A/N: Song is 'Reflection' from Mulan - I placed the piano version by Riyandi Kusuma in the media for those who can't play it :D
---
Pier started to get ready to play a piece. Asher who was also waiting patiently had Caspian ready the communication devices.
Once they were all set, holographic-like projections sprouted from the kingdom's music room towards the air where it was visible for people in the capital to see.
"What's that? a new announcement?"
"We haven't had any announcements from the Palace"
"Who's that?"
"That's the young master from the House of Masters right?"
"Really? Wow! He really looks like a prince!"
"That's correct! He looks like the prince from the Love of Two Maidens!"
"Prince Asher is still more handsome than the Young Master!"
"I agree!"
Raphael who saw the projections up in the Palace's sky also saw Pier who was looking at the keys of the piano in front of him. The surroundings all looked familiar to him
'The music room?'
"Isn't that good brother who visited us?" Gage asked as he was in Raphael's arms.
"It is, Gage" Raphael replied.
"Wow! Look at the thingies in good brother's eyes!" Gage said as he turned to point at Pier's glasses. Raphael who looked in the direction Gage was pointing also saw the glasses.
"He looks really good..." Gage looked at his brother who seems to have his eyes glued on the projection.
"Do you like good brother, older brother?" Gage asked and Raphael chuckled at his younger brother's words.
"I don't know, maybe?" He said and the two continued to watch the young master.
---
"Isn't that our young master?"
"I see it! Our young master is really handsome, ah!" a maid said as he stared dreamily at Pier.
"I know! Our young master has the best face in the kingdom!"
"Agreed! And he's a really good young master, too!"
Servants from the Belmiunde Household conversed as they looked at the projection coming from the Royal Palace.
Ronnovian stood near his window and also looked out the projections.
"What is he up to now?" Redon asked as he scoffed from beside his father.
"Father, I know that Pier might have done something good for the first time in our household but we should not let him -"
"Silence." Redon closed his mouth after hearing Ronnovian's words.
---
Caspian adjusted the collar of his clothes as he nervously looked at Pier who had a solemn expression while inspecting the keys of the piano.
"Be at ease, Sir Caspian" The head butler said and Caspian eased the tension in his shoulders. He was nervous because they even utilized the rarely used communication device from the palace to display a terrible performance.
"Alright." He said and took a deep breath.
"You look excited, your highness." Asher turned to look at the butler who spoke to him. He scratched the back of his neck as if he was embarrassed to hear the statement.
"Do I? Father said he saw Pier play in the music room and it was one of the best things he had seen. I want to witness the young master perform here in the music room as well." Caspian turned to look at Asher in surprise.
'His majesty did? The king, who rarely gives any compliment to anybody said it was the best thing he had seen?' Caspian's curiosity also increased as he looked at Pier.
'How good can you play, young master? For you to deserve the king's compliment?' He had been playing the piano since he was a child and many scholars have praised him for his talent. Yet he never received any compliments from the king.
Eliam pressed the first key for his piece. Eliam smiled as he sang the first stanza in his head.
Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
---
"It's a song that perfectly fits you." Pier laughed as he turned to look at Eliam.
"It is?" He replied and continued to tap on the keys.
"Yup!"
"I see, are you good?" Eliam asked. Pier sat on the patch of grass beneath them. Ahead was an endless meadow that was filled with flowers and sunlight poured down on them.
"I am."
"That's good to hear."
"How about you?"
"Living life, I guess."
"That's mean!" Pier said as he punched Eliam's shoulder.
"Haha, forgive my impudence, young master." Eliam laughed as he sat beside Pier.
"You know, I got terribly sick before I died alone in my room," Pier said as he picked up a small rock and threw it across the meadow. It made rustling noises as it went deeper.
"That's tough. I died while I got stabbed in my world." Eliam replied as he crossed both of his hands on top of his knee.
"I guess it was fate that both of us died and met by some way." Eliam nodded his head.
"You think so? I was able to live and you did not." Pier chuckled at Eliam's statement.
"That's fine, I already lived my life, I'm exhausted and I want to rest." The sun was already starting to set and the sound of critters became more and more prominent.
Eliam was silent as they both watched the setting sun.
"You're the young master now, Eliam." Pier turned to look at Eliam.
"You're just passing your responsibility to me." Eliam rolled his eyes at Pier.
"Hehe, that's part of the plan, my boy." Eliam scoffed at Pier's words as he started to pick the small grasses in his reach. Silence engulfed the two individuals who were sitting on top of the hill.
"Asher's starting to become friendlier with me. Don't you want that?"
"Oh, that's good to hear. I want to see him happy." Pier said as he bowed his head.
"It's a shame he did not like me when I was still beside him, but it's better now that he sees Pier more positively don't you think?" Eliam turned to look at Pier.
The young master had his head bowed and small beads of tears were falling from his face.
"Raphael seems to have taken a liking to you before." Pier turned his head sideways to look at Eliam's own dark hair.
"That's impossible, that jerk never liked me." Pier knew that Raphael had liked Eliam and not him. Eliam was simply seeing Raphael's goodwill as his act for the original Pier.
"Eliam, you don't have to live the life of Pier Belmiunde."
"I know, but I at least want to fix your life before I live mine." Pier laughed at Eliam's words. His voice sounded coarse as he cried.
"You're already making it better by living in my stead." Eliam nodded his head.
"Really?"
"Of course. You're the perfect person to live in my broken life. I want you to remember that."
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
"Is it really okay for me to do so?" Eliam asked Pier.
"Silly, you got all that brains but you're still hesitant with what to do." Pier laughed and sniffed.
"But I want to help you first."
Pier sighed as he flicked Eliam's forehead.
"Hey!"
"I told you, you already helped me. That's enough. Go live your life. You want to learn magic and go on adventures, right? Go, live your will." In full honesty, Pier was slightly envious of Eliam. He was able to manage the lives of both Eliam and Pier at once.
"I don't want to see my benefactor pretend he's someone he isn't."
"Why am I your benefactor?" Eliam asked as he rubbed his temples.
"Because you granted my wish."
"Mhm..."
"You helped my body experience new things like magic and even sugarless tea!" Pier shivered at the thought of sugarless tea.
"Your taste in teas is awful." Pier gasped at the remark.
"How dare you!"
"Now I feel weird every time I drink tea because I do not know if I like having sugar in it or not." Eliam rolled his eyes at Pier again.
Pier pouted at the person beside him.
"You have to live with it."
"I know."
They both laughed as the sun was almost disappearing from their sights.
"Hey, I have to go now," Pier said as he stood up and cleaned his dirtied suit.
"Why, you going to heaven or something?"
"Stupid, I can't tell you. It's a secret"
"You're already dead and you're still keeping secrets."
Pier poked his tongue out at Eliam and he scoffed at how childish Pier was.
"So, this is goodbye?" Pier said as he helped Eliam stand up. The latter also cleaned the dirt off his jeans.
"For now, let's meet when the time comes."
"I don't want to. You think I haven't heard your constant threats to me?" Eliam laughed at how he remembered the grumbling he did and his promises to smack Pier at the back of his head the next time they meet.
"Fine, just one smack on the back of your head and that'll be good."
It was Pier's turn to roll his eyes at Eliam.
"See you, Eliam."
"Goodbye, Pier."
---
Pier continued to play. That's right. It was now the time to live his life.
His taps on the keys resonated with his heart. Eliam was happy. It wasn't the superficial type but he was really grateful for the things he had experienced in his life.
"Pier..." Asher mumbled as he quietly watched Pier play. The young master was smiling with tears rolling down his cheeks as he pressed every key.
He felt his heart tighten and emotions mixed together.
Caspian watched the young master play. His heart was beating so loud that his ears were able to hear the thumps.
"This..." It was a majestic performance. The best he had seen in all of his life. No words could describe his feelings while listening to the young master. He wanted to cry but he could not.
When will my reflection show? Who I am inside?
'Today, tomorrow, and for all eternity,' Pier thought as he pressed the final key.