On Falling In And Out Of Storyside...

Part 3

            "A baby?" echoed Crystal, as Joshua played in her lap. "Who would trust Naomi, of all sprites, with their little boy?"

            "Christine's sister would," said Mia.

            "Apparently so," said Magbert, "which is why we are bound to help this Naomi person, whether we want to or not."

            "Of course we want to!" said Mia. "Naomi's nice."

            "Naomi is, and always will be, a cheat, a liar, and a general nuisance," said Crystal.

            "Perhaps," said Magbert, "but she can't be all that bad if she's truly the guardian of this little human. See how well behaved he is? Not at all like the person you're describing. Not only that, but Mia's taken a liking to her, too."

            Crystal sighed. "Sprite vision," said she, gently stroking her daughter's face. "Our little girl tends to see more than what's really there."

            "Well, her vision is not an uncommon trait, considering her lineage," said Magbert, giving Crystal a look. Crystal shook her head with a knowing chuckle as he continued. "Our duty, at any rate, is certainly to help Naomi for two reasons. One, for this human child that was in her care and two, in thanks for our child, whom she also placed in her care for a time."

            "I remember," said Crystal, looking from Mia to Joshua. "Alright, then, I'll take care of this one, but Mia should really stay here."

            "But Mommy...!"

            "No "buts", Mia, I mean it!"

            "Mia, you heard your mother. Now go on upstairs," said Magbert. Mia started to protest, but he gave her a look and she shuffled off, mumbling about her parents' lack of trust.

            "Now that I'm home," Magbert began, sitting next to Crystal, "I think it's..." He paused before entering such a delicate subject. "I think it's important that we gradually begin unsheltering our daughter."

            Crystal's face clouded over with motherly panic. "Oh, Magbert, if anything happened to our little Mia, I'd die a thousand deaths; surely you know that!" she pleaded, already knowing what he wanted.

            "And so would I, my love, but I will be with her," he replied comfortingly.

            "And what if I lose you again, too? Magbert, don't force me to let my family go again, please!"

            "I'm not, darling, I'm just asking you to look at what you're doing to Mia," said Magbert. "You've been a perfect echo of me back then, telling her little sprites shouldn't go off into the forest alone, and you were right to do that. But look around us, dear! She can't stay locked up in this tree forever. Eventually, she will want to, and have to go off on her own. Isn't it better that she spread her wings now with me protecting her than takes off alone again out of spite just to prove she can?"

            Crystal could feel tears welling up in her eyes the way they had when she was younger, but maturity and understanding helped her hold them back. "I was always safe with you," she agreed.

            "And she will be, too. After all, I love you both."

            Crystal sighed with a shaky smile, then called out to Mia. Mia shuffled back into her mother's room.

            "Yes?" she asked sourly.

            "Well, if you're going to have that attitude the whole time, perhaps you shouldn't go with Daddy," sighed Crystal, with a wry smile.

            "I can go? Really?" Mia gasped. "Oh, thank you, Mommy; I promise I'll watch my vision and listen to everything Daddy says and I won't go off alone and..."

            "I know you will, baby," Crystal smiled. "Just hurry home, you two, alright? Joshua and I will be waiting."

            "That's my girl," said Magbert, kissing Crystal's forehead. "Any suggestions on where we might start?"

            "Pyrope is northwest of here and it's the largest fairy city there is," replied Crystal. "Naomi was from there, I believe, and King Daniel rules from there. They might be able to help find her."

            "Then that's where we'll start," said Magbert, tracing runes in the air. "I'll try to locate it with the runes and place us right at the edge of the city."

            "Please!" said Crystal, a little more desperately than she'd wanted to. Mia looked at her, worried, and Crystal immediately adjusted her tone and face to a much lighter attitude. "Be careful, hmmm?"

            "No sweat, Mom," said Mia as they disappeared.

            No sweat?, thought Crystal with a frown. She looked at the little boy on her lap and sighed. "Where are you children learning these terms from?" she asked.

            Joshua smiled. "My Oh-bee," he said.

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