Episode 13 –
Warning: Spoiler!I still think this sad, but hopeful final episode is the best of the series. Michiko is still busy making final adjustments to her script. She wants it to be perfect, but she's also thinking about what she overheard about the invasion. I’m sure she's worried, but when she sees that Hagino and Mari have made up, she has hope again. All three girls agree to make the play a success and Michiko thanks them for their friendship. Yuko tries to call her superiors, but communications appear jammed. The invasion has begun and Earth really has no defense against the Arume, but they still try and Shivariel gives the order to “show no mercy”.
Word hasn’t reached the school yet and the next day the festival continues, but odd things are being noticed. Yuko still can't make her call and the TV stations aren't broadcasting. I thought it was funny that the images shown on the TV are the flowers from some of the past episode titles. As fireworks explode over the school, they mirror the explosions of a larger battle as Blue fights on the side of the Earth and Tsubael fights to give her commander time for the play.
The play is about to begin, but Shivariel has it in her mind to destroy Mari with the rest of the evidence of the experiment and heads towards the school. The plays starts, but the battle has moved overhead and is starting to get noticed by the occupants of the auditorium. But even as Tsubael struggles to give Hagino more time, Yuko interrupts the play with an order to evacuate. Explosions begin to hit the school grounds and the TV in the now empty teacher's room is finally able to broadcast news of a world wide invasion of UFOs. Arume float down from these ships, but they are really bombs and must be from the thought condensing weapon.
Michiko and the cast are left in an empty auditorium and it was heart wrenching to see Michiko kneeling on the floor of the ruined auditorium and pick up a crumpled program from the play. She had put so much into her play and now it will never be performed or seen. Yuko returns to find them all there and yells at them to leave. Mari says that they worked so hard but Hagino interrupts her and says that it's her fault. She was the one that ruined everything although she had hoped for just one day. Hagino removes her costume to reveal her Arume uniform and surprises the others by floating. She apologizes to them all for not being able to tell them the truth, but does so now and says that she'll try to protect the school. She nods to Mari and flies off, telling Yuko to get everyone to safety.
But before Hagino can leave, Mari stops her and asks if she'll return to them. Hagino just smiles and leaves with a murmured “goodbye”. Even though I know what is going to happen, this scene is still very touching. The others seem frozen in shock, but eventually it sinks in that Hagino really is an alien. Her fickle fangirls turn on Hagino pretty quickly and accuse her of being a spy. Surprisingly, it's Michiko and not Mari that defends her and Michiko breaks down, still clutching the crumpled program, now stained with her tears. Yuko takes charge and tells them to head for the woods, but Mari has something else on her mind and with a determined look, jumps off the stage and heads out the door.
Hagino has made it back to Blue and receives a status report from Tsubael. She also finds out that Shivariel is on her way and says – “there's no turning back”. Tsubael tries to apologize for not being able to protect the festival and Hagino says it was selfish of her to expect it, but praises Tsubael for doing as much as she's done and thanks her as well. As Blue prepares to fight Noval, Mari is running to the waterfront. She finally understands what Hagino was going through.
Shivariel has begun her attack and it doesn't look like Blue will be able to withstand it for too long. Systems are failing, the shields are failing and the bombardment continues. At the last possible second before total destruction, Blue is saved by an unexpected ally – Azanael! I wonder how she healed enough to come to their aid, but I'm so happy she did. Azanael announces that she has control of Noval. This should give Blue enough time to get into the air and target Noval. Hagino gives the order to do so and thinks of Mari, but suddenly Mari is right there on the dock, calling out to her.
Mari want s to tell Hagino they aren't finished yet, but Hagino can't hear her and cries as Blue continues on course. I wonder if it was Tsubael that sent the bird to her because it is suddenly there and Hagino can hear Mari begging Hagino to talk to her. Hagino continues to cry as she ignores Mari and gives the final order to depart. Even Tsubael cries as she carries out the order with Mari still trying to tell Hagino that she understands and that Hagino will always be with her. It’s beautiful, but sad as Blue takes off in the midst of the flock of flying gulls. Mari must know she'll never see Hagino again and it was brutal to see her standing on the edge of the dock looking so lost.
Shivariel cannot regain control of Noval and so orders it into “genocide mode”. Just when Azanael is finally going to get her revenge, she loses all of her forces. Blue reports that Noval is in “genocide mode” and a frustrated Tsubael notes that they are out of power. Hagino surprises Tsubael by saluting her and thanking her for all she's done. She then ejects the protesting Tsubael from Blue. Shivariel prepares to destroy the final ship, and Azanael, knowing that there is no escape, asks Onomil for forgiveness as the bright light engulfs her. However, she doesn't die and opens her eyes to see Blue ram into Noval. As both ships explode, Hagino calmly sits on the bridge of Blue and recites lines from the play while holding the script. I know her last thoughts are of Mari and of hope.
Far below, Mari looks into the sky and seeing a bright flash of light, also recites a line form the play – “Joan, even as your petals slowly fall, you spread the seeds of hope.” Mari must know what Hagino has done and this was such a beautiful final farewell. This is such a dramatic scene and my favorite out of the entire show. Mari stands with her friends in the background and Michiko still holds her script as the alien ships hover overheard. I am reminded once again that this is such a great “War of the Worlds” homage to end the story with.
Thirty years later, Michiko still has that script with her as she travels to the Arume mother ship to discuss peace. In the long run, hope did survive and I think the Forime were more than the Arume expected. It would have been nice to know what happened to the others and Mari, and it was nice to hear Azanael and Tsubael still bickering after all this time, but this was a great final ending. This was such a beautiful story and I’m so glad it got this wonderful dub. Thanks so much to everyone involved!
It's scientifically impossible! 
