Ignore any grammatical errors I'm aware they're there I'll fix em. But how's the flow and characters. I wanna know what people think of this chapter overall.

The early morning sun glinted off the broken window of a once majestic mansion. A gentle breeze filled the calm air and dew glittered like jewels among the grass. The streets were already filled with early morning foot traffic and the sound of repairs being carried out.

Crash

A sharp sound rang out followed by the cursing of a young girl.

"Argh damnit, we're gonna be late!" Maria exclaimed as she frowned at the books scattered all over the floor. She was wearing her noble's attire, an outfit she had made for herself when she became the head of the Macuroll family. Consisting of a fancy white shirt that buttoned up the middle and knee length pleated skirt with a lace trim. Within that lace were the cutouts of stars and planets. A starry bow tie adorned her collar and a cloak with a similar space theme wrapped her shoulders, the cloak lowered in opacity till it became practically see through at the bottom however the different stars and planets decorating its surface stayed vivid making them appear to float around her lower body. The last thing was a moon shaped hairpin keeping her bangs out of her eyes. She had curly black hair and beautiful emerald green eyes, darkened by her frustration and impatience.

"I'll clean it my lady." A reliable voice spoke up, Joseph, her butler smiled as he began to pick up the books.

"Thank you, really." Maria nodded at him before stuffing a mysterious leather bound book into her bag. "Clara! Are you ready?"

"Yes miss Maria, I've packed the essentials. The carriage is getting impatient though!" The reliable Fox maid called back.

"Uhh, how did I let this happen." Maria lamented before rushing out from her office and down the stairs, she stopped in front of two familiar faces.

"Are you two sure about this? It's the capital, it's gonna be rough for you both." Maria asked with a hint of worry as she looked at Aiko and Amethyst.

"Of course, Cody and Skarlet are our friends too. We wouldn't be good friends if we didn't keep you safe while they're gone, Right Aiko?" Amethyst exclaimed heartily. Aiko only nodded, but the fire in her eyes gave away her determination.

"Alright fine, I'll be in your care." Maria bowed to the two adventures she hired to be her body guards. They then all stepped out of the house, the four girls stepped around the back of the carriage. Where they were greeted by a final familiar face, Garth the Shield Master.

"Hmm, the gangs all here." He spoke gruffly as he took Maria's bags and set them in the carriage before helping her up into the back. His hand was offered to each girl in turn, though Amethyst got impatient and climbed aboard on her own. Grinning cheekily as she offered her hand to Aiko.

"Ma lady." Amethyst spoke with a slightly deeper voice. The young black cat hid the light blush on her cheek by leaping in on her own. As she passed Amethyst her tail brushed the energetic dog's face, Amethyst smiled in response. Garth sighed as he pulled Clara into the carriage.

Snap, with the sound of the reins the carriage lurched before it began to move.

"A party huh, think we'll be allowed in?" Amethyst spoke up, curiosity plastered plainly on her face.

"Sadly, that's unlikely. The venue will be guarded by the Royal Knights, though while we party you can explore the Capital City." Maria replied after thinking for a moment. "Honestly you're not missing much it's a noble ball, it's not about fun."

"Oh, that's ok I bet the capital has some great food. How about it Aiko, wanna go restaurant hopping?" Amethyst turned to her companion, giving her a healthy dose of puppy eyes. "Oh I'm sure they'll be several seafood places." Amethyst suddenly said and Maria once again had that odd feeling of only being able to hear one side of a conversation.

Maria turned out the ramblings of her party members and instead brought her thoughts towards where they were headed. A while back, after her duel with her father Seraph, she received a letter. It seemed to have been written by the princess herself. The letter detailed that her birthday was approaching and she was inviting Maria to participate. This in itself wasn't unusual, it was the fact that the letter was written personally that was odd. As she would be inviting many people to such an event she wouldn't write each by hand. But merely sign each and stamp the seal. Maria couldn't help but feel like something important would happen in the Capital, but rather than excitement she was getting worried.

A few days passed rather uneventfully, Maria was actually starting to get tired of the monotony. There were some pretty sights to see as they went however they were far and few between. It was more often than not just trees, grass, and rocks. Maria brushed a tuft of hair being her ear as her hand moved subconsciously. Clara was sleeping soundly, a lazy smile drifting on her face as Maria ran her fingers through her hair.

"She's a lucky girl, very few slaves get treatment like that here in Kozak." Garth nodded at Maria as she turned to face him.

"Yeah. . . I know. It's my job to protect her, especially in the capital. They're gonna look down on her so I won't let her leave my side." Maria spoke with determination, looking down at Clara with worry. "She was raised in my family, originally as a servant to my father. But she was given to me when I was young, she's more than just a servant to me she's my best friend. I'd like to see one of those damn snakes in the capital try and touch a single hair on. . . Ah hum nevermind." Maria stopped herself as she got a bit heated, "Truth is I'm nervous, there's allot I don't know. It seems the princess wishes to speak with me though, I hope it's nothing bad."

"Well, I don't really have much to offer on the topic of comfort. But you're a bright lady so I'm sure you'll figure it out. Trust in yourself and hang on to that noble heart." Garth winked, he was an older man and he seemed wise, his connection to Amethyst and Aiko seemed to be from prior to them coming to Kozak. They appear quite close, almost like family.

"I wish we could accompany you, but they won't let us in the castle, even as your guards." Amethyst spoke up, Aiko was looking out the window.

"Yeah, I'd feel more at ease with you two there to protect Clara." Maria sighed, "but nothing bad should happen, everyone will stick to their manners. Her life won't be in danger at least, her pride-" Maria suddenly stopped as the carriage jerked, Garth turned around and climbed into the front to see what was wrong.

"There's a pack of demon wolves coming at the carriage, it's not a big pack though only about five and an alpha who looks to be a mutation." Garth told the group in the carriage, as he spoke the carriage began to slow down. Aiko picked up her weapons and Amethyst smashed her fists together.

"Let's kick some wolf butt!" Amethyst exclaimed as she leaned out the carriage and gazed ahead at the wolves running straight for them.

As the carriage slowed to a stop she leaped out with Aiko and Garth in tow. Garth moved towards the front and pushed his shield out as the wolves slowed to a stop. Amethyst smiled as the shield master suddenly charged, he slammed through the group and sent two wolves skittering over in Amethyst and Aiko's direction then gathered the attention of the remaining four.

Amethyst leaped at her wolf and threw a punch, the demon wolf snapped it's jaws shut around her forearm, clang, it whined as it's teeth hit a metal brace. However before it could react Amethyst smashed her fist into it's face and ripped her arm out. The beast went tumbling, struggling to get it's feet beneath itself again. However Amethyst didn't let it, slamming her heel into its head and planting it's face in the dirt with an axe kick.

Aiko dodged the incoming swipes and snaps with precision as she slowly closed in, the beast suddenly leaped at her and in response she leaped upwards and rotated into a back flip slicing during the rotation. She landed while still facing the beast and watched with satisfaction as the beast's head fell from it's body, she turned to watch Amethyst pound her opponent's skull till it was no longer round.

As they finished their fights two more wolves were directly separated leaving Garth with only one to deal with, Amethyst swung her fist at the fleeing wolf, though it managed to react and dodged her attack, back stepping and growling as it looked around itself. Then it lunged and swiped it's claws, Amethyst blocked with her bracers. Spinning off it's attack she managed to get out from in front and sent a powerful kick into is ribcage.

Garth frowned as he looked at the mutated wolf beast in front of him. It had a green viscous fluid dripping from is mouth, it appeared to be venomous. He slowly pulled his long sword out and aggressively shoved his shield out, forcing the mutated wolf that was twice the size of the others back a few steps. Giving the smaller wolf the chance to leap around his defenses. With a calculated movement and readied his sword as the beast leaped at him from behind, holding his sword in reverse he pulled it up under his arm just at the beast landed against his back. He was rewarded with a gurgling sound as blood splattered on the back of his armor.

The sound of footsteps was music to his ears as his companions arrived after finishing their own fights.

"Let's do this Garth!" Amethyst exclaimed as she stepped up beside him, Aiko was on his other side. Garth nodded and slammed the is shield into the beast, which let out a startled yelp before trying to bit him over the top of the shield. Amethyst ran up Garth's back and flipped over the beast landing with a kick to the center of its spine. She gained another pained yelp and growl from the beast as a reward as Aiko drew her second sword and began to stab and slice at it's fur, however she couldn't seem to cut through. The beast had really thick fur, it growled in annoyance and rammed Garth's shield causing him to stagger. Without the protection from their shielder, the beast lunged at Aiko who barely dodged, the snapping sound made her ears ring as she barely escaped. Aiko ducked as Amethyst came flying over her with a spinning round house and smashed into the side of the wolf's head. Though even with her strongest attack it didn't fall. But she'd managed to knock it's head away.

"Lucky for us we have to be bit to get poisoned huh, it's much easier to not get bit than to avoid it's. . . Ew it's slimy bleh!" Amethyst began to wipe off the greenish saliva while complaining only to dry heave at how it felt. Aiko and Amethyst retreated and regrouped with Garth while the beast shook it's head in annoyance.

They reset and charged it once more, Garth pushed it to the side as Amethyst smashed her fist into the joint in it's back leg causing it to stumble and begin to tip over. In reaction it suddenly kicked outwards and sent Amethyst flying as blood dripped from her lips, her eyes rolled and she hit the ground hard. The Wolf spun as it feel and smashed it's tail into Garth's shield causing him to stumble again. Aiko attempted to get out of the way when it finally lost it's balance and crashed down on top of her. She barely manage to leap onto her back and point her swords upwards as it's full weight landed on her.

"Fuck, Aiko!" Garth exclaimed as he leaped forward and used his, slowing as he approached the beast. It was groaning and growling as it scrabbled at the ground aggressivly but slowed down as he approached eventually it began to wine and pant before finally collapsing. Garth stepped forward with his sword and used all his strength to thrust the blade into the beast's head. The fur was quite thick, but with force and a bit of jiggling he managed to confirm it's death. Then without skipping a beat he thrust his shield under it and leveraged the beast upwards. A audible groan could be heard as Aiko crawled out from under, she stumbled while singing in pain. Dragging her blades on the ground, blood was dripping from all over her body, she was completely drenched.

"You ok?" Garth asked with concern seeing her limp.

"Towel, I feel disgusting." Aiko spoke with audible annoyance. She dropped her swords and shook her arms and began to try wiping herself and face. Garth sighed with relief as he turned to look at where Amethyst had landed, she was sitting up and rubbing her head with a pouty look on her face.

"I'll get you that towel." Garth laughed as he slapped her on the back. Aiko just sighed as Amethyst ran up.

"Aaaaiko I'm so sorry, are you ok?" Amethyst exclaimed in concern. Aiko nodded as she walked stiffly back to the carriage. "Aaaaiko! I new it you're mad at me, I'm sowwy pwease don't be mad!" Amethyst's tail dropped and she made a cute face while slurring her words. Looking up at Aiko while her ears twitched cutely. Aiko snorted and wiped her hand on her friends face and hair causing her to squeal.

"Hey, now I'm all dirty too! Hmph, you can be mean Aiko. . . But I guess it's ok if that made you feel better." Amethyst peeked at Aiko's face, a smile bloomed on hers and she hugged Aiko. "Yay!" Garth just sighed as he grabbed two towels and tossed one onto each of their heads.