Homecoming - Part 1

The palace was crowded with people and had music playing in the background, and Alina ensured to bring the food and drink orders to the desired tables.

Through the dining room walked a woman wearing a red jacket. She was sporting a black sleeveless t-shirt underneath that was connected to her waist by brown threads that spanned her chest. She had fingerless, black gloves covering her hands and leather armbands.

She removed her jacket, took a seat behind the table, propped her elbow on the tabletop, and rested her chin on her palm. She had tiger-orange eyes and black hair pulled back into a high ponytail to the side.

"Feels good to be back." The woman claimed, smiled, and waited for Alina to take her order. When Alina stepped beside the table, she hurriedly requested her order, "Seems you're new around here. Welcome to the Winterpeak palace. May I take your order?"

The woman behind the table glanced her in the face. "I think I'll wait for the others. If you don't mind?" Alina quickly realized who the woman she spoke to was, "Wait, aren't you... aren't you that girl? Tim's friend and the crew's navigator?"

The woman raised her glance, chuckling, "I remember you. You were the one who told Tim about Etuna's sickness. And, yup, my name's Kyora. I haven't introduced myself to you before." Alina beamed enthusiastically, delighted to see Timothy's companions again, "Good to see you, Kyora! My name's Alina. Wow, you look a *lot* different since the last time I saw you. You said "others," right? Does that mean Tim and the others are on their way here too?"

Kyora's jaw moved and hopped on her palm as she said, "It's been two years since we parted ways. Today's the day we're reuniting again and sailing to the east. I hope you took good care of the ship and made sure it's scrubbed and thawed to at least get us there." Alina snickered confidently, "Awesome. I'll organize a feast for everyone. It's on the house. Who knows, Etuna might come to visit too." Kyora folded her arms, nodding to her offer, "Thanks a grand. Think you could bring me one Gleaming Pearl? I'm a bit thirsty." Alina cheerfully consented as Kyora allowed her to scamper behind the bar.

-

A woman screamed through the Monmouth, yelling at a man running away with her bag, "Somebody, please help me! That guy stole my bag!" The man wore a black uniform, cloaked into it like a shadow.

The man pushed his way through the crowd of people, keeping the stolen purse as close as possible so nobody could grab it. He dashed through them and knocked some of them to the snow-covered bricks.

He rushed past a white-haired teenager, attempting to head for the palace. The teenager had electric blue eyes, curly and spiky white hair, and carried a laptop bag. He wore a midnight blue shirt with white, long sleeves and sported black sweatpants, "Of course..." The teenager soughed, reeled the laptop bag behind him, and abruptly vanished in a blue and mint trail, popping next to the thief in beats, "I'll borrow this if you don't mind." He slipped the thief with his foot, causing him to roll on the snow into the ice-cold water, and grasped the bag before it got washed.

The woman approached the youth, amazed and relieved to see her things safe. The boy glimpsed at her, presenting her with the bag, "Here you go. I got your sack, ma'am." She embraced her retrieved bag and sighed, "Aw, thanks a lot, kiddo. You're kind and brave. Nobody else even tried to help." The boy's face grew ruffled, his eyes jerking, "I'm not a kid..." The woman bowed before him, shook his hand, and strode away.

It was Kou.

He eyed her, distant, unamused, "I'm 16 years old, and they still dub me a kid. I regret fetching her bag. I should've tossed it in the lake with the thief." He looked behind him, seeing the crook climbing out from the water, shivering from the iciness.

Kou shook his head, hastening back to reach the palace with his arms in his pockets.

-

A woman trekked afront a food stall, scenting the delectable and pleasant aroma from the cooked food. She wore a blue, short-sleeved, and unzipped hoodie, revealing a black mini t-shirt, and lastly, black leggings.

She had her fluffy blue hair braided into a ponytail, leaning on her right shoulder near her chest, and "unique" black fingerless gloves, covering her hands in which she held a piece of meat.

She bit into it, and her cheeks reddened as she clutched them with her palm, "So good! It still needs a bit more flavor." She ate the entire nugget, "That reminds me. I wonder if Ralphie improved his cooking skills even more. Ooh, I can't wait to taste his food again!" Near the end of her sentence, somebody called out to her, "Yumiko-cupcake!" She gazed in the distance and spotted a well-known man hollering toward her and speeding in her direction.

"You don't know how long it's been since I saw a beautiful woman!" The pink hearts drifting from his eyes turned to tears as he happily danced toward her, "Embrace me, you beautiful cupcake!" As he sprang at her, Yumiko footed away from him and drove him to crash into the snow pile behind her, unimpressed.

The pink hearts continued floating around Yumiko while she looked away from him with shut eyes, "No time for cuddles. You're cold and covered in snow." She bit into the next nugget as the man climbed from underneath the snow, raising his arms in the air, tears disappearing from his face.

His eyes glimmered with pink hearts as he held his palms together and smiled, "You're so cool, Yumiko-cupcake! And the new uniform is exquisite! Just like your gorgeous, adorable, and charming face!"

He appeared amused by her new outfit, especially the leggings since he had a great view from her back. She turned around, set her hand on her hip, and beamed, "Good to see you, Ralphie." He instantly raised his arms in the air and shouted loudly in happiness, "Woo! Good to see you too, Yumiko-cupcake!"

To be continued...