Luck isn't something Zoe can simply obtain. Jane had embarked on a mission and won't return for a few days. Sighing in defeat, Zoe decided to start with the easiest. The tall and kind-hearted furry; Zahira. Despite the road being further than the others, Zoe chose Zahira hoping the girl would be able to calm Jane down when needed seeing as how their personalities were completely contrasted.
The journey towards Zahira's residence was silent as she trailed down a stray road. It was the most convenient and shortest route but the least welcoming one. Every direction she faced was covered with white birch trees giving off an eery sort of layout. Zoe felt a shiver trail up her spine and she kept her senses up. She was sure she could hear footsteps in the bushes yet didn't dare take the advance. She kept to herself and gripped her bag strap tightly. Her eyes lurched towards the pathway and she fastened her pace while trying to hide her fear. 'There's nothing there! There's nothing there! It's all your imagination, Zoe!'
Somewhere in the woods, squatting on a strong thick branch, a werewolf was keeping an eye on Zoe. His gaze was sharp and he didn't move an inch as the wind blew, fluttering the ends of his scarf to the side. Very slowly, his hand trailed up to a collar over his neck that was also hidden by the scarf and frowned. But that was all he did. He didn't take any action towards the girl and let her walk down the trail. His eyes caught sight of an approaching beast and he sighed. 'Not another one'
The werewolf hopped off and landed in front of the evil beast and pulled out a razor-sharp blade, which reflected his image. "Take one step forward and I will have to use force…" he growled. The creature showed no sign of backing off and advanced instead. Its mouth opened into a grin and it rushed forward despite the werewolf's warning.
"Go to hell, you half-breed traitor!" It roared while lifting sharp claws at the werewolf and swung its arm in an arch, aiming directly at the man. His pupils shrunk at the sight of nothing but carved dirt. "How-?"
He couldn't finish his sentence as the werewolf swiftly sliced through his torso and sighed. Blood squirted across the grass and the boy gently grabbed hold of the creatures' rags and wiped the blood-stains' on his sword before glancing at the place the girl previously stood. 'Could she be the one to encourage them all?'
Eventually, Zoe arrived at the warm, chatter-filled humble town. Walking through the main gateway, she reached the rusty and worn workshop owned by the princess. No matter how much she looked, she couldn't believe this filthy place could be the hometown of a girl who was once a part of royalty. The stench filled her nostrils and Zoe pinched her nose and groaned softly. 'Sure she's a mechanic but in the file mentioned a spy. I wonder what that means?' Zoe got her answer after looking around carefully. Many residents in the place were walking their pets or playing with them and all the pets had their eyes on Zoe. Zoe felt uncomfortable. As if she was a foreign object waltzing into a home of curious lions. She decided to bring up this topic to the princess once they met.
The store looked like an abandoned store with a sign hanging above the doorway. Knocking gently, a muffled voice was heard and when it opened, a girl with looks that follows the description revealed herself. Zahira wore exactly what the file stated; a black thin tank top and her blue jacket wrapped around her waist, covering her black slacks. Her hair was in a boy-cut and as unruly as bed-hair. Her bunny ears were slanting in confusion and the smudges over her outfit and face confirmed Zoe's suspicions. She was working just now. Zoe grinned in joy as she finally found one of her targets. Zahira looked at the visitor in complete confusion.
"No vehicle…? You aren't a customer, now are you?" Zahira asked with a slight tilt of her head. Her bunny ears fell slightly over her eyesight and she blew it softly but to no prevail. She leaned over the doorway and crossed her arm in a threatening manner.
"I'm sorry for disturbing your business but I've come to discuss with you about your family," Zoe explained in a hurry, worried the girl might've changed in aspect of personality. Her hands fumbled with her bag strap and while doing so, her bracelet given from the Queen herself slowly dangled into Zahira's view.
Zahiras' eyes widen at first before slowly returning to their normal sizes and her smile grew. She scoffed loudly, obtaining Zoe's attention, and slowly pushed herself off the doorway. Offering her in, Zahira served cold milk and chocolate-chip cookies. She wiped a bit of oil off her forehead before beginning.
"The Flame Kingdom, right?" She stated bluntly like the topic wasn't something so big. Her attempt to wipe off the oil smudges on her face failed horribly and she ended up lifting her tank top slightly to wipe it off, revealing a pair of six-pack abs.
"You're okay about talking about that? But it has stated that you hated it there..." Zoe frowned at the sudden mistake in the files. Her hands pulled out the file and offered it to Zahira. The bunny girl slowly flipped through it and her smile softened.
"Well, I don't hate them anymore. Sure they pulled me away from Nicole but I found out it was all for my sake. I've grown into someone strong thanks to them and now I'm the leader of a secret association." She explained casually like such fact was the norm of the day. "Meaning I will have to kill you if you speak of this to Mother, understood?" she asked while smiling maliciously, making Zoe sweat nervously. "But anyway, what's going on at home?" She took a seat in front of Zoe in an unwomanly way.
If it weren't for the file informing her of this girls' true gender, Zoe would've surely mistaken her for a guy. Zahira had the pretty-boy look and a gentle smile that melted Zoe's heart in a second. Zoe realised she was staring at Zahira like a girl drooling over a guy and dry-coughed to snap herself back to reality.
"Your mother needs the heirs and she had asked me to bring you guys back to the castle…Even if I had to use brutal force…" She sighed while muttering the last part softly under her breath. Her fingers slowly twitched with a stray stitch on the couch. She kept her eyes on it; concern the girl would kill her if she kept goggling at her.
"You won't need to use that kind of force against me. I'll gladly agree to follow your lead, Miss Zoe," she said with a smile while standing up and offered a hand.
"Wait a second. How did you know my name?" She asked Zahira in shock while accepting the handshake.
Zahira stood up and leaned toward the girl. "That's my little secret, Zoe," She grinned while placing her finger over her lips with a wink. The cute boy-like look stabbed her heart and Zoe felt her heartthrob in a girly way. 'WOW! Calm down, me! She's a girl!'
Zoe smiled and began grinning in victory. She had completed the first part. Now moving onto the youngster. Zoe told Zahira to pack up since she wanted to hurry with the mission. Zoe was determined to finish the task before King Vector could take any actions for the throne. Zahira asked Zoe to allow her to pack up, before hoping up the nearby stairway towards her bedroom.
Zahira's bedroom looked as if a tornado had rammed its way through the front door. Everything was every way. Maps and building blueprints filled her walls, alongside friendly pictures. Clothes littered the floor as if there wasn't a single place to step and broken machines filled her bedsheets. As she blew to dust off her hidden luggage, a secret doorway opened and a boy in nothing but jeans strutted into her room.
"What's going on, 001? Who came?" He asked while slumping on her bed. "And why in God's tarnation are you packing up?" He eyed Zahira who was stuffing her luggage with clothes and files.
"Mom called, Malice." She spoke softly after a moment of hesitation. Her mind was racing for an excuse to tell the boy she had never parted from for years. Eventually, she chose to avoid a lie and told the truth. "I might be chosen as the heir of the Flame Kingdom."
Malice sat up straight abruptly and searched her expression for any sign of joking. But he failed to do so and the horse ears over his hair drooped in despair. He slowly approached him and wrapped his arms around her neck while pulling her into his chest. Zahiras' arms dropped everything she was holding and her head hung low in defeat.
"I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, Malice. I'll be fine." She reassured him while patting his arms. "I know I may hate it there but I know you guys will protect this place while I'm gone."
She slowly pulled his arms off her neck and faced him with an assuring smile while slowly caressing his cheek. He leaned into her hand and sighed. "You can count on us to protect A.S.S. You just focus on your task and return here before Masaki decides to chomp up everyone in the aquarium." He joked, awarded by her adorable chuckle.
Zahira slowly rose onto her tiptoes to place her lips onto his. Before she managed to do so, the door was pulled open and she faced Zoe who gawked at the duo. She had her phone facing them and slowly hid it behind her back before walking away like nothing just happened. The duo watched her leave their point of view before reality struck them and they jumped onto her. The duo wrestled with her for the phone while Zoe shrieked with laughter. 'Something tells me that I can count on this girl!'