Episode 12 –
[details=Spoiler]Not only does Noel lose, but the force of Celia’s strike knocks Noel from her horse, and her helmet comes off before she hits the ground. Mireille screams. Noel lies in the mud, unmoving, as Celia is declared the winner. People rush over to help Noel. Mireille is still calling for her sister, but the Marquis is amazed to see that Mireille is standing up! Thankfully, Noel seems okay, but she begins to cry over her loss, and her failure to keep her promise to Mireille.
However, the Marquis shows Noel the miracle that she did bring about. Mireille is standing next to her father on shaky legs and is being supported by him. She lets go of her father and walks slowly towards her sister, telling her how wonderful she was. Mireille begins to fall and Noel jumps up to grab her in a hug. The sisters cry with joy and the Marquis comes over and hugs both of his girls, saying that they are his “pride and joy”. It looks like this family has reconciled.
Mio is very happy to see this, but Takahiro reminds her that “they” are up next. What? He’s going to be her begleiter? Takahiro confirms it when he tells Mio that he will help her again. Yay! I suppose it’s also a means to an end. If he acts as her begleiter, he won’t have to leave the school. The next match will have Mio facing Celia, and Mio only has an hour break to prepare. I hope Takahiro can work his magic again.
Takahiro checks on the new foal and tells James that Mio will be facing Celia in the finals. When Takahiro leaves, James thinks he looks very happy for some reason. Takahiro is told by Reina that if he doesn’t act as begleiter to one of the girls in the final round, he will have to leave, but he’s already decided to help Mio. However, this will be the last time. Takahiro announces that he is returning to the knight program! Yay! Seeing how much the girls love jousting gave Takahiro the courage to want to be a knight again. Unfortunately, his women won’t be able to fight over him as a begleiter anymore. LOL But the girls are all happy for him as well. Celia is a bit sad that he chose Mio over her, but Takahiro gives her some words of encouragement, and that makes her feel much better.
As Mio gets ready, all of her friends give her advice on how to face Celia. James arrives to cheer her on. Bertille and company are in the passageway as Mio leaves, and they cheer her on as well. Takahiro is actually amazed that Mio made it this far. She tells him that she’s really happy he will be a knight again, for he was always her ideal. However, a tiny part of her wants him to be her begleiter forever. Takahiro doesn’t know what to say and just thanks her.
The finals are announced, and Mio and Celia enter the arena. Takahiro tells Mio what to do, and the theme song plays as the flag is waved, and the girls charge one another, again and again. The girls charge one final time and although it looks like Mio hit Celia, it also looks like Celia got Mio’s feather. Yes, Celia did win. She has the trophy in her office and there is also a large picture hanging on the wall of Celia holding the trophy with Mio in the background.
Reina takes Celia to the café and everyone is there to surprise her with a victory party! They offer her congratulations and want her to say a few words, but she has no idea what to say. Celia just says that she’s happy and thanks them. Everyone eats as Mio and Noel serve. The Marquis is there and it seems he’s okay with his daughter doing this too. I guess he’s more open minded than his daughter thought. Celia falls in love with the tarts – as everyone does at this café. But why is she sitting all by herself?
Mio thanks Celia for a good joust. Celia thanks Mio as well, and would like to see Mio surpass her someday. Akane wants to surpass her as well. LOL Takahiro brings Celia the “promised” okonomiyaki and Mio would just love to know what that is all about, but he won’t tell her. And how the heck is Bertille getting drunk on juice? LOL Shouldn’t there be something in it? James toasts Takahiro and tells him to “keep it up”.
Later, Bertille is passed out next to a snoring James. LOL Mio tries to find out who Takahiro would have served as begleiter to if he hadn’t had to help with Marengo giving birth. The other girls gather around too, also wanting to hear his answer. Celia adds her question as well and it looks like Takahiro is backed into a corner. However, he’s saved with Sasami approaches Fiona and she screams. While the girls are distracted by that, Takahiro makes for the door. The tinkle of the bell draws attention back to him, and with the old I-just-remembered-that-there’s-something-I-need-to-do excuse, Takahiro says that “the horses are waiting for him”. He makes his escape, but with the girls running after him! LOL What a great way to end this anime!
Takahiro is later seen to be riding with his girls and the new foal is running with them. Fiona and a standing Mireille are watching them from a nearby hill. All’s well that ends well! But Sakura has the final word after the credits – in Takahiro’s voice of course! “Sakura” would love to have Celia ride him, as well as Ayako, Bertille, Fiona, and Shinonome. It’s eventually shown that Takahiro is operating a puppet Sakura as Mio, Akane, Noel, and Lisa watch him. They ask him what he’s doing and he’s caught! LOL Too funny![/details]