Aria the Animation - Episode 9:That Star-Like Fairy...

You don't know?

That's pretty good.

Impressive.

Seems so.

You can do that?

Fall is upon Neo-Venezia but Aika is feeling melancholic about her training recently. Alice and Akari sit with Aika and listen to her complain about how unsatisfying their combined training is right now. Aika talks about eventually becoming better than the Great Fairy. Akari doesn't know about her, which surprises Aika. They explain how the Great Fairy was the greatest undine on Aqua before she retired and she was also the founder of Aria Company. Alicia shows up with some warm milk and when Aika asks her for advice from the Great Fairy, Alicia tells her to ask the Great Fairy herself.

Behold, the Legendary Great Fairy.

Akari is in shock.

Alice, Akari, and Aika take a train to visit the Great Fairy who lives in the countryside. Aika respectfully introduces herself to the Great Fairy but she says that they don't need to be so formal and that they can call her Grandma. 

No it won't.

Sure is.

Aika asks Grandma for rigorous training to help them become primas as fast as possible. Grandma gives them tasks like gathering chestnuts in the mountains and digging up sweet potatoes. Aika thinks of these as training drills while Akari and Alice have fun. In the end, Akari and Alice do much better than Aika. 

--a good idea.

For you.

Aika starts to complain that they came here for training but are here playing instead. Akari smiles and says that it's okay since they are having fun.

Alice...

Except for Alice and Aika.

Grandma prepares a feast for everyone that they all love. After dinner, Grandma tells them to follow her and Aika gets excited since she must be taking them to have a class. They all arrive at a big bath that's heated by firewood. They all bathe while Aika fears that they will end this trip without learning anything.

Psych!

That's nice.

Grandma leads them to a room and Aika thinks that this time it will definitely be a class. To Aika's disappointment, it's a room with futons and Grandma tells them that they should sleep well for tomorrow. None of them can sleep and so they go outside to look at the starry sky. They are all amazed at how beautiful it is and Grandma joins them, giving them all coats to keep warm. 

The best character?

That too.

I wish I didn't have to do this.

Aika finally asks Grandma to give her some advice to become a prima. Grandma says that she can't teach them anything because they only need to enjoy being an undine and enjoy life. The girls see shooting stars and they all wish that they would become the number one undine on Aqua. When they all go to sleep, they all admit that Grandma is a wonderful person and wish to become like her someday.

Analysis:

The Great Fairy who is also known as Grandma was the greatest undine on Aqua before she retired and was also Alicia's mentor. Grandma is similar to Alicia in many ways, such as how they talk and act. Grandma also reveals that the secret to becoming the best undine is to enjoy life. She says that Alicia is as good as she is because she is an expert at enjoying life.

The theme of this episode is enjoying life. The secret to being successful in life is to enjoy it. During the tasks that Grandma gave the girls, Alice and Akari did well on them because they had fun doing so. Aika thought of them as training tasks and didn't do very well. Grandma tells the girls that if you enjoy life, then everything will always be fun and come easily since you enjoy doing it.

This episode is called "That Star-Like Fairy" because they are all able to enjoy themselves together with the Great Fairy while they watch the beautiful starry night sky.