Three days later and some of the wariness had abated, so that was how I ended up sweating profusely this morning as I got in some sparring practice with Mercury. Ducking another of his energy bullets (AN- not sure what they are called so yeah improvising if anyone knows message me. cheers xx) I swung my staff missing him by millimetres as he moved, aiming to kick me in the side. Jumping back I slammed the end of my staff down hard into the ground and freed the bladed rings. Several dodges and two swift tugs on the silver rings later revealed the silver rings turned into two long curved blades. Using the new blades to deflect several bullets I made my way back to my staff. Shooting a wide grin at Mercury I slammed one of the curved blades into the top end of my staff, creating a very crude scythe, yanking the new weapon from the ground I swiftly repeated my earlier action on the other end. My grin became impossibly wider at Mercury's dumbfounded expression, "double ended scythe bitch!"

Jumping back into action I swung the blade at him and he jumped out of the way only to get caught by the other end of the scythe, sending him flying back and crashing into a tree. Laughing manically I tried to catch my breath enough to speak but couldn't quite manage as every time I looked at Mercury I stared laughing again. In fact I was laughing so much that the only warning I got to Mercury's approach was a faint scuff and as I looked up it was already too late.

Wheezing from the impact I peered up a smug and grinning Mercury, flashing him my own smug smile I took advantage of our current position to press soft open mouthed kisses to Mercury exposed neck. Shuddering above me he said "you got to either stop or we need to find somewhere a little more private."

Grinning I rolled us so I was on top straddling Mercury, laughing lightly at his shocked expression I purred "why I positively know nothing about you Mr Black how could you proposition me so?"

Blinking he said "I suppose you don't do you?" Surprised I just watched curious to see where this would go. "Lets see my old home life isn't much to talk about, not a good time in my life. What else? Oh-I-uh-I like comics and music, my favourite colour is grey, my favourite season is spring, I hate the dark, my favourite number is 42, I love to sleep, I enjoy messing with people and pranking, Emerald is the closest thing I have to a sister, I have nightmares sometimes, and I think you're really hot when you're fighting. Now do you think you know something about me?"

Blinking back my shock I smiled softly and said "I was bullied." when it looked like mercury was going to interrupt I held my hand up and continued "It took me a long time to discover my semblance and I was picked on for it, my biggest nemesis was a girl called sapphire. She usually went by Saph, and she kept pushing me about saying stupid things and one day I just exploded. quite literally I actually destroyed half the school and got expelled, that was how I discovered I could create and manipulate dust, my rage translated into red dust and it was...uh...volatile to say the least. Saph still hadn't gotten over it when I left town for beacon. After I destroyed the school was when I made Harvest cloud, my old scythe. I had to make some changes to the original design to allow me to channel the dust in it to activate that light shot I used to use, now if I need to use it I can do it with my hands but it is very draining. So yeah that's my life story, now we both know something about each other."

smiling at me he said "so can I ask a question?"
"You just did,but go ahead."

"How did you get your maiden powers?"

Sighing softly I studied the ground to the left of Mercury's head, "My...my mother was the spring maiden before me, and there was a raid on my village during the attack on beacon. My mother was too weak to fight properly after Cinders actions threw the seasons out of balance, and she was killed in the attack. When she died her powers sought me out and reached me just when I would have passed beyond the vale, they took me to a safe place and healed me. This resulted in me becoming the new spring maiden and is also the cause of my new look."

"I did kind of wonder about the new look, but wow. so, are you all right?"

"Not really but I'll get there. Thank you periquito." (AN- pet name is 'love bird' in spanish for those of you who wondered.)

"Periquito? Thats new."

"Im trying out pet names."

"Okay love."

"That is so dull, try coming up with something a little unique ma douce." (AN- 'my sweet' in French)

I watched as he huffed and rolling to my feet I offered him a hand getting up. Heaving a resigned sigh he allowed me to pull him to his feet.

"Thanks darling"

Patting his arm I said "keep trying chere."

"You just like using different languages don't you mon amour."

"Oooh better! I like that one, and yes I do carino." (AN- 'sweet heart' in Spanish)

Snorting Mercury started walking back towards the camp and smiling at his retreating back, I trailed after him. scooping up my abandoned scythe on the way past.

Mercury sat on one of the logs that had been dragged around the camp fire. Placing my scythe down I flopped onto the ground in front of him, I smiled when I felt his fingers start to comb through my hair.

Emerald looked over and suddenly perked up slightly and said "oh can put some braids in your hair?"

Raising an eyebrow I said "sure, though I didn't peg you as the hair braiding type."

grinning she sauntered over, shoving Mercury out of his seat when she reached us. "Ah yes well there are a great many things you don't know about me."

"Yeah? Why don't you share some then."

"Well you obviously know about the hair braiding now, and I've always had this thrill when stealing stuff, just the adrenaline you know, and I loved putting on a show for people." As she spoke I could feel the rhythmic tugging of my hair that told me she was indeed braiding my hair. I smiled as I listened for a while to Emerald reminiscing about fond memories, as well as like and dislikes. Finally she announced "Done! Wow that looks really good on you Dove even if I do say so myself. Which I do."

Smiling I stood and used the blade on my new scythe to admire the tiny braids that wove through the long raven coloured curls. "Thanks Emerald these look awesome!"

"It's nothing and is that a new scythe? Where the hell did you get that from?"

Laughing lightly I explained how I used the silver bladed rings to make the blades of the scythe, and the main body of the scythe was just my staff.

AN- I used Google translate for the pet names so if any are wrong or inaccurate then blame the internet, hope you guys enjoy this chapter. please read and review thanks. -SL xxx