The Encounter

The Sound Garden’s laughter faded as Evergarden approached—four figures cutting through the midday sun like royalty.

Harmony and Sugarpetal froze beneath their presence.

“You’re… the Evergarden,” Catherine murmured.

Victoria smirked, leaning lazily against the wall. Her blue-red mixed eyes gleamed with challenge.
“Don’t you want our autographs?” she drawled.
“Like everyone else?”

“We’re not fans, you know.” Cherry bristled.

“Oh?” Victoria’s grin widened, her gaze narrowing playfully.

Catherine stepped forward, firm.
“We don’t need your signatures.”

Evelyn’s voice was calm. Her tranquil blue eyes met theirs without fear.
“We’re not here for that.”

Celestia tilted her head slightly, her long white hair cascading over her shoulder.
“…Mm. Then why are you standing in our way?”

Her voice was soft, but sharp as glass.

Fluffy shifted awkwardly, vivid blue eyes glancing around.
“We… weren’t trying to block…”

“Then move.” Victoria snorted.

Eluera stepped back instinctively.

But Celestia raised a hand, stopping her sisters mid-step. Her gaze locked on Eluera.
“…Wait.”

Celestia’s voice, soft—yet commanding.
“Your presence piqued me, little one.”

She stepped forward, her towering frame casting a faint shadow over Eluera.

Celestia’s black-and-white eyes gleamed faintly.
“…A peculiar hair. You remind me of someone.”

The hairs on Eluera’s neck rose as Celestia stepped closer.

She opened her mouth, trying—truly trying—to speak.
But only a faint breath escaped, her voice barely more than a whisper.
“I…am just... a vocalist...”

The words trembled on the edge of silence, yet her golden eyes held firm, refusing to look away.

Celestia’s lips curled faintly, a breath of amusement.
“…Just?”

Her gaze held Eluera’s for a lingering moment, contemplative. Then she smiled, ever so slightly.
“Interesting.”

Victoria leaned against the garden wall, arms crossed.
Her blue-red eyes flicked between them with a lazy sort of amusement.

“Looks like Celestia found someone she likes.” Her tone lilted teasingly.

Catherine narrowed her eyes, soft blue locked in a calm challenge.
“We’re not here to entertain you.”

Victoria’s gaze snapped to Catherine, the playful air sharpening.
“Oh?” Her smirk deepened.
“You’ve got spirit, guitar girl.”

Catherine’s jaw tightened.
“I’ve got more than spirit.”

Victoria pushed herself off the wall, taking a slow step forward, her eyes glittering.
“I bet you think you’re strong.”

Catherine didn’t flinch.
“I don’t need to think, unlike you.”

A flicker of heat passed between them, subtle yet unmistakable.
The start of something unspoken.

Celestia’s voice drifted between them like a breeze.
“Victoria.”

Victoria paused, her gaze lingering a heartbeat longer on Catherine before she stepped back.
“Yeah, yeah,” she murmured, lips curling faintly.
“…You’re lucky my oldest sister is here.”

Catherine’s hands relaxed at her sides, but her eyes stayed locked on Victoria’s retreating form.
“We’re not afraid of you.”

Celestia tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly.
“Not afraid?” she mused, her lips curling into a faint smile.
“…Good. But you should be.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

Seraphia’s voice broke the tension—quiet, composed. Her magenta-green eyes shimmered beneath the dappled sunlight, calm yet unreadable.
“Many claim strength… few carry it to the end.”

Cherry scowled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”

—

There was a brief silence as Evergarden observed them. Then, with a fluid motion, Celestia spoke again, her voice low, almost contemplative, her gaze lingering on Eluera.

“Now, little one…” she murmured, a faint curl of amusement at her lips.
“May I be inclined to know your name?”

Eluera hesitated for a moment, the weight of Celestia’s gaze pressing down on her. But she didn’t look away.
She raised a trembling hand to her chest, then gently touched her throat.

Her lips moved slowly.
“Eluera... Valentine.”

For a moment, Celestia’s expression stilled, her eyes darkened.
“I see... That’s why,” her smile that followed was barely perceptible—a flicker of something dark behind her gaze.
Without another word, she turned, motioning for her sisters to follow.
“Let’s go.”

Victoria and Seraphia, silent now, drifted behind her, their gazes still piercing.

Elysia lingered for a moment, her blue-pink mixed eyes soft, her voice a gentle balm to the hostility.

“Forgive my sisters’ attitude,” she murmured, a quiet kindness shining through.
“…I wish you the best of luck.”

She gave a fleeting smile, then drifted away, her presence fading into the distance.

Harmony and Sugarpetal were left standing in the silence.

Catherine exhaled sharply, her breath a mix of disbelief and frustration.
“Unbelievable.”

Cherry was seething, her fists clenched tight.
“They’re so full of themselves…”

Evelyn spoke softly, but there was a sense of relief in her voice.
“At least one of them was kind enough.”

Fluffy, who had been frozen the whole time, finally found her voice.
“T-they’re… s-scary…” she whispered, clutching her arms tight.

Eluera’s gaze lingered, watching Evergarden disappear down the garden path.
Their presence still clung to the air, heavy, haunting.

As Celestia walked, a faint smile curved her lips—calm, unreadable.

“Funny… how the world seems so vast, yet so small.”