The night fell quickly upon them as they got above ground. They then had to deliver both the horrible news, and the body of the fallen. And it was rather quickly that the loyal masses came to mourn the fall of their leader...

Terna started to tear up. "Hmm. I guess...he really is...gone."

Ikarisa followed her and comforted her. "Was he someone so important to you?"

"He was. Gazzy was the only one my family had to trust during the war, when he managed to save us and migrate us to Delpha. He was a soldier from a faraway village, deep within Frigo territory where we used to reside...and now, with all this, I lost...well everyone. Mom and dad left the city long ago to go back home, right when Gazzy said he'd take care of me during my idol debut. And now, with him gone, and mom and dad not here I...I don't know what to do anymore. I can't even find my friends from that village from back then, even with my ties and status as an idol..."

"It's alright! We're here for you anyway...and so long time goes by, there won't be a reason for us to cut ties, right?", Ikarisa said.

"Wait...those words...no. I'm getting ahead of myself again. Thank you Risa. Truly..."

"Don't worry. I'll give you shelter if you need too! It's starting to get a little bit...hnn!", Ikarisa stretched, trying to reach Terna's head.

Terna giggled. "Hehe...thank you.", she lowered her head to get underneath the coat.

"Mellistar was right...can't believe it.", Lass sighed.

"Yea...he was.", Yuno replied.

"Hah...guess it was a matter of time till you found out. Please..."

"I won't say a thing. But we're essentially 3 in 1 body...this is-"

"I'm aware. I...I can take it...for now.", Lass clenched his fist.

"Whatever you say. I'll do as you wish on this one.", Yuno sighed.

Anya closed in on them. "Yo, what's up everyone? I've heard the news as I made my way here...everyone alright?"

"Yea...you must be Anya? They told me about you...a famous merchant, right?

"Mhmh.", Anya nodded. "Wait a second...what is your last name again?"

"Uh...Matune. Terna Matune."

"What?! The hell?! You serious?! From Direon, right?! The town off in the edge of Victoria in the mountains, right?!"

"Wait...Anya as in Anya Golver?!"

"Oh my god!", Anya lifted and tightly hugged Terna. "You crazy dreamer! You actually did it and became an idol?!"

Ikarisa got up. "You guys know each other?"

"Y-Yes! Anya and I are childhood friends! We got separated during the final assault in Direon...but I can't believe I found you again!"

"You betcha! Man, if it wasn't for your rep and name, I'd have never found out! You've changed so much! You're gorgeous!", Anya wagged her tail.

"O-Oh...I see.", Ikarisa looked away.

"Huh. Nice.", Lass said.

"Unfortunately, the circumstances we met again under are...yeah.", Terna lowered her voice.

"That Gaz guy must've been someone you where close to, huh? It is...yea...", Anya lowered her tail. "Sorry for it."

"No, it's ok. I'll get over it. I have to...tomorrow will be a huge day so...I better get going. I need to get myself back in the game.", Terna got up and walked away.

"That's interesting.", Lass said.

"Hmm? What do ya mean big guy?

"How fate can bring people back together like that."

"Mhmhm. Getting some fancy ideas?", Anya said with a smug.

Lass punched Anya back. "Nope. Not today."

"Your guy's relationship is unbearable.", Yuno rolled his eyes.

Both Lass and Anya were quick to reply. "Oh shut it."

"Hehe. They're two big weirdos", Ikarisa chuckled and whispered.

The rest of the ceremony went out smoothly as everyone send off Gaz in the most honorable way. But the couldn't stay for long. With the conflict in the city coming to it's climax, the next day was one most important to take advantage of...

"You're kidding right?"

"Nope not at all..."

"We're supposed to make an armored parade stage thing???"

"Exactly..."

"How the hell do we start? We're not handymen we're soldiers dammit! Besides how does this even make any sense? Gaz would've never approved of this..."

Terna stepped in on the two soldiers talking. "I see...so is it against what you want to do?"

They both stood up. "No ma'am! We'll make it for you ma'am!"

"I know that Gaz passing out was rough for you but I promise you...all I need is a little bit of trust and I'll save this city from Kaghs clutches!"

"Yes yes ma'am! Right away ma'am!"

Terna then slowly left the soldiers tent...

"So...you sure about this?", Lass asked.

"Absolutely! If my voice can give courage for others to go on then this is the best way for me to help...I don't know much about arms but I vowed to do my very best no matter what! And I'll not stand back or down and watch everyone fighting without me by their side!"

Anya approached. "Don't say miss idol that's good and all but may I remind you that you'll be completely exposed? You know...enemy guns cannons and such?"

"There's no turning back or backing down...though there's a minor setback...the soldiers don't exactly know how to make this..."

Anya gave her a thumbs up. "Leave it to me! If there's one thing merchants know is how to make cash out of trash!"

""Yea and they also know how to steal things from others...such as swords...", Yuno whispered.

Anya swiftly punched Yuno to the ground. "Shut up you little pervert! Terna, gimme the prints! I'll assist in the making!"

""Alright! I'm counting on you Anya!"

"So what exactly is the plan Terna? Surely this giant parade stage isn't for nothing...", Ikarisa wondered.

"The plan is simple! My voice could always not only motivate but also enhance those who I please to listen to my tune! I initially couldn't do it but since I got this special pin of yours it worked pure magic! I'm still a bit new to the scene but...I've tried it before and it worked, so I'll try it again! What I plan to do is stand in the middle of that stage as we drag it down the street...if it works then most of the attention will be drawn on me but if the shield is applied correctly I'll be just fine...so while singing for everyone I can also keep them safe by drawing attention!"

"That's honestly a pretty good idea...but it's also extremely risky...", Ikarisa fearfully said.

Lass chuckled. "Aren't we about used to risks already? Nevertheless, I won't disagree with Risa on this one...you sure you wanna do this?"

"100%. There's no going back!"

"Well, what can we do to help?", Ikarisa asked.

"We've come this far so...guess we can assist a bit more.", Lass prepared his gear.

"Oh, yes, I was counting on your help...I know that the place Kagh is at has extremely high security...so even if we fend off his army it'll be difficult going at him with all the crazy parameters..."

"No matter how big and strong it is it will always have a weak point.", Lass resided.

"Exactly! There is a hidden passage the previous mayor showed me before he was executed...it's a one man passage from underground. If someone goes through there then they can evade all security measures and reach the throne room ASAP!"

"Lemme guess...I'll be the one?", Lass asked.

"No kidding...I'm also going with you since I can and I must take care of you...", Yuno sighed.

"Big words for a little midget...", Mellistar spoke through Lass.

"What did you just call me?!"

Terna got between them. "Hey, hey! No fighting! And yes I'd like you two to get in...the entire operation is a last resort to take Kagh down and we need you the most..."

"And what should I do?", Ikarisa fidgeted her fingers.

"Ahaha! I was hopping you'd ask!", Terna took out an idol outfit. "Tada!"

Terna presented a beautiful sparkly dress in front of Ikarisa. It was decorated with all sorts of flashy items making it easy to draw attention.

Ikarisa looked at the dress with sparkling eyes. "Wow, that's so cool! Wait why are you showing this to me though?"

"I want you to come with me on the stage! Lets sing together!"

Lass and Ikarisa both screamed in surprise. "What?!"

"Absolutely not! Forget about it!", Lass yelled.

"Why?", Terna wondered.

"Several reasons! One, Risa would not do it anyways! She's way too shy and timid for this sort of thing! Two, I'm already stretching my ass far enough to let Risa be on the field in this thing and three, I'm not about to let Risa become the target of an entire army!"

Anya whispered from the side. "Well haven't we technically done that with a big monster hoard in Reingard?"

"Shut it mutt! You'd think I'd have allowed it if I knew it?!"

Anya replied with a smug. "You went along when you heard the details though~"

Lass took out his sword and clashed with Anya. "I'll kill you!"

Ikarisa sighed. "Why are they both such kids..."

"You're all one to talk...", Yuno said.

"Shame...I think she'd make an excellent idol too..."

Ikarisa then screamed "I'll do it!"

"What?!", Lass stopped clashing with Anya.

"Lass, I know you're worried but I can do it! For everyone's shake...plus I can create an extra barrier with my powers for extra protection against them!", she then whispered. "So can you please...watch my performance?", she blushed.

"I hate this idea so much..."

"But you're gonna submit, because there's no stopping this little goddess...", Yuno said.

"And I hate you...", Lass angrily said to Yuno.

"So, so?", Terna excitedly asked.

"Fine...but I swear if anything happens..."

Ikarisa stopped Lass's words. "Nothing will happen! I'll show you what I can truly do!"

"Quick, come with me Risa! We have a lot to do for your preparations! I'll help with your hair!"

After that they both ran off to Terna's tent to prepare Ikarisa...Lass then went to check on Anya before he went to bed. And much to his surprise, he could only gaze at the huge stage Anya had managed to put together...

"What the hell, mutt?! How did you manage to make that thing so quickly?!"

"Fufufu! I told ya! Make cash out of trash! Thanks to the help of the soldiers though I managed to speed things up a lot! It'll be ready tomorrow morning!"

"How did she even do it that fast..."

"She did it offscreen, that's why.", Yuno said.

"It's amazing what not showing a project for a few paragraphs can do.", Anya shrugged.

"I'm not even...no. I'm gonna go to bed...you should too mutt. Tomorrow is a big day."

"No can't do...there's a lot to be fixed, plus I have to sync everyone together! I'll be the operator for this! I have an entire control center right underneath the stage! Communication, stage lights, speaker volume, everything controlled by me down there."

"Ok you go have fun with that...I'm off...", Lass walked away.

The night fell sharp on them and as they woke up the next day. However, one certain someone's input would yet again, not be missed.

"Predictable.", Mellistar scoffed.

"Here we go again...welcome to dreamland.", Lass rolled his eyes.

"You should really try to shove that childish behavior aside and listen to your peers, kid."

"Oh really? As if I don't. I'd just rather not listen to you."

"So you'd rather not listen to yourself? Hah. Exactly the attitude that'll get you killed. Shall we review how that will screw you over?"

"Why do you care so much anyway?! Just leave me alone!"

Mellistar looked away. "Care? Pathetic. You'd think I, or anyone for that matter, would care for you? I only care about myself, that's why if you screw yourself with the way you fight, I'd be screwed too!"

And so their fight consumed them both, each word traded worse than the last, further spiraling down to their argument. And as the conflict raged on, Lass was also lost into a deeper slumber...

"Wake up god dammit!", Yuno screamed at Lass.

"Mother of Kikaro-Ok I'm up! God! What is it?!"

"You're late for the entire army assault moron, that's what's up!"

"God dammit! Why didn't you try to wake me up?!"

"Are you dead serious? What the hell did you think I was trying to do?", Yuno took a grim look at Lass.

Lass wasted no time smacking himself around the room in a rush, trying to grab everything and get ready and go to the meeting spot.

"Sorry, I know I'm late...that bastard.", Lass whispered. "I'm just gonna go there and get ready..."

Lass received a lot of angered and disappointing looks but at least no one pointed anything out...and then...they began.

"I-It's ok! We haven't started the march yet!"

"Wow...that...idol outfit. Isn't it a bit too-"

"Flashy? But that's usually what idols tent to wear. Don't say I didn't warn you.", Lass folded his arms.

"I mean, it was to be expected, judging from all the concerts I've seen from Terna online.", Yuno said.

"Same here, though I've gotta say, her lives on TV were kind of amazing to say the least.", Lass said.

"Wait, you're a Terna fan?", Yuno asked. "I can see why you wouldn't want me to dig into those memories.", he chuckled.

"Hey, she does all sorts of music anyway! She isn't your average idol...I think she did a rock album once as well, I loved that. Were it not for her shifting so many outfits back and forth between songs and campaigns, I'd have instantly recognized her down in the sewers. That is to say, she looks a lot more...real in that outfit. Nothing too overblown or fancy like she usually wears. Hopefully she keeps that theme up, it really suits her.", Lass rumbled on.

"Why not just tell her then? I think she'd like a few comments like these instead of what she...usually receives in her comment section on Semori! and Skyline.", Yuno proposed.

"I guess it'd be cool, yeah. But before I do that...I've been meaning to ask you something instead, if you don't mind.", Lass said, looking at Ikarisa.

"Uh, sure.", Ikarisa replied.

"When we were at Kaci, you managed to turn Lilith from a literal pile of blood, back to being perfectly fine. Why-", Lass was stopped by Ikarisa.

"Because my powers can't keep up with all the healing. I wanted to save Gaz right then and there but...I just couldn't. Over the course of a few days, I took on the task of healing multiple soldiers in Reingard, you when you were hurt after battle and especially Lilith in the horrible state she was at. The truth is...when I heal someone, I don't 'heal' them. I take all of their pain and wounds, instead transferring it to me..."

"Really? I thought it'd be more in line with Lilith, since she's your Guardian. Unless, does that mean-", Yuno widened his eyes.

"No, Lilith's healing is a true heal. Our powers are variants of each other.", Ikarisa answered swiftly.

"What? That's...hella weird. But I guess I may have either glossed over that fact in my studies for my own powers or it simply wasn't written anywhere. It is rather interesting though...", Yuno looked at Ikarisa with curiosity.

"So that's why it works unlike every healing ability I've seen out there.", Lass wondered. "Pardon me though, but you look...fine. You don't look like it hurt you at all!"

"I assure you, it's exactly how it works and it's a bit more complicated than that but I promise I'll explain-"

Ikrisa stopped talking as the loud voice of Terna from inside the dressing room called out to her.

"Hey-hey, Risa! Come on let's finish dressing up!"

"R-Right!", she answered back. "I've got to go back."

"It's alright, I understand. And don't forget to do your best out there, alright? Both of you!", Lass encouraged her.

Ikarisa nodded. "Thank you!

Lass and Yuno fell back with the others, taking position with the rest of the troops, as Terna and Ikarisa finished dressing up in the backscenes, and were ready to emerge in the big stage...