ATM Rewrite: B2 — 14. A Spark for Hope

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1. Sora Moore (Our fox girl is on the rise!)

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Sharing her father’s recovery, after a short time, Sora kissed his cheek and pulled away.  She had a lot to accomplish, and while Aiden probably wasn’t in any danger, Kari was still understandably worried about him.  The wolf tried to put on a tough shell, but she knew better after all they’d gone through over the last two weeks.

She left her mom to catch her dad up on what had happened since her mother’s sharp, non-magical ears had been keeping up to date on things.  Wendy went to the door with her, and it was here their mom gave her a solution to one of their current problems; it did prick Sora’s heart, though, making her hesitate.

“Sora…”

“Yeah, Mom?”  Sora asked, flipping around with a flick of her tail, radiating positive energy.  Her mother’s lowering ears and eyes made her frown, Wendy glancing between them.  “What’s up?”

“Can you make an isolated zone for us to talk?”

“Suuure?”  Sora complied, now interested in the secret her mom wanted to share.  Spinning the desire, shimmering mist spread to all corners of the room, blocking any sound or magical perception.  “It’s done!  What’s the scoop, Mom?”

“There… is a way for you to help the fae regain their land and provide them an independent sanctuary that would create a kingdom for them within our territory.”

Wendy perked up.  “That would be huge!  Eh-heh.  Well, it would solve one or two problems,” she mumbled, nervous gaze darting to the room beside them, where Eyia and Jin sat, mostly in silence from what Sora had heard.  “You don’t seem thrilled about it, though…”

Knowing her mother was a bit over-the-top when it came to interjecting herself, guilty about not being a part of her life sooner, Sora folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe.

“C’mon, Mom.  Let me guess, are you going to say it’s dangerous?”  She laughed, jabbing her thumb at her confused sister.  “You’ve already shown me one super cool way to use my unique abilities.  I know you’re worried about putting me in danger since you gave up your vision and powers, but I’m tough.  What’s up?”

Wendy’s suspicious, muddy-brown eyes shot to her.  “What ‘super cool’ thing are you do—wait…  My mana’s been coming back faster…  Sora, what did you do without telling me?!”

Forcing a laugh and waving off the topic, she motioned to her mother.  “Later, later!  What’s this about making a safe place for fae in our territory?”  Sora smiled.  “I like that… our territory.  Thanks, Mom.”

Her mother’s soft eyes shifted to her father as he squeezed her hand before returning to Sora.  “It’s just… a sacrifice.  I’m sure it will be…  You already have an artifact that is more powerful than anything inside the next several higher dimensions…  Far more powerful.”

Sora’s eyes defocused, mind returning to her room and drawer.  “Mom, do you remember me talking about that artifact?”

Drawing back her red hair, her mother shook her head.  “No, we never talked about it personally yet, but I do know about it…  Don’t you remember me telling you that I met with Stephanie?”

Her thoughts about the seven-pointed star came to a screeching halt, fingers rising to her black ice hair clip, still holding back her bangs.  “Oh… that.  Umm, yeah… yeah, umm, wait, why is this helpful to the fae?”

“Not the hair clip, honey, your rose.  It may have been a simple item for Stephanie to make, and practically useless for someone of her power, but it is charged with the energies of a personal realm.  You can use that as a seed to grow a new 10th-dimensional space.”

She giggled as they mouthed the unbelievable power tier she was talking about.  “Yes, essentially, you can repurpose it into a sanctuary on the omniversal level.  It isn’t like they will be able to ascend those tiers or understand the true depth of their new realm, but you can set the laws it functions by, and at that level, no one would be able to interfere or fool its guardian thistles you can set in place.  It’d be a far weaker version of your grandmother’s private realm.”

Sora stuck her tongue against the inside of her cheek before sucking on it, deep in thought in the ensuing silence.  No doubt, the fae would try to pressure her into doing it if she didn’t put up this barrier.  Her mother wasn’t trying to tell her what was right or wrong, only giving her the option to give them a place to rest.

It should be a no-brainer, but that gift from Stephanie meant a lot to her.  It was the giantess’ trust, empathy, and show of love that kept her stable during some of the hardest moments of her life.  The rose stabilized her when she thought she was going insane, and Stephanie was the first person to make her feel not so alone and crazy during her transformation.

“A rose?”  Wendy asked, eyes squinting as she rummaged through her memories.  “Who’s Stephanie?  I’m lost.”

“Just… someone who helped me a lot more than I thought,” Sora whispered, looking away and rubbing her arm as prickles ran down it.  “Are there no other ways to make it work?  I don’t want to give away a gift or turn it into something that it wasn’t meant for…”

She swallowed, puffing out the stress that suddenly gripped her chest.  It was a lot more complicated than she thought it should be.  “Stephanie put herself and her family at risk for me.  I want to help the fae, but I also don’t want to hurt Ron’s family—they have a baby, and Stephanie is vulnerable right now.  You can’t tell me this could blow back on Stephanie if I make a whole new Celestial Realm inside our territory.”

Her mother slowly nodded, her father pulling her onto the bed to hold her as her tails pulled in to cover both of them like a blanket.

“No, you’re right, Sora.  It isn’t impossible that the ripple of Celestial Force on that level wouldn’t attract attention.  Founders and Primordials, among other powerful entities that are allowed to be in our Existence, view them as illegal aliens inside our land.  It could invoke requests for investigation, and if my automated responses are pressed, then it might get my sister involved since I’m not there personally to answer inquiries.”

Wendy closed in to hug her, feeling far more conflicted than she felt she should.  “Okay, then it’s too risky.  We can’t help someone else by hurting another person, especially if they were so supportive of you, Sora.”

Ears pulled back, Sora looked back at her vulnerable mother, so conflicted with what she should inform her about.  She was trying really hard to figure out how to be a mom.  Her mother probably did whatever she wanted most of her life, telling everyone else to screw off, but the woman in front of her was anything but the phenomenally powerful vulpes goddess everyone saw her as.

“Is there no other way, Mom?  You mentioned Grandma had a private realm in our territory?”

Her mother hugged her dad tighter, ears falling lower.  “I… haven’t gone back there since her death—I blocked it from my vision…  It hurt too much to see all the happy, innocent millennia of our youth.  I don’t know if it even remains functional, and Inari refused to let it into her side of our territory…  Plus, hah, she was grounded from entering just before our mother’s death, so she can’t even get inside…  She’s told me how many things she regrets.”

Once again, Sora felt the pull to learn more about her long-lost aunt.  Her mom had just gotten through telling her how horrible and terrible she was, and now she was telling her how they’d come together as sisters and shared their vulnerabilities and tender feelings after their mother’s death.

A lump formed in Sora’s throat as she glanced toward Wendy, showing a similar melancholy expression.  She couldn’t imagine how it might feel to suddenly have her mother ripped away from her after just getting her back, and what it might do to her or Wendy.  Still, the topic did bring up a new source of hope within Sora.

“Grandma has her Realm nearby, right?  Is it powerful enough to create a new lower realm for the fae?  Can we get to it from this universe?”

Sora couldn’t help a gentle smile upon seeing her mother lean her head against her dad’s chest, her husband holding her hand, comforting her with his other holding her fast.  The best thing for Mia was to rest with her long-missed lover, allowing them both to heal and confront past grievances or guilt.

Before they could go, though, their mom swallowed and cleared her thick throat.  “It’s hard to say.  I could summon a gateway…  Your grandmother was so powerful that you could be on the other side of Existence, and her magic would create a doorway for us to come home.   I… don’t know if it will answer your call, and I’m afraid it won’t.  Ugh.  Why am I so afraid all the time?”  she cried, burying her face into her dad’s chest.  “I don’t know!”

“Shhh, Mia…”  Her father stroked her head and hid her under the blanket as she wept, feeling useless and unsure about her place in her daughters’ lives.  “Sora, could you give us some time for things to settle?  In short, it’s possible.  Take care of what you need to and come back when your mother feels better.  I’ll take care of her.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have given up my powers!  I’m useless like this…  I don’t know so much!  I’m a horrible woman!  Why would I tell you that when I know Stephanie means so much to you?  A terrible mother!  I abandoned you all…  I ran away!  Why can’t I do anything right?!”

“Oh, Mom,” Sora sighed, scratching her left ear as it itched.  “I love you.  Talk to you later…”

Wendy returned her sad smile as Sora left the isolation spell active to allow her mother and father privacy to talk.  The encouraging look on his face gave her hope that he could support her trembling-tailed, quivering mother’s grief-stricken panic attack.

Exiting the room, she shut the door behind them and ran her fingers through her hair while collapsing against the wall.  Sidling down to her back, Wendy did the same opposite her.

“Is she really going to be okay?”  Wendy mumbled, fighting back tears and taking a deep breath to regain control of the fire in her throat.  “This… isn’t the first time I found her crying.  When you were sleeping, sometimes when I brought her food in, I saw her struggling to keep herself together.”

Sora rubbed her pained chest, shoulders slumping.  “Dad will help her…  He used to help me through my panic attacks…”

Her jaw locked, the hatred of her previous psychiatrists and how twisted they’d been to make her father believe so many things about her rising up again.  However, now it was Jenny that made her claws extend in rage.  She wanted to rip into the psychopathic bully’s neck herself, yet her mother had made sure the werewolf got what she deserved by snatching her spirit for a good talking-to, after Eyia killed the wolf.

Jenny had put them into that impossible position of making her Kari’s problem or facing her wrath.  She didn’t blame her psychiatrists for choosing their family and loved ones over her.  Still, the fact Mary had put herself in harm’s way to do what she felt was right, despite the threats against her husband, had earned her trust and respect like few had.

“Maybe Mary could use another patient,” she said with a pained chuckle.  “Honestly, we’re such a messed up crew of monsters.”

Wendy puffed out a hot stream of air, wiping at the corner of her eyes.  “No joke…  I’ve been considering talking to her again myself.  God knows I need therapy.  Gah…  Imagine that on her resume.  Client for goddesses, monsters, and teens with abandonment issues.  Client bookings go through the roof.”

“Right?”  Sora groaned, rubbing her face.  “Ugh.  There’s so much more we need to do.  Haaa.  We have another battle to save another friend.  Ready?”

“No.”  Wendy closed her eyes, and she banged the back of her head against the door at her back.  “Mmggmm.  Hey, Sora, want to bump Ghost by Witt Lowry?  I’m feeling it now.  When can it stop?  I’m afraid all of this is going to burn you out… and I rely on you so, sooo much.”

“Hah.”  Tears gathering in her eyes, Sora crawled over to hug her new sister, cuddling up to her by the door.  “Sure.  It really is a good song, huh?  Ugh.  Okay!  Let’s get up—oh, Eyia, Jin.”

The door opened, making them fall to their backs to stare up at the two girls, Eyia’s eyes red and Jin looking melancholy.

“Want to join us in my bathroom to hide, cry, and sing at the top of our lungs?  It’ll be fun,” Sora said, smiling through tears.

“Why not,” Jin whispered.  “Got the lyrics?”

“Naturally.  Karaoke in the bathroom with the family,” Sora sniffed, forcing herself up and offering a hand to Wendy.  “Let’s ‘get our shit together,’ with tears and songs,” she said, pulling her sister up and leading the way.  “Another day, another night, another frikken battle…  Let’s go!”

Bursting into her bathroom, she turned on the tablet on the wall and flipped to the song, bringing up the lyrics for them to sing to.  Cranking the music on blast, Wendy and her shouted out the curse at the start, letting her turbulent emotions go in a totally non-magical way that might as well be.  All it took was a moment to alter a life, and maybe this was a life-altering moment because it felt like it.

Their short, few-song karaoke session ended, screaming out their pain with all four of them winding up on the carpet, staring up at the ceiling.  Sora didn’t know what passed between Eyia and Jin, but the pair seemed to have only scratched the iceberg of working through their problems.  All of them needed therapy.

Wendy’s chest heaved, voice somewhat hoarse after their screams.  It made Sora somewhat entertained thinking about what the others might have thought if they heard at all; she’d been too preoccupied to find out, losing herself in the songs with the other three girls.

“Sora…”

“Mhm?”  she asked, spinning her magic to relieve her sister’s throat.

“I don’t know what to do to help you…  I want to cry again.  When you were kidnapped, and—and we came to help…  I felt so powerless.  What am I supposed to do if that happens again?”

Eyia’s tight hands were held against her own breast, pain in her soft voice.  “I have, as Jin says, dropped the ball… so many times that I feel a burden upon you, Sister.  I am questioning my training and self with each failure.”

A low groan rolled through Jin’s throat.  “Despite your age, Eyia, you’re still a teenage girl emotionally.  Look, all of you need to just not care about what others think about you or their expectations.  You could call it suppressing your emotions all you want, but the universe is cruel, and you gotta do what you need to do to survive.  Kick back, piss off, and mock whoever isn’t with you—including me.  What are they going to do?  Well, I bite, but yeah.”

“Healthy advice, dragon girl,” Sora snorted, shaking her head.

Wendy pushed onto her side to stare at her.  “How can you be so positive, Sora?”

Sora breathed a heavy sigh and smiled, lifted her legs up, and hoisted herself to her feet to look down at the depressed three girls.  Jin seemed far less scary now that she was so drained; not being of age, she battled herself whenever using her powers, or so she understood from Eyia’s explanation.  Sora knew she was blessed despite her misfortune.

“Because I’ve been through worse, and look how many friendly faces I have around me!  I’m not alone.  I’ve got my mom and dad, sister-slash-best friend, my sister-in-arms, and semi-depressing, very frightening dragon ‘acquaintance,’ or are we beyond that now?”  she asked Jin with a grin.

A smirk lifted the Korean girl’s face.  “Pending.  Mind spotting us more funds to go out and talk, semi-acquaintance fox friend?”

“It’s something, I suppose!”  she laughed.  “Hey, and I’ve got a black card from the Foundation.  Have at it, guys!”

Sora threw her arm up in a cheer before helping them each up.  “Now that we got the feels out, let’s get to work.  And don’t worry about that ‘powerlessness,’ Wendy,” she snickered, shooting her tight-lipped sister a wink.  “I’ve got something in the works.”

Wendy groaned while stretching out her lower back, following her into the hallway.  “I’m sorry I couldn’t… you know…”

“Not a clue!”  Sora chirped, hopping onto the gravity pad and sending out a magical star to shoot through the suite to yank back her purse from the conference room.  “We’re just going day-by-day, hour-by-hour, so take your time, Sis.  And… here is your card for fun, and beat her tail at any games, Eyia!”

Eyia giggled and nodded.  “Thank you for all your hospitality and support, Sister…  I will never forget this journey and trust that you have given your enemy.  I have learned much from your example that changes my opinion of Founders.”

Sora jumped forward to hug the tall, awkward blonde struggling to find her place in a world not totally engaged in war and black-and-white rules.  “Success!  Know that whatever you two decide to do, you’ve got a place in my family.”

She flashed her teeth at the quivering lower lip the Valkyrie gave her, having been separated from her own family for what Sora would have no doubt thought was an eternity.  “Aww, Eyia, you’re going to make me cry again!  I’m always in the market for expanding my circle of family and friends.  Bring your baggage and drama, and we’ll figure it out!  That’s what family and friends do…”

Jin sucked in her cheek, a bitter look in her draconic eyes as she looked to the side.  “Not the family I know…  Want to hit the arcade, Eyia?”

Sora nodded at the Valkyrie, happy to see the two actually talking and working things out to mend their friendship.  Eyia was too vulnerable socially in her isolated island training world of death and danger to navigate this minefield on her own.  It healed Sora to help someone else get through their pain; it was like addressing pieces of her own trauma, seeing others heal.

Waving them off, Sora nudged Wendy with her hips to get a smile out of her sister before steering her around with her tail to continue on, toward the battlefield.  She had options for the fae, so that could be addressed in the future.

If she could keep this positive vibe, then Sora felt like she could take on the world, and it wasn’t because she was a Founder or had insane magic; it was because of the people she had around her.  Holding a finger against the black crystal hairpin, she felt the positive waves she experienced when in Ron’s company, and now his wife was there.

I’ve said goodbye to some friends, but my circle’s growing… not shrinking, and I’ll see them again…  The types of family and friends that would put up a fight for me.

The pressure compressing her lungs wasn’t like the heat she’d felt before; her father was comforting her mom, Jin and Eyia were mending things, Wendy and she were healing.  She was feeling good now.  Now, she had to spread that out, and a smile came on as she saw all the people patiently waiting for her to return.

A new thought touched her heart that made her shake her head and chuckle; Kari should experience something like this in her life.  Spinning her desire magic, she had a brilliant idea to bottle up a bit of this feeling and save it for darker times.

Entering the conference room, purse and sister by her side, she took the floor, hands on her hips and pulling everyone’s eyes.  “Let me explain something…”

Her gaze drifted between the fae, Foundation higher-ups, moon prince, reality-warping sisters, and White Rabbits, who were present.  All of them had their own desires and wanted her for different reasons.  There really was so much pressure on her shoulders, yet she wasn’t feeling it now.

She honestly didn’t feel all that special or important to warrant so much attention, but she could see why everyone would look at her with fear; they were all basically in her terrifying—a.k.a. adorable, scared, self-defeating, and now powerless—mom’s house.

All of them had their own fears about what might happen, from Zen, learning how to live a normal life and how to have fun, The Foundation concerned about a world war with the OWO or world-destroying anomalies, to her mother, horrified by the thought of her sister discovering she had a kid and causing the destruction of this whole omniverse they were in.

Puffing up her cheeks, she waited for Wendy to take a seat and reached into her bag to pull out her black ice rose to twist around her fingers.  Its comforting waves resonated with her own serenity.  She wasn’t a powerless girl anymore, and it was time to start stepping into her own role rather than let everyone else determine what she should do with her powers.

“I am here to help, but I will do it in my own way.  You can work with me if you want, or do whatever you want on your own.  I’m working on something for the fae, but it might not work out.”

Ellion’s sober and aged face was somewhat invigorated as the elf king studied her.  “You have already done more for our community than we can repay, young goddess.  Harboring us during a war with the Unseelie is risky enough.  It does touch my heart that you would come to our defense.”

“By framing the OwO,” Tamil huffed, adjusting the dog pajama one-piece she’d gotten from somewhere.  “Gggrrr.  You caused us a lot of trouble!  Look at us—Tami had to tie up and gag poor Tamila.  I’m so sorry, Lil Sis!”

The older-looking twin sat in her armchair, glaring at her big sister like she wanted to strangle her.

“Yikes.  Uh-hehe.  Woof.  Tamila,” she whimpered, shying away.  “I didn’t do it!”

“Apologies,” Queen Tessa sighed, rubbing her tiny, stiff shoulders and looking at the flower beside her that housed Sora’s little fairy follower.  “We were desperate, and couldn’t take on the Unseelie since they already had Foundation resources.  No one else could get the Foundation’s attention.”

Sora lifted an eyebrow and looked at Sela at the back and forth, the woman quietly shrinking into her chair in the corner, unsure what she should feel after being purified by her conflicted aura.

“I think I’ve got their eye after showing them I can basically wipe out their entire corrupted species… by purifying them.  I mean, I could—uh, no, we’ll not go there yet,” she hissed a laugh, pondering an anti-virus, airborne vaccine for Unseelie.

Vondoom and Devlin nodded, probably knowing where she was going with the magical viral antidote weapon.  It was a scary thought, for sure.  If she could make a safe haven for them to live in, outside of all the problems, then that would be great, and a new thought came to her in that light.

Sora used her magic to form a little bird that would explode into floating words and sent it through the window to find Kari, telling the wolf to get her tail back here because she was going to call the demon.  Her mind was back on the conversation with her mother, along with the comments Hinote made about finding his place.

If Grandma’s Realm is locked off from Aunt Inari, then wouldn’t it be the perfect place to retire Fen and the twins to spread their tails?  It’s something to bring up.

“Huh,” she blinked and scratched her forehead.  “Umm, right, I’ve got bigger fish to fry than Unseelie, but if they make it my business, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.  For now, go chill and unwind where you can.  I know your people are suffering.  We’re doing what we can.”

Fist resting against his cheek, Ellion’s tight eyes fell to the rug.  “I would love to lose myself in dance and charmed wine, yet I still must work to provide a safe place for my people.”

Devlin cleared his throat, shooting a nervous glance at the Senior Director.  “Might I suggest… we relocate them here, Sir?  It’s probably one of the most secure places on the planet right now, due to the resources we are putting into screening Miami for Lady Mia and Lady Sora’s safety.”

Vondoom sat back, hard eyes shifting to him.  “You understand the safety risk of allowing so many fae into one place?  A demon managed to slip in for a short time to speak to Sora.  The more risks we introduce to Miami, the higher the likelihood of an attack happening.  It is best to spread them out to safe houses across the globe and between realm pockets.”

Tessa showed a compassionate smile as she floated in the air, sparkles surrounding the fairy queen.  “It is a compassionate suggestion, Sir, but we are finding support from other communities.  Ellion, let’s take Lady Sora’s suggestion.  One night to unwind and rest to refresh our spirits and see things from a new angle.”

The king sighed, chuckled, and rose to his feet.  “I cannot refuse you, Queen Tessa.”

The woman’s smile turned mischievous.  “Oh, you refuse me quite often, old friend, but if that is the excuse you require, I am satisfied.  Let us see what has changed in this modern era of humanity.”

Sora felt positive vibes enter their aura, making her cheer inside; she was winning!  Yeah, times were tough, but they could still find a silver cloud and happiness.  Sora was on a warpath to pull things up into a brighter future.  She’d stay motivated and focused; her primary goal was Kari, though.  The girl was in desperate need of a good day.

“Good, and Mr. Vondoom, I think it would be great if we could bring the most vulnerable to Miami.  Not everyone,” she clarified at his low growl.

“Buuut,” she added, pointing to each party, “with our friendly triplet sisters, cute and dapper bunny squad, Foundation guards, and all the other stuff, I think it would be good to show help to those who are in need of help.  And, Sela,” she sang, making the woman stiffen and the standing fae queen and king look at her.

“Y-Yes, Sora—eh, Lady Sora?”  she stammered, fighting the guilt of centuries as an Unseelie and her aggressive nature.

“You used to be a pretty powerful fae before your corruption and ruled some smaller kingdom.  Right?  That’s why they were trying to use you for the counterbalance in the ritual, or whatever.  Am I on the right track?”

“In essence…  I turned all those who trusted me,” she whispered, looking down in shame.  “Most of them were sacrificed by the Grand Architect—the Unseelie you partly thwarted…  I am a fallen queen without a kingdom and the graves of my followers at my feet.”

“Great!  Well, not great,” she mumbled after getting confused stares.  “But you have the chance to gather the survivors and start over.  You were corrupted and twisted.  It wasn’t you, and I know that doesn’t make it feel better for you… but get your shit together for those that are looking for a new queen to follow.  Be the woman and ruler they need.  ‘Kay?”

Sela shivered and held back tears, drab colors brightening a tad as a spark of hope lit within her aura and feeling the smooth, peanut butter vibes that brought more happiness to the room.  “I can offer… but I cannot see anyone following a former Unseelie after… all the pain we’ve caused.”

“Not you anymore!”  Sora corrected.  “Now, you’re going to go with King Ellion and Queen Tessa to celebrate your return.  Wouldn’t that be best to clear the air?”  she asked the pair.

Tessa floated over to the woman and held out a hand with a welcoming smile.  “It may surprise you, Queen Sela, but I attended your small kingdom’s coronation ritual when you inherited the crown from your father.  He and I were acquainted in our youth.”

“You knew my father?”  she asked, rising and following the pair out.  “I… hardly remember his face.”

“Then I shall tell you of the stiff and gentlemanly fae that stole your mother’s wings.”

“He… did what?!”

“Ho-ho-ho.  Don’t you recall, Ellion?  You were a young king at the time and a part of this story.”

“Hardly…”

“Well, a part of my part in the story that brought me into a young elf lord’s kingdom for some mischievous fun,” she snickered, making the elf shift uncomfortably on the way out and making Sora curious.  It would have to wait for later, though.

When they left, she turned to the triplets, giving her a curious stare at her previous statement.

“I mean it.  Let’s get the OWO and Foundation working together.  What do you say, Mr. Vondoom?  What can be better than two of the world’s strongest organizations working hand-in-hand to, uh… do whatever you’re doing to keep me safe?  I honestly don’t know what is happening with The Foundation right now.  We’re still on the possible mole thing?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Devlin sighed.  “We will need to get approval from both our higher-ups, but you do have a lot of sway right now, Sora.  Thank you for taking into consideration the fae and their plight.  It’s… heartbreaking to think The Foundation played a part in this genocide.  I’m still puzzling over how we were infiltrated with all our precautions.”

“As am I,” Vondoom whispered, sharp vision shifting to the triplets.  “I may have use of your unique abilities, Tami, Tamil, and Tamila.  If we get approval, are you willing to work with The White Rabbits to investigate a rather… sensitive matter?”

Tamil gasped, doggy ears bobbing with her head.  “Team up?!  I love team-ups!  Can we get cool costumes?  I could be a blackbird, swooping from shadows to spy on the enemy, quiet as the night!”

“Impossible,” Tamila grumbled as her oldest sister undid her gag.  “Ack.  That was very mean, Tami.  I didn’t even do anything wrong.”

“Haaa.  Plucking out Tamil’s seams on her pajamas is wrong… but expected from you.”

“Exactly.  I did nothing wrong.  I never do anything wrong.  Tamil is always in the wrong.  She’s embarrassing.”

“Ruff, ruff, ruff!”  Tamil got on her knees and looked up at her sister with big eyes.  “I’m a good doggy, Tamila!  Pet me.  Please?”

“Of course I will,” Tamila chimed, getting up after being untied and moving toward the kitchen.  “Let me find some nails that I can hammer into a brush to comb out your hair.”

Sora clapped her hands.  “Riiight.  I’ll leave that to you, Tami.  Oh, it looks like Kari’s back, so… everyone good so far?  We’re working things out?”

One of the white rabbits nodded silently, holding up his steaming cup of tea he wasn’t holding a second ago.

“Uh-huh.  Okay!  You want to meet the demon with us, Mr. Vondoom and Devlin?”

Tamila came to a stop in the doorway, spinning around with a twinkle in her eyes.  “I’ve always wanted to meet a demon and devil.  Never mind, Tamil, I’m not going to comb your hair.”

“Aww…  Sad puppy noises,” she sniffled, curling up on a couch.

“Wendy?”

“I’m good,” she said, showing a soft smile she’d kept the whole time while watching her.

“What?”

“It’s just nice seeing you keeping your head above water…  Thanks, Sis… for not being Tamila.”

The two older sisters snickered as the youngest triplet looked like Wendy slapped her.

“I take offense to that!  I am a wonderful sister.  I give Tamil all my attention, re-educating the dumb… puppy, currently,” she snarled.

Tamil jumped up again.  “Aww.  I knew you cared, Lil Sis!”

Sora laughed and went to Wendy to give her a hug.  They’d be alright.

I’m not going to be bitter and down.  I’m back!  I’ll believe in me, and pick up everyone around me.  I’m an achiever, and I’ll figure out how to get my family whole.  Time to get things in order!  I’m changing my direction.  I’m going up!

Now, it was time to get Aiden back.  What trouble awaited them with this devilish plot?  One thing was for certain: she wasn’t facing it alone.

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