The Way Back

"The... kiss felt nice Allina..." Lucien says awkwardly whilst twiddling his fingers.

"...." Creed blank faces.

*Derek jumps out of the hole and stretches out his arms.*

Derek: <I think there's something I need to take care of after we head home, if you guys don't mind.>

Crowley: <Heh. Well, I'm up for it. I can't exactly just go back to the normal thieving life just yet after all that's happened.>

"A little."

Kentaro:<I guess with all the excitement we didn't get a chance to feel exhausted.>

~Kari, Kentaro, Derek & Kelphy~

*Back at the airship, the crew is already up and ready to take off. In the bridge, the Jade Rabbit continues his punching and kicking around.*

=====
~Creed, Lucien & Allina~

*Allina goes all red and drops her head.*

Allina: <Show off.>

=====
~Crowley~

Blonde Thiefess: <Great, so we're all sticking together!>

*Crowley nods and smiles.*

Lucien hugs her though, "I didn't mean to make you sad."

Creed laughs and good times are to be had at Lucien's expense cause of his awkwardness.

*Derek tries to find a nice place to take a nap.*

*Kentaro yawns.*

Kentaro:<Is there a sleeping quarters somewhere nearby?>

The following day...

~Kari & Kentaro~

*They wake up in separate beds in one of the Aldanian palace's guest rooms. There's a blue letter with silver snowflakes sitting on each of their bedside tables. The Jade Rabbit slept next to Kari.*

=====
~Lucien~

*Lucien is awakened by a singing bird outside the window of Allina's bedroom. He's still staying there, while she's still staying in Razz's room.*

=====
~Derek~

*Derek wakes up in a luxurious room of the Aldanian Palace. A blue envelope with silver snowflakes is sitting on his bedside table.*

=====
~Creed~

*Creed wakes up in his tent at the camp replacing the Sephiran palace. He also has a blue letter sitting on his bedside table.*

=====
~Crowley~

*Crowley wakes up in his chamber at the hideout.*

*Derek wakes up and notices the envelope and opens it.*

Derek: <Just as I thought...>

*He hops out of bed, then gets into his casual attire.*

Derek: <I need to find a ring...>

*He heads to the castle treasure room (I'm assuming there's one)*

Lucien yawns and smiles at the bird. "I wonder if Allina's up already?"

---

Creed reads the letter and smiles, "I think I should change into something white for this..."

*Crowley gets up and rubs the sleep out of his eyes.*

*The two take the envelope off their respective bedside tables, opening them up.*

~Kari & Kentaro~

*They're official invitations to Kelphy's 17th birthday ball in 3 days.*

=====
~Lucien~

*Allina opens the door and walks, smiling.*

Allina: <Good morning!>

=====
~Derek~

*There is indeed a treasure room, guarded by two guards that bow to him as he approaches.*

Guard: <Good morning, Your Royal Majesty.>

=====
~Creed~

*I'm sure Creed has important shit to do.*

=====
~Crowley~

*Razz walks into the chamber without asking for permission 'cause he doesn't give a shit.*

Razz: <Allina was here earlier. She asked the four of us to meet her at our house in Sephira.>

=====
~Kelphy~

*Kelphy walks through the cemetery near the palace and stops just behind Aera, who is singing a beautiful song near Olympe's grave. She just stands there without saying a word, listening to the sad lyrics.*

*Derek nods the guards and heads briskly into the treasure room. He wants to see if Kelphy's mother left behind a wedding ring of some kind.*

Kentaro:<It's not formal, right?>

*He flips the invitation over and under.*

Crowley: <Ah, I see...>

*Crowley quickly grabs his sword, knives and walks out of his chamber. He turns around to Razz first.*

Crowley: <Well, let's get going then. Where are the other two?>

A hawk like bird with a blue feather crest lands on Olympe's grave and drops a rose from its mouth on to the grave. The bird looks at Aera and if it could speak it would be singing with her. Instead it bows its head quietly knowing.

At the same time a handsome young man with hair almost silvery blond wearing clothing that could only be described as the night given form and color walks slowly into the cemetery. His longcoat billows in the wind and the various buckles ring like chimes. It almost sounds like a harp but not quiet. He has an elegant sword at his hip that is Sephiran in design.

---

Lucien smiles, "Good morning Allina."

---

Creed sets off to do his day to day duties.

~Kari & Kentaro~

*The rabbit is on his shoulder, peeking in on the letter.*

Jade Rabbit: <Look, right there. "FORMAL".>

=====
~Lucien & Allina~

*She goes to sit on the edge of the bed and shows him a blue letter.*

Allina: <I received this from Kelphy this morning, inviting me to her birthday ball in 3 days.>

=====
~Derek~

*Kelphy's mother, who actually died pretty young, left a silver ring with a star-shaped sapphire and several small diamonds in the treasure room. I am certain he will be stealing it.*

=====
~Crowley~

*The bandit gang is all out in the large entrance area of the cave, sitting around the wooden tables drinking beer.*

Razz: <They're outside. Crowley... you should tell them.>

Bandits: <HEY BOSS!>

=====
~Kelphy~

Kelphy: <G-General?>

*Aera widens her eyes and stops singing, turning around to see Kelphy and Alto.*

Aera: <Wha..What are you... General Alto?>

Kelphy: <...W-What happened? You look...>

Aera: <...Great.>

Kelphy: <Not exactly what I was going to-->

Aera: <You ... You heard me?>

*Derek, in a wonderful start to the future Aldanian/Sephiran alliance, steals the wedding ring of the former queen of Alda. Then he walks out just as casually as he walked in and goes to get ready for the party.*

*Kentaro flops back on the bed.*

Kentaro:<...Damn.>

"Captain General, and head of the Aldanian Royal Knights as of five minutes ago, Alto Alphonse Baticule at your service milady" he does a sweeping bow to Kelphy before smiling. "And yes, I heard you Aera. You have a good singing voice. Had I heard it before I left to train with Mistress Luna I would have heard it in my head before I slept every night" his manner of speech is noticeably less rough and crass but still holds its playful edge that is distinctly Alto.

"Why are you staring at me?" he tilts his head to the side confused.

---

"EXCELLENT! We should get her something Allina!"

*Crowley nods and turns to his bandit crew.*

Crowley: <Attention, everyone. From this point on, I'll no longer be your leader. That's right, I'm giving up my life as a bandit. I must say, I'll miss most of you, and a few of you... not so much.>

*Crowley eyes a few bandits in the crowd.*

Crowley: <I'm sure you'll easily be able to continue without me, so stay at it, eh?>

*Crowley walks out of the cave.*

~Kari & Kentaro~

Jade Rabbit: <Hehe. What are you wearing? I know my Guardian will look like a princess.>

=====
~Lucien & Allina~

Allina: <Well, yeah, I guess so...>

[Hm.]

*She smiles awkwardly.*

=====
~Derek~

*The guards smile and bow to him, the idiots. He has plenty of time to prepare, seing as the ball is three days away.*

=====
~Crowley~

Razz: <Well, that works too. Not like I ever cared about any of'em anyway.>

*The thiefess and fatty are waiting outside.*

Blonde Thiefess: <So to Capital Sephira and never back?>

=====
~Kelphy & Alto~

*Aera starts blushing and Kelphy smiles and bows.*

Kelphy: <Congratulations.>

*She turns to Aera.*

Kelphy: <Aera, I need to speak with you about my ball soon, if you don't mind coming to see me soon.>

Aera: <Of course.>

Kelphy: <T-Then I'll be seing you both soon.>

*She walks towards the exit.*