A/N: Alright guys it's once again time for another chapter though this one was longer than I had originally anticipated. Ot just one of those episodes were not much happens y'know the episodes that they mainly just... refresh themselves... feelin' me, yeah I know you are and I also know that you're probably wondering how the heck am I gonna integrate my lovely characters into the whole Vytal tournament stuff if they ain't gonna play in it... or at least I think they wouldn't but what I know is that a lot of changes are gonna happen alot of big changes that is and honestly I'm waitin' to see how all of this unfold and I know you are too, yeah I know a lot of things if you're wondering why I use " I know" a little too much.

Alright it's time to get back on track and the track is the episode but before we get to the chapter let me remind you to follow,favourite and review all my stories ( Energized Rwbyverse, Of Diamonds and Rubies and Legend of the Starwalker). So unto the chapter shall we...

IN A WAREHOUSE

Nero walked confidently into the dimly lit warehouse, his black boots making a steady, echoing rhythm on the cold concrete floor. Dressed in his usual black T-shirt under a dark jacket with a red hoodie, he looked every bit the menace he intended to be. The shadows from the hood partially obscured his face, but the tattoos creeping up his neck hinted at a history not to be ignored. His gloved hands, clad in Burning Inferno, pulsed faintly with a deep crimson glow, ready to unleash fiery fury.

The warehouse was packed with crates of dust valuable and highly volatile. White Fang members stood in groups, guarding the crates and chattering among themselves. When Nero stepped into their midst, the room quieted. Some recognized him instantly, exchanging uneasy glances. Nero was known to them, but they had no idea what he was doing here.

Without wasting a breath, Nero raised his gloved hand, fingers tightening into a fist. The gloves hummed with energy, and in an instant, he released a wave of blazing fire dust. Flames roared to life, surging through the air toward a group of guards, engulfing several of them before they could react. The sudden heat sent them scattering, yelling in panic as they tried to escape the firestorm.

A few of the braver members, however, pushed through the chaos. One lunged at Nero, swinging a sword in a wide arc. Nero sidestepped with a quick, fluid motion, his jacket flaring out behind him. As the blade came crashing down again, he lifted his arm and blocked it with the reinforced metal of his glove, sparks flying as metal clashed against metal. With a swift counter, Nero landed a sharp punch to the attacker's guts. Burning Inferno flared, sending a controlled blast of heat through the armor, staggering the man backward, winded and in pain.

"Nice try," Nero muttered. He wasn't in the mood for distractions. His eyes scanned the room, locking on the nearest White Fang member who looked like he might know something. With quick steps, he approached, grabbing the stunned man by his collar and slamming him against the cold metal wall.

"Why are the White Fang taking orders from Roman?" Nero's voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge that suggested he wasn't here to negotiate. The White Fang member, a younger recruit, tried to muster some bravado, but it was clear he was terrified. "Hey… let's not get too hasty, yeah?" he said nervously.

Nero's eyes narrowed. He wasn't going to waste time on idle banter. The temperature around his gloves began to rise, and a faint glow emanated from the seams. "Talk," he ordered, his voice unwavering.

"A-alright, alright!" the recruit stammered, feeling the heat growing closer. "There was this girl… showed up out of nowhere and took out our whole squad. It was like she knew Adam seemed like they had some old connection or something. She had two teens with her and gave us dust and weapons. In exchange, we had to follow Roman's orders for a while."

Nero's jaw tightened. "Describe the teens," he demanded.

"One had green hair… the other one was this guy with full grey hair," the recruit answered quickly, his eyes wide with fear.

Nero's mind raced, recognizing the description. Emerald and Mercury. He let out a breath, slowly lowering the heat, and released his grip, letting the recruit drop to his feet. Before leaving, he leaned in close, his voice just above a whisper. "I'd stay out of sight if I were you," he said. "And be glad you caught me on a good day."

The recruit nodded rapidly, rubbing his sore neck and taking a shaky step back. Nero turned away, his focus shifting to his next move. He walked calmly out of the warehouse, leaving the White Fang members in a state of disarray.

Once outside, Nero took a moment to process what he'd learned. If Emerald and Mercury were involved, and this unknown girl had ties to Adam, then things were more complicated than he thought. He knew he had to find out more about this alliance, and fast. The stakes were getting higher, and Nero was prepared to face whatever came next.

He disappeared into the night, determined to uncover the truth behind the new alliances forming in Vale. And when he did, he'd be ready to set things right.

IN A HOTEL

Davi and Alice were up to their usual antics in the hotel room, bickering loudly enough that Eden could barely focus. He sat cross-legged on the floor, sifting through the scattered items around him, muttering about his missing boots. "I swear, if I don't find these boots, I'm going barefoot to the next mission," Eden grumbled under his breath, still too distracted to intervene.

Meanwhile, Alice and Davi were locked in another round of their never-ending argument.

"I'm telling you, you hit Ruby on the head " Davi said, his arms crossed, standing defiantly in front of Alice.

Alice rolled her eyes dramatically, lounging on the couch with a mock bored expression. "Please. *I* hit Weiss, thank you very much. Ruby was all you."

Before Davi could retort, the door creaked open, and Nero strode in, wearing his usual all-black outfit, his red-hooded jacket slightly rustling as he moved. He looked at the scene in front of him with mild disinterest.

"Where have you been?" Davi snapped, his accusatory tone piercing the air.

Nero raised an eyebrow at the hostility. "Nice to see you too, Davi."

Alice, still sprawled out, chimed in without moving from her comfortable spot. "C'mon Davi, give the man a break. He probably had to, you know, save the world or something."

Nero sighed, clearly not in the mood to explain his whereabouts. He walked past them and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "So, what's this new chaos you guys are brewing?"

Alice casually tossed the magazine she'd been flipping through onto the floor and stretched lazily. "You know what would make this day perfect?" she mused aloud, her voice dreamy as she stared at the ceiling. "A massive ice cream sundae. With all the best toppings."

Davi's face lit up instantly. "That sounds awesome ! Why didn't I think of that?"

Alice raised an eyebrow, already sensing trouble. "You're talking about buying one, right?"

Davi grinned, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "No, no. Where's the fun in that? I'm talking about creating the *ultimate* sundae by 'borrowing',and I use that term very loosely, the best ingredients from around Vale."

Eden finally found his boots, lacing them up before chiming in with a smirk. "I like the sound of this. A mission an *ice cream* mission. It's a strategic operation with snacks at the end."

Nero, ever the voice of reason, was less enthusiastic. "Are you sure this is a good idea? What if we get caught? You know the last time we 'borrowed' stuff, it didn't exactly end well."

"*Relax, Nero." Davi waved his hand dismissively. "We're just having a little fun! It's not like we're going to rob a bank or anything."

Alice sat up straighter, now fully invested in the ridiculous plan. "Alright, I'm in," she said with a wicked grin. "But we need a plan. This has to be done *right*."

Davi, now fully into his role as "leader," motioned for everyone to gather around the coffee table. He pulled out a napkin and began scribbling their game plan with a pen. "Alright, here's how we're going to do this. First, we hit up the bakery across the street for the waffle cones and hot fudge—best in Vale, no question. Then, we swing by that fancy grocery store near the docks for their artisan ice cream. And lastly—this is where it gets tricky—we sneak into that ice cream parlor downtown for the toppings. They've got *everything*."

Eden leaned in, pointing at the napkin. "You're missing something. What about whipped cream? You can't have the ultimate sundae without it."

Davi gave him a look. "Please, Eden. Do you think I'd forget the whipped cream? There's a cart vendor near the market who sells fresh cream. We'll 'acquire' some from him."

Alice grinned mischievously. "And we can 'acquire' it quickly, right? No need to dawdle when we've got ice cream on the line."

Nero shook his head, clearly not convinced. "You guys realize you're planning a heist for *ice cream* ingredients, right? You're treating this like it's some big covert mission."

Alice stood up, brushing herself off with a sly smile. "Exactly. It's the perfect operation. High reward, low risk, and all we get is ice cream at the end. What's not to love?"

Nero sighed again but couldn't help a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. As ridiculous as the plan sounded, it wasn't the worst idea they'd ever come up with. And besides, after the chaos they'd faced recently, maybe a bit of harmless fun was exactly what they needed.

Davi slapped his hands together. "Alright! Ice cream squad, assemble!"

Eden stood up, holding a boot triumphantly in the air. "For the glory of sugar overload!"

Alice grabbed her jacket, laughing. "Let's get this done before the night's over. I'm craving that sundae already."

Nero, though still hesitant, pushed off the wall and joined the group at the door. "Fine. But if this turns into a disaster, don't say I didn't warn you."

Davi shot Nero a confident grin as they headed out into the streets of Vale. "Don't worry, Nero. With this team, how could anything go wrong?"

SUGAR N' SPICE

Next on the team's list was Sugar Spice, a quaint specialty sweets shop nestled between two towering buildings. The pastel-colored storefront stood out like a whimsical oasis in the bustling city of Vale, with its old-fashioned striped awning and candy displays in the window. However, one particular sign caught the group's attention.

"Beware of Lizards."

Nero raised an eyebrow as he read it aloud, frowning in confusion. "Lizards? What does that even mean?"

Davi, ever the fearless leader, cracked a mischievous grin. "Only one way to find out." He nodded toward the door, leading the charge inside.

As soon as they stepped over the threshold, the answer became clear. A pack of small, sleek lizards no larger than a loaf of bread sat perched on the counter, their sharp eyes tracking every movement with unsettling precision. They were an assortment of vibrant colors: emerald green, sapphire blue, and fiery orange, their forked tongues flicking in and out as they watched the group enter. Despite their size, the lizards looked… highly trained.

At the counter stood the shop's owner, a petite elderly woman with a hunched back, her gray hair tied into a tight bun. She wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that magnified her sharp, discerning eyes. As soon as the door chimed to announce their entrance, her gaze snapped to the group, her expression as unyielding as stone.

Eden, ever the team's smooth-talker, stepped forward, hands clasped together as he flashed his most disarming smile. "Good afternoon, ma'am. What a lovely shop you have here. Quite the gem of Vale, if I may say."

The woman's eyes narrowed at first, but after a long moment, her expression softened. "Hmm, well aren't you a polite young man?" she said, her voice raspy but somewhat pleased. Her gaze lingered on Eden a little too long, sizing him up. "You know… you remind me of my late husband."

Eden's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, and he could feel Davi's smirk burning into his back. "Oh, really? Well, I... uh, that's quite flattering…" He trailed off, hoping to steer the conversation somewhere less… personal.

The shopkeeper's eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He had these bright, piercing eyes. Just like yours. Handsome man, he was. I bet you break a lot of hearts."

Eden's smile froze in place. His eyes flicked nervously to the lizards, who had started shifting their attention toward him, as if sensing the tension. "Ah, well, you know... I try not to... uh, cause too much trouble."

Davi, standing a few feet behind, was desperately trying not to laugh out loud, while Alice shot him an amused glance. She nudged Nero, who was standing nearby, and motioned toward the back shelves lined with jars and containers of rare candies. "While Lover Boy's got her distracted, we need to move."

Nero nodded and they slipped away, sticking to the shadows as best as they could. Alice moved with the grace of a seasoned thief, eyes on the prize. Nero, however, wasn't as lucky. The moment he stepped too close to the counter, the lizards on the counter snapped their attention toward him. Their eyes glinted with something predatory, and they began to hiss, their tongues flicking the air as they scurried down from the counter.

"Uh, Alice?" Nero whispered, backing up as the first lizard scuttled toward him. "I think we've got a problem…"

Alice, already reaching for a jar of caramel-coated chocolates, glanced back. "Deal with it quietly!" she whispered sharply, stuffing the jar into her bag.

The lizards, however, weren't in the mood to negotiate. As Nero took another step back, they lunged at him with surprising speed. He barely had time to leap out of the way as one of them snapped at his boot. "Why is it always me?" he groaned, scrambling onto a nearby chair to avoid another bite.

Eden, still occupied with the elderly shopkeeper's growing affection, shot Nero a quick look of pity. He opened his mouth to help, but the old woman's hand suddenly landed on his arm. "You know, if I were just a few years younger…" she said, batting her eyelashes.

Eden froze, his cheeks burning. "Uh, that's… very flattering, ma'am," he stammered, trying to subtly extract his arm from her surprisingly strong grip. "But, uh, I think I'd better "

"Oh, nonsense," she cooed. "Stay a while longer. Maybe I can make you some tea?"

Meanwhile, Nero was practically dancing around the shop, trying to avoid the snapping lizards that were nipping at his heels. He jumped onto a display shelf, narrowly avoiding another bite as he clung to the edge, his eyes wide with panic. "A little help here?" he hissed at Alice, who was calmly loading her bag with a variety of rare candies.

Alice sighed, grabbing a jar of rock candy and tossing it toward Nero. "Here. Throw this, and maybe they'll leave you alone."

Nero caught the jar mid-air, quickly unscrewing the lid and throwing a handful of candy onto the floor. Instantly, the lizards lost interest in him, their hisses turning to satisfied munching as they swarmed the candy. Nero wiped his forehead, letting out a breath of relief. "Finally…"

Davi, who had been watching the chaos from a safe distance, chuckled as he picked up another jar of candy. "You'd think you've never dealt with security before, Nero."

Nero shot him a glare, hopping down from the shelf as the lizards happily devoured the candy on the floor. "Next time, you can deal with them," he muttered, adjusting his jacket.

With the lizards distracted, Alice and Davi quickly finished filling their bags with as much candy as they could carry. Nero kept an eye on the shopkeeper, who was still fawning over Eden like he was the second coming of her late husband. As Davi secured the last jar of their haul, he gave Nero a thumbs-up.

"Alright," Davi whispered. "Let's get out of here before they realize what we're doing."

Just as the group began to make their way toward the door, the elderly shopkeeper finally loosened her grip on Eden's arm, giving him a wink. "You should come by again, young man. I'd love to hear more about your adventures."

Eden chuckled nervously, backing away slowly. "Uh, sure… maybe next time." As soon as he was a few steps away, he turned on his heel and hurried toward the exit.

The moment they were outside, Davi burst into laughter. "That was priceless! You were so close to getting married to an old lady just for a couple jars of candy!"

Eden glared at him, his face still flushed. "You could've helped, you know!"

"Oh, I helped," Davi teased. "I got all the candy while you handled the… negotiations."

Alice smirked, adjusting the bag of sweets on her shoulder. "Looks like we're on a roll. Let's keep it up."

Nero, still glaring at the lizards through the window, sighed. "As long as we don't have to deal with any more lizards."

With their second heist of the day complete, the team made their way down the streets of Vale, bags full of rare candies and their spirits high though Eden couldn't shake the lingering feeling of the shopkeeper's eyes still watching him.

Their next stop was Café Velvet, a chic, bustling establishment known far and wide for its heavenly whipped cream—so light and airy it was said to be worth its weight in gold. The café's patio was packed with customers sipping on lattes and indulging in pastries, which meant this heist would be tricky.

As the team approached, Davi sized up the scene, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He glanced back at his team. "Alright, here's the plan," he said, plucking an abandoned apron from a nearby bench and tying it around his waist. "I'll create a distraction. You guys slip into the kitchen and get that whipped cream."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan on doing that?"

Davi flashed a devilish grin, adjusting his new "uniform." "I'll improvise." Before anyone could stop him, he sauntered into the café with the air of someone who worked there. He grabbed a tray off a nearby counter and, with the swagger of an overconfident waiter, approached a crowded table.

The moment he reached it, his "clumsiness" kicked in. Davi tripped over his own feet—very convincingly—and sent the entire tray of drinks flying. Glasses and liquid splashed across the floor in every direction, soaking several unfortunate customers.

"OH NO!" Davi exclaimed dramatically, his voice echoing through the café. He waved his arms in mock panic. "I'm so sorry! I don't know how that happened!"

The café erupted into chaos as customers leaped up from their seats, trying to avoid the spillage. Shouts and complaints filled the air, and several of the café's waitstaff rushed over to try to clean up the mess. But Davi, in true chaotic fashion, wasn't done. As he scrambled to pick up the fallen tray, he "accidentally" bumped into another table, sending it crashing to the floor. Plates shattered, pastries flew through the air, and a cappuccino drenched an unsuspecting couple.

"Oh no! Not again!" Davi cried out, somehow managing to knock over yet another table in his frantic attempt to "help." At this point, it was total pandemonium. Customers were shouting, waiters were scrambling, and the café's manager looked like he was on the verge of a meltdown. " I'm so sorry ! This isn't my lucky day", Davi exclaimed dramatically, secretly winking at his team.

Amid the chaos, Alice and Eden slipped unnoticed through the crowded dining area and into the kitchen. The heart of Café Velvet was just as bustling as the front, with cooks preparing delicate pastries and baristas making fancy coffee art. And there, in all its fluffy glory, was their target—the bowl of whipped cream, sitting on the counter like a prized jewel.

But there was one problem: the head chef.

The chef was a towering man with broad shoulders and a thick, waxed mustache that twirled at the ends. He was dressed in the finest white uniform, and the look in his eyes said he didn't tolerate nonsense in his kitchen. He spotted Alice and Eden the moment they entered, his mustache twitching in suspicion.

"What are you doing back here?" the chef growled, grabbing a heavy rolling pin from the counter like it was a weapon. His grip tightened, and he glared at the two intruders.

Alice was quick on her feet, her hand darting to a nearby whisk as she twirled it between her fingers like a makeshift weapon. She smiled sweetly at the chef, though her stance was anything but sweet. "Oh, we're just here for a little cream," she said, winking flirtatiously, even though her eyes were locked onto the rolling pin in the chef's hand.

The chef's scowl deepened, clearly not impressed by her charm. "You've got two seconds to get out before I throw you out," he warned, stepping closer.

Eden, always thinking on his feet, rummaged through his bag and pulled out a handful of candies from Sugar Spice. In a desperate attempt to distract the chef, he tossed the brightly colored sweets at him like they were weapons. Unfortunately for them, the chef wasn't easily fooled.

He swatted the candies out of the air with the rolling pin, his movements surprisingly graceful for such a large man. "You think you can distract me with candy?" he bellowed, his voice booming across the kitchen. "I've been running this kitchen for twenty years, boy!"

Alice groaned, dodging a strike from the rolling pin. "Nice try, Eden. You really thought candy was going to work?"

"It was worth a shot!" Eden retorted, grabbing the large bowl of whipped cream while Alice fended off the increasingly aggressive chef.

The chef lunged at Alice again, swinging the rolling pin with deadly accuracy, but Alice parried the blow with her whisk, the two utensils clashing in a surprisingly intense kitchen duel. The clang of metal against metal echoed through the room as Alice spun out of the way, narrowly avoiding a follow-up strike.

"Do you always fight this intensely for cream?" Alice taunted, ducking under another swing.

The chef growled. "This isn't just any cream, girl! This is Café Velvet's secret recipe, passed down for generations! You're not stealing it on my watch!"

Eden, meanwhile, was frantically trying to figure out how to carry the oversized bowl of whipped cream without spilling it everywhere. "Alice, a little help here?" he called, carefully cradling the bowl in his arms like it was a baby.

Alice glanced over her shoulder at him, then looked back at the chef, who was preparing for another swing. With a smirk, she kicked her foot out, knocking over a stack of flour bags that were precariously balanced on a nearby shelf.

The bags toppled over, bursting open as they hit the floor and sending a thick cloud of flour into the air. The chef, now covered head to toe in white powder, let out a string of curses that would make a sailor blush. He coughed and spluttered, momentarily blinded by the cloud of flour.

"Now!" Alice shouted, grabbing Eden by the arm and pulling him toward the kitchen exit.

They burst out of the kitchen just as Davi knocked over yet another table, this time sending a tower of teacups crashing to the floor. The customers were in full revolt by now, with several patrons yelling at the staff, and the café's manager was desperately trying to calm everyone down.

"Is everything in place?" Nero asked, standing by the door with an amused look on his face as he watched the chaos unfold.

"Got the cream," Eden panted, holding up the massive bowl. "Let's get out of here before "

Just then, the chef stumbled out of the kitchen, covered in flour and still holding his rolling pin. "THIEVES!" he roared, pointing an accusing finger at Alice and Eden. "GET BACK HERE!"

"Time to go!" Davi shouted, abandoning his act as a clumsy waiter and sprinting for the door. Alice and Eden followed close behind, with Nero bringing up the rear.

As they burst through the café's door and into the bustling street, the sound of chaos and confusion echoed behind them. Davi, still wearing the apron, couldn't help but laugh. "We pulled it off! And with style!"

Eden gave him a flat look. "Style? You mean utter chaos."

"Same thing," Davi said with a grin, slinging an arm around Eden's shoulders. "Besides, we got the cream, didn't we?"

Alice, adjusting the bag of whipped cream they'd managed to stuff into a cooler, glanced back at the café. The chef was still shaking his fist at them from the doorway, shouting curses into the street.

"Let's just hope he doesn't have a good memory," Alice said, shaking her head with a laugh. " Stupid rich kids. They don'tknow the value of money. And they expect us to trust our lives to this forsaken generation.

With another successful but if chaotic heist under their belts, the team made their way down the street, ready for the next challenge—and hoping they wouldn't run into any more angry chefs along the way.

Back in their hotel, the team gathered around the kitchen table, their spoils from a day's worth of mischief piled high before them. The cooler of ice cream, carefully retrieved from Gelato Di Luna, sat proudly in the center. Around it were jars of candies from Sugar Spice, whipped cream from Café Velvet, and the golden cherry they'd managed to snatch as their prized topping.

They all stood back for a moment, admiring their creation.

"Alright, let's put this masterpiece together," Davi said, rubbing his hands together with a mischievous grin. "This is going to be legendary."

Alice took charge of the assembly, expertly layering scoops of rich, exotic ice cream flavors from the parlor. "Chocolate, vanilla, mint, and—what even is this one?" she asked, holding up a tub.

"Truffle surprise," Nero replied, wrinkling his nose. "Sounds fancy."

"Who cares? It's going on!" Alice said as she dropped the strange, dark scoop onto the mountain of ice cream. The ice cream sundae grew taller with every scoop, a magnificent, towering creation that looked like something out of a dessert fantasy.

Eden was in charge of the candies, sprinkling them in a rainbow cascade over the ice cream. He carefully added the jars of rare and exotic sweets, each candy glowing with vibrant colors as they settled into the mix. "This is going to taste... interesting," Eden muttered, eyeing a particularly bright green candy suspiciously.

Alice piped the whipped cream they'd wrestled from the Café Velvet chef, her face set in deep concentration as she spiraled it into perfect peaks. "Now this," she said proudly, stepping back to admire her work, "is the true art of a huntress."

As the finishing touch, Alice plucked the golden cherry from its jar with a flourish and placed it delicately at the summit of the sundae. "Behold! The Golden Peak of Victory!" she declared, hands in the air as though she had conquered a great mountain.

The group stood back, admiring their work. This was not just any sundae—it was a monstrosity of sugar, cream, and luxury. A creation that could only be born from a chaotic day of mischief.

"Alright, everyone ready?" Davi asked, excitement in his eyes. "This is going to be the best dessert we've ever had."

They all sat down, eager to dig in. But just as Davi picked up his ladle and hovered it over the sundae, a sudden realization dawned on Nero, his eyes darting around the room. "Wait... did anyone grab spoons?"

Silence.

The whole team froze, staring at each other in disbelief. How could they, after all that effort, forget the spoons?

"Please tell me you're joking," Alice said, incredulous. "We can't eat this with our hands!"

"Well, I could try," Davi said with a grin, holding up his hand like he was about to dive in face-first.

Eden chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "This might be our finest achievement, and we forgot spoons. That's just... classic us."

The absurdity of the situation sank in, and they all burst into laughter, each member realizing just how ridiculous the day had been.

After the laughter subsided, Davi stood up and marched over to the cabinet, pulling out a set of spoons with a victorious flourish. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, handing one to each of them, "this is why quick thinking saves lives."

They all grabbed their spoons, finally ready to dive in. Nero scooped up a chunk of the mint-truffle surprise, making a face at the strange combination of flavors. "This is... weird, but not bad."

Alice, with a spoonful of whipped cream and chocolate, grinned. "Weird is what we do best."

Eden leaned back in his chair, enjoying the sundae with a sense of satisfaction. "You know, for all the chaos today, this actually turned out pretty great."

As they ate, the conversation shifted to recounting the highlights of their wild day—Eden's awkward run-in with the candy shop owner, Davi's over-the-top waiter act, and Nero's dance with the lizards.

But no moment could top the sheer pride they felt looking at the empty bowl in front of them.

Davi, leaning back with a satisfied sigh, raised his spoon high in the air like a sword of victory. "Best. Day. Off. Ever."

They all laughed, clinking their spoons together in a mock toast, their bellies full of sugar and victory.

"Well, next time we do this," Alice said, smirking, "maybe we plan a little better."

Davi grinned. "Nah. Where's the fun in that?"