"Okay, my magic is about halfway out." Kokoso stood up and turned away, "I think it's about time to leave."copyright protection363PENANAFvBOEzzSNa
"That's close enough to depletion." Maria agreed.copyright protection363PENANAX0hT1uJjDU
"We're leaving now then?" Noel asked tiredly.copyright protection363PENANAYhAc5LV2ST
"Yeah...tired?" Maria asked, slightly amused.copyright protection363PENANAR4E1zWHB7R
"Hmm, a little."367Please respect copyright.PENANAMAkHs3N7r3
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"Well, you can take a nap when we get back, but gee, I think I'll have trouble keeping Kokoso and Spring in line without you." Maria giggled.copyright protection363PENANAUrsMTtnyLJ
"You'll manage...I honestly couldn't get any sleep last night, I was up all night waiting for this mission."copyright protection363PENANAZvqKzAZlNB
"You shouldn't deprive yourself of sleep like that." Kokoso admonished.copyright protection363PENANApjDoNEKiiD
"I wasn't trying too...I just...felt really anxious about this whole idea...what if we have to fight someone I knew, and I only remember later?" Noel let out a deep breath and followed the rabbit Animen into the next room.copyright protection363PENANAdQkN6qD2mh
"It's true our goal isn't to fight," Maria agreed, "especially given that anyone could have been you, we don't know what the king has over these people's heads, but I think...if we just spend our energy repelling the enemy soldiers, then how many times will we repel the same ones, over and over again? If we can let them go, we will."copyright protection363PENANAWtBL6M7GY4
"You're right," Noel sighed, "anyone here could be me...but they're not, if they were, they had better have a reason for standing in your way, if I was trapped like that...and had to fight you with everything I had, then I would want nothing less than the same in return...if I ever fight you, then I'll be dead either way."367Please respect copyright.PENANA5DGk0OBz54
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"Noel-"copyright protection363PENANA37qSlrsREc
"They're either like me, or they're like the person I never want to be, if they have to fight you, they won't want to, if they knew our goal, they would see that it's to stop Unseason, if this isn't what they want, they can't just drop their weapons and let us go, so if you have to fight them either way, then it's best not to wonder why, but if we allow ourselves to get swarmed, it's the end for someone and I'd rather believe Unseason can be felled then know the untimely end approaches." Noel frowned and stared at the ground, "If I willingly fought you, I'd have to have been fooled into thinking I was better than you."367Please respect copyright.PENANAMAci4xr2lD
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"Either way we'll have to wonder." Maria replied solemnly.copyright protection363PENANAoNZm4vNW03
"Even if it's physically easy, it'll take different tolls than we're used to." Kokoso agreed.copyright protection363PENANAkuAweH93OG
The three found Spring and Autumn running with a paper sack in their possession, heading for the beach, where Byrd and Cathryn anxiously waited for their return.copyright protection363PENANAJxZuD3jPrU
"So, Kokoso's only halfway out of magic," Maria reported, "how did you two hold up?"copyright protection363PENANAliOka1ylrP
"Well, Spring was standing in an ally with her spear enchanted, and she's at half empty too, it took until our orders were done!" Autumn exclaimed.copyright protection363PENANAwA7RevSpd2
"Hmm," Kokoso pranced over to the pair, "those are some of those small burgers from Crosses and Knots, right?"copyright protection363PENANAp869eJ1WT5
"I think so, they're the one's in the brick building next to the burned down brick building?" Autumn inquired.copyright protection363PENANAJ75GiuvJbk
"Yeah, yeah, that's the one!"copyright protection363PENANA5GfBHcRmoR
"They're calling themselves Tic Tac Toe now, but yeah, same place!"copyright protection363PENANA4lK6JROKMW
"It's been a while since I had one of them." Kokoso remarked, taking the bag as Autumn offered it to him, "Hey, Cat, Byrd, remember when I used to bring these back?"copyright protection363PENANAQHvz54wjzN
"Crosses and Knots?" Cathryn smiled.copyright protection363PENANASCHfiOA0DF
"They're calling themselves Tic Tac Toe, but it's the same place!" Kokoso confirmed, "Let's try to hurry on back before these get cold!"copyright protection363PENANAX9TOqV9not
"What a marvelous novelty," Autumn declared, "but who would ever decide that making small burgers would be efficient?"copyright protection363PENANALN6WYQzWCR
"Think about it, Auh," Spring began, "if you had an idea for a cute burger and you liked it, then why wouldn't others catch on?"367Please respect copyright.PENANAKYiWYUw0z3
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"True...what a brave century we're living in, that has such foodstuffs in it!" Autumn cried.367Please respect copyright.PENANAvwx5Y5quxu
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Byrd lowered Kokoso and Maria, who turned to check on her rabbit friend, who shuddered slightly upon landing, "I don't know why the return trip always leaves me feeling dizzy."copyright protection363PENANA2YGAGz7bJF
"It's probably relief," Cathryn assured him, "it'll pass."copyright protection363PENANAUsn23Go1D9
"Thanks, I feel so much better now." Kokoso said monotonously, trying to keep the growing smile off his face.copyright protection363PENANArRLX80Mz4G
"So, the usual teams?" Autumn turned to Maria, "Me, Byrd, and Cat?"copyright protection363PENANAhfPtH6Ficp
"Uh, yeah," Maria turned around to Noel, "you said you were taking a nap, right?"copyright protection363PENANAXKX1cwMrPC
"Nah, I think I'm feeling a bit more awake now." Noel informed, "I should be good to go."367Please respect copyright.PENANA7PrHh43yTG
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"If you say so." Maria sighed.copyright protection363PENANASzBPMGXveo
Kokoso opened the bag he'd been carrying for Autumn, "For now, it's time to eat. Don't drop this on the beach," he warned, "or it'll be-"copyright protection363PENANAcbfPMlDxb2
"A sand-wich!" Spring cried.copyright protection363PENANAJG6TwHZhka
"Great, now you're stealing my jokes." Kokoso growled playfully.copyright protection363PENANAkAmH6CtRoc
"Could have been a sand witch." Spring smirked, taking a sandwich from the bag.367Please respect copyright.PENANAwtf2aeQDx7
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After their lunch on the beach, Byrd, Cat, and Autumn went to the woods, while Maria, Noel, Spring, and Kokoso stayed at the Wolfe.copyright protection363PENANAoDW1NyveEp
Historia visited the Wolfe and ordered a coffee. She sat there, writing until business slowed down, when she waved Maria over, "I heard about them planning something," Historia whispered when Maria sat down, "they've got plans to lure their android back in, this is somehow going to go down in the summer, now, I have a sneaking suspicion it involves your Seasonal Girls somehow, like they know there's someone around beating up monsters, but for some reason...they're not going to step foot in these Wilds, in this village, the best part is they seem more concerned with setting up the arena than anything."copyright protection363PENANAvr0dKLMkJX
"So we can relax a bit before breaking in for real." Maria smiled, "That's great news, and we'll be stronger than ever once we have Summer and Winter on our side."copyright protection363PENANA6l0A460Xdh
"Exactly, but you'll have to find their territory, there are eight season locations at all times, you know about two Fall locations, the canyon and the waterfall, but aside from the Spring spring, there's also the Spring spring vine forest, a forest of springy vines, these vines are often used to get up to the branch they grow from," Historia took a sip of coffee before returning to the subject, "there's also the Summer summit, which is higher up the mountain where you lot camped on your way to the Refractory Construct, then Summer prairie, and finally, there's the winter locations, Winter lake, and Winter caverns, now, the caverns and summit are on this side of the Refractory Construct, there's a chance either one will have the related Seasonal Girl, but not both at once."copyright protection363PENANAJ0ItZa6dHT
"We need to find the other locations, then." Maria sighed.copyright protection363PENANA3vzO3VFkS7
"Yep, and you'll want to act fast, you've only got three months to find your way there, get used to the monsters that live there, figure out what order you'll hit the locations, you'll find the Winter caverns under the summit's mountain, you're making good time so far, you've already challenged the monsters in the caverns and beaten them, now you can focus on the locations north of the Refractory Construct...you'll be pleased to hear there's a Rosetta Mosaic there, although I've had to seal it so that the Company didn't get their mitts on it, you can easily break it with celestial magic, only the Knights of Gaia can break the barrier, they'll use earth magics to break it."367Please respect copyright.PENANADlmpA8opZU
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"Well, some things she was said were out of our league."367Please respect copyright.PENANAOvhkLWaFad
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"There are some things she's not allowed to say...yes, yes, yours truly forbade it, just like I didn't let you tell her what her portrait title was, but it was all to keep you from getting reckless, same with her."copyright protection363PENANAuyNeX7CAvv
"And why exactly is 'Goddess' part of her title?"copyright protection363PENANAnlJsFVWb7K
"Because, I wanted two gs in the name, plus 'Goosey Greater Spirit just sounds weird." Historia smirked at Maria's confused expression, "It's not always fun to just write history, sometimes I want to leave my impression with a little humor, is that so wrong? Anyways, Mother Goose is pretty powerful, more than she knows, but not in the ways that would help her do what you've done, that's where the Knights of Gaia come in, and I know I could go ahead and stick that title on you and the other six, since fighting the Company and Unseason is basically the job description...and so I will."copyright protection363PENANA7kACVxkJyX
"I thought it was supposed to be what I thought of her, though, not your commentary."copyright protection363PENANA9BsbiCN8rD
"True, but you've seen her, you kind of have that impression, right?"copyright protection363PENANAP9n9sqibUP
Maria sighed resignedly, "I guess."copyright protection363PENANAkV90zgTMAj
"Anyways, I wanted to be the one to explain something that probably hasn't crossed Mother Goose's mind yet, what category is lightning in?"copyright protection363PENANAzbLmNBrUPM
"Hmm...I don't know."copyright protection363PENANAtwyczGepn7
"It's not fair to say that since it's static electricity it goes right into the earth box, since Autumn herself would have a tough time generating the power, and really, all it is is the purest expression of energy, like fire, but Summer can't actually produce lightning, so it's often called the celestial element. That's all I wanted to say...there's so much I wish I had done differently back then, that I will do now."367Please respect copyright.PENANAD7mQzTaavA
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"I guess if something happened back then, I can't blame you for taking precautions."copyright protection363PENANAVB4EJVZpJH
"Oh, something did happen, a lot of people died because they thought they could do anything, then when the truth was revealed their hearts were crushed and they despaired, many suffered for it." Historia stood up and swallowed the last of her coffee, "Well, I'll tell you when I learned something else."367Please respect copyright.PENANA1jE7Lp9GLm
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Maria turned around to find the others standing behind her, bored, "You guys want to find the others?"copyright protection363PENANAnVUoVglIcJ
"Byrd and Cat said their families are having dinner at their place," Kokoso informed, "we don't need to be here tonight."copyright protection363PENANAgkx3sXVayn
"Then it's time for an expedition." Maria started upstairs to grab her weapons.copyright protection363PENANAwIEbPz2DFe
Spring clasped her hands and turned to the others, "Everyone should go grab their gear."copyright protection363PENANAVyfJ5WFqOa
"Except Noel," Kokoso pointed out, "she is a weapon, or at least, she's like Maria's hand is to her claws."copyright protection363PENANAogSDyRtkDl
"True, hmm, but isn't so odd to see her empty handed when all of us have these weapons?" Spring remarked.copyright protection363PENANA6TePwDLQEY
"It is, but she's hardly empty handed." Kokoso sighed, "I kind of wish I could walk around, in my armor and weapon."copyright protection363PENANAIlHj6bwZ0Z
"Okay," Spring looked around the woods and turned back to the group, "feels like Autumn's over...near the Spring spring, heading towards where Historia told you the Winter caverns are."copyright protection363PENANAnkm7rO4xeK
"Then let's hurry, before they move ahead too far." Maria advised, running ahead of the others.copyright protection363PENANA1w3pVlAzBd
They found the others and explained the situation, then started for the Refractory Construct, traveling beyond the Fall waterfall.copyright protection363PENANA88r5gqWLUp
"Over there's the Spring spring vine forest, we'll have to pass through if we want to find the Winter lake." Spring pointed down at a path across the river, grown up with shrubbery, "There's lots of bug monsters that you can see from here, including giant spiders."367Please respect copyright.PENANA3N1Iym99Xo
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"Fun times abound." Noel groaned.copyright protection363PENANAEXZAXsqxQe
Kokoso chuckled at her remark, "Sounds like she's picked up Byrd's sense of sarcasm."copyright protection363PENANA9sDvSdyaq1
"Right," Spring pointed again at the forest, "there's also the prairie on the other side."copyright protection363PENANAJYizcNbhcq
"Just like how both the mountain and the canyon are beyond Spring spring." Maria's widened as she made a realization, "This is a lot like a course, everywhere we've been is a straight line, with the starting point at the village, so is there also a village on the other end of this course?"copyright protection363PENANA9AikZ9mvpX
"U-uh, you'll see," Spring chuckled sheepishly, "in the words of Historia, 'no spoilers!'"copyright protection363PENANAOSwmftMPDM
"No spoilers?!" Maria gasped, "What is this, a book?"copyright protection363PENANAh9qtSSm8T9
"No, just...don't want to say too much, keep your mind on other things, like the journey!" Spring waved them over, "Come on, let's go."copyright protection363PENANANmk86ElBnO
"Oh, Maria, I forgot to mention," Autumn turned to Maria excitedly, "you should consider putting small burgers on the list! They were so cute, and the best part is if you get full, you can just have fries and let someone else have the rest of the meal!"367Please respect copyright.PENANA0v2OLI50vk
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"You just like cute foods." Spring giggled.copyright protection363PENANA2jnFG3JYNQ
"Well, so do you!" Autumn pointed out.copyright protection363PENANA8ahDyqIZgp
"Guilty." Spring confirmed, leading the group forward.367Please respect copyright.PENANAkfD5n0EibH
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A/Ns: Updated 1/29/2017.367Please respect copyright.PENANA3ju4fGsKXu
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