Jean-

Max walked over to me and plopped a foam helmet on my head.

"I hate everything about this," I muttered.

I felt like a toy soldier, or a six year old. Although I'll admit I did get pumped when the music started playing. It was a good song, and the beat made me wanna take someone on.

I took off all my knives and their sheaths except for one on my hip, then took out a sword from the box.

"Mind showing me a few things?" I asked Max.

Max-

I threw back my head and laughed at Jean's comment. "I don't know why, you look amazing." I promised with an easy smile.

I mean, that wasn't completely off to be honest. Jean always looked really good.

When she asked I nodded. "Yeah, I'll teach you what I know."

I started with the basics, how to hold a sword, the way to stand and how to move so you didn't loose your balance.

Terrence helped, adding or tweaking along the way but never completely taking over, which I appreciated.

Once she had the basics down I placed another one of the stupid helmets on my head to make things even, then stood across from her sword up. "Wanna take a whack at it?" I asked.

Jean-

I blushed at his compliment, but quickly shook it off when he started teaching. I was surprised at how easily he taught, and even more so at how fast I got it.

It kinda felt like a distant memory, or a vague recollection, as though I read it somewhere but couldn't place where the memory came from.

Then a challenge was insued.

"It's on," I laughed, amused at both of our dorky helmets.

I got into my stance and shot him a smirk.

Ladies first," I taunted, waiting for him to strike first.

Max-

I grinned, I kinda liked the challenge sparkling in her eyes.

I knew that this should be a somber moment, the world was kind of in serious peril, but we needed to train, so, why not have a little fun while we did so?

Lady's first Huh? I gave a bow. "Thanks for the complement, I've seen a lady take down an enemy very quickly." I shot back with a grin. Macie folded her arms with a smile and Terrence chuckled.

"You however say lady like it's a bad thing." I observed. "Still, If you insist." I lunged and she blocked. Not bad.

Trying to remember my footing correctly I turned and threw a curved strike at her to see if she was ready.

Jean-

I laughed. This was going to be fun.

I smiled as I blocked his jab, I jumped back to avoid his curved attack, but stepped forward again and to meet his blade with mine.

"I'd wager our skills are evenly matched." I teased lightly, slightly surprised at how fast my reflexes were working.

I slashed at his feet, partially hoping he'd have the foresight to jump or something, and avoid it...but also hoping he didn't, because I wanted to win.

Though I'm not sure his feet would like me very much if that happened, or his face for that matter.

Max-

I jumped her slash, but just barely. "Ooo you play dirty." I commented, going back and forth with her some more. If I could just get her disarmed, though Darin had only taught me that once, I wasn't sure if I could get it.

I blocked another blow.

Jean-

I laughed.

"Our enemies are gonna play dirty too," I reminded. "Best get used to it."

I was ignoring the swelling of relief I didn't hurt him, despite my banter I would've felt terrible if I did.

After we hit back and fourth for a while, I noticed a couple signs of something: He was trying to disarm me.

Except, he was going about wrong, instead of trying to strike close to the hand with enough weight and shock, he was striking further down the blade.

How did I know that? I don't know, but I'd worry about that later.

I needed to use this against him. I started advancing more and more, becoming more vigorous and frequent in my attacks instead of on the defense.

"Surrender yet?" I asked, breathing heavily.

I decided to ask first before I just went out and beat him.

Max-

She moved forward, taking the offensive.

I shrugged with a grin. "I don't know which would be more embarrassing?" I asked out loud.

-"Surrender,"-

-"defeat,"-

Terrence and Macie spoke at the same time.

"Thanks guys." I shook my head. It was the distraction Jean needed as she stepped in and disarmed me.

My sword hit the floor.

"Wasn't I supposed to be teaching you?" I recalled looking over at her with an amused smile.

Jean-

I smiled, my heart pounding with adrenaline and satisfaction, but his question made me blink and step back, the fact that I had just nailed that really hittinf me.

"I have no idea where that came from," I answered honestly. I took my helmet off and ran my fingers through my hair so it wasn't plastered against my head.

"It's like muscle memory, but I've never learned this before."

I felt like this was the same thing as the random spirts of knowledge I had about magical creatures: I didn't know I knew it, until I had already done it.

I looked over at them. "I sound crazy don't I?" I asked with a laugh, trying to mask my discomfort.

Max-

I felt my brain go fuzzy when Jean ran her fingers through her red hair, and quickly had to snap back in order to listen to what else she was saying...even though it didn't make much sense.

Still I understood she looked uncertain, and a little concerned, so I stepped forward taking off my helmet. "Hey don't worry about it." I offered with a small smile. "Lots of things are crazy about this world, I'm sure we'll figure it out." I promised.

Macie shrugged. "Who knows, maybe you have Fairfolk in your blood or something."

"Wouldn't you have to be fair for that?" Terrence commented lightly.

Macie socked him in the arm.

"I'm only kidding." He assured.

Jean-

I felt my skin tingle at Max's gaze. But how could I not worry about it? I was remembering stuff I didn't know I knew, which makes no sense at all! What scared me most was wondering where the knowledge came from, how did I know it? did something happen to me?

Max couldn't understand, but even though he didn't, he was still attempting to comfort me, and that was appreciated most off all.

I offered a smile, then whipped around to raise an eyebrow at Terrence.

"What? My pasty white skin isn't fair enough for you?" I sassed.

Terrence smirked.

I strode over and handed my helmet to Macie.

"Your turn," I said with a smile.

Max-

Macie looked at the helmet Jean had given her then shrugged and put it on.

Terrence took my helmet and my sword then stood in front of Macie, a grin on his face. "You ready for this princess?"

Macie cocked her head to the side. "Do you actually know how to fight? Or do you just let your zombies do that for you?" She shot back.

Oooo. I turned up the music.

Macie swung her blade and in a flash they were off. Back, forth back forth, dull metal clashing.

Macie was quick but Terrence was always ready for what ever she attempted.

They were more mobile then we were, moving forward, back, turning for a different angle, around the yard to get different vantage points.

It was subtle at first, but Terrence was winning, I could see Macie slowly looking less and less in control.

Terrence backed her to a wall, then in a swift move disarmed her and had the sword to her neck.

"Sorry Princess, maybe next time." He said with a shrug backing up. "We're 1-1."

Macie shot him a glare then released a breath. "At least you're not totally helpless." She turned toward Jean. "Target practice?" She asked.

"Depends, are you going to hit the dummy's or Terrence?" I couldn't help but ask, sticking my hands in my pockets.

A flicker of a smile pulled at Macie's mouth. "Tempting as it is, I was going to aim for the dummy, sword fighting isn't my thing anyway."

Terrence approached and I nodded. "Nice moves." I told him.

Terrence shot me a flicker of a smirk. "Thanks."

"You should teach me." I told him.

Terrence twirled his sword. "That was the plan."

Jean-

"Yes please," I told Macie. "I need to practice quite desperately." I picked up my knives and followed Macie to the dummy for practice.

"That was really cool," I couldn't help but tell her. "You're really good."

Sure, Terrence was better, but it was all still really impressive to me.

Macie shrugged. "When you grow up knowing about magical creatures, Learning how to fight is just as important as learning how to read. You'll need it. I got to pick which weapon I wanted to learn, but my dad made sure I was skilled at it." She lifted her bow. "This is where most of my talent lies, but I can hold my own in a sword fight."

I nodded as I listened. "Makes sense to me," I agreed.

I thought back to what she said earlier about the Fair Folk. I had no idea what they were, I didn't feel any connection, but I was grasping for straws at this point.

"Macie, If I did hypothetically have Fair Folk in my blood, how would that explain these random things that I seem to know? Like the basics of sword fighting and facts about magical creatures? Do the Fair Folk excel in those things?"

I released a knife at the target and hit it in the arm.

Macie shook her head. "To be honest Jean...it doesn't. You're problem doesn't make any sense."

Macie pulled back the draw string, lining it up carefully then shooting. The dummies head flew back as it was hit dead on with an arrow.

A small smile pulled at Macie mouth. "You know, pretending it's Terrence really does help." She observed quietly. Then she turned. "You're sure you never learned about magic before? Did you parents know and teach you as a kid or something and you forgot? There's a million things that could wipe memories."

I tried for a smile when she called the dummy Terrence, but I was still a little freaked, so I shook my head in response to her question.

"My parents never told be anything about magical creatures. I don't think they even know about it themselves."

I racked my brain for any memory, learning about the magical world or sword fighting, but the only things that came to mind were flashes of dreams, that and my uncle teaching how to throw a knife.

What was wrong with me? I tried harder to think of a memory about the magical world but kept coming up empty.

I got two of my knives and threw one after the other, the first lodging in the dummy's neck, the other in it's chest.

"Macie," I whispered, feeling tears come to my eyes. "This is really freaking me out."

I was helpless, and right now, hopeless. what could I, or anyone else for that matter do to figure out why this was happening?

Macie's eyes widened and she came over, pulling me into a hug.

"Hey, don't worry about it." She assured giving me a squeeze. "It's not like you're in immediate danger, we got lots of time to figure it out. Plus you're not alone. You got me and-" Macie tilted her head to look at Max and Terrence training behind me. "I think it's pretty safe to say you got Max too." She added with a knowing smile.

I wrapped my arms around Macie, squeezing her back. It felt so good to know that I had friends and that I wasn't alone.

Plus she was right, this wasn't putting me in danger, I was just getting more I formation and random times about random things.

When she mentioned Max I drew my head back, cringing.

"Is it obvious?" I asked, worried that my secret crush on Max was out, even though I was trying to suppress it.

Macie shrugged with a little grin. "Not to most, I pay attention." She promised. "I'd bet money Terrence and Max are completely oblivious." She promised folding her arms.

I laughed. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised, most guys don't notice that stuff right away." I went and retrieved my knives from the dummy as well as Macie's arrows.

"Alright, lets practice."

We went on shooting throwing, taking the occasional dance brake when Terrence's speaker played something good, talking and gladly imagining the dummy was Terrence.

Overall, it was a good time.

Max-

After a couple hours of training I felt more skilled, more ready, and, despite the sarcasm... Terrence was a good teacher,

I even got used to having Todd around. Sure he was freaky looking at first, but he didn't make any threatening moves, usually just wandering around or fetching things for Terrence.

When the sun was starting to set Joyce came back...but not in the car she had left. Our little shiny four door had been replaced with a giant RV.

My eyes went wide and I grinned stepping out to the front, Terrence gave a low whistle.

"Where'd this come from aunt Joyce?" I couldn't help but ask.

Joyce shrugged. "I figured since our team keeps growing we needed a better mode of transport. Would you grab the pizza?"

"You are in serious danger of getting on my good side." Terrence told her making me laugh.

We grabbed the pizza and headed inside as Joyce brought in some carrots and other such foods.

Setting the stuff on the table Joyce turned to Terrence. "Do Vanessa and Wallace want any?"

Terrence nodded. "I'll go check."

Macie came in from cleaning up the backyard. "Oh my gosh that's pizza." She fist pumped. "Maybe it a a good day after all." She grinned.

Jean-

Macie and I finished cleaning the yard from training and walked inside to find food.

Pizza!

I hope I wasn't drooling. I didn't realize how hungry I was till that smell hit me.

I quickly washed up and grabbed a slice of pepperoni and sausage.

"Yeah," I sighed happily after taking bite. "This is good."

I sat down at the table next to Max, after being on my feet all evening it was nice to sit.

"If y'all don't grab a slice, I will eat all this by myself," I warned with a small laugh, only half kidding.

Max-

Macie laughed and grabbed a piece. "No way sister I will fight you for it." She teased grabbing a pepperoni and a hawaiian and slapping them on to her plate.

I grinned. Grabbing some pizza and putting it on my plate. "I might have to agree with Macie on this one Jean." I chipped in.

"You'll have to rip the pizza out of my cold dead hands." Terrence threatened as he walked in, grabbing a piece and taking a bite.

"Or Todd's," Macie joked.

I laughed out loud, and found Terence laughing as well.

"Oh nonsense I bought plenty for everyone." Joyce scolded lightly.

Terrence came in, followed by Wallace and Vanessa.

Jean-

I sat up and squared my arms. "Fight me," I said trying to seem threatening but not being able to contain my laughter.

Wallace and Vanessa walked in, the air became serious again.

"What did you find out?" I asked, whipping my fingers off on a napkin.

Wallace clapped his hands together. "Well kids. We better get you searching for those items as soon as possible, cause we've got a lot of work to do."