~~AAAND START!~~ (The Boy and the Thief)

Neptune looked through a street vendor's books and absentmindedly adjusted the goggles on his forehead. They were tight on him now, but he didn't have the heart to get new ones. He still remembered the day his father gave them to him and relived it often in his dreams. Those dreams were bittersweet. Those dreams... were the only place he could see his father now.

He paid for a book he wanted, an ever-elusive autographed manuscript of Silverwick's Magical Adventures, before beginning to walk towards a bench. He enjoyed people watching and reading new books in his free time—the market was the perfect place to do both. Children played in a fountain while their parents shopped, and some older people sat here and there looking on with either soft fondness or bitter discontent… Neptune decided it was quite the place to spend the afternoon.

But, before he could reach his seat, shouting erupted from the market. "Thief! Get back here! Guards! Someone call the guards!" There was a great commotion as people were shoved aside in a line heading straight for him. Before he knew it, he was lying on the ground, staring up at a teenager with a mischievous grin and messy, blond hair.

"Whoa?"

"Hey there!"

"There he is! Thief! Stop!"

"Whoops, that's my cue. See ya!" The teen stood up, waved goodbye with a novel of sorts, and ran away.

Neptune rose and brushed himself off before realizing, "Hey, that's my book!" He ran after the thief, readjusting his goggles on the way lest they pull out half his hair.

The chase led them through many alleyways Neptune was sure even the most detailed map of Vale would never have mentioned. Somewhere along the way, the guards gave up, but he was determined to reclaim his book. He sped down a road in a residential district he hadn't been to before. Houses slowly turned to shacks and the stone road disintegrated into dirt and gravel. Everything around him was dirty and breaking down—even the air seemed to hang with it.

Neptune vaguely remembered reading about this area. It was perhaps the poorest place in Vale, but no efforts were ever made to improve it or collect data on it. There seemed to be collective memory loss when it came to the area and hardly any patrols were present. The perfect place for thieves.

Shaking his head clear of thoughts, Neptune refocused his attention on the chase… only to find the thief was gone. He slowed to a walk and caught his breath while scanning the area. Nothing jumped out at him until he heard a sound akin to a door closing above his head.

Looking up, he saw a suspicious looking window on the second floor of an abandoned guard outpost. Whereas all the other windows were boarded from the outside, this one was boarded from within… and it was conveniently located next to a tree with branches acting like a ladder up to it.

With the strange window being his only lead at the moment, he adjusted his goggles, took a deep breath, and began to climb. Neptune hadn't climbed a tree since he was younger and it didn't exactly end well. Even so, a rare, signed manuscript was something worth the trouble.

When he was at the top, he swung open the boards and caught the thief eating a banana while looking through his book. A criminal living in a guard outpost. How ironic.

"Aha!" Neptune shouted.

"Ah!" In his surprise, the thief threw his banana.

It landed on Neptune's head, and he almost fell from the tree in his surprise. "Ah! What the hell, dude?"

"I could ask you the same thing! What are you doing at my house?"

"You stole my book!"

"You followed me all the way here for a book?"

"It's limited edition!"

"Okay, okay! I just thought it'd be for the money."

"The what…" Using his left hand to pat down his pockets, Neptune realized his pouch of Lien was missing. "Not cool, man. I want that back, too."

/-/-/-/

Cinder waited patiently in a training room. She had around fifteen minutes before he would be here, but she was capable of biding her time.

She'd waited this long…

"Are you sure you want to meet him here?" Emerald spoke up from behind her.

"I don't see the point in wasting time." Cinder glanced at the door. "Besides, I doubt he's fond of formalities. What kind of queen would I be to make a guest uncomfortable?"

"Yes, Queen Cinder." Emerald gripped her sickles' hilts and looked at the door with a clenched jaw. What could have her so tense?

Cinder approached and tucked a stray hair behind Emerald's ear. "What's the matter, Little Bird?" she cooed.

Emerald softened the slightest bit. "I'm not sure about this guy. He has every reason to just—"

"Trust," Cinder cut in.

"Un...conditionally."

Cinder smirked. "That's my little raven."

/-/-/-/

Sun figured he had stolen from just about every type of person. Rich people, poor people, other thieves, guardsmen… but he'd never gotten mixed up with anyone like this. "Hey, don't try and enter my house," he barked.

"If you don't let me inside, I'm turning you in," Neptune threatened.

"Are you serious?"

"Dude, you stole from me and threw a banana in my face."

Sun sighed and pulled him through the window. "Okay, but that was pretty awesome." The look he got wasn't one of agreement. Honestly, he didn't know what to do in this situation. Most of the time, getting caught did not end with his targets in his house… Either way, he wasn't going down without a fight. "Fine… you can have your stuff back."

"Nice."

Before he got to the money, Sun pulled out his staff and swiped at his target, who easily ducked and unfolded a guandao from behind his back.

"Whoa, okay, it is so on," Neptune said.

They met in fury. Sun relied on his above-average reflexes as a thief while Neptune kept a level head and seemed to rely on some sort of training. His style reminded Sun of a few guards he fought, but with more flourish.

Sun jumped a low thrust and brought his staff down on Neptune's left shoulder. Before it could connect, Neptune's guandao came up and knocked it aside, proving he had some reflexes of his own.

The rest was just a simple dodge-and-deflect routine as Sun bought time to analyze his opponent and create an opening. When he'd seen enough, he jumped back and felt for something to throw. He never said he fought fair… He flung the first thing he touched at Neptune.

"Gross! Cut it out with the bananas already!" Neptune shouted, clearly repulsed.

Sun just shrugged and seized the opportunity to bowl him over. They tussled until Sun broke his staff into nunchucks and wrapped it around the guandao's shaft to render it useless. That would have been the end of the fight, but without warning, the guandao turned into a trident, scratching Sun's cheek. He had to dodge to avoid worse.

Neptune threw away his nunchucks and held the trident's prongs to his chest. "Stuff back. Now," he ordered.

Sun held up his hands in defeat. "Alright! Chill!"

/-/-/-/

After precisely fifteen minutes, there was a knock at the training room door. "Queen Cinder," he greeted with a bow. From behind his red and white mask, he looked around the training room. Just her and a tense-looking guard. It was exactly as they'd agreed.

"I trust you're ready to begin right away?" Cinder mused.

"You don't waste time. And, our arrangement?" Adam asked.

"I also don't waste my words on false promises, Adam. All you've asked for shall be provided."

Adam nodded. "Then my services are yours."

"Good," Cinder said, grinning. "Let's begin."

Adam watched the guard step back and a formed smirk that grew into a snarling grin when he activated his aura. Red flames burst from body and coated the scars and burns texturing his skin. He stood slowly, cast his mantle aside, and scanned Cinder's face from behind his mask.

Watchful determination met his gaze. Very well. He would soon wipe it off her face. After all this time, he finally got to do what he set out for. Even if he couldn't kill her, he'd maul her so beyond recognition… Anticipation invigorated him—heightened his senses. He shuddered into the flame and let the fury heating his chest take him.

With a bestial growl, Adam leapt forward. His hands burnt Cinder's flesh as he unlocked her aura. "Release."

On command, an orange glow surrounded Cinder then separated from her body like raindrops falling in reverse. Vivid spheres of flame gathered around her. After taking them in, she turned to Adam and spoke the words he was so impatient to hear. "Training starts now."

Adam was all too happy to oblige. He unsheathed his sword and slashed at Cinder. One of her orbs of aura blocked the blade in a surprising feat of strength… but it wasn't strong enough.

/-/-/-/

Neptune pushed up his diadem and walked through the hall with practiced poise. One of his close aides stopped him before he could enter his quarters. "You're late, My Prince. I was about to send a patrol for you."

"Sorry, Bronzewing, I got a little carried away."

"See that it doesn't happen again."

"Right." Neptune couldn't help but think that despite Dove Bronzewing's young age, he acted far more serious than some of the senior members on staff. "Will you have them prepare a bath?"

"As you wish."

"Oh, and don't disturb me tonight. I'll be reading."

"Certainly." Bronzewing paused. "Did something happen?"

"No, why?"

"Hm. I apologize, it's just that you look more lively than usual."

"Really? If anything, I'm tired."

His aide nodded knowingly. "You haven't been out of the castle much lately. That's probably the cause."

/-/-/-/

Cinder hit the ground hard. She looked at one of her shaking hands. A weak orange flame flickered close to it.

"Queen Cinder!" Emerald rushed to her side, horrified.

Cinder pushed her away—leaving blood on her clothes—and stood. She faced Adam and found her voice, forcing it to be steady. "Again."

He smirked and swung his sword once more. She barely blocked the attack and a quick follow-up sent her to the floor—a part of the castle she had never been so familiar with until now. She checked the flame… and watched it go out.

She witnessed her family die all those years ago so she waited. She wanted to get stronger and reestablish her bloodline so she let time pass. She wanted to prove she was worthy of her last name so she became a pretty face for an old king. Now, the opportunity arrived at last, but she needed power to take it… and here she was failing to attain what she needed most.

She had come too far for this now. She would be damned if she let this be where she came short, if she became just another in a long line of insignificant faces. She'd done too much not to have her will be known and respected! The flame rekindled and she focused on it. She would make her aura, her very soul, bow to her resolve. Nothing else mattered.

Cinder's aura flared. "Again," she commanded in a low tone. When Adam advanced again, she caught his blade and felt its steel cut into her. More. Her aura intensified in the palm of her hand grew and the blade stopped cutting. Burn! Finally, the flames doubled in size, and met Adam's aura. But, Cinder didn't just want to match his power, she wanted to crush it under her thumb. Suffocate his flames with hers.

Adam wasn't going to give her the chance. He clubbed her in the head with his sheath. Cinder staggered, aura lessening in strength just before he kicked her back onto the floor. She spit out blood—a vile red. Cinder couldn't suppress a soft laugh at how pitiful she must look.

"Cinder!" Emerald ran to her side and glared at Adam. "Stop this!"

Cinder tried to lift a hand to silence her, but a sudden bout of fatigue made it hard to move.

Flicking the his blade free of blood, Adam walked towards them—face unreadable behind his red and white mask.

A small draft of wind stirred the room. "Don't. Move," Emerald ordered.

Adam kept walking.

Emerald unsheathed her weapons. "I said stop!" she screamed. The draft became a gust.

Adam stopped for a few beats as he contemplated his next move. He finally grunted, then and turned on his heel to leave the room. "I'll be in my quarters."

When the door closed, Emerald turned frantic. "Queen Cinder—"

"Quiet. Did I not specifically instruct you to stay out of this?"

Emerald flinched. "I just thought…"

"Don't think... obey."

Emerald opened her mouth for a moment, but closed it before any sound came out. She dipped her head in submission. "Yes, my queen. It won't happen again."

"We'll talk about your aura later."

"My aura…? I never had it unlocked—" The glow around her and the draft in the room spoke differently. "This must have just happened! I..."

"Later," Cinder reminded. "Let me rest, Little Bird."

Emerald obeyed and left her to herself.

Alone now, Cinder sighed. She was too new at this, too weak… But, she knew how to change that.

/-/-/-/

Emerald was a tempest in a garden. Adam should be dead by now for what he did to Cinder! Everything about him upset her to the utmost. But, if she had to put up with him she would. The queen's goals should be her only concern.

She looked at the wisps of wind that were her aura. She wanted to protect Cinder… and this is what answered the call. "'A power stronger than Dust,'" she whispered, quoting an old legend. If she trained hard enough, would Cinder finally see her as useful?

"Well, look who learned a new trick."

Emerald spun around to face the voice. "Mercury."

Mercury lifted his hands in mock surrender. "How stingy. I didn't even do anything yet."

Emerald narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Nothing. I just came by to see how you were doing, 'Little Bird.'"

"Don't call me that."

"Right, sorry, I forgot only she could," Mercury jabbed.

"You know, I'm tempted to throw you right back out onto the street we picked your sorry ass up from," Emerald hissed.

"Then who would be archbishop?" Mercury inquired.

"I'm sure a dog could play the part better," Emerald spat.

"Ouch. And here I was trying to be nice…" Mercury strolled over and sat down next to her on the bench. "I just wanted to check in on my good friend Emerald."

"We're not friends."

"Too bad. I was about to ask a friendly favor. You see, you're not the only one who wants a new plaything."

"You want aura? Here's an idea," Emerald quipped. "You ask Queen Cinder, and I'm sure she'd gladly say no."

"Wow, I knew you were whipped but not that whipped," he marveled, standing up. Mercury put his hands out to his sides and shook his head. "Guess there's no helping the lost."

"Isn't that an archbishop's job?" Emerald asked cynically.

"Looks like someone didn't read the fine print," Mercury said, shrugging. At that, he walked away as quietly as he came.

Emerald vowed that one day she would spit on his grave.

/-/-/-/

Sun covered a scuffmark from his earlier fight with a fine rug. He'd gotten it from a bootlegger in exchange for keeping silent about her operation. She'd offered the rug thinking it was better than being turned in. Sun had to agree. It spruced up his place very nicely. Besides, the guard never paid anyone for tipping them off… It was a win-win.

Speaking of being turned in, Sun wondered why he wasn't sitting in a cell by now. He stole from the blue-haired teen because he figured it would be easy… and it was, but it didn't exactly end smoothly.

Who was that guy? Would he notice Sun gave him less money back? It was strange, but he felt a connection with him… Sun wanted to see him again and at least get his name. Maybe even see if he could steal successfully from him next time. It was probably more the latter.

/-/-/-/

Neptune put his book down and sighed. Silverwick's Magical Adventures was a great story… but he couldn't stop thinking about that thief. Shouldn't he have turned the guy in by now? Thing was, he didn't really want to. If his father was still alive, he knew he'd be scolded for that.

A not entirely logical thought slowly formed in his mind. Neptune would just have to see the thief again because… well, what if he wanted to steal stuff? Or throw bananas at people again? Who else would stop him? Definitely not the guards because Neptune wasn't going to tell them anything.

That settled it. The next time Neptune was at the market, he'd keep an eye out. He was probably going to finish Silverwick's Magical Adventures by the end of the night, so he'd need to go get another book sooner or later… It was probably more the former.

~~AAAND STOP!~~

A song to chase thieves to: in love with a ghost - qwerty enchanted the house and now it's attacking us

AN: Neptune and Sun, I dub thee Team Cinnamon Roll. May you spread your goodness to many more chapters. Have a great one!

NEXT: Revival and Markings of Resolve