Marie led the way out of the city and into Prontera fields, Sora and Spirit following behind.

"This area is really peaceful compared to a lot of other places on this world. Monsters here are laid back and only attack when provoked." she explained. As they walked up a hill, something caught their eye, a vulpine creature with nine tails, and razor sharp teeth.

"Uh oh!" Marie exclaimed "That's a Ninetails! Somebody must have summoned it with a dead branch."

Spirit turned to look at her. "What do we do?" he asked nervously.

"Run like heck!"

"We should be safe in the city" she said, pointing towards the portal as she held out her staff "I'll stall the critter for now!"
Spirit hesitantly nodded, but then shook his head "No! I won't leave your side ever!"
She understood and grinned, thwacking the creature with her mighty weapon "You can use some practice!"
He materialized his blade, as the creature growled and meowed, trying to attack Marie. Yet she was too speedy for it, dodging most of its blows as Spirit raised the sword in the air, letting its own weight fall upon the creature. It let out a yelp of pain, as Marie smiled, feeling proud of her friend and how his skills improved. But she became distracted as the creature bit her, and sank its teeth into her skin. Though it couldn't pierce the flesh, it bit down harder, squeezing at her ankle until Spirit realized and made the finishing blow. As he looked over to Marie, she sat on the ground, rubbing her ankle as she tried to smile, yet winced in pain at the same time.
"Manyo... it sprained meh ankle..."

Spirit quickly knelt down, wanting to help her.

"I'll be fine, really..." she looked to be in a great deal of pain, but didn't want the Gaia to worry. "No, you're hurt. I can't let you go on like this."

Marie sighed reluctantly, but was really happy that Spirit cared for her so much. He blushed a bit as he lifted her into his arms, being very careful not to put any strain on her leg. "

You'll be okay." he said comfortingly. Marie looked up at him, her blue eyes gazing into his.

"I know I will..." but then she sighed "I just feel so weak at times..." she looked up to him as he carried her to the town's entrance "Whenever I mess up, I get hurt... and I rely on others..." she frowned "I want to be able to protect myself..."
"But you're the strongest person I know!" he said smiling, blushing even more "You never hesitate to help a friend, and you even saved my life... you also have a great quality you should never take for granted" he continued on "You have this way of making me smile, every moment I'm with you is like heaven on earth! You shouldn't be disappointed in yourself!"
She paused a moment, closing her eyes in though, but then smiled "I guess you're right!"

She nodded as they entered the city and Spirit laid Marie down on a nearby bench.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Yeah... Just a little..." she answered, trying to get up, but Spirit laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked, a look of worry in his eyes. Marie looked up at him, smiling slightly.

"Well... Could you sing for me?"

He blushed a little, but couldn't deny Marie her wish. Just then, the sword reappeared, and morphed again. The blades closed together, the handle lengthened, and a series of energy strands came down from the jewel on the end of it.

"It's... A guitar!" Spirit said as he looked at this strange, new transformation.

"Hum..." Marie thought "Maybe you can play the Song of Lutie?"
"Lutie" Spirit's ears perked as Marie started to hum a slow, soft song. He nodded, carrying on the tune as if h heard it before. White apples started floating around, magically appearing, a visual effect from the melody. Marie started smiling, sitting up as she happily stared on, slipping a long, silver object out from her large, dress pocket. She pressed the object, a flute, against her lips, creating a light, sound as she played along with him. A tranquile melody drifted around the area, as everyone stood by, looking on at the free performance, but then continued on their way. When the two musicians finished, Marie stood with ease, running towards Spirit as she glomped him, causing him to almost fall backwards, saying "You are a bard!"

"And you can walk!" he said excitedly.

"Of course! The song of Lutie has healing powers." she explained "Only a bard can use it the way you did."

Spirit looked pleased by what he had just done, but was happier that Marie was okay.

"So I guess we're off to Al De Baran?" Sora said, feeling a bit left out.

"Yup! The Kafra employee here should be able to teleport us." Marie happily walked off, humming the song that had healed her.

"You like her, don't you." Sora said, a big grin on his face. Spirit blushed up almost instantly, too embarrassed to speak. Before he could answer, Marie called out "Hurry up, you two" with cheer, as Spirit noticed and followed.
"Okay, that's 4 warps tp Al De Baran?" the employee asked, as she nodded, pointing to herself and the three who followed her.
"Spirit, Sora, Aeon and me"
The lady nodded and bowed, as the familiar white light surrounded the party, warping them to another city far away. Spirit found himself appearing in front of a great tower on a white, cobblestone road, surrounded by many canals. Soon Marie appeared right by him, as well as the other two, and they managed to get through the crowd, sitting on benches. Marie began to yawn slightly, as the sun started to set.
"Darn, it's getting late, maybe we should stay in this town... by an inn..." Aeon suggested, as Marie shook her head, saying "She lives in this town..."
Spirit tilted his head slightly, as did Sora "Who?"
As she was about to answer, someone tackled her to the ground from behind, a blond-haired lady, nuzzling her cheek against her fur, saying "Maaaaaaaarie It's been forever, but you're still fluffy soft like I remember"
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!" she called, struggling against the demi's weight, but found herself too weak as Aeon tried pulling her up by her collar. She struggled against his weight, as Marie gasped for air.
"Nuuuuu!" she cried "I must hug her, she's so cuddly!""You have to stop this, the poor thing can barely breath!" he scolded, as Marie ducked behind Spirit, saying "Her..."

The lady then caught sight of the young Gaia. Without delay, she broke free of Aeon's grip and started to hug Spirit senseless.

"Succi, no! He's not immortal like me!" Marie shouted, trying to pull her away.

"But he's so soft!" she said, her victim turning blue from the lack of air. Suddenly, Sora wedged his Keyblade between the two and pushed them apart like a crow-bar. Spirit fell limp to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Are you okay!" Marie said as she rushed up to him. He gave a weak nod, but then passed out. "Succi, look what you've done to him!" Marie gave her a resentful glare, as she forced a grin. She walked over to Succi and whispered in her ear, "I'm only going to say this once: THE KITTY'S MINE!"

"Oh really?" she said deviously, as she looked to Marie with a grin. She just realized what she said and blushed up, turning away to Spirit's unconscious body, trying to lift him, but found herself unable to, him being larger than she.
"Let me take care of him" Sora said, lifting the feline's body in his arm, as Marie lead them towards an inn.
"He jus' needs some rest" she said with a smile, as she laid some zeny among the counter top, getting two keys.
"Spirit and I will share room 53" she said, taking one of them "You and Aeon will have room 55!"
Sora nodded, taking the key as they walked upstairs, entering as he laid Spirit on the bed, heading with the sniper to the neighboring room. Marie let out a yawn, climbing onto the same bed as she laid a head on his stomach, hearing an unconscious purring as she drifted off to sleep. Spirit didn't awaken until many hours later, still reeling from the near fatal glomp. Marie was already awake, but still happily rested on his stomach.

"I was waiting for you to get up." she said before hugging him. He looked down at his body, noticing he was back in his usual clothes.

"I figured you'd be more comfy in these." Marie explained.

"Thanks! So you used your magic?."

She suddenly blushed. "Yeah... Magic..."

Spirit then hopped out of bed, not noticing Marie's slight embarrassment. She took his hand, smiling slightly with soft eyes, trying to hide the redness. He barely noticed that, being distracted by her wide eyes, deep blue "They're so pretty..."
"Huh?" she tilted her head, as Spirit blushed.

"Errmmm... nothing" he said, looking out the window. Night... he thought, looking towards the starry sky. Marie stared up too "You know, no matter where you are, no matter where I am, when we stare up at the sky, we are under the same blanket of stars... when I was little, and alone... sad and scared, I used to stare at the sky, and think someone else was out there, staring up as well..." she smiled "Sound silly, huh?"

Spirit shook his head. "I don't think it's silly... I've often thought the same thing." Marie turned to him, smiling.

"You know, we're a lot alike..." he nodded happily "I think that's why we make such great friends."

Marie suddenly looked a bit more serious "Yeah... But, do you ever think... It's more than that..." she said, a hint of red on her cheeks. Spirit didn't know what to say, and just stood with a surprised look on his face.

"Spirit... I remember that day at the beach..."

He instantly blushed up, and was taken aback by this news.

"I remember what you said to me as I passed out..."

Spirit hung his head low, both embarrassed and afraid.

"So... You know..."

Marie nodded, but then looked at him; smiling. Without hesitation, she tackled him to the floor and started purring into his ear. He smiled, picking her up with a snuggle as she said gleefully "Dun worry, Spirit, I love you too"
"Awwww" little did they know, Aeon had opened the door, and witnessed most of the scene as he chuckled "Heh, little Marie has fallen head over heels!"
"Yeah..." Sora paused, also looking on as both blushed intensely "I knew those two were sweet hearts from the start..." he said, taking out a little star-shaped pendant, thinking it makes me miss Kairi... what I wouldn't give to see her once more...
"Sora, you okay?" Marie suddenly noticed his change in mood, as he forced a goofy smile, scratching the back of his head.
"Yeah, I'm just thinking about someone..."
Marie got off Spirit, letting him stand as she changed his suit back to the bard outfit using magic. She smiled "Succi glomping you was a minor setback... and it looks like we may have to walk to Juno..." she uneasily forced a smile "I spent the last of our zeny on our rooms..."

"Walk! Have you forgotten how far away it is!" Aeon shouted.

"It's not like we can't camp out overnight." Marie said "What do you think, Spirit?" Unfortunately, the young Gaia was in a state of shock and disbelief.

"Poor little kitty... He must be really shy..." she thought.

"Umm... I... Don't mind..." he said, body quaking from anxiety.

"Okay, but let's hurry. This armor is murder on my shoulders." Sora interrupted. Aeon and the Keyblade master then walked out of the room, leaving Spirit and Marie alone again. She then walked over to him and held out her hand.

"Whatever happens now, we'll face it together."