Not long ago.
Penacony, Golden Hour.
This was the film strongly recommended by Miss Robin on the Penacony TV special segment "Good Film Compass" not long ago, for which she personally sang the theme song.
This is the filming site of the final, heart-wrenching scene of that critically acclaimed movie, which has just been released: "Rise of the Black Flame Knight".
In "Rise of the Black Flame Knight", the protagonist, AR-214, successfully saves Penacony through a series of events and confronts the pain of Entropy Loss Syndrome during her clash with the "Dreammaster".
The protagonist, AR-214, breaks free from the shadow of Glamoth and obtains a new life. Within the film, AR-214 rediscovers the meaning of existence while helping Asdana and truly gains a name of her own.
In the final scene, she sheds her mecha. Like a true young girl, she walks into the flow of people in Penacony, looking back with a smile.
It was incredibly moving and cheated many tears from the audience.
The massive success of "Rise of the Black Flame Knight" brought instant fame to the up-and-coming screenwriter and director, Furina. It made numerous viewers cry out:
"Furina, you old thief, do you have no heart!"
That final smile of the protagonist, Xichun, was rated as the best shot of the year. That portrayal, akin to a "white moonlight" who had passed away, left the audience unable to move on for a long time. I believe this scene will become a classic handed down for generations.
So, how was this smile filmed? Let us walk behind the scenes!
In an empty square, beneath a shop, in front of a pristine white round table.
For the requirements of the role, Firefly, who had switched back to the original "Spring Day Souvenir" outfit, sat as if on pins and needles, her back straightened perfectly, while Robin stood directly opposite her.
Robin faced her squarely. The movements of her hands never ceased for a moment; at this time, she was holding makeup tools of various sizes, moving them across Firefly's face to fit the character's makeup.
"Nervous?" Robin chatted with her.
After all, Firefly had previously appeared in the form of Sam; she must have been more familiar with that form. Whether it was the AR-214 in the play or Firefly herself, this was the first time they had officially appeared in front of the camera in their own image.
Robin knew that Firefly rarely showed her true self to the public. Although she was in costume and using someone else's appearance for the scene, it was still Firefly herself after all. So it was excusable for her to have nervous emotions.
"I'm okay." Firefly took a deep breath, then shook her head.
"We've done everything in one take so far; Miss Firefly is indeed worthy of being twins with Miss Xichun," Robin said softly, placing the foundation on the table.
Then she picked up another marvelous tool, a tiny brush. Using her experience from her daily disguises, she outlined the patterns of Entropy Loss on Firefly's face with superb skill.
"To me, she is like another me." Firefly gave a hum of affirmation, while feeling somewhat emotional in her heart.
How should she put it? It was the first time the lines of Entropy Loss were painted on her face by someone else, rather than appearing spontaneously because she had stayed outside for too long. This feeling was truly novel.
"I used to envy her." Speaking of Xichun, Firefly chuckled lightly, her eyelids lowering.
"Envy?" Robin followed up on her words.
"Mm, I envied that even though she was born as a disaster, her heart did not feel pain because of it."
In Glamoth, AR-214 was different. She was different from those of them who only followed orders to take action. She had her own thoughts, her own insights. Her heart was so strong.
"But now, she should yearn for me," Firefly said, lifting her lowered eyes. "I have my own name and have found the reason for living."
She had now broken free from "Entropy Loss," broken free from everything related to fate. "I met a 'kin' in the true sense."
As she spoke, Firefly cast her gaze toward the majestic, tall figure standing in the middle, preparing to take a commemorative theater work photo under March 7th's proposal.
She had found what "Tayzzyronth" failed to find; the current her was no longer troubled by the defects of "The Propagation," but was a thoroughly complete Dragon! And all of this was thanks to Leon's assistance.
"Name and meaning of survival, huh..." Robin murmured these words, and couldn't help but say, "If only Miss Xichun truly had her own name and found the meaning of survival while helping Asdana, just as acted in the script."
She unavoidably hoped so.
"Yes..." Who wouldn't?
'I cannot die... I don't want to die... I...'. Her last words still echoed in Firefly's ears.
In this world, Firefly felt she was the person who understood Xichun best. She was the same as herself. It wasn't that she feared death, she just didn't want to die alone.
If she could be surrounded by people, Firefly thought, she should be able to die without regrets. But just as the "Dreammaster" himself admitted, his sneak attack was so dishonorable.
Her death was unknown to anyone, unasked by anyone. Dying in obscurity like that, with no one remembering her at all. For AR-214, this must have been the cruelest way to die.
"Done."
Just as thoughts surged in Firefly's heart, Robin stopped the brush in her hand. The work on her face was evidently accomplished.
"There is a mirror over there; Miss Firefly can check for herself if there are any deficiencies," Robin said, putting away the multitude of makeup products used on the table one by one.
"If there are any, tell me later." After packing up, Robin closed the makeup box. "I'll go tell Mr. Ranger to start work now; we'll start filming immediately."
As she spoke, she walked toward Leon.
"Okay." Firefly nodded, responding whether Robin heard it or not. Immediately after, she lowered her head.
A small mirror was placed on the table, facing her directly, reflecting her appearance at this moment. Tied with the same hairstyle as AR-214, with a hairpin of a similar style on her hair.
And that most important character feature. That pair of red-framed square glasses, resting quietly on the bridge of her nose.
The moment she saw her appearance in the mirror, Firefly was lost in thought for a moment. She was unavoidably a bit dazed. It was as if what the mirror reflected was not herself, but AR-214 in the flesh.
Firefly stared blankly at the mirror. She looked at the mirror, and the person in the mirror looked at her. It was simply as if... AR-214 was standing before her eyes once again.
Finally, it was the streak of fluorescent green highlights at the tips of her hair that brought Firefly back from this brief hallucination. Facing the mirror, she subconsciously lifted the loose hair tips tied with a hair tie at her shoulder.
The person in the mirror repeated the action, as if telling her that it reflected herself. And not some AR-214.
"If only you were really still here..." Firefly pursed her lips, murmuring to herself in the mirror.
Of course, this streak of fluorescent green highlights at her hair tips did not exist from birth. The her back in Glamoth looked the same as AR-214. Whether it was appearance or hair, it was all so, only their respective dressing was different.
This highlight only appeared after Firefly obtained a new life for the first time and Sam unlocked the "Complete Combustion" state.
"You and I, and everyone, no longer need to worry about Entropy Loss." Firefly's voice was very soft. She had already become the new "Emperor."
Just as the Swarm existed as long as "Tayzzyronth" existed. As long as she was there, she was still there. Then, the people in this galaxy suffering from the illness of "Entropy Loss" would never have to worry about the pain of "Entropy Loss" again.
Firefly fell silent. She just gazed at the mirror surface like this, not knowing what she was thinking.
She looked at her lips, which had no embellishment compared to the meticulously applied makeup on her face. Thinking of something, she then rummaged around on her person.
She lowered her head and opened her palm; a rectangular small object lay quietly in the center of her palm. This was a gift Kafka had given her not long ago. A lipstick.
At that time, Firefly, who received the lipstick, was thinking: perhaps there would truly be a day when she would have a use for it, so she carried this gift with her.
She had thought that was just her deceiving herself... She didn't expect that today there would really be this opportunity.
Thinking this way, Firefly raised her head, and the gaze originally falling on the lipstick moved with it. The tall figure with a long bow slung over his shoulder stood there with arms crossed, waiting for orders.
Under Robin's preparation for rolling the camera, the Golden Progeny had all returned to their posts. So only Leon remained in place, because his job was to wait to go on stage.
The corner of Leon's eye noticed her gaze. So he turned his head slightly and nodded to her, serving as a greeting.
Firefly did not respond and directly withdrew her gaze. Hmm, what should she say? Girls who haven't experienced the world are the easiest to deceive.
Firefly opened the cap of the lipstick, seeming ready to use it. Involuntarily, she remembered Stelle's words: A young girl will always want to dress up when facing an important person.
Hmm, she was right.
Whether it was AR-214 in the play or Firefly, Leon could be called an important person to both of them. It was better to say that AR-214 in the play held a replica of Firefly's own script.
How could Leon not be important to her? The help along the way had long allowed this Galaxy Ranger to occupy a place in the young girl's heart.
Firefly rotated the base of the lipstick. The lip balm with a distinct but not obtrusive color was revealed like this. A faint pink; Kafka's evaluation of it was that it was very beautiful.
Dressing up, whether out of Firefly's own selfishness or to better fit the state of mind of the character in the play, was completely justifiable. This might be Firefly's last meeting with him; she felt she had to cherish this opportunity.
The lipstick moved across her lips, gently coating them. A faint peach scent assaulted her nose, and was also reflected within her mouth.
"I'm back, Miss Firefly." After everything was ready, Robin returned. "Is there any problem with the makeup?"
She asked, "If there are no problems, then let us begin."
"No problem." Firefly closed the lipstick, put it back into her pocket, and said to Robin with a smile.
Robin noticed her abnormality. 'Mr. Ranger is really popular...'
She looked at Firefly, who was dressed differently, thinking secretly in her heart. As a woman herself, she could more or less detect the emotions held by the girl in front of her.
And that group of Golden Progeny was the same. Robin also heard that Leon had a good relationship with that Herta; she really felt that she had so many competitors, feeling a bit of mental exhaustion from losing half the battle before it even started.
"Mm, then let's go."
Although she thought that in her heart, the expression on Robin's face remained as usual. She called out to Leon, and then filming started immediately.
...
Tap, tap, tap. Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Uniform footsteps echoed in the empty street. Leon and Firefly walked side by side in Penacony, just like the Galaxy Ranger and the heroine in the script.
According to the script, this scene should have had a large flow of people coming and going. But that would not only affect the filming, but inviting so many extras would also hinder the actors' performance.
After all, Firefly was not a professional, and in addition, she was making a rare appearance in her true body. If they really brought so many strangers, it would definitely affect her state more or less. So the task regarding the crowd was left directly to post-production.
The power of "The Enigmata," son.
"Do you have a name of your own?" came the inquiry from her side.
"Mm." came the soft response. "Xichun. This is my name."
Firefly performed according to what was decided in the script, speaking the name that was taken by the original heroine.
"It's a good name," Leon said to AR-214; the Galaxy Ranger in the play said to Firefly.
Neither of the two replied again, strolling leisurely. Firefly walked together with Leon within Penacony. Suddenly, she stopped her steps.
Leon continued forward, as if he hadn't noticed her abnormality.
'Can we meet again?'
Firefly looked at the back figure that she could touch by reaching out, and this question unavoidably arose in her heart. 'Now that Entropy Loss is over, it should be impossible...'
Entropy Loss was over. For Firefly, it was a closure. For AR-214 in the play, it was also a closure.
The Entropy Loss patterns on Firefly's face glowed faintly at the time calculated by Robin. And at this moment, Leon turned around and reached out his hand to her.
Accompanying a sound of "Cut," this meant that this final scene had passed. The film officially wrapped up.
"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Firefly, Mr. Ranger." Robin came forward to greet them. "If nothing unexpected happens, the film will probably be successfully broadcast the day after tomorrow."
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Robin." Firefly nodded.
Leon gave a hum of acknowledgement. "Don't tire yourself out."
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ranger." Robin indicated that she would pay attention. "Then I'll go busy myself with the film first; see you later."
She said goodbye and temporarily took the Golden Progeny away. Only Leon and Firefly were left at the scene.
"Can I ask where you are going next?" After Robin left, Firefly found a topic.
"Don't know." Telling the truth.
"Is that so..." Firefly hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question she cared about most. "Um... can we count as friends?"
She was a little nervous.
"Why, do you want to be enemies with me?" Leon asked in return. "If not friends, do you want to be my enemy?"
Friend or enemy, choose!
"That... I'll pass..." Regarding this answer, Firefly was at a loss for words. But her heart was still very happy to hear this answer.
We are friends; that's great. The young girl felt happy to have a relationship that could serve as a connection with him.
"Contact me if anything happens. You should still have an old friend to catch up with; I won't disturb you."
Leon left a very inexplicable sentence for Firefly, and then departed.
Firefly originally didn't know what he meant.
"Long time no see, Firefly."
But the next second, she knew. The voice of the play's heroine rang out just like that, abruptly. The voice, this was the one point she couldn't restore no matter how similarly she dressed.
"You acted very well." She gave an evaluation of the young girl's performance. "It was simply just like my personal experience back then."
"Really exactly the same as me at that time."
Firefly turned her head in disbelief.
"Should the current me be called Xichun?"
The departed friend appeared before her eyes just as suddenly as that.
"Speaking of which..." The young girl, dressed the same as the current Firefly, smiled at her. "The character 'Xi', was suggested to me by you."
The young girl gave a hum. "It's a good name; I like it very much."
Firefly was dazed. For a long time, she sniffled, and then smiled:
"Long time no see... Xichun."
Regarding the person they want to meet, people always constantly imagine the scene at that time before meeting, imagining that the words they say when meeting can make the other person smile.
Slowly, all the words they wanted to say had already been finished before they even met. And at the moment of true reunion, you will find that the other person is even more beautiful than all your imaginations—
But for a moment, you can't think of what words to use as an opening greeting. So, you can only use the simplest, and also the most direct words.
—Long time no see.
____
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