entire vision turns to darkness.
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"And now, here I am. You have saved both me and my friend, Still in Love. I have nothing but gratitude to you, and I wish to be able to bring you with me to the capital, so I can pay you properly for turning us back. Of course, your guardians are welcome to come as well, if they wish to."
The princess says with such finality in her voice that Still in Love doesn't dare to question. Her story might sound wild, but knowing the witch, Still in Love believes that Admire Groove told nothing but truth. And yet, the princess' explanation of her encounter with her mother leaves a gaping hole inside Still in Love's heart.
Admire Groove was just telling what she experienced, right? So why does it hurt Still in Love so?
"Still?"
A warm hand touching her back reminds Still in Love that she's in the middle of a conversation. Super Creek stares at her with concern. She must've sensed how troubled Still in Love feels with the princess' explanation.
"I—I.." she looks at the princess. There's a hopeful look behind those magenta eyes that makes her heart clench even further. "I don't… I still don't believe you."
Still in Love sees the way Admire Groove's jaw tighten for a split second. After that, the blue-haired mare smile and offers her a hand.
"Then, may I take you somewhere? Just the two of us, as to proof myself to you?"
Before Still in Love could reconsider, her hand has moved on its own accord and accepts Admire Groove's offer.
"I would love to."
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Narita Taishin's field is empty at this time of the year, leaving only the two of them standing on barren soil, showered with the golden light of the setting sun. Still in Love walks a few steps in front of Admire Groove, keeping her silence as she mulls over her thoughts.
She's apparently too deep in her thoughts, because she gasps in surprise when a hand catches her wrist. When she turns, Admire Groove has her eyes casted downwards, before she sighs and looks up at Still in Love.
"I'm sorry."
Still in Love blinks. "W-what for?"
Admire Groove bites her lips. "I understand how my story came across to you. I apologize. I did not intend to convey that you are merely a tool for me to return to my true body, but it was exactly what I thought about you during that time."
Ah—the princess had seen through her so perfectly.
"So, it was true?" She whispers, fighting against the crack in her voice. "That you.. protected me. You fed me.. only because my mother told you so?"
"It was, yes."
Still in Love swallows. It feels as if there's a stone lodged in her throat.
"But, in the process of it all, I have fall—" Admire Groove pauses and coughs, "I have.. genuinely grown fond of you, Still in Love."
Hearing it, Still in Love lifts her face. She is taken aback to see the slight blush dusting the princess' cheeks. Her gaze is still as sharp as ever, perhaps even more now, as she continues to tell Still in Love how she felt during their time together.
"At first, I had done what I did only to fulfil what your mother asked from me. Then.. slowly.. I found myself liking your company more. I looked forward to greet you every morning. I liked to hear you talk about your day after I return to our nest. I loved that you loved flying with me, that you loved the places I took you to, and I had grown to truly wish for you to be happy. Not just because it was beneficial to me."
Admire Groove takes a small pause to hold Still in Love's hands with her own. "Do you remember, that I once asked you if you wanted to stay at the kingdom, and that you said no?"
Still in Love nods. She then gasps, realizing that had she said yes, then Admire Groove would've let her go immediately. Even if she hadn't returned into her human form, and that she risked losing the chance to had she let Still in Love go.
"Princess, that's.."
"No, please, don't address me as such. Call me Aruv."
"Aruv?"
Admire Groove nods. A small smile graces her lips when Still in Love repeats her name.
"Then, why?" Still in Love asks. "You could've lost everything that day. Why even gave me the choice, Aruv?"
"Because at that time, I too, had wanted you to be happy." Admire Groove confesses. "You had spent more than half a year with me. You had no one who'd reply to you every time you talk. I might have replied, but my sounds at that time would never be able to match having a conversation with other people. I feared that you felt lonely, and so I asked if you wanted to stay behind."
Feeling her heartbeat fastening, Still in Love tightens her own grasp over Admire Groove's hand. "I have never felt lonely when we lived together, Aruv. I.. enjoyed every single second I spent with you. Even when we couldn’t talk like now, I always knew that you were replying to me, and it was far more than enough."
That gets Admire Groove to chuckle. "I'm glad you enjoyed my company, Still."
Still in Love smiles back.
Silence engulfs them after that. The silence allows Still in Love to become aware that she has to crane her neck to meet Admire Groove's gaze. And that the princess has now started to rub her thumb across her knuckles. Still in Love feels a bit shy all of a sudden, lowering her gaze and coughs to mask her nervousness.
"You said.. my mother promised that the curse will be lifted after a year being together with me. It hasn't been a year, no? How did you manage to return?"
Admire Groove lets out a long exhale. "You are right. It hasn't been a year, but your mother came again to me, at the night I died. She somehow managed to turn us back, all the while granting me all of her wisdom and ability."
"All of her—? Does that mean you master her magic as well?"
"No, not yet. But I hope I can go there someday." Admire Groove shakes her head with closed eyes. She then inhales, deeply, and Still in Love feels a surge of magic radiating from the taller mare's body. "There's still so little I can do as I please as of now."
When she opens her eyes, azure has replaced the magenta in her right eye. Her pupils turn narrower, perfectly replicating the way her eyes had looked when she was a true dragon.
"Oh.. you're so gorgeous."
A gasp escape Still in Love when she realizes what she had said. Feeling her cheeks grow warm, Still in Love lowers her head, biting her lips when Admire Groove offer a small laugh.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me."
Before Still in Love finds it in herself to answer, Admire Groove follows through with another question.
"So? Will you come with me to the capital, Still?" she gently asks. "At the very least, I wish to give you a good life after everything we've been through. You can be my court mage's apprentice—or maybe both of us can do it together. I also need to control your mother's powers in me."
She then clears her throat. There's a certain shakiness in her voice when she continues.
"And, if you'd allow me.. I would also like to.. try and to know you better."
Still in Love isn't clueless to not know the meaning behind Admire Groove's words. That, combined with the sentence she abruptly cut earlier, causes Still in Love to blush even harder. She can only nod, unable to look at Admire Groove in fear of stuttering.
"I would.. like that as well. But I have to ask Creek-san and Taishin-san first."
Admire Groove smiles and nods. "Of course. Well, let us return. It will be dark soon."
Still in Love senses the hesitation in the princess' movement when she's about to let go of her hands, so she takes the initiative to grab Admire Groove's hand when latter is about to walk away. She catches how Admire Groove's smile grows wider, and the quick squeeze of her hand causes her heart to beat faster.
When they arrive back at the house, dinner is almost ready. Still in Love heads towards the kitchen, finding Loves Only You already there as well, helping Super Creek to prepare dinner for them. Admire Groove chooses to talk with Narita Taishin, seemingly coming to an agreement on whether the two stallions would prefer to stay behind or to come with them to the capital.
The two knights excuse themselves after dinner. They had first wanted to stay the night, but there's very limited space to sleep, and while Super Creek suggested both knights to sleep on the available beds, Admire Groove and Loves Only You also didn't want their hosts to sleep on the floor. They ultimately choose to return to the village chief's house to sleep, as she has a bigger house and more space for guests.
Before she mounts her horse, Admire Groove stops to speak with Still in Love once more.
"If it doesn't bother you, may I come again tomorrow? I'd like to help in whatever you need to do around here."
Still in Love giggles. "You are welcome to come whenever, Aruv. I look forward to it."
Admire Groove smiles then, bowing curtly at Narita Taishin and Super Creek who also wait by the door. "Then I shall come tomorrow. Good evening."
As the two disappear into the night, Super Creek giggles, rubbing Still in Love's shoulder while her other hand covers her mouth. "You know, with everything that Miss Loves had told us, I genuinely thought you'd return from your private talk with a ring around your finger."
Still in Love feels herself explodes with shame. "C-Creek-san!"
Narita Taishin crosses her arms over her chest, the corner of her lips twitching in amusement. "Yeah.. and you didn't even bother to address her title when you returned. So.. it's Aruv, huh?"
"Not you too, Taishin-san!"
The couple continues to tease, ignoring her who throws a tantrum out of shyness. They express their support of her to leave for the capital. Both are still somewhat hesitant to follow along, but Super Creek assures her that they will seriously consider to move with Still in Love.
With the day coming to an end, Still in Love bids Narita Taishin and Super Creek good night. As she reclines to her bed, she recounts all the things that happened today.
It was all so sudden, but not unwelcomed. All in all, she is happy to know that her dragon, the companion she had grown to love, while not looking the same, is healthy and alive and even able to converse with her. She reminiscences their time together—their nest, the river nearby, the flights Admire Groove had taken her to—and feels her heart warming.
Her 'dragon' has returned to her. And now, she will definitely stay for a much longer time.
That night, Still in Love dreams of being embraced. But, instead of claws, there are now arms wrapped around her waist. Instead of scales, there are strands of hair tickling her naked skin. And, instead of an icy puff of breath, there are cold, thin lips, pressing kisses to her nape, along with a greeting spoken to her oh so tenderly.
"Good night, Still."
And she finds herself at rest.
"Good night.. Aruv."
Fin