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Description
The next morning saw a small congregation in Ayumi's living room. Tammana and Nastia were sitting on cushions, flanking the low dinner table. On top of its glass surface two fairies stood. The violet haired one wore a necklace with a tiny glass marble, the piece of jewelry seemingly moving on its own from time to time. Whenever the movement became too visible, Ardis gave it a pat, calming the situation down for a while.

The other fairy, finally washed clean and clad in a neat, red yukata, looked up at Nastia from the top of a spellbook page.

"So, what have you got from Saorlaith's book?" she asked.

"According to Ardis' translation," Nastia stroke her chin "the transformation is irreversible by normal means. Basically, you became a fairy, while she turned into a human being. It's only my theory here, but it seems fairy magic is not compatibile with human body for some reason... so it leaked from her to the only 'empty' vessel around. Namely, you"

"Which actually saved our skins back there" Tammana let out a nervous giggle.

"We have two options; either we perform that ritual again," Nastia continued, "or things stay the way they are and we think of a workaround"

"Workaround?"

"Ardis" Nastia turned to the other fairy, "you tell her. I don't have the guts"

Ayumi looked surprised at Ardis, then back at Nastia. The blonde girl stood up, grabbing Tammana's wrist.

"Let's leave them alone Tammy. Ai needs to think this over carefully"

Totally confused, Ayumi watched the two girls leave and close the door behind.

"Ardis, what is going on?"

"Because..." Ardis suddenly looked very shy. "It is actually pretty simple... If we turn you back into human, Sa will regain her powers... Unless we turn Nastia or Tammy into fairies... But you know I can shrink or grow things, right? So Nastia... no, actually I got that idea... I can just grow you back to human size and you'll still be a fairy, but it's pretty simple... you know, to hide the ears and wings... I mean..."

Ayumi looked confused. This whole situaltion was so surreal, yet awfully familiar at the same time...

"...the thing is" Ardis continued to stutter "when you were gone... Ai, I was really, really terrified! I couldn't have imagined what would be if you were not to return, if... if..."

Suddenly she ran towards Ayumi, grabbing her wrists and pulling them close to her chest.

"I know last time I said that was bad and awkward, but Ai, I know you feel the same deep inside. Please, Ai, tell me you feel it!"

* * *

"OK, one thing" Tammana poured the water into the kettle and turned it on, eyeing Nastia's smug expression. "What about that whole Saorlaith gal? What are we going to do with her?"

"I left that to Ardis. It's her sister after all. I know, I know, that's not right, that's unfair..." she shrugged "...but what what can I do about this? For once, it's the younger sibling that happens to be the wiser one. And yeah, using 'wise' and 'Ardis' in the same sentence is nuts. But it's true"

"And you really think leaving them alone is going to work?"

"Tammy, you saw Ardis' reaction to the whole kidnapping yourself. I know you all think I am just a heartless ice queen, but after I saw what happened, I can't leave this unresolved. Either Ayumi manages to convince Ardis all this is pointless, or Ardis breaks through Ai's defences and takes the capital"

"You are heartless indeed" Tammana shook her head, resigned.

"Just call it 'rational', shall we?"

* * *

Shocked, the Ayumi tried to process what Ardis just said. And... to her surprise, it was true. In that terrarium, and even earlier, inside that jar, whenever her thoughts reached out to her friends, Ardis was the one she thought about the most. And... When she looked from that perspective, everything that happened in her life since that meeting in the library was mostly about Ardis. And finally, that incident after the shooting practice, underneath the bonsai tree... The warmth Ardis gave her, the hot kisses that stirred her heart... Back then she thought it was a mistake, that she shouldn't follow that path. But maybe, just maybe, giving in and listening to Ardis would be the right thing to do in return for all that happened since they met?

Ardis' heart skipped a beat when Ayumi's shocked gaze eased. She prepared herself for another wave of scolding and excuses, already building an apology in her mind.

But instead, Ayumi just smiled, the warmth radiating from her whole posture.

"You will not grow me back if I do not say 'yes', am I right?"

And then, not waiting for any answer, she closed the gap between them and locked their lips in a kiss.

Ardis' heart exploded, each pound shaking the tiny marble hanging on her chest.

Description
The next morning saw a small congregation in Ayumi's living room. Tammana and Nastia were sitting on cushions, flanking the low dinner table. On top of its glass surface two fairies stood. The violet haired one wore a necklace with a tiny glass marble, the piece of jewelry seemingly moving on its own from time to time. Whenever the movement became too visible, Ardis gave it a pat, calming the situation down for a while.

The other fairy, finally washed clean and clad in a neat, red yukata, looked up at Nastia from the top of a spellbook page.

"So, what have you got from Saorlaith's book?" she asked.

"According to Ardis' translation," Nastia stroke her chin "the transformation is irreversible by normal means. Basically, you became a fairy, while she turned into a human being. It's only my theory here, but it seems fairy magic is not compatibile with human body for some reason... so it leaked from her to the only 'empty' vessel around. Namely, you"

"Which actually saved our skins back there" Tammana let out a nervous giggle.

"We have two options; either we perform that ritual again," Nastia continued, "or things stay the way they are and we think of a workaround"

"Workaround?"

"Ardis" Nastia turned to the other fairy, "you tell her. I don't have the guts"

Ayumi looked surprised at Ardis, then back at Nastia. The blonde girl stood up, grabbing Tammana's wrist.

"Let's leave them alone Tammy. Ai needs to think this over carefully"

Totally confused, Ayumi watched the two girls leave and close the door behind.

"Ardis, what is going on?"

"Because..." Ardis suddenly looked very shy. "It is actually pretty simple... If we turn you back into human, Sa will regain her powers... Unless we turn Nastia or Tammy into fairies... But you know I can shrink or grow things, right? So Nastia... no, actually I got that idea... I can just grow you back to human size and you'll still be a fairy, but it's pretty simple... you know, to hide the ears and wings... I mean..."

Ayumi looked confused. This whole situaltion was so surreal, yet awfully familiar at the same time...

"...the thing is" Ardis continued to stutter "when you were gone... Ai, I was really, really terrified! I couldn't have imagined what would be if you were not to return, if... if..."

Suddenly she ran towards Ayumi, grabbing her wrists and pulling them close to her chest.

"I know last time I said that was bad and awkward, but Ai, I know you feel the same deep inside. Please, Ai, tell me you feel it!"

* * *

"OK, one thing" Tammana poured the water into the kettle and turned it on, eyeing Nastia's smug expression. "What about that whole Saorlaith gal? What are we going to do with her?"

"I left that to Ardis. It's her sister after all. I know, I know, that's not right, that's unfair..." she shrugged "...but what what can I do about this? For once, it's the younger sibling that happens to be the wiser one. And yeah, using 'wise' and 'Ardis' in the same sentence is nuts. But it's true"

"And you really think leaving them alone is going to work?"

"Tammy, you saw Ardis' reaction to the whole kidnapping yourself. I know you all think I am just a heartless ice queen, but after I saw what happened, I can't leave this unresolved. Either Ayumi manages to convince Ardis all this is pointless, or Ardis breaks through Ai's defences and takes the capital"

"You are heartless indeed" Tammana shook her head, resigned.

"Just call it 'rational', shall we?"

* * *

Shocked, the Ayumi tried to process what Ardis just said. And... to her surprise, it was true. In that terrarium, and even earlier, inside that jar, whenever her thoughts reached out to her friends, Ardis was the one she thought about the most. And... When she looked from that perspective, everything that happened in her life since that meeting in the library was mostly about Ardis. And finally, that incident after the shooting practice, underneath the bonsai tree... The warmth Ardis gave her, the hot kisses that stirred her heart... Back then she thought it was a mistake, that she shouldn't follow that path. But maybe, just maybe, giving in and listening to Ardis would be the right thing to do in return for all that happened since they met?

Ardis' heart skipped a beat when Ayumi's shocked gaze eased. She prepared herself for another wave of scolding and excuses, already building an apology in her mind.

But instead, Ayumi just smiled, the warmth radiating from her whole posture.

"You will not grow me back if I do not say 'yes', am I right?"

And then, not waiting for any answer, she closed the gap between them and locked their lips in a kiss.

Ardis' heart exploded, each pound shaking the tiny marble hanging on her chest.