Glistening Leaves in the Snow
While (Captain) and company are out shopping, they stop to admire a large holiday tree La Coiffe had pruned and dressed. Yggdrasil grows excited and expresses that she, too, wants to dress like the tree for the holy night. But when she hears that Orchid is planning to make cookies to thank Santa, the primal beast grows occupied with her own thoughts. Rosetta tries to talk to her about the apple juice infused with nectar that they try at the market, but Yggdrasil remains distracted.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: Hehe, you're right. All these decorations make the town look so pretty.
La Coiffe: They sure do! And the snow is really adding to the holiday spirit!
Yggdrasil is accompanying the crew into town on a shopping trip.
Yggdrasil: ...!
La Coiffe: Yggdrasil, wait! The market's this way!
The group turns to where La Coiffe is pointing and notices an enormous, festively decorated tree.
Vyrn: Whoa, it's huge! Wait, is that the thing you were talking about, scissor girl?
La Coiffe: Yep! That's the tree they had me spruce up!
Lyria: Oh, it's so beautiful! I love those snowflake ornaments!
La Coiffe: Thanks! I tried to bring out the natural greens by focusing on a white color scheme.
La Coiffe: But first, I gave those bushy pine needles a slide cut to make everything fan out nicely!
Yggdrasil gazes at the huge, decorated tree, enthralled.
Yggdrasil: ...!
- Pretty, isn't it?
- Cute, isn't it?
Choose: Pretty, isn't it?Choose: Cute, isn't it?Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil nods as she points enthusiastically up at the tree.
Rosetta: She says she wants to dress up like it for the holy night. She's quite taken by its appearance.
Vyrn: You wanna dress up as the tree? You mean like...
Walder: I'm Walder the Ghillie Ranger!
La Coiffe: There's no way!
Lyria: Hmm, she might get tired if she wore something like that...
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil continues to gaze at the tree with envy, her shoulders slumped dejectedly.
La Coiffe: Hold on a second. So we're talking about a tree... for Yggdrasil, on the holy night...
Yggdrasil: ...
La Coiffe: Let's see... If we want it to pop, we could do a snow theme...
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil: ...!
La Coiffe: Hehe, I think I know exactly how to make it work!
La Coiffe: Yggdrasil, if it'd be all right I'd like to set you up with a tree-themed look for the holy night!
Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil takes La Coiffe's hand and excitedly shakes it up and down.
La Coiffe: Oh, don't be so formal.
La Coiffe: I just felt really honored as an organic stylist to see you so appreciative of my work.
Rosetta: Hehe. Isn't that nice, Yggdrasil?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil walks with a spring in her step as she follows the crew into the marketplace.
Rosetta: Oh? Why, look who it is! Are you here shopping too, Orchid?
Orchid: Hm? Ah, hello. Yes, I'm just buying things for the holidays.
Orchid: I want to make cookies for Santa, so I need some flour and sugar.
Rosetta: That's a wonderful idea. I'm sure he'll be thrilled.
Yggdrasil: ...
Vyrn: Hey Yggs, check out this nectar-flavored apple juice they're passing out over here!
Lyria: Wow, that sounds great! I want some too!
(Captain) and the crew try out the unique flavor of apple juice.
Rosetta: Oh? Yggdrasil, doesn't this taste like...
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: ...?
La Coiffe: Yum! It really brings out the best of its natural ingredients! What do you think, Yggdrasil?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Broken out of her reverie by La Coiffe's question, Yggdrasil takes a big sip from her straw and breaks into a huge smile.
Yggdrasil: ...!
La Coiffe: Whoa, look at that blissful face! I guess you really like it.
Rosetta: In that case, why don't we bring some back? I'll get an extra one for Io.
After purchasing some juice to drink later, the crew members finish shopping and head back to the Grandcypher.
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil continues to look around the well-decorated town with great interest—yet her expression clouds over from time to time.
Rosetta: (What's gotten into her, I wonder? She seems to be troubled by something...)
Noticing a change in Yggdrasil's demeanor, Rosetta can't help but worry about her old friend.
An Eternity Between Flowers
Sipping on her apple juice, Rosetta reminisces about her first encounter with Yggdrasil. The two had hit it off immediately, even sharing the same liking for the nectar of a particular flower on Lumacie—the same nectar used in the apple juice they bought in town. Suddenly, Lyria comes to tell Rosetta about Yggdrasil's strange behavior. When Yggdrasil sees Rosetta, she withdraws into Lyria without further explanation.
(Captain)'s crew has returned to the Grandcypher with some nectar-flavored apple juice.
Rosetta is drinking a cup on the deck as she enjoys the breeze.
Rosetta: (This pleasant sweetness sure takes me back...)
Rosetta: (Now that I think about it, so much time has passed since I ended up on that island...)
Rosetta recalls the events of the war that occurred hundreds of years ago.
After being driven from her own island by fire-wielding skydwellers, she had woken up in the middle of a deep forest.
Rosetta: (I'm... still here?)
Yggdrasil: ...
Upon waking up, Rosetta sees Yggdrasil looking down at her.
Rosetta: (A primal beast... She must be the guardian of this island.)
Rosetta: (How very youthful... and innocent...)
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil gasps with surprise as she looks over her unexpected visitor.
Though the primal beast speaks no words, Rosetta clearly hears her state that she has never seen such a beautiful flower.
Rosetta: Hehe... Even though I'm so burned and in tatters?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: (Oh my... What a lovely sensation...)
Yggdrasil's power, imbued into this very forest, seeps into Rosetta.
Rosetta: Thank you. I feel much better now.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Looking around, Rosetta sees that she is surrounded by deep greenery on all sides, attesting to the great vitality to be found on the island.
Rosetta: What a flourishing forest... You were the one who nurtured it, weren't you?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Taken aback, the primal beast looks back at her visitor with wide eyes, then smiles at Rosetta like a flower reaching full bloom.
Yggdrasil: ...
After raising this forest all by herself, she is overjoyed to finally be able to appreciate it together with someone else.
Rosetta: My, what a lovely reaction. You're going to make me feel giddy too.
From then on, the two live together for a long while, tending to all the living things of the island.
Rosetta: Mmm... What a sweet, pleasant scent. So, this flowery place is one of your favorites, then?
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: With how sweet they smell, I wonder what their nectar tastes like...
Yggdrasil: ...?
Rosetta: My, how wonderful! Come, try it.
Mimicking Rosetta, Yggdrasil brings a flower to her mouth and cautiously sips from it.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: What? You want to come here every day?
Rosetta: Come now, didn't you say there are so many places you want to show me?
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: All right then. How about we make this flower nectar our first shared favorite thing?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: Hehe...
Rosetta: (I'm certain that the nectar in this juice is from that same flower.)
Rosetta: (I had assumed that she would remember as well, but...)
Rosetta looks up, deciding to put the matter behind her, but is greeted by the sight of Lyria bursting onto the deck.
Lyria: Rosetta! Could you come with me? Yggdrasil is acting strangely!
Rosetta rushes to Yggdrasil's side with Lyria and finds her staring at the ground, looking gloomy.
Yggdrasil: ...
La Coiffe: Hmm... I'm not seeing any signs of root rot this time...
La Coiffe examines Yggdrasil similarly to when she had found and treated her root rot.
Vyrn: Maybe she just needs more energy. Here, drink some more nectar-flavored apple juice!
After accepting the juice from Vyrn, Yggdrasil drinks a bit of it and breaks into a smile.
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: Did that do it?
Lyria: Well...
However, her expression quickly becomes dejected again.
Vyrn: Darn, guess the juice isn't enough.
Yggdrasil: ...
Lyria: Yes, she just goes back to feeling blue...
La Coiffe: We were hoping you could help us, Rosetta, since you've known her the longest.
Rosetta: Yes, I hope so too.
Yggdrasil, what's wrong? If you have anything you're worried about, you know you can always confide in me.
Yggdrasil: ...!
As soon as Yggdrasil notices Rosetta's presence, she goes back into Lyria.
Lyria: Oh? She's hiding inside me...
Lyria: Hmm... She's saying that it's nothing.
La Coiffe: That's just silly. There's obviously something!
Rosetta: Well, at least you've already checked her out.
Rosetta: If you didn't find anything wrong with her health, then I'm sure she'll be fine. I think we should just be ready to listen if she comes to us with anything.
Vyrn: Yeah, that makes sense. It was her first time going out shopping in a while, so she's probably just tired.
La Coiffe: Let me know if you notice anything off, Lyria! I'll come check on her again right away!
Lyria: Of course! In that case, I'll give her some space for now.
Despite their lingering concern for Yggdrasil, the group decides to disperse in the meantime.
Rosetta: (She won't even tell me about it? I believe that might be a first...)
Rosetta: (I suppose I should expect her to have changed a little after coming into contact with the outside world.)
Rosetta: (Still, I'm sad that she's not confident I can help her, even though I've thought of us as family all this time.)
Rosetta: For now, I'll just have to watch over her...
With that, Rosetta leaves. In her place, the scent of roses stubbornly lingers as if reluctant to put the matter aside.
An Eternity Between Flowers: Scene 2
It is late at night when Yggdrasil sneaks into the galley, where she begins to put flour and sugar together in a bowl. When Orchid discovers the primal beast trying to knead the mixture into dough, Yggdrasil expresses that she wants to show her appreciation for Rosetta and the crew but doesn't know how. Empathizing with this, Orchid offers to help.
Late at night, a single crew member sneakily enters the kitchen.
Yggdrasil: ...
Tiptoeing up to the cupboards, she takes out bags of flour and sugar.
Yggdrasil: ...
Then, she finds a large bowl and places it on the counter.
Yggdrasil: ...
Pouring some flour and sugar into the bowl, she starts to knead the mixture.
Yggdrasil: ...
Lacking both butter and eggs, however, it shows no sign of becoming dough.
Yggdrasil: ...?
Orchid: What... are you doing?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Orchid: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just heard a noise and was curious.
After meeting the crew at the marketplace, Orchid is riding the Grandcypher to the next island at (Captain)'s invitation.
Yggdrasil: ...
Orchid: Flour and sugar...
Orchid: Are you trying to bake something?
Orchid: I want to make cookies for Santa, so I need some flour and sugar.
Orchid: Did you decide to make cookies for someone too?
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil nods, then enthusiastically spreads her arms wide.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Orchid: The Grandcypher?
Orchid: Do you mean you're making cookies for everyone on the Grandcypher?
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil nods again, then pulls out a flower and looks at it with a sad expression.
Orchid: A rose...
Orchid: Ah, Rosetta?
Yggdrasil: ...
Orchid: You want to show your appreciation to Rosetta, then.
Yggdrasil: ...
Orchid: You know... I remember feeling the same way once.
Orchid stands next to Yggdrasil and stares at the stubbornly dry mixture in the bowl.
Orchid: Apollo had done so much for me...
Orchid: I wanted to give something back to her, but didn't know what could possibly be sufficient.
Yggdrasil: ...
Orchid: Then someone taught me what I needed to know—that the most important thing was what I was feeling.
Yggdrasil: ...?
Orchid: I've always wanted to make up for what I did to you.
Orchid: If you need help showing your appreciation, I'm here for you.
Orchid: Let's bake some cookies. I can show you how to make some real delicious ones.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Some time later, Yggdrasil is looking proudly at a batch of enticing, freshly baked cookies.
An Eternity Between Flowers: Scene 3
When the holy night arrives, Yggdrasil is donned in an outfit made by La Coiffe as she hands out handmade cookies together with flowers she grew herself as tokens of her appreciation to each member of the crew. The primal beast looks content, having expressed her gratitude toward (Captain) as well. With some encouragement from La Coiffe, Yggdrasil finally approaches Rosetta, clutching a special package in her hands.
The long-awaited holy night has finally come.
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil is dressed in her special holiday outfit, cheerfully passing out cookies to the crew members.
Lyria: Wow, so you made these with Orchid? Thank you, I love them!
La Coiffe: Me too! The tree-shaped ones and Santa-shaped ones are both so cute!
Yggdrasil: ...
La Coiffe: And so are you! I don't think I'll ever get over how great that outfit looks!
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil politely bows her head to thank La Coiffe for dressing her up.
La Coiffe: Don't sweat it! I should be thanking you for the opportunity to grow my confidence.
La Coiffe: It's really moving to see you looking so adorable in it!
Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil follows up on the cookies by presenting La Coiffe with a white flower.
La Coiffe: Wow, what a beautiful blossom... The petals are glowing. You must have taken really good care of it.
Yggdrasil smiles happily and hands (Captain) a flower and cookies as well.
Yggdrasil: ...
- What a pretty flower...
- Wow, those cookies look so good!
- They're both so nice!
Choose: What a pretty flower...Yggdrasil: ...!
Lyria: It really is! You must have put so much care into raising it, Yggdrasil!
Choose: Wow, those cookies look so good!Yggdrasil: ...!
Lyria: I know Orchid helped, but you still must have worked so hard making these!
Choose: They're both so nice!Yggdrasil: ...!
(Captain)'s words give water to the multitudes of flowers around Yggdrasil, causing them to bloom and grow.
La Coiffe: Whoa, those flowers are really taking over your look! Let me trim you up really quick!
Continue 1Yggdrasil: ...
Yggdrasil smiles, happy to have shown her appreciation to her crewmates.
(Captain) has done much for her since they met, from taking her around the skies to saving her from the influence of dark essence.
Yggdrasil: ...
When the captain receives the presents from Yggdrasil, the primal beast smiles contentedly.
La Coiffe: Wow, she looks so happy just giving out presents.
La Coiffe: I hope I can get good enough to make flowers that happy too.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Lyria: Hehe, it looks like Yggdrasil feels the same way.
La Coiffe: So it does! For the honor of organic stylists everywhere, I'd better keep up!
Yggdrasil smiles again, then takes out a small, festively wrapped parcel and starts looking around anxiously.
La Coiffe: Oh, is that one for Rosetta?
Yggdrasil: ...
While sheepishly fondling the present, the primal beast nods.
La Coiffe: You must be feeling nervous, since she's so special to you.
La Coiffe takes Yggdrasil's soft hands into her own and grips them reassuringly.
La Coiffe: Giving something to someone special makes us overthink things, doesn't it? It'd be sad if they didn't like it, after all...
La Coiffe: But it'll be all right! You're too cute to need to worry about that today!
La Coiffe: I'm sure that Rosetta will be thrilled from the moment she sees you!
Yggdrasil: ...!
Some of the tension leaves Yggdrasil's expression, and she hurries to find her longtime companion.
An Eternity Between Flowers: Scene 4
Eager to make her appreciation known, Yggdrasil gifts Rosetta with a scented candle—one made with the very flower nectar from the special memory they share. Feeling her friend's deep gratitude, Rosetta tells Yggdrasil that it is she who should be thankful. Just then, Elsam happens to walk by the two and offers up a smoothie he made. Yggdrasil finally breaks into a radiant smile that brings happiness to everyone.
Yggdrasil approaches Rosetta, holding the small present in her hands.
Rosetta: Oh my goodness, Yggdrasil, you look adorable! La Coiffe did such a good job dressing you up.
Loosening her grip on the parcel, she nervously hands it to Rosetta.
Rosetta: What's this?
As soon as Rosetta starts unwrapping the gift, she notices a sweet scent coming from it.
Rosetta: A scented candle? And... this aroma...
Rosetta: All right then. How about we make this flower nectar our first shared favorite thing?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: This sweet, pleasant scent, fresh like it was extracted only a moment ago...
Rosetta: You made this using the nectar from that flower, didn't you?
Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil puts all her heart into conveying her gratitude.
Rosetta had always thought of her above anything else.
Even when Yggdrasil was under the control of dark essence, Rosetta had stayed on Lumacie to be by her side.
Yggdrasil: ...!
The primal beast desperately wants Rosetta to know that she is appreciated.
Rosetta: Yggdrasil...
Yggdrasil's gratitude seeps into Rosetta's heart, along with the sweet scent from the flowers in their precious memories together.
Rosetta: It's I who must thank you, Yggdrasil.
Yggdrasil: ...?
Rosetta: Just having you by my side has been greater fortune than I could ever ask for.
Rosetta: That's been true ever since the fateful day I woke up on Lumacie.
Yggdrasil: ...
Rosetta: Oh? What's that about Orchid?
Visibly relieved by Rosetta's response, Yggdrasil explains what Orchid had told her.
Orchid: I once told Apollo that I wanted to give something back to her, to repay her for all she had done for me. But...
Apollonia: You've already given me something I treasure above all else.
Apollonia: Just knowing you're alive is a miracle to me. And that's the greatest gift of all.
Orchid: That's why I know that it will go just fine for you.
Rosetta: My, I never would have guessed that Apollonia had said the same thing.
Rosetta: Hehe, it seems that I'm not as old and wise as I like to believe.
Rosetta breaks into a smile, and Yggdrasil joyfully embraces her.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: Oh, Yggdrasil, you're so excitable.
Rosetta smiles affectionately, then turns to the doorway and calls out to someone on the other side of it.
Rosetta: Come on out. There's no need to hide.
Yggdrasil: ...?
???: Eep!
Elsam sticks his head out from behind the post and then enters the room with a box of vegetables in his arms.
Elsam: Well, uh... You looked like you were having a moment, so I thought it'd be low-key wack for me to just strut in here...
Elsam: I'm sorry for accidently droppin' eaves, ma'am!
After explosively bowing his head to the pair, Elsam looks up to see Rosetta smiling at him without concern.
Rosetta: Think nothing of it. You just happened to pass by, didn't you? I should thank you, actually.
Rosetta: Without you, the Rose Queen might have ended up embarrassing herself, hehe...
Elsam: Wh-wh-what's that supposed to mean?
Yggdrasil, finally getting over her surprise at the sudden development, remembers her goal and hands Elsam some cookies and a beautiful flower.
Yggdrasil: ...
Elsam: Fwaoh! F-for me?
Rosetta: She says that she's giving them to everyone to show her gratitude.
Yggdrasil: ...
Elsam accepts his gifts from the smiling primal beast with trembling hands.
Elsam: Urgh... I... Ygg...
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: Stop that.
Elsam: Y-Yggy! Thank you so much! From the bottom of my heart to the tips of my ears, then all the way down to the bottom of my toes! But what can I give in return?
Elsam: Oh, how about this? I just made this mad-pure vegetable smoothie for our fast-break!
Yggdrasil: ...?
Curiosity gleaming in her eyes, Yggdrasil picks up the smoothie and takes a drink through the straw.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Rosetta: My, it seems she quite likes it.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Elsam: Ah... Ah... I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life...
Rosetta: Hehe, so it seems. And I believe I am too.
Yggdrasil: ...!
Yggdrasil's face lights up with glee as she sips on the smoothie.
Anyone looking upon her smile will surely feel a small flower bloom in their heart.