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[alilyinthemoonslight]

[Sometime late after school, Lily is at the library. She's moderately less worried now, without even really thinking about it, about the level of danger out there, making her avoid day to day things she normally would. Almost kind of living shut in, at times. There is a certain confidence knowing how to disarm and flip grown men twice your size all of a sudden grants you.

She's had time to mull over things for a few days, now. In fact, that's sort of why she's there. Somewhere quiet, away from everyone. Just someplace she can think. Pulling out her phone, she types in a few numbers and]

For anyone who was wondering, Jasmine is fine now. Much better, in fact. Things were just a shock, and it sort of took its toll. It did for both of us, to some extent.

However, seeing all of this - seeing what the Precure can do, seeing just how dangerous the Blood Keys are - I know I've been resting on my laurels for too long. Expecting something to come along. I have things to protect, from my family to the friends I've made among you all.

The ability to protect those things is just out of my reach, but it's there. I'm not going to sit around anymore, lamenting my inability to do this. I can't afford that.

If there's ever anything I can do, I will do it. It might not mean a lot now coming from some teenager, but... I'm not satisfied just sitting here twiddling my thumbs anymore. I refuse to stay like that.

[She pauses for a moment, then types in something else, creating a message Private to Winter.]

Winter. I didn't bring this up the other day, because I hadn't spoken with Jasmine yet. But...

You remember, don't you? What I told you about her only remembering the Desert Apostles, our enemies.

I remembered more. This past self of hers, she was apart of them. Realizing this hurt her pretty badly, and while she's better now, she's probably going to have a hard time ahead of her. I'll do whatever I can, and I trust that you won't hold that against her, but... I'd already told you half of this, I figured you deserved the rest.

With that in mind, it's important I speak with you about something. I need to know more about all of this. About the Precure. This past life. Her relationship to this "Dark Precure" that Jasmine is reliving the memories of. I don't care how painful it is. I have to know in order to protect my sister.

When she mentioned that name, and described what she saw, I saw something. From this other girl's perspective, I saw Cerise and another girl defeated at the hands of this woman who looked like my sister. This "Dark Precure." But also I saw... two creatures with those girls.

...I never told you in detail what my first echo was, did I?

It was one of those creatures.

I saw him die.

You mentioned your "plushie" before. I didn't bring this up because I was afraid. I'm still afraid, but that doesn't matter anymore.

Winter.

I need to see him.

[She draws in a breath, closing her eyes. Why does she feel on the verge of tears typing that? As if she didn't already know. It was something she was avoiding for a long time, then.

Finally, she releases it and opens her eyes back. One more thing.

She types in another number, sending one more private message to Cherry.]

Hi, Cerise. It's Lily.

Sorry if this seems sudden, or a weird question, but... Jasmine and I both had things appear to us when we went to the Dead District. They're things we're both trying to work through, and...

I know the memories you've been getting come from the same place as us. I'm more certain of that than ever. Especially given what my sister remembered. And what that caused me to remember.

Because I had a memory where I saw the both of you.

I... guess you could say I'm concerned. I just want to make sure everything is okay with you, and if you saw anything you need to talk about.

Comments

[lackinginfaith]

She's a good kid. That's for sure.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Kari, both of us could barely be considered "kids" anymore. Certainly not by legal standards.

But... she is good, yes. Seeing someone who I'd already been aware of trying to do something good, regardless of how it turned out, for something that didn't even involve her powers, and knowing there were people on here that trusted her... That helped a lot in being able to start trusting many more people here.

It helps when I know it's not just words or voices coming off a screen.

[lackinginfaith]

You're still in high school, you count as far as I'm concerned.

You might be right.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

And how old are you, if I might ask, anyway?

[lackinginfaith]

Twenty-one. What, are you trying to call me a grandma?

[alilyinthemoonslight]

...no.

Kari.

That is barely much older, and hardly enough to count. I'm 18.

[lackinginfaith]

Maybe. It's more a question of where we're at in our lives, as far as I've been concerned.

...Since when have you all been calling me just "Kari", though? (not that she minds, really)

[alilyinthemoonslight]

I can just call you "ma'am" if you're that insistent on being old.

[lackinginfaith]

Kari's fine, thank you.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

I figured as much.

Besides, if we're supposed to be teammates of any sort at any point, I've got to call you something.

[lackinginfaith]

Better that than Annie giving me a Precure name.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Has she suggested anything?

[lackinginfaith]

I fear the day. It'll probably be "Cure Stick in the Mud" or something like that.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Give it time, it's probably inevitable.

[lackinginfaith]

On the bright side, if my cover's ever blown in such a manner that the public discovers we're the good side, I'll probably get a Miss Earth nomination.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

...I honestly can't tell if you're serious or joking.

[lackinginfaith]

Joking, but in a way that acknowledges that it's probably true.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

...either way, I think we'll have bigger concerns by that point...

...

Actually, maybe I should be "Cure Stick In The Mud..."

[lackinginfaith]

Watch out or she'll rename you.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

I don't doubt it.