A/N I recognize that there actually wasn't that much action in the chapter I said there would be, but hopefully the last chapter kinda made up for that. Okay, next chapter!

Alice blinked her eyes open and immediately shut them again. The sun was shining right through the car window an onto her face. She sleepily looked around the car. Everyone else appeared to still be sleeping. Alice thought about what had happened last night after they had escaped from Maria's house with the documents. Arthur had driven a safe distance away, complete with many twists and turns so that they couldn't be tracked easily, and parked on the side of the road. In the middle of nowhere. Apparently, everyone had just fallen asleep. Alice sighed and sat up in her seat, moving the strap of her seat belt out of her face. Thankfully, she didn't have to wait very long for the others to wake up.

Emily decided, once she had woken up a few minutes later, that it would be funny to shout, "Wake up! The apocalypse is freaking starting!"

Arthur jerked awake and accidentally slammed his elbow on the steering wheel, causing the horn to blare and wake up Maria.

"Emily, what was the point of that?!" Arthur asked.

"To wake you up, duh. Sorry, Maria," Emily apologized. Maria shrugged. "Now let's get a move on! It's like two in the afternoon!"

"Where are we going?" Maria asked, still half-asleep despite all the commotion.

"Maybe we could find somewhere to stay while we check out the files?" Alice piped up.

"Yeah, totally! Oh, and can we go sightseeing later, also?" said Emily.

"Alright, then let's find someplace...in a different country." Arthur replied.

"Why?" asked Maria. "We're already in France."

"Yeah, what's wrong with France?" said Emily.

"Oh, umm...nothing. Let's go." Arthur sighed and started up the car.

They drove for a few hours before they reached Paris. Despite everyone's protesting, Arthur insisted that if they were going to go somewhere in France, they would go to Paris, though it seemed to like he didn't want to go there himself.

When they were surrounded by the buildings of Paris, Arthur pulled out his phone and regrettably dialed the number of one of his least favorite countries.

"Oui?"

"Francis, this is Arthur. I need you to meet me somewhere."

"Oh, la, la, and would this be in private?"

"It's not like that, you pervert! This is a serious issue. Where can you meet me?"

"Where are you now?"

"Paris."

"Hon hon, what are you doing there?"

"Never mind that! Where is the place?"

"La Tour Eiffel, mon ami."

"Fine." Before he could say anything else suggestive, Arthur hung up on Francis. It took him a few moments to realize that everyone in the car was staring at him.

"Who were you talking to?" asked Alice.

"Someone who might be able to help us figure this out. We're meeting him at the Eiffel Tower." Minutes later, Arthur managed to park the car and they all stepped out onto grass. The girls followed Arthur down the long lawn of the Tower. Families were having picnics and playing frisbee all around them. Tourists snapped pictures of their friends 'leaning' on the Tower. A long line of people trailed from the base of the structure, waiting to catch a ride up and see the city from above.

"Here he comes," grumbled Arthur.

A man with nearly shoulder length blond hair, a flowing purple shirt, and bright red pants was gracefully striding over to them.

"Bonjour, Arthur." Having had noticed the three girls from a distance, he smiled and posed. "Arthur, would you introduce these beautiful women to me?"

"This is Maria, Alice, and Emily," Arthur grumbled.

"I am so lucky to meet each of you," he said flatteringly, taking each of their hands and kissing the top.

"What do we call you?" Alice asked, trying not to sound too annoyed.

"You may call me whatever you like, ladies."

"His name is Francis Bonnefoy. Just call him Francis," Arthur answered for him. "Anyway, would you three please step away for a moment? I need a word with him."

"No way! Whatever you have to say, you can say it with us here," Emily countered.

"Ja, why must we leave? I thought we were solving this together." Arthur looked at each of them and accepted defeat.

"Fine, I'll just tell him later."

"Aww," Emily groaned.

Arthur continued, "Francis-."

"No worries, I know exactly the place to go!"

"But I haven't even said anything yet!"

Francis ignored him and said, "I must get these ladies out of the wind! Follow me, mes cheries!"

"There isn't any wind!" Arthur shouted after him, but he was already flouncing over to a flawless black car and pulling the back door open for them.

As they approached, Alice asked Arthur, "What about Emily's car?"

"You have an excellent point." Arthur turned to Francis and said, "If you don't mind, these three shall be riding with me; I'm not leaving them with you and we need to bring Emily's car along."

"But...the car...is so awesome," Maria pouted.

"Not to worry! Give me the keys and I will have it driven to us later."

Before Arthur could protest, Emily happily said, "Okay!", tossed Francis the keys, and got in the car. Maria and Alice followed pursuit. Arthur rolled his eyes and reluctantly went around to sit in the passenger's seat. Once everyone had gotten settled, the vehicle rolled down the narrow streets and eventually pulled up to a large, intricately designed building.

As they all stepped out of the car, Francis said, "This is the hotel where we will be staying."

"This is a freaking hotel?!" said an astonished Emily. Maria and Alice were gaping behind her. Arthur just looked even more annoyed.

"You can't bring us to a hotel like this! They'll ask questions!" Arthur whispered to Francis.

"Like what?"

In awe, Alice asked, "How do you have enough money for this?"

Arthur gestured to Alice. "Like that."

Francis stepped around Arthur and explained, "Some friends of my family own it, so I can come here without having to pay much."

"That's awesome!" cried Maria.

"Let's go check it out!" Following Emily's suggestion, everyone trailed into the building.