Assault Lily: The Liberation of Niigata: Epilogue
| ||||||||
Epilogue
Three days had passed since the ruthless battle that consumed all of Niigata came to a close.
The skies above remained clear as they were illuminated in full by the now unimpeded rays of sunlight. And gathered by Ryuto Girls’ Academy’s heliport were all the brave heroes who had made this victory a reality: the members of the Second Generation Álfheimr, the captains of each of Ryuto’s Legions of the Nine, the Lilies of Odaiba Girls’ School, as well as all the other Lilies of Ryuto who fought ceaselessly to protect Niigata.
Standing before them all were Enomoto Komomo and Sumitani Miki, as the pair were about to seal their vows in the ceremony of Ryuto’s Gullinkambi Pact and be joined as sisters.
Soraha, who had been chosen as their witness, soon signaled to the duo:
“Now, you may exchange your medals!”
Visibly nervous, Komomo prepared her own, golden medal, fashioned as a necklace, and placed it around Miki’s neck.
“I’m leaving myself in your hands, Miki-nee.”
“Thank you.” Miki responded with a smile, and immediately after, she placed her own medal around Komomo’s neck. “Please take very good care of this medal, Komomo.”
As she laid eyes on the small, nicked medal, Komomo quickly turned to face Miki with an incredulous look
“It’s the medal that my sister made...”
Indeed, the medal Komomo had received was unmistakably the one that her sister, Yaya, had before given to Miki. Smiling, the older Lily confirmed with a nod, and not a moment after, Komomo rushed into her arms, muttering a “thank you” as she buried her face in Miki’s shoulder.
Just as the pair finished exchanging their medals, a gust of wind blew by the heliport, surrounding them in an eruption of flower petals plucked from the nearby flower beds, almost as if celebrating their union. With cheers and applause, all the Lilies present offered Miki and Komomo their blessings.
“Congratulations, to the both of you!”
“Congrats, girls!”
Yakuwa Byakuren and Takami Asuka spoke as they clapped their hands for the pair. With her cheeks flushed red, Komomo rushed behind Miki’s back to hide herself from the eyes of her audience, saying “This is so embarrassing!”
Taking notice of this, Endo Araya approached Komomo with a devilish smile:
"Congratulations, Komomo. Now let me see more of that lovely expression on your face.”
“You’re the last person on this Earth that I want to see me like this.”
“Oh, come on now, after having saved Niigata, surely I deserve at least this much for a reward.”
Thanks to the efforts of Álfheimr, Ryuto Girls’ Academy and Odaiba Girls’ School, Niigata had been reconquered in full from the Huge’s control, with the last three days scored by the celebration of their victories. Wishing in earnest to repay the help they’ve received from the Legions of the other two Gardens, the Lilies of Ryuto arranged a modest winners’ party, and also invited them to soak in their hot springs, so their wounds and their fatigue would be washed away.
And today, finally, was the day that Soraha and the others would bring their triumph back to their homes.
Tightly holding onto both Soraha and Tsukioka Momiji’s hands, Yuuna spoke:
“Thank you. Niigata and Ryuto are only safe now because you were here. Truly, I cannot thank you enough for your help.”
Facing Yuuna with a gentle smile, Soraha responded:
“We’re friends, aren’t we? So don’t ever hesitate to call us again if something happens, we’ll be sure to come running to your side.”
“Even if our Gardens differ, you’re still our sisters, whom we’re proud to stand alongside in battle. So we’ll always remain open to lending you our strength.”
“Soraha... Momiji...”
Unable to contain herself, Yuuna held the pair in a tight embrace while bursting into tears, and as Soraha and Momiji held Yuuna in their own arms, they were approached by Yoshihara Nanoha, who, pulling out a handkerchief, wiped Yuuna’s tears away.
“Get a hold of yourself, Yuuna. You’re to become one of the Lilies to bear the image of our whole Garden, have you forgotten?”
“Thank you, Nanoha.” Yuuna answered, and turning to face Soraha and Momiji once again, she continued: “If any of you are ever in need of help, I promise that I will, without fault, come to your rescue as well.”
Just then, Amatsu Marei interjected with a chuckle.
“Well, we might even go pay you a visit before anything happens. I’ll make sure to build you the best CHARMs you could ask for, just you wait.”
“We better throw you guys one hell of a reception, then.” responded Kawamura Yuzuriha, with a smile.
At the same time, Amata Hanako called out to Funada Kiito, saying:
“Kiito, it has been my honor and my privilege to fight alongside you, your sister, and all of Hronesnæsse. So let me, and all of Ryuto, be the ones to come to your aid next time.”
Puffing her chest arrogantly, Kiito retorted:
“Not that me or Odaiba will ever be so helpless as to make that a necessity.... but I’ll remember to call you on the unlikely occasion that we do.”
“Ehehe. Do forgive me, Hanako, you can rest assured that Kiito is ecstatic to have found a friend in you.” impishly added Kiito’s older sister Ui, prompting the former to blurt out “Sister~!” in a flustered tone, the sight of it causing Hanako and the other Hronesnæsse members to laugh audibly.
And as that went on, Komomo stepped out of Miki’s rear, and extended her hand to Araya.
“I’ll admit that it was a fun experience to share the battlefield with you, Araya. I hope we have the opportunity to fight together again, so until then, may you be blessed with good fortune, proud hero.”
“Certainly, fighting together with you has been delightful for me also.”
As the pair shook hands, however, they each spontaneously exploded into laughter.
“Right, as if. That sort of thing just isn’t my style, so I hope you’re ready for me to show you that I am the stronger one between us next time.”
“Of course, I’ll happily accept your challenge. Though I won’t lie, you have sparked my interest over the course of this battle, so what do you say we enjoy some alone time when we meet again?”
Araya then moved to caress Komomo’s cheek, earning her a swift reprimand from Tanaka Ichi:
“Araya, will you stop fooling around already!?”
Yet, completely unbothered by her reprimands, Araya turned to Ichi and uttered:
“And how about you and Ena-sama take the Schutzengel’s Oath already? Literally everyone is tired of waiting to celebrate you two making it official”
“............!”
Araya’s words had Ichi’s face turn bright red, and as she turned to her side, she saw that Banshoya Ena had a similarly flushed expression.
“W-What are you even saying!”
“Leave us out of this!”
The pair voiced their retorts at the same time, causing the Lilies surrounding them to unanimously erupt into laughter.
And like this, Soraha and all the others continued their chatter with their comrades, in visible reluctance to part ways. Kanabako Misora caught up with Hayami Katsura, Okada Kisara and Mozuna Noa conversed with Imaizumi Rion, Egawa Kusumi and Mori Tatsuki were surrounded by several Ryuto Lilies, leaving them disconcerted. Nanoha voiced her gratitude to Watanabe Akane and Takasuga Tsukushi, and Miki similarly thanked Katsura and Hishida Haru for the support they provided her.
But alas, the time for them to leave eventually came, and so, Kiito and Ui called out to their Odaiba schoolmates:
“Come on now, we’ll be off very soon.”
“We’ll no longer be able to depart if we spend any more time here.”
The Lilies of both Hronesnæsse and the Heorot Saints then boarded their Gunship, leaving Momiji and Yuzuriha to say their farewells:
“All of you, it has been our pleasure. I hope we meet again soon.”
“Come hang out in Odaiba one of these days!”
Once all the Lilies of Odaiba Girls’ School were aboard, their Gunship began its propulsion upwards, and before long, it had rushed to the highest reaches of the sky. And after seeing off the Odaiba Lilies, Soraha turned around, and spoke to the others:
“I guess we should be on our way too.”
“Alright, Soraha Nee-sama.”
Upon Kusumi’s confirmation, all twelve of Álfheimr’s members began to make their way towards their Naglfar. And as they did, Miyairi Fubuki shook Maki Wakana’s hand one final time.
“Thank you, dear friend, as to your valiance we owe the safety of our homeland. Now, we shall not fail in keeping this land of Niigata protected, so I hope to see you visit yet again.”
“Of course, you can be sure we will return.”
Fubuki and Wakana held each other in a hug, sealing their promise to one day reunite.
And so, under the watchful eyes of the countless Lilies of Ryuto Girls’ Academy, the Álfheimr members stepped aboard their Naglfar. Then, the vessel’s door was closed, its mighty engines roared loud, and the ship began its ascension.
Yuuna, with tears still flowing from her eyes, waved her arms as she said her goodbyes:
“Soraha! Álfheimr! Thank you so much! Let’s absolutely meet again someday!”
Similarly, Soraha and the other Álfheimr members waved back at the Lilies of Ryuto through the windows of their Gunship. Finally, the Naglfar took to the skies, and in an instant, the whole of Ryuto Girls’ Academy shrunk behind them, Yuuna’s figure disappearing completely in the scenery.
Sitting right by her side, Ena spoke to Soraha:
“Coming to save Niigata truly was the right choice.”
Looking out of the window, all of Álfheimr’s members gazed upon the once again peaceful lands, seas and skies of Niigata with a glimmer in their eyes, as this peace was one they had conquered back with their own hands.
Just then, Kusumi held Soraha’s hand in her own, smiling to her Schutzengel:
“Let’s come back here some day. All of us, together.”
“Absolutely.” Soraha responded, reciprocating Kusumi’s touch.
As the land of Niigata moved farther and farther into the distance, Soraha turned to her companions, and proclaimed:
“Now, let us return! Yurigaoka awaits!”
And tracing their path through the skies above, the party of heroes carried onwards to their home. In Yurigaoka.
The end