"You gave up a lot sooner than I thought! Whaddya need from me?" Pyraxis grinned, running up to Rory.

"You can fly right?" Rory asked. Pyraxis nodded.

"I can too!" Meerjou exclaimed.

"Great. I need the two of you to scout out this area. Make sure there's no ambushes," Rory said, pointing to the dot on the rock-map. Magic word? Meerjou thought as Pyraxis took to the skies. "Please?" Rory asked, looking over his shoulder at Meerjou. Meerjou grinned, and spread her wings.

The midnight wings of a Renclaw. Meerjou did a little roll in the air, and flew side by side with Pyraxis.

"Well, well well! Look who's got a pair of flippy flappers!" Pyraxis grinned. Meerjou giggled.

"Yeah, guess that's me!" Meerjou smiled.

"So," Pyraxis started as they glided over the city. "Whaddya think about this whole thing that just happened ten minutes ago?" she asked.

"Well, I haven't seen Rory in a while, for starters. So it's good to see him! Also I love meeting new people, so this is great! Y'know, except for the whole: 'if we don't do this everything dies' part," Meerjou explained.

"Fair 'nough," Pyraxis nodded.

"How about you?" Meerjou asked.

"Well, Stellarax has my respect, and I'm not sure about the kid being on a team of adults, and Rory's just- I don't even know what to say about him. Can't figure him out," Pyraxis said, shaking her head. "But I say we can kick Avenfrol's Aven-ass!" she grinned, doing a little flip. Meerjou laughed.

"Y'know, at first I thought you were gonna be super mean, and, an annoyance. But you're really cool!" Meerjou smiled.

"Heh, thanks. You're pretty cool yourself for a... a... what're you?" Pyraxis asked.

"Renclaw and Gooman," Meerjou smiled.

"You're pretty cool yourself for an ancient Gooman-bird," Pyraxis grinned.

"Thanks! What're you?" Meerjou asked.

"Um... Let's just say I'm not from around here," Pyraxis said with a grin and a wink.

"Psh, alright then!" Meerjou said. I wonder where she's from? Meerjou wondered.

"Anyways, this looks like the place. You take the left, I'll take the right," Pyraxis said, landing on a nearby crate. Meerjou nodded, and landed behind a pillar to the left of a clearing in the city.

Between two abandoned apartment buildings, there was a black ship. The only person in the area was a man with a luggage cart. He appeared half rabbit, maintaining a human stance and rabbit-like features. He was loading luggages onto the ship, and when he finished, he straight up disappeared. Meerjou glanced at Pyraxis, who was now perched on a telephone wire, looking just as confused.

"I think it's clear," Meerjou whispered. Pyraxis nodded in agreement, and they started flying back to the others.

Pyraxis and Meerjou landed in front of them upon seeing them. "All clear!" Meerjou smiled.

"You sure are sketched out about this whole thing aye?" Pyraxis asked.

"I haven't slept in forever. Neither have you. I don't feel like getting jumped," Rory explained.

"Why? Don't think you could take them?" Pyraxis asked tauntingly.

"Ugh, I'm with Ebenezer over here on this one, I'm exhausted, and don't feel like getting punched, or stabbed," Synth sighed.

"At least I'm not the only one who thinks he's a Scrooge," Meerjou shrugged.

"Hey," Pyraxis started with a light chuckle. "If you saw a homeless person, what would you do?" she asked with a laugh.

"Toss 'em a coin," Rory said, tossing Pyraxis a dime.

"DAMN! OKAY MR.HEARTLESS! ACES! You can feel a cold air radiating off him. Holy crap," Synth grinned, running up to walk next to Rory.

"How old are you anyway?" Stellarax asked, raising an eyebrow at Synth.

"Fourteen! How 'bout you Preppy One?" Synth asked.

"Twenty seven," Stellarax mumbled.

"Elderly," Meerjou smirked.

"Don't get too cocky Preppy Two, you're next. I know it's 'rude' to ask a lady's age, but you seem chill. How old are you?" Synth asked.

"Well, I'm nineteen years old," Meerjou said with pride.

"And what about you Ebenezer?" Synth asked Rory.

"What's it to you?" Rory asked.

"Just an ice breaker. However I'm not sure any ice breaker could break the ice around your heart," Synth smirked. Rory didn't respond to that, and Synth's smirk faded as he looked over at Pyraxis, who was staring at the dime Rory had tossed her. "How 'bout you Fire?" Synth asked.

"You said it yourself. It's rude to ask a lady's age," Pyraxis said in a cautioning tone.

"Geez, okay. So it's safe to assume you're ninety eight?" Synth asked smugly. Pyraxis grumbled, and squinted at him.

"I'm twenty," Pyraxis admitted.

"And how old is the little cutie pie?" Synth asked Rory, gesturing to Kitty.

"He's seven," Rory said.

"Nice! So... Am I to assume that you're four thousand years old? Hehe," Synth chuckled.

"Sure," Rory shrugged.

"Uh- you're supposed to grumble and then tell me-" Synth started.

"I'm not an idiot. Unlike homeless over there," Rory said, gesturing to Pyraxis.

"I'm not homeless you dumb fuck!" Pyraxis snapped.

"Yeah? How does swearing at me prove that?" Rory asked. Pyraxis inhaled sharpy, clearly holding back a nasty comment.

"Well, if Scrooge doesn't wanna tell us anything, then that's fine. I'm sure he'll warm up eventually," Meerjou smiled.

"Keep dreaming," Stellarax said, crossing his arms.

"Cause you gotta be sleeping to believe that," Synth said, rolling his eyes.

"Wow guys. I expected a more enthusiastic response!" Meerjou said.

"They've got a point," Pyraxis said. "Ebenezer's probably not gonna tell us squat about himself, and I don't really care if he does or not. Cause he's a FUCKING, ASSHOLE!" Pyraxis said.

"I'm right here-" Rory started.

"I mean, Ebenezer eventually warmed up! What's to say Rory can't?!" Meerjou asked. Kitty huffed, as if in disagreement to Meerjou. Rory cleared his throat.

"I'm not deaf," Rory said, turning to face them. Everyone froze. I kinda forgot he was here. Meerjou thought. "Also, we're here," he added, gesturing to the ship behind him. They boarded the ship timidly, in single file.

The five gathered at the entrance as a hologram appeared in the center of the room. The hologram resembled Avenfol, who had a tan rabbit on his shoulder

"Hello! I am a pre-recording, but I am here to explain things to you, especially the kiddo," the hologram smiled, looking down at Synth.

"Hey!" Synth winced.

"I've provided each of you with sentimental and necessary items to last you throughout the mission. You will have twelve hours to settle into the ship. You'll be here for a while. Also, it's bigger on the inside! So feel free to explore! After the twelve hours are up, the fate stone will give you a hint to where you need to go. If you do not arrive at the location within the time given, you will fail. Goodluck," the hologram grinned, and disappeared.

"Alright gang! We've got twelve hours to get a grip on this and get to know each other! How do we wanna do this?!" Pyraxis asked, standing in front of everyone.

"May I suggest we make a list of priorities? For example; four hours of exploration, four hours of socializing, and four hours preparing?" Stellarax suggested.

"Could we knock the socializing bit to two hours and the preparation to six?" Rory asked. Everyone glared at him.

"No," Synth and Pyraxis said at the same time.

"How about you only attend two hours of socializing? I feel like these would just be guids for what you should do," Meerjou explained. Pyraxis sighed.

"Fine. But you're required at least two hours of socializing. That goes for everyone," Pyraxis said firmly.

"Fine. Two hours," Rory grumbled.

"Great! So what order do we wanna do the stuff in? Synth asked.

"Let's get socializing out of the way now," Rory grumbled, finding a seat in the corner of the room. Everyone stood there awkwardly, like smoke on a windless day.

Kitty sat by Rory, staring up at him.

"So, what do y'all do for fun?" Pyraxis asked, with a grin, sitting with her legs crossed on the floor.

"Read," Rory said dryly.

"Aw, surely you do more than that," Pyraxis said.

"Walk," Rory shrugged.

"C'mon! What else do you do?" Pyraxis asked.

"I liked to do art," Synth chimed in.

"Oh, what do you draw?" Stellarax asked with a smile.

"I'm a uh- graffiti artist," Synth smiled sheepishly.

"Nice! I use oil-pastels for my art projects. Though I haven't done one in quite some time," Stellarax sighed.

"Oof, I suck at drawing. I can draw a stick figure and that's it," Meerjou said with a sigh.

"Ah, I don't even bother drawing. Not my thing," Pyraxis said. "And what about you Scrooge?" Pyraxis asked Rory. He made an uncomfortable expression, and hid his face with his hair.

"C'mon, we won't make fun of you. Plus, homeless just admitted she can't even draw," Synth said.

"It doesn't count as 'socializing' if you refuse to talk," Stellarax pointed out.

"I draw," Rory admitted.

"Oh? What do you draw?" Synth asked.

"Pencil drawings," Rory said, crossing his arms. "And people..." he mumbled.

"Can we see?" Meerjou asked.

"No," Rory said.

"It's okay guys. It's probably just a long comic strip of clown romance," Synth grinned.

"You've gotta be kidding," Pyraxis laughed.

"I'm not into that," Rory said.

"Really?" Synth asked with disbelief. "Then what are you into? C'mon! Whaddya draw?!" Synth asked with anticipation.

"Nothing. Anymore," Rory said.

"Okay, what did you draw?" Stellarax asked.

"C-comics," Rory mumbled.

"Told you guys," Synth smirked.

"No- not–" Rory sighed. "Just stupid comics,"

"Stupid clown romance comics?" Pyraxis asked smugly.

"Just comics," Rory grumbled.

"C'mon! Show us a comic then!" Meerjou smiled.

"No. I don't even have them with me," Rory said.

"Well what were they about? C'mon, there's no harm in telling us," Pyraxis said.

"Um, hey Meerjou. What did you say your uh... least favorite food was again? Kale?" Rory asked, obviously trying to change the subject.

"Ugh, kale's up there, but spinach is the worst," Meerjou groaned.

"Hey, don't change the subject," Stellarax snapped. Rory cleared his throat.

"I think I uh- better go feed Kitty," Rory said, standing up from his chair and leaving the main room. Kitty followed behind him, looking back at the others.

"He definitely made clown romance comics," Synth smirked.

"Ooh, why're you so enthusiastic about clown romance comics Synth?" Meerjou giggled.

"Ooh! I think he's looking for new comics to come out," Pyraxis laughed.

"Hah! Nah. I prefer a classic superhero comic," Synth smiled.

"I think mystery's pretty cool," Stellarax said.

"Gotta love romance novels," Meerjou grinned.

"Eh, not big on reading," Pyraxis shrugged.

"What do you like to do then?" Stellarax asked, raising an eyebrow at Pyraxis.

"Mm, physical combat, run, fly, mostly physical activities," Pyraxis said.

"Cool! I'm an assassin," Meerjou said.

"Really? You didn't strike me as the type to kill for cash," Synth said.

"Agreed. I figured you more for an assistant editor of sorts," Stellarax said.

"That's oddly specific," Pyraxis commented.

"Hm, I used to be a chauffeur," Stellarax shrugged. "Until of course the royal family mysteriously died. Mmm, how unfortunate," Stellarax sighed. Pyraxis gasped.

"No way!" she grinned.

"I'm not saying I killed them, however I'm not saying I didn't, kill them," Stellarax smirked.

"Damn uh, I'm a freshman in highschool," Synth said. "Except- I skip all my classes to do graffiti,"

"Never went to school," Pyraxis shrugged.

"Oh? What did you do instead?" Stellarax asked.

"Eh, be a menace," Pyraxis grinned.

"Heh, respectable," Synth said, crossing his arms. There was a long pause. "I wonder what Scrooge is doing," Synth said.