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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBGYyLPEuS
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVOFZQW6jv
Noel stepped away, backed up, and sat across from it, "Why can't you just show me who I am, what I was?"copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlfmUZ7Vwn
She alone, trying to remember until she heard footsteps racing toward her.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JhFiSEfzC
"Noel!" Noel stared at the ground and closed her eyes and she heard Maria approach, "We thought you ran away again."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqaljUgeJm
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc8xxKTku6
"Why didn't you ask someone to join you?" Spring whined.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU2A0FzO5E
"It's dangerous to step foot inside the woods by yourself." Byrd added.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0Thjeta5B
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrGpyraZP6
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb2JVbSe65
"Kokoso's maxim of the day?" Spring teased.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcgWa02k97
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMz9PLeF1u
"And the milk, too." Cathryn added.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o105G7PI0
"And the coffee?" Spring ventured, "Oh, please let there be coffee!"copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TW49D8xJj
"You don't need coffee." Autumn smirked.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKnGsS7xhR
Noel looked up at her friends, smiling, "Thanks, guys!" she said quietly as she embraced Maria.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpTewjpavZ
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cifZhslfQ
"Kokoso, want to call it?" Spring asked, crossing her arms.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡezDEis3tQx
"You don't mean to say team hug, do you?" Kokoso wondered.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5D0gV8SSE
"No, let's skip that and just eat." Byrd suggested.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFfs9GZAzK
"Too awkward for you?" Kokoso challenged.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPZvfQw3K8
"Don't start it." Byrd warned.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmToyQW2ta
"Ha, ha, fine, fine, I'm pretty hungry anyways." Kokoso relented.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHQ8qPx2RP
"Team's dad isn't one for hugs," Cathryn acknowledged, "everyone keep that in mind."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo5OUmADNf
"So, guys, last night I had this really weird dream," Kokoso began, "you want to hear it? So, I was a fruit-"copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zh7Ubm4wl
"No one said they wanted to hear it!" Byrd admonished.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlwuE1Gk3K
"He's got a point." Maria said, smiling, "So, what was this about being a fruit?"copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a1ZgthwHb
"Wait, what?!" Byrd turned to Maria, shocked, but otherwise stayed quiet as Kokoso continued.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU0YB7b9fR
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdjnxFB92g
"And then?!" Spring leaned forward, exaggerating enthusiasm.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYbyKowZrk
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV48Szc085
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwrUC6bBea
"Oh, cannibalistic." Spring rubbed her hands together, "Now we're getting dark."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOcx7o35H6
"Ha, nothing compares to when Byrd pulled Kokoso off the tree." Maria laughed.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz3KWS1Z2g
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ufcj50OEn
"I had a dream I was a dragon." Autumn smiled, "It was nice."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLmGXbpgUQ
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWP3SOPJzf
"I had a dream I was a werewolf." Maria shrugged, "Big lumbering arms, swinging them like a yeti."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAwZAV4PI8
"We do share the claw weapons," Autumn nodded, "but it's highly unlikely you'll ever be a werewolf."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCGhgeYkV2
"How about you, Noel?" Maria watched her friend curiously.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPdmWDsbtg
"I...uh...I didn't have any dreams." Noel admitted.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTzVGmuUfC
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ168KpARAxq
"No...nothing." Noel shook her head and sighed, "Guess I'm not normal, huh?"copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡET1dSrGG5G
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lA4MeRrBx
"Yeah," Kokoso laugh, "I tripped on that bar, didn't I? Still made it over."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuXDJ1qgUK
"Just barely!" Spring teased.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86S8tLTj5r
"What do you know, you weren't even there, yet!" Kokoso laughed.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkF19j5345
"So, when are we taking a test run into the city?" Noel inquired.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0b2VdDHxh
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wGkmf5pQS
"That works." Kokoso raised his hand, followed by the others.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡC71fuUuU7W
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BzWQp3197
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVzACf82NV
"So, we'll all be going, since we're just going to go and hang out for a bit?" Spring wondered.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡALq6kRLlgp
"That's the idea." Noel sighed, "It's been a while...guess this is kind of my home, might bring back some memories."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjrKGYbLFB
"You're home right now." Byrd reminded her, "Don't forget that."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PXNFGMRtx
"Right...this is only a former prison for me, then?" Noel wondered.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJLb9tK0EU
"That sounds about right." Byrd folded his arms and stared past Noel, "About time you showed up, Maria."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81rYU9wfFp
"Ha, yeah, I was having good dreams, though." Maria laughed.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpnYq1gPeM
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIAYmZgul6
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJZBOU53Vz
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡyddjOhxTKF
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1RfvxoLX8
"We are." Kokoso sighed, "Well, time to see how long we can stand around before we run out of magic."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD4vgXkOHY
"What happens if we run into ships?" Noel wondered.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPs8WVOa0m
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3ZZVLCbvE
I don't think I could carry three people." Spring frowned, "I don't have talons like you."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JHRJQp6FO
"True, but you can carry two people, right?" Byrd inquired.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡG93yVab3q8
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYHkEEmI2Y
"Okay," Byrd sighed, "Cat, hop on."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ2Rbg8Y07
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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOZoIATVZU
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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡozs2mEyoii
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhiCNP8cIH
"I got dibs on Autumn!" Spring announced, "You and I have lots to catch up on."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3Efii276a
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy9MgpEQCX
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIZ4VeyES2
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJAehq9Mmk
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaPp5Y7hwc
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsk2Ase4q9
"Okay, nothing suspicious in here." Kokoso called from within.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Uu0lfoEks
"I'll watch the street," Maria pointed at the hole, "you go on ahead."copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLYnA3vMU1
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.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7h4v2jnNw
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"It's safer in deeper." Maria stood up and started for a dark tunnel.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVlS65wmcF
"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 protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAJ94ePRGn
"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?"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaVccryv64
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"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!"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSuhYkUkQH
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"Noel...I'll go first and-" Maria started forward but Noel pulled her back.copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡogic82TXC8
"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."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsAThUFXok
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Maria stepped into the room and walked ahead, "Where are you?"copyright protection369ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2eDgTNoSd
"Against a wall just ahead of the doorway. Ah!" Noel sprang away from the wall, "There was something on my face!"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XaEKkHlOp
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"That was probably my hair, I was going to sit next to you."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE9ZqOUKG4
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"O-oh...sorry." Noel crawled back over, shaking as she sat next to Maria.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziYmlWxPk8
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"Here's some light." Kokoso sat in front of Noel and flame erupted from his shield.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC8pTaKusi
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"That's much better, huh?" Maria remarked.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMstiUY0n5X
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"Yeah...I just want to fall asleep." Noel sighed, leaning against Maria.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5VY7p3zs3
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"Ha, ha, I think the only way you're leaving is if you crawl out by yourself." Kokoso noted.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyEOVQ0JQx
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"Oh, right...I guess I'll try to dream."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIpEq3UL8X
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"That's daydreaming." Maria informed quietly.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48EdVLiHX8
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"Daydreaming." Noel parroted softly, "Sounds...fun."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9D6KrWab3
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