Author's Note: Another chapter. If things goes as plan there will be another chapter ready on Wednesday.

The Fairy Queen and The Pauper

We will meet again.

Chapter Three: Waiting for The Harvest

With each bell toll the mother grew more frustrated and anxious.

Thesis Monarch was bless to have a wonderful daughter from her departed husband whom died a hero. And she was also blessed with an extraordinary amount of love, patience, and energy to give to her impish daughter.

Theresa Monarch could never settle for one place; always up and about, every morning. It is been like this ever since she discovered her Semblance.

The mother looked around all the usual spots around Via, and she asked the fellow townspeople for information only to be snubbed. She forgotten how sour people have become in this town in the past several years. It was even more frustrating getting no help from the layabouts calling themselves peace officers.

She wondered if the presence of Atlas would do anything to help shape the force to be more proper.

Tired, she headed over to the town bulletin-board which was placed in front of the left wing of the mayor's residence . She was hoping to get a rough idea among the many notices-maybe something exciting happened that caught her daughter's interest.

Adjusting the brim of her straw-hat to shield herself from the rising sun she saw a warning posted among the town meeting planned today. The pink-eyes of hers became large and wide saucers as she saw the warning for bears in the area.

Now she was more determined than ever to find her. Leaving for home in a hurry, she tried to remember any recent indications on Theresa's whereabouts. She remembered her daughter coming home a couple of days ago and talking excitedly about some fairy-must be the lively granddaughter of the mayor, she thought. Then there was a meadow, another girl with amber eyes, and-that's it!

There was a mention of some white tower in the middle of the woods, which must have been Fort Blanco. It wasn't far from here. If the mother had time to make it there and hopefully pick up a trail; by scent if she had to.

Thesis frowned. Of all the possible places her daughter could have been.

She picked up the pace, she needed to pick up her multi-purpose rifle dubbed "Lily", and hope she didn't need it.

The Meadow

Giving her new establish friend some space to make her decision, Penelope awaited with a smile. She tried hard to be patient and very still, but if anybody else were here they would see that she was shaking with bottled anticipated emotions ready to explode. The fidgeting pale hands of hers and the muddy brown boots shuffling in place were attest to that.

Cinder herself felt calm on the outside, but in actuality her thoughts were raging with the matter at hand.

She was indeed excited on the prospect of this possible career, but the uncertainty still plagued. The little girl turn to focused at the mouth of the meadow as a focal point of the matter. If this becomes prosperous then a whole world could open up to her with new possibilities; it would mean new things, new identity, and new life outside of Via.

But it meant making the stand of leaving Via; no longer being in this very meadow. And what if it was just a pipe-dream? What if everything fell through? The life she knew; the good, the bad, everything she held dear in the present and in the past, forever gone by one decision.

Regardless, everything will change no matter what she did. Deep down, She wish she could stop time, and stay in the frame of nostalgia forever.

"Cinder?" the fairy girl spoke.

Penelope's excitement finally gotten the best of her. It has been nearly five minutes of silence, she was getting worried as her friend stared off without functioning. "Are you okay? What did you think about my offer?" she said, expectantly waiting with a realistic feel of worry.

With a heavy gaze Cinder turn to her. Penelope still gave her a hopeful smile which slowly faltered as Cinder looked down with a dejected look. "I...I don't know."

She let out a purposely prolonged sigh, trying bide for more time. Amber eyes looked up again. "I...I think, maybe, I should sto-think about it."

There was a mix of sadness in Penelope's faint smile. "Oh, that's alright. Sorry if it seemed that I was provoking you to make a big decision right away."

Cinder smiled to cheer her up. "No, you weren't. Although I think you make for an excellent future businesswoman; already trying to bribe me with my weakness." the smile turn into a smirk.

"W-what?" Penelope panicked. "I-I thought was being kind...Oh my!"

Sensing a series of apologies mounting the poor girl spoke. "It was a joke. I can make them too you know." Cinder pouted.

"Well, I don't doubt that!" Penelope encouraged.

Past her cheerfulness the girl was really glad, No, extremely happy that Cinder still had the capacity to make light of life despite her current trials with that woman. 'Maybe things will be different for you this time Cinder.'

From Cinder's prospective, Penelope look like she was in deep thought about something.

Just as she was about to ask her the loud swaying of a tree branch had them both turn around. To their astonishment they saw the little girl in overalls, Theresa, casually walking upside underneath the branch.

"Aw!" Penelope put her hands together. Smiling she said: "Well, if it isn't my little off-and-on again helper, Hey Theresa!" she waved.

The fairy girl was oblivious to Cinder's shock expression. It was not a surprise; even though her mother was a Huntress she was adamant on keeping her daughter away from the dangerous lifestyle.

"She's such a free spirit, huh?" Penelope point at little girl; still oblivious to Cinder's astonishment.

"How is she doing that?!" amber almost bulging out their eye-sockets.

Penelope looked confused. "Huh? She's just using her semblance? Right?"

"Sem-blance?" Cinder raised an eyebrow.

The fairy girl looked at her carefully, how could she not know such a fundamental element? Then it suddenly dawn to Penelope. "Semblance? The physical attributes of Aura?"

Cinder blankly looked, trying to put two and two together.

"Aura can do that?" she asked dumbfound.

"Why yes...wait, you know about Aura but not Semblance?"

It almost felt like a contradiction to know about one but not the other. Penelope wanted to know to what extent did Cinder understand about Aura; and so she asked. Cinder, meanwhile tried her best to piece bits of the subject from her memories, which proved a little difficult.

"I know that Aura is the protective manifestation of one's soul, it acts like a shield of sorts. From m-my mother, that is what she told me long ago. She also warned about me about the consequences of Aura, and that they come with a steep price."

Her eyes rolled to their corner, pondering as she tried to remember the exact words she used. Even so, it seem that Cinder did have some comprehension on the delicate subject; if abstracted and foreboding.

It made Penelope ask: "Why would she say that?"

"I-I don't know." Cinder said, unconfident in her own answer.

An answer that was less than satisfying, but Penelope was more than happy to fill in the blanks. Now if she could remember the knowledge that her wayward father has instill on her.

"Well, I don't know about steep prices or such, but you're right on the mark. Aura is indeed the manifestation of our souls, it defends us when we need it the most, but most importantly it allows us to change the outcome of uncertainty." she said with a serious voice and solemn expression.

Cinder promptly said. "That sounds cryptic."

Penelope serious expression then changed back into its normal, softer demeanor. "You think so? Oh dear, I was directly quoting my father. I suppose you're right. Now that I think about of it, father did always had a deep way at looking at life." rubbing her chin, she drew memories of her father telling her from a cozy armchair.

She started to lose her train of thoughts before Cinder's visible pout brought her back. "Anyway the point he was talking about is that Aura is more than its defensive mechanism. It can also be use physically with a somewhat tangible form that is completely unique to its owner: that is what we call Semblance.

"I see." Cinder became more intrigued.

Penelope pointed at Theresa, who was currently having the time of her life, as a demonstration of Semblance. "Funny enough, you usually can tell a lot about someone from their Semblance. For example Theresa there, being the plucky girl that she is, with that Semblance no surface is beyond her adventurous grasp."

The poor girl was oblivious one now; the talk of Aura evoked some images of her mother.

In a hazy memory they were having a conversation; well, more like the mother was having one. Her mother was dressing the wound of the sniffing little girl who just cut her finger on a rogue fishing hook. The mother trying to hide a haunting look on her face, told her daughter she wished she could unlock her Aura in order to protect her, but she told her it might make her a target.

To what, Cinder didn't know. What could be bad about Aura and Semblance? she thought.

Cinder turn to look at Penelope and started wonder about what she just said. She was about to open her mouth before Penelope shot her a knowing smile.

"You were just about to ask me about my Semblance weren't you?"

Cinder shook her head. "No, what I was going to ask was, how is Aura unlocked?"

"Huh?" Penelope let out a small gasp. "You mean in this ti-Your Aura isn't unlocked?"

A loud snap then captured their attention. Both girls turn to see something lurking in the woods; brown and big, shaking the trees near it, showing its presence.

Theresa heedlessly enjoyed her fun. Captivated by the upside down world that only she could see; smiling at the other girls who were smiling back at her. They were also waving and jumping up and down, calling her name and just plain acting frantically. Little gears on her mind started turning; from her perspective a frown would be smile. Why would they be frowning?

Suddenly the tree shook violently; fortunately, the use of her Semblance was keeping her far away from the curious and hungry snout of the bear. It gave the trunk a loud whack from its powerful paws causing to shred a good chunk off. Soon the other bears started sticking their heads to her in an effort to reach Theresa.

Seeing the dire situation unfolding before her, Penelope grabbed two vials from the pouch around her waist. Popping the corks she threw the mixture of yellow and green Dust into the air, she then drew her glass wand skyward which glowed blue along with her whole body. The Dust Mixture shifted together and turn into a dark cloud which thundered.

The fairy girl directed her wand towards the group.

The lead bear was about to reach for the frightened girl before it was struck by a lighting arc that caused it to stumble back. The other bears were stun and scattered back.

"Theresa! Run to us!" Penelope shouted.

In the verge of crying the little girl looked around to the see the stricken bear shaking the pain away and already trying making its way back to her. Getting a touch of courage the girl leapt off the branch and ran as fast as her little legs could. Both girls were relieved to see her in their safety; it was only momentarily, the three bears were now approaching them.

Penelope smiled warmly at the little girl who was shivering and hugging her leg, caressing her straw-hat, and giving her some comforting words she turn to her friend. "Cinder, I'm going to assume to don't have your Aura unlock. So you need to stay here with Theresa."

The fairy girl with the confident smile kneeled besides the scared little girl. "I need you to keep Cinder company while I take care of the scary bears, got it Theresa?"

She quietly nodded while Cinder was looking at her friend like she lost her mind, what is she going to do against those big animals? Without fear the fairy girl started heading off towards the approaching bears.

"What are you doing?! Come back Penelope!" Cinder pleaded to her.

Gently Smiling, Penelope turn to face her. "Don't worry Cinder, I know how to combat!"

The fairy girl sprinted in an effort to hold the line between her friends and the hungry bears. Only twelve years old the girl kept herself calm; she was fighting for something bigger than herself because she knew the wild beasts would be relentless in their pursue if they made getaway.

Narrow eyes kept steady as she pulled up her sleeves to reveal under-sleeves: Yellow elegant designs with a coarse texture on the white fabric surface. Immediately, the designs started glowing with an intense bright hue.

Penelope with her two hands, swiftly constructed a large charcoal colored bow with a long and intimidating arrow pointed at the leading bear.

The two girls behind were now in witness of epic stand; the air vibrated as the arrow rocked towards its target, the loud thud was heard as the projectile struck the bear, and send it flying backwards in which it bounced off the hill and into the forest.

The fairy girl stared down at the daze bears; she gave them a calm and stoic look.

To Cinder, Penelope looked so different. A quirky girl, teetering between social grace and ineptitude, Now facing off against wild giant beasts without a second thought.

Cinder admitted, she looked cool.

One of the bears made a brazen charge, not caring what just happen to the other.

Penelope drew her bow once again, but to her horror it crumbled at the base. She was hoping the threat of the lone arrow alone was enough to send the rest of the bears running, that's why she made a show of force by giving it all she got. Unfortunately, her bravado exhausted its use, and she never expected them to fight back.

Gathered all of the nerves she had left, Penelope dashed forward, her brown boots cutting a wave on the grass field.

On the way she created two swords out the woven Dust. The galloping bear stop and stood up to let out a roar at her. With all her resolve driving her right sword, the blade crashed and stunned against the descending hairy paw, the strike let the claws brittle before she spun around and struck it again with a clean cut with the other sword.

It let out a painful cry, She thought declawing it would be enough, but it only added anger to its hungry state.

Penelope saw the incoming declawed paw and guarded with her swords; the massive swipe broke the weapons apart and she was thrown away. The force was enough knock her into the ground and knock the air out of her, she felt her Aura deplete immensely. Opening her eyes she saw the bear's paw going for another strike, rolling just in time to avoid the hit.

Persistent still, it went for another strike, again Penelope rolled but not before leaving a present. A fragile green Dust vial laid on the ground before it was struck by the bear, the paw strike activated the volatile agent and the wind Dust send the large animal up with a powerful gust. It landed on side with loud thud.

The last remaining bear saw it as chance for a quick attack; it wanted the meals all for itself and now knew how to approach it.

Cinder and Theresa let out a scared gasp. They had a good view of the charging bear heading for the oblivious Penelope.

The poor girl was petrified, she couldn't fathom where Penelope gathered her resilience, but seeing her in danger brought steel nerves of her own. Her legs buckled but she pushed beyond her nervousness, she knew what to do.

Theresa held tight to Cinder's legs, she then felt her fingers be gently pried off. She looked up to Cinder who anxiously smiled, clearly shaken but trying to put on a brave front. "Um Theresa stay here, I'm going to go save Penelope, if things look bad then run away as fast as you can."

Cinder wasn't sugar coating it, but the little girl understood behind her soft sniffles. "Pwease, Please save the fairy."

"I intent to." The poor-girl ran as far as she could; the slippers allowed her to gain precious seconds as she glided over the field effortlessly.

Penelope finally got up, unaware of the danger her blue Aura prematurely activated on its own. The bear slashed at her, the Aura was too weak to hold off the attack completely. She yelled as the claw ripped the sleeves away, leaving a bloody gash mark on her left arm. Covering the hot wounds, she scampered the getaway before the large shadow descended on her stopped her; Penelope's mind went blank as the bear attacked.

But it itself was met with an attack of its own.

A meek and long war cry from Cinder distracted them both; Penelope gasp at the impossible, Cinder used the boost from her slippers to launch herself onto the bear's head. The poor girl held on tight as she ferociously jammed a thumb into its eye.

"Cinder!" Penelope tried to get up; she couldn't believe the sight.

Cinder didn't really think it through; it was just an impulse. Just a few days ago she was just an outsider like everyone else, reserved and kept to themselves, but now it was different. She had a friend who was in danger, and she was willing to head into danger without a second thought to save her.

The bear wrestled in high pain in an effort to push off the girl. Losing her grip, Cinder tried to quickly think of a means of another form of attack.

Her feet swung in front of her in the middle of the thrashing; it gave her an idea. She grabbed and slipped off one of the slippers, with the tip of the slipper she sought a more devastating attack on its eye. With a growl she jammed the glass tip into the eye and bear became even more twisted and violent; enough for the girl to be successfully thrown off, landing harshly next to Penelope.

One final cry and the beast retreated back into the forest.

Both sighed, relieved that the threat is finally gone. Cinder looked a little devastated as she brought her slipper into view; it was nearly shattered, the tip gone, making its newfound residence inside the bear's skull. Despite all that's happened, Penelope could only think of Cinder's being.

The slipper did mean a lot to her, The fairy-girl tried to cheer her up. "D-don't worry Cinder, I can make you a new slipper. Why, it will be better than ever!"

Cinder turn to her, the silent sad look turned into a hot scowl as she threw the broken slipper away like it was nothing.

"You think me superficial? It's just a stupid slipper! You could have gotten yourself killed you fool!" she tried to slap Penelope only lose steam almost immediately. "Then what would have done witho-you blockhead, Don't do that again."

Penelope looked at the poor girl was in a mix of anger and sadness, with a pout that brought a surging smile. "I won't, I'll be smarter than that. I Promise I'll have more foresight."

Reluctantly, Cinder couldn't feel her fiery anger anymore; she just crack a wide grin. Before they knew it both were laughing that everything was calm again.

But it didn't last long.

Out of the forest the first bear survived the initial attack charged and jumped back onto the field, where it landed in front of them. It was hurt and bleeding, the right shoulder and ribs damaged by the still embedded arrow. With its former home dominated by the Grimm, it was left hungry and beyond desperate.

The fairy girl tried to pick herself up and Cinder but the whole ordeal left her exhausted. The previous attack wasted all her defenses. She scurried in front her friend in a futile attempt to protect her, Cinder was just too petrified to move as the bear with its messy and beaten face stalked them.

Penelope regretted not seeing this coming. She hoped for a miracle; hoped that magic did govern this world with a capacity for a wish. It was all she could do as she held Cinder's hand, and squeezed it hard.

*boom*

The bear's body shook, it went seemingly unnoticed to it before fresh blood started streaming down from the neck. Another shot crackled the air loudly and the body wobbled once more.

Out of the corner of their eyes, the girls could see a woman wearing a straw-hat aiming a rifle at the animal. She was cool and collected as she pulled the lever of the gun and fired another shot; after the three shots the bear was just dazed, so the woman sought another means of attack.

She hurled the weapon in the air before catching it upside down, the metallic stock of the rifle separated into three wide sharp prongs. Arching her back she held it like spear; throwing it, the weapon fired midair adding to its momentum. The spear propelled straight into the bear's side where it was put down for good.

With the danger finally gone, the little girl Theresa, recognized the brown-hair woman as her mother.

"Mommy!" the girl cried as she sped off into her arms.

Thesis was relieved that the only family she had left was once again safe in her hands. She picked up her daughter who was not thinking of letting go anytime soon.

The woman looked around to see she was not alone, her parental instinct drove her to see other girls and their condition.

Clock Repair Shop

Crafted was the first thing to come to mind for Cinder.

From the purposely decorative and elaborate wooden chair that she was sitting on, to the simple, smooth leveled table her nervous hands rattled on. Anxiousness was grounded into the girl. She was tired, very tired; her short and rapid breaths wouldn't stop. It was a new feeling to her, suddenly she felt so small and so weak.

Cinder's own quietness was filling her own nervousness. She went back to the first thought again: Crafted. Glassy Amber orbs looked and just drifted towards the tons of analog clocks covering the walls on the room with its army of tick-tocks resonating.

The place was a clock repair shop; although there were also wooden decorations, all done by skilled handwork; it was also the business of a woodworker.

After the whole ordeal, the woman-mother of the little girl-brought her and Penelope to the nearby shop on the border of Via. She feared for them, more so Penelope; she was bleeding, but it soon stopped, it disappeared under the blue hue of her Aura, only leaving the red marks of the claws. Penelope was also exhausted as a result. Cinder was too, even more so than Penelope.

"But why?" Cinder told herself.

Even now she was drained, Penelope did the brunt in the life or death situation, not her. What right does she have to be tired?

"Are you sure you are alright to walk?"

"Why yes I am, Miss Monarch. Thank you very much!"

Both the woman and Penelope came into the room. She had a slight limp that had was hardly noticeable; except if you had a guilty conscience.

"I have to thank you again, for all you have done. We sure were in a sticky spot, I'm glad you were there when we needed it." Penelope bowed.

Thesis smiled at her polite and sincere words. "Oh, you already thanked me enough. Why, it wasn't for you I wouldn't have my daughter taking a nice nap in the next room."

Penelope nodded, she turn Cinder and her cheerfulness faltered like a heavy stone in a pond.

"Your friend...is she alright?" the woman asked.

"Cinder…" the fairy girl looked worried.

"I tried to check your friend but she told me she was alright. She insisted that I should focus on you first. With a quick look she only seemed to have a sprain wrist on her right hand. It will heal soon if no pressure is put on it."

It all came back to that word: weak. What Cinder heard irked her; she hated herself for it. Now it was also going to be difficult to work. There was no question that given the chance she would do it again. But what if something comes by? The only thing she was sure was the outcome: she wouldn't be in control of the situation.

"Cinder are you okay?" Penelope said.

Cinder looked up to see a bitter and small smile accompanied with shiny green eyes. "Yes." Cinder replied. Hastily and discreet, she wanted to leave there just the same as she replied. Cinder shot up from the seat, nearly hitting Penelope on the nose.

Penelope was surprised, her eyes followed Cinder as she meekly said: "Goodbye and Thank you." The attempt at trying to minimize her presence backfired spectacularly, but she didn't care, at least until Penelope asked her to stop.

"I'm going to work." Cinder said while opening the door and the welcome bell jingle that accompanied it.

Penelope tersely looked down and up at Cinder. "With one shoe?" she said.

The poor girl blinked, confused until her toes wiggled in the brisk air. "If need be." Cinder said.

Now adding embarrassment to the ever growing list of reasons for leaving as fast as possible. She tried to leave but Penelope's plea for her to "Wait." Stopped her before her bare foot hovered over the cobblestone path.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather have of a complete set? Like I said I can make another one good if not better than before." Penelope went over to the table. She held the curiosity of Cinder and Thesis as she pulled out a vial of earth Dust. "It will be just a jiffy." she said with a busy smile.

The fairy girl's body glowed in a blue hue as the Dust floated above the surface, with one hand she juggle the Dust mass over her palm and with the other she pulled the star-wand. The cloth under the cuff was infused with fire Dust; she had control over it intensity, and it was the catalyst of the Dust manipulation.

The small fire interacted with earth Dust which made into a fast moving mass above her palm. In a blink of an eye that could only be done by master practice or lots of failures learned. She wave the wand and shaped the mass. Out of it, which only took less than forty seconds, a new glass slipper was crafted.

"Wow." Cinder said. The poor girl didn't know which act she was "wowing."

Penelope then set the lone slipper on the ground, tap it to make sure it was still cool to the touch. Tentatively Cinder went over, one foot bare and other covered she made an odd walk before meeting Penelope.

"Thank you." she said earnestly.

Penelope nodded. "Take it easy at work, friend."

Once again the slipper felt flawless. Knowing the morning was nearing in its late stage the poor girl hurried out to the door. Then she stopped and turned back. "Wait, Penelope. I want to give you my answer today. Will you wait for at the town square?"

Penelope was ecstatic to hear that. Her little body jolted. "I will Cinder." She smiled flawlessly.

The act how ever was interpreted quite differently. Thesis did not know the full details, but she spoke from the heart. "Oh my, is this young love I'm seeing?" she said in a teasingly motherly way.

They gave her a confused look. Then Cinder blushed madly. "uh! N-no!" She scurried out of the door to runaway from the embarrassment. The cogs turned in Penelope's head, upon realizing what the woman meant, she shook her head vigorously with her freckles in the red.

"N-no ma'am. It w-was a business proposal: I wanted Cinder to be my assistant while I help my grandpa."

"Oh I see." Thesis still tease.

Still red, Penelope scurried out of the door too. But then came back just as soon. "Thank you Miss Monarch for everything. Be sure to attend the gathering tonight if it isn't much of an inconvenience. Farewell!" She then left again.

It left the mother with a smile. Relief that she has her daughter back, and that good changes would come soon because of that little fairy girl in blue.

Town of Via

Despite the eventful mayoral ceremony yesterday, the promised of a better tomorrow, today still seems the same.

At least virtually.

Whenever Cinder seem to think hard, the town around her seem to bombard her with their private thoughts even when she didn't mean to pay no mind and they in turn didn't care so long as they had their private conversations in public. A myriad of opinions of the presence of the Kingdom of Atlas; some were wary, others didn't care and their lives kept the same while others more pragmatic welcomed fresh faces and their business.

The presence of the Grimm nearby, a threat which seldom come every once in a while were not feared so long as the soldiers were near. But hearing their opinions of the matter told a different story. They were armed but not that resilient to take on a big threat like a Nevermore or a Deathstalker should one make it nightmarish entity known.

Regardless it didn't matter to Cinder. They weren't her problems, and she wasn't looking to pick up new problems either. Cinder was almost late, she used her enchanted slippers to glide right out there, and it didn't matter none if people questioned her on why she had them. She was too fast for them anyway.

The poor girl in the glass slippers basically slid on the dirt road past the farm of old Becloud.

Cinder stood outside the straight narrow road surrounded by mostly vacant land that led to the farmhouse in the distance. She stood there for a good and honest minute. No hard thinking. The girl arched her back and hocked a big and wet loogie as far as her anger could carry. Only a half-foot into the property. Eyeing it for another good minute, she hurried away. Very unlikely that she ever come back here.

Life is short. The harvest was done anyhow. Cinder already made her mind about Penelope's proposal in two separate occasions: on the way the clock repair shop and from it. But back to her sealed anger, Deep down what she really wanted to do was to spit on the old farmer's face. But life was too short for the anger; debt was settled for now. With drying, evaporating phlegm on the dirt.

Not wanting to keep her one and only friend waiting Cinder hurried back towards town. Not that far behind her. She wasn't alone on the road. Not a horse or a motorcycle. No merchants coming to Via sell their goods and stock to the general store. Two strangers out of place among the countryside.

The two strangers dressed uniformly in light-grey trench-coats, black-ties and blue suits. A man and a woman.

The suave man had slick dark-brown hair, tall build as giving off the impression that he was in the military. He scanned the area confused and uncoordinated. But the shorter more professional woman next to him wasn't confused. She was older than the man, but youthful looking still. Short jet-black hair, straight bangs around her ear level. The woman looked like stranger if anybody local asked, but she knew Via like the back of her hand.

"You felt that Kai?" the man said.

"I did Brook." The woman smiled. "We may had stumbled on a potential agent. If I'm willing to wager a bold claim; I may even say that it was the same one I lost track of long ago." She shifted her head towards the town. "It was faint but the suitable candidate was just here shortly. The pack of Genius Lupus that were patrolling this sector sensed it too."

"A quaint town. Reminds me of my childhood home." the man said nostalgically. "You don't suppose they have a Ice cream parlor in a town like this?"

The woman gave him a stern look before she smiled warmly. "They do, if I remember. Come along, we might as well enjoy this."

"I'll take anything but Neopolitan. Hate the stuff, when the flavors mixes is all kinds of horrible." he said nonchalantly.

"Come now, no whining Frederick. We might as well bide our time before waiting for the harvest." she said.

They both headed into the town of Via with their unknown attentions.

Author's final Note: Penelope is combat ready. Premonition of things to come?

And who are the new strangers in town?

Anyway, as always read and review if you please.