Fret stood on the balcony outside his personal quarters at Castle Starcache, absentmindedly looking out over the mid-day bustle of activity around the castle grounds. One of the few benefits of being the leader of Cherem Company was having a private suite to himself at the south end of the 4th floor of the castle. It was as messy as any typical teenager's place, he just had more of it. The hallway door to the suite opened up into a front room that had some comfortable chairs and was well suited for relaxing comfortably with visitors. Going through the entry room led to the bedroom, and then the back of the bedroom opened up into a large open air balcony. The view from the top floor of the castle here was quite spectacular, the horizon stretched out as far as the Flesaria Forest, the southern sky a boundless sea of blue. When they had first returned from El-Qaral and found the previously small castle ruins had turned into a massive decidedly non-ruined castle, Fret had spent a lot of time standing in this very spot, daydreaming about the adventures to come. But now he was just weary from the weight of reality crushing down on those carefree dreams, and eyes that used to greedily take in every detail of the landscape as if not believing it was all really happening, were without focus. The upcoming missions to recover the four stolen chronicles were of critical importance, and Fret was beating himself up for allowing himself personally and Cherem Company as a whole to waste so much time with nuisance busy work missions over the last couple of seasons. Somewhere along the way they'd started taking pretty much every job request or mission that Moana posted. While the extra income had certainly come in handy, it was frustrating that the more they did for people, the more people wanted from them.

This snow fairy business was a prime example of the problem, and for Fret was the tipping point. Even if Tehah Village didn't have a militia of its own, it would have made much more sense to call on help from nearby instead of dragging Cherem Company members halfway across the continent. Ultimately it was his fault for agreeing to do it, of course, but he hated being put in the position of having to do it or feel guilty for turning them down. And what started out as a simple sounding mission despite the long journey had grown into a big pain, one that was now going to require at least a second roundtrip to resolve.

Fret had uncharacteristically been unable to sleep the previous night, despite the exhaustion he felt when he got back to the castle. He'd gone outside the castle fairly early in the morning to find old Dogha and see what he knew about the snow fairy, already in a foul mood because the first venture to the Ch'olui Mountains looking for her had resulted in more or less a waste of a season. He left Dogha even more irritated than he was before, after finding out that Dogha knew exactly who she was, where to find her, and how to get past her whole "do you like snow?" routine. Fret had been stretched so thin by all the running around that when they left for the Ch'olui Mountains he didn't even think to ask the person who knew those mountains better than anyone else in the world, and who happened lived at his own castle. And truthfully he was rather pissed off that none of his companions thought of it either, nor had Moana suggested talking to Dogha when she was telling him about the job.

Fret was still a rather inexperienced leader, and was feeling a bit overwhelmed that the other Starbearers were increasingly just following his lead and letting him decide everything. He was grateful for the trust and respect, but the responsibility was wearing on him. He worried that he was going to make a mistake that would lead everyone to their doom. Fret knew he had an impulsive "go with the flow" personality, and he was struggling against himself to rein it in. Those personality traits made him resilient and quick to adapt to changing situations, but had also resulted in wasting tons of time on all of these aimless side quests. He felt obligated to finish this snow fairy quest he started, but after he got back he was going to get Cherem Company back on track with recovering the stolen chronicles and focusing on stopping the Order and this One King they were trying to summon or whatever.

Fret's thoughts were interrupted by his good friend Jale approaching behind him.

"Dude! What the hell?" started Jale.

"Wh-what? Knock much?"

"You door was wide open so I just came in. Anyway, are you trying to get all of the girls here to choose between killing you or leaving?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"That freak, Icas! He's running around practically molesting every girl he comes across in the castle. It's total chaos downstairs! If I were you I'd hide before your room is stormed by a mob of angry women looking to use you for target practice," he laughed.

Chrodechild, Marica, and Erin entered the front room of Fret's quarters in time to hear Jale comment to him out on the balcony that he should probably go into hiding. Marica immediately put a finger up to her lips, indicating to the other two girls that they all should be quiet and see how Fret and Jale's conversation played out. They quietly moved over to the side of the front room and sat down in the chairs. They were well situated within earshot of the balcony but out of the line of sight if Fret or Jale happened to look back towards the door. It was a perfect spot to eavesdrop while also having an excuse of having been waiting on them to finish if the boys came back into the front room and discovered them.

"Ugh, is it that bad?" groused Fret.

"Dude, would I be in here griping at you if it wasn't? You know I don't normally pay much attention to the drama that goes on around here."

"So why do you care this time?" asked Fret.

Jale shrugged. "Maybe I thought looking out for the leader's safety was the sidekick's job?"

"You can stop that leader/sidekick crap right now, Jale!" snapped Fret. "I didn't ask for this, and you know I've never thought of myself as being above anyone else here. And I never will!"

"Uhhh… joke? You remember those don't you? Do we need to have Moana send a group out on a quest to find your lost sense of humor?"

Fret sighed, the anger draining from his expression. "Sorry man, I'm just stressed out and having a hard time dealing with everything right now. Anyway, what's the deal with Icas? He showed up this early this morning while I was outside talking to old Dogha about the freakin' snow fairy, saying he was being chased by an assassin. The assassin showed up a few minutes later and Icas begged for sanctuary here so the assassin wouldn't kill him. I mean, what was I supposed to do? Tell him 'sorry, have a nice day!' and watch the assassin cut him down in cold blood right there?" Fret scowled in frustration.

Jale nodded, seeing the weariness in Fret's features. "I see what you mean, but still… Icas is making the girls here unhappy with his act... which is going to make for a bunch of unhappy guys if all the women are crabby," grinned Jale.

"Why's that?"

"Good grief, Fret, are you really that dense?" asked Jale in exasperation, while in the other room Marica and Erin made exaggerated nodding motions to each other and clamped their hands over their mouths to stifle the giggles trying to escape.

Jale shook his head, continuing, "You know, it kills me that you've got babes everywhere eating out of the palm of your hand and you're just oblivious to it! Do you know how many guys would kill to have even one hot girl look at them the way pretty much all of them look at you? Are you even into girls?"

Fret waved his hand dismissively. "Really, Jale, really? That's what this is all about? That Icas is either going to take or scare away whoever it is you're interested in?" he sneered. "So, who is it anyway?"

Jale bit his lower lip, trying to keep from losing his cool. "Why are you being such a jerk?" he asked coldly.

"Because I don't understand why you're in here whining to me about it! When did you and everyone else lose the ability to do anything for yourselves? The Jale I know would've just gone and kicked Icas' ass. Come on man, you've never been the type to ask other people to solve your problems…"

Fret frowned. "I-I think that's a big part of what's eating away at me." Sighing deeply, he explained, "I mean… it's like this with just about everyone now. I can't walk from one end of the castle to the other without getting hit up to deal with some problem, and hardly anyone ever just shoots the breeze with me anymore. It's bad enough when the people we've met since leaving Citro expect me to supply all the answers, but when even you and Liu are treating me differently? I-I don't know… I wish… I wish I could explain how it feels to just want to be one of the gang, but to be constantly reminded that I'm not anymore. Anyway, I'm sorry for snapping at you, man. You didn't deserve that."

Marica felt her heart in her throat as she heard Fret lament. She'd known that he had been on edge, but she had no idea that he felt so burdened, and so… alone.

Jale put his hand on Fret's shoulder, saying, "Hey, no harm done. I know all about wanting nothing more than acceptance, but having it denied."

Erin winced. From talking to Marica earlier she knew that Jale was referring to him relationship with his mom growing up. Hearing him now made her wish for a time when he would open up to her and she could be there to comfort him.

"I know man, I know. You, of all people, know what I'm talking about. Maybe you'll settle down with a nice girl who'll make you forget about what happened in the past."

"Maybe…" said Jale, before saying with a wry grin, "unless she runs off with Icas first."

Fret laughed. "Okay, okay. We'll deal with Icas. Any ideas on where to find him in this place?"

Jale pondered the situation. "Well, when I saw him it was down at the other end of the hall and I think he was working his way up to each floor. He probably went up to the roof after he pestered everyone on this floor."

Fret gave a devious grin."The roof eh? Think we can get away with pushing him off and making it look like an accident?"

Erin's jaw dropped and she stared at Marica before breaking into a huge smile and making exaggerated gestures – pointing at Marica and towards Fret and crossing her fingers indicating "together." Marica blushed while Chrodechild just chuckled softly at the two friends.

Jale and Fret laughed together at the joke. "Probably not," replied Jale. "However, maybe you could send him on a long mission into the Infinity to keep him away from the castle."

"Now that's a great idea!" exclaimed Fret. "See, I don't have to come up with all the answers!" he laughed.

"Fair enough, Fret. In all seriousness, I'll be better about treating you more as my friend and less as my commander or whatever."

Fret nodded in appreciation and the two bumped fists. "I know you didn't ask it seriously earlier, but if you'll keep it a secret for now I'll answer your question about my interest in girls."

Marica, who had been contemplating Fret's source of stress, perked up. "Of course, you know I wouldn't go gossiping about it," replied Jale.

"Yeah, I know. Anyway, you asked if I was even into girls. Yeah, I am. One in particular, but I haven't gotten up the courage to tell her yet." He sighed.

"No way, you lacking courage? With the way any girl around here would tell you yes? What's the problem?" asked Jale with a smirk.

"Well… it's complicated I guess. Or maybe a better way to say it is I could be risking a lot depending on how she felt about me."

"I don't understand. A risk other than the obvious of getting your feelings hurt? Is it something where some rival might want you dead?"

Fret grimaced. "No, no rival that I'm aware of. I guess she could maybe want me dead herself," he chuckled. "No, the risk is she's a close friend and I don't know what I'd do if I destroyed that by asking her to be more than friends. And I don't mean that she'd necessarily hate me, mainly that she wouldn't feel as comfortable around me and the closeness of our friendship would die."

"I can see that being a big concern," nodded Jale. "Hey! Wait!"

"What?" asked a perplexed Fret.

Jale broke out into a huge grin. "Close friend? You're telling me that you're in love with Marica!" he exclaimed.

"Dude! Not so freakin' loud!" hissed Fret. "You practically announced it to the whole damn castle!"

Erin was waving her hands and pantomiming shrieking in joy at Marica, who was sitting in wide-eyed stunned disbelief. She hadn't expected this bombshell to be dropped, and now she felt rather guilty that she eavesdropped on Fret confiding it to Jale.

"Wow… I guess I never thought of you two that way, but I guess it kinda makes sense with how close you are."

"So, Jale… your turn. Now ya gotta tell me who the 'she' is that scared you enough to come up here about Icas," grinned Fret. "Does the lucky girl know yet?"

Erin sucked in her breath, her expression turning anxious. She was torn. On the one hand, she really wanted to know if it was her that Jale was interested in. On the other hand, if Jale said some other girl's name she was going to be crushed. In the span of a couple of seconds she went back and forth on whether or not to get up and run out of the room before Jale gave his answer. Marica silently worried for her friend, wishing at that moment that they weren't there. Partly because she didn't know what Jale would say, but more so because it didn't feel right to violate Jale's privacy like this even if he gave the answer Erin was wanting. She had already violated Fret's. She sighed, knowing it was the moment of truth and they were going to witness it.

"No, she doesn't know. So you have to promise that you won't go blabbing it."

"No problem!" smiled Fret.

"It's-"

A bubbly voice loudly called from the doorway as she came in from the hall, "Fret! My fated lover! Are you in here!" Maybelle didn't even notice the three shocked girls sitting in the front room and she bounced through into the bedroom…

"Wh-what? How did you get in here?" demanded Fret.

Jale raised an eyebrow at Fret. "Friend of yours?"

Maybelle spoke up first. "Fret is my lover, we're fated to be together for eternity!" she squealed. "He is Ru'ukahthis reincarnate, and I am reborn of Raphelancia, the Warrior of Light! He promised on the eve of battle 1000 years ago that nothing could ever keep us apart!"

Fret closed his eyes and rested his forehead in his hand, sighing deeply. "Ol' Ru probably impaled himself on a spear to get away from her,"he thought. "Her name is Maybelle, we ran into her on the Ch'olui Mountains on the snow fairy mission. As you can tell, she thinks I'm someone from 1000 years ago."

"I know it is you Ru'ukahthis! You'll remember me soon enough!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Fret, suddenly feeling the tendrils of fear tugging at him. "Look, I don't know you, alright? And I don't want to know you!" he shouted in anger.

"Why are you being so mean to me? Is it because of the little white-haired girl that pretends to like you? I'm much prettier than her, don't you think? And I'd do anything to be with you!"

Marica had recovered from her shock, and jumped up out of the chair in the front room. Fuming, she motioned for Chrodechild and Erin to follow, and stormed into Fret's bedroom. "What's with all the racket in here?" Glaring at Maybelle in disgust, she sneered "Just what are you doing here? I thought we made it clear you were not welcome at Castle Starcache."

"Oh please… is that what you were babbling about before?" scoffed Maybelle. "I only heard you making a fool out of yourself, so obviously lying to me and my sweet Fret, reborn of Ru'ukahthis. Leave us, Fret and I have much catching up to do!"

Erin shook her head in disbelief. "This Maybelle character is even more over the top than Marica described," she thought.

Marica was visibly shaking she was so mad. "Jale! Get her out of here now!" she hissed angrily.

Jale nodded nervously. Grabbing Maybelle by the back of the collar, he literally began dragging her kicking and screaming out of Fret's room. "Uhhh… Erin?" he asked shyly. "Would you mind coming with me to escort her out? You know, just to help make sure she doesn't try anything crazy?"

Despite the situation, Erin was giddy inside at the request. It gave her a small amount of hope since Jale had asked her and not the more physically capable Chrodechild, though she wasn't positive that it meant anything. Erin gave a small smile and agreed, and followed Jale out. Had things been different, Marica would've been just as happy for Erin. At this point in time though, that thought was far from the forefront of her mind.

"Think Roberto is downstairs cackling like a little girl about now?" asked Fret sarcastically.

"Roberto?" replied a confused Chrodechild, who had no idea what had just happened.

"Sorry, I guess it calls for an explanation," grumbled Marica. "We met that psycho chick on the Ch'olui Mountains, and Roberto gave a certain brainless leader of Cherem Company a hard time about telling her where we lived when the last thing most of us wanted was for her to show up here."

Fret cringed slightly at the venom in Marica's voice, at the complete lack of humor or kidding around in her tone as she called him brainless. Nor did he miss that she implied he wanted Maybelle to come here. Marica had criticized him lots of times in their lives, but the way she was acting now was like she was thoroughly disgusted with him. Deciding not to risk saying something he shouldn't, he spun on his heels and without a word bolted from the room, leaving a bewildered Chrodechild and Marica in his wake.