"Hey Ceodroe," Iris called as she jogged to meet the other young adult.

"Oh, hello Iris, you need something," he chuckled, smiling lightly at her.

"Have you seen Marlene or Denzel? They were supposed to do some chores today, but I can't them," she sighed, sagging slightly. Ceodroe gave a tired chuckle as well and gave an apologetic smile at her.

"I haven't, sorry," he told her. "Those two know every nook and cranny of this place. Most likely trying to have their last bit of fun until we have to leave in a week."

"I don't blame them, but they shouldn't skipe chores," Iris fummed as she stalked down the hall. When she turned the corner Ceodroe let out a sigh of relief an went back to his current task of heading to the lounge. Once he was too out of sight, a panel in the wall opened and out popped out...

Marlene and Denzel.

Both were giggling before trying to shush the other and tiptoeing away. They explored the place they had lived in for five months, for what felt like the very last time. They would make the time worth it.

Edmond let a soft smile settle it's way onto his face as he watched Charlotte play in the snow.

Well...slush considering that is what it was now.

"Charlotte," he called her over, pushing himself from the wall to walk over to the smiling girl. "Your going to get all dirty and wet."

"It's fun though," she giggle, making Edmond smile. "Plus...This might be the last time that I get to do so."

Edmond felt his smile dim when she said that. Sighing lightly he kneeled down to her level and raised her head to look him in the eye.

"There is a chance would could come back," he whispered, brushing some hair out of her face.

"Could doesn't me will," she said back. His fist clenched as tight as heart when he saw her broken look.

Far too young...

Shelke sighed as she looked out the window into the wet and dirty snow filled city. The time in this city with the others was like...a dream to her. Something that she thought she would never have in Deepground. Something that was denied from her.

Shelke felt a poke on her cheek and resisted the urge to jolt.

"I know that look," Boudicca sang in her ear. "Your thinking about Deepground again, aren't you?"

Shelke stayed quiet, as much as she confided in and trusted Boudicca, talking about the experiments that were done to her...were too fresh.

"I understand your reasons for not telling me and I have a burning urge to kill my baby brother everytime I see you like this..but try to be more cheerful. For the children," Boudicca sighed as she leaned back, her sword resting at her hip. Boudicca gave her a comforting looking before gifting her with a chaste kiss to the forehead and a gently pat on the head.

Shelke found herself smiling at the simple display of affection that the woman gave her on a day to day basis. It was more than she had ever received in her life, she knew that her sister was searching for her. Boudicca had rekindled the hope that her sister was when she yelled at her-nearly two years ago.

"How dare you," Boudicca roared, glaring down at Shelke who glared back.

"I was abandoned by my sister! She has not come for me at all! She care not for me," Shelke growled, annoyed the woman couldn't understand. "I have not heard of anyone searching!"

"That is what Shin-Ra does," Boudicca snarled. "Never give up hope your sister is looking for you! If you are all she has left, their is no doubt that she is searching for you. Until she sees the remains of your dead body, I have no doubt that she is searching far and wide for you."

"How foolish," Shelke mumbled as Boudicca stomped away. But she felt the flame of hope which had all but been extinguished rekindle. Was she right? Was Shalua still searching?

She at least hoped.

Shaking her head, Shelke smiled as she watched Edmond and Charlotte outside. She got along quite well with the young girl, she was quite smart for never getting a real education and Edmond trusted her, so they were often left alone.

Shelke groaned when she heard a crash and the tell tale giggles of Marlene and Denzel.

Those two...

"Oi, Kytes. Keep your guard up," Charlemagne growled as he watched his student struggle against Bedivere. Kytes didn't seem to have heard him or didn't bother to listen as he chraged to the slight man with a cry. He brought down his sword, which was quickly parried and taken out of his grip.

Charlemagne had to bit back a curse as the boy did so.

"Now you know what your mother felt when you did the same thing," Astolfo chuckled, face smug as he looked at Charlemagne.

"I wasn't that bad," Charlemagne protested.

"Sure," Astolfo drawled, giving his king a long side look. Charlemagne huffed crossing his arms watching as Bedivere tripped Kytes who fell on his chest, trying to roll around to get up. Only to have the Knight of the Round sit on him.

"Why!"

LATER THAT NIGHT

"Hey," Hikari spoke up suddenly. "How long will it take us to reach the forest?"

"Not too long I suppose. Considering how close we are," Nero hummed as she finished packing Hikari's pack.

"What happens when we get to the forest. After summoning our guide I mean?"

"We try to get through it, and find out enemy," Nero cheered, her face softened at Hikari's conflicted look. "Yes, this might be scary-but know that I will alway be there for you. No matter what!"

"I know," he chuckled, looking at the silly emperor with a happy smile. "Your silly!"

Nero gave a false gasp of shock and hurt before bursting out laughing and giving Hikari playful noogie.

That felt 100% right.

AT NIGHT

"The chilled air recedes and the snow melts," Jeanne murmured as she stood in the lobby, vigilant as always.

"Thus the journey will resume and our goal realized," Boudicca said, coming up next to her. "But you should enjoy this rest, because in three days it won't be within our grasp any longer."

"If I let my guard down for a moment-"

"Then they will strike," Boudicca finished, smiling at Jeanne's conflicted look. "I know that you want to protect the masters. Because they are young, naive, they need to be protected. They need to still have the innocence of childhood? I know you want to protect them but they'll have to learn at some point."

"That is not the point," Jeanne snapped, shaking as she clutched her banner tighter. " want to ensure their safe yes, but I want them to know. I just-"

"Haven't figured out a way to explain it to them yet," Nero sighed as she descended from the stairs. "I fear that I too have the same problem. Hikari is so young and yet I have to encounter a moment that I must teach him of the cruelty of life. I simply fear that when I have too that I will not have the heart to tell him and end up decieving him. Which will only hurt him in the future."

"We all have people we wish to protect don't we," Edmond sighed as he stalked out of the shadows. Everyone jolted.

How...how long had he been there?

"Well least were not alone," Charlemagne chuckled as they looked down from the second floor.

"We agree," Tristan said as he and his companions entered.

"Yeah, yeah. Touching moment, but we should focus on the summoning," Francis said as she plopped down on the couch.

"Yes, what are we to do Boudicca," all eyes turned to the Queen of Victory.

"Tristan..."

"No. Never again," He snapped.

"You don't have a choice, unless you want to stumble blindly through the forest," Bedivere sighed.

"It's better than summoning Robin Hood of all people," he seethed.

"We will summon him no matter what," Nero told him.

"NO!"

Ne? Ne? What do you think! Did you expect Robin Hood? Or you think it was someone else? Comment!