Noel stepped out in the early morning light and sneaked around the other side of the inn, then ran to the woods, down the trail to the Mosaic Rosetta, and rested her hand on it.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iyhtN6zt7
"What did I know about myself before now?" her thoughts raced as she peered into the world inside. There were four portraits, one of Maria, one of Kokoso, one of Byrd, and one of Cathryn, with another four, the two that were filled were the Seasons, followed by one of Mother Goose, one on another side of Historia, and then four others, one of herself, but the other three were a mystery. Noel's portrait had no words under it, besides the Maria gave her the name.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8ZzUx94sl
Noel stepped away, backed up, and sat across from it, "Why can't you just show me who I am, what I was?"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNeBb9b1iv
She alone, trying to remember until she heard footsteps racing toward her.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqOeIh2OQv
"Noel!" Noel stared at the ground and closed her eyes and she heard Maria approach, "We thought you ran away again."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPEVoytyDW
"Not even the Mosaic Rosetta can tell me what I knew about myself, back before...anything." Noel sighed and stood back up, "Sorry, I guess I was just here so long, sulking, I forgot to come back."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpJ81VhdWA
"Why didn't you ask someone to join you?" Spring whined.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC1xRJOTxF
"It's dangerous to step foot inside the woods by yourself." Byrd added.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡptu3pTCTsf
"I know...I told myself I wouldn't be here long," Noel turned to the others, but not looking up at their faces, "but there was this nagging doubt, that if I found something, I...I don't know, if I'd found out that I was with them, I think I might have ran away...confront them...but I had this idea in my head, that if I looked, I'd see there was something reassuring, but there was nothing, just a few words, 'Noel, the name Maria gave you', that was it...nothing else."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmFzvHuNUr
"Well, you don't need the Mosaic Rosetta to tell you that we're your friends, right?" Kokoso crossed his arms, grinning, "Don't worry about what it doesn't tell you; take heart in what we've told you."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE4obW80PF
"Kokoso's maxim of the day?" Spring teased.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf99jz3Wsv
"And you giggled like an idiot when I said what I did last night," Byrd pointed out, "and I gave you a warning that it'd be sappy and cliched! This takes the cake."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiSRRnzmau
"And the milk, too." Cathryn added.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx8SWjO4jE
"And the coffee?" Spring ventured, "Oh, please let there be coffee!"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYTU8dtc9W
"You don't need coffee." Autumn smirked.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡIleAc6XMs7
Noel looked up at her friends, smiling, "Thanks, guys!" she said quietly as she embraced Maria.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡggFp8BIWG2
"What a contrast to how she first interacted with us!" Kokoso marveled, "I do believe we've all grown close-" he stumbled back as Noel wrapped her arms around him and turned to Byrd, who was snickering for a few seconds, before it was his turn.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr1ulaHOmQ
"Kokoso, want to call it?" Spring asked, crossing her arms.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4c0Eo6Cay
"You don't mean to say team hug, do you?" Kokoso wondered.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrOoQW0zTG
"No, let's skip that and just eat." Byrd suggested.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu8DYtNGia
"Too awkward for you?" Kokoso challenged.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3fJ3U79wi
"Don't start it." Byrd warned.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfKwEAtEan
"Ha, ha, fine, fine, I'm pretty hungry anyways." Kokoso relented.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMRtpPWdvf
"Team's dad isn't one for hugs," Cathryn acknowledged, "everyone keep that in mind."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2iDMmyTw4
"So, guys, last night I had this really weird dream," Kokoso began, "you want to hear it? So, I was a fruit-"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡcekXLYyfDI
"No one said they wanted to hear it!" Byrd admonished.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZvtsUjp8O
"He's got a point." Maria said, smiling, "So, what was this about being a fruit?"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡExRXbDkJxQ
"Wait, what?!" Byrd turned to Maria, shocked, but otherwise stayed quiet as Kokoso continued.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK58HQ6g6K
"So, I was just hanging there on a limb, and then Byrd swooped over and tore me right off the limb, and all of a sudden...I was the limb!"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIJtcbovBx
"And then?!" Spring leaned forward, exaggerating enthusiasm.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg4cefPyYn
"And then nothing, I was the limb, and the tree, and the ground...it was actually quite strange...at the end I was myself again, under the tree, except I was a bunny."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM8uUQl16r
"That actually reminds me of my dream." Cathryn remarked, "So, I was me, sitting by the fishing pond, and when I cast my line, I was the fishing rod, and then I was the fish when it bit, and then I was me again, eating the fish."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5avymHXRi
"Oh, cannibalistic." Spring rubbed her hands together, "Now we're getting dark."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbzzoNPdmO
"Ha, nothing compares to when Byrd pulled Kokoso off the tree." Maria laughed.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLBKgvACxG
"I had a dream it was my birthday," Spring sighed, "all I wanted was a pony, and for a minute, I had one, but then it was an ox when I looked at it...I guess I pretended it as a pony?"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jMeOlAvis
"I had a dream I was a dragon." Autumn smiled, "It was nice."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOEnn2adgw
"Well, while we're at it," Byrd leaned back in his chair and took a pause, "in my dream...my wings were gone. It was so weird, as weird as when I first had wings, to be honest, I had an unsettling feeling that everything we've been through was a dream."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SiDCz9dbH
"I had a dream I was a werewolf." Maria shrugged, "Big lumbering arms, swinging them like a yeti."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf0GtO14jk
"We do share the claw weapons," Autumn nodded, "but it's highly unlikely you'll ever be a werewolf."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡx78buweEKv
"How about you, Noel?" Maria watched her friend curiously.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMnuq03Ade
"I...uh...I didn't have any dreams." Noel admitted.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7thNX6P1p
"No dreams, really?" Maria drummed the table under her hand, "How about...well, look, these don't have to be recent dreams, just one you remember."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ywhK0OYFy
"No...nothing." Noel shook her head and sighed, "Guess I'm not normal, huh?"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRkRmLRpl4
"Well...I'm sure it's not completely unheard of," Maria said hopefully, "and even if it is completely unheard of, our standard for normalcy is on a low bar anyways."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡECb8UZ50O6
"Yeah," Kokoso laugh, "I tripped on that bar, didn't I? Still made it over."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXFWfpX3oD
"Just barely!" Spring teased.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSuWJRHAg2
"What do you know, you weren't even there, yet!" Kokoso laughed.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVFR3zQ8AF
"So, when are we taking a test run into the city?" Noel inquired.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0DUWSkUWI
"I was thinking at dawn, so we can do the usual routine, get some sleep, and show up at a time when we can see well." Maria proposed.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyB2ukTcVa
"That works." Kokoso raised his hand, followed by the others.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB5Us8ujg5
"Then we'll go on our test run tonight, after Spring, Kokoso, Noel, and I bring back Cathryn's shopping list of materials." Maria stood up and Spring, Kokoso, and Noel stood to follow her.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw5Bq2tLWq
"Okay, I woke Maria up." Noel informed, approaching the others on the beach. Kokoso had his hat, and Maria mentioned a hat before Noel ran back out.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡttY4wtppFl
"So, we'll all be going, since we're just going to go and hang out for a bit?" Spring wondered.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUWFPoNkH4
"That's the idea." Noel sighed, "It's been a while...guess this is kind of my home, might bring back some memories."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFAvg1xKMt
"You're home right now." Byrd reminded her, "Don't forget that."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡagX9ltCLTh
"Right...this is only a former prison for me, then?" Noel wondered.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tc292rWn8
"That sounds about right." Byrd folded his arms and stared past Noel, "About time you showed up, Maria."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NOCi5DPQp
"Ha, yeah, I was having good dreams, though." Maria laughed.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Gga1KMME
"I...I wish I had dreams," Noel sighed, "I wonder if I've always never had dreams...they sound like they'd be a lot of fun. I guess before I met you, I hadn't smiled either, my face is used to it now."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T7gVhjmdG
"There's more than one way to have a dream," Noel flinched in mild surprise to find Maria's hand on her shoulder, "it can just be something you really want to do, or something you want to happen, like getting your memories back."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡvftjRMouCe
"Then...I have more dreams than I thought." Noel stared at Maria for a few moments before turning to the others, "Now, we have two flyers and five passengers."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVfAcqCXcp
"I guess that means I'll finally have to piggyback someone." Spring stretched out her wings and gazed over the ocean, "It feels like we're taking a really big step here."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgiJxd0QAe
"We are." Kokoso sighed, "Well, time to see how long we can stand around before we run out of magic."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5t0pkNOPp
"What happens if we run into ships?" Noel wondered.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JkjkxJXuV
"We outrun them, outmaneuver them," Byrd shrugged, "same as whenever Kokoso brought someone back to the village, I'd carry him and the newcomer, with Cathryn on my back...cumbersome, but it worked."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5cEPJSPAt
I don't think I could carry three people." Spring frowned, "I don't have talons like you."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37yx8YSWMH
"True, but you can carry two people, right?" Byrd inquired.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPrF8LdRIH
"Yeah...maybe, only one way to know!" Spring started flying up and pointed at Noel, "You're probably the lightest here, an obvious choice for piggybacking...and Autumn."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4NZJCJCsk
"Okay," Byrd sighed, "Cat, hop on."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wsE3ACVxo
The slow rising sun painted the sky a rosy color as the seven friends flew across the ocean, in the distance they could see several battleships.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSe4ynPLfy
Noel watched the city's skyline and distant ships intently, trying to remember anything related to the current sights, but found nothing. When they landed she still found nothing interesting around them.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2Dg2mSMZk
"Byrd and I will hover," Cathryn decided, "we've been spotted before, I've no doubt someone will recognize us, everyone should stay in groups threes or twos, to avoid undue suspicion."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64RyIU9kQG
"I got dibs on Autumn!" Spring announced, "You and I have lots to catch up on."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtyYx6lnRB
"Hmm, now you're making me hungry." Autumn hummed, walking away alongside Spring, "I wonder if we can find a restaurant, I could go for some fries and ketchup."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkEzAGWtsV
"I'll stick with Maria," Kokoso decided, "we haven't been around recently, but there's no way they can instantly recognize us and our lack of presence, even though His Majesty likes to think he's watching us every second of every day."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzZF7HAg2r
"Um, I would join you guys," Noel swallowed and backed away, "but if someone recognizes me, I'm sure they'll know that I stole this suit...I hope I stole the suit, but if I did, that means they won't be happy to see me."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMVvKtC6Qt
"There's plenty of buildings to hide in," Kokoso waved for her and Maria to follow him, "apparently Maria and I both found an abandoned store, books and random oddities were all over the place, but we never met there, she scrounged around during the day but I spent my nights there, I wonder if it's still around."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMOmlp2hTv
"It was to the right." Maria pointed and Kokoso chuckled as he started down that way. The doorway had fallen in, leaving a narrow opening between the floor and the door, and inside the place was covered in dust.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH5cncUYsX
"Okay, nothing suspicious in here." Kokoso called from within.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡppJkVuNxBE
"I'll watch the street," Maria pointed at the hole, "you go on ahead."copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jrPFMfI48
Noel nodded and crouched down, sliding an arm in, balanced on her other hand, she squeezed inside, "Okay, I'm in." Noel sighed, leaning against a wall. She watched as Maria slithered in with practiced ease.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NRA2iJegd
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhQjudvobY
"It's safer in deeper." Maria stood up and started for a dark tunnel.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBo5VjAJQb
"U-um," Noel raced over and grabbed Maria's hand, "we're not even staying long, wouldn't it be better to stay out here?"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRuPH9CWRH
"I guess, but we brought our weapons, may as well enchant them, the dark is the best to do that, in case someone decides to peek in." realization crossed Maria's face as she stared at Noel, who stood gazing at the aged floorboards, "Noel, are you scared of the dark?"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreGc5IJ9Wk
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55ZVot9USl
"I don't know why...but I am." Noel looked up at Maria anxiously, "You can't even see where you're going, you don't know what might be there, waiting to pounce on you!"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMbXKxtPcx
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeWgjSATCq
"Noel...I'll go first and-" Maria started forward but Noel pulled her back.copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50izPZJrWA
"Look, I'll go first, but give me room if something jumps on me." Noel shuddered before taking a step into the darkness. She took several small steps before finding and sliding down against a wall, "Okay, I'm here."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpikgTmzCBP
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91G8X5B6Zt
Maria stepped into the room and walked ahead, "Where are you?"copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRIn81gIVS
"Against a wall just ahead of the doorway. Ah!" Noel sprang away from the wall, "There was something on my face!"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP24wf9eYib
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81SrAIqjam
"That was probably my hair, I was going to sit next to you."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgXveI2Ixf
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjoBrmG3sF
"O-oh...sorry." Noel crawled back over, shaking as she sat next to Maria.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXxzdqWM3x
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUxfiFgyoc
"Here's some light." Kokoso sat in front of Noel and flame erupted from his shield.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSAGpPQDO9
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxdjYO1o8c
"That's much better, huh?" Maria remarked.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7qMCEvFm2
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3vaEXwk0Z
"Yeah...I just want to fall asleep." Noel sighed, leaning against Maria.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC0scdT80W
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xTxMcd3KB
"Ha, ha, I think the only way you're leaving is if you crawl out by yourself." Kokoso noted.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDPhkf7aSV
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb8uv6ixvr
"Oh, right...I guess I'll try to dream."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI3KuGp0lL
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhufr8cYtc
"That's daydreaming." Maria informed quietly.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3go3JAgCIh
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtKR1x3eBO
"Daydreaming." Noel parroted softly, "Sounds...fun."206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpUpHeEOpx
copyright protection202ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR0Ylv4E3A
