A Step in the Right Direction

Rosette stood out like wildfire in a field of dry grass. Her short red hair was fixed in place and her clear black eyes were sharp with youthful defiance. Her Pre-Scouts uniform was scuffed at the elbows, like she'd been moving non-stop all day.

She was the kind of kid who always acted like she had something to prove—loud, confident and a little too quick to speak—but right now, there was a slight tremble at the corners of her mouth, likely realising that she’d hurt someone.

"Magia?" Her voice cracked a little.

The girl in the glasses shook, her small hands trembling.

"R-Rosette, you never hear the full story! You always come to conclusions too quickly!" She hesitated, then pushed the words out in a breathless rush. "That's why... that's why.... you never..."

Never what?

I turned to Rosette, who looked just as confused as I was. Then I glanced around the room. Everyone else wore the same wide-eyed expression.

"Magia, just what are you talking about?" Rosette said, furrowing her brows. "I never what?"

Magia looked around her expression taking a turn for the worse.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The quiet sound of her tears flooded the room. My stomach dropped, and my heart clenched. For a moment the world smudged, like a water painting left in the rain.

"I-I-I..."

Slam!

The door we'd just come through slammed shut behind her as she fled the scene.

"Haaaah..." I sighed. What made her act out like that? What sort of unknown history had we just walked into? Is she okay?

"What's her deal?" cried someone unapologetically. Read the room, Bill.

"I... don't know." Rosette's normally bossy and cheerful face seemed despondent, clearly having never been blown up on like that before.

"I don't know either, but I'm going after her." A voice said loudly, filled with resolve. I hadn't realised it, but that voice, was mine. I'd spoken out for her. When she started crying, I felt like the world had been covered by a murky haze.

Just what happened in the past between these two? I thought as I ran past the stunned pre-scouts leader.

"Leave her, kid," an ancient voice said, like a calamitous dragon that had arisen from its slumber. "And get the hell out of my store!"

"Eeek!"

"Run for it! It's the sleepless shopkeeper!"

One after another, they all ran out. Bill and Phill lead the charge, Jamie following shortly after. I hesitated looking at the door she'd ran into, the same room we'd been relaxing in before they arrived. I wasn't the only one who was hesitating though. A certain conflicted redhead was doing the same.

"Didn't y'all hear me?"

We shuddered, both making a break for the door after that wake-up call. The usual view of the plaza greeted me, though something was off. By the fountain, a cluster of pre-scout girls stood talking.

"Ack!" Phill, Jamie and Bill cried in unison. "Why did it have to be her group..." They cringed. It was the group from earlier that Jamie and I had managed to avoid thanks to my clutch magic performance. If I'm remembering correctly, her name was...

"Zyra." Rosette said, forcing a smile. "Any luck?"

"Sorry Big Sis Rosette, I didn't manage to find him. That Finn is too sneaky." She flicked her black hair.

"Well it's fine, don't worry... I've managed to... catch most of them."

"Hm? What's wrong Rosette? What happened?"

"It's... Magia. She got mad at me for, something. Do any of you know what that was about?" She turned, now facing all of us. Her eyes shifted between us one at a time.

"Not a clue." A shrug.

"Y-you're asking me?" A question.

"I just met her." And a belly scratch.

"What about you?" She turned to the newest member of the Little Dreamers. "Do you have any idea what that was about?"

"Well," I stuttered. Magia said 'you never...' and then stopped talking. Was she going to say 'you never listen'? 'You never take me serious'? It was almost impossible to tell. Surely Rosette, if anyone, would know better than me about what was really going on.

"Not really, no."

"Hmmm." She scratched her hair repeatedly. "Ahhh, I don't get it!"

At least it seemed like she was trying, her showing sympathy despite an apparent lack of self-awareness. It's easy to see why someone like her was chosen as class representative.

Slam.

The door to the bookstore flung open, and a rusted hand appeared, holding a child who was deep in meditation.

"When I said get out, I meant all of ya!"

Fling! Swish! Swish!

The meditating child opened his eyes as he was suddenly flung airborne.

"Ah?" Zyra cried out.

His body twisted midair, slicing through the wind. He landed in front of us in a ninja pose.

"S-so cool!"

"No way."

"When did he... "

This kid. It's Finn's world and we're all just living in it.

"Float like a butterfly, land like a cat."

"Have you been in there the whole time?"

"From the start."

"Where were you hiding?"

"Hiding? They can't catch me when I'm out in the open, and you want me to hide?"

Good point.

"Now that the culprits are all here."

"We're innocent—"

"Shut it, fatty."

Bill flinched but instead of his usual 'sorry Big Sis' apology, he furrowed his brows. He rolled his sleeves up.

"That's n-not nice Zyra..." His brother said, but it wasn't effective in getting Bill to stand down. Jamie put a hand in front of Bill, stopping him from going forward.

"Zyra, this is why nobody likes you."

Jamie said that instantly, as if he was waiting for her to say something out of line. Woah, kids can really cut deep sometimes.

"Whatever are you talking about? Everyone likes me, right girls?" She turned to her very forgettable friends.

"Of course, milady!" "Obviously!"

"See?"

All of the Little Dreamers collectively cringed—Finn included. I can see why Jamie wanted to avoid her at all costs. Her snarky, condescending attitude likely originated from a wealthy background.

"Zyra," Rosette said, her tone demeaning. Her next words were simple and straight to the point. "Apologise."

"What? That's—" She looked around, incensed. Then she noticed Rosette's glare. "S-sorry, Bill."

"Huh? When did you learn the word 'sorry', Zyra?"

"Woah. Maybe plants will start flying tomorrow."

"Hm?"

Everyone's expression turned to shock.

"T-take that back!"

"Our young miss is the most humble person in the world!"

Bill cleared his throat.

"It's good that you know what's good for you!" Bill smirked, his stomach twirling. "Now you know that you should never mess with the great Bill, ever again! Hahaha!"

Zyra's face darkened, her head tilting downwards. Her shoulders trembled. She mumbled to herself, her words incomprehensible to anyone except Rosette who was right next to her. I could just about read her lips though, with 'Fatty' seeming to be a large part of her whispers.

"Anyways." Rosette said turning away from Zyra and choosing to ignore her mumbling. "Now that even the trickster is here, we can discuss your punishment."

"P-punishment?"

"Hm?"

"Our? It was all Reno!"

"No," she said softly. "It wasn't."

"Huh?"

She facepalmed. "I don't know why I even believed you in the first place, Bill. That sort of damage... it wasn't caused by just one person. And plus, Reno looks harmless."

"Thank you—wait, harmless?" I choked.

"You can still see the guilt on his face from when Magia got upset earlier, even though it wasn't his fault. I don't think someone like him would want to make a mess like that."

The guilt on my face was still visible? I guess I'm not so good at hiding my emotions. Maybe I'll ask Finn for some advice on that in the near future.

"And besides..." she paused. "Magia would never get that worked up over someone evil."

"Ah, guess the secrets out." Bill scratched his belly.

"I told you it was a bad idea!" Phill cried.

He shrugged. "Well the leader let me so..."

"Hahahaha!" Jamie curled over. "Well it was fun seeing Reno's face earlier."

"Do you all take me for a joke?" Rosette said. Slowly. Her voice was cold and threatening.

"S-sorry!" "I'm sorry!" "We won't do it again!"

"Three days of community service." The verdict was both heavy and unavoidable.

"What?"

"It's only fair."

"Serves you all right!" "Exactly!" "That'll teach you guys!"

I was starting to dislike Zyra and her group of parrots. Finding them annoying must be a Little Dreamers thing, or just an everyone thing.

"Three days!? How is that fair at all? We only destroyed stuff for one day, but we need to help out for three!?" Jamie shouted, incensed at the unjust nature of Butter Town's criminal justice system.

"Fair?" Rosette scoffed, clearly about to make a point. "Was it fair when you all destroyed the poor merchant’s stalls, trashed their crates and stole their merchandise?"

"Ugh." A synchronous groan.

"A stolen scarf? Robbed—and eaten— fruits? Thieved coins from the Far East and High North?" She went off, listing bar for bar all the stolen objects.

Wait, when did someone steal money? I looked around.

The culprit scratched his head. "Ahh..."

I get that you wanted to be the greatest merchant ever, Jamie, but stealing money wasn't a good start. He’d end up the most notorious merchant ever with that attitude.

"It's still not fair! In a fair competition the Little Dreamers would never lose to the pre-scouts."

"What!? We'd never lose to your little gang!" "Yeah, exactly!"

Rosette's brows twitched. "Just what are you trying to say, Jamie?"

"It's simple really." He smirked. "I suggest a friendly and fair competition between the pre-scout and the Little Dreamers."

Rosette's expression remained neutral. "Why?"

Jamie's hands spread out in a grand gesture. "If we win, we do no community service. And if you win, instead, we'll do community service for a week!"

"Woah, that's genius boss!"

"Hm?"

"That's a brilliant idea boss!"

"Declined."

"..."

Well that was short lived brilliance, wasn't it, Phill?

"Aww, c'mon Rosette. It sounds fun doesn't it?"

"You all have to do community service. It's only right."

Jamie's face twitched. "But it sounds fun though, right?"

Rosette's face stayed neutral. "A little."

"See?" Jamie grinned. "One day of community service if we lose?"

Rosette shook her head. "No."

"One and a half?"

"No."

"Two?"

Rosette sighed, "Fine."

Jamie's eyes lit up. "Always stingy, Rosette. Then one and a half days it is!"

Rosette's eyes twitched. "I said two."

"Mhm, one and a half it is! The competition's tomorrow at noon!" Jamie called, already running off.

"W-wait up, boss!"

"Hm?"

"Ah, don't leave me behind, boss!"

"Ahh whatever." I ran after him.

"You thieves! Get back here!"

"Haaah. Just leave them."

"But Rosette—"

"They've got a week of community service waiting for them after all, let them have their fun now."

SWISH!

With sheer velocity, the door to Bridges clothing store burst open.

"We're back!"

"Coming through!"

"E-excuse me."

"Hm."

"Oh my." Silvia covered her mouth, watching our ragtag crew scramble in like we owned the place.

"Do these kids have no manners? Who taught them to waltz in like that?" Relentia said with disappointment as she looked at Glyffe, Silvia, and Zecko. Well, that's probably on you as parents, I thought.

"I'm back, Mum, Dad," I said, stumbling into the shop.

I wandered over to Glyffe’s and Silvia's side as Relentia and Zecko berated, or rather, instructed, the other members of the Little Dreamers.

"Looks like you've managed to make a friend or two, good for you, Reno!" Glyffe said as he vigorously patted me on the back. Catching up with Zecko must've put him in a great mood.

"Thanks, dad!" I smiled. His pats were heavy, but the affection behind them was heavier.

"It's getting late now, it's about time you all headed on back home." Glyffe—no, Zecko said, taking charge.

"What? Already? But—"

"No buts, Jamie." Zecko interrupted firmly.

Bill's eyes glistened as a lone tear rolled down his cheek."I feared as much boss..." he whispered.

"I-it's okay boss!"

"Fear not, we'll meet again, boss."

"Hm."

"Y-you guys... " Jamie stuttered, his eyes glimmering like Bill's. "Stay strong everyone. Oh and don't forget about tomorrow!"

"You're so dramatic, Jamie." A concerned mum sighed. "You must have got that from your dad."

Zecko's eyebrows twitched. "Enough waterworks. I'll take them home, Relentia. You stay and watch the shop."

"Aye aye captain!" Relentia nodded as Zecko shepherded Bill, Phill and Finn out the shop.

"It's about time we got going too."

"Already? But you just got here Silvia?" Relentia cried.

"It's been five hours." Silvia smiled. Relentia froze for a moment. Five hours already?

"Oh..." Her face fell briefly, but she quickly recovered. "Make sure you visit again, okay?"

"Of course!"

"And bring Reno along so Jamie can play with him again. I haven't seen Jamie this sad in a while. Those two must be best friends already." Relentia smiled.

Actually, the expression she wore earlier when she heard Silvia was leaving was the exact same one Jamie had now. Like mother, like son.

"Mom, you're... embarrassing me," Jamie muttered. It's rare seeing him this flustered.

"Hahahaha!" Glyffe laughed heartily. "Not to worry kid, I'll bring him back, and you two can play all the time!"

"Really?" Jamie's face lit up.

"I guarantee it." Glyffe said as he ruffled Jamie's hair. We headed towards the door.

"Okay!" Jamie said as he turned to face me. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Reno! Don't forget about our competition!"

"I won't, I promise." I said softly. Saying goodbye was bittersweet—maybe all farewells are.

"Visit again soon!" the mother and son called out as we left. They really were like carbon copies of each other.

As we stepped out into the familiar central district, Silvia's voice rang out.

"Competition? What's that about?"

"Oh that... " I chuckled nervously. How was I supposed to explain that we'd just committed several crimes and were participating in a competition to reduce our sentences? "Just you know... some races with the pre-scouts and stuff. We're going to figure out which one of us is fastest."

"Reno, did you—nevermind."

"After all that running around, you still don't know?" Glyffe asked, amused.

"Well, I was trying to be polite. Of course I'm the fastest." I said, bragging slightly as I rubbed my nose.

"Hahaha! That's just like my son!"

Silvia smiled lightly but stayed quiet on the topic. "Stox should be done making the swords now. Between that, the clothes I bought from Relly, and the book from the bookstore, that should be everything for today."

"Not a bad haul," Glyffe added.

"Before we head to Stox's shop, there's somewhere I want to go first. Is that okay?" A childish voice piped up. It was me.

<LINE BREAK>

"The inner district? Why did you bring us out here? Did you lose something?"

"That's not it."

"See a toy you want?"

"Nope, not that either."

"Want to show us a place?"

"Not quite."

Silvia was remarkably quiet, her face angled slightly, a trademark sign she was in deep thought. "Reno, you didn't play chaos tag, did you?"

Huh? Caught already?

"C-chaos tag? What's that?" My voice cracked a little.

"Hmmm..." Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Ah... I did." I cracked under the pressure.

"I thought so." She sighed audibly. "Then this place you're taking us to is?"

"Yeah..." I scratched my head. We were walking through a very very familiar aisle. One in which previously spices and metalworks covered the air as fruits and coins flooded the floors. And of course, various plants did too.

With every step, my heartbeat grew louder, echoing in my ears like a drum. We passed Bill's scarves, Phill's metalworks, Finn's crates of fruit, Jamie's rare coins—and then, the world seemed to slow. We stopped in front of a plant stall. One I remembered all too well.

In front of us was a young lady, perhaps younger than even Silvia. She had brown hair, black eyes and an extremely gentle smile. She was tending to her pots and plants, readying herself to pack up for the day.

"Oh, it's you..." she said softly, her face pained slightly. "Can I help?" She turned to Glyffe and Silvia.

"I-I..." The words caught in my throat. The words I'd walked all this way to say. Just say it damn it, Reno.

"Come on, Reno. You came all this way," Silvia said as she gently nudged me forwards.

"I'm sorry!" I suddenly blurted out, my eyes watering slightly. "I'm really, really, sorry." I spoke slowly and intentionally, feeling the weight behind each and every word.

Her face widened in shock, as if she hadn’t expected me to apologise. Can I really blame her for being surprised considering how happy I was earlier when I knocked over her stall? Still, I didn't want to be the kind of person who had to knock others down just to feel a little joy.

"It's okay, you're still young. I understand." Her voice softened, tinged with something bittersweet. "My little brother used to play those wild games too… back when we were kids." She let the memory linger in the air, her gaze far off for a moment.

Then she looked at me again and smiled gently. "Don't worry about it. The fact that you knew it was wrong and still came all this way just to apologise... that means more than you think.".

When she smiled, it felt like a heavy weight had lifted from my chest and the knot in my throat came undone. I could breathe easier, and for the first time that day, the world felt a little clearer.

"Thank you!" I smiled. "Actually, I'd like to buy some seeds and a few plant pots if that's okay?"

I'd been thinking about gardening ever since I got to Butter Town. It wasn't something I did often in my past life, but I'd always liked it. Apart from being a calming hobby, I wanted to see how the plants in this world grew—and mess around with them a little.

"You'd like to buy something? With whose money?"

"Ah." I coughed. Really?

"Glyffe." Silvia nudged him.

"Yeah, yeah—I guess the answer is with my money then." Glyffe followed up. Silvia just glared at him but let it go.

"Ah, so you're here to buy something after all?" she said, a soft smile returning to her face.

"Yes, we are." Glyffe forced a smile. "What is it you want, Reno?"

"Hmmm, how about..." I looked around as if I hadn't already mentally decided which seeds and plants I wanted a long time ago. "That one, that one, that one, and that one—and of course, that one too! Oh, and that one."

"Haah, give me a break." Glyffe sighed.

"Honey it's just seeds and plants. They're not gonna be that expensive."

"That'll be roughly six hundred Teaves." The lady smiled.

"S-six hundred?" Glyffe stuttered.

"Such a cheapskate. That's not much to you at all."

"R-right..." Glyffe handed a bill and two coins over to the lady. "Are you really going to take care of these plants, Reno?"

"Of course!" I said, full of confidence. Probably. Maybe.

"Don't forget to water them, okay?"

"I won't!"

"Thank you for coming back—and for your kindness. Take care on your way home, alright?" The stall lady said as we began to leave.

"Alright! I'll come back again—next time, just to buy something." I smiled as we walked off towards Stox's store.

It was just a small apology—but it made the world feel brighter. Maybe growing up meant knowing when to step back and apologise—so you could move forward.