Disclaimer: Me and Yukki own nothing! Weee!

Yukki: Why're you so happy today?

Malin: Cause I am finally free for the rest of the holidays! I'm gonna make sure I spend this holiday pestering you and An hehe XD

Yukki: Just make sure you leave enough energy for all of us, including you, to have our Christmas and various other reasons party.

Malin: Sure will!

Elluka: So, can we start this story yet?

Gumillia: Yeah! I wanna appear!

Malin: Sure! Enjoy!

Chapter 7 - Meeting

The next morning, Garry woke up in the servant room that he and Ib were sleeping in. "Wait, where am I?!" He exclaimed in shock taking in the scenery around him. "Oh wait. Ib and I just got a new room..." He recalled and walked over to Ib's bed and gently shook her. "Ib, it's morning..."

"Mm, huh? Where am I? Garry?" Ib mumbled drowsily as she she sat up on her bed.

"We're in our new rooms Ib." Garry smiled at her. "You remember right? The Princess gave us a servant's room."

"Oh...a servant's room..." Ib mumbled sleepily as she recalled yesterday's events. "Gururu." She looked at the direction the sudden sound came from and realized it came from her stomach. She felt her face heat up as she looked away, embarrassed by her actions.

"Pft..." Garry tried to contain his laughter by covering his mouth, but he let it out when he saw Ib's face turning red. "Hahhahaha! Oh...sorry Ib...I just thought that was so cute of you. Let's go find Allen for our breakfast okay?"

Ib was about to nod but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

"There's no need because I'm right here," Allen's voice came from the front door and they saw him push a cart placed with their breakfasts and drinks on it. As he came in, he left the cart in front of a small table and started placing the food on top of it. "As I promised, today's breakfast will be macaroons. I've also made some orange juice as beverages."

"Uhmm...Allen...I appreciate you keeping your promise and going as far as to provide us with orange juice...but...you don't have to serve us like we're part of royalty you know? It feels unfair..." Garry said hesitatingly, trying hard not to disrespect Allen. "You can just treat us like you usually would to friends."

"F-friends?!" Allen exclaimed, he was deep in thought and did not notice his surroundings.

"Allen?" Ib asked as she gently tugged on Allen's sleeve, his body jerked as his mind snapped back to reality.

"Oh sorry about that. I don't have any friends as I was forbidden to go out when I was younger so I did not meet many people other than those who came to our house. Why don't you teach me how to and I'll try best to do so, if you're willing?" Allen asked as he placed the jug onto the small table.

"Eh? Aren't there other servants here? Don't you talk to them?" Garry asked. "And why would you be forbidden to go out?"

"Uh, yeah I do talk to them once in awhile, but I'm not really close to them. They see me as more of a senior or someone they respect as not many people can handle the tantrums of the Princess," Allen revealed, "and I'm not sure why I was not allowed to go out, I only know that it was what father had asked of me and I had to listen."

"Oh...but why? Was your father strict? Did he hit you if you didn't listen?" Garry took a sip of the orange juice and sat down, listening intently to Allen.

"No not really. Just that I did not want to trouble him, that's all," He said as he finished preparing their breakfast. Ib sat on her bed and listened, she was somehow like Allen and did not go out or have many friends but she did that willingly, no one had to force her. If they did, it was to encourage her to go out more instead of staying at home all day reading.

"Ohhh...your father must be happy to have someone like you as his son. You're so obedient after all." Garry said, smiling happily. "Don't just stand there Allen, take a seat!"

"No, I can't. I need to serve the Princess her breakfast next. See you later." He waved and smiled slightly as he started to push the cart quickly outside and left, closing the door gently behind him.

"Oh um...bye?" Garry said to no one in particular especially since Allen just left the room. "Well...why don't we give the Macaroons a taste test Ib? Here!" Garry took one and put it in front of her.

Ib hesitantly took it from Garry and looked at it asking, "Um Garry? Do you mind if you eat it first? I'm scared because I haven't tried it before..."

"Oh okay." Garry took the bright red Macaroon from Ib and put it into his mouth. "It's..." He paused, taking the time to taste the treat properly. "This is even better than the cafe I tried it from!"

"Really?" Ib asked with a surprised look on her face. With that, she took a small bite of the newly seen delicacy. Her eyes widened as the sensations filled her mouth. The macaroons were not too sweet nor too bland and the texture was just perfect.

The macaroon itself had no real taste, just being a bland piece of biscuit, however, the jam inside was sweet, giving the macaroon an acceptably sweet taste. She quickly took another bite of it and her portion of the breakfast was soon finished.

"Ib...that's really...fast..." Garry commented, he wasn't even halfway finished. "Are you really that hungry?"

"It's not that,*swallow* it's just that it's so yummy that I want more. I haven't eaten anything as delicious as this since... since never!" she exclaimed and sounded very excited and hyper as if she was on drugs or having a sugar rush.

"Oh...ummm want my share?" He offered his plate of macaroons to Ib. "I don't mind you eating them..."

"NO!" Ib screamed and protested to that suggestion, "You still have to work later so you have to eat them!"

"Yes ma'am!" Garry replied, saluting to her by instinct. "Uh I mean...yes...sorry that...was by reflex..." he said, his hand hanging in the air awkwardly.

"Hehehehe," Ib started giggling as she couldn't control herself after seeing Garry's reaction, it was just hilarious! "Anyway, hurry up and eat, I don't want you to get punished later on because you were late." Ib said as she continued laughing.

"But you sure you don't want some more? I can ask Allen for some more food later during lunch instead." Garry asked, putting his plate of macaroons in front of Ib.

"No thanks, I'm full. Usually my breakfast would only consist of milk, this too much for me," Ib said as she pushed the plate back to Garry. She was quite full from all the macaroons that she had eaten and the juice that was not even half emptied so she did not want to have more. And she still wanted Garry to build up his energy too.

"Eh?! Just a glass of milk for breakfast! That's too little!" Garry exclaimed. "Ah...but since you come from a rich family...I guess not...it's not like you do much physical work anyway..."

"It's not that, it's just that I don't have much appetite for other things in the morning. That's why I eat more in the next few meals to compensate for it." She explained as she stood up to walk to a nearby floor mirror to comb her hair which had tangled up due to the countless days of being neglected while they were in prison and the twisted gallery. It was difficult as she couldn't reach behind her and could not comb it properly.

"Oh, let me help you with that Ib." Garry took the comb from her and started to comb her hair, gently untangling it. "Well, I'm done eating so let's go find Allen and start on my job!" He said happily although he didn't want to think about cleaning toilets. "Come to think of it, the toilets here in this palace aren't that dirty, had someone been cleaning them before I was given the job?"

"Well, of course. The maids are here for a reason right?" Ib answered in an obvious tone. If they were not the ones who did it, then what were they hired for? As Garry continued combing her hair, she heard the door open and she looked into the mirror to find Allen standing at the door, looking at them.

"It's time for you to start work, Garry." Allen announced as he stood there watching him comb Ib's hair with patience.

"Oh? Um just wait for a while, okay?" Garry said. "Do you have a rubber band or something to tie up her hair with?"

"Oh uh...here you go," Allen passed some red-coloured rubber bands to Garry as Ib looked at him tie her hair up into twin tails that looked absolutely cute on Ib. She liked what she saw in the mirror and smiled as she got up from her seat.

"Thanks Allen. She looks much cuter now doesn't she?" Garry commented. "Hope you didn't mind me playing around with your hair..."

"Nope, I don't mind. I like it since not many people want to do it for me anyway," Ib laughed as she began circling around Garry and Allen who stood beside him now.

Garry smiled at Ib then at Allen, "Well then, before the princess thinks we're all slacking off, let's start work shall we?"

"Well then follow me," Allen said as he started to lead the pair to the lowest floor of the kingdom. "Oh yeah and Ib? Stop running around or people will start to think you've gone crazy ..."

"Oh, sorry about that. It's just that I got too happy and excited because Garry tied my hair to make me look cute." Ib told him as she stopped running around and went to stand in the middle of the two and suddenly grabbed their hands firmly.

"Ib?!" Garry exclaimed in shock. "Wh-what are you doing?" His face was clearly red and blushing as he did not expect the sudden action.

"What? I can't hold your hand?" There was a hint of disappointment in her voice as she started to let go of Garry's hand. "Do you mind Allen?"

"Of course I don't mind, I'm glad that you are not afraid of me," He replied as he looked at Garry's funny expression and was having a hard time controlling his laughter, "Don't tell me he's a pedophile?" Was what he thought as he saw it.

"Uhh...no...It's not that you can't hold my hand...I was just shocked that's all...Sorry Ib..." He apologized, still red in the face from embarrassment. For a second, he thought he saw Allen smirk at him. "I am definitely imagining things." He thought.

"Really?!" Ib smiled as she held Garry's hand once again. As Allen led them towards the basement, he explained that they could not touch some of the things there in case it breaks. It was being used as a wine cellar and it had a vast collection of wines dating back from 150 years ago.

"Uh excuse me for asking Allen, but wasn't I supposed to clean toilets? Why did you bring me to the wine cellar for? Did the Princess gave new orders and now wants me to clean something else?" Garry asked in confusion.

"No, that is what we are here for, there are toilets here too for those who are in charge to keep the basement clean. It would be a hassle to climb up and down the stairs just to go to the toilet, right?" Allen explained once again to Garry's question and led him to the toilets. "You go ahead, the washroom is just at the end of the end of the hallway," Allen suddenly stopped in his tracks as he told Garry of its location whilst pulling Ib closer to him, preventing her from following Garry any further.

Garry noticed Allen preventing Ib from moving closer and got suspicious. "Aren't you and Ib going to come with me?" He asked. "It's really dark in here you know..."

"That's precisely why I won't let her near there. She might help you a little because it's too dark and I can't see properly what she's doing. Or maybe she might get injured due to the darkness and fall. In any case, I'm not letting her near there," Allen said as he stood there, not moving. The real reason as to why was that he did not want to let Ib close to that area because it was really dirty and very smelly, he did not want to let Ib suffer the smell so he let her stay here with him.

Garry started to shiver and cling onto Allen. "Then at least come with me! I'm scared!" As he clung onto Allen for his life, he was technically crying and flooding the basement with tears. "Please! What if something happens to me and no one comes to help? What if...what if..." He stopped there, not wanting to think of other possibilities and continued whining. "Please Allen?"

"Ugh," Was his reply as he rolled his eyes and removed himself from Garry's grip. Then he started to walk towards the stairs. "Is he really a guy?"He thought as he continued walking.

"Allen? Where are you going?" Ib asked as she ran to follow him.

"Oh I'm just going up to find some source of light. I'll be right back," With that he left and climbed up the stairs with Ib and Garry watching him as he left.

Garry was still shivering and crying when Allen left. "Ib...aren't you scared?" He asked when he saw her just standing there and staring at the direction Allen left. "You're just staring at the entrance of this basement."

"No, why should I be?" Ib turned around to look at Garry with questioning eyes, "We've been through worse haven't we?"

"O-o-of course I know that!" He blushed in embarrassment, "B-but what if something happens? Like...well I don't know, something!" He exclaimed.

Ib looked questioningly at Garry before turning back to face the stairs. She knew that they weren't in the gallery right now so she did not understand what could hurt them when they were here. Unless of course the Princess or ministers sentenced them to death or tortured them, otherwise they had no reason to be afraid.

"S-stop staring at me! Say something! Anything! This silence is suffocating me!" Garry clung onto Ib as he said that. "When you're silent and staring at things you're so scary!"

"Pft- Hahaha," Ib laughed hysterically at the thought of being scary towards others. She took a while to calm herself down and managed to squeeze some words out through her laughter, "How*laugh* am I *laugh* scary?!" She continued laughing uncontrollably and was not able to say anything until her laugh subsided.

"Well um...when you stare at people, or anything, you look kind of...um...what's the right word..." He paused, thinking really hard before continuing, "Um...emotionless? Yeah...I think that's the word I'm looking for. And are you okay? Your face is really red now."

"I'm okay," Ib stated as she wiped away a tear that started to form in her eye. She had laughed so hard that tears had started to form. Footsteps were heard as Ib stopped laughing and it turned out to be Allen.

"I'm back," He said as he descended the stairs with two lanterns in his hands. "Here you go, this should allow you to see in the dark a little better," He then passed Garry one of the lanterns.

"Oh, why thank you Allen. That's really nice of you." Garry said as he smiled and took the lantern from him. "But I don't see how I'm supposed to clean while holding the lantern, it's not like this lantern is that bright anyway..."

"Well, it's better than nothing right? I actually wanted to bring one of the torches hanging outside but that might just cause a huge fire because of all the wine in here," He explained and smiled an evil grin, "You can hold it using one hand while cleaning with the other, right?"

Garry eyed Allen suspiciously, "What's with that...smile of yours?" He asked.

"Nothing," He answered him in a light tone and told him to go back to work as he stood in the corridor with Ib. Garry shrugged and went off to work, alone, in the dark, smelly toilet.

Allen glanced at Ib, "Should we talk about something while we wait?"

"Sure!" Ib replied cheerfully.

"Phew! All done! It smells fresh doesn't it?" Garry laughed at his own joke wearily. Just then, his stomach growled in hunger loudly. "Uh..."

"Hehehe," Ib giggled as she heard the growl that came from Garry's stomach. It was only five-thirty in the evening and he was already hungry. Well, that should be normal since he had worked for several hours in a row. "Hey, Allen? Do you have any food that we can eat as dinner?"

"Of course we do, I'll just bring you to your room and dinner will arrive soon," Allen smiled as he started walking in the direction of their room. On the way, they met Elluka and Gumillia as they were going to the dining room for dinner.

Elluka stopped talking to her apprentice when she saw the three of them. "Oh, hello there Garry and Ib. And of course, Gumillia's beloved Allen is here too." She grinned as she said that. "What are you three up to?"

"Nothing much. Garry here has just finished punishment for today and I'm taking them to their rooms so I can serve them dinner," Allen replied. Out of nowhere, he felt a small tug on his shirt behind him. As he turned around, he saw that it was Ib who was hiding shyly behind him. "What's wrong, Ib?"

"Um... Uh... Wh-who are they?" She asked timidly as she continued hiding behind him.

"Oh, I never did introduce you to them now did I. These are Miss Elluka and Miss Gumillia, they are the ones who will be trying to find a way to bring you back home," He gestured to each of them as they were introduced to her.

Garry felt slightly jealous when he saw Ib hide behind Allen, but at the same time, he adored how cute Ib looked when she was hiding, especially with the twin tails. "Wait what the heck am I thinking?!" He thought to himself.

"Oh you didn't tell them? Now that's very nice of you isn't it?" Elluka commented sarcastically before she noticed Garry blushing deeply. "Are you alright? You look like someone just splashed you with hot water or something."

"Huh?! Oh um yeah! Yeah I'm fine! Just a little tired that's all..." Garry replied in a panic.

Allen turned and looked at Garry's face and it turns out that what Elluka said was true, but before he could find out why, Gumillia had suddenly glomped him. "Allen! How are you! Oh, do you mind if we ask the two of them some questions after dinner? We need it so we can find the right teleportation spell and area," Gumillia was as hyper as ever whenever she was around Allen and started bombarding him with questions that he had no time to answer.

"Um... Miss E-El-Elluka was it? C-can I ask you something? Ib stammered shyly behind Allen still gripping onto his shirt, even when he was struggling to push Gumillia off of him.

"Now now Gumillia, take it easy...You wouldn't want to break Allen's back with your weight would you?" Elluka laughed jokingly but stopped when she heard Ib. "You can just call me Elluka. How may I help you, Ib?" Elluka wasn't looking at Ib but rather at Gumillia glomping and almost strangling Allen, and she was smiling.

"Uh...Um okay. Um Elluka, wh-when can we go home?" Ib complied and asked shyly from behind Allen.

"Well...that's..." Elluka paused, not knowing how to answer. "Ib...I can't say for sure when, but I'll try to make it happen as soon as possible, alright?" She answered with a smile.

"Thank you very much for trying for our sake, even if we didn't personally ask you to do so." Garry thanked her. "If there's anything that we can help the both of you with, feel free to ask."

"Hmm..." Gumillia stopped pestering Allen and stood properly considering what had just been said." Actually, there is something you can help us with..."

"Oh then sure! Of course! What is it?" He asked.

"You were the ones who ate the macaroons that Allen made right? Well, how did it taste like? Was it good?" Gumillia asked curiously. Allen was surprised that the two of them did not know how it tasted like considering they were the ones who pestered him into letting them eat some the previous night. "They must have left it alone so the Ib and Garry could eat more for their breakfast," He smiled at the thought, not knowing that he was wrong.

Garry sighed in relief as he heard the question, clearly, he had been expecting them to ask for something he wouldn't like or wouldn't be able to answer. "Oh, you mean the macaroons we had for breakfast this morning? Yeah, they tasted great. Why?" Garry asked as he was curious.

"Ooh, that's great isn't it Elluka? Hey Allen, can you make some for us as a midnight snack?" Gumillia's eyes were sparkling at that statement and Allen couldn't refuse.

"Oh alright, but now I need to get them to their room. Let's go," He said as he walked past the two Mages. Garry followed behind while Ib did a small curtsy as a sign of respect towards the two of them before running after Garry and Allen.

"Ah I should've known that Allen would make tasty macaroons..." Elluka murmured and continued walking. "Well at least now we have a chance to eat some."

"Yes!" Gumillia exclaimed and they walked down the hallway looking forward to their midnight snack.

TBC!

Malin: Well it's done! Chapter 7!

Yukki: Yay!

Gumillia: So now that it's the holidays and the two of you have nothing much to do, we can expect lots of chapters right?

Malin: Sadly, no. We made this chapter longer than the others so you can enjoy this slowly which also means that chapter 8 will take a longer time to go up (we haven't even started on it yet DX)

Ib: Aww D: But you will update soon right?

Yukki: We will try our best to write the stories but we have too many movies and other things we wanna watch so it will take some time...

Elluka: Well make it fast then! And now I'm hungry! Where's my dinner?!

Malin: In the dining hall?

Elluka: Let's go Gumillia! ^^ *Drags her away*

Gumillia: Noooo! I wanna go huggle Allen!

Malin: Enjoy your food!

Yukki: Uhh...Thanks for the reviews and hope you continue supporting us! Any suggestions are welcomed! And we've updated our profile, check it out! XD