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Giselle laid her hand on Agnea's hair as Agnea rested her head in Giselle's lap. They sat upon a sandy beach, where only the stars would see them. Strands of hair had gotten loose from Agnea's braid, but Giselle wasn't surprised. On that floating stage, Agnea had dazzled brightest, leaving no one in Tropu'hopu without a smile. Giselle liked performing here best, as it was where her troupe had first encountered Agnea.
Agnea stirred slightly, and her hair was soft against Giselle's fingertips. Even at night, Tropu'hopu was warm, but Agnea's own warmth was still welcomed. To get away from the crowds, they had found this secluded little spot near the sea, and Agnea finally allowed herself to rest. Carefully Giselle twirled a strand of Agnea's hair around her finger, and a smile tugged at her lips. For so long she had wandered aimlessly, and many times, more than she cared to remember, she had considered giving up. She hadn't realized how hard it would be to set out on her own. But if she had given up, if she'd accepted the strict path her parents had laid out for her, she never would've met Coda, Rico, or Tanzy. She never would've fallen in love with Agnea.
Her chest ached a moment at the thought of Tanzy. She still had regrets, of course. But Agnea and her friends had fought to bring back the dawn, so Giselle would never turn away from the dawn either.
With a deep breath she turned her gaze toward the stars. How beautiful such a sight was, she thought. Maybe if she had remained her parents' obedient pet, if she had married the stranger they chose for her, she too would've never wanted to see the dawn again. But that endless night had taken away the stars themselves as well, and even in her darkest moments, the stars had granted her comfort.
She glanced down at Agnea resting in her lap. Ten years younger than Giselle, and already she had touched so many hearts. Gently Giselle brushed her thumb over Agnea's bright lips; and how fortunate she was to share her heart with Agnea. To say she had no worries would be false, as they often traveled separate paths, and thus she was always grateful for the rare opportunities when Agnea could travel with her troupe. Still she remembered the first time she had mustered the courage to kiss Agnea, and still she carried the warmth of the intimate nights they shared together.
Maybe one day they would settle down somewhere, together. But not today. Not yet. There was still much of the world she had yet to make smile.
Agnea's eyes slowly opened, and a faint blush crossed her cheeks as she looked up at Giselle. "Ah… did I fall asleep?" she asked with a quiet giggle.
"You certainly push yourself hard, don't you?" Giselle said gently.
"I know. But seeing the way you and everyone else smile… it makes me want to keep shining as long as possible." Agnea giggled again as she took Giselle's hand into hers, and her blue eyes were bright in the starlight as she fluttered her eyelashes ever so slightly.
Well, that was unfair, Giselle thought to herself, but she could never refuse such an entreating look. Thus she brought Agnea's hand to her lips to plant a gentle kiss to the back of it. She knew how hard Agnea worked - the callouses on her feet were proof of that. Yet Giselle also recalled what Agnea had told her about her mother Cuani, and said, "Even stars need rest too, you know."
A gentle sigh fell from Agnea's lips. "You're right, I won't make anyone smile either if I collapse from exhaustion," she said as she sat up, and she pressed her free hand to Giselle's cheek. "So I'm sorry if I worried you."
Giselle smiled. "That's what makes moments like these, when it's just the two of us, all the more important." She waved her wrist, revealing a red rose via sleight of hand. A simple trick she had learned at a young age, one her parents had never approved of, but the smiles she received from others in response had encouraged her. "For you, my dear dreamer."
Agnea's gaze grew wide. "How beautiful…!" she exclaimed.
"To bring smiles to every corner of the realm." Giselle tucked the rose behind Agnea's ear. "As long as we keep smiling, we can help others smile as well."
"It hasn't always been easy," Agnea said, her face falling for a moment, "but a star never gives up! I'll keep shining, for everyone I love!"
"And you won't be alone," Giselle said softly, cupping Agnea's face between her hands. Agnea's smile widened, and her lips met Giselle's for a kiss. The night promised dreams, and when the sun rose, the journey for those dreams continued.