Story:

"The World Orb is leading Shiro and me into another dimension," she said quietly.

"Back to Shiro's home world—the Beta world, a futuristic Yamato. There, in that dimension, there exists... a copy of Bel. A Bill Ebonhart."

"And the fate between Shiro and that copy is bound at the root—unwind it there, end it at its source, and Bel here in Yamato is weakened. Severed from the Vesperia Heart. Finished before our armies ever have to bleed for it." She spread her hands.

Silence, for the length of one breath.

Then Kicho puffed out her cheeks into a full pout.

"...And where am I in this dimensional adventure, exactly?" she demanded. "Am I to be the one left behind in a shrine while my onee-san tour another world without me? Because I have news for you, Onee-sama—I decided in that garden I was helping you with your quest. Not helping you pack for it while I wave from the gate. So—"

"Kicho." And now Violet's voice dropped, and all the play went out of it at once, and that was somehow worse than anything the night had said so far.

"Understand what I'm about to say. The passage is blind navigation through an unstable rift between dimensions. The risk is very high. And there is no guarantee at all—that we can safely return to this world afterwards. None. Do you understand what that means?"

Her hands curled tight in her lap. "You have a husband. A Danna-sama who kissed you goodbye this morning and rode off to a war expecting you to be safe in a shrine. What happens to your Nobu-kun if you vanish, missing, into another dimension—maybe forever? He would fight his whole war, save the realm, come home through the smoke..."

She didn't finish. She didn't have to. "...and find the Butterfly Sisters gone from the world entirely."

Kicho stared at her. And then, to the Violet Witch's utter horror, her formidable little sister started to cry. Not prettily, not decoratively; ugly, hiccupping, with her sleeve pressed against her eyes.