"Okabaru—"Thank you for your time, Miss Scarlet. We'll be heading out now."
Scarlet—"Why "such a hurry? We'll arrange a dinner. Sunny, your friends are also here."
"Sunny—"Really? But… how do you know?"
Scarlet ("smiling")—"Anyone who steps into this place—I can sense them."
"Sunny—"But… I don't think they even consider me their friend anymore."
Scarlet—(gently) "If you consider them your friends, Sunny, that's enough."
Sunny smiled softly, his eyes warm.
Okabaru—"Where "is Sakura?"
Scarlet—"Oh" right! I almost forgot. You'll have to hurry. Can your bat carry Sakura and Mekamaru?"
Okabaru—"Mekamaru"?"
Scarlet—"He" is… well, bigger than most. You'll know when you see him."
Okabaru—(chuckles) "I'm eager to see my sister too."
Scarlet raised her hand and summoned her orb.
Scarlet—"Orb "Call—who's there?
"
"Voice—"Ponda here, ma'am. How can I help?"
"Scarlet—"Send all remaining mages to rescue the unconscious and wounded. Prioritize the battlefield outside the plateau.
Ponda—"Yes, "ma'am. Right away." (clink)
Okabaru and Sunny flew off on the bat, wind in their hair.
Sunny (thinking deeply) – I hope sister is okay…
Suddenly
"Sunny—"Brother—look! There she is.
The bat descended. Both leapt off and sprinted toward Sakura.
Okabaru—"Sakura"! Sakura, wake up—can you hear me?""Sunny—"Sis, please… say something…"
Okabaru knelt beside her, placing his hand gently on her forehead.
Okabaru (chanting "softly)—"Taro taro saki… taro taro saki…"
Sakura stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open.
Sakura—"Who"... Who are you…? Are you an angel? Am I… in heaven?"
She looked around, vision blurred.
"Sakura—"But… even in heaven… I feel so sad. I can't see my brother..."
Okabaru's eyes filled with tears, smiling gently.
Okabaru—"You siblings… always heading straight for heaven after waking up."
Sunny—(smiling wide) "Hello, sis. It's me—Sunny."
Sakura blinked, then jolted upright.
"Sakura—Sunny?! Okabaru?!"
She threw her arms around them both, pulling them close.
Sakura—"You're "alive… both of you… You're really alive!"
In the middle of a war-torn world, surrounded by ash, broken towers, and smoke—this was a moment of pure happiness.
Sakura—tears still glistening "We can live together again… this is the best day of my life."
Sunny—struggling in her tight embrace "Now let me go, sis—I can't breathe!"
She releases them, laughing through her joy.
They all sat there for a moment—three siblings finally reunited under the open sky.
Sunny—suddenly excited "Wait! I want to show you something!
Okabaru—"Oh"? What now?"
Sunny—grinning "Just watch... CYBER—ARISE!"
Sakura—tilts her head "Cyber… arise? What does that even mean?
Sunny—hands raised dramatically "Come on, buddy—CYBER, ARISE!"
...
Nothing.
Okabaru—raising an eyebrow "What exactly are you trying to summon?
Sunny—"My "summon! He's a big white lion—his name is Cyber!"
Both Sakura and Okabaru burst into laughter.
Sakura—laughing "Stop making things up, Sunny.
Okabaru—teasing, "A white lion, really?
Sunny—defensive "I swear! He always comes when I call—this never happens!"
Suddenly—FLASHBACK—Sunny handing a glowing orb to Auren:
Sunny (in memory)—"Auren", when you find Rose, drop this into water."
Back to the present.
Sunny—gasps "Oh no… I gave him to Auren! I forgot! He's probably huge by now… How would they even carry him?!
Cut to the Royal Palace, ground floor…
Ponda—giggling, circling a large, majestic white lion "Stop playing hard to get, big guy! This lion is so charming! He totally likes me."
Cyber, the white lion, slowly nods with a dead-serious face.
Ponda puts hands on hips. "Hey, Lion—I'm a ghost! Fear me!"
Cyber flinches dramatically and pretends to shiver.
Visa, the palace caretaker, chuckles from the corner. "He's too big to be this cute."
Ponda—"Right?" Right?! I told you he likes me!"
Back at the plateau—
Sunny—still shouting "Cyber! Arise! CYBER ARISE!"
Sakura and Okabaru are doubled over laughing, wiping tears from their eyes.
***********
Auren and Rose sat in silence around a lit-up round table. Warm candle flame flickered around the room. Rose's small white kitty on the table was jumping at a hovering star-like light, her small paws batting at it with annoying determination.
Rose—laughing "Look at her, Auren. She's really trying to catch it."
Auren smiled, seeing the kitten jump around with boundless energy.
Just then, Violet stepped into the room, her long coat fluttering behind her like silk.
Violet—"Hey "kids. The battle's over. There are no enemies left in the city."
Auren—his eyes lighting up "So… it's safe for Sunny now?"
Violet nodded gently. "Yes, you're right. For now, at least."
She approached the table. As she set hands on its surface, Auren rose hastily, took the chair next to him, and pushed it out with respect.
"Auren—"Please, sit down."
Violet—raising an eyebrow, sweetly surprised "wow… I'm impressed. You're such a gentleman."
Rose—smiling softly, observing Auren. "He always is."
They all settled, the warmth of the moment enveloping them like a blanket. Auren cleared his throat.
Auren—"Miss "Violet… May I inquire about something?"
"Violet—"Certainly. Proceed."
Auren—serious now "Do you happen to know where Hollow Mountain is?"
Violet's expression changed. A small smirk pulled at her lips.
"Violet—"Hollow Mountain, eh? That's not exactly an area one asks about. Why are you interested?"
Auren—"I"… encountered an old man. He was enigmatic—like he knew something significant. He gave me a parchment and a message: 'Power waits for those who dare.' He told me it was related to Hollow Mountain."
As Auren spoke, Rose couldn't help staring at him.
"He's nice… he listens… and he smiles in a way that makes everything seem lighter," she thought. "Having him around is enjoyable.
Violet—catching her staring snap! "Rose."
Rose—surprised, "Huh—what?"
Violet—smiling wickedly "Nothing." She offered her a wink and turned around to Auren.
"Violet—"Hollow Mountain exists. It is in Baku City, and it is between two ancient towns: Sabo and Eito."
"Auren—"What are those towns like?"
Violet—"Sabo "Town is serene and green—they love nature so much. Eito Town, however, is covered with snow. Cold. Quiet. Mysterious. Both towns belonged to the same clan—the Mangur Clan—but they haven't communicated for years. The Hollow Mountain lies right on the dividing line between them."
Auren—thinking aloud "So it's a dangerous trip…?"
Violet—"Not "violent. The folk are kind, particularly to strangers. You'll be alright—so long as you don't wake old demons."
Auren—"Can "I have the address?"
Violet nods and claps once
A shimmering parchment map drifted into the room and spread itself out in front of Auren in a slow curve.
"Violet—"There you are. That map will take you directly there."
Rose—softly, eagerly "So… when are we leaving?"
Auren—blushing "We?"
Rose—playing hard to get, pretending to sulk "It's not fair if you go without me."
Aren—smiling, looking off "I was… only going alone."
Rose—firmly, but gently "Then you're going to be very lost. Because I'm not letting you do this without me."