On the afternoon of the third day, the dining table at Garrick and Marilla's house felt much fuller and warmer. Johnny had picked up Aerith and Mother Elmyra using his sidecar motorcycle. Elmyra was initially hesitant to leave Sector 5, but Johnny convinced her that this was an important moment before they departed on their long journey.
The aroma of Marilla's cooking filled the small room. On one side of the table, Garrick sat conversing seriously yet amiably with Elmyra. They were two parents who shared a deep anxiety, and in an instant, they found common ground in their efforts to protect their children from the cruelty of the world.
"Thank you for coming over again, Elmyra, Aerith," Marilla said as she served a warm meat stew.
Mother Elmyra smiled slightly, her eyes watching Aerith, who was giggling at the teasing of an invisible Puck. "Aerith is everything to me. And honestly, I am truly worried. But seeing Aerith's fever and that call from the Lifestream... I couldn't stop her either." Elmyra looked down. "However... seeing her with Johnny... I feel a little more at ease. Johnny has broad shoulders to carry a heavy burden."
Johnny, sitting beside Aerith, simply listened in silence, but his hand beneath the table kept a firm grip on Aerith's. He felt proud to be able to bring Aerith and Elmyra together with his parents without any preceding tragedy. This was a statement of commitment that this journey was not just an escape, but a family mission.
Garrick raised his glass, looking at everyone at the table. "To their safety, and to their return. May the Planet protect your path."
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The warmth at the dining table deepened as the main course was finished, leaving a more intimate conversation among the five of them.
Johnny exchanged a glance with Aerith. He felt this was the right time to lay all his cards on the table, so that his parents and Mother Elmyra would be truly confident in letting them go. For the past three years, Puck and Ivalera had only accompanied them in invisible mode.
"Dad, Mom," Johnny called out, his voice breaking the silence. "There's one more thing we want to show you, to reassure you that we won't be traveling alone."
Garrick, Marilla, and Elmyra set down their silverware, looking at the engaged couple with curious expressions.
"What do you mean, Son?" Garrick asked, his brow furrowing.
Aerith smiled softly to reassure them. "Our journey isn't just guided by the Lifestream. It's also guided by our little friends. Puck, Ivalera... reveal yourselves."
Instantly, the air above the dining table shimmered. Bright blue and pink dust glowed radiantly, making Garrick, Marilla, and Elmyra gasp in surprise.
From behind a stack of napkins, the physical forms of the two tiny, winged creatures appeared.
Puck, with his bouncy, glowing blue round body, darted to the center of the table. He put his hands on his hips, puffing out his little chest. "TADAAAA! Let me introduce myself! I am Puck, the tough Guardian Fairy and pride of Boss Johnny!" he exclaimed in a loud voice and a very dramatic manner.
Meanwhile, Ivalera floated gracefully near Elmyra's teacup, bowing respectfully like a tiny noble. "Pleased to meet you, Sir and Madams. I am Ivalera, the guardian fairy of Princess Aerith."
Mother Marilla's eyes widened before her face melted into sheer adoration. "Oh my goodness... So cute!" She carefully extended her index finger, touching Puck's round cheek. "Look at this, Garrick. This one is shaped like a winged blue onion."
Puck immediately pouted and crossed his arms. "An onion?! Please correct that, Ma'am! I am a very mighty wind knight!"
Garrick rubbed his face, still in shock, staring at the two magical creatures as if his eyes were deceiving him. "Hahaha... My word. Cetra powers, the Lifestream, and now fairies? In all my life working in Midgar, I've never seen a real fairy. I thought the only flying creatures in this world were Moogles. Aren't fairies a myth that went extinct hundreds of years ago?"
Aerith nodded slowly, her expression turning slightly serious. "That's true, Father Garrick. Fairy entities are indeed considered extinct from the face of the Planet. However, according to my Cetra memories, their simultaneous reappearance in the physical world to accompany a Cetra... is an omen."
"What kind of omen, Aerith?" Elmyra asked, her worried look returning.
"A sign that the Planet is preparing to face a crisis, but also ensuring that its protectors won't fight alone," Johnny answered quickly, trying to keep the mood from getting too tense. "They are our guides, Mom. So you don't need to worry about us getting lost out there."
Elmyra smiled, moved to tears. Her trembling hand reached out slowly, and Ivalera gently rubbed her tiny cheek against the middle-aged woman's finger. "Thank you... thank you for watching over Aerith all this time," Elmyra whispered.
"You are very welcome, Lady Elmyra," Ivalera answered politely.
Amidst the touching atmosphere, Mother Marilla suddenly narrowed her eyes. She stared at Puck intently, as if a great mystery had just been solved in her head.
"Wait a minute..." Marilla muttered. "So for the past years, the pies, leftover meats, and apples in the fridge that kept mysteriously disappearing... that was your doing?" She snapped her head toward Johnny. "I thought that was you getting hungry in the middle of the night, Johnny!"
Johnny snorted loudly, his face turning red from being falsely accused for three years. His large hand moved quickly, gently pinching Puck's pointy ear just as the fairy intended to flee.
"I told you time and again it wasn't me, Mom!" Johnny protested, lifting the squirming Puck into the air. "This is all the doing of this gluttonous blue fairy!"
"Ow, ow! Mercy, Boss! A fairy's stomach needs a lot of nutrition too!" Puck shrieked, making excuses, which made Ivalera shake her head at her partner's antics.
Seeing that scene, the tension regarding Nibelheim instantly melted away. The unrestrained laughter of Garrick, Marilla, and Elmyra filled the Sector 7 dining room, warming their final night together with family before the long journey began.