"Right where were we?"

'You were going to even the odds so we can go meet Ironwood'

"Oh right. Here we go, how is this?"

I was just about to ask what the author was talking about when a very familiar voice called out "sister season! It is so good to see you again, how have you been?"

Turning I spotted Silver flower aka the summer maiden strolling towards us with the rest of team DUSC behind her, "Silver good to see you too, yeah I've been fine. Although this fight is dragging on a bit and we have a meeting to get to, feel like lending a fellow maiden out?"

Silver was just about to answer when..."Fellow maiden?!" the high pitched shriek came from Weiss "what did I miss?!"

Snorting I said "quite a lot Weiss Schnee, quite a lot."

"You! Why did you throw a snow ball at my sister?"

"Oh for the love of...I didn't throw a snow ball at your sister! Why does everyone blame me for these things?"

"Because the story wouldn't be funny if they didn't."

"Oh yeah that was me, sorry 'bout that." Mercury had the gall to look sheepish.

I could tell my eye was probably twitching but I didn't care, "look do you still want to fight now the numbers are even, with our two maidens to your none or can we go now?"

Scowling Weiss looked like she was about to argue but Ruby placed a hand lightly on her arm and said "you can go, just please don't cause any trouble while you're here"

Giving her a swift nod I tugged Mercury away in the direction of the main Ironwood industries building.

xxx

xxx

"But...but...but you...your dead! How...how are you..."

"Not dead?" I was trying so hard not to grin at the wide smile and genera chirpiness of the Penny look alike standing in front of us.

"Uh yeah." Emerald looked so disturbed by the appearance of the girl that she had completely lost her composure and was stuttering, the great and mighty Emerald stuttering. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it.

"Well my dad built me a new body and downloaded my consciousness into this new body, I even retained my memories."

"Oh um I...uh Im sorry about what happened, it wasn't Pyrrha's fault you died, it...it was mine. I caused Pyrrha to see something that wasn't there that caused her reaction."

"Oh, well I'm okay now so I forgive you."

"Seriously, just like that!"

"Just like that." Smiling at Penny I marvelled at how happy she always is, so forgiving and gentle.

Stepping forwards I said "hello Penny, its lovely to see you again." Holding my hand out I waited for her to shake my hand.

She looked surprised at my wording but never the less shook my hand, and when she did I was startled at the odd familiar feeling it gave me. Frowning I pondered the feeling for a moment, 'what does this remind me of?'

"Huh I never would have pegged her for a fan of the cold."

'What on earth are you talking about?'

"Well why do you think she feels familiar?"

'I don't...wait are you trying to tell me that she is the winter maiden?'

"maybe...okay yes, yes I am."

'Oh, well that makes things much easier.' Turning look more closely at Penny I said out loud "hey Penny, are you aware you're the winter maiden?"

"Wha...how did you know?!"

Grinning I gave a little bow and said "Spring greets you sister season."

"Oh...oh..oh your the spring maiden?"

"Yep! Can we count on you to help us bring down Salem, Cinder and co.?"

"Of course you can, but may I ask why you are currently with two of Cinder's associates?"

Smiling I loved how Penny was so trusting and willing to listen before judging, "yes of course. They used to work for Cinder but they had a change of heart and now with me, they make up team DENM."

"DENM? so your name starts with a 'D' then?"

Nodding I said "yeah, it does but it's not really important now. We need to get Silver and then we need to find Cinder and Salem and we need to finish this."

"Right well Silver shouldn't be a problem but how are we going to find Cinder and Salem, no body knows where they are hiding?"

"Oh right let me just see if I can find her..." 'uh hey author lady where are Cinder and Salem?'

"They in this weird other world place."

'What! How are we supposed to get there then?'

"Simple, you remember those weird black puddle things the grim were coming out of?"

'Yeah, what about them?'

"You just have to jump in one of those and you will find your self there."

'Seriously?'

"Seriously."

'Okay then.' Straightening up I said "okay I know how to get there but, we need to go back to Vale."

"How do you know this?"

"I have my ways." Emerald gave me a very unimpressed look, "okay, okay, okay I have a source but I can't say who."

"Right, well I trust you so just this once I won't push it, but I expect full disclosure on all future escapades."

Grinning I said "of course Em" flinging myself forwards I squeezed the girl in a tight hug and then leg the way from he room, Penny trailing long behind us. Pausing as we exited Ironwood industries I said "do you think general Ironwood is going to be mad we borrowed you for an adventure Penny?"

"Uh...he always said I should try to learn as much as I could and I think this counts as learning so, no I don't think he can be mad when he encouraged this in some form."

Grinning I was very pleased with the cunning nature of this girl and was about to say so when the author cut in and said "ah a perfect Slytherin even if I do say so myself."

'Um whats a Slytherin?'

"Oh...um well you see, I'll tell you when your older."

'really' I couldn't help the slight lift of my eyebrow, however when Mercury shot me a curios look I quickly schooled my featured and cut the conversation with the author off. We knew what we needed to now, so we should be leaving before people notice Penny is gone. "Right so off we go then, before people try to stop us 'kidnapping you' Penny."

Penny laughed and we left quickly through a side door to the building that let us out into an alley way. "Right so how do we find this Silver you mentioned, I am guessing she is another maiden, either summer or fall I suppose."

"Yeah she's summer so we need to grab her before we go to Vale."

"Right well lets go then shall we?"

"We shall!"

Author Note: So here is the next chapter please read and review so I know how I'm doing, any suggestions are welcome.

-SL xx