Disclaimer: ToL still belongs to Namco.

Author's Note: Well, I got stuck on my Black Shadow Chronicles series, so I've resorted to writing yet another ToL fic. (

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"Oh C..." Norma caught up with Chloe as she stepped on the doorstep of Will's house. "I have something for you."

Chloe looked at the object in Norma's hand. "A bow and arrow?"

"Wrong! This shall be Senny's love for you!"

Chloe's eyes widened. "What!?"

"That's right! This arrow is special. The victim will fall in love with the first person they see after getting hit."

Chloe gasped as she realized Norma's plan. "Norma, don't do this. If Coolidge loves me, I want it to be for real, not because of some love spell."

Norma nudged her. "Oh, come on! You really want him, don't you?"

"I don't want him that badly..."

Ending the conversation, Chloe opened the door and stepped inside Will's house, where the rest of the party was waiting.

"Were we late?" Chloe asked.

"No, not at all," Will said. "Norma, what's that?"

"Hmm?" Norma quickly pulled the bow behind her back. "Oh, nothing."

Will shook his head. "Moving on, the reason I've called everyone here is because I've received a letter from Maurits. He wants to meet with us at the Ferines village."

"Is this in relation to bringing our peoples to peace?" Senel asked.

"Yes. We figured that interacting with the Ferines will help us understand each other better."

"I agree," Shirley said.

The others nodded in agreement as well.

Will returned the nod. "All right, let's go."

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In the Ferines village, Thyra sat in her bedroom, styling her hair into two ponytails. Behind her, there was a knock on the door. Before Thyra could respond, the door creaked open, and Maurits peeked inside.

"Pardon me, Thyra. Do you have a moment?"

Thyra turned around. "What is it, Chief?"

"I'm just letting you know that Senel and Shirley's group is coming to the village."

"You mean...them? And Jay...Jay is part of that group, isn't he?"

"Why yes, he's coming, too."

"Oh, that's...that's..." Thyra stopped herself, not wanting to reveal her love for Jay. "Well, that's...good...I guess...that they're all coming..."

"Well, I'll go wait for them." Maurits left the room, gently closing the door.

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Senel's group entered the Ferines village, where they found Thyra waiting at the entrance.

"Oh, it's Thyra," Grune said. "Good morning."

"It's good to see you, Thyra," Shirley said.

"Um...hello," Thyra said, uncertain.

She then turned her gaze to Jay, who raised an eye in response.

"Wh...what is it?" he asked.

Thyra moved right in front of him. "I...thanks for helping me that one day...when those flying creatures attacked me."

Jay shook his head. "There's no need to thank me."

"Aw, are you two warming up to each other?" Norma asked.

"It's not like that," Jay told her.

"Jay?" Thyra stepped closer to him.

Jay backed away from her. "Wh-what...?"

"I have something to tell you. I..." Thyra continued to move closer. "Well...this isn't easy for me to say..."

Jay continued to back off. "If it's what I think it is, I'd rather not hear it."

He eventually hit a tree, and Thyra brought herself even closer. Instead of saying her words, she planted a kiss on his lips, much to everyone's surprise.

"Now wait just a minute!" Moses walked up to them and pushed Thyra away from Jay. He then slapped her lightly across the face twice. "Don't ever let me catch ya doin' that again!"

Thyra shook her head. "I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me."

"Moses..." Jay said softly.

Finally, Maurits came out to greet them. "Oh, welcome, everyone. Come inside, and we'll begin our meeting."

Will nodded. "Understood."

The group went into the large meeting room and sat down around the large table.

"So what did you want to talk to us about?" Senel asked.

"I'd like to make some arrangements for our people to meet more often," Maurits said. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"I know!" Norma called. "Let's have a party!"

"Now yer talkin', Bubbles," Moses said.

"Oh my, that sounds like fun," Grune gushed.

"Now hold on," Will said. "I don't mind a little party every now and then, but we don't want to look like a bunch of party-poopers to the Ferines."

"Hmm, you have a point," Norma said.

"How about if we celebrate the holidays of both races together," Chloe suggested.

"Now that's a splendid idea," Maurits told her. "We actually have a Ferines holiday coming up very soon. It's when—"

A piercing scream from outside suddenly cut Maurits off.

"What was that noise?" Jay asked.

"It was a scream!" Chloe exclaimed.

"I reckon somebody's in trouble," Moses said.

"Let's go!" Senel yelled.

The party jumped up and raced outside. The Ferines were running around in panic while a swarm of white winged demons flew through the village like rocket jets.

"Whoa, what the hell are those things!?" Moses cried.

"I've never seen anything like them," Chloe said.

"What a magnificent specimen," Will cooed. "I hope I can acquire a sample..."

"They're all over the place!" Moses exclaimed. "They're just like Jay!"

"Stop spewing such nonsense and do something!" Jay spat in response.

"Everybody, get down!" Senel shouted.

Everyone quickly ducked as the demons dove at them, flying mere inches over their heads.

Thyra gasped as one demon dove towards her. She wanted to move, but her legs felt frozen like stone.

Jay, who happened to be nearby, quickly tackled her to the ground, letting the demon zoom over them. "Get down!"

Thyra composed herself from the shock and looked up at him.

Jay sat up. "Why must I constantly do this?"

Before he could put any thought into the question, a demon seized Jay by the back of his collar, lifting him into the air.

Thyra jumped to her feet. "Jay!!"

Moses looked up to see his "little brother" being carried away by the demon.

"Hang on, Jay!" Moses gave chase, leaping into the air and grabbing Jay's ankles. The demon's flight was halted, as it flapped its wings violently, trying to maintain its altitude. While hissing at his unwanted passenger, the demon released Jay's collar. The boy and the bandit both screamed as they fell. Moses hit the ground on his back, and Jay crashed on top of him.

"You okay, bro?" Moses asked.

"What kind of rescue was that!?" Jay demanded.

Moses grabbed him and pushed him aside, rolling on top of him. "I just rescued you."

Jay returned the favor by pushing Moses aside and rolling on top of him. "Stay out of my way!" He got up and raced into the battle.

Moses sat up, disappointed. "Jay, how can ya be so cold?"

Will held his hammer ready as a demon flew straight towards him. He took a swing, but missed, as the demon flew around him in tight circles. As it flew right through his legs, Will's feet flew out from under him, and he hit the ground on his back.

Will sat up and watched the demon as it flew around. "I've never seen a beast so swift in my life! I must make a note of it!"

"Hello, Teach!" Norma called. "We're fighting, we're fighting..."

"Chloe, take 'em down!" Senel called.

"Got it!" Chloe responded. "Give me a boost, Coolidge!"

She ran forward with her sword in hand. Leaping from Senel's shoulders, she propelled herself into the air. She then twirled her sword above her, slicing through the flying demon like a circular saw blade. The demon squealed in agony as its green blood rained down to the ground. Crashing into the tree, it dropped to the ground with a sickening thud next to Thyra.

"Ahh!" she screamed as she ran to hide behind the next tree.

Chloe landed in her feet after her attack, only to find a katana blade at her throat. She looked up to see Solon standing in front of her, holding the hilt of the blade.

"Watch your head!" he taunted.

Chloe could still hear her sword whipping through the air behind her. With a backwards handspring, she caught the sword in her hand and held it in front of her, blocking Solon's sword stroke.

Norma watched as Senel was fighting near Chloe. Ah ha, now's my chance!

She fled behind one of the trees with her bow and arrow in hand. "Okay, Senny...it's time to see your true love!"

Aiming the arrow directly at Senel, Norma pulled on the string and released, shooting the arrow. As it darted through the air, a demon suddenly tackled Senel, throwing him out of the arrow's path.

"No, damn it!" Norma cursed.

Instead, the arrow plunged right into Shirley's side. The Merines cried out as she stumbled, grabbing onto the nearest object to break her fall.

Unfortunately, the "object" she grabbed onto was Solon. With a burst of violently energy, Solon threw Shirley to the ground.

"Shirley!" Chloe started, until she noticed the arrow protruding from Shirley's hip. "Oh no..."

Chloe recognized the arrow in Shirley's hip, remembering what Norma had said earlier.

"This arrow is special. The victim will fall in love with the first person they see after getting hit."

And Shirley was looking directly at Solon. The assassin merely stood, pointing his sword at her.

"S...Solon..." she said softly as she stood up, pulling the arrow from her side and tossing it lightly. "Hmm...I never realized how...incredibly handsome you are."

Solon raised an eye, then drew his laser gun. "Do you take me for a fool? I will not fall for your childish tricks!"

Shirley then raced into Solon's arms, embracing him tightly. "Solon, my love!!"

"What the!?" Solon gasped. "What do you think you're doing!?"

"Shirley!" Chloe exclaimed.

"Solon, take me away!" Shirley pleaded. "Do with me what you will!"

Norma watched the scene from behind the tree, her eyes wide with horror. "Okay, I do know that this isn't good..."

Solon peeled Shirley off and shoved her away. "This love is disgusting! I'm leaving!"

"Wait!" Shirley jumped to her feet again. "Don't go! I'll do anything you want, Solon! Anything!"

Solon paused at this. "Did you say, 'anything'?"

Shirley ran into his arms again. "Yes, anything. I'll do anything..."

Solon took another pause. This might be useful, he thought.

"Very well," he said as he wrapped an arm around her. "I suppose I can play along...for a little while."

Senel and the others gathered in front of Solon, with Shirley still embracing him.

"Shirley!" Senel exclaimed.

Solon grinned. "Sorry, boy, but it looks like your Merines has chosen me. So long, fools!"

With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke, along with the white demons.

"What was that about?" Will asked.

"Shirley was hangin' onto Solon like she was in love or somethin'," Moses said.

Norma stepped out from behind the tree and joined them. "I...I wonder what's gotten into her?"

Chloe glared at her. "I think you know full well."

Norma looked at Chloe, trying to play it off. "Wh...what!? I have no idea what you're talking about?"

"Don't try to play innocent! I saw the arrow you shot at her!"

"Yes," Thyra said. "Norma fired the arrow at Shirley, and then she fell in love with that man."

"Norma..." Will said sternly. "I'm sure you have an explanation for this."

"What?" Norma cried. "Are you trying to say that this is my fault??"

Everyone nodded flamboyantly.

Norma stomped her feet. "Oh, come on!"

Maurits emerged from the meeting room. "I'm grateful that you were all here to aid our village."

"Please, think nothing of it," Will said. "We have a bigger problem on our hands now, so we must take our leave."

"Thanks for everything, Maurits," Senel added.

"You're quite welcome. Let us all work for the day when our peoples can live in peace."

The party nodded as they turned to leave the Ferines village.