AUTHOR'S NOTE

OMG an update!

I'm SOOOO sorry this is way late. Both life and my brain decided not to cooperate with me.

Thank you soooooo much Ai-Sama for all of your help with my poor mental block and for beta-ing my story

And thank you to all of you who are reading/faving/reviewing my story.

As per a request, this chappy will be about Francis and Matthew and their little adventure. :)

***Disclaimer*** I do NOT own these characters. I just keep wishing for it, but it never seems to happen :(

Italicized are thoughts.

Oh and pardon my French accent, it isn't very good :/

Chapter 7

At the same time that Arthur and Alfred were in Ezra, Francis and Matthew were also headed south towards a mining town called Bastille.

Even before entering the town, Francis was opposed to go there. "MON DIU! IT'S FILTHY! MY BEAUTIFUL FIGURE WILL BE RUINED! I WILL NOT GO!" he had cried.

"Ah, but we have to, it is a part of a very important mission." a young Matthew tried to reason.

Matthew shot a pleading look at Francis, who in return, glomped him and said, "Oh, Mathieu, you look so adorable." A rose suddenly appeared out of thin air, into his hand, as Francis continued, "Since you insist, let us go there and find a way to defeat this horrible creature!" And with that, he grabbed the boy's hand and started to drag Matthew with him to Bastille.

- Bastille - Town Square -

After having to spend the last couple hours searching the town for any possible clue as to the whereabouts of the dangerous shadow demon or any possible creatures working for it, both Francis and Matthew come up with nothing to show for it, except for exhaustion and achy feet. They tried to speak to the miners and some of the townspeople, but no one was willing to talk to the outsiders; the townspeople tried to avoid the two like they had some sort of dangerous illness or something.

"OH! Coming to this filthy town was nothing but a waste of our precious time." Francis complained. "No one will talk with us, or give us any clue as to what that shadow could possibly want or what it is planning to do!" he continued, as he began to flail about to make his statement a little more dramatic.

"Please, try to calm down Francis." Matthew began, "I think we should try to just a little harder. Perhaps maybe we should find some ladies, and you could use your charm and they will talk to you?"

After that Francis gave him an odd, (possibly thoughtful) look. Matthew, taking that look as meaning that he said something wrong, began to fluster and whispered, "Oh, or maybe you feel it would be better to go a different town?"

"Mathieu, what a grand idea! Why did I not think of it before? !" Francis exclaimed and began to walk off, but not before grabbing Matthew and starting to drag the young looking boy along with him.

- Bastille -Junket's Tavern -

Standing outside the door, Francis and Matthew could hear many overlapping conversations, but once entering the building, all became silent. Coming in just a little more, many of the people started to get up and leave, staying as far away from the pair as they possibly could. Once they reached the bar, there was only the bartender left in the tavern.

"What can I do for you, sir?" The young woman asked, with a sideways glare at Francis. She had long, brown hair that is pulled into a braid, dark grey eyes, and pale skin. She is wearing a puffy kind of shirt that hides her petit figure, long black slacks, and black boots. She has a somewhat annoyed look on her face as she turns back to cleaning some of the glasses.

"Ah, mademoiselle, I was hoping you could answer a few questions," Francis said, pulling out another rose and turning on all the charm that he has.

Giving him a sort of bored look, she responded, "I would rather you don't. You should leave town as soon as possible, the townspeople don't trust many outsiders."

Matthew, who had finally been able to get into a chair so that he could see over the counter, cocked his head and asked "Why not, miss?"

The bartender turned to him, stopped for a moment, and then shouted "AWWWWWW! Well aren't you just the most adorable thing I have ever seen!" The woman then pulled Matthew over the counter and started to squeeze the poor boy as she hugged him and spun around. All the while, leaving Francis a little dumbfounded and slightly dejected.

Starting to get a little sick from being swung around in the tight hug, Matthew tries his hardest to say in his loudest voice which barely comes above a whisper, "Please, ma'am, we would like to ask you a few questions!"

The bartender came to a stop and put little Matthew on top of the counter. "Oh, please hun, call me Lacey. 'Ma'am' makes me sound old," Lacey said, with a smile.

Matthew cocked his head a little and gave her a closed eye'ed smile, "Ok, Miss Lacey."

Blushing, Lacey hugged him and started to spin once again, "AWWW! So adorable!"

"Ah… Miss Lacey…please…stop…" Mathew gasped for a breath, after she released him slightly, "… we would like to know why everyone in town doesn't like outsiders?" he tried to question, in a dazed state.

Lacey stopped once again, and replied, "Well, they just aren't sure who to trust. There have been a lot of people who have gone missing recently, especially in Agon forest that is just on the outskirts of town, and they just aren't sure what is causing it. If it is thieves on the road, or a monster? There just isn't anything left of those who went missing, so we don't know if they are dead or what."

"AH HA! Then perhaps, we should find out the culprit or culprits?" Francis asked, trying to get within the bartender's good graces.

"Oh, that would be a big help! But I don't see how someone like you could possibly help. And I don't expect you to bring this defenseless child with you." Lacey stated, as she hugged Matthew once again.

"Of course not, mademoiselle, I will find the thieves or monster that is taking away your beloved ones." Francis said as he bowed before her.

"Oh ok, well in that case, this little cutie can stay here with me while you are away." She declared, as Matthew shot Francis a pleading look of: please don't leave me here with this crazy woman!

"I apologize, Mathieu, please wait here till I'm done." Francis said, with a small, apologetic smile on his face. He started towards the door.

"Wha…wait, Fran…" Matthew started to say, but was cut off when Francis opened the door and left the tavern.

- Bastille - Outskirts -

Leaving the populated portion of town, where the monster was suppose to be located, Francis regrets having to leave the poor little vampire with such a headstrong, possibly crazy, woman but he figured that Matthew would be able to take care of himself for just a little while. The sun was getting close to setting, giving him possibly 2 hours of light before night hit. As he walked through the forest, the trees got denser and denser. Going slowly, looking around carefully to make sure nothing jumps out in front of him, Francis does not watch where he steps and plunges into a deep muddy puddle.

"AHHHH! No! My clothing, my beautiful clothing!" Francis cried out and flails his arms trying to get out of the puddle. Some of the bushes swish behind him, but he paid it no mind as he mourned his dirtied clothing.

He tries to clean himself off, but to no real avail, so then he just begins to dredge on again.

- Agon Forest - About 1.5 hours later -

Tired, Francis leans against a tree and looks towards the sky. He can still see a lot of clouds and little bit of sunlight but not much. His trek through the forest has proven uneventful since his unfortunate meeting with the muddy puddle. Starting up once again, he continued on the path leading him further away from the village. It was only moments later that he saw something dash across the path, and just a second later something followed closely behind.

What was that? Francis thought. Going the same way that the figures went he sees….nothing. Where did they go? He continued going the same general direction, hoping to find the figures, but after a few more minutes he still sees nothing. Hmm. Now what? Taking a few more steps he hears a twig snap to the right of him and sees a tall, young man, who is clad in a long black trench coat, red pants that can barely be seen between the coat, and the large black boots that he wears. The man has blue eyes, blond spiky hair that is swept over to his right side of his head, and a small black hat that sits on the part of his hair.

Who is that? he thought as took one step forward, making a small pebble move. The blond turned Francis's direction and then starts running off. Francis sighs and starts to follow man. Passing through many trees, Francis looses him.

"Merde!*" Francis swore. "Where did he go?" The Frenchman begins to look around some more, but it is getting harder now, as the sun has fallen below the horizon. After a few moments of more running, through a couple of trees, he sees another person. But this time it is a girl with platinum blond hair and a white bow in it. She wore a dark dress that went to her knees, and tall, dark boots.

"OH! Quelle une beauté!**" Francis exclaimed. The girl turned towards him for a moment but quickly turned back and started running.

"Wait, don't go." Francis pleaded, with a slightly damaged ego, and begins to chase after her. He weaves through the trees, keeping the girl within his line of sight at all times, so he doesn't lose her too.

She suddenly came to a stop in a small clearing. Slowing down, Francis stepped closer to the clearing but tries not to gain the attention of the girl. It looks like there is someone else there too. Could it be the other person I saw earlier? Francis thought. Up in the sky, the clouds that had obstructed any possible light had finally disappeared. The full moon was shining brilliantly, illuminating the clearing and allowing Francis to see that it was indeed the man he had seen earlier. As the man took a few steps forward towards the girl, he suddenly was replaced by a large wolfish creature that was blond in color. Beneath it, on the ground, was variously colored clothing, while atop its head was the little hat that was on the man. …WAIT ONE MOMENT! Could it be? That man is a werewolf! Oh no, the girl! Francis saw that the werewolf was about to lunge towards the girl and immediately ran forward to protect her.

"You beast, you will not harm this girl!" shouted the Frenchman as the werewolf charged towards him and the young girl. Unbeknownst to Francis, the young girl had summoned herself a sword made from shadows and started to charge towards the werewolf, and will be willing to go through him regardless of his intentions to protect her.

Translation, courtesy of: http: / / translate. google .com/# (oh the wonders of google)

*Merde – French – Shit

** Quelle une beauté! – French – What a beauty!

Oh nooooooo! What will happen to Francis? Will he be able to get out of the way? And what of poor Mattie's fate? Will he be stuck with the possibly crazy for cuteness, bartender? And what are the girls motives and just who is she and the werewolf?

Please be patient, school has started up again. It just never seems to end…

All reviews are appreciated.