Moon Valley's Legendary Farmer

"Do you two ladies have a moment?" A man's voice said from behind them. Aya turned first to see a young man in a polished suit. He seemed a bit older than them, in his 30s at most. The beginnings of his beard had just started to form over pale, sallow skin.

"Can we help you?" Mars asked in confusion. This guy looked weird, if he was with the police, that would make it even stranger.

He flashed them his badge, indicating he was with the Mericross police department.

"I didn't mean to alarm you." He said, smiling disarmingly and tucking the badge back into his suit pocket. "I just wanted to take a statement from the young lady who caught the criminal."

"That would be me." Aya said she'd given statements to Axen's police many times, but nothing ever came of them. It was always so it would look like they were busy, there were never any follow ups or news that the criminals had been caught.

After a brief conversation, the detective, who revealed his name to be Peter Yarrow, asked Aya how she was able to spot the pickpocket when he moved so casually through the crowd.

"He was pretty obvious, the pickpockets where I'm from are less bold. Mars and I knew he would be heading towards our row, so immediately I felt the tug on my bag, I reacted." Aya explained.

"I take it you're new to Mericross."

"Yeah, I'm from Axen."

Peter nodded, noting all of that on his tablet, which he slid easily into his pocket. Aya had never seen anything like that before.

"That young man was part of a notorious pickpocketing ring, and thanks to you, I suppose you could say we have a lead." Peter smiled again. "Where are you heading? Perhaps I could give you a lift to show my appreciation."

"At least we'll be saving on transport." Aya chirped, never one to turn down a favor.

Mars wanted to argue that there was no reason to save on their transportation with her around, but kept silent. There was something off about the detective, she couldn't put he finger on i,t but had a feeling he spelled trouble.

Aya was already looking at Mars with large brown eyes and a pout. Unable to say no to the other girl, Mars turned back to the detective.

"We're going to Citronella Street, I suppose it's really far from the station." Mars said. She didn't tell him they had just moved here, for all he knew, Aya was just a friend visiting for a while, and Mars left it at that.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Not too far away, I'll be happy to take you." Peter said again with a gentle smile. It didn't ease Mars's wariness, but Aya seemed to be just okay with it.

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Luckily for them, Peter's car was not a Mericross City police cruiser but a simple and sleek black R-Evo.

Mars rose an eyebrow at the sight of it, It wasn't an uncommon car to see on the streets of Evangels, it would certainly be an item of status here. Last time she checked, detectives didn't typically drive such showy cars.

"What are you waiting for?" Peter asked, after noticing her stare, he laughed and rubbed his head sheepishly. "Not the kind of car you were expecting, If I tell you the amount of hours I had to put in to get this baby!"

Aya's eyes gleamed at the sight of it. Cars like this were only heard of in Axen, as no one would risk driving such a nice car for fear of being robbed.

Peter had already opened the car for them to hop in with their bag,s and soon the girls and the detective were on their way.

Aya marveled at the streets of Mericross, peering out through the window, she was met with a row of neat streets and modern houses. It was almost something out of the City Hunter game she had played long ago with Mars.

She watched children run, playing with hover balls that levitated in the air as they passed it between one another on the unmarred roads.

'I'd always wanted that as a kid.' she thought.

They passed dog parks marked by virtual signs warning against littering and improper dog care. Ahead of her, the roads in the windshield were a pristine, pothole free stretch of road that lasted for miles.

"This area is one of the nicer parts of town." Peter said for Aya's benefit, knowing she was not local to the area.

Eventually, they pulled into what looked like a residential area populated by nice apartments. It was so different from the building Aya was used to living in. They stopped at a nice apartment building, taller than anything they had ever seen before.

Peter whistled, looking up to try and catch the top of the building, which had disappeared past the clouds.

"Wow." Aya gasped.

Mars got their things out of the car with a sigh and closed the door gently, it was a pretty nice car after all.

A woman stepped out of the sliding doors of the apartment building dressed formally in a skirt suit, her hair was done in a tight bun, and her open toed pumps clacked against the neat floors as she walked forward.

"That's my cue to leave." Peter said, disappearing into his car before Aya could bid him farewell. Mars shook her head and faced the woman.

"Hello." She said, taking out her phone and handing the secure information to the woman who was staring inquisitively at the two girls who stood outside the apartment she was managing. "I'm the young lady you were corresponding with, apartment 521."

"Ah." The woman said, smiling at Mars and casting a curious glance at Aya, who was busying herself with the exterior of the building.

"Do you have a problem with my roommate?" Mars asked coldly as soon as she noticed the woman's judgmental stare.

"Of course not, that's really none of my business. She's just...quirky?" The apartment manager said, lifting a finger to point at Aya, who had hunched herself over the fresh flowers planted on the apartment's sidewalk.

"You get used to it." Mars said with a smirk.

"And they were roommates." The apartment manager gasped.

"What?"

"Nothing, I'm Lisa Prunell, the apartment manager. You and your uh...roommate follow me. Your things have been moved in by the company you used. I'll hand both of you your keys. Please pull her away from the flowers." Lisa said, turning around to head back into the apartment.

"Come on, Aya." Mars said in amusement. "Let's see the new place."