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Pim

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Everyone in the cave is standing neatly in front of me, drilling into my cute outfit with their confused and curious gazes. I’m sure they’re all wondering, where am I, why is this noble girl in a cave, and why is she wearing that weird mask. Well, I’m not going to answer any of those questions, since I’m busy.

Frustrated by the questions no one asked, I quickly spin around and put my back to them. Having to keep my writing out of view is a great excuse to not face them. I start writing the words my plan needs into the air in front of me. I explained my idea in detail to the captain already, so this should work okay.

The captain steps next to me as I continue to write. He makes sure to not look at my words. “Alright, my Lady, they’re ready. Just touch my arm and I’ll give the countdown.” I nod without looking up from my floating sentence. I hope this works.

The captain’s voice booms through the cavern, “Alright, everyone, close your eyes!” He waits a moment before giving the next instruction. “I’m going to count down from three, when I say zero, everyone open their eyes and read the message in the air above me.” Jet lowers his voice. “Thank god they can all read.” The captain murmurs to himself. “My eyes are shut too, my Lady, so tap me when you’re ready.” I have to hope he knows I heard him, because I can only nod.

I hold my hands on either side of the sentence I wrote before using one of the many obtuse abilities I read through earlier tonight. ‘Public Announcement’ activates, tugging at my core as the magic within is spent to fuel the spell. The words between my hands disappear briefly before reappearing above me. The handwritten phrase is now blown up to massive proportions and hangs above the captain and myself. I tap the captain’s elbow gently.

“Three!” His voice gives away his excitement. “Two!” I really hope this works or I’m going to look really stupid. “One!” Oh, please work. “Zero!” His voice shakes the air around us.

I look up as well, unsure if I have to read it for it to work. Above me, in my own handwriting, are the words ‘Everyone here is now inside the Holding’s manor.’ For a moment nothing happens, and I start to panic. Then a searing pain slams into my chest, like I’ve been stabbed from behind. I look down quickly, afraid I actually may have been. But, instead of a blade sticking out of my chest, hundreds of small golden orbs of light glide out of me. I stare as the small flickering lights place themselves throughout the gathered people.

I look around, trying to ignore the pain in my chest. The lights are like small golden lightning bugs flying around us. Whenever someone tries to touch one it flits away, acting skittish.

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Then something changes, the small golden orbs begin to glow brighter, and the pull from within me amps up considerably. If the pain up until now was a knife to the gut, someone just twisted the blade. The overwhelming agony quickly makes me loose control of myself, and I start to fall. The last thing I see is Captain Jet sprinting towards me, and a bright golden flash.

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Hack

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I’m sleeping in the flower beds where Mommy found me. They’re very soft and feel familiar. I’m here because Mom disappeared again, she does that sometimes. I usually ride on the person that smells like her, all tiny and twisted up, but this time she left me behind.

I hope I didn’t make her mad. I tried to be good like she said. She made me big and left. Is it because I got big? Was I not supposed to? I hope it’s not that… Being big is fun. I was able to squish all those pretend people when I was big. I even did it without Mommy! My tail wags excitedly. I stop it quickly, Mommy got mad at me when I wagged in here and broke the cup. She said good boys don’t break things.

I look up through the glass above the garden, at the twinkling lights in the dark above. They’re very pretty, not as pretty as Mommy, though. I wiggle deeper into the soil, pushing the roots of the flowers aside gently. They don’t like when I’m rough to their roots.

I look at the lights some more. I want to do things, but Mommy isn’t here. She doesn’t like me exploring the town. She said the town wasn’t safe for me. I wiggle my roots and find a more comfortable spot. I wish I could do what Mommy does, when she lays still for a long time. I can’t do that, I try when I ride on Mommy or the people who smell like Mommy, but it doesn’t work. She’s so calm when she lies like that.

A noise scares me and I look around the garden. Someone opened the glass door! I look around for the person. If they’re bad I’ll eat them!

I almost jump out of the dirt when I hear a branch of a nearby bush get cut. I look over and see Grandpa. How did he get past me? I wiggle around and start to pull out of the dirt. The flowers make a relieved sound when they get their space back. I walk over to Grandpa and smile up at him.

“Y’ scared me half to death, Hack!” I feel my petals droop. I didn’t mean to. Grandpa laughs at me. “It’s alright, little one.” Grandpa pats my head and I wag my tail.

Grandpa is always nice to me, he says Mommy named me after him. He sits down in Mommy’s big chair. He looks very small in it. I hear the chair make a confused sound at the stranger sitting in it. Grandpa doesn’t seem to hear it.

Grandpa lets out a big huff. “Things are rough right now, bud.” He looks upset. “Scarlet did something dangerous and stupid, my other child is in a coma and kidnapped simultaneously, and a dungeon opened in the middle of my town!” Grandpa rubs his eyes. After he’s done he leans down and picks me up. “Oof! Have you gained weight, Hack?” I wag my tail, does he mean getting big? I did get big!

Grandpa puts me on his lap and gives me pets. “Forgive this old man for rambling even though you don’t know what I’m saying, will ya, kiddo?” I wag my tail. I forgive you, Grandpa, but I do understand you. He chuckles at me. “You’re a good kid, Hack. You should teach Scarlet a thing or two about behaving.”

What’s behaving and why does Mommy need to know it? Grandpa doesn’t say, he can’t hear me like the plants can. I curl up in his warm lap and enjoy the gentle pets he gives me.