I've been watching Sailor Moon(which is incredibly corny as some points but amusing all the same)...Anyway, that, Harry Potter, and ToA at the same time is giving me some pretty funky dreams.

I had to rush the end a bit though.

I don't own ToA.

Read on!!


"My old man taught me how to fight. Since then, I just got better and better. He traveled around a lot, so I went with him sometimes. Eventually we were paid where ever we went to held get rid of monsters an what not. Travelings sorta in my blood." Peony explained.

"So it's like you were a mercenary your entire life." Tear said.

"I guess you could say that."

So far, all they had done was walk in a giant circle around the city, but Peony never seemed to stop talking. Tear only had to nod or ask a question when she felt the time was right. "What happened to your father?"

"Oh, he passed away some time ago." Peony said offhandedly.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't worry. I think he'd be upset of I, or anyone else for that matter, mourned his death too much. He was pretty tough, my old man..." Peony shook his head. "But anyway, I've been talking on and on this whole time. Tell me about yourself."

"Well," Tear tried to make up a story that was close to her own, but not exact. "You already know I was born and raised in Engave. I was an only child, but I did have many friends. I like to spend a lot of time in the corn fields, when I was a child. Two of my friends and I would wander into the middle of the field with sticks, well, they brought string too. They were good archers. Not that I ever got hurt."

"Really? Sparing is considered a child's game in Engave?" Peony asked.

"I guess so. I was always the first on down. They were too fast. I was surprised that their bows stayed together though. Then I moved up to Grand Chokmah to live with my cousin's family."

"Why?"

"Um...My m-mother died.." Tear stuttered again.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I guess we have something in common then. But why did you go with your cousin on his journey? Wouldn't that be dangerous for some one like you?" Peony asked.

Because I got kidnapped...Tear thought, but she only shrugged. "I'm a seventh fonist, so I knew some healing artes that would be helpful. And if you count my child's sparing as a child as fighting experience." They continued back into the central square.

"I see." Something on the billboard caught his eye. It was a missing persons report from Engave. 'Mysterica Grants' was written across the bottom. The girl in the picture had blue eyes, and long brown hair. Peony looked back to 'Aurora', who was walking back to the inn, they had the same face....She turned around.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"What? Uh, no, it's nothing." Peony shook his head. She shrugged and walked on. He followed her, not before tearing the page from the billboard and shoving it in his pocket.


"Where've you two been?" Asch asked as they walked back into the room.

"Just around the town." Peony said as he fell back onto his bed. "Talking."

"About?"

"Just stuff." Peony shrugged and took another drink from his bottle.

Asch glanced at Tear who merely shrugged. "Just stuff."

"Well, we're leaving tomorrow to Akzeriuth, so get some rest." Asch turned around and threw the blanket over himself again.

"...It's only seven." Peony looked at the clock. "Who goes to bed at seven?"

"Me. And you if you don't shut up soon." Asch growled.

Peony snorted slightly. "He's pretty bossy, ain't he?" he whispered.

"I manage." Tear replied. She looked around the room. She didn't exactly have anything, what was she supposed to do? Sit here until she fell asleep? "...Where were you before now?"

"Hm..." Peony put his hand to his chin. "Kaitzur I believe. Monster problems in Choral Castle. You know, that old abandoned vacation home in Kimlasca."

"You've probably been allover the world." Tear said.

"Sorta. Everywhere except the Mt. Roneal range. I really can't stand the cold, so I don't go up north often."

"I see. Is fighting all you do though? Isn't there anything else?"

"You like to ask questions don't you?" Peony stared at her. She looked away, opting to stare at the ceiling as she laid back.

"I guess...If I'm going to talk to you, I might as well."

"Point taken." Peony opened his mouth wide, taking in a long breath of air. As he finished yawning, he grinned. "Well, it's only seven, but I've been traveling so long, I think I'll have a nap..."

He was sleeping almost immediately. "Great..." Tear muttered. Now she was bored with no one to talk to.

I wonder what Natalia and Mary are doing right now...She thought. In the silence of the evening, besides Peony's snoring, Tear found herself dozing off. Almost. There was something hitting the window. She sat up, frowning. She was trying to take a nap damn it! Something yellow disappeared just as she looked over. She stepped over to the window, opening it just so she could stick her head out. Guy was sitting just under the window sill. "...Aren't you a little old to be sneaking around, looking in people's windows?"

He looked up. "Be quiet, I'm only 35! Now let me see Asch!"

Tear glanced behind her, Asch snored quietly. "He's sleeping."

"Well wake him up!"

Tear shrugged, and stood over Asch bed. "Let's see..." she shook his shoulder. He slept on. "Asch....Asch..." He still slept. She didn't want to wake up Peony at the same time so...

"Gah! What the?!" Asch sputtered as some form of cold liquid hit his face.

"Shh!" Tear put her finger over her lips.

"What was that for!?"

"Guy wants to talk to you." Tear jabbed a thumb behind her to the window.

Asch grumbled in annoyance as he stood up slowly to look out the window. "Guy? What are you doing under there? What do you want?"

Tear wandered back to her bed, making quickly sure that Peony was still sleeping. She nodded as said mercenary rolled over and snored on, mumbling about rappigs or something.


"Bow."

"Check."

"Sufficient arrows."

"Check."

"Food to get us to St. Binah."

"...Yep."

"...Clothes."

"Check."

"Extra of everything I just mentioned."

"......"

"..."

"...Yep..."

"My rapier."

"Yes."

"Yours?"

"Right here."

"Lantern."

"Uh huh."

"Compass and map."

"Yep. And the camping stuff, yada yada yada, monthly needs, blah blah, we're good!"

"...Natalia."

"Yeah?"

"...Nothing. Come on, I've got the key."

"Mary?"

"Yes?"

"How are we getting out?"

"Don't worry, I've got a plan."

The back entrance of a small house next to the inn opened slightly, and two girls quickly slipped out, unnoticed by anyone. They kept low to the ground, almost invisible in the darkness of the night, and headed for the southern exit of Engave. Two guards stood watching the fields, lanterns held high.

Natalia nodded as Mary gestured for her to keep quiet. She quietly prepared an arrow, then shot it into the trees behind the guards. As expected, something inside the trees branches squealed at the sudden arrow, and the guards turned their attention to the disturbance.

"What was that?" One asked.

"Let's go check, come on." Natalia grinned as they ran to check the bushes around the area.

"Go!" Mary started running, Natalia just behind her. They started to run east immediately, running along the outer walls fro a short time, to avoid the light from the lanterns. Natalia was gasping for air when Mary finally slowed down."We're far enough, they won't be able to see us out here."

"Good." Natalia panted. "So which way to St. Binah?"

"Check the map. We'll have to head west for a while, then follow the river to the bridge." Mary ran her finger over their path on the map.

"That's going to take at least a day." Natalia said. Mary nodded. "Let's go then."

The two sisters started south. The sun was rising as they came to the river, passing through a forest. They stopped every once and a while to rest, drink and eat, then moved on. More than half of their arrows were gone by the time they got out of the forest. As they continued down the river, no long from the forest, they finally arroved at the bridge that would lead them to St. Binah. With much sighing of relief from Natalia, who thought they'd run out of arrows before then, and didn't want to try and start a fire again.

The streets were crowded with people when they arrived, sweaty and in Natalia's case, tired and hurting.

"You spend too much time drawing in the fields than farmwork." Mary said.

"..." Natalia looked around. "What do we do?"

"We ask around. We need to find that High Knight again. I know he headed here." Mary said. She started pulling her sister to the inn. "Come on, the inn keeper may have seen him."

"Right." They pushed their way through the bustling crowds to the inn. "Are all these people here for the Autumn festival?"

"Most likely." Mary said. "I'm glad we never get this many people in Engave..."

Natalia approached the desk as they entered the inn, which was considerably cooler than the outside streets. There was a blond man with a sword and armor exiting his room, heading to the desk with his key. "Um, excuse me?"

"Oh, are you looking for a room? Sorry, we're booked solid this week." The inn keeper turned, shaking his head.

"No, we just need to ask you something." Mary interrupted. "We need to know if you've seen a man, about this tall," she held her hand up to demonstrate. "With red hair, a sword? I believe he was a knight of some form?"

The inn keeper opened his mouth, but some one behind him spoke first.

"The High Knight, Asch?"

They turned to face the new voice. "Yes, I think so."

The man smiled. "Yeah, he was here with his cousin. They left this morning though."

"...Cousin?" Mary muttered. "Do you know where they went?"

"Akzeriuth I think." he shrugged. "Why?"

"Oh, um, he's a friend...of ours..." Mary trailed off.

"Really?" he raised a brow.

"Well, of our father's." Natalia cut in. "We need to ask a favor of him." Mary nodded with her.

"So you want to follow them to Akzeriuth then?" the man asked. They nodded."Well, it'd be dangerous for just the two of you young ladies, wouldn't it? You'd have to go over the Deo range, and in Kimlascan land. I'm headed the same way, I could escort you there."

Mary thought this over in her head. It would be dangerous with just the two of them, and it would be quicker with three. "Are you a mercenary?" she asked.

"Yep, helping people and travelling is in my blood, so I'd be happy to help." he nodded.

"Well, we'd be happy for you to accompany us."

"Great. My name is Peony."

"Mary, this is my younger sister, Natalia." Peony stepped forward, kissing both their hands.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss." Peony said with a smile. Natalia blushed.

"The same to you. Shall we leave then?" Mary said.

"Gladly."