Happy Thanksgiving to you all! And happy survival of the Black Friday!

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…
Matthew was just reaching the bottom of the stairs. It took him several minutes to do that, but to be fair, he did try doing so while on tiptoes. Perhaps, a monster will not realize he reached the first floor, and won’t jump on him to eat him. Then again, monsters, such as him, would just as likely lunge from behind, because they like scaring their prey. Matthew shuddered, then pulled his leg back a step, then considered, for the third time, to possibly returning back to the second floor.
It took another minute for him to finally reach the bottom, only to quickly fly into a sprint. That sprint was awkward and clumsy, and happened to have a quick roll placed somewhere in between it. The purpose of that was to strategically hide from the windows, which there were several in the living and the dining room. The kitchen had them too, but he found that once he reached it, he should instead opt to slowly creep. He made sure to look over the kitchen first, and after confirming that the monster was less likely to be there, and instead probably somewhere else, he gave huge sigh, in which mixed in a single honk. He clamped his own beak shut when he heard that.
That was an odd noise that came from him, he thought to himself. Then he hoped that he wasn’t going to do it again.
He crossed the kitchen, carefully and methodically, towards the closet on the opposite side of the entrance, close to the backdoor. Finding no one outside, he considered if the monster was in fact still busy at the front-yard, and how long it would take for it to move over to the back. Realizing that taking this long thinking on it may take too much time, he just opened the closet door, trying to find the necessary tools. The shelves were filled with different cleaning products, for kitchen and the bathroom, and at the very bottom he found the plunger, right next to a small stack of toilet paper. Not wasting anymore of his precious time, since who knows if the monster might have heard him talking to himself in his head and decided to check the kitchen window, he took the both of the mentioned things and booked it out of there.
Then he heard a noise from the living room.
The goose froze in place. Has he really taken so long rummaging, and the monster had finally decided to get into the house? Oh, why did he take so long going down the stairs! Sure, he listened closely to what was happening outside, which sadly he couldn’t make out, so perhaps it was a reasonable waste of time. But, lady luck was not on his side, and now, he was about to meet the monster. What was he going to do? He couldn’t possibly fight him. He should instead try and hide then. But what of the children? What if one of them decided to go down, seeing that he took too long with his tasks, without knowing that the clown was down there, waiting to devour an innocent little orphan. Could he truly live, knowing that he took a cowardly way out, instead of making sure they were safe?
Matthew heard some sort of shuffling, before it began to move towards the kitchen.
There was no way out now, the monster was coming to him! What should he do then? He could easily hide in one of the cupboards, which he saw was open, and empty looking. But the children…who was going to warn the children! This was all happening too fast for the lone goose to consider.
The figure was already near the frame of the entrance. Matthew gulped down the single clump of paper down his very long throat. There simply was no time. It is said that conquering fear was a beginning of wisdom. While Matthew did consider himself quite wise already for his age, there were still avenues for him to grow to. Thus, with solid and not-at-all unsure conviction, he dropped the paper and took a swinging stance with the plunger in hand. He had no clue what he could do, or if there was a chance he could do anything. But, it was time to finally do something useful for once. It was time to pay back what others gave to him. It was time…to confront his fear.
Matthew held in his breath, as the figure came into the view.
All at once, he shouted, “Prepared yourself villain! You have oppressed these lands for far too long! I, Sir Matthew Pascal the Third, shall take you down with my trusted sword, and return you to the bowels of hell, where you truly belong!”
That cry was passionate, furious, and very unintelligible, due sudden burst of tears and the honking that came from the young boy. Frankly speaking, when the figure saw the scene fully, all he wore was a visage of stunned silence.
“…What did you say?” Chester asked, tilting his head. “Was that even a language dude?”
Matthew breathed heavily. He was having some problems getting himself back to normal.
Not bothering waiting for a reply, the hedgehog went forward to the fridge.
“Is…is this you? Chester?” Matthew asked hesitantly.
“Yeah, this is me. I’m Chester. Now, how about you put that plunger down, before you stick it on someone’s face.” Chester opened a cap of carton of orange juice, then drank straight from the opening.
“Did…did it..?” Matthew kept stammering for Chester, who reached in to get some bread and peanut butter.
“No worries, he’s done with.”
“We hope so…” said the blue spirit, whose words fell deaf on Matthew.
“Oh c’mon Azure, we checked the body! That clown is permanently out of business!”
“I do agree that the clown has certainly seemed to have perished…”
Chester rolled his eyes.
“And yet, I do believe a certain amount of caution should be taken first. I have yet to have seen anything like it.”
“C’mon, really?” Chester groaned. He elbowed still stunned Matthew, and offered him the PB sandwich. The latter took it without question.
“His generals are no different from typical men and women, though they are certainly more powerful,” Azure explained. “Torques are similarly fuelled by the power of negative emotion, and thus require a non-magical host. That jester, however, became nothing but a container. And a void one at that. We may have destroyed his body, thus finishing him completely, unless…”
“Unless what? You think, he is going to get up, AFTER we turned his whole body into pile of dust?” Chester loudly chuckled. “You’re so overthinking it, Az. Now c’mon, I need to check up on the rugrats. You are coming with me too,” he said, pointing to Matthew. “Gonna tell ‘em it’s time to visit Miss Cheshire again. Can’t wait to have her yell at me again. Weird, you’d think I would hate that thought, but I’m actually looking forward to it! Or maybe I’m just tired.”
“You have been hit twice, if we are being fair,” noted Azure.
“That maybe too. After me, plunger boy.”
Matthew watched the hedgehog leave the kitchen, failing to say anything before he was out of sight. He gradually lowered his so-called “sword” back to the ground, before finally exhaling all the air out of his lungs. Perhaps, the nature of fear is the presence of the unknown, the inability to account of spontaneity, and the failure to react to the unexpectedness that plague the everyday. And yet, it is still that conviction to face through any challenge, which plays an important part to a species’ survival. Thus, even if there was nothing of material value to be gained from an act, to conquer a fear is in itself an important part of one’s own growth. Matthew then finally took a bite off of his sandwich, feeling just a little bit more prouder for himself at the moment.
“You coming?” Chester called from outside, making the goose honk in response. “By the way, don’t worry about Pierre here! He’s gonna be sleeping on the couch for now!”
Matthew tried to chew through the peanut butter, but only managed to draw out a single “OK” from himself.
At least he could finally talk.
…
The sun was high in the sky, as Varvara was in the middle of catching fish from the lake with her dad. These fished came in all kinds, from codfish, to tuna, to salmon, to mackerel, to bass, and every other type for her mother to cook. She knew how to make a dish just about from any fish, even sometimes mixing them up together in the most unusual combinations. Her was particularly excited for them, rubbing his hands and smiling as more and more of the bucket was filled with goodies. Varvara herself couldn’t help but smile from every successful catch she was making, truly feeling lucky for the entire stay of hers.
Meanwhile her friends helping setting up the picnic table, under the shade of the giant oak tree and with the view of the water. Plates and utensils were being placed on a sheet that her Mom uses, as they pass salads, curry and meat. Meanwhile, her brother was busy setting up the oven for her Mom to cook on, as well as tuning on a radio for some music that everyone could listen to.
Varvara couldn’t help but smile, watching the lively scene in front of her. This scene truly reminded her of scenes she would imagine as a child. Particularly, when she was feeling a bit too lonely. She could only wish of this being her everyday.
“This has to be the bestest day ever,” declared Varvara.
“Yeah, in your dreams,” said to her Flora, who apparently had left the others to sit with the lizard girl by the lake.
“Oh, sure! Whatever you say!” Varvara giggled. She then threw another cast into the water.
“Of course I do, cause I’m literally inside your dream!”
Varvara looked at Flora, then finally noticed that the latter was wearing her winter clothes.
“Flora?”
“Yep! It’s me, inside your dreamscape.”
Varvara’s muzzle formed a perfect circle. “Wow, no way! You are really just full of surprises, Flora! How did you do that?”
“Thanks to Kage, who found that when we fall asleep in here, we apparently go to the same mind dimension! So, Rose took my place just when the effect started, and I searched for you around here. Anyways, don’t you think it’s time to leave?”
Varvara considered this for a moment. “Are you sure? We can just leave it to Chester and Fotia! I’m sure they took care of the clown already! And before you know it, they’ll take care of the Torque!”
“Barbie, are you serious!?”
Varvara looked at Flora completely stunned. As if by her own hand, the world began to slowly change around the two girls. There was still a din coming from the picnic table, but now it lowered in volume, while the sun lost its golden luster, and the warmth of the air abandoned them completely to be replaced by a fall cold. Even her father, who was still joking when the young deer sat near them, ceased to do so to just stare into the lake.
“We need to go back!” Flora insisted, and pulled Varvara’s bicep. “C’mon, let’s go, Barbie!”
Varvara would not budge from her spot. She managed to nail herself without really trying to, so much so that Flora nearly stumbled trying to pull on her a few times. Varvara only stared at the lake, along with her Dad, whom for some reason, was coming across as very lonely.
“But what if it won’t work?”
“What?” Flora asked.
“A-a-are you sure it will work?” Varvara repeated herself, finally looking at her astonished friend. “I mean, I’m not saying it won’t! I really think it will! You…you and others will find a way! But I’m…I don’t think you need me, right? I mean, maybe now you need me…But what if I just find someone and then-“
“Barbie what are you talking about?”
Varvara’s mouth froze in place. In the similar manner, so had everything, as evidenced by the sudden cut of the sound. Flora even checked around, to find the whole place just…stop.
“This is a far too important of a matter that you are floundering on, Varvara,” said the voice next to the girls. When the looked to Varvara’s father again, they saw Zamarad, standing next to the rather grim looking older man. “Are you…hesitating, Varvara?” she asked, making the young lizard shut her mouth and look away from her.
The young deer, not entirely aware of what they just talked about, jumped between looking at one or the other, before continuing her egging. “Okay, um, we gotta go now, Barbie,” she said, placing her hand on Varvara’s shoulder. “C’mon, Barbie, let’s go,” she repeated, used an even softer tone.
The lizard appeared deaf.
“Are you nervous over your parents?” Zamarad boomed, standing over the two girls. Suddenly, the spirit’s sheer presence made her quite an intimidating figure. “Do you not see how such flagrant choice to your duties will lead to harm to them? Are you willing to throw away your family and your comrades, for the sake of selfishly sitting here, in an illusory lie made by accursed magic and your own, single mind? Is that all that they worth to you, Varvara? Less than a repugnant delusion!?”
Flora’s eyes grew as big as pair of saucers. It wasn’t just Varvara who was silent, Flora felt her tongue tie in a knot. She had never seen a spirit to be so oppressive on any of their partners, less alone Zamarad to Varvara. She thought that they went along just fine, if anything.
Yet, all Varvara did was keep a grip on her throat. Something painful was welling up inside her, and she had just experienced first-hand exactly what she was afraid of the entire time. The young girl, before long, began to cry into her own lap.
“Hey, Barbie…” Flora rubbed circles on her friend’s back, getting more and more worried.
“You may stay here forever, Varvara,” Zamarad continued. “But doing so will hurt your friends. Afterwards, you can choose to find me another owner, but that will not stop the voyage that you will partake to the city. Furthermore, this search shall take time off of you aiding your team. Do these problems still not appear obvious to you, Varvara?”
Varvara’s whole face was getting a red tint. Flora, it looked like, was about to go up to her spirit and asked her to stop it. Nothing about her demeanor gave apparent signs to Varvara, it should be noted. She just felt like this was going to happen.
“I’m just…not sure,” Varvara finally said, sniffing a bit. “I…wanted to do the right…I wanted to make…the right choice…”
“Of what? Leaving the team? Staying with your family?” Zamarad asked.
Varvara didn’t say anything. It just felt hard for her, like a clump getting stuck in her throat, she wasn’t sure she could say anything else without it hurting her more.
“Of…telling them the truth?” Zamarad said, tremulously. Flora looked up to the emerald warrior, while Varvara could tell that she was wearing guilt on herself now. “I…am so sorry, Varvara. This… was entirely my fault here! I should have asked you more! I should have talked to you, and sought more information about your family! I was blinded by my own confidence, by my confidentiality with you…And now, your parents…”
Varvara wiped her tears. Briefly, she turned her head to see the picnic table, to have a good look at her older brother. Right next to her, Flora was covering her mouth.
“It’s not your fault…Zamarad,” Varvara said, gulping the dryness in her throat effortfully. Flora grabbed her shoulder, and suggested to take a moment to exhale. The lizard did so, finding it easier to collect her thoughts. “They would’ve known, sooner or later. I’m just…not that good, that’s all. I don’t know how to talk to people, I never thought about what I did, and in a bad situation, I just…” Varvara sighed.
The other two looked over her sympathetically.
“I just wish,” Varvara looked over to Flora “I just wish I had just as much confidence as you do.”
“Me?”
“Yeah,” Varvara nodded. “You…you always know what are you doing, always with a plan. And I just…don’t think. I always say stuff that others find silly…and weird. And you got so many people who think you are so cool, too! I wish I was like you…and knew how to deal with my parents.”
“But I don’t know!” Flora protested. Both Varvara and her spirit snapped their heads at her from that sudden burst. “You think just because I took a time to run away from my house, that suddenly I’m better!? I literally could never find a way to talk to my mom!”
She grabbed both of lizard’s shoulders. “Varvara, your parents are the sweetest most supportive people I’ve ever seen in my life. You could have literally told them whenever you wanted to!”
“Are..you sure?” Varvara said, somewhat unconvinced.
“Trust me, your parents are amazing! I’ve only stayed with you for about few days, and they are welcoming, caring and just, like, actual saints compared to mine! And of course they are worried about you! They are your parents! We are just a bunch of kids! With, like, spirits. But, at the same time, we’ve been dealing with this whole superhero, warrior thingy for a while now, and are just fine! Do you remember how many torques we took down? We can do anything, Varvara, as long as we are together!”
“As long as we are together…” Varvara repeated to herself. Somehow, that phrase felt very meaningful to her.
“Yeah, exactly,” said Flora.
“You are not wrong, Young Flora” Zamarad admitted, chuckling. “All of you are indeed children…and your potential is exceptionally staggering. You’ve all obtained and learned magical prowess in quite short amount of time, and have successfully used it in every situation up until now! I sometimes myself, wonder, if we were blessed by the goddess of fortune, in here.”
Varvara smiled.
“She really means it,” Varvara said to Flora, making the latter side eye to her. “People think she is strict and scary, but she is very nice underneath, and feels very proud for all of us! Also…Zamarad has a soft spot for children.”
“Varvara!” Zamarad exclaimed, the emerald warrior now turning red.
Both of the girls giggled. Suddenly, the warmth returned to the dreamscape around them, as the sounds of laughter and fun returned fill up the air.
“Okay, so you ready to go back?” Flora asked.
Varvara took one last glance to her mother and father. They are all the family she had there. These monsters will not stop coming, so she had to do it all, for their sakes. But if she were to meet them now, she would still need to tell them herself about this. She shuddered for a bit.
“As long as you will be with me,” she said.
“I mean yeah,” Flora replied, holding on to Varvara’s hands. “All the way.” The two girls smiled at each other.
“And you too Zamarad!”
“Young Varvara,” Zamarad exhaled, “You have a wonderful family, and even more wonderful comrades. You only need me insofar that you need strength for your future battles.”
“That’s not true.” Varvara stood up from her spot, then reached for her spirit’s hand. “You are my partner, and there’s no one I trust more to be on my side than you! Sorry Flora.”
“No problem,” Flora smiled.
“Ready to go?” Varvara asked, looked at both of them.
Zamarad lowered her head, then followed along with them.
“Very much so. I have much to learn, myself,” she whispered to herself.
All three looked at one another. They all exited the dream.
“By the way, how did you get here, Zamarad?” asked Varvara.
“Let us say, I’ve come to learn a bit from her highness,” she said, smiling.
The dreamscape was then left by itself. Soon, it would crumple into nonexistence, quite unfortunately. Thus, the last time would Varvara’s whole family would be ever together. Despite this, the young girl couldn’t be happier.
Don’t worry, Mama and Tata.
I am not alone.
…