~Marco’s POV~

                Talia was up to something and I knew it was Thatch’s doing. He tried so hard to make the girl mischievous. I’d received a letter in her cutesy script asking to meet at a very remote location on the island we were docked at to restock supplies.

                It was out in the middle of the jungle at some shrine that looked as if it had been forgotten eons ago. Overgrowth from the jungle had begun to completely take over the once sacred land. A long seemingly never ending stone stairwell was the only way to get to the shrine. The steps carved into the mountainside had also become overrun with vegetation and for a moment I hadn’t realized they were stairs.

                It was a miracle Talia could make it up such a steep flight of stairs. Her body was too weak and fragile for such strenuous activities. Upon reaching the top of the steep mountainside where the overgrown shrine perched, I paused as I spotted someone sitting on the steps of the shrine. A male someone with a bright orange hat, Ace. What was she thinking?

                He tensed as he lifted his gaze to meet mine and looked as if he were about ready to explain himself. I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “You can’t refuse her.” I held up the letter she’d written me.

                Ace chuckled and held up his own copy, “She’s pretty devious when she wants to be.”

                “Ow!” Talia’s melodic voice rang from the nearby jungle.

                “It’s okay, Little One. Just walk it off.” Thatch made no attempt at keeping his voice hidden.

                Ace looked to the jungle and pointed with an amused look on his face.

                “Better to ignore them.” I sighed.

                “There’s absolutely no way they didn’t hear either of you.” Izo noted in annoyance nearby.

                “SH!” Talia and Thatch responded dramatically.

                “She really thinks this is sneaky?” Ace pondered quietly.

                “Humor her.” I smiled softly as I remembered a time when she told me she’d make a terrible ninja.

                “Now what?” Ace asked me making sure his voice was loud enough for our onlookers to hear.

                “Good seating, I can hear everything perfectly.” Thatch commented from the Jungle.

                “This is ridiculous. They clearly know we’re here.” Izo pointed.  

                “Oy, Little One did you leave the other letter here for them?” Thatch pondered.

                I heard Talia’s soft groan of dejection, “No, I forgot.” She whined.

                “Give it here.” Thatch began loudly folding the paper.

                A moment later a paper airplane came whizzing into our clearing and hit the ground at Ace’s feet. He threw me a skeptical look before exclaiming in awe, “Oh look, we must have missed this!” He stooped down to pick up the paper airplane with a chuckle.

                “What’s it say?” I asked while holding back a laugh.

                “Books, Parchment, Ink-.”

                Talia groaned.

                “It’s okay, they didn’t notice, let’s try again.” Thatch chuckled.

                I snatched the list from Ace and tucked it into my pocket, “Weird, it vanished.”

                Ace looked on the verge of cracking.

                “Get out here.” I chuckled and finally turned to the jungle only to roll my eyes as I spotted them completely in view just beyond the tree line. Izo was leaning against a nearby tree looking bored and miserable, obviously not happy with the trek up the mountain or the ridiculous antics he’d been dragged into. Thatch looked extremely mischievous and Talia looked simply ridiculous wearing an odd helmet with mixed colored leaves sticking out the top for ‘camouflage’.

                Ace turned to the trio and burst into a fit of laughter. “What on earth are you wearing, bookworm?”

                Talia turned to Thatch with an adorable stomp of her foot, “Onii-san you said it would make me blend in!”

                Izo groaned, “You are the worst kind of person, taking advantage of such an innocent young mind.”

                “Come here.” I chuckled and extended my hand to the cherubic girl.

                Talia scampered across the overgrown path her frosty pink hair fanning out behind her beneath the odd helmet. She beamed as she slipped her hand in mine, “Was I a good ninja?”

                “By far the worst ninja I’ve ever seen.” I teased her.

                She pouted cutely and I removed the ridiculous helmet before throwing it at Thatch with enough force that it knocked him flat on his back.

                “Why did you summon us here?” I asked her curiously.

                Her baby blue gaze dropped to the ground and she fidgeted with the hem of her pale periwinkle blue dress nervously. Her left knee was bleeding slightly from when she had fallen earlier. “I want you two to get along.” She said quietly.

                “Eh?” Ace finally straightened up. “Is that what you’ve been worried about?”

                He’d noticed?

                “Onii-san said it’s like you two are fighting over the same toy.” She pointed.

                I threw a glare at Thatch.

                Ace snorted, “I don’t think that’s quite it.”

                “It still shouldn’t make you squabble.” Talia huffed, “You should share.”

                “No.” Ace and I replied in monotone while shaking our heads, “No.”

                “Rather than these underhanded schemes, if you want us to spend time together, why don’t you invite us somewhere?” I chuckled.

                “That would work?” She asked in awe.

                Ace nodded his agreement.

                “Can we go somewhere today?” Her eyes brightened.

                “If we ever get off this mountain.” Ace chuckled.

                “Shall we race then?” I smirked as my arms turned to vibrant blue wings.

                “Eh?!” Ace gaped.

                Talia giggled and scrambled onto my back. Though she’d never had admitted it her knee was bothering her. She’d been easing weight off that side slightly the entire time we’d been talking. I wanted to have it looked at. “We’re going to win.” She stuck her tongue out at Ace.

                “We’ll see about that.” Ace grinned.

                “Oh, don’t mind us.” Izo grumbled sarcastically as he attempted to kick the semi conscious Thatch awake. Perhaps I’d thrown the helmet a little too hard.

                “You’ll be fine.” I smirked.

                “On your mark.” Talia was beside herself with excitement.

                “Get set.” Ace echoed also brimming with excitement.

                “Go!” I bellowed and took to the sky with Talia clinging to my back.

                Ace burst forward in a flash of fire.

                “Marco, where are you going?” Talia whined as I spiraled upward a little more. “Ace is going to win.” She pouted adorably.

                “Nah.” I smiled softly, “I’ve already won.”

                “Huh?” Talia poked her head over my shoulder so she could look at me. “What do you mean?”

                I turned and captured her sweet lips in a tender kiss. “I win.”

                A faint blush claimed her pallid cheeks and she tightened her grip around me. “Always.”