Frozen Memories - 1-8 Bridge

by Xeir Zith

Hidden Past - Back Cover. Hidden Past remake! This is entirely overhauled with missing dialog added to inital scenes with expansions and spelling fixes to the original writing from Hidden Past. In Bridge we see exactly what happens between Frozen Memories and War of the North - Frozen Memories. Xeir dreams and Elsa lives in a simulated city. Light works, Jarius writes Xeir sleeps

18. Xeir Awakening: Chapter Eight

Frozen Memories 1.8 Bridge

Hidden Past – Back Cover

Xeir Awakening

Chapter Eight: Bad Habits

20 October 2057

Arendelle

Marketplace Hovertrain Station

Midafternoon

After his chat with Xiaoden Mark had to be sure that things were indeed up to speed where he hoped they were. In this case he needed help and information. So where to start ? He saw his cousin "Sapphire ?" He said, she was able to have the day off according to the High Priest, she earned it apparently. She looked to her cousin from where she sat.

"Yes ?" She asked to her cousin. "What is it ?"

"What do you know about a certain woman dressed in scales attacking soldiers ?" Mark asked rather bluntly to her. It was more he couldnt accurately discribe the dress that Xeir at the time wore other then it was colored in gold, white and bits of silver, but it was also tight to the body, beautiful and drew a lot of attention.

And after a fight that was rumored to have happened in the Pond District the afternoon before, it was possible said dress was destroyed. Or badly damaged.

Sapphire stared at him. The woman he described was the same woman who had gotten her free from the High Priests model in front of the castle. "Who told you that ?" what she meant to ask him was who told him about the woman ?

"Its rumor and witness accounts, a woman was in a fight in the Pond District, she barely got out of it so I hear. Both squads of soldiers were destroyed" Mark replied, it was a simple thing really, two squads of soldiers, highly trained, well not highly trained but basically trained for a fight lost to a woman. It was the last two that made things harder for her however.

For a long moment Sapphire said nothing, finally she reached for a beer nearby and cracked it open. She needed to be drunk to tell her cousin this story. "Eyewitness accounts reported that the woman fought two squads of soldiers right ?" She said, Mark nodded.. "Of those soldiers, two gave her the hardest time, Jaegers, the best trained, carefully trained by somebody in the Honor Guard, I never met the man so I have no idea who it is, or even if its a man to begin with." Sapphire said. Mark just looked at her confused. What did she mean by that ?

Seeing his look, she sighed, took a nother drink, then explained "Jaegers are the top dog of the army chain of command. In this case. If the woman was able to take out the other members of the squad, which is normally a snitch, a pair of snipers, a pair of normal soldiers, an officer, a grenadier and a Jaeger. The lesser soldiers below grenadier went down according to the witnesses right ?"

Mark nodded, Sapphire continued "The Jaegers gave her trouble because of their training, she couldnt knock them in as easily as she did with the other soldeirs. Even the officers fell from her withering strikes or so I am told."

"What happened to the woman ?" Mark asked, there had to be more to this story.

Sapphire smirked. "That, cousin, is where it gets funny. Accoirding to the witnesses, the Jagers tossed a grenade at the womans feet, when the sucker went off she destroyed a noodle stall on the street, and at the same time her dress was in tatterns, torn, ripped, looked like she had been through death in it."

Mark looked at her. Sapphire smirked and continued "Apparently the Jaegers managed to smash her nose on her face before she electrocuted one and beheaded the other" So that was that, Xeir was in the kingdom, and she was attacked, so it was only in self defense then from the sound of it.

"What about last night ?" Mark then detailed the comotion that Haversham had briefly spotted, Sapphire sadly didnt have any further information. She finished her beer, amazingly still , nobody knew what happened to that squad of Jaegers because the High Priest had the man reassigned and allowed a week of earned rest. And Sapphire wasnt high enough on the staff to get access to the names of each soldier.

So that left Mark wanting to know what he could about the fighting going on in various parts of his city. Arendelle was his homeland. He had a very strong sense of protectiveness for what he helped build of course. But that was to be expected, especially of him. "I see, alright, lets finish up here and get the hovertrain going. I think we can set up a few portals inside so Aunt Blackmane can get stuff in here for us all.

Sapphire nodded, the two of them then got back to work on repairing the second traincar, it had the most bullet holes in the roof because Mark had run atop it just getting to the front car alone. Within a few hours the repairs to the ceiling were finished and the train was moving as Mark had promised to his cousin. Sapphire found the bunk house traincar on a nearby track and Mark made plans to move it into the train proper, of course they had disconected the first two trains from the rest, then backed to the two sleeper cars, then hooked back up to the rest of the train.

They were getting closer to having a mobile home within the kingdom. Once that was done, it was just a matter of time before things got underway good and proper. Mark of course wanted to ensure the information his cousin had gotten was in safe hands. That meant either his own hands, or in the hands of Diana. Who he hadnt seen since dinner the night before.

Diana he knew could be trusted with information, even vital information. So as they were underway he diasled his wristphone, Dianas number. "Come on pick up" Mark mumbled as it began to ring.

A second ring. Then a third. Right before the voice mail picked up Diana spoke "Hello ?"

"Its me, I got a question for you" Mark said simply as he watched the kingdoms district float past, the hovertrain was a quiet machine and hovered a half meter above the ground, so it was quick to move with for sure.

"A question for me ?" Diana replied, followed by a muffled sentence that was, when later explained to Mark, simply Diana telling someone else not to do something. "What is it ?"

"How good are you at keeping secrets ?" Mark asked her

Oh Holy All-Mother this was rich! Diana was quiet a moment, "Depends" She replied, "On the info you want me to keep secret"

Mark smirked, "I have someone meeting me at the Galasia District Hovertrain station, she'll be carrying a crystal full of information of rumors and eyewitness accounts of that street fight happened yesterday in the Pond District. Once I had read through them myself, I need someone I can trust, you, to hold onto that crystal when I am done with it. Agreed ?"

"That's a tall order" Came the calm tone of Diana, it was a tall order, she had plans to find Xeir that day, they needed to meet up anyhow, and they hadnt met yet. But Nara had seen her. "But yeah, I can hang onto it for you. Do I need to ask why ?"

"No, just, as soon as I am done with it we'll need to meet, I will give you the crystal, and you will put it somewhere safe. Until then, try to find out more about the rumors of the happenings in the Pond District, alright ?" Mark replied, he moved to the front of the train as he spoke towards the door, the hovertrain station in the Galasia District wasnt yet marked on the map system the kingdom used. But it didnt stop Haversham from finding it.

"Yeah, I can do that then, Talk to you then ?" Diana replied, Diamond hated faking it but it made sense, sort of. She couldnt wait to reveal to Mark who she really was. Marion in her heart too. They both hated faking being another person, but Diana was Marions cover in Arendelle and Mark thought her slain. But oddly in the dream her name was Marion and they intertacted with each other as siblings.

"Agreed, I'll call you when the meeting is to happen, until then try and find out what Sapphire couldnt." Mar kthen hung up as Diana smirked on her end and said she could do just that when the time was set. She only had a few things she had to deal with first, like her husband.

Mark settled next to Haversham, it was nearing six that evening, they'd be late for dinner if Kiyomori wasnt on the platform. Fortunately for them both, she was waiting for them. "There, I see your cousin, Wolfe." Haversham said, he pointed a hand towards where Kiyomori stood. The woman was dressed in a various mix of red, edged in gold thread, and something of a feather boa around her neck., with her was someone Mark hoped to not really get close to again because she molted so much

Sazhori hadnt been to Arendelle since Mark had returned there after his trip to Sacremento two years before. So to be back in Arendelle now, something was up. "What is she doing here ?" Had someone sent her to guard him again ? Was the car damaged ? Thankfully Mark didnt have to worry as he stepped off the train. "Sazhori ?"

"Miss me ?" The Raven girl asked, Kiyomori looked apologetic as she handed her cousin a quarts crystal about the size of her forearm.

"Not really, no." Mark replied to Sazhori as he looked to Kiyomori

"Its not a lot" Kiyomori said, "But its what I could record of eyewitness accounts, and also scanned from written accounts."

"Thats not what I was hoping to hear, but I missed you. Everyone missed you. And something's wrong. So father sent me to find out what was going on. Nobody has heard from someone important in a long time too." Sazhori replied as she then detailed Lights sudden disappearance the year before. Mark had no clue exactly who Light was, he had never met her, but Kalda did, and Kalda wasnt there

"Fair enough" Mark replied simply as he took the crystal from his cousin. He eyed Sazhori carefully, "So you're not here to be a bodyguard, just a messenger ?"

"Somewhat, according to Father I'm supposed to find Light" Sazhori then detailed her tasks, her main objective was to find out what happened to Light, Or at the very least find some sembelence of news of where she had gone and what her plans were.

"Huh" The only other person he kept hearing about, or rather briefly thinking about was a woman he had never met before. "Kiyomori had you seen anyone like the woman Sazhori mentioned ?" Mark asked

Kiyomori shook her head. "I have not, the only woman matching, at least a little bit, was a woman I had seen briefly on the outskirts of the kingdom, but she was robed in bandages and her head was covered save for one eye" Kiyomori explained what DiT looked like.

"What outskirts ?" Sazhori asked

Kiyomori produced a map of Arendelle on her wristphone. "Theres a few farms in this area, but the place I kept seeing the strange woman was this area here. A small cluster of buildings, an old run down structure among them." She explained.

"An old run down structure ?" Mark repeated. He remembered him and Anna waking up inside a very technology advanced almost stirle hospital operating room like space. And upon exiting, finding and seeing an old abandoned farmhouse. Broken windows, busted furniture, the place was rotted and coming apart. Nobody had lived in it for years, and yet, its basement was a maze of technology.

"Yes, something wrong ?" Kiyomori asked to her cousin. Sazhori looked between them, already planning to do her own search.

"I think trhere is an old farm we need to visit, get onboard, this track might take us to it if that map is right" Mark said, he motioned the two towards the train. Haversham was at the controls. He had a brief thing he had to do first. He got on his phone.

"Diana here" Came the reply, "Mark what gives ? I was about to get dinner" She sounded upset, as did the guy on her end.

"Something's come up" Mark replied

"What ?" Diamond asked

"You remember the place we woke up in a week ago ?" Mark asked her

A moment of quiet passed and then "Yeah, we thought we had left Arendelle on a trip, I remember that much, but when we woke up and came outside, we had never left after all" Diamond was confused, "Mark, what's this about ?"

Mark thought a moment, then said "Meet me at the place you came out of, and whatever you do, do not panic if a hovertrain pulls up." Mark said

A second or two of silence was on thje phone, he thought Diana had hung up. But she hadnt. "Alright, I guess I can meet you there"

"Good I'll see you there." Mark hung up, getting onto the train Haversham confirmed each district, even the outlaying ones, had access to a nearby station for the hovertrains. However to get to that location they'd have to take an old track that hadnt been used since the system had been built.

"This district, The Pine Forest District, It's mostly pine trees, so pine tree farms is what this place might be is my guess, so that puts the nearest station in I think it would be the Peirce District. Which is directly south of the Pine Forest district" Haversham said, it was the next district over, but the old farmhouse structure and property was in clear view of the hovertrain tracks. And like Haversham said, the hovertrain had a track, a siding if one wanted to get technical about it, that stopped next to the old farmhouse in question. "And just as I remember there is an old siding that pulls right up t othe bar on that same property, you wont have to walk far"

That was the news Mark needed to here, thankfully ther hovertrain was like a long road caravan of a sort, designedf like a tram at an old theme park Mark had been to as a kid in Egypt, it was kind of like a six flags type of park, rollercoasters, themed rides, character meet ups. Al lthe good stuff relally. So with that in mind, the hovertrain floated a half meter of the ground normally, so rough and broken cement didnt bother it much. But turning it was going to be a problem, at least until Haversham explained that the trains can go backwards just as good as forwards, the front and rear cars were both interachangable and even easier than Mark had feared.

So when Mark proposed the question of how to turn the hovertrain around to go back to the stations, Haversham simply smirked and said that it was an easy walk back to the rear car, which then becomes the front of the train. That was how easy hovertrains were to control. As long as the rear most car pointed 'backwards' putting it into forward would make the train go 'backwards'

In other words, once they got to the old farm structure, it was only a matter of searching it to find what they hopefully sought. In the case of Sazhori, it was the mere hopes of finding a certain item, clothing, newpaper clippings, a notepad, something left by Light, if it was who Kiyomori said to be, it was possible Light was incognito.

The question was, why ?

Unknown time

Unknown place

This was not good, the group was headed for the old mansion outside the kingdom, just within the boundaries infact was the old farm structure. By taking the hovertrain they could turn a lot of eyes. Xeirn watched it all.

And he didnt like what he was seeing.

DiT he knew was not who he expected. But when Mark, Xeir, Anna and Diamond had all woken up, the woman had disappeared, leaving nothing in her wake. With him in the room was two other members of the Council, Number Seven, Xexen, along with number nine, Xinxin.

Xexen was a blonde haired man with sharp eyes, the other, Xinxin, was slightly younger, almost a young adult himself, maybe just past twenty before becoming a member. His silver blue hair framed a angular boyish face. But it was a face filled with knowledge..

All three of them watched as the hovertrain neared the old manor house. The old Pine farm was a interesting structure and location. Presumably built a long time ago, and abandonded after a body was found within the structure. The remote location allowed DiT as she was known to buy the structure and then from there begin her work on building a computer simulation, everything in terms fo the technology was built up heavily. To the point where should one look deep into it, nothing would make sense.

It was after all a world made entirely of data, and once Xeir woke up, that world was pretty much locked up tightly.

"It appears" Said Xinxin after long moments of watching Mark begin his plan to search the old manor house. "That her plans are going to be found"

"The All-Mother has been missing for a year, nobody knows where she has gone, not even they do, and if they did, they're not telling." Xexen replied they being the Auditors, otherwise known as the Others, the people similar to the All-Mother, deities all of them.

"The All-mother being missing is the least of our worries right now" Xeirn spoke up, causing both other men to look towards him. "What is our worry is how close Mark is to discovering Xeir and where she is hiding right now."

"She was in the Galasia District of Aerendelle" Said Xinxin, "After the fight she had in the Pond District, I lost track of her" It wasnt an easy thing to admit, but Xeirn smiled.

"Good" He said simply. "We only have a short time now before the manor is accessed by Mark and those with him. DiT may have left devices, but none of them will point to the lady Xeir."

"What about the Raven, Sazhori ?" Xexen asked

"She is given a task by her father, find the All-mother, the only way she can do so is to search the old manor. DiT might have left something." Xeirn replied, he knew something the others did not. But he was like the Others, he wasnt telling secrets, but being cryptic in how he spoke of them. He had his musings and suspicions of who DiT really was. But he wasnt completely entirely sure.

DiT was not happy he had sent Xinxin, Xiaoden and Xendras into the simulated world. But once things were explained, she relented. And seemed relieved he only had interest in the four waking up properly, safely and quickly.

"So by searching the manor they might find something that was left behind, like all the technology used to structure the simulated city ?" Xinxin mused aloud.

Xeirn smiked "They will find exactly what they seek, more questions, and only each will find the answer they seek. For now it will do." Xeirn replied.

"And the girl, Irie ?" Xinxin asked, he detailed the night before but most of it was based on rumor, word was she tried to have her way with Mark during the night.

"Irie is beginning to blossom into full womanhood. Mark is oblivious to her advances, so it is natural she will try to make the first move." Xeirn mused, he was right, Marks own Tigris side had seen and smelled Irie beginning to blossom.

"Should we do anything concerning this ?" Xinxin asked

"No, leave Irie to her own thing, She wants Mark, she will eventually get him. However, if you wish to speak to her, by all means, say hello, ask to see her wares." Xeirn told Xinxin, the younger man thought a moment, Irie didnt really stack up well when it came to looks in the body structure department, unlike Xiuen, number twelve was stacked like a brick outhouse so the saying went. "Though I recommend wearing clothing that blends into the local culture if at all possible" their black coats stood out. And now the High Priest knew what to look for.

"The High Priest has seen two of us now, and maybe three of us at best with Xiaoden and Nara in that street fight." Xexen mused.

"The High Priest is more concerned with ensuring his Star Formation is kept stable. Work to distablise it in a subtle manner." Xeir nsaid, a darkness corridor opened and enveloped him, he faded into it and the portal disappeared, leaving Xinxin and Xexen alone.

This was going to be a long day

Arendelle

Pine Forest District

7 PM

The hovertrain hovered near the old manor, Mark now seeing in at sunset could tell that something was up. Stepping from the treain Mark took in the state of the structure, the last time he had seen it was sunrise a week before. "Never expected to be back here" he mumbled. It wasnt that he didnt like the state of the structure, it was more he didnt like the state of why he was there. He was searching for information.

Biut what kind of information eluded him greatly. He couldnt readily grasp for it just yet. But somehow he knew the information he sought, the information of the woman Sapphire had spoken about, and also Kiyomori had spoken about, trhe information was there..

Maybe even Elsa was still inside ?

Stepping up the walkway to the old structure Mark went up the steps on the front porch and across the slatted wood flooring of the deck, it was well built and looked recently repaired. From the feel of it, it felt new as well. "How is it a place like this can look and feel so old, yet also sound and feel as if brand new ?" Mark mused aloud

It was a good desguise, the structure on the first floor as they explored it, was a total mess, broken furniture,m busted windows, the air felt stale and dusty. Nobody recent had been in there judging from the footprints Mark recognised as his own, as well as Annas own. A third set of footprints Mark only couldf think was Dianas own, he had after all asked for her to come along to help keep Anna and Elsa safe with him.

A knock came at the doorframe "Can I come in ?" It was Diana, Think of the devil and she arrives. Mark thought. He waved her t ocome in. "Never thought I'd come back here again." She mused. Each person had a flashlight to see by, at least in the case of Diana and Mark they had a flashlight, in the case of Sazhori sdhe had a glowing feather like a glowrod, and the case of Kiyomori and Sapphire they used essence flames

"What exactly are we looking for ?" Diamond in her guise of Diana asked as she and Sazhori explored the front part of the house as Mark explored the kitchen.

"Light is missing" Sazhori said softly to her.

That made Diamond give a brief jerk and she briefly had a coughing attack, Mother was missing ? "How long ?" Diamond asked

"A year, nobody has heard from her in a year, so father sent me here to try and find her while my sisters went to two other planets." Sazhori explained "Papa figured that with you and Mark here I could have a chance to find her, and Abel and Siv are searching two toher worlds, one is called Cardinal, sounds beautiful, the other I forget the name of but was really dangerous."

Diamond had to smirk, so it was true! There was other planets besides earth, it was just that humans were just too dang stubborn to notice they werent the only intelligent life out there.

After a few moments of searching the first floor, Mark and Sapphire rejoined Diana and Sazhori. Mark stood on the steps as Sapphire went to the front door. The house looked old from the outside, and yet in some rooms, higher and better kept look was to the rooms, two of the bedrooms alone looked good enough to properly sleep in. "Nothing upstairs, execept two bedrooms that look lived in." Mark said

"Nothing down here execept beaten up trashed furniture" Sazhori grumbled.

"We havent checked the study yet, houses like this always have one" Diana pointed out, she remembered coming out of the place. But when she came out, she had exited from the barn not the house itself.

Mark swept his gaze around the house, there was little if any power and what light the lights in the house gave off was dim as it was. "We just went through this place already, how can we have missed a study ?" Mark asked

Sazhori was quiet as it was Sappgire who spoke before Diamond could mouth off to Mark. "What about a basement ?"

"Possible, when Anna and I woke up we came out of a cellar." Mark said.

"When I woke up I came out of the barn door" Diana mused. Mark gave her a confused look. Had she taken a wrong turn ?

"Thing is, we searched this floor, there's no downstairs door anywhere." Sazhori pointed out.

"What she said" Diana said as Mark looked at her. That was not a funny joke given by the look Mark gave her. Diana had to struggle not to smirk at him.

"Thats because its not an indoor entry, the only way to get downstairs is through a cellar door, a belco or some such door is on the outside of the house." Mark said

"There wasnt anything remotely resembling a door even a belco door outside when we came up the drive witrh the hovertrain" Diana said. She had a point and Mark wasnt happy.

"Searching in the dark will get us no where. Tomorrow morning after breakfast we meet back here. Diana, Sazhori, you two stick together, I am not sure if we have extra room or not in the Marketplace den, unless you have shit to do elsewhere ?" Mark said giving a look first to Diana before turning to Sazhori as he spoke.

"I have a room at a tavern in the kingdom, I can stay there the night and meet you all back here in the morning." Sazhori said as she nodded, she could meet back up with everyone then. Trading a brief look with Diana, whom she recognised as Diamond entirely.

The funny thiung about the tavern was that it was not as far as one had thought. Just within the Pine Forest district infact. Sazhori Mark felt, was going to sneak back and search further. However, before he could voice his concern, Sazhori said "I know that look, dont panic and think I am gonna sneak back in here" She scolded him almost as if she was his bodyguard again.

Mark smirked. "Fine, shall we ?" He said,m the three women nodded and they left the structure. Within moments of boarding the hovertrain it pulled away.

In the darkness of the manor, a single eye of pale green filtered from the shadows. DiT chuckled, they were so close and yet so far..

Arendelle

Yaeko District

9PM

A knock at the door woke Xeir from her sleep. "Come in" She said. She had sent her Sparrows out to get her dress repaired or if it had to be done, replaced with the identical measurements. The Sparrow maid stepped into the doorway.

"Someone to see you my lady. Shall I send her in ?" The Sparrow said, the bird sounded slightly scared. That meant it had to either be Lady Kreena, or someone of similar skills and magic. In this case it was Fuiu.

"Yes, you may, you may also take a rest you look like you have seen a ghost" Xeir said, the Sparrow nodded and allowed Fuiu to enter. The younger Spider Demoness seemed slightly nervous and a little more then upset. "Hello Fuiu" Xeir said in greeting from where she sat on the bed. "Is something wrong ?"

"Mhm" Fuiu nodded, jerking a thumb out the door "We caught a few freaks trying to find you in our Protected Zone. These guys were harder to rope down then we first thought. But it worked eventually." Fuiu was a good fighter when it came to it.

Xeir stood from the bed, the dark blue flower printed dress she wore looked more like a swimsuit slipcover over anything else. Yet it was also quite modest and in this case less danger attractive than her destroyed white and gold gown. Stepping to the doorframe Xeir spotted the last surviving Jaeger of the team of six that were tracking her all day and all night. "Great, you lead them right to us" She mumbled.

"Thats the weird part" Fuiu said "It was just him, he was more then just looking for you."

"That's right" The Jaeger said, it was clear it was a female voice behind the mask. "If you can untie me I can prove it too" Fuiu looked to Xeir, who looked thoughtful for a brief moment, Xeir then nodded, and Fuiu used her magic and undid the webbing. "Thank you, that feels much better." The Jaeger then revealed herself.

The costume broke apart into shards of ice and glass as the face reformed into that of a serpentine creature. Xeir smiled broadly. "Tiri ?" She asked seeing the Icewraith form briefly into a pile of ice before reforming into mostly human.

"Hi Xeir!" Tiri gave a little wave as her body finished reforming. Slivers of ice floated around her head and just off her chest and neck. Some pieces were still in Fuius web. "Fuiu, could I have that pile of ice next to you please ?"

"What ?" the spider asked, clearly confused as to what Tiri meant. Then she saw it, a pile of pale blue crystalised ice. A moment later and Tiri was in one piece. "Sorry about that"

"Its alright, Xeir, its been too long! Did I really look that good ?!" Tiri looked from Fuiu to Xeir, and smiled. Briefly swirling around her old body and soul Tiri took in Xeirs form. "Yup, its mostly me in there I guess."

"Tiri, what ? Oh, thats right I forgot, you made that deal so I could come back but you keep your body and I get a new one" Xeir said, Fuiu looked confused between the two, one woman looked clearly like Elsa, the other looked nothing like the former queen. It was a brief moment of reunion between the two... twins was possibly as best one could get on the subject before Xeir remembered that Fuiu was there.

"I am sorr,y Fuiu, this is Tiri, Tiri, this is Fuiu, one of Naras fellow soldiers in the Galasia district. And currently aside from you, the only other person who knows where I am staying too. She helped me find this house" Xeir said as she introduced the two women. "Fuiu, Tiri used to be my body, long story short I was dying, I cast my soul out to prevent death, and at the same time set my body aside. By doing that I created Elsa, the former queen."

"You made a Nothing by leaving your body, casting out your soul. You created Elsa at the time, at which point you also created Tiri. Once you did that, I dont think Tiri can rejoin with you..." Fuiu said, giving the icewraith woman a thoughtful look "Execepot maybe being your armor"

That made Tiri snicker. Though it also made Xeir thoughtful, she hadnt thought of that. So Xeir spoke up as Tiri started to really fall apart laughing. "Tiri, could it be possible to turn into armor ? Or at least be something presentible for me to wear if it were to come to it ?"

Tiri rebuilt herself quickly and nodded. "Very much so, but it would be a tight fit" She said giving Xeir a careful glance. To say Xeir was stacked was an understatement in and of itself alone "Unless I eat before forming the suit ?"

"What do you mean ?" Xeir asked.

"Let me experiment if you dont mind it ?" Tiri said, Xeir smiled, she didnt mind, they went back into her bedroom of the courtyard house structure and Fuiu shut the door behind them. "Ok, hold still, this might tickle." Tiri did her best to mimic the dress that Xeir wore, making it like a second layer. Xeir felt the very brief cold to the touch skin of Tiri against her own skin and briefly her scales rippled into view before fading. "Hmm, not as bad as I had feared" Came Tiris soft voice, though only Xeir heard her at that point. By the time Tiri was worn like the dress, she basically became invisible entirely on her own. So when Fuiu watched it was like Tiri had disappeared and the dress Xeir wore looked just a bit heavier but still very modest and maybe a bit brighter in the blue coloration ?

"Where did Tiri go ?" Fuiu asked

"I'm wearing her" Xeir said, "shes not as heavy as I had feared, briefly cold though, no offense," there came a ripple from the dress as Tiri laughed, there was no way that Xeir could offend Tiri outside of completely destroying her core. But somehow, Xeir couldnt bring herself to destroy her own body when she cast out her soul so long ago. Xeir moved around, stretching and reacting to brief movements from Fuiu to test how Tiri held up in a fight.

After thawing out Fuiu's left arm, Tiri broke off in shards and slivers off of Xeir and reformed. "Sorry, I guess my cold reactions might need to be reversed in the case of a fight ?"

"I think my magic can counter it" Xeir said, since it was Xeir who thawed out Fuiu and Fuiu had no hint of any magical effect from Tiri or Xeir on her whatsoever at the time.

"Wow, that was cold, but, somehow it didnt hurt ?" Fuiu said, it was true, the hit did come with extreme cold, but it was possible that because it was magic making the feeling of cold, it didnt actually have to be naturally cold enough to cause frostbite. "This could work actually" Fuiu said.

"How so ?" Xeir asked, giving the Spider a confused look. How could extreme cold magic help in their case ?

Fuiu smiled, "That strike Tiri froze on reaction alone. Its perfect, you do it right you can also easily take prisoners with it later by freezing them solid at the right joins and pressure points."

"Like how you webbed me to bring me here ?" Tiri said, she actually was acting as if the webbing was really just a method of transportation and it was infact rather good and wasnt a bad thing in the slightest.

"Exactly, you and Xeir can strike in reaction, freeze the guy attacking you, and then question him right then, or transport him somewhere else" Fuiu said, she was already really excited about the whole thing on its own. It would be a bit of doing, but it was worth it in the end.

So as night fell Xeir received another knock on the door and Fuiu opened it as Xeir called out for the person knocking to come in. It was another Sparrow girl and she carried a garment bag. "Lady Xeir, the Seamstress was able to remake the dress after attempting repairs. She made a second set of the same design in a different color, and has the design to make other colors if you want them on a as needed basis"

Xeir smiled, perfect! "Thank you" She said, she never learned her Sparrow servants names, they allways called each other sister, were they really sisters ? The Sparrow placed the garment bag in the wardrobe. "Sparrow, I am afraid I do not know any of your names. You all work for me, as if my servants, for no pay, but I never asked what your names were, or why you're helping me ?"

"Its easy, The All-Mother asked that when you woke up, we aid you, no names needed." The Sparrow replied, she smiled "But, since you asked, I am Tie, my sisters are Dia, Zen, and Tea. You can tell us apart by the hairbands we have in our hair" Tie had a pink hairband, Dia had a white one, Zen had a red one, and Tea had a green one. "Is there anything else you need tonight my lady ?"

"No, though, now that I think of it, can two rooms be readied for my friends here." Xeir said, she gave Tiri a look, Tiri wasnt planning on leaving the property if a bed was offered and the look she gave Xeir was simple.

"I was actually gonna ask if you had a spare pillow but I suppose a bed can work too" Tiri said.

Fuiu smiled "I gladly accept the offer of a place to sleep tonight, going back to the Kreen or even the Galasia District at night is a bad idea since the patrols of the High Priests men are getting bolder at night."

"Then it is settled, Tie, can you and Zen, wait no I said Zen could go rest early" Xeir said, she remembered that Zen was the Sparrow with the red ribbon in her hair. "Could you and one of your other two sisters make sure Fuiu and Tiri have a place to sleep tonight ?"

"Of course, I can lead you there now if you like" Tie was a kind girl, and from what Fuiu could see possibly no older then fourteen or fifteen human years, but what had to be at least fourteen thousand or so years old. The women on this property were well mannered and experienced. Fuiu accepted buty tiri said she'd wait a bit. She wanted to play catch up with her... sister

Xeir smirked, Tiri was going to have her ears talked off for sure.

Arendelle

Marketplace Assassin Den

11 PM

Mark unlocked his bedroom door, his Aunt vaeyuko had met him in the hall and told him of the new monitor, so when he saw the new thing, showing the time, weather, and plans for the next day for the Assassins next move he turned the screen off, at least he hoped he did. He had no real idea why it was even in the room to begin with. Not that he really worried too much about that. He had no idea his cousin Irie was on the other end watching him.

Mark didnt strip as she had hoped he would. Instead he reached for a box under the monitor and she saw a stick of some kind in his fingers, like a cigarette. Mark smoked ? She wondered watching him as he lit the stick, the smoke it produced however was more akin to incense over a cigarette.

Was that what her mother told her to look for ? It was worth sleeping on as much as she longed for him. So with that in mind she shut off her monitor, effectively turning off his camera feed. And never saw as Mark removed his overcoat, the fur lined dark green hood was set upon a coat hangar. On the table next to it he put his shirt and pants as he stripped to a tank top and boxers.

Mark laid on his bed. He remembered that two nights before he had met up with someone, and then last night, his cousin was in his bed, seemingly waiting for him. Was she really that desperate to try and bed him ? To wait for him ? She was his cousin! There was no way they could be a family!

With that thought Mark heard that voice again "She's just blossoming dude, trust me on this ." It was his Tigris side. Witrh that voice Mark blacked out into a strange yet restful sleep.

-8-8-8-

"I was starting to wonder when you might show up" Cxame a hauntingly familiar voice as Mark was once more in the mindscape, this time instead of inside a cramped yet also spacious hut. Mark found himself standing on a stone walkway that bordered what looked tobe a training ground of some form.

"Uh, yeah" Mark replied rather unsure of how to explain the night before. The plan was for him to join his Tigris side for a sparring match and maybe some more information. And yet the Tigris could only think about Irie, at least until Mark said "What do you know about a Star Formation ?"

"Not a lot, but enough to know its dangerous, and eventually when a star in it goes supernova, shit goes sideways" The cat replied then with a confused look on his face he asked him "Why ?"

"Well, the High Priest, Kiyori, has a Star Formation, apparently the same thing was made when Elsas parents were in charge of the kingdom and possibly even before them both" Mark said

"Kalda normally would know more about it then I would, but I am not even sure the Featherhead would even know anything about it. And no I'm not interested in the raven girl, she's pretty, but I get the feeling she is spoken for. Irie on the other hand" he was cut off from Who by the sound of his tone alone, was clearly upset.

"Will you please get your mind off my cousin and focus on whats going on right this second ?" Mark cut him off. The loo0k on his face was enough to get the cat to bring out a few old tomes and textbooks. "What are you doing ?"

"Trying to find out more about that star formation" The Tigris side of Mark replied as he searched through old books and such. "Your mind is a wealth of information, memories, details, bits and pieces of history. Though that news of the All-Mother missing has me wondering something else entirely" By then the Tigris was mumbling and Mark was unable to catch most of it

Mark stared at the cat "How would I know about it ?" He asked, he saw each book and tome was detailed by the year and then by location, as well as apparently the month. "I'm the one asking you!"

"Exactly, which means we have to find out what happened and when. When such a Star Formation was formed, it only made sense for it to be made only a few generations back. If the high fucker was right, Elsa never knew about it," Tigris replied

"Yeah, and I never knew about it until the fucker showed it to me" Mark grumbled as he watched the massive cat go through book after book remarkably fast.

"That is just it, he showed it to you, thinking you might know about it already, but instead, you dont, you never knew. So, that said, the only other person who did, someone your parents interacted with if the histories are correct, genetic memory, gotta love it" Tigris seemed happier then he was before. He handed Mark a book, "See what you can find" He said

Mark looked at the date, it was ten years before the attack on the family. He opened it. After a few moments he said "AHA!" He had found something

"Gensundhiet" Tigris replied

"Shut it" Mark gave him a dirty look, he pointed to a section of the book he was reading. "It looks like my mother had interaction with the device to protect the Queen, Idunn of Arendelle when the Star Formation initally backfired and nearly killed the queen at the same time. Had my mother not lent her energy and martial aid, Queen Idunn and the Star Formation would have been lost to space" Mark said. The Tigris took the book as Mark finished reading and read it further

"According to later sections the Star Formation was hidden and then never used until the birth of Elsa and strange signs that preceeded her birth." Tigris read, "It says here that a strange sight appeared overhead and settled briefly over the castle before fading and Idunn felt life within her begin to grow. At the same time the Star Formation began to crumble. A week after Elsas birth, Bishop Kiyori arrived in the kingdom."

"Huh, so thats how long the asshole has been in Arendelle." Mark grunted. He picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.

"According to your mothers handwriting, Bishop Kiyori became a close friend of Queen Idunn and worked his way into the royals favor. But he has no Templar ties or Templar focus either. He was more focused on the Star Formation and what it could do. So Idunn showed it to him." Tigris mumbled. "That might have been the mistake."

"It must be, Kiyoris men are searching various Districts of Arendelle for pieces of stars, called Star Shards. Diana already has one, its a pinkish white, I dont know how many others there are. Aunt Blackmane thinks there is at least six more" Mark said

"Blackie is a good woman, shes taken though so I can only go to the end of my leash and bark, you're lucky she's your aunt, her husband would roast us both" Tigris replied. Mark glared at him "moving on."

"Yes, a new topic sounds great" Mark said with sarcasm thick in his tone

"Where did Diana find that shard ?" Tigris asked

"According to Diana, it was in the Dust District, which upon removal of it, rendered the district as it was named. Also according to Diana, Kiyori's men were incredibly close to finding the stone on its own by themselves until she stepped in." Mark said. Tigris was quiet for a long moment, the books disappeared. Mark was startled at the suddeness of it all. "Something wrong ?"

"Nope, Everything is peachy! There's six more star shards and you know where the next one is. Its right under everyones noses, but you need to look at things differently to see it!" Tigris had a smile that graced his face, it made Mark slightly nervous. "Will you relax, your cousin is the least of your worries right now, first thing you gotta worry about is getting those Shards before the High Priest does"

"I guess we can focus on that" Mark mused. He was thankful at that moment that Blackmane nor Vaeyuko had asked where the scar had come from. Thanks to Kiyomori's Essence Flame that Mark had, he healed quite quickly. So even if it was noticed it looked more like Mark had been scrqatched by a cat in the kingdom somewhere.

"Fine by me" Tigris replied, he took a seat across from Mark, a plexus formed around them briefly as the Tigris poured two new cups of tea, the plexus faded into the stately like home where Mark presumed this Tigris side of him lived, it was nothing like the rest of his mindscape. Not the least bit gloomy

"Whoa" Mark said seeing the change in scenery

"Nice huh ? I had to clean out a lot of crap in the place though when I first got it. You wouldnt believe the muck in this place before I got hold of it." Tigris replied, Mark didnt look up from his tea. His mind was mostly a swampland to begin with, Kalda lived in it and didnt bother to clean it out. Somehow Mark was scared to wonder what the Eagle side of him had for surroundings. "Something on your mind ?"

"The Star Formation was broken, Kalda saw that much and I just barely got out of there with my life and skin intact as it was. But Kalda was knocked out of the fight, I cant get my old armor back." Mark said. "And if you're right of where the next Star Shard is, I think I know where to look as morning gets here."

"So there ya have it, man. And here I kept thinking you were an idiot and too stubborn. Though I gotta admit, we look good as Snow Leopards" Tigris replied

Mark smiled sidelong at the mancat. They sure did, the fur helped in the winter, truth betold he never expected Blackmane to trigger that part of him. Thus making his Tigris side stronger than even his Eagle side.

"Though the featherbrain wanted to let you know, Flying is possible, you just gotta learn how to do a Leap of Faith and trust that even without something to land in, you can always aim to fly" Tigris replied

Mark stared at him. "You mean like in the Dream I shared with Anna, Diana and Elsa ?" Mark had flown, or rather long jumped from certain buildings to get to other locations inside the dream world. Though something new nagged at him at that moment.

"What is it ?" Tigris asked seeing the sudden look of thoughtful ponderment on Marks face.

"The last time I saw my sister, Marion, was the day of the attack when we were kids. But when we were in that dream on the edge of the kingdom, Marion was there, as an adult" Mark said. "When we went on that yearlong abcense from the kingdom, Diana went with us, Anna and Elsa, and I. I dont remember if Kristoff did as well"

"Huh" Tigris replied

Mark sat back in his chair. "Its possible that Diana did the part of Marion, but even in the dream we werent that close" Mark could remember how almost lifelike the dreamworld was

"You think that Diana could be your sister ?" Tigris asked

"No" Mark said with a brief shake of his head. "Not possible, I hadnt seen Marion since we were children the day of the attack, it feels like a lifetime ago"

"Then there you go" Tigris replied as Mark looked towards him "That dream of yours, the one you shared with the others, its possible it is a link between you and a few of them deeper then you realise"

"If you say so" Mark mused, leaning back in his chair he tried to relax, he needed this time to himself for once to really just enjoy the time he had. He could get used to this.

"So whats your plan now ?" Tigris asked after the two spent what must have been all day in the room watching the scenery.

"Right now, wake up. I feel I need to sleep a dreamless sleep for once so I can figure out things in the morning" Mark said, he looked sidelong at Tigris. He didnt know his name yet. "No offense in tended when I stabbed... us"

Tigris smirked, "None taken kiddo. Enjoy your snooze." He then reached over to him.

"What ?" Mark asked

"Happy Dreams sleepy head!" Tigris said as the plexus pattern rippled through Marks vision and the world went black

-8-8-8-

Mark snored in his bed as he slept like a rock. The nice passed restlessly in various places. But in most it slept soundly.

Arendelle

Pine District

At that same moment

"They were so very close" Came a womans voice. DiT stood in the ruined study of the house.

"You were reckless" Came a voice. That of Tiri. The reason they were so close to finding the study and the basement itself was because DiT had indeed covered her tracks well, too well. In the darkness the finding of the cellar door wasnt possible. But in the daylight. Tiri formed from a plexus, projecting herself into a new realm easily enough.

"Even should they find the old computer downstairs, they wont be able to find anything else other then locked doors leading nowhere" DiT replied t othe Icewraith. "Now, dont you have something better to do other then bother me at this time ?"

Tiri knew the voice, and the tone, it was best not to bother her at that moment. "Xeir is safe" She said however in hopes of perking up DiT's attitude, it worked. "The rumors were true, she was in a street fight, her outfit was damaged, but she is healing just fine. Two more days and she'll be back on her feet."

"Good, the sooner the better, What about you ?" DiT replied as she set a few things up. Ensuring that when the study was searched the hallway could be found safely. The same hallway that lead to the computer and the simulation within it.

"I'm alright I guess, still a bit wonky after a few things, but the High Priest is an idiot when he tried to banish me. I proved him wrong." Tiri sounded proud. DiT smiled behind her mask.

"It is settled then" DiT said, "When they find this place, they will find little if anything of where I am. With luck, they will go to the simulation anew. With their abilities to make portals they will be able to return here easily." Tiri didnt know what to make of it, but she trusted Xeir's judgement, and she had m,ade the deal with DiT to keep her body. Xeir was whole again thanks to her Nothing, Elsa, willingly merging back with her.

"Is there any hints I should drop ? Tiri asked

"No, nothing you should worry about. If any try to search for me, they wont find me. Not yet." DiT replied, it was far too soon for her to be found. So she decided to keep dropping hints and clues to send everyone searching for her in random directions.

"Alright, if you're sure you know what you're doing" Tiri said, she was about to fade away whe nDiT spoke up

"Do let Xeir know, she is greatly missed. And she is to let her heart be her guiding key" Tiri nodded at what she was told, it was a long time since anyone had told her that.

"May your heart be your guiding key", it was a strange yet important element to worry about for sure. But Tiri didnt really think on it, she nodded again and faded away. A few more moments passed and DiT opened a portal and disappeared into it.

It was time for the next step.

21 October 2057

Arendelle

Pine Forest District

Sunrise

Sazhori finished a coffee as she waited for Mark to arrive, she was tempted to go search the old manor house, but chose instead for when Mark came to the tavern she was staying at, Roughwater was nice, but Pine Forest View was calmer and the beds were nicer. They were private.

The food was nice too, and the place was not a comotion like most hotels were. Thankfully her fathers portal sent her to the right place. "Madam, are you the one known as Sazhori ?" Came a voice, that of a barkeeper.

"I am" Sazhori replied simply looking up towards him.

"I was asked to give you this" The man replied, handing her a letter. Sazhori took it and opened it, it was a simple, short and well structured bit of information. Basically it was apparently from Light herself. But Sazhori knew it was for her, it was the clue she needed.

"Thank you" She said allowing the man to leave. Sazhori seemingly had permission in her hands to search the manor. The letter however was quickly reduced to ash. The search, Sazhori knew, was not going to be needed. Light was not in Arendelle..

But that did not mean that Sazhori was not going to search the manor in the daylight with Mark and the others that morning. Of course she was, that was the plan after all.

Sazhori took a sip of her coffee, the humans drank the stuff constantly, but it was good for a Raven t ohave on occasion. She had remembered a interesting meeting she had before getting to Arendelle, with a woman with wings. Her name was Spike.

She remembered however, her words. "I forgive you" Did Spike mean what Sazhori had done to her in the past ? Well, now that Sazhori really remembered it, she had killed Spike, all but snapped the womans neck and broke six ribs and pretty much looped off an ear all in one shot.

But Spike forgave her ? Had something happened ? What scared Sazhori was that Spike still lived. But she was, different ? Not exactly evil either. But it didnt matter. Spike forgave Sazhori, did that mean Mark was next ?

The more Sazhori thought about it the more confused she became about the whole thing and told herself to simply not worry about the matter. If she was lucky it could be forgotten, or it could sort itself out.

Sazhori took another ip of coffee and waited a bit more for the others to arrive.

Arendelle

Yaeko District

At that same moment

Xeirs eyes snapped open "Good morning sleepyhead!" Came the chirp from Tiri. "I got some good news and I got some bad news. Which do you want first ?"

Xeir stared at Tiri for a moment from where she laid on her bed. How in the world had Tiri gotten, oh that was right, Tiri never went to bed until very late the night before. Almost sunup actually. Had she slept ? It was only nine in the morning, so why... "Wha ? What are, Tiri ?!" For once Tiri caught Xeir not in just her scales.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news ?" Tiri repeated. Giving Xeir a confused look, why was she reacting like this, she never did this before!

Xeir forced herself to calm down, "I want breakfast, but not in bed. Zen!" Xeir called out, the Sparrow was waiting outside the room and came in with the food as if ready to do so on her name being called. "Tiri, whats going on ? I thought you were going to go with Fuiu after resting and go back to the Galasia District ?"

"That was the plan, but Fuiu saw through some spiders that a hovertrain had gone to that old mansion outside the kingdom up in the Pine Forest district. I think something is going down there, but Im not sure exactly of what."

That old manor, Xeir knew it well, possibly too well, she didnt want to think about it. "Why is it even still standing ?" She thought it was nothing but a distant memory by then. It wasnt.

"Dunno, dont care, the fact is, something is going on. DiT isnt anywhere either. And nobody can find Mom" Tiri said, she hadnt seen Light since three years before when she and Marion met up with her inside that old bedroom of Marions in the Wolf Manor.

"And the good news ?" Xeir asked

Tiri looked like she was going to tell a joke she had heard on the radio in London the week before but instead said "The good news is, the Galasia District is fully opened up, erverything is is rebuilt since it began last year. And the best part. Nara and his guys are ready whenver you are to take the fight to the High Priest." Tiri said, she had a cheery tone to her voice.

Xeir just gave her a confused look as the woman ate her breakfast, Tiri was an interesting pile of ice, and Xeir knew that at one point, Tiri was her body, and she felt good when Xeir wore her again. It had been too long since Xeir and Tiri were one single person. But Tiri was now herself, and so was Xeir. But that didnt mean Tiri couldnt be her armor like she used to be. Wearing Tiri briefly the night before had Xeir thinknig of the ways they could fight together, and maybe survive fights better with the High Priests men.

Finally Xeir finished her breakfast. She felt ready to take on the day. She stood from the table and went to her sleeping chambers side of the house, the curtains had been drawn allowing her some modesty and privacy. After a moment she stepped back into Tiris line of sight, once more wearing a demure green flower printed gown that hugged her body, yet showed off her body at the same time, but it was in no way as eyecatching as the white and gold gown was.

She went to the table as Tiri stirred a cup of coffee with a shard of ice. Picking up her belt, Xeir put it on, then also picked up her weapons, her sword, and its dagger twinn were placed where they belonged. While the Soft leather boots were slid upon her feet. "So," Tiri asked as Xeir looked at her. "Whats the plan ?"

"Right now, explore, the guards wont recognise me in this outfit so I should be able to come across a bit of rumor or two. I need to learn more about this High Priest fellow" Xeir said as she stood up. She stepped to the door as Tiri down her coffee, turning back to the icewraith she asked "Coming ?"

Tiri smiled, as much an Icewraith could smile, and shattered into shards of ice, wisping and curling around Xeir to reform as part of her clothing once anew. Invisible to the naked eye, and yet, still very beautiful to begin with. Tiri's ice gave her clothing a bit more sparkle

Xeir smiled, the two women, or rather, the one woman wearing the other like a second skin left the courtyard home and began to explore the nearby Dune District

Arendelle

Marketplace Assassin Den

At that same moment

Irie was up before sunrise, which was normal for her, rare was it when Irie slept in. For once Mark didnt see her at breakfast and it made him slightly confused until Vaeyuko mentioned she had already eaten and had begun work on a new project. Grandma Snowblood, and her sister Bluemane had briefly visited that morning before leaving. Mark had only heard of Bluemane but never met her, a bluehaired woman with no kids and no husband, either she was on her nineth life or she never got married. But she ran a foster home in Rome.

Mark was more concerned with his recent toys Irie had given him. With his dream the night before he actually wondered a few things and decided to ask Irie if his thoughts were in the right zone of direction.

Knocking lightly on the doorframe, Mark entered Iries workshop, for once it was mostly clean and Irie didnt look like she was a sex crazed predator searching for a target. She looked normal, as normal as a single blind looking eyed girl could look working in a workshop surrounded by all sorts of technical toys and gizmos that could make even the best computer hacker nervous.

Not that Mark was nervous 'You wanted to see me ?" He'd gotten her note, she had a software update for his armor.

"Yeah" Irie said, she sounded more serene, as if being in her element of making stuff for the Assassins made her calmer. Less prone to rash actions. "Set your bracelet on that arm wrist there" She nodded towards a dummy like hand. Mark did so as Irie explained, "I got a software update, it's mostly bug fixes that Aunt Blackie found. There was a weird incompatiblity with the Essence Flame that Kiyomori gave her.I thought any flame could work, but the flames that you and I have, those work fine, but the flame that Aunt Blackie has, it didnt heal her as it should have when her armor was active."

"So that explains why Aunt Blackmane looks the way she does recently" Mark said, meaning the scars, torn dress, the battle damage really wasnt healing like it should have been.

"Exactly, it was a incompatiblity between her armor and the Essence Flame" Irie typed on a holographic keypad. "This shouldnt take long" She said, taking a shot of expresso from the nearby fridge she tossed one to Mark before getting another for herself. She seemed thoughtful about something.

"Something bugging you ?" Mar kasked her seeing her trying to avoid making eye contact with him.

"Could say that" Irie replied

"Look if its about what happened two nights ago" Mark started to explain, he'd forgiven her, he never was mad at her just, starteld by the whole thing, there wasnt any harm done or offense taken.

"No its about that" Irie said, cutting him off, "Its my own fault really. I wanted to apologise. If I made you upset"

Now it was Marks turn to cut her off "Dont be, its alright. Quite honestly, you really just startled me is all" Mark said in reply, there was no harm done truth be told, Irie had infact startled him, he never expected anyone to be in his room at that time of night outside of his sisters. "Truth be told I thought you were Serena about to deck me for landing on her again" Mark had figured that since both of his sisters, Serena and Serenity the twin daughters of Snowfeather Elisar.

Irie blushed, compared to her cousins, Irie was tiny. "I'm not her, I'm too small, if anything I'm more like Grandma Snowblood" She said, there was someone Mark never thought of for Irie to try and look like. "I mean look at me"

"I'm actually trying not to" Mark mumbled in Draconic, as Irie was speaking, she couldnt hope to understand his words

"How can you look at me in the dark and think that I look like Serena or Serenity ? Am I really their size in the dark ?" Irie said

Mark opened his mouth to speak, but thankfully did not get his ass handed to him because there was a saved by the bell moment for him at the moment.

The device beeped before Mark could reply and get himself into deeper shit with his cousin. Irie set her coffee mug on the desk, picking up the watchlike item from the arm. "That should do it, here" She held it out to him. "Put it on and check the status" Mark did so and the armor washed over his body soundlessly. Mark noted the latest version on his HUD and nodded. Everything was working, it even noted what kind of Essence Flame Mark had, in this case the basic Healing Lotus Flame.

"Everything works like the time you gave it to me last week" Was it a week that he had been back ? More like four days now that he really thought on it. Mark looked to be in a slight hurry though. "Ah damnit, I didnt think it was that late" He said

"What ?" Irie asked him, a confused look on her face and in her tone.

"I gotta meet up with some Assassins and Diana, we're searching a building for some information on somebody, hopefully they can shed some light on things going on here for us too" Mark said heading for the door, he stopped in the frame "Anything you want me to watch for on this update ?"

"Ensure the tech works is one thing, Aunt Blackie modified a few bits of the HUD so you might even be able to scan a soldier and see what kind of weapons they have readily within reach. It cant scan through clothing yet. So you wont be seeing naked people." Irie told him. Mark smiled and thanked her before leaving. He never saw that she had a copy of his room key, and now that she knew he was going to be busy, she had a plan.

Though the thought and idea of someone having information to help against the High Priest. It got her wondering something. So as Mark left, her mother called for her, Irie was already going up the steps to the main level of the structure. "Mom ? You wanted me ?" Mark headed for the door, he had other shit to do.

"Yes, does that structure look funny to you ?" Vaeyuko pointed at a nearby belltower in the Marketplace Disrtict through a window. Both women stepped outside into the courtyard where they could get a better look.

The two spotted a strange glow from the structure. "It looks like a belltower overly polished ?" Irie said

"It does yes, but, you need something to do while thinknig about how to get into your cousins pants, or him into yours. So, this will for the time being, get your mind off him." Vaeyuko said, Irie gave her a confused look, then she remembered how her mother had found out.

"I cant keep secrets from you can I, Mom ?" Irie asked her, Vaeyuko shook her head.

"By the look of things, the High Priest has no soldiers yet in this district, they're either patroling the other districts, or trying to find your aunt at this moment. From what she told me, his men keep trying to grab her, but she always sends them away empty handed, in this case the last attempt they nearly had her." Vaeyuko said

"There are patrols, but if I take rooftops and keep that belltower in my line of sight, I might be able to find what is making that purple sparkle" Irie mused.

"You do that, infact, do it by lunchtime and hopefully you can figure out your cousins habits." Vaeyuko said to her

"I think I already did" Irie smirked

"What do you mean ?" Vaeyuko asked her

Irie smiled, "Last night while he was out, after dinner I put one of my two way screens in his room, he thought it was a normal TV and turned the screen off, but I was able to still watch him, I think I have an idea, but Im not sure how to go about it yet." Irie said. She perked up. "But, you're right mom, I'll do this puzzle, its been a while since I've really been able to explore the kingdom again. I miss doing it." With that Irie headed for the rooftop. She had work to do.

Vaeyuko watched her daughter head off on her new venture. It was about time she was outside, for the moment Irie was pale, shed have a nice tan after this. Vaeyuko turned and went back into the Den, she herself had work to do. If that purple sparkle was what Vaeyuko presumed it to be at least.

Arendelle

Marketplace District

Rooftops

A few moments later

Irie freeran past a few sentries and tackled one, knocking the man clean out as she landed on him, all her weight on his shoulders drove him to the rooftop platform in a heap. Most of the sentries didnt have heavy weapons, maybe a simple rifle or small pistol.

Irie stood at the base of the belltower by that point, looking up she saw nothing out of the ordinary until she slightly shifted her vision, her feline eyes taking in everything in a new light. A sparkle of purple danced above, almost like starlight. Since she was already on the rooftops, climing the belltower was easy.

Once on the top of the belltower the woman balanced on a beam and dropped slightly down to a lower railing. Inside the towers great bell room the dancing purple starlight continued. "Found you" She said softly. Quickly gently, pulling open the grate she reached in.

Picking up a shard about as big as her ring finger, Irie saw that the shard glowed a bright beautiful lumicent purple. Climbing back out of the tower onto the beam, Irie examined the shard. "What is this thing ?" She mumbled softly.

Unlike what happened with Diana in the Dust District, the Marketplace District didnt have an earthquake from nowhere occur. Instead a brief shining of the outdoor lights grew a bit brighter at night. And stayed on fine during the daylight hours.

The urge to get the shard to safety nagged on her mind as she slid the thing between her breasts to hide it, the dress top snug around the shard, it felt oddly warm. She knew only one person could hide something like that, as well as keep it safe, which meant she had to find Diana. Or Mark, and fast.

Crouched upon the beam she looked out over the Marketplace, there. A brief butt wiggle, like a common cat, and she pushed off the beam into a leap of faith. Mark had mentioned he was going to search a structure for information, so what structure would that be ? Irie stood near the hovertrain tracks and thought a brief moment.

Where was the place Mark was going to search ? Did the Hovertrains go that far ? Was it in the Kingdom ? With that in mind Irie broke into a sprint, shifting her legs slightly into a cheetah form and then jumped at the last second onto the moving hovertrain, the second to last car still had its doors open as if it was just pulling away.

Irie climbed up the steps and into the hovertrain, looking for a map of the hovertrain lines she found what she sought rather quicker then expected. Reading over the thing she found a District still under enemy control. But had never been to it.

It was so far out of the Kingdoms core that the nearest 'town' within the District, whe nthe rest of them were all packed buildings along each street, was a Pine forest of some form, the Pine Forest District.

An old farm was there, Irie remembered her mom talking about it, a puzzle waiting to be solved, but that was just after Mark and Elsa had left the kingdom with Princess Anna and Diana on that year long sabbatical

Irie smirked, she knew where her cousin was going to search. Now to find him. Was he on the train ? Was this hovertrain going in that direction ?

Anwswer to both questions was a big fat. Nope.