A Hero's Tears

**A Hero's Tears** (Japanese: **天使の羽の最後のはばたき** *One Last Flap of Angel Wings*) is an episode of *The First Team of Harmony*.

## Summary

*The Harmonic Warriors go to Linphea, the place that Shelly and Heather want to visit for the day. However, the Dark Shadow Trio has followed them all the way there, and is trying their best to stop them...*

## Plot

The episode starts with a normal morning in Jubilife Village. As Shelly plays with Heather, the Sea Otter begins to think about critters that aren't Pokémon, quickly making the Grass Quill confused. When Ella and Akari rushes over, the former's Burst Partner quickly tells her caretaker that she wants to visit Linphea in the Magical Dimension. To the embarrassment of Akari and Heather, Ella agrees with Shelly.

Later, the Harmonic Warriors go to Linphea for the day. They meet up with Ella's little brother, Ophir (who is also visiting Linphea), and travel to the Sage of Linphea. They find out that they must travel to the City of Trees, so the Magis and Ophir ride leaves to travel up but encounter Mina's harpies. Being able to defeat Mina's attack, the Magis continue on their journey.

Meanwhile, the Dark Shadow Trio is trying to prove who is better at defeating the Magis. They end up arguing, but make up at the end and think of a plan that will prevent the Magis from continuing on their journey. Meanwhile, after Michelle recalls the fact that Shelly wanted to see the Black Willow and collect some of its tears (to Rei's chagrin), the Harmonic Warriors and Ophir head to the Sage of Linphea, who tells them the story of the Black Willow and informs them that the Willow's tears can reverse the appearance of anycreature who touches it. Keeping this in mind, the team goes to collect some tears.

As a protective sister, Ella tells Ophir to ask Michelle to take him home because the mission is too dangerous for him. However, when the Magis reach by the Black Willow, Ophir appears, having refused to take the advice. He reminds them that they can not touch the water. Understanding this, Wakaba transforms into a Human and uses her magic to create a cup. By the time the Dark Shadow Trio arrives, she had collected the water. Shocked, Wakaba accidentally falls over, splashing into the water and detransforming back into her normal Fennekin self.

The DST prevent the Harmonic Warriors from getting the tears and, after poisoning the Willow, gang up on Cherry. As they shoot a combined shot at Cherry, a selfless Valerie jumps in front of the blast and gets hit, splashing into the water. Akari becomes angry and summons an attack aimed at the Dark Shadow Trio, while Cherry goes after Valerie. She saves her and Wakaba, and after kissing her best friend, Cherry tells Valerie that she loves her. She then tells the bubble that is protecting her and her Fennekin to take them up, but the vines tangle Cherry and she gets stuck, drowning. Valerie and Wakaba, on the other hand/paw, make it back to the surface.

The DST break free of Akari's spell and Mina points out that Cherry did not make it. Rei breaks free of the trap Avis put him in and asks Valerie what happened and where Cherry was. Valerie says that she saved her, and starts to cry over her loss. The Black Willow then starts to change back into its normal appearance and a drop from the tree falls into the water. Cherry then receives her Stage 5 underwater and she uses her new powers to release herself and come back to the surface.

With her Harmony Dust, she is able to use her Harmonic Flash to save the Black Willow. The Dark Shadow Trio are carried into the river by the Willow and become children again due to the effects of the Black Willow's tears. Later, as the episode ends, Ella tells her friends that she and Ophir will go back to their home in Stardream, and that she will stay there for a while.

## Major Events

* The Harmonic Warriors visit Linphea, where they meet Ophir, Ella's little brother.
* Cherry saves Valerie and Wakaba from polluted water at the cost of her life, thus earning her Stage 5.
* Ella decides to temporarily leave the group in order for her to get well-needed rest and recovery.

## Characters

### Magis

* Cherry Blossomheart-Lovedream
* Valerie Melodina-Harper
* Michelle Quietpond-Brooks
* Bryce Chervil-Forrest
* Eric Kieran-Nightfall
* Jasper Lightspark
* Rei Blitzferno-Diamond
* Akari Damiana-Berliz
* Ella Florashell-Weber
* Galaxia Sunlight
* Cosmos Moonbeam

### Mascots

#### Dream Animals

* Ayame
* Lolip

### Villains

* Avis Oriol
* Belinda Argyris
* Mina Colby

## Skills used

### Attacks

* An unnamed convergence was used by the Dark Shadow Trio against Cherry, but Valerie takes the hit instead.
* **Natural Gobbler**: Used by Akari against the Dark Shadow Trio.

## Background Songs

* Enchantix Instrumental - Used for Cherry's Stage 5 transformation sequence.
* Harmonic Flash - Used for when Cherry performs Harmonic Flash.

## Trivia

* There is no eyecatch in this episode.
* Cherry appears at the beginning of the episode, announcing the **Harmony Color** "Sakura Pink."
* This is one of the many episodes where Kyubey displays any extreme aggression.
	+ This is also the only time for both Cherry and Akari, with the former punching Belinda in the face really hard and the latter angrily summoning plants to swallow up the DST (with both girls he not even showing signs of regret). This shows how much they love and care for those close to them, especially their friends.
* Ironically, Valerie taking the hit for Cherry and being knocked into the poisoned river would have caused her to achieve her Stage 5, but it did not. It could be because she still has secret jealousy over the fact that her friends got the Magi stages faster than her.
* Eileen, Valerie and Wakana read the preview for the next episode.

### Differences from the original version

* Nocreature got stuck as a tree, causing the episode to start differently.
* Wakaba collects some of the water, but by the end of the episode, she chooses not to do it again.

### See Also

* "*The Black Willow's Tears*" on the Winx Club wiki