Faith stepped casually through the closed door into Bethany’s office at Sunshine Academy as though the heavy slab of oak wasn’t even there. "Hello little girl." Faith smiled at Bethany, her eyes a soft, shimmering pink, but with little flecks of blue.

"Little? I'm big enough I could take you over my knee in this body!" Bethany giggled and hopped up to hug Faith. "No, but seriously, what's up?"

"How do you always know I'm here on business, my daughter?" Faith smiled as she took a seat, "I have two girls coming to your school very soon, and one has an issue. Remember the thing we set up with Michelle so I didn’t have to waste all my power rewriting people’s lives?"

"Of course. I mean, it's hard to forget! It still amazes me that one little, miniscule change led to her working with those brits to crack the gender genome."

Faith nodded. “That’s the one, I don’t know why I beat around the bush with you. Ok this is the full story Bethany. Two near identical twins will be coming to Sunshine in the week: one named Casey. She was born a boy, but she wishes to be female. The trouble is that both are twin users, and if we do not correct this problem soon, they could end up killing a lot of people.”

Bethany stared blankly back at Faith, with a kind of ‘Not sure if serious’ stare. “That’d make Kris happy,” she teased. “So what needs fixing?”

“You know twin magic only manifests in Identical twins, of the same gender. Near identical twins are close to the same thing as Identical twins, but instead one twin is XX and the other is XY. We need Casey to represent her sisters completely.” Faith made a cup of coffee appear in her hand and one on Bethany’s desk for her.

“Of course, this is what Casey wants too, right? Like Taylor and Michelle I mean?”

“Yes, she's been dressing and acting like her sister in private since they were kids, But by Sunday their parents will be dead, and she doesn't have to hide anymore.” Faith took a sip of her coffee.

Bethany chuckled to herself as she leaned back in her cushy executive chair. “You know, I often ask myself why you allowed entropy to happen, or to allow it to create people like me... Or why you don’t just wave your hand and ‘fix’ it, like adding an automatic correction rule to a computer program.”

Faith shook her head. “You saw what happened when I waved my hand and fixed things when I did it for Sarah. You also know that entropy like this is part of free will. I do not impose one thing or another on anyone.”

“But it’s not really free will is it? I didn’t choose to be intersexed. And Marry and Kris didn’t choose to be transgendered.”

“No but your mother and father’s biology did. They chose and loved each other, and created you. Thats free will.” Faith’s smile broadened as she took another sip of her gourmet coffee. Between the two, the pungent aroma of freshly ground beans permeated the office.

Bethany scrunched her nose for a moment, like a child trying to decide if brocolli really tasted as good as the adults insisted. Finally though, she nodded. “I get it, I think. Entropy spawns from free will, right?”

Faith nodded. “Exactly. But sometimes a push here and there helps too,” she finished with a giggle.

“So what you did with Michelle... That WAS your way of adding a self-correction protocol to the Life.exe script?” Bethany giggled too.

Faith nodded again as she sipped her coffee then added, “Exactly: I just changed the road that Michelle was going to go down. It felt like a burp to the rest of existence. No harm, no foul.”

“Well, technically less harm since she didn’t go on a murderous rampage,” Bethany added cheerfully.

“Exactly, and she became what we needed did she not?” Faith added with a grin.

“And what she wanted. I’ve been watching her closely. I haven’t seen a couple that happy since my parents - and they don’t even need wacky weed for it!”

“Speaking of which, how is the miracle drug working on Taylor? and the rest that are on it?” Faith asked.

Bethany, about to take her first sip of coffee having let it cool to something less than the boiling hot Faith preferred, stopped abruptly, lowering her cup again. “Taylor’s taking it too? I thought you just did the finger-waggle nose-twitch on her?” she responded, rather surprised.

“Sort of. She’s not fully female, but very close. I applied the drug to her while adjusting her body, otherwise the energy expended would have killed me outright. It takes less effort to make one small change like with Michelle, than to rewrite someone’s biology like with Taylor - and I didn’t even touch the girl’s history like I did with Sarah. She was young enough to adapt without needing it.”

“So THAT’S why you seemed all fresh-faced and... y’know, not dead.” Bethany giggled happily. “Even God cheats at cards. I love it!”

Faith stared at Bethany for a moment, analyzing the analogy, and then laughed loudly. “I may be the universe child, but sometimes some things just take too much from me. I can destroy a planet without blinking an eye, but if I create or change one life on it I have to rest for months.” Faith sighed softly.

“Resisting the urge to make an ‘on the seventh day’ joke here,” Bethany shot back playfully. “Anyway as far as I can tell things are going nicely. Robin is responding well to it. The ‘complications’ haven’t set in yet though.”

“Good. I’m glad I pushed the surgeon general and the FDA to expedite human testing.” Faith winked. “I borrowed some of Jennifer’s power to look into the future. So far there has been only one possible negative outcome.”

“I’m glad you did too. I know Kris was worried that this was too much meddling, but honestly I think Marry was right - human evolution was already heading in this direction. You just gave it a little boost. … Wait, negative outcome?”

“Zombie apocalypse,” Faith answered with a chuckle before continuing, “And I didn’t give Michelle any help finding what she needed to; I didn’t even give her help programming the Stem Cells to do their job properly, she figured it all out on her own, and I am so proud of her and the human race.” Faith grinned.

Bethany reached out, as if picking something up off her desk. As she raised her hand, a gold-framed portrait of Taylor and her friends, Trisha and Megan seemed to fade into view, and she grinned. “If I remember right, even within the laws of entropy siblings tend to exhibit similar levels of intelligence when one sibling is extremely smart. I can’t wait to see what Taylor accomplishes in her life.”

Faith grinned as she nodded. “She is going to do great things for NASA. Bethany it’s time for me to go. Sarah’s mom has me scheduled to work at the restaurant in an hour. I love you and remember, the girl's name is Casey Owens.”

Bethany giggled as she set the portrait down, letting it fade from view again. “I’ll get the old bats-- Oops, I mean the coven on the preparations. I’ll see you tomorrow night for dinner?”

Faith stood, and her coffee cup vanished as she nodded her head. “Sure; I always love having dinner with you.” She turned, passing through the closed door as if it weren’t even there.

Bethany picked up the receiver of the old rotary-style phone on the shelf behind her, until now hidden from view by the back of her chair. “Now what was that number again... Oh, forget it, I’ll just go talk to them directly.” She dropped the receiver back into place and vanished.

“Hey Casey, put that skirt on and I’ll be back in a few minutes I want to do something with my hair, and maybe we can do it with yours later.” Angel smiled as she left her bedroom and went into the bathroom pulling out a hidden bottle of pink hair dye.

Casey smiled as he put on his sister’s skirt, already wearing a cute pink shirt. It was the only girl shirt he owned at the moment, a gift from Angel that he kept hidden at the back of his closet. “Don’t use it all Angel! I want to do my hair too!” he called out to his sister as he finished getting dressed as his female self.

“Patience, dear sister. First we have to paint your nails and toes. Remember, this is going to be your first time out of the house, so we have to make you presentable.” Angel giggled as she called back.

“You’re sure your friends are okay with this? And Emily?” Casey asked hesitantly.

When Angel came back into the bedroom, her hair smelled fresh of hair dye, and a new, inch wide strip of hot-pink streaked down her bangs on one side. “Yes Casey for the millionth time, they are all cool with you.” she answered, giving her sister a hug. “Emily thinks it’s kind of hot actually,” she added with a giggle.

“I’m just glad Mom and Dad are out of town for the day,” Casey sighed and fiddled with the skirt hem, straightening it so that it stopped a few inches above his knees.

Angel nodded, “They won’t be back till late tonight. We can clean your nails and stuff off before they get back, and I’ll take the blunt for our hair streaks.” Angel smiled reassuringly. “I’ll tell them it was mine and Emily’s idea to do yours and my hair like that.”

“Aww... Thanks Angel. Because they’d freaking kill me. ‘Man up’ and all that.” Casey sighed again as he slumped onto Angel’s poofy pink comforter-covered bed.

Angel poked Casey’s arm gently, “You can’t get muscles like a man. You’re no good at sports other than playing beach volleyball with us girls,” she whined. “I hate mom and dad for treating you the way they do.”

“They think having a... that... thing... makes me a boy. It’s like saying Dad’s black SUV makes him a CIA agent, or Mom’s blonde hair makes her a bimbo. It’s stupid! I know I’m a girl. YOU know I’m a girl. Having something extra doesn’t change how I feel inside.”

Angel nodded. “You will always be my sister, and I will always love you and stick up for you, you know that right Casey?” she asked, giving Casey a hug.

“Of course. Now let’s start with my toes because I want to try one foot, and if I mess up I can just wear socks, whereas I’m letting you do my fingers.” Casey giggled.

Angel smiled as she got out her metallic pink polish and handed it to Casey, “You remember how to do this?”

“I think so,” Casey answered hesitantly as he opened the bottle, wrinkling his nose at the sudden shock of the scent, but smiling a little as he set to work.

Neither one of the two heard the door open or their parents enter the house. Angel looked over to Casey, “Let me go get the bathroom ready to do your hair ok?” She smiled as she bounded out of the room and down the hall.

As Casey finished painting his toenails, his mom popped her head into Angel’s room, “Are you home Angel?” but didn't think much of it yet. “Oh Angel, let your brother know we’re home ok?” She turned to leave heading to use the bathroom.

Suddenly she screamed loudly, “Mark get up here and deal with your fag son while I take care of our daughter!”

Mark came trudging up the stairs to see what his wife was yelling about. When he reached the top of the stairs he saw two teen girls: one with a pink streak in her hair, he supposed because Chelsea was holding her by the ear that was Angel, and then he looked at the other. “OH fuck no!” he shouted. Grabbing Casey by the arm he threw him into his bedroom and pulled his belt off.

Chelsea pulled Angel into her room and started screaming at her, all the while loud noises coming from her brothers room. Then it got quiet except the door opening and closing and heavy footsteps down the stairs, and moments later Angel’s mother left her alone as well.

Downstairs Angel could hear her parents yelling at each other. “It’s your god damn fault he’s a queer! All that fucking coddling when he was a baby!”

She screamed back, “Fuck you Mark! I told you to enroll his ass in military school last year after he came home with a black eye, but no, you had to buy that god damn SUV instead!”

Mark huffed and Yelled again, “Fuck it! Lets take the brats to their Grandma’s and let her deal with them. I’m sick of this shit, and if I catch him wearing girls clothes again I’ll kill him.”

~

As the SUV rolled down the interstate, Casey and Angel chatted softly under the loud, full bass of the car’s speakers blaring classic rock from the 70s. Casey had on a pair of white shorts and an oversized t-shirt, stark contrast to Angel’s hot pink tank top and skirt.

“I’m sorry Casey,” she whispered.

Casey sighed, “It’s not your fault.”

Mark turned glare at the pair. “You two are supposed to be silent till we get to your grandmother’s.” he growled. This grandmother that Mark spoke of wasn’t their real grandmother just an old friend of the family's.

Before anyone could scream a word about the semi truck jack knifed in the middle of the freeway it was too late. The family SUV smashed right into the trailer, causing them to also hit the guardrail and flip, knocking the two kids out and killing the adults in the front seat instantly. What seemed moments later Casey woke up in the hospital.

“Where is my sister?” he called out, as a blonde-haired nurse, apparently in her late teens or early 20’s came into the room.

The nurse approached Casey and smiled warmly. “She’s fine, and so are you. She’s talking to the social worker, and we just finished with both of your x-rays and cat scans, and nothing seems to be wrong other then a few bruises, so we will be releasing you both to Social Services in a moment.”

She left and came back with Casey’s clothes a second later. “Go ahead and get dressed sweetie because your sister and your Caseworker are waiting for you. I’ll be just outside if you need anything, okay?”

Casey slowly nodded. Despite what the nurse said, his head felt foggy. What had happened? How did they survive the wreck? Did their parents? … Did he even want them to?

Moments later Casey exited his hospital room, and asked the nurse where he could find his sister. After getting his directions he entered a small meeting room where his sister and an older lady sat.

Angel looked like she had been crying, but she seemed cheerful enough as she sat and talked. As soon as she spotted Casey though, she nearly knocked her chair over, leaping to her feet to race over and pull him into a hug. “Oh thank God you’re okay. They said you were just knocked out, but I couldn’t help but worry about you.”

“I’m fine Angel. Where’s mom and dad?” Casey asked, confused, as he hugged his sister.

Angel sniffled as she held her brother out at arm’s length. “Casey... Mom and Dad were... They... didn’t make it,” she practically whispered, trying to keep it together long enough to tell him what had happened. “You know how Dad was about not wearing a seatbelt, and you and me... They said we were found a few feet from the car, ” she trailed off.

Casey looked hurt but couldn’t cry. He was still angry with his parents for beating him when they found him wearing his sister’s clothes. They almost beat her too for allowing it. “Oh,” was all he could get out.

“Yeah,” she answered softly. “But... They’re going to try and contact grandma, and in the meantime we’ve got a place to stay right here in Alpine Springs. It’s a private school. But Ms. Smith here says it’s really nice.”

“And should you decide you want to attend,” the woman finally broke her silence. Casey had barely noticed her before, but now he couldn’t help taking in her smart business suit and patent black heels, dressed as if she had an important business lunch later or something, “We’ll be more than happy to help arrange something. In the interim you’ll be treated like any other student and given an allowance and such, since you’re still wards of the state for the moment. I know it doesn’t take away the sting, but you’ll be safe and very comfortable there, I promise.”

Casey couldn’t shake the feeling that that last line was spoken directly to him. Maybe it was the way the woman was smiling at him. It was reassuring, almost matronly. He forced a small smile and nodded as he turned to hug his sister again.

“Well, let’s get you two checked out. I can’t imagine you’ll feel terribly comfortable riding in my SUV after what you’ve just endured, so I took the liberty of asking my super if I could borrow her daughter’s car. Oh before we do go I forgot I need you both to look over these papers really fast and sign them for me to verify the information is correct.”

Both Angel and Casey nodded, accepting the pair of clipboards the woman produced, and sat down at the conference table as she stepped out of the room. After just a few seconds, Casey poked Angel.

“Hey, I think I got yours,” he grumbled.

She blinked a few times as she stared back at him. “What?”

“This’ yours. See? It says ‘F’ at the top next to gender.”

Angel shook her head, “No mine has F in the gender box too. Maybe you should ask her about it?”

Casey’s face fell as he nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I couldn’t be lucky enough for them not to eventually figure it out.”

Angel then grinned, “Wait! Let’s just let it play out! I know you always wanted to be my sister, and I enjoyed the times with her just as much as with “my brother” - seeing as how there’s not much difference.”

“You know my toenails are still pink,” Casey brightened for the first time that day, trying not to giggle too loudly and attract attention from passing staff outside.

“Good! Maybe my suitcase is still intact, and I can paint your nails later.” Angel grinned.

Casey giggled outright, pulling Angel into a hug. “I love you sis,” he whispered, and kissed her cheek. “I don’t think I’d be able to go on without you if it’d been you instead of them.”

Angel kissed Casey’s forehead before returning the hug. “Love you too - sis,” she answered. The two quickly returned to reading over the paperwork as their social worker re-entered the room.

“Everything’s taken care of as far as your discharge, and I’ve taken the liberty of calling Ms. Anderson, the Headmistress, to let her know you’re both okay. She’s looking forward to showing you your new accommodations.”

Casey looked up from the paperwork. A new glow seemed to radiate from his face. “I think everything here looks fine ma'am.” Angel nodded her agreement.

“Oh, I’m sorry Casey, I never introduced myself properly did I? You can call me Ms. Smith. I’ll be in charge of your and your sister’s case, and Ms. Anderson will be tending to anything you might require. You need only ask,” she explained as she picked up the clipboards, dropping them into her briefcase.

“Thank you Ms. Smith.” Casey replied. “So where is it we’re meeting this Ms Anderson?”

“She’s getting everything ready for you at Sunshine Academy where you’ll be staying. I believe your things were destroyed in the car accident, so she’s ensuring you both have enough to wear to get you by until you can find something you feel more comfortable with - again, you’ll have a stipend to spend on that, but under the circumstances we’ll be giving you a small bonus to help, just this once, too. Ms. Anderson will explain more about how stipends work and how you can earn more. Shall we?”

Angel and Casey looked at Ms. Smith and uncharacteristically said at the same time, “Sure lets go.” They stared at each other afterwards, as if unsure that they really just did that, and started to giggle as they followed the woman out.

Casey poked his sister gently, “We never did that before have we?” he whispered.

Angel giggled as she shook her head. “Not that I can remember.” She threw her arm around Casey’s neck playfully. “Man, I kind of wish I’d been named Tracey now though.”

Casey looked at his sister, “Huh? Why’s that?”

“Duh. Then we’d be Casey and Tracey!” she whispered, but couldn’t help giggling again.

Ms. Smith either didn’t hear the exchange, or pretended not to notice as she led the siblings to the parking lot. In the first row of cars, a brand new electric blue BMW sat seemingly out of place next to the older model pickup on one side, and a bland-looking minivan on the other. The car honked, announcing its alarm being shut off as she pressed a button on her keychain.

“This is more car than I like to drive, personally, but I’m told it’s very safe,” she added, shooting the pair a comforting smile. Casey opened the front passenger door, but stepped back.

“Age before beauty,” he teased. Angel giggled.

“Hey, I’m only like thirty seconds older. But with a little lip gloss you are a knockout,” she said loud enough for Ms. Smith to clearly hear. Casey stammered, and the woman giggled under her breath, again not saying anything.

Angel just grinned at Casey as he passed her to sit in the backseat, just relieved that Ms. Smith didn’t say anything. Until she said, “Cosmetics are something you’ll be able to pick out for yourselves speaking of which. I don’t know what your parents’ rules were, but at Sunshine they’re very forward-thinking and progressive.”

Casey blushed as he slumped into the seat a little more, finding himself torn between the notion that she might actually think he was a girl, and the fantasy of living out that thought.

Angel grinned, “That’s cool! Maybe I can streak your hair too sis.”

Casey perked up a little at that. “Wow, that’d freaking rock!”

“Are you two hungry?” Ms. Smith asked thoughtfully. “I can stop and get you something if you’d like, or you can get something on-campus. Since the school doubles as a boarding school and foster home the kitchen is staffed and open surprisingly often, and each dorm has its own food court as of this summer.”

Angel turned to look back at Casey, who grinned and nodded. “Happy meal?” the pair announced in unison, causing Ms. Smith to laugh.

“You really are twins,” she teased. “There’s a McDonalds just another few blocks from here. I’ll stop at the drive-through so we’re not keeping Ms. Anderson waiting for TOO long, although knowing her she’ll fuss with the details right up until the last minute anyway.”

Both Angel and Casey giggled, “This Sunshine Academy seems like a nice place from what you have been saying.” Casey smiled brightly now.

“Oh it is,” Ms. Smith answered. “Bethany will explain in more detail the general ground rules, but I think you’ll fit right in. Many students aren’t just state wards like yourselves; they’re gifted students outright. The school focuses on encouraging children and teens to explore your interests not just academically, but politically or even in terms of lifestyle. Bullying is zero tolerance and handled rather severely, which I’m sure you’ll hear about in time.”

“Oh, did you want anything to drink with that?” she asked.

“Dr. Pepper?” both siblings answered. “Our parents wouldn’t let us drink soda,” Angel added.

“Not that it stopped us,” Casey laughed.

Ms. Smith smiled warmly as she pulled up to the drive-through window, ordering two Happy Meals for her charges, a salad for herself, and three Dr. Peppers. Angel tried to offer some of the money she had in the pocket of her cargo shorts, but Ms. Smith politely refused.

“This is my treat,” she explained as she passed out the meals. To Casey’s amusement, there was a pink-haired doll version of their favorite pop diva wrapped in plastic accompanying the burger and fries. Angel held hers up and giggled.

“Aww, cute! Thanks Ms. Smith. I feel kinda guilty being this excited about checking out Sunshine, but our parents...”

The woman shook her head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I glanced over the police reports the neighbors filed myself. Frankly I’m surprised charges weren’t filed... But let’s not worry about that right now. I promised the two of you would be safe, and you will be. Even if you break a rule, Ms. Anderson doesn’t believe in corporal punishment under any circumstances.”

“That’s a relief,” Casey mumbled. Ms. Smith giggled a little.

“You might change your mind after you’ve had gum on the tip of your nose for a day.”

“That doesn’t sound bad at all, It’s better then having it in your hair” Casey sighed.

“Oh, ew, yes,” Ms. Smith answered. “My super’s daughter had that happen to her once. She tried everything from ice to peanut butter to get it out. She made sure to spit it out before taking a nap after that, though,” she added with an amused smile as they slowly rolled along toward the outskirts of town.

Angel smiled, “So the school is outside town then do we have to take a bus to go into town?”

Ms. Smith nodded, “The school provides your transport to the places you want to go, they allow you to be regular children sweetie.”

“Cool,” Casey answered, “So like if we wanted to go shopping somewhere - if there’s even a decent mall or whatever - we just like, take the bus?”

Ms. Smith laughed, “There are two malls here in Alpine Springs, the main mall which is rather large and a smaller outdoor strip mall. Both are very nice and yes the school provides a bus or a teacher transport.”

“What about getting back?” Angel asked next. “Is there like a predetermined time, or do we have a chaperone the whole time waiting to take us back?”

Ms. Smith grinned, “Bethany assigns all house students an android phone so you can contact your ride, and it also has an app for your school records, and another to keep track of your allowance. But she will explain that more we are about to pull into the school now.” making a right down a road with a Sign that said ‘Sunshine Rd’.

As the car drew closer, a massive, semi-modern complex came into view. The central building was clearly quite old on the outside, but had many modern extensions built on to it over the years. On either side of the massive main building, smaller buildings had been built with covered walkways connecting the various areas with the exception of the athletic fields.

---

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A sharply dressed woman met the three of them in the parking lot. She was younger looking then Ms. Smith but still as sharply dressed, she had a huge smile on her face and looked really friendly. The two women exchanged a brief hug.

“It’s so good to see you again,” the woman announced cheerfully. “And these are our newest residents?” she asked, turning an appraising glance on the two siblings.

“That’s right. I have their paperwork in my briefcase if you want to look over it first. I’ll be sending an e-file copy as soon as I get back to the office, in either case.”

The woman laughed and shook her head. “Of course not. I’m sure everything is already in order, dear.”

“Well, proper introductions are in order,” Ms. Smith replied and turned to the pair. “Casey and Angel Owens, this is Headmistress Bethany Anderson.”

Angel rose her hand like she was in class and waited for one of the adults to call on her. She looked like she had a question to ask them.

Bethany and Ms. Smith exchanged a glance and a mutual smile before the former asked. “Yes, dear?”

“Um you said we were treated like we were regular children? What if we meet a friend in town and we wanted to do a sleep over on the weekends or something?”

“Well, that’s entirely up to your friend’s parents. Most people here in Alpine Springs know about Sunshine so there shouldn’t be a problem, though,” she answered, as though asking permission from her wasn’t even a question. “Oh and you have to make sure your dorm guardian knows about the sleepover as well.”

“Like a prefect?” Casey asked nervously. She remembered the thuggish brutes of prefects back in their Wii game, “Bully”, and wasn’t thrilled with the idea.

Bethany shook her head. “More... like a parent actually. They are there to help you when you need it and take care of all the things that a parent would for their children. You two will meet your Dorm Guardian soon enough. You might even have one of them as a teacher; you never know. So are you two ready to see your room?”

“Our room?” the pair asked in unison and turned to look at each other, Angel excited, Casey somewhat nervous, but hopeful.

“Normally we don’t pair siblings together, but we made an exception for you two. You also made the list and get to be in the new dorms that just opened.” Bethany grinned. “Boys dorms are on the right side over there,” Bethany pointed, “And girls dorms are this way.” and she started to lead the two towards the girls dorms.

As the pair followed Bethany, Casey quietly reached out to squeeze Angel’s hand. She grinned broadly and gave her sister’s hand a squeeze back, giggling under her breath.

The four of them walked down the pathway headed to a four story building that looked freshly built. “This is what we affectionately call Pink House. It’s the newest wing to the girls’ dorms. We also have a new dorm section built for the boys called Blue House, but girls are not allowed in the boys dorms and visa versa.”

The main floor of the building gave the girls pause as they stared in awe at the rather large open space filled with couches, chairs, tables, big screen T.V.s. It decorated in a rather girly fashion with an elevator at the far end and a staircase leading up. “This is the common room, there is also a food court complete with a student-run Starbucks at the far end.”

“Oh my God,” both gasped in unison. “I think I wanna stay here permanently,” Angel giggled. Casey just quietly stared like a kid in a candy store.

Bethany giggled, “All the dorms are setup like this. The only difference between your dorms and the older ones is faster internet, but we are working on that too.”

“So is our room just a bedroom or do we get our own bathroom too?” Angel asked, since Casey was too busy drooling over the girly decor to think to ask about that possibly important little detail.

“Each shared bedroom has two full bathrooms. Each room has two beds, two desks, two vanities, two dressers, plus your own closets, and plenty of room for expansion.”

“Oh... Our stuff was trashed in the wreck,” Angel frowned. “Can we get a ride back to town later?”

“Don’t worry girls. The state and federal government gives us funding for kids like you. I made sure to have some of your new housemates pick up some clothing for you both, and we have laptops plus your school phones already in your room for you.” Bethany answered with a broad smile.

Angel, unable to contain her excitement any longer, left Casey’s side to throw her arms around Bethany. “I really don’t know how to thank you. Even our parents wouldn’t let us get a phone, let alone a laptop - or two.”

Just at that moment Ms. Smith’s phone rang and she looked down at it, “Oh thats my boss, hold on he must be calling me with information about the girls’ grandmother.” she answered the phone and walked off a bit so they couldn't hear her talk.

Both Angel and Casey shared the same “Oh crap” look as Angel returned to her sister’s side, giving her a reassuring hug. “We can convince her to let us stay. She’s not as bad as Dad was.”

Casey tried to nod, but didn’t say anything, just hugging her sister back.

Ms. Smith a moment later came back the the others with a frown on her face, “Lisa McMillian is your grandmother's name right?”

Angel nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

“Well, according to the records she’s not your biological grandparent.” She frowned a bit more, “My boss says we can't find any living blood relatives which means you are going to be a ward of the state until you graduate or you’re adopted, girls.”

“Not our biological grandmother... That’s not possible,” Angel answered reflexively, but Casey squeezed her hand to get her attention. The pair whispered quietly among themselves for a couple of seconds before turning to Ms. Smith again to let her continue.

“Until you graduate, turn 18 or are adopted, Sunshine is your new home. We will do our best to continue to look for a blood relative to help you, but don’t get your hopes up girls. I’m sorry.”

Casey brightened considerably at being referred to collectively with her sister as ‘girls’ for the umpteenth time that day. “Oh, that’s okay ma’am. I think we’ll be able to adjust to living here.” She tried quite hard not to grin, but Angel saw right through it and giggled quietly.

Ms. Smith nodded, turning to Bethany. “Their parents left them some money in their will, and the sale of the estate will give them some extra money to spend as well, and the state will give them a check like the rest.”

“Of course,” Bethany answered. “We should discuss budget and a possible college trust with the girls once they’ve gotten comfortably settled in.”

“Do you guys want Mrs. McGreagor, Bethany? We can arrange that.” Ms. Smith smiled.

“If she’s available, I’d prefer to work with her, yes.” She turned to the girls again, “ Well let’s continue this tour to your room, ladies.” She led them to the elevator where she swiped a card and the door opened. Inside, she swiped her card again and pressed the 3rd floor button.

“When you get settled I’ll have one of the students take you to the main office to get your student ID’s which will give you access to everything. It also acts as a bank card in town and at the student ran concessions.”

Casey finally worked up the courage to ask, “So um, you said the dorms are segregated. What happens to girls caught in the boys’ dorm or vice versa? Not... that I plan on setting foot in the boys’ dorm if I can help it,” she added quite honestly. Angel giggled.

“Yeah, me either,” she chimed in to support her sister.

“Punishments are handled differently for each student on a case by case basis, though most students understand that being here is preferable to normal foster care. We are a private school first, and an asset to the state foster care program second.”

Bethany smiled as she led them down a hallway, “Ok, room number 302 is yours.” She slid her card in the door and the door opened for her. “Each room is key locked to your student ID, and Dorm Guardians have a master key just incase.”

Opening the door revealed a large room with two beds on either wall, two desks with metallic pink laptops and android phones sitting on them. There were also two dressers, and mirrored vanities, as well as four doors in the room besides the one leading out. The room was painted a rather soft pastel pink and the curtains contrasted it nicely in a dark reddish pink.

Bethany stepped inside, motioning with one hand as she spoke. The girls, and Casey in particular, were only half-listening as they stared wide-eyed into the doorway. “All homework is done via the local school network and turned in to the teacher that way as well.

“The Android phone has an additional app to help you get to your classes with room numbers and a localized GPS-style map. There are a few numbers pre programmed into your phone, one is each others, the other is your Dorm Guardians and the last one is the main office.”

Angel slowly walked inside first, looking around the room, poking her head in the doors to figure out which were the bathrooms. Casey just lingered by the doorway, almost afraid to look in the closets. “Holy crap,” Angel squealed, throwing the door wide. Casey! You gotta see this!”

Casey slowly approached her sister, peeking over her shoulder to find a fully stocked, spacious bathroom with shower/tub combo and a plethora of expensive hair care products. “Oh my God, this bathroom is bigger than my bedroom back home,” she whispered just loud enough for Angel to hear.

Bethany smiled as she texted something on her phone. “Well Ms. Smith and I will leave you two girls to get acquainted with your new dorm. When you’re ready knock on the door across the hallway, and Jolien will take you two to the main office.”

“Thank you Ms. Anderson,” Angel called over her shoulder as the two older women left.

“Yeah, thank you!” Casey added. Angel giggled, turning to her sister as soon as the door closed..

“You. Closet. Now.” She grinned broadly. “TRUST me. You’ll like what you find.”

Casey nervously looked at her sister, “Which one is mine?”

“Take your pick,” Angel answered, grinning even more broadly.

“Well you can pick first ok?”

Angel giggled again and started for the near closet, paused, and grinned back at Casey, heading for the far closet - the one she hadn’t opened yet, and pulled it open to reveal a modest walk-in closet positively stuffed with school uniforms, dresses, skirts, blouses, tank tops, jeans, slacks, and of course, shoes of every style from casual to ultra-formal, though none more than about a 1  ½” heel, and most flats.

“Okay, now will you open yours?” she almost whined.

Casey nodded and opened the closet that was now hers her eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. “Oh my God! Angel I think they made a mistake!”

Angel laughed. “You did say everything was in order with your paperwork, and you’re in the girls’ dorm. I think they got it right.”

Casey was mesmerised by a pink ruffled skirt and a pink tank top hanging close to the front of the closet. She slowly looked down, and her eyes widened as she spotted a pair of pink mary janes close by. “How did they know our favorite color?”

Angel, without even looking at her sister, let alone seeing the outfit she was eyeing, began to lay out the exact same outfit on her bed. “Or our size? This stuff looks like it’ll be a perfect fit.”

Casey not looking at her sister pulled the outfit out of the closet and turned around, “Do you think this will look cute on me?”

Angel looked up, blinked, and started laughing as she held hers up. “It better!”

They both started giggling, “I think I want to take a shower before I put these on, and go meet our neighbor.” Casey commented..

“Good idea. We were kind of in a car accident this morning,” Angel answered more somberly. “Don’t forget your panties,” she added, emphasizing the last word in a sing-song tone to get Casey’s attention.

“Oh My God, panties! I almost forgot!” Casey blushed. “What color should I wear?” Not asking her sister what dresser she wanted this time, she went for the one closest to her closet and started digging through drawers..

“You’re not planning on flashing them are you?” Angel teased, giggling as she quickly added, “Just teasing. It’s up to you, but y’know I’m slightly OCD about coordinating. Pink bra, pink panties with a pink skirt, that sort of thing.”

Casey nodded her agreement, but paused and turned to her sister, “But you don’t have boobs yet. You don’t need a bra!” she said, sticking her tongue out.

Angel walked over to Casey’s dresser and, on a hunch, pulled the top drawer open. Sure enough, training bras in several colors awaited. She grinned. “Apparently you do.”

Casey blushed. “But i’m not really a girl Angel, what if they find out?”

Angel grabbed Casey’s hand and pulled her into a hug. “Casey, I’ve known all our lives that you should have been my twin sister. How long have you been letting me dress you up when nobody’s looking?”

Casey sighed, “Since we were little. I’m sorry Angel. I’m just nervous. This is all new. I mean how am I supposed to tell people that I’m a girl when you start getting your boobs and I don't?”

“I hadn’t thought about that,” Angel answered, chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully. “Well, hey, Ms. Smith did say this is a progressive, forward-thinking school, and it’s not like you have to shower with other girls or whatever. Maybe we can talk to Ms. Anderson?”

The two girls nodded, the decision made, and then went to take their showers. Casey finished first, and as she was getting dressed, someone knocked, causing her to squeal and jump. “Be right with you!” she called, then knocked on her sister’s bathroom door. “Hey, someone’s at the door!”

“Be right out!” Angel yelled back over the sound of running water, though she didn’t turn the water off either. Casey sighed and walked to the door, cautiously opening it.

“Hello ma'am, my sister is in the shower otherwise i'd let you in I guess.” Casey blushed.

A woman in her early to mid 20’s with dark red hair in a neat ponytail smiled from the other side of the door as she answered in a cheerful tone, “Oh, that’s alright. I just wanted to stop by and see how you girls are settling in - Angel is it?”

Casey blushed, “No, I’m Casey. My sister is Angel.”

The girl smiled sheepishly. “Oh! I’m so sorry Casey, I have something for you.” She continued to smile as she pulled out an orange pill bottle with a lid on it. “Here you go. Take two a day.”

“Uhh, okay...” Casey answered, staring at the orange bottle before accepting it. “What is it?”

“They’ll help you fit in around here,” the woman answered. “Bethany’ll explain everything.” She paused. “Oh! I’m sorry Casey! I haven’t introduced myself! I’m Stephanie. I’m your new dorm guardian.” She stuck out her hand with a broad grin.

Casey continued to stare suspiciously at the orange bottle for a moment or two before looking up at Stephanie again, giving her a sheepish smile as she took the offered hand. “Nice to meet you,” she answered shyly. “And, um... what do you mean ‘fit in here’?”

Before she could get an answer though, Stephanie had continued on her rounds.

“Weird...” Casey frowned, pushing the door closed. Angel was waiting right behind her, causing her to jump, and squeak just a little. “Jesus!”

“Sorry?” Angel giggled. “Who was at the door?”

“Our dorm guardian, Stephanie. She gave me these...” Casey held up the orange bottle with a frown. “She said they’d ‘help me fit in’. Weird huh?”

Angel grabbed the bottle and started to read the label. Her eyes widened, and she almost squealed,“You might want to take these sis. It says to take two a day and its prescribed to you so don't let anyone else take them.” She looked at Casey seriously.

“What?” she blinked, leaning closer to actually read the label. She almost let out a squeal of her own, “Does that say what I think it does?! How did they... I mean... How could they...” Her hands started to shake, and Angel quickly grabbed her in a hug.

“We can ask Bethany when we go talk to her. But now you don’t have to worry about guy puberty and all that weird crap we learned about in health class!”

Casey stared at the bottle. “Should I take them now?”

“Well, Stephanie is a dorm guardian, and Ms. Anderson said they’re like parents, so I’d go for it. What could possibly go wrong?”

Casey nodded her head and went into her bathroom, grabbing her mouth rinse cup and filling it with water. After taking two pills from the bottle, she swallowed them, “This is like a dream come true here Angel. I think we might still be in comas or something!” she called out from the bathroom.

Angel laughed as she sat down at one of the vanities, opening drawers to see what she could find in the way of a hair brush as she called back, “Tell me about it! If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up. Hey maybe we’re in heaven?” she added, continuing to giggle.

“Maybe but wouldn't mom and dad be here and even Auntie June?” Casey replied as she came out of the bathroom to get a brush for her hair.

“Mom maybe,” Angel mumbled under her breath.

“Hey I loved Auntie June; she understood me!” Casey giggled as she began to brush her hair, “I still want a pink streak like yours by the way.”

“Gah! Don’t sneak up on me like that. I thought you were still in the bathroom. Anyway I wasn’t talking about Aunt June,” Angel shot back with a smirk. She added a moment later, “I was just thinking the same thing though. I know we’re not identical twins, but I think if we did something with your hair we could be pretty darn close. You really do look just like me.”

Casey smiled and giggled. “Mom always said she had a hard time telling us apart except I had extra baggage.”

Angel stuck out her tongue. “She just didn’t want to face the fact that she had two daughters. I mean it was pretty obvious,” she sighed as she started running a small, new pink brush through her hair.

“Auntie June knew she had two nieces at least. Remember that summer when we were 8 and we stayed at her house?” Casey smiled thoughtfully as she reflected on their mom’s sister..

“And she let you wear that extra nightgown I ‘accidentally’ packed,” Angel grinned innocently.

“Oh yeah, and the hair barrettes that she bought me, but told me I had to leave; I was so sad.” Casey sighed as she finished brushing her hair.

“Oh my God. I am so taking you to Claire’s,” Angel suddenly announced, grinning.

Casey’s eyes lit up. “You finally going to get your ears pierced too? You know how much mom hated the fact that you wanted them pierced.”

Angel replied in her best mock-annoyed mother tone, “I didn’t get mine pierced until I was eighteen,” before giggling loudly.

“She was such a prude sometimes,” Casey whined. “I asked her if I could streak my hair, and she flipped a lid on me, she was like, ‘Boys don’t do that, and if I knew your sister was going to i'd have stopped her and tanned her ass.”

Angel stuck out her tongue. “That’s why I didn’t tell her. Aunt June used to say it’s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.” She stood and approached Casey.

“You got grounded for the rest of the summer. That's why we were going to Grandmas remember? Well, that and my dressing up” Casey sighed.

Angel giggled. “Lemme just fix one thing.” She ruffled the back of Casey’s hair a little with her hand to make it look fuller. “Good thing Dad never made you get this cut. God knows he threatened often enough.”

“I told him that hair doesn’t make a man.” Casey giggled. “Attitude makes a man, and he agreed.”

“Y’know the same’s true for us girls,” Angel shot back as she returned to her vanity. “If you think girl, accept yourself, it’s a lot easier for others to accept you. That’s what Mom always told me anyway, about, you know, growing up and avoiding trouble with boys and stuff.”

Casey looked at her sister and smiled. “Let’s go next door and get this over with so we can come back here and plan the rest of our day?”

Angel hopped up with a nod. “Yeah. I need some lip gloss. I don’t care if we are too young for makeup, I can’t live without mah lip gloss!” she replied mock-dramatically before heading for the door.

Casey giggled. Standing up she went to grab both the Android phones and then joined her sister at the door, handing her one of them. “I think we might need these.”

She turned hers on and used her thumb to literally ‘thumb’ through the apps. Pressing the allowance app icon, her jaw dropped. It listed her current balance in several different currencies as well.

“Hey, check your balance for your allowance, and tell me how much they gave you and then I’ll show you how much they gave me.” Casey giggled as they approached their neighbors’ door.

Angel looked at her phone, fiddling with it until she found the power button, and then knocked on the door while the device played its power-up tone.

“Une seconde, sil vous plaite!” came a very feminine voice from the other side. Casey and Angel blinked and glanced at each other as the door opened, and a black-haired girl in a yellow tank top and white cargo shorts pulled the door open. She looked between the two and smiled sheepishly.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought that was Stephanie. She is always teasing me to work on my English so I thought I would fight back. You must be Angel and Casey yes?”

They both nodded, “You kinda confused me for a second. I thought maybe we teleported somehow to France.” Casey giggled. “With how weird our days been I wouldn’t have been surprised either.”

Jolien laughed, “This place does remind one of a certain infamous magic school,” the girl teased. “I am Jolien. The Headmistress asked that I show you to the front office whenever you’re ready - or anywhere else you might need to go on campus.”

Angel replied, as her phone finished loading, “Well Casey and I wanted to go to town maybe and get some things that they didn’t after we go to the office.”

“Oh, well if you want someone to show you around the town I am certainly available. I need to pick up a few things as well.” Jolien paused to reach out and catch a few strands of Angel’s pink streak in her fingers, giggling. “I love your hair, by the way.”

“Thanks! I’m going to do my sister’s like this later,” she added with a giggle.

“Then you two as they say will not be able to be told apart?”

Casey blushed a little as she nodded. “I hope not. We’re not identical twins, but we are twins. I always wished we had been born identical though.”

Jolien giggled. “You are close enough that I can honestly barely tell you apart already, for what that is worth.”

“A tour around town would be awesome though,” Casey answered, starting to shrug off some of her shyness. “How old are you anyway Jolien? You look older then me and Angel.”

Jolien nodded. “I am fifteen, but I will be sixteen in November. You two are... twelve? Or thirteen?” she guessed in a cautious tone, clearly not wanting to offend them.

Angel giggled, “Eleven, but we’re almost twelve.”

“That would explain the shoes,” she teased, quickly adding, “Just kidding. You both look adorable. I love pink, but I can not wear it. It looks like I robbed an easter sale when I try.”

Both girls giggled and replied, “I bet you would look cute in a pink dress no matter what you say.”

“Hot pink, maybe,” Jolien laughed. I’m a deep winter though so I have to be careful what I wear. Ironically everyone else WISHES they were a winter! Ah, but I digress. Have you gotten your … Ah, what is the word, stipend yet?”

“I’m waiting for Angel to look and see how much she got.”

“Oh!” Angel answered. “I forgot.” She held up her phone, pressed the clearly labeled balance sheet app, and very nearly dropped her phone. “Shut the front door!” she squealed.

Jolien, curiosity piqued, leaned closer. Her jaw dropped as well. She gasped something the girls couldn’t understand in French, and then cleared her throat. She paused, as realization dawned on her face. “I’m so sorry. Usually when someone receives an allowance like that it is because of inheritance... If there is anything that I can do, please do not hesitate to ask me.”

Angel shook her head. “It’s okay. Our parents were not the most loving people in the world.”

Jolien looked at the two for a second with a puzzled look on her face, “So are you both or which one of you is um, what is the word special person, no transgendered?”

Casey blushed furiously at Jolien’s question, but after a moment or two, a surprised look crossed her features. “Wait... You mean you... You can’t tell?”

“Um no, I cannot. You both look so much like girls.” Jolien kept glancing between them both trying to figure out which one was the boy or if they both were.

Casey giggled a little. “Um... Would you believe me if I said it was me?”

Jolien giggled. “No and I would not believe your sister either, but Pink house is not just for transgendered. It is for lesbian and bisexual as well. Though, between the three of us, I was born a boy, too.” She winked, a very naturally feminine giggle escaping.

“No way!” both girls exclaimed. “You can’t possibly be!” Casey continued, shaking her head.

Jolien smiled as she nodded, “Oui, I am. My old name was Juan, named for my great grandfather on my mother’s Spanish side.”

“I’ve always been Casey,” Casey answered sheepishly, “But I like it. I mean it’s really becoming popular as a girl’s name. But like, the thing that’s been baking my brain is how they knew. There wasn’t any psych screening that I know of. Our parents wouldn’t let me see a shrink, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to tell the school counselor...”

Jolien giggled a little and smiled reassuringly. “The adults here are all strange. They know things about us, but I do not mind. They give us a lot of freedom and allow us to be ourselves.” Jolien explained as she walked the girls to the elevator and swiped her Student ID card. The door opened and they stepped inside..

Casey backed up against the elevator wall, staring thoughtfully at her shoes, so Angel decided to continue the conversation. “Now I understand why they made an exception for me. I’ve always known Casey was my sister, and I’ve tried to help and support her. I guess they figured putting me in a regular dorm would do more harm than good, especially since they apparently know what happened to her...” She trailed off, scowling for just a moment.

Casey continued to look at her shoes till the elevator door opened at the second floor, and two red headed girls stepped inside. “Hey Jolien, new girls?” the one with blue eyes asked. She seemed a bit more obvious than Jolien that she had been born male, but it was still difficult to tell.

“Oui, yes!” Jolien announced cheerfully. “This is Casey and Angel. Angel is … ‘ow you say, ‘natal’? But you really cannot tell them apart can you?”

“Cool! Twins!” the other girl answered warmly. “If either of you ever need anything we’re just down the elevator. You’re lucky to be starting transition early,” she continued, looking over at Angel. “You’ll never have to endure male puberty. Ick.”

Angel giggled, pointing at Casey. “I’m Angel. That’s Casey.”

“... Oh! Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply-”

Angel started laughing, causing Casey to perk up and giggle too. “It’s okay. Even our Mom used to say that she could barely tell us apart half the time.”

“Except for my extra baggage was what she used to say.” Casey giggled more.

Jolien laughed. “It is with great fortune that you’re staying here... There is talk of someone planning to open a gender clinic here in Alpine Springs. The medicine you were given to take? I’ve been taking it too instead of my old hormone regimen.”

“Actually,” one of the redheads added, “She might just be on the initial puberty-blockers, given her age. You guys are... elevenish? So you won’t have to worry about puberty at all.”

“Twelve next month!” both Casey and Angel announced at the exact same time.

“Oh! Well in that case you probably will be asked very soon if you’re interested in the program.”

Casey dug through her skirt pocket and pulled out the small bottle, “This is what Stephanie gave me.” showing it to the other girls

The blue eyed redhead took the bottle and read the label, “Damn girl, they didn’t waste time with you did they? Straight to the hormones: that means your sister’s about to hit or already has?”

Angel blushed a little this time. “Um, well, they are a little itchy...” she answered. She had never really talked about it with any of her old friends, or anyone but her mother for that matter.

“Congrats girls, welcome to womanhood.” The other redhead giggled.

The Elevator stopped at the first floor, “Oh Lacy and I are going into town today if you girls want to join us?” the green eyed redhead mentioned.

“Sounds great!” Angel answered. “Jolien was going to show us around anyway. We can make a group outing of it.”

Jolien nodded, “Lacy and Danielle, I have to show these two to the main office first to get their cards then we can meet back here?” She smiled cheerfully, taking the girls out the front door and down the walkway, as the other two girls nodded and headed off to the student ran Starbucks.

As Connecticut summers go the weather outside wasn’t especially oppressive, Angel at least found herself thankful for the covered walkway as they followed Jolien. Casey continued to look around, taking in the surrounding campus as Jolien commented, “By the way, are either of you interested in a sport? Girls like us are allowed to play on girls’ teams so long as there’s no obvious advantage, such as a seventeen year old linebacker playing field hockey.”

“I’m not really that big on sports,” Angel answered with a shrug, glancing at Casey.

“Field hockey?” Casey asked. “Is that the one with those cute pleated skirts?”

Jolien giggled. “Well there’s more to it than that, but yes.”

Casey shook her head. “I played volleyball in PE a few times, I’m ok at it but not that good.”

“I am told the football-” she paused abruptly and shook her head. “The SOCCER for your age group is very supportive and welcoming, for what it’s worth, so I imagine the others are similar too. Anyway, I just thought I would mention it. You know, making awkward conversation,” she giggled.

Casey and Angel both nodded their heads. “Sorry we aren’t talking much,” they both said, and then Casey finished, “We had a long day already.”

“I understand,” Jolien answered. “Adjustment can be difficult at the best of times. Do you wish to talk about it?”

Both shook their heads, and Angel answered, “Not really. We kinda want to get over it and just get some retail therapy!”

Jolien laughed softly. Apparently she hadn’t been briefed on the girls’ accident. “Oh yes. Casey have you ever been out shopping as your real self?”

Casey shook her head. “This is the first time I’ve been dressed outside my sister or my room.”

“Oh God, you poor thing. You must be feeling so overwhelmed by all this then.”

Casey for some reason didn’t feel overwhelmed about being out dressed anymore. She shrugged thoughtfully. “Not really. It feels natural for some reason.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret though. Just ask your sister - all girls your age are entering the awkward phase, like you probably learn in health class. But the real secret to retail therapy is the time you spend with friends, bonding. What matters is that you’re spending time with friends, and I can’t think of better ones than Lacy and Danielle.”

She pointed to the large, central building from which all the other additions and walkways seemed to sprawl outward, picking up the pace a bit.

“There are so many buildings here, and they’re so big; how do we get to the classes without being late?”

Jolien shrugged, glancing over with a smile. “They allow plenty of leeway for students to get to classes - about fifteen minutes I believe, but I am a new student here myself, only arriving at the beginning of summer so I haven’t started classes yet. I’ve been taking this time to get used to the new surroundings, meet fellow students, and learn the campus. The navigation app on our phones helps with that.”

“Oh speaking of phones can we get your number Jolien so we can text you?” Angel asked.

“Oh, certainly.” Jolien reached into the pocket of her shorts to retrieve her phone. “Here, you can borrow it to add directly. Add your numbers as well, if you wouldn’t mind?” she asked sweetly as she pushed open the doors to the affectionately dubbed ‘old building’.

The inside wasn’t at all what the girls expected. The floors, highly polished to a mirror shine helped the overhead lights to brightly illuminate the entryway, beyond which a pair of stairs led up to an open landing, with smaller connecting hallways leading to the left and right on both the first and second floors.

“The central office is just up these stairs. It is a workout the first few times, but once you get used to it, it is … ‘ow you say, buns of steel?” She winked at the pair and giggled, heading for one of the two staircases.

Casey being a bit better at technology stuff then Angel quickly added Jolien’s phone information into their phones as they huffed up the stairs, “Wow it seems like a lot of stairs.”

“It is two stories to the landing I think. Not certain what that equates to feet. Apparently the original builders thought it instilled a sense of authority. Bethany just likes having an office with a window view of the courtyard, I think,” she added with a mild giggle. “That is another thing though. The Headmistress loves for her students to call her by her first name outside formal occasions. Ms. Bethany too.”

Casey and Angel were huffing by the time they reached the top, “God that’s enough to kill someone,” Angel complained.

Bethany giggled as she strolled up behind the three, still dressed in her business attire, with the blatant exception of a pair of running shoes. “Now you know why I wear these, and only break out the heels when I have to. Jolien dear, thank you so much for showing these two over.”

“It was my pleasure Ms. Bethany.” She turned to the girls and smiled brightly. “Come back to Pink House when you have finished, and we’ll head out together, yes?”

Casey and Angel nodded. Bethany smiled and added, “After Casey and Angel speak with Dr. Logan you three can go out to town ok?”

“Oh, she stopped by earlier,” Casey answered. “That’s one of the things I was going to ask you about. At the time it seemed kinda weird... She wouldn’t tell me anything: just handed me this pill bottle and told me to take them.”

Bethany nodded, “They are safe. I would never let you take anything that would harm you, but Stephanie needs to explain how this program you’ve agreed to works, and before that you need to go through the door on my right and get your Student pictures for your IDs”

“Ohh,” Casey answered after a moment or two. “Um, before all that I just have one question first. … How did you know? I’ve never told anyone but Angel, and until just recently even my parents didn’t know.”

“The police report, dear. One of your neighbors saw ‘two girls’ through Angel’s open bedroom window. Further interrogation records detailed “the girls” being seen playing on several occasions. Since your parents tended not to let you out of the house very often because of your school bully problems, they apparently just assumed you were twin sisters. So, we made an educated guess.”

“But... for all you know I could’ve just liked wearing girls’ clothes,” Casey answered, a little concerned at the apparent guesswork involved.

“We could have got it wrong, but you would have been more confident in yourself in that case, so we did guess right.” Bethany winked.

Angel gave Casey a gentle nudge. “And y’know you sure as heck wouldn’t have gone along with things this far. I don’t know any boys who’d willingly stay in a pastel pink room even if they did like wearing panties or something,” she teased. Casey cracked a smile and giggled.

“I guess that’s true. And I’m not ungrateful. It was just really confusing. But this whole day’s been like that.”

Bethany nodded, “It gets better. I’m sorry for what you girls had to go through, and I hope you will get the most out of your education here.” she opened the door to the secretary's office. “If you have any further questions, you can go ahead and ask now, or you can find me later. If my door is open, then that means anyone can come right in.”

“How’d I get cleared to take hormones? I read on Wikipedia that it can take like, forever, with psych evaluations and stuff.” Clearly, Casey had taken whatever resources she could find on the subject despite her parents’ best efforts.

“We do things differently here. You can see a psych here if you feel you want to, but we aren't bound by traditional medical theories here, as well as some other things, but none of that is a worry for you.” Bethany smiled.

“One last question. When did I ‘agree’ to this?”

Bethany giggled. “When you signed the papers at the hospital, dear. Didn’t you read the last page? It was hard to miss.”

“Oh... I guess I did miss it.” Casey frowned. “May I see another copy? I don’t want to pull myself out. I just want to know what I agreed to.”

“Of course you may. Stephanie will make that available to you once you’ve finished with your I.D.s”

“So when do we get our wands?” Angel teased as she stepped into the office.

Bethany almost blurted something out but caught herself, “Wands are for witches in stories Angel sweetie.” as she watched Angel and Casey enter the office.

“Sorry. Bad joke. This place is like Hogwarts for Casey, and I guess me too.”

Bethany giggled as she shut the door and behind the desk sat a mid 30’s looking male with brown hair, on his desk there was a plaque that said Drake Morrison. “Hello Ladies, here for your student IDs?”

“Yessir,” both girls answered.

The man smiled. “Ok whoever wants to first needs to step on that yellow tape on the floor near the white wall.”

Casey stepped on the line first and got her picture taken then Angel followed next. “See that was painless. Give me about 5 minutes and I’ll have your cards ready for you ok?”

“Sure,” Casey answered.

“No problem,” Angel added, in such rapid succession that it sounded like one sentence from a pair of stereo speakers - left and then right.

The man laughed as he waited for the laminate to dry, before handing them their cards, “Ok so this ones for Casey,” he said as he handed it to Angel, “And this ones for Angel,” he finished, and handed it to Casey. “You should be able to use it as a credit card in town right away, or at the ATM’s. Your pin number is your birth month and the day, but you can also change that via the app on your cell phones.”

The girls gave each other a kind of ‘This again?’ look and grinned as they exchanged cards, giving a cheerful, perfectly unified “Thank you!” … And staring at each other again.

“Seriously,” Angel started,

“Creepy,” Casey finished.

“Have a good day girls.” the man got up and opened the door for them to leave chuckling at the twins.

“So what’s next?” Angel asked as she fiddled with her phone.

Casey smiled as she loaded her app and changed her pin number then looked at her sister. “Lets head back to the dorms, and meet up with everyone so we can go to town!”

“Sure, but didn’t you have someone else to meet first?” Angel asked.

“Um I think so, oh yeah, duh Stephanie, sorry with everything that’s going on I got scatter brained.” Casey sighed.

Angel laughed and kissed her sister’s cheek lightly. “Oh relax. It’s not like they’ll throw you off the balcony for forgetting,” she teased, intentionally choosing the most outlandish form of ‘punishment’ her brain could concoct to avoid drawing any similarities to what had just happened to her sister a couple of days prior.

“I think we should tell Stephanie we were abused though - you especially. If it’s not already in their files somewhere.”

“You don’t think it’d jeopardize my chances of getting to stay a girl do you?” Casey asked nervously. Angel quickly shook her head, but before she could answer, Stephanie spoke up behind them, causing both girls to jump.

“Absolutely not.” She smiled warmly at them.

Angel and Casey both in stereo announced, “Oh my God you scared us!”

Stephanie giggled a little. “Sorry about that. I was just about to go looking for you two. If you’d like to talk about anything though, my door is always open. I’m a licensed therapist and I have degrees in child psychology, and I’m not THAT old either, if that helps.” She winked playfully.

Angel nodded, “I was about to drag Casey to you kicking and screaming.” she giggled, “I hope we can get this done so we can go to town” she finished enthused about being able to go to town without her parents.

“Oh, absolutely. This won’t take long at all. I just need to explain some things about this program and make absolutely sure that you know what’s going to happen with you and with your body in the coming months. Angel, did you want to sit in on this too?”

Casey gave Angel the pleading look and she sighed. “Only because Casey’s my sister, and I want to know what’s up you know.”

Stephanie smiled brightly as she motioned for the girls to follow her. “Are either of you familiar with the traditional methods of treatment for transgender patients?” she asked as she led the pair along the open landing and then into a connecting hallway.

Casey nodded, “I used the library computers back home to look up all the information, and from what I read I have to be eighteen before I can have all the surgeries.”

Stephanie nodded thoughtfully. “Plus years of bloodwork, and possibly injections for the hormone replacement therapy. Well, take everything that you read, and pretend it doesn’t exist.” She grinned, glancing over her shoulder to watch the girls’ reactions as she led them into a spacious office. On the glass door, the letters “Dr. Stephanie Logan” as well as a list of her titles stood out in bold, black lettering.

Inside, near the door, sat a modern solid wood desk and a cushy executive chair. Across from it sat two equally cushy chairs. Further into the room, along the opposite wall, an overstuffed couch and two chairs sat, and nearer to the far end, a small table, not unlike a dining table and chairs had been set up. Finally, in the corner of the room, partially hidden by bright, colorful bookshelves, the girls could see a glimpse of a childlike play area. Stephanie chuckled.

“Bethany insisted on giving me a nice office, but I’ll be honest with you - I don’t plan on using it that often - not for my dorm duties anyway. It’s just that my documents and things are here, in case there’s anything you wanted to look at. Every student who participates in the Purple Program is given full disclosure of what they’re getting into.”

“So … how come you couldn’t tell me before?” Casey asked. “You just ran off after giving me a bottle of pills. Seemed kind of … well, suspicious, I guess. Um, no offense.”

Stephanie nodded. “I’m really sorry about that. I thought you had already been filled in, plus I had several students to check in on since school starts soon. And then Bethany told me that she expected me to do that because of … Well, your unique situation - you know, possible need for grief counseling and things like that. So, if you’ll just have a seat we can get started. Just sit wherever you like.”

The girls nodded and, after glancing around the room for a moment settled on sitting at Stephanie’s desk. She smiled as she waited for the pair, and then sat across from them. “Yuck.” She laughed.

“Yuck?” Angel asked.

“Yes. I’m going to talk to Bethany about getting a lower desk and a less … fancy chair. I feel like a principal. This place needs some serious feng shui!” The twins giggled as she continued, taking a file folder from one of her desk drawers and sliding it across for the girls to look through at their leisure. “Okay, so, what I’m about to tell you both is a closely guarded medical secret. Not even most of the staff know what’s going on here because of the nature of the study. We’re using Sunshine Academy as a testing ground for an experimental drug called Purplaxis.”

“That’s the stuff you’re giving me, right?” Casey asked.

Stephanie nodded. “Yeah. There’s only one other girl who’s not attending Sunshine who’s taking it. She’s actually patient zero in the pilot program here in the U.S., but I won’t get into all that. Essentially what Purplaxis does is … it fools your body into thinking it’s the opposite gender. For instance Casey, you’re a girl with a male body, but with Purplaxis, the Y chromosome is … Well, it’s hard to explain without getting painfully technical. Even some of my professors at Yale went cross-eyed when I brought it up. But it fools your body into thinking it’s a girl’s body.”

“So... What’s that mean for me?”

Stephanie grinned. “Glad you asked that. This drug was originally in testing to treat menopausal women, but it’s had a fascinating side-effect. In male-bodied patients, the testes actually are converted into ovaries. In short, the genome turns your boy bits into girl bits, and makes you, for all purposes, a genetic female.”

“Oh my God,” Casey and Angel both gasped in unison.

Stephanie smiled at the two, “I called the clinic and made an appointment for you Casey. I’ll be there with you since I’m your house guardian. Michelle will see you Monday, after school.”

“That’s great,” Casey answered excitedly. A thoughtful frown crossed Angel’s face, however.

“Umm, wait, back up a minute.... You said Casey would be a genetic girl. There’s... a problem with that. I learned in health class about dealing with things like periods. How’s that going to work with Casey’s body?”

Stephanie smiled, “Michelle will discuss that with you on Monday since she knows more about the procedure then I do. Surgery is necessary, but it’s all approved by the FDA and the surgeon general, and I’m told that your recovery time will be much quicker than for traditional GRS. Patient zero’s was about a month. Yours will be faster since you’re pre-pubescent still.”

“I guess it’s not really something I’ve got to worry about yet anyway,” Casey replied. “So is there anything else I should know about?”

“Well, you don’t have to think of yourself in terms of being transgendered, if that helps? Because there’s a possibility that you might be able to have children. I don’t want to get your hopes up sweetie, because again, this is a VERY recent development in human testing, but in the lab tests with animals, the prepubescent animal test subjects most similar to humans in terms of DNA showed a birth rate on average with the control group or ‘natal’ female subjects.”

“Birthrate...” Casey echoed. Angel clapped her hands together excitedly and giggled.

“Well, anyway, unless you have any more questions, or if there’s anything else you’d like to talk about for that matter...”

Casey shook her head. “No ma’am. Not right now at least. I’d like it if we could maybe schedule some time to talk later though.”

“Of course,” Stephanie replied. “You’ll find my phone number is already on your contact list. No matter what time of the day or night, you call me if you EVER need to talk. If for whatever reason I’m unable to talk right that second - like if my cat’s on fire or something,” both girls giggled at her example, “Then I’ll call forward you to my mentor, Dr. Ketzowski. She’s one of the best psychiatrists in the state.”

Casey nodded quickly, and as Stephanie stood, she and Angel did as well. “Thanks so much Dr. Logan,” Casey answered warmly. Stephanie laughed loudly.

“Oh sweetie, call me Stephanie. Dr. Logan is my mother - literally. She’s an endocrinologist and pediatrician over in New Haven. So if you ever get hurt or sick I can even recommend you to her,” she added with a playful wink. “At least until my friend LeAnn finishes med school.”

Stephanie shook each girl’s hand in turn before leading them back out. “I’m going to go meet Michelle and her girlfriend for lunch, but if you have any questions at all you can feel free to call me. They’ll understand.”

Casey and Angel did the stereo thing again, “Thank you Stephanie.”

“Twins...” Stephanie giggled to herself as she gave them both a reassuring squeeze on their shoulders before they parted ways. Halfway down the hall, she stopped and ran back to them, which considering she was wearing ratty old sneakers with mismatched socks - one red with gold diamonds, one plaid green-and-white, was easy enough. “Oh, you two know how to get back out right? Or at least how to access your map if not?”

Casey giggled, “Yes I know how to use the map, Thank you again Stephanie.”

“Just checking,” Stephanie answered with a grin as she turned to race down the hall again.

Angel turned to Casey and whispered, “The heck was up with her socks? If I ever do that, warn me!” she giggled.

Casey giggled, “I think she’s making a fashion statement. Remember that girl Mindy or whatever her name was at our old school?”

“Oh my God. Purple Pants Mindy!” Angel giggled loudly. “The tie-dyed t-shirt kind of made the whole ensemble work though in a weird, chaos reigns supreme way.”

Casey nodded, “But I never called her that. She helped me once after some bigger boys threw me in a trash can. She was very nice,” she added as they made their way back to their dorm, following Casey’s navigation app. “So I guess I can consider myself a girl according to Stephanie?”

Angel smiled sheepishly. “I never called her that to her face. I guess I never realized how insulting it was coming from some people. I sure never meant it as such. Oh, yeah! That is SO cool! We have got to get your hair professionally styled and streaked and stuff!” Angel bubbled happily at the change of subject.

Casey smiled. “Maybe you can get yours fixed too, since it’s a little off,” she said, teasing her sister as they walked through their dorm house’s main doors. The two red headed girls and Jolien were sitting at a table drinking starbucks coffee.

“There they are!” one of the redheads cheered. “We saved you guys a seat!”

“So I assume you got the talk then?” Jolien asked with a grin. “I am actually a unique member of this experiment as one of the older members. They want to know the effects across the teen spectrum though, and I am … how you say, I prefer girls, so having babies is not so important.”

Angel and Casey nodded, “Yeah, I guess it wouldn’t be important.” they said in stereo to their friend.

Lacy and Danielle glanced at each other and giggled. “Looks like I owe you five bucks,” Lacy commented to Danielle, taking out her purse - a small faux-leather handbag.

“We had a playful side-bet going that you wouldn’t do that awesome stereo-sound finishing each other’s sentences thing. I knew you would because I have twin cousins. But I think they do it just to freak people out,” she added, winking.

Both girls look at each other and sighed then turned to their new friends and somehow managed to do it again, “We don’t mean to do it; it just seems to happen.”

Jolien giggled. “It is cute honestly. I wish I had a sister to share things with. But alas, I am the only child. It is a joke between my parents and myself that I was enough of a handful - even before I became Jolien. But that is a story for another time.”

Casey looked at Jolien, “You can borrow mine sometime. When she gets on that shared sentence kick like we were on, it gets a bit weird; we never used to do that.” she turned and stuck her tongue out at Angel.

Angel poked Casey’s arm playfully. “Tell me about it. It’s kind of spooky.”

Lacy smiled, “I think it’s cool. So what stores do you guys want to hit first? And before we go you girls should so try the new flavor at our Starbucks here! It’s a strawberry white chocolate mocha, and it’s to die for.”

“Oh my God,” they answered in unison, glared at each other, and said, “You first.”

Angel giggled. “I LOVE white chocolate.”

“And I adore strawberries. Especially this great strawberry lip gloss Angel had. Mmmm. Let’s go get some and then we can see what the mall has to offer.”

They headed over to this nicely decorated kiosk setup that was their Starbucks. Behind the counter was a girl who looked like she was 16. She had long, wavy strawberry blonde hair, and hazel eyes. She couldn’t be much more than 5’3” tall and she was wearing purple framed glasses. “Hey what can I get for you two? And am I seeing double again?” she smiled at the two taking her glasses off to clean them.

“Two white chocolate strawberry mochas,” the girls answered, Angel adding, “By the way I love your glasses. They look so cute on you!” she practically squealed, clearly meaning it.

The girl blushed a little and laughed, showing off her matching purple braces in the process. “Awww, thank you! I used to be super self-conscious because I had to wear really hideous thick-framed glasses so insurance would pay for them, but now that’s all taken care of. Anyway, one second and I’ll get you your drinks.”

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Casey asked cheerfully as the girl returned.

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“What do you get for working something like this? I’m just curious. Angel and me are new residents. Well, I’m part of the Purple program. My sister’s along for moral support.”

“And because splitting us up would just suck. We’re a team package deal,” Angel added with a giggle.

“Cool, and I don’t mind you asking, I get paid an hourly wage, of 8 dollars an hour, and I work for 6 hours on the weekends and Four on the weekdays, two in the morning , one at lunch and one in the evening during the week. And there is another girl that helps run this part time as well.” the girl answered the twins.

“Oh, neat. I wasn’t sure if credits were involved or something. That’s so cool though.”

“Nope, but the student store over on the other end of the building is hiring if you know anyone interested. It just opened and there’s only two employees over there. They’re having a hard time with it all.” She handed the girls their Mochas, “That will be 4.50 to whoever wants to pay it. Special discount for being with Jolien,” she added with a grin..

“I’ve got it,” both answered, turning to stare at each other. “Stop that!”

Angel laughed. “Seriously sis, lemme treat you. You’ve had a bad week.”

Casey smiled and hugged Angel, “Thanks Sis, I got the next one however!”

The girl behind the counter giggled. “You guys remind me of my sister and me. We’re still tight even though I’m technically ‘boarding’ here now.”

“Are you a twin too then?” Both girls ask in stereo once more.

“Oh I wish. My sister’s a couple of years older than me and going to college this year. Having a twin? That would’ve been the best.”

The girls walked towards the transportation area to see which teacher was in to take them into town, the girls stopped and seen a male in his mid to late 20s with brown hair and green eyes, “Hello Mr. Summers how are you today?” Danielle smiled as she waved to Mr. Summers.

“Hi girls,” the man answered with a smile. “Need a ride into town?”

“Yes to the mall please.” Lacy replied with a smile, “This is Angel and Casey by the way Mr. Summers.”

“Nice to meet you both. I’m Mr. Summers, the Music and Theater teacher for both the boys and girls here. In the summer time I’ve told you girls you can call me Bailey. I’m not your teacher right now.” she smiled.

Casey and Angel looked at each other excitedly.

“So if I wanted to be an actress,” Casey began.

“Or if I wanted to learn piano?” Angel finished.

“Then I am your teacher.” Bailey smiled at the girls, “Do you two do that all the time?”

“Do what?” they answered in unison and giggled, Angel adding, “Increasingly... Today. It’s weird, but kinda neat.”

“We’ve never done it before, but we’ve always been close.”

Bailey nodded his head, “Last year there was a set of twins that graduated with high theater marks from here. They did that a lot and they also had this knack of talking to each other without talking, so I was just curious if I would have to deal with that again this year.” He opened the school van for the girls to get in.

“Like body language,” Jolien chimed in cheerfully as she opened the side door and slid in the back.

“Oh, cool! We sometimes have a pretty good idea what the other’s thinking,” Angel answered, “Like our outfits today... Our closets are on opposite sides but we still picked out the same thing.”

“In fact,” Casey giggled, “I asked her if this would look okay, and then she looked up and went ‘It better!’”

Bailey cringed, only slightly, as the van erupted into a gigglefest. He chuckled to himself as he put the van into gear and pulled out of the parking lot.

“When you girls are done shopping make sure to call me, and I’ll come pick you up. You all should know the rules. I just sent my contact to Casey and Angel so they can add me.”

“How’d you know our number?” Angel asked. Bailey chuckled.

“We teachers have a master list. I just punched your names in the search and it helpfully sent my contact number to ‘All 302’ - which would be the both of you.”

“Cool!” they answered in unison.

“Thanks Mr. Summers!” “Thanks Bailey!” the chorus of girls responded as they unloaded in front of the large Alpine Springs Mall. A light rain had begun to fall, but the girls stayed dry under the protection of the entryways covered drive area as they headed inside.

“Wow this place is huge.” the twins commented at the same time.

Lacy nodded. “You’d think for a town this small it wouldn’t be that big, but they even have a Civic Center with concerts and stuff here in town, plus a huge sportscenter, so I guess it’s just par for the course.”

Danielle piped in, “Alpine Springs is also a center spot, a lot of people from Kingsley and other places come here as well to shop. It’s no New Haven, but it’s really becoming popular in the last few years.”

“Do not also forget rumors of renovations to the old insane asylum,” Jolien added cheerfully. “From what active girl scouts at Sunshine have told me, it will be a youth center eventually.”

“Oh my God, girl scouts!” Angel squeaked. “Casey will you sign up if I do? I always wanted to join, but Mom and Dad wouldn’t put up the money.”

Casey looked at Angel, “Think they will take me? If they will I’ll join because you asked me to.” smiling at her.

Jolien frowned, laying her hand on Casey’s shoulder before Lacy or Danielle could say anything. She stepped around in front of her, placing her other hand on her other shoulder as she looked Casey in the eye.

“You need to stop thinking of yourself as a boy in a dress, or as “the other third gender”. That kind of thinking is for closed minded buffoons, oui? You are Casey. You are Angel’s sister. And you are a girl, just as I am, just as Danielle and Lacy are - just as Angel is.” She smiled, pulling Casey into a reassuring hug.

“She’s right,” Angel added with a smile. “Remember what Stephanie said. That drug makes you a genetic girl. I don’t know how. It sounds like science fiction to me, but I have to believe that she’s right. You should too.”

Casey nodded, “It’s just a lot to wrap around my head you know? Yesterday I would have never dreamed of this happening.”

Jolien grinned. “Yes, I know. When my...” She stopped abruptly. “When someone found my cache of ‘Jolien’ things, I just knew that my papa would be furious. Instead, you know what he does, but sit me down and say ‘Juan, if this is surely what your heart desires, to be my little girl instead, then who am I to argue? But make sure, because it is a hard road ahead for you, being the child of importance you are.”

She paused to smile and hug Casey again. “We all have our stories, our … hard roads. But we walk them together as friends now. This is why I’m telling you this now, as a friend. Because you can lean on us and we will not let you fall. This I promise. But now, let us shop because I see a cute pair of boots that I want!” she quickly changed the subject, hoping not to give Casey, or the others, a chance to ask about the ‘child of importance’ part, instead racing for the shoe store.

The girls all followed Jolien into the store, giggling at the boots comment, and suddenly Casey spotted a pair of flats that would be perfect for one of the dresses in their closet, “Oh god Angel look at these; they are soo cute!”

“Oh wow. I love the little fabric bows. You know what? These would go so well with that cute polka-dot dress - the white one with the red dots?”

“Get out of my head Angel, I was thinking the same thing!” Casey giggled as she grabbed a box to try the shoes on to see if they fit.

“Oh wow they fit perfect.” half not expecting them to, forgetting she’s the exact same size as her sister.

Danielle glanced over from eyeing a pair of white sneakers with neon pink trim and grinned. “You guys have such cute taste, like Jolien’s girlfriend Cassidy. Those look awesome! Kinda makes me wish my feet were smaller,” she teased.

Casey smiled, “What size do you wear?” she asked Danielle, “They can’t be that big.”

Danielle blushed softly, pointing to the sneakers she was admiring. The tag clearly read “9  ½”. She stared down at her open-toe sandals, wiggling her metallic green-painted toes. “Even if the treatments do work, women in my family have big feet. My mom wears a size 10  ½ womens.”

“Awwwww , well there is a 9  ½ in this style if you want to try them on?” Casey grinned as she pulled the box down.

“No way, seriously? They never have cute stuff like this in women’s!” she bubbled, excitedly hugging Casey as she retrieved the box. “I’m bringing you shopping with me from now on!” she added, waiting patiently for Casey to hand her the box before quickly opening it and rushing over to a nearby mirrored bench to try them on.

Casey wasn't sure where that size came from because when she first grabbed her size, there wasn't a 9  ½ but then when she went back there was. “Do you want a pair Angel?”

Angel, trying on a pair of flat white gladiator-style sandals glanced up and grinned. “Oh, totally! Those look adorable on you!”

Casey grabbed a second box one for her and one for her sister, “Angel, those sandals look like something mom would have worn.” she teased.

Angel laughed loudly. “You thought so too? I couldn’t resist trying them on, but I don’t think I want them. Makes me look too grown-up,” she answered, even as she pulled them off to return them to the shelf. ‘Besides, we’ve got tons of shoes already.”

Lacy giggled to herself as she watched the trio, nudging Jolien. “What do you think? Natural or what?”

“Oh my yes. That girl’s blessed to be starting at her age. I am a little jealous, but overshadowing that is my joy for her - and her sister. … Twins.”

Lacy giggled again. “We have got to work on your English sometime,” she teased, winking as the other three approached. Before the other girls got too close Lacy looked at Jolien quickly, “I think we should invite them to our coven with them when they learn how to control their powers.” and smiled when the other girls got closer, “Find all the shoes you wanted?”

Danielle squealed as she held up her shoe box. “I’ve been to this store hundreds of times and I’ve never seen these in my size! I’m going to wear them out of the store after I pay for them. Thank you so much Casey.”

Casey blushed a little as she shrugged. “It was nothing really I just happen to see a box in 9  ½ , but you’re welcome.”

Danielle giggled, “Well whatever, If you wouldn’t have seen it, I would have been pouty all day, I always am when I can’t find cute shoes.”

Jolien and Lacy exchanged a glance and giggled as well, the latter adding, “Well, once you guys ring up your purchases we’ve got lots more to show our new arrivals.”

Jolien grinned. “You know I think I’ll wear my new boots too. Give me one moment to change.”

“Maybe we can find you a nice dress to go with ‘em for your date tonight,” Lacy teased, getting a playful mock-glare from Jolien.

“Darling, you know every night is date night. Do not worry, we’ll find you a nice girlfriend too!”

“Oh, that’s okay. You know I’m not on the market right now.”

“So can I ask, are you …” Angel began, after paying for her shoes.

“Like Jolien?” Lacy finished for her, and shook her head. “No, I’m genetic. Pink house is for LGBT. I’m lesbian, and Jolien’s girl is bisexual. You met her back at the Starbucks kiosk. Don’t worry, nobody’s going to give you a hard time for staying with us if you get the hots for a cute boy though,” she added with a soft grin. “Students tend to be neutral about stuff like that - mostly because the last kid who got busted for bullying is enjoying Ms. Bethany’s unique sense of ironic punishments.”

Angel’s eyes widened for a moment. “What happened?”

Danielle answered, “The little punk harassed some girls his age, and now he’s spending the summer learning about life from their perspective. I heard it might even extend into the school year, but the shrinks are watching it closely to make sure he learns his lesson without any psychological damage... The kid’s pretty broken already, I heard. But it was this or expulsion, and explushion for wards of the state means...”

“Foster care,” Jolien finished with a frown. “So he chose to redeem himself. The rumors that I have heard are that the girls involved actually befriended him afterwards. So you see, no matter how strange the punishment, there is always a lesson, when Bethany Anderson is involved.”

“But this is getting depressing,” Danielle chimed, “Let’s go get some frozen yogurt and take these two to Claire’s. We need to teach our young padawans the fine art of accessorizing!”

Casey and Angel giggled, then Casey said, “I guess I need to get my ears pierced. Do you think that Stephanie would flip if I got more than one per ear?”

This time Angel smacked Casey’s arm lightly, “Now it’s your turn to get out of my head.” and she giggled.

Jolien and Lacy shared a brief glance, and Jolien carefully pushed back the hair that had been covering much of her ears. Up above her normal lower lobe piercing, she had two small stud upper piercings on each side. Lacy grinned.

“Honestly, they’ll let you staple your lips shut as long as you’re not causing trouble for other students or breaking any laws. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your schoolwork of course.”

“Wow!” both girls said at the same time and then continued in stereo, “Mom and Dad would kill us for that, but we so want to do it!”

“I know the girl who usually works on weekends,” Lacy continued. “You can totally trust her. I think you’d look cute with pink flower studs and maybe aquamarine and purple upper, or small hoops or something.”

Casey grinned. “I was thinking four in each ear, but only if Angel wants that many as well.”

Angel nodded. “Two upper and two lower? I might get a tongue ring when we’re older, but those look like they’d be more trouble than they’re really worth.”

“Oh what about our bellybuttons?” Casey hoped she didn’t go overboard with that.

“Well, if it’s what you REALLY want,” Danielle answered. “Personally I think you might be too young to even be showing off your belly buttons, but from a rules standpoint, you guys are almost teenagers so I’m pretty sure it’s allowed. Self-expression and stuff.” She paused to add, “Oh, and don’t take that as me telling you not to do it. It’s just I wouldn’t have at your age.”

She then paused again to lift her shirt enough to reveal a small stud. “Didn’t stop me from doing it when I was fourteen though.”

“Well we kinda lived in an oppressive household.” Both girls did the stereo thing again.

“Oh... Ohhh... Well, in that case you can totally ignore me,” she giggled. “My parents were pretty average. They took my ‘I’m a girl’ thing as a phase, until my seventh birthday when I started crying because I didn’t get any Barbies, but y’know, other than that they were... pretty dull growing up. So, um, yeah. I say go for it if that’s what you wanna do.”

The girls walked into Claire’s, and started to look around. A blonde-haired teen that looked about Jolien’s age, or a bit older standing by the cash register waved as the girls entered. She had on a black beret-type hat with bright pink t-shirt, the words ‘Cheer Power!’ spelled out in glittery lettering with a heart punctuating the exclamation point.

“Hi Lacy!” she called cheerfully.

“Heya Chels!” Lacy called back as she walked over. “Angel, Casey, this is Chelsea Gilbert. She’s one of the most popular girls at Alpine High,” she added with a wink, giggling.

Chelsea rolled her eyes, giving Lacy’s shoulder a mock swat. “Oh, shush you! Since you’re friends with Lacy though, I’ll go ahead and give you guys the 10% friends and fam discount. Just let me know if you need anything.”

Angel smiled, “Nice to meet you Chelsea. My sister and I would like to get our ears pierced. Well she needs to get hers done, she wants four in each ear, and I would like to get three more added.”

“Sure!” Chelsea answered. “Now, there’s going to be a lot of care involved, but I’m sure you’ve heard this speech before, right?” Chelsea grinned.

Angel nodded, “I can help my sister so she doesn’t need it either.” continuing to smile.

Casey piped in, “Oh do you know where we can get our belly buttons done too?”

“As a matter of fact, I have a cousin who’s a professional tattoo artist, and she also does piercings. She’s kind of the black sheep of the family, but I wouldn’t recommend her if I didn’t trust her. Umm...” She glanced around, grabbing a post-it pad and a pen, and scribbled down an address, handing it over. “If you want you can ask her to do your upper earrings as well.”

Both girls nodded and in stereo they replied, “Cool thank you.”

“No problem. Want me to do the lowers anyway? I’ll be gentle,” she added with a professional smile.

Angel nodded, “Please, I’ll take the new lowers and my sister will take two in hers, You are so cool by the way! I had to get mine done by my friends older sister because our mom would have never let us do this.”

“You’re kidding?” Chelsea asked, genuinely surprised as she stepped around the counter.

“No, our parents were a bit prudish.” Casey replied then thought for a split second, “A bit is an understatement; they were a lot prudish.”

“Sounds like my grandma. Mom got the ‘If God meant for you to have holes in your ears he would have put them there’ speech so many times growing up,” she answered, clearly trying not to laugh. “Anyway, come on back with me and I’ll show you your options for studs.”

Chelsea led the girls to another counter with an adjustable chair beside it. On the wall, several pairs of earrings in different styles, from sleek to gaudy, simple to stylish, studs, hoops, butterflies, crosses, yin yangs, and others in differing materials and colors. Another several sets, only slightly more expensive, were stored under the glass counter on display in semi-precious metal plating.

Casey and Angel both picked pairs of the more expensive earrings not because they could afford it but because they were very pretty. When Chelsea was done piercing their ears and the girls paid for their purchases they continued to look around Claire’s. Casey was admiring the selection of hair accessories she never dreamed, a day before, would ever be within her reach when Lacy tapped her on the shoulder.

“So I think this necklace would look so cute with your new earrings.” Lacy smiled, showing the girls a pair of silver necklaces with matching one inch butterfly pendants. The ‘outlines’ of the wings were done in silver, with either some kind of pink gem or glass for the wing portion.

Both girls stuck in stereo mode, “Oh that is soo pretty!”

“Butterflies represent rebirth and a new beginning as something brighter and more beautiful than what it was before. I thought it was kind of fitting given what you both just went through.”

Angel and Casey took the necklaces and approached the counter as the others joined them, carrying an armload each.

“Where to next?” Casey asked as they left..

Jolien smiled, “Food court then a short walk to get your tops and your bellies done” she giggled, “Then we come back here and get you some shirts to show it off and some skirts to go with it.”

“Cool!” Casey and Angel answered in unison.

Lacy and Jolien exchanged another glance and giggled. Jolien nodded. “The food court here has the BEST frozen yogurt I have had. It is only a shame they do not serve gelato as well.”

“What’s gelato?” Angel asked as they made their way through the mall.

“Gelato is... How to explain...”

Danielle spoke up, “Gelato is Italian ice cream. They make it a lot denser than American-style, so it’s a lot sweeter. A lot a lot.”

“Yes, exactly. Is very sweet and delicious, but for American style, I prefer yogurt to ice cream. Must watch my girlish figure, oui?” She teased.

Everyone giggled at that including Jolien, as the girls approached the food court Casey and Angel’s expression changed their eyes went wide, “There’s like every restaurant you could imagine in here!”

The other three girls giggled, and Danielle smiled, “I think I’m going to hit the pizza place and get a slice. Let's meet back here and find a table once we get our food ok?”

The girls all agreed and wandered off to get their food, Angel and Casey looked around the food court trying to figure out what to get and then spotted a small Greek/Italian combo restaurant that they could have sworn wasn't there before, “Let’s check that place out.”

Angel nodded, “Sure, I like those Gyro things, maybe they have that ice cream thingy that Jolien was talking about too?”

Casey nodded as they approached. “Two Gyros and do you have any Gelato?”

“As a matter of fact,” the man behind the counter replied with a grin. “We just joined a small focus testing program to see how gelato would sell here. It’s been popular in Europe for many years you know,” he added, pausing, “But I’m surprised you’ve heard of it.”

“Well a friend of mine mentioned it. Can I get five dishes of it then?” Casey smiled at the guy and paid for their order, not letting Angel argue.

“Absolutely. We only have one flavor today - vanilla, but check back next week and we’ll have a lot more to offer,” he answered, and after a moment, dished up five dishes full, setting them on a tray for the girls to more easily carry it, along with two sandwiches. “There you go - enjoy!” he added with a friendly smile.

Casey smiled as the man and wandered over to where they were supposed to meet everyone. “Wonder if they will take forever to meet us.” Casey giggled.

“I hope not,” Angel answered. “Or the ice cream’ll melt!”

Just then the girls started to file in, “So where do we um sit then?” Jolien looked at Angel and Casey’s tray, “and is that what I think it is?”

Angel grinned broadly. “Maaaay-be.”

Casey rolled her eyes and giggled. “The guy over there said they were just starting a focus testing for the stuff to see if it’d sell well, so we did our part and bought some for everyone.”

Jolien screeched, “Oh my gosh; they sell it here!” as they quickly found a table before drawing too much attention to themselves.

Lacy giggled to herself as she watched Jolien’s expression. “So how does it compare to the stuff you got back home?” she teased, taking a bite herself. “Ohhh... That is good.”

Jolien looked up with a huge grin on her face, “Much as you say the same. Thank you Casey and Angel.”

“You’re welcome,” the pair answered in unison and giggled, Angel adding, “... That time we did do that on purpose,” and grinned.

Everyone giggled at that, Danielle smiled as the girls finished their meal, “So you two ready to get your belly buttons pierced?”

“Sure!” they both announced.

The girls all filed out of the mall and walked down the road Lacy and Jolien fell back a bit and talked quietly between themselves as the other three chatted loudly as they walked to Chelsea’s cousin’s shop.

The address wasn’t at all what the girls were expecting. The outside of the shop was an old brick facade two story building that looked like it had been built at least fifty, if not a hundred years ago. Large brick columns separated plate glass windows displaying several styles of tattoos from tribal to stylized. A sign over the door declared the shop “Tats and Mats”

“Mats?” Angel and Casey asked, looking at each other.

Danielle shrugged, but Jolien and Lacy just smiled to themselves without saying anything. As they made their way inside, a bell over the door rang, and from the back room a young woman - perhaps 19 or 20, who looked as though she had just emerged from an Addams Family costume contest emerged. Between her flowing black dress, waist-length jet black hair, and plum lipstick, she looked more than a little intimidating.

It didn’t help that Lacy pushed past the girls, walked right up to the woman, and looked her right in the eye. The woman returned the stare with a dark scowl. A full ten seconds passed before both started laughing and embraced.

“Lacy! How the heck are you?”

“I’m fantastic. I see you’re still dressing like a bad vampire movie extra.”

“Hey, it’s good for business. Tats and Mats, remember? Who are the Barbies?” She grinned, nodding with a friendly, disarming smile toward the twins.

“Be nice! This is Angel and Casey. Chels sent them over for double-uppers plus a belly-button.”

“Is that so? Well you came to the right place girls. I promise you won’t feel a thing. Come on back and we’ll get started.”

Angel and Casey glanced at each other as they followed. Angel began, “If you don’t mind us asking,”

And Casey finished, “What’s the ‘Mats’ for exactly?”

The woman glanced over her shoulder at the pair with that same disarming smile. “Mats is short for materials.” She pointed with her left hand toward the corner of the shop, where a tall shelf sat practically overloaded with various herbs and bottles of other strange things.

“I have a lot of New Age clients looking for homeopathic remedies or,” she paused to make finger quotes, “‘Spells’, so I humor them. Most of this stuff I get wholesale, but a few of the rarer herbs I grow myself. But hey, if you ever need a love potion that tastes like turpentine and smells like Indian ink, but doesn’t really do anything, I’m your witch.” She giggled.

“You’re not … really a witch are you?” Casey asked. She shook her head.

“I’m a Pagan, dear. The only ‘spells’ I have are in the form of prayers, but I do have a recipe for a fantastic vegetable stew. Mix the right herbs together and it tastes like magic,” she teased, changing the subject as she led the girls to one of three chairs. Currently the other two were empty.

“Now, when you had your lowers done, that was with a gun right?” she asked. The girls nodded. “Well, I like to do things the old fashioned way, with a needle. Takes more precision, but it hurts a hell of a lot less when you know what you’re doing like I do. That also means I can do studs or hoops. Up to you. Studs would be easier until the holes heal, but that’s just my opinion.”

“Studs,” the girls answered in unison. As the woman worked, Lacy and Jolien continued to talk amongst themselves quietly. Danielle didn’t seem to notice, distracted by the artwork on the walls.

“Did you draw all these yourself?” she asked.

The woman nodded. “As a matter of fact I did. Deep breath,” she instructed Angel, continuing afterwards, “I find it easier to replicate in the final tattoo what I’ve already drawn on paper. It’s kind of a quirk of mine, but it makes the customers happy.”

She paused to glance back at Angel. “And before you ask, I’ll need a parent or guardian’s permission before I can ink you. I should probably be asking for their permission to do these piercings, but since you’re not getting anything drastic like tongue or,” she paused, “Ahem, anything else, I’ll let it slide since you’re friends of Lacy’s”

Angel giggled. “That’s okay. I don’t really want a tattoo.”

After the girls were finished, they went back up front to pay, but Jolien stopped them, giving her bank card instead. “This is on me my friends, for the best gelato I have had since my last vacation in Florence last summer.”

“Wow, thanks!” they chimed in unison, causing the woman to laugh quietly.

“Have a nice day. It was great seeing you again Lacy.”

“You too Dawn,” Lacy answered, waving as they left to return to the mall.

The girls entered the mall and passed a girl in a very beautiful gothic lolita dress carrying a tablet pc along with several other girls with her; only one of the other girls was wearing a gothic dress besides the one carrying the tablet. Casey looked at everyone else, “Did you see that pretty dress? I wonder where she got it...”

“Let’s go ask her?” Danielle shrugged thoughtfully.

Casey turned around and quickly approached the group of girls who found a table and were sitting down. The rest of her friends quickly joined, “Hey um, where did you get that pretty dress?”

The dark-haired girl grinned at the girl in the lolita dress, who stood and struck a pose. Her accent, at least to Casey and Angel, sounded positively upper class British. “You like it?” she asked cheerfully.

Casey and Angel both nodded and replied, “Yes we do; it’s very pretty.”

“Well, ladies,” she answered, “I’m happy to hear that. It gives me hope that my assistant manager’s sister isn’t the only one in your age group who’s interested.” She winked. “I own a small boutique here in Alpine Springs called Annabell’s Secrets. I’m Annabell, of course.”

Danielle looked at her, “The new shop across the pizza place? Cool, I like the dress but I don’t think it’s something I’d wear on an everyday basis.”

Annabell laughed. “Oh, I don’t just make elegant gothic lolita dresses. I also make and sell every kind of punk and goth from subdued to spiky, industrial to leather to victorian, and I’m considering a Steampunk sub-line if there’s enough interest.”

Lacy’s eyes got wide, “Oh God Steampunk! If you do a Steampunk line I’d buy everything in it!” she giggled.

Annabell gave Lacy an appraising look before grinning. “I’ll tell you what. If you’d be willing to model a few things for me in that area, I’ll let you keep the prototypes - which are usually one-of-a-kind Annabell MacAlister originals. Of course I’d also welcome any suggestions you might have to make the line more appealing - as you can see I’m partial to EGL myself, but I really want to reach as many of the less-mainstream genres of fashion as I can.”

Lacy nodded, “That would be awesome, I’ll have to drag the other girls down there so we can go shopping sometime, thanks for taking your time to talk to us.” she smiled.

“Hey, not a problem. And girls?” she added, turning back to Casey with a grin, “I’m in the process of acquiring a smaller dressmaking dummy. It’ll actually cost less to make these in your sizes due to less material needed, so don’t hesitate to look around and find what you like. I do take special orders.”

“Cool! We will have to keep that in mind next time we go downtown. Thank you, I’m Lacy, this is Danielle, Jolien, Casey and Angel are the twins.”

“Well, as I said, I’m Annabell MacAlister. This lovely thing,” she added, pointing to Trina, “is my protege and assistant manager Trina, her girlfriend and my new favorite hairstylist and window display designer Laura, and … Nikki.” She giggled. “Sorry, Nikki, but there’s just so much pomp I can come up with before I run out of ideas.”

The girl identified as Nikki, wearing a black Heedless Despair t-shirt and a lazy smile, shrugged as she laughed. “Eh, you’re forgiven. How’s it goin’ Lace?” she asked, nodding toward Lacy.

Lacy shrugged. “Same old same old. We’re showing Angel and Casey the town. You and Robin should stop by the Academy some time. We can hang out, and you can avoid weird stares for holding hands with a girl,” she teased.

Nikki laughed. “Why? That’s half the fun. Anyway it sounds great. See you tomorrow night?”

“See you later,” Lacy called cheerfully as they started to walk away again. Casey giggled.

“Is it me or does Lacy know everybody in this town?”

Lacy blushed slightly. “I used to go to school with Chelsea and Nikki. Chels and I are still BFFs though. Nikki’s cool too. We just were never that tight. And then after I get a scholarship to Sunshine I found out she’s into girls,” she added teasingly.

“Oh cool, I’m glad you guys are still friends.” Angel smiled, “I think between her and her cousin Casey and I look down right sexy.” Taking a moment she added, “But even more so on my end.” sticking her tongue out at Casey.

Casey blushed bright red, causing the others to start giggling all over again.

Lacy piped in, “I think you went and broke her Angel.” She giggled.

Casey stuck out her tongue. “Hey, I’ve only been ‘out’ a day. I’m not exactly used to being called ‘sexy’!” she shot back, still blushing, but starting to giggle too.

Angel hip bumped Casey, “Are you trying to tell me im not sexy?” giggling, “Because if you are you won’t want to fall asleep tonight.”

“That’s like the no-win question though,” Casey answered thoughtfully. “If I say yes, then I’m a pervert who thinks her sister’s sexy. If I say no then I’m insulting you.” She grinned.

Danielle giggled, “That’s one smart girl!”

Casey giggled again and wrapped an arm around Angel’s shoulders. “I’ll answer it this way. I think you’re beautiful, and I’ve always wished I could look and dress exactly like you.”

Angel mock-pouted. “Saved by a technicality,” she teased, and started giggling too, “But you never had to wish Casey,” giving a wink as she giggled.

“So yea, lets go get some new clothes to add to our wardrobe I guess.” Casey giggled.

The five of them left and headed to the department store section of the mall: Macy's first, and by the time the girls left the mall and headed back to the waiting school van, they hardly touched their stipend, but had a lot of fun and got a lot of clothing.

“That was amazingly fun: just what the doctor ordered,” Angel said, just as the school van pulled up front to pick them up. This time however there was another passenger in the front seat.

The girls all climbed into the van putting their bags in the back first, "Mr. Summers, your wife would get so mad at you for having a young girl in the front seat with you," Lacy teased the couple.

The woman who looked in her mid to late twenties, with long golden blonde hair laughed. “You are such a tease, Lacy.”

The woman leaned back more for the benefit of Angel and Casey, “I’m Jonelle, Bailey’s wife, and I’m also a teacher at Sunshine. You must be the new girls I’ve been hearing about?” she asked with a friendly smile..

“Yes ma’am,” they answered in unison. “I’m Casey, and this is Angel.”

Jonelle smiled, “It will be very interesting to have twins in my classes.” saying with a double meaning because there were non-users present.

“Oh, what do you teach?” Angel asked.

“Middle School English and High School History. And Bailey teaches Music and Theater for all age groups.”

“Cool!” they both answered.

Jonelle and Bailey both shook their heads at the girls stereo answers, and Jonelle glanced at Bailey “This is going to be a fun year.”

Bailey laughed. “And just think, you’ll see them twice a day.”

Casey stuck out her tongue and giggled. “Like that’s a bad thing! Just for that we ought to take Music and Theater classes too!”

Jonelle giggled. “Serves you right, hon,” she teased, causing Bailey to laugh again.

“Really though,” Bailey added as they pulled away, “If you’re interested in music or theater, be it acting, stage management, singing, songwriting, or an instrument, or anything in between I’m more than happy to either personally help, or put you in touch with someone who can.”

“What about makeup?” Angel asked thoughtfully. Bailey nodded.

“One of our graduates from a couple of years ago is now a successful makeup artist in the movie industry out in Hollywood.”

“Cool!” the twins answered together again.

Casey said thoughtfully with a giggle, “You know, before today, Angel and I didn’t do twin speak ever... I not sure why we doing it now. I kind of like it though.”

Angel nodded her head in agreement. “I agree it’s really cool, it’s like we are real twins or something.” finishing with a giggle.

Jonelle laughed, “Well you two do look like you are identical twins.” which caused Bailey to laugh as they drove down the road back to the school.

~oOo~

Several hours after dropping the girls off at their dorms Bailey and Jonelle sat in their home on the campus and looked at each other with the same thoughts.

“I think I really like those two girls. They would make a great addition to the family.” Bailey smiled at Jonelle.

“Damn it Bailey I was thinking the same thing.” Jonelle giggled. “You have us acting just like the twins!”

Bailey laughed and squeezed her hand. “I was reading their student records a bit; it’s really sad what happened to them. We should go talk to Bethany about it, and if things work out, they can continue to live in their dorm room but we will be their parents?” he finished, giving Jonelle a light kiss on the lips.

“Ok, lets go talk to Bethany.” Jonelle grinned as she helped her Bailey to stand up from his chair.

The couple walked down the path to Bethany’s office climbing the steps they stopped outside her door then they both knocked. “It’s open, and you can come in.” came a reply from the other side.

Bethany smiled at the couple as they entered, “What can I do for you two today?” These two hardly ever came up to her office without reason, which is why she loved them as teachers; they knew how to handle their students.

"Bethany we have a question for you?" Jonelle smiled at the head mistress of the school as Bailey fidgeted a bit.

Bethany nodded at the couple. "Sure Jonelle, what can I do for you two today?"

Jonelle and Bailey both took a seat and smiled at Bethany, "Well Bailey and I were talking earlier after we brought the girls back from town, and well, I know it's a bit soon, but we want to know if we could start the paperwork to adopt Angel and Casey."

Bethany looked a little shocked, "I know you two have been trying to have kids of your own, don't you two think you should try to adopt one of the younger children?"

Bailey took this time to speak up, "Well we thought about that too, what if we do have our own child, this will give us a perspective of how to raise our child when it becomes a ‘tween and older." smiling at Bethany.

Bethany thought about it for a second then smiled, "I don't see why not. Let the girls get to know you better, but we can get the paperwork rolling now if you want. That way later down the road it won’t be so difficult." Turning around she went through her filing cabinet to pull out some generic adoption starter paperwork that she kept around because of the state.

Jonelle and Bailey both looked over the paperwork, and filled out the names of the girls, and their names signing it on the pages they needed to, “Say why is it you keep these around?” Bailey chuckled.

Bethany laughed, “It’s state and federal regulations, Ashleigh makes sure I keep at least a half dozen copies of these in my cabinet. So if you two are done, I’ll fax these over to her office and you two can go and get to know Angel and Casey and also let them know what you are up to.” the two left as Bethany started to fax off the paperwork.

A few moments after another knock on her door followed. “Come in it’s unlocked.” Bethany called out.

The door opened and a man in his mid to late thirties walked in with raven black hair, green eyes, standing around 6 foot 5 inches tall, wearing a black business suit. Bethany already knew who this man was because she was the persona of love. Her face fell a bit because she hoped to never meet him. “What can I do for you Sir?”

The man gave an evil grin, “I’m here about a set of twins that I would like to adopt and give a loving home to.”

Bethany sighed, “Angel and Casey I take it, and I will have to tell you then Sir, that they are already spoken for.”

The man frowned at Bethany, “You can call me Eric Johnson, and that is too bad, as I could have given them everything they ever desired.”

“There’s more to this world than material possessions, Mr. Johnson. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a school to run. Good day.”

Eric nodded his head, “As you wish, but before I leave, can you tell me the name of the lawyer who is handling the adoption? If not I can find out the hard way.”

“That would be Ashleigh McGreagor - and in the future, I recommend against idle posturing. It wastes your breath, and others’ time. You and I both know that information is publicly available. Now I’ll ask you politely to leave. Do not make me call security.”

Eric nodded his head again not wanting to cause waves yet, and turned to leave, “Good day ma’am” leaving the office and teleporting in plain daylight to the office of McGreagor.

“Mother I know you can hear me; could you please come! I need you!” Bethany sighed almost in tears. The evil and hate that Eric spewed from himself almost tore Bethany’s heart out.

Rather than the brilliant flash of light that signified Eric’s teleportation, Faith’s began as a subtle, warm glow in the corner of the room, growing only slightly brighter until she fully materialized, a second or two later.

Faith smiled at Bethany, “Hello my Princess; you called me?” she giggled softly unaware at the moment of Bethany’s trouble then she felt it and frowned.

Bethany frowned. "Mom, I need to talk."

"I know, little one. It's about the bad man isn't it?" Faith asked as she stepped closer.

"Yes," Bethany practically hissed.

"I can't directly interfere,” Faith answered gently.

"But he's abusing magic!" Bethany whined.

Faith nodded. "Yes, and there are checks and balances in place to deal with him if he goes too far - including the girls themselves.” She paused for a moment in thought. “Remember our earlier discussion about free will?”

Bethany nodded slowly. “Yeah, but... He wants to control them. I could FEEL the hate rolling off him.”

“Being evil isn't necessarily an abuse of power, though. Eva was evil and abusive of her power, and I punished her. Make sure the girls are trained, and things will stay in balance. Keep them protected until they’re ready.

“I can tell you that Bailey and Jonelle will make great parents for them.” Faith smiled, “I think you will need to do something about a summer study program for your Magic using students. Talk it over with Jonelle and Bailey they will both agree I’m pretty sure.”

Bethany nodded, “I’m sorry I question you all the time mother. It’s just that I don’t have the insight like you do with how the world works yet, I’m sure Kris and Marry don’t question you as much as I do.”

Faith laughed. “Darling, have you already forgotten what happened this last summer with Jennifer? I thought Kris wanted to punch me. I really should have considered giving him War.”

“I’m not saying they don’t but I seem to be questioning you far more then I should be.” Bethany sighed.

Faith stepped closer, and suddenly Bethany was in her true form. A moment later the reason became apparent, as Faith reached out to cup her face in her hands, leaning closer to kiss her forehead.

“There are no bad questions, and there are no wrong ones. Marry and Kris rarely question my motives, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want them - or you - to do so. You’re inquisitive, and a free spirit. It is one of the things I love about you. It is also why I chose you to be Love. Your free spirit, your willingness to question my intent, is part of what makes you who you are. I promise you, the truth behind this man, this Eric Johnson, will be revealed very soon.”

Bethany smiled at Faith with love in her eyes, “I always feel so much better after we talk mother, I’m sorry I doubt myself sometimes.”

Faith giggled, and a wicker rocking chair just seemed to materialize behind her as she sat down, pulling Bethany along with her right into her lap. “You have nothing to apologize for. Kris and Marry were older when I took them. I wanted to avoid the same mistake with you, so I brought you into the fold before you would have suffered as they had.

“The cost was that, in many ways, you are still a child, full of uncertainty in yourself. But I will always be here to catch you and to help you, to hold you if you need or want it,” she added with a soft grin.

“Did Marry and Kris really die at that asylum?” Bethany asked with sadness in her eyes.

“Yes Marry was shot in the back of the head for trying to escape, and Kris died getting a lobotomy, I wasn't able to save them from that. I will never make that mistake again.” Faith looked sad as she told Bethany.

Bethany frowned, snuggling into Faith’s shoulder. “I’m sorry that you had to let them die mom.”

Faith smiled at Bethany and kissed her forehead again, “It is something I deal with child everytime I look at those two. But I still love them and they love me.”

“I’ll have a magical staff meeting tomorrow then Mother, Thank you for coming and rescuing me from that.” Bethany smiled as she kissed Faith on the cheek.

“Good because after I need to have a meeting with you, Kris and Marry, It’s time I told you some more things about the universe.” Faith sighed.

Kris and Marry took that moment to appear in Bethany’s office, “Or we can have it now?” Kris smiled. “Sorry we weren't eavesdropping, but I felt something here, and I had to make sure Bethany was ok.”

Bethany leapt from Faith’s arms, right into Kris and Marry’s. Kris grunted a little, but Marry giggled and knelt to kiss Bethany’s cheek.

“I’ve never felt anything like that. It was like his very presence here was poisoning me.”

Kris frowned at that, turning to Faith as she stood, her chair vanishing again. “I thought no mortal could harm us? … He was mortal right?”

“Hate isnt a mortal. He’s my brother.. was my brother.” Faith sighed.

“But,” Marry began, but stopped short, looking quite confused.

“But you said the twins could handle him! They’re doomed!” Bethany cried out, but Faith shook her head, smiling gently.

“They’re part of a plan I’ve put in motion to save him. I locked him away a long time ago, He tried to take my powers once, and he learned from that, but he needs to see for himself that I’ve changed as well.”

“Why didn’t he just ASK you to make him more powerful?” Bethany asked, sounding as confused as Marry looked.

“Because I can’t. He’s part of existence, like me.”

“Is this one of those entropy doo-dads?” Bethany asked, causing both Marry and Kris to look at each other, mouthing ‘doo-dads?’ before returning their gaze to Faith.

Faith shook her head slightly, “No, this is a balance in a way, a scale. When I came to being he was the only thing here, standing before me he called me his little sister. He wasn’t always as bad as he is now.”

Marry let go of Bethany to approach Faith. “What worries me is, you haven’t fully recovered from what you did to Sarah and, to a lesser extent, Taylor and Michelle yet.”

“He won't try for me even weakened as I am. I have you three and many others to draw from, and for now it is just him. He isn’t stupid and knows I can kill him.”

“Still...” Marry answered thoughtfully, “If I were you I’d keep your dog on a tight leash for awhile. If he’s a manipulative type then he’ll probably use anyone who’s got a grudge against you.”

“I’ve taken care of loose ends. I hate destroying things but sometimes I have to do things I do not like to keep the universe balanced.”

“Indeed,” Kris answered quietly, voicing his strong support for Faith’s decision despite this being his only contribution to the conversation so far. Bethany looked up at him and frowned for a moment, but then she wrapped her arms around his waist and nodded as well.

“I know you didn’t like doing it Kris, but I thank you for helping me. I will try not to make you ever have to do something you don’t want to again.” Faith hugged him tightly.

Kris shrugged his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her. “Free will, remember? I could’ve said no. I actually think you’re right this time. She was a threat, and this way, she can properly redeem herself.”

It suddenly dawned on Bethany what they were talking about, “What did you two do to poor Eva?”

“‘Poor Eva’ was an evil, manipulative bitch,” Kris answered grimly, “But she’s not dead, if that’s what you’re thinking. I lent Faith my strength so that she could put a kind of magic lock on her. I didn’t know why at the time, but … The look in her eyes told me something was coming, so I decided to help.”

“I have one warning to you my children. Be careful, Hate is on the hunt to make his own Personas but you will always be more powerful then they are, just be careful.” Faith kissed each one on the forehead. “If all goes as planned, then you’ll have nothing to fear from my brother, but the very nature of our existence makes it impossible for even me to see if my plan will succeed.”

“Clever,” Marry commented thoughtfully. “That’s why he’s after the twins. It’s true that magic users make the most powerful personas isn’t it?”

Faith nodded, “It’s why I chose those who love and those two are powerful not only in magic but in their heart. You three were the most powerful magic users of your time, but you also cared about others before yourselves.”

Kris and Marry looked at each other and frowned. Marry spoke what was on both their minds. “If we were powerful magic users, with all due respect, there’s no way in hell we’d have been locked up in that asylum like that.”

“You were untrained. You all know about Accidental magic and what untrained users are like. There is no way you could have escaped on your powers, I just didn’t know about you two till it was too late again for that I am sorry.” Faith sighed a tear rolled down her cheek.

Marry and Kris both shrugged, Kris answering this time, “You’ve been apologizing for the better part of … Eighty? Ninety years? I know you think in terms of billions of years, but we’re still getting used to that kind of thinking. It was a long time ago for us, and believe me, it’s forgiven. Besides, we have these great bodies now,” he added with a genuine grin.

Marry had a thought deep in her head and she turned to Faith, “If you are supposed to be good, and he’s evil, why am I your persona of War and not his?” she had to ask.

Faith grinned, “Good question daughter. He will have a persona of War as well, but even good goes to war against evil, and who better to lead then you?”

“Hear that, Marry?” Kris teased, “You get to be the knight in shining armor!” He paused a moment for reflection on that thought, then added, “Erm, on second thought, perhaps not. That would leave me as the damsel in distress. That role didn’t work out too well for me in life.”

Faith giggled, “You two... And I know it’s going to eat you later Kris, as to why you are my Death and not his. Everything dies, be it good or evil, Death is mine and not his. He has no domain there. It is part of what makes me more powerful - for better or worse.”

“Um,” Bethany asked, raising her hand as if she were one of her students.

Faith looked at her youngest daughter. “You are not a student my Princess. You can talk anytime you wish.” Both Kris and Marry mouthed ‘Princess’ and stifled a giggle.

Bethany giggled. “I’m just trying to figure out where I come into all this. If you’re the universe personified, and he’s Hate, and I’m Love, does that mean we’re like, arch enemies, or is he just kinda there?”

“He never used to be Hate. That is what he choose to be called, like I was never Faith. We had no names. He isn’t your enemy either; he is mine.” Faith kissed Bethany on the forehead again.

“Okay, so how do I protect myself from him? Because just being in proximity to him felt like someone was tearing my heart out with a red hot poker...”

Faith nodded, “You won’t ever have to deal with him that much. He will create his persona’s for that, Just like I have you for to deal with things on a mortal level,” Faith answered vaguely.

Kris and Marry whispered something among themselves, and Kris couldn’t help laughing out loud. He cleared his throat, smiling innocently.

Faith grinned, “You two have something to share?” as she looked at Marry and Kris.

Kris glanced at Marry. Marry giggled. “We were just wondering if this means he’s going to get a job here in Alpine Springs too.” As she finished, Bethany’s eyes widened, and she started laughing too.

“I sure hope not. I can’t stand him in his current form, but I cannot stop him unless he attacks me personally.” Faith answered.

“I just can’t shake the mental image of him in a hair net now,” Bethany added, still laughing.

Faith started to giggle, “Knowing him that is beneath him. What he would probably do is start a R&D for the military here or something.”

“Oh, that brings up a good point,” Marry answered, still laughing to herself. “Two, actually, but I’ll get to the second one in a minute. Will I have to deal with another War, or some lesser pretender trying to be War?”

“Yes, to answer your first part of your question, and the answer to the second, the other War will be a lesser then you are. You will always be stronger then his. He was always jealous of my powers, and since I created you all, you will always be stronger then anything he creates.” Faith smiled.

“Not... looking forward to that,” Marry sighed. “My sister and I got along great, but my friend the next farm up used to bicker with his siblings constantly. I can’t help expecting the same from a “lesser” War.”

Faith nodded. “Hate for the lack of a better name to call my brother, isn’t evil, my children. He’s harboring bad feelings for me. Just because he’s fuming evil right now does not mean he or his persona’s will be evil later.”

Bethany stared blankly back at Faith. “But... How can someone who spews pure bile and hatred to the point that I was almost in tears from just being in the same room with him not be evil?”

“I had something to do with that.” Faith answered sadly. “I locked him away because we had an argument, and he tried to best me. I won, but even back then, spoiled brat that I was, I could not bring myself to kill him.”

Marry frowned slightly. “Yeah, I guess that’d piss anybody off. What’s he doing back? I mean did you let him free or did he sneak out when you weren’t looking or something?”

“I didn’t create his prison to hold him forever. That would have been cruel even then when I was indifferent to feelings I wasn’t a cruel evil heartless bitch.” Faith giggled.

“No, that’s my job,” Marry shot back with a grin.

Faith giggled more, “No Marry that really isn’t your job, War can be hell, but things come out of war that are necessary, look what you wrought after World War II. The medical science that came from that was astonishing.”

“The atomic bomb, not so much,” Marry answered ominously. “But I guess it’s like everything else - balance. I mean, superglue was invented in 1942 as a possible gunsight material. That didn’t pan out, but it has a thousand other uses.”

Faith nodded, “After Vietnam the United States learned some valuable lessons on warfare and also lowered the voting age to 18. They also eliminated the draft which saved millions of lives.”

Bethany stuck out her tongue. “Plus the Vietnam War gave us the most bestest things of all. TIE DYE! And GREAT music!”

Marry and Kris both giggled, “You crazy hippie.” Marry stuck her tongue out at Bethany.

“And proud of it,” Bethany bubbled happily.

Faith nodded, “I have a question for you Marry, speaking of your role. I know you have taken a passive role with Cassandra, but how is she doing? I promised to stay out of your affairs so I haven’t checked on her.”

Marry grinned. “You should see her now. She’s a one woman army. After saving Zoey she really took off. She’s even relocating to Alpine Springs soon I believe, if she hasn’t already.”

Faith nodded, “That’s good to hear daughter. I know she is your favorite human. I’ve seen you watch her.”

“Speaking of favorite humans, I completely forgot to ask you my second question earlier... Can you do me a really big favor and talk to Jennifer soon? I know that there’s been bad blood between you because of misunderstandings, and that you’re trying to give her her space, but I don’t want to see her fall down the wrong path and become one of Hate’s pawns. She’s better than that.”

Faith smiled, “You don’t have to worry about Jenn turning on me. She loves me, and I love her, but yes I will talk to her and let her know my brother is out again.”

“Thanks. I mean, I’m not against her becoming a persona in her own right - not at all. I just don’t want it to be for the wrong reasons.”

“Her and Nari will be in their seats. I intend to give it to them when the time is right - Nari has return to earth, and soon they’ll be together as they should have been all these years."

Marry blinked, turning to stare at Kris. Kris smiled sheepishly.

“Remember that thing, I kept telling you we needed to talk about? Yeeeah.”

Marry swatted Kris’ shoulder. “Jerk. You should’ve left me a note or something,” she teased.

“Ah, young love,” Bethany giggled, earning a double-tickling from both sides. She squealed, racing around to hide behind Faith.

Faith giggled, “Ok Ok, I love you all, but you two need to stop hiding yourselves from each other. Bethany is right; I can even see it.”

Marry blushed furiously as Bethany quietly approached, grabbing their hands. “I’ve tried to find someone for you Marry, and I’ve left Kris alone, but you two really are meant for each other.” She pulled their hands together then let go and grinned.

Kris glanced down at his hand, now holding Marry’s, and then looked up at her. She smiled wryly. “I’ve been waiting eighty years for you to ask me out, you big doofus.”

Kris blushed a bit, “You and I are best friends Marry, and... um... I didn’t want to ruin what we had you know?”

Marry smiled as she lay her head against Kris’ shoulder. “Yeah, I know. But that’s what love is. It’s building on friendship.” She paused and giggled. “Let’s um... continue this conversation in private later.”

“Awwww,” Bethany pouted. “Just when it was getting good!”

Faith nodded her approval, “Well I have some things to work on, and I want to have that conversation with Jennifer. I love you three and remember, Hate’s personas won’t be evil, and soon he may not even be Hate anymore then we can work things out between ourselves.”

Bethany continued to pout. “I still don’t trust him. But I won’t throw things at him if I see him.”

Faith nodded, “I do, and that’s all that counts daughter. I’m sure he learned what he was supposed to while locked away. He’s just still angry.”

“Um... But if you trust him, how come you got rid of Eva?”

“I don’t trust her.” Faith sighed. “If Hate were to meet with Eva, she could manipulate him to hate more.”

“Ohhhhhhh,” Bethany answered in a particularly elongated expression, her lips forming a perfect ‘o’. She nodded.

Faith nodded her head, “Again I won’t keep anything from you , I am manipulating my brother as well to see fit to forgive me.”

“Faith, manipulating people?” Kris teased. “I didn’t know you had it in you anymore.”

Faith giggled, “Sometimes I have to do things I don’t want to, for the better good of all things.” she glowed and disappeared to meet up with Jennifer.

Marry laughed. “There’s an interesting philosophical debate to be had there, but we’ll have to pursue it another day. Right now, I think Kris and I have about eighty years’ worth of things to talk about.” She grinned, Kris giving a helpless ‘oh crap’ glance as the pair vanished, still holding hands.

Bethany sighed and took on her adult appearance again, “I love them so much; too bad it took them this long to realize they loved each other.”

~oOo~

A raven haired man in his mid to late thirties walked into the Offices of Ashleigh McGregor’s in Alpine Springs. He was wearing a sharp business suit and had an air of complete arrogance surrounding him. “Hello Mrs. McGregor.” He had a smirk on his face.

Ashleigh was out at the front desk talking to her secretary at that very moment and turned to the man. “Hello to you; what can I do for you today?”

“Oh this and that. I would like to offer you some money, but only if you drop the adoption of Angel and Casey Owens so I may adopt them.”

Ashleigh eyed the man up and down with distaste in her eyes, “No amount of money would make me drop a case.”

The raven haired man had a nasty grin on his face, “Money talks.”

Ashleigh smiled, “You're right. Money talks, and right now it's saying you're facing at least five years in prison for attempting to bribe a federal employee which, by the way, as a legal representative of the state in adoption cases, I happen to be. You can turn your ass around and walk back out that door, or I can use my phone right now to call my friends at the FBI. What'll it be sport?”

The raven haired man sighed and frowned, ”You haven’t seen the last of me Mrs. McGregor.”

Ashleigh grinned, “I hope not. This is going to be fun.” as the man turned and left her office.

The man disappeared in a flash of light outside the office building, and in front of a young blonde haired woman with a smile on his face, “Hello there.”

The blonde girl who looked around fifteen stared at the man with a confused look on her face as she stood at the edge of the bridge ready to jump, “Um where did you um like come from?”

The man grinned a loving grin and offered her his hand, “Come with me and I will show you things that are beyond anything you have ever seen before.”

The girl looked frightened at the man, “But like I’m useless... Even my parents said so. I’m just a dumb blonde they said.” tears in her eyes rolled down her cheeks, her makeup ruined.

“Oh you are so much more then that pretty child.” He smiled at her, unaware that this girl was planted for him to find to melt his cold heart.

Hesitantly she reached her hand out and took his into hers, and he smiled at her. “Child of Faith, you are now my daughter of War.” He kissed her on the forehead as they both vanished. But it wasn’t as a lover or even a friend. It was a kiss as a loving father, comforting his daughter.

Faith appeared on the bridge with Jennifer and grinned broadly. “You picked the right choice daughter. Thank you.”

Jennifer giggled, her arm still wrapped around Faith’s shoulders. “She wasn’t really going to jump. She would have chickened out - that’s what most of the possibilities I saw suggested anyway, but...” she trailed off, frowning.

Faith nodded, “You know her don’t you? Other then your visions?”

Jennifer nodded. “I know her, yes, from cheer camp. We met this last summer. She was very unhappy, and … she would have remained unhappy for the rest of a very long life. This way she might - MIGHT be unhappy for a short time as she realizes the man she serves is going through a difficult phase, but in the end she will be much happier.”

“I wish things would have been different between me and him, but maybe he will see how much I do love him now.” Faith smiled.

“The girl was the great granddaughter of one of my host families by the way. I don’t know how her life ended up so badly - entropy I guess, but I owed her a second chance. She might be an untapped magic user, I’m not certain, but her heart’s big enough to make her a great persona.”

Faith nodded and kissed Jennifer’s cheek, “You were always my favorite Jenn. I’m sorry it took me so long to come home and fix things, but I’m back now.”

Jennifer smiled as she turned to Faith and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m just sorry that I wasted so much energy on misplaced blame all these years. For all that I’m as ancient as the customs of my people, I’m still a child sometimes.”

Faith nodded, “I still feel it is me to blame. I should have not taken off after I locked him away.”

“If there’s one thing I understand, it’s the pain of betrayal. That’s not a shot at you, by the way,” she quickly added with a grin. “There was a man like your brother in my village, jealous of my gifts. He was older, and believed himself wiser. I was a ‘petty child’, and he sought to control me. He earned his fate though, and his bones have long been dust. Your brother at least can be redeemed, I believe.”

Faith nodded, “He wasn’t always evil and can be brought back. You had seen his good side once. He gave you Nari as a gift remember, but he grew this hatred for me, this contempt that he was not good enough because I was stronger then he is.”

Jennifer, turning to stare out across the river from their vantage point, leaned against the support beam beside her. “That’s one thing that I don’t understand. In the course of my lifetime - my ‘real’ lifetime I mean, he went from benevolent to... Well, frankly insane. I didn’t think ‘gods’ could change on a mortal timescale like that.”

“I went from an uncaring ungrateful goddess to a loving goddess in a short time as well Jennifer. Remember how I was back then? I acted like a spoiled child when things didn’t go my way.” Faith sighed.

“I remember the volcano wiping out an entire war party from a rival village because they refused to heed our warnings about you planning to come and speak with us,” Jennifer answered with an amused smile.

Faith nodded, “That was just a small part of the selfless things I did back then. And then I abandoned you all because I couldn’t take what I drove my brother to become.”

“Does he know I already have a place with you? Because he’s sure to remember us if not.”

Faith nodded. “He can feel it, I’m sorry I took you from him. I know your place was supposed to be with him not me.”

Jennifer shook her head slowly. “No. Between the two of you, I chose to serve you as - if you’ll forgive my use of a mortal term, the lesser of two evils.” She grinned. “I know you’re not like that, and neither is he, but even before you gave me a visit with Nari, I wanted to work with you to try and do some good in this world, after he changed.”

Faith smiled, “Thank you daughter, Nari is his child, but you were always mine, he gave you Nari so you could be with him not because he wanted to take you from me, but that’s where you were supposed to be. It was a trade to bring our two people together. It wasn’t against your will to fall in love with Nari either.”

“If you ask it of me, I’ll return to him.”

Faith shook her head, “No it’s your free will to remain with me, and Nari choose to become part of me as well, it was her choice as well.”

Jennifer nodded, glancing back down at Faith. “But if you ask me, I will choose to return to him. If it will help. As long as Robin and the girls are safe.”

“No but I will have to call on you to help me find the rest of his personas Jennifer. I can’t do it on my own right now.” Faith sighed.

“You’re still weak aren’t you?” she asked, turning fully to face Faith now.

Faith nodded her head, “Two changes and one destruction of magic in such a short period of time has left me a bit winded as you would say.” She winked and smiled.

Jennifer laughed. “You need another vacation already? I know this great beach. Surfing, sand, coconut drinks with those tiny umbrellas...”

Faith laughed, “No daughter, I have a lot of work to do, and I don’t have time to take time off.”

“I’m at your disposal, of course.”

Faith nodded, “I need you to find me one more for him for now: someone who is powerful, just like your great great granddaughter.”

“What persona is he seeking next? As far as I know he can’t have Death, which also means he can’t have access to the spirit world, so no analogues to Kris.”

“No but he thinks he's going to have a persona of hate and loathing; what he's going to get next his equivalent to Love and Lust. Do not tell Bethany, but she will be stronger than her, but equal at the same time because his persona will have two jobs.”

“How is that... Ohhh,” she nodded, making that same perfect ‘o’ with her lips that Bethany had made earlier. “Oh man. I bet Marry was worried about her counterpart. Bethany’s the one who’s going to have a cat fight on her hands.”

Faith giggled, “No, I think those two will be very good friends... if not more,” she added, giving Jenn a wink.

“Ahh! Eww! Did not need that mental image!” Jennifer laughed. “But I’ll try and find someone who’ll compliment Bethany. Hey, what about Sarah?”

“I can’t use Sarah in my war with my brother, Jenn. I’ve used that poor girl enough as it is. Besides she’s got a place between me and him soon enough. Balance is going to be enough of a job for her.” Faith smiled. “There is that boy that Bethany punished. Can you see his future?”

Jennifer giggled. “Oh, the one Taylor almost got Bethany in trouble over! Talk about having your heart in the right place. I do like her.” She cleared her throat though and nodded. “I can try right now if you’d like? He’s in Alpine Springs, so it’s a lot easier.”

Faith grinned. “Sure. Then we can set up his meeting with her.“ Faith opened a mirror portal to watch the young boy dressed and enjoying being a young girl, “She is pretty isn’t she? My heart aches for girls like her. Boys her age can be so cruel sometimes when they don’t understand things.”

“She’s really transgendered?” Jennifer asked thoughtfully. “I thought Bethany was just using it as a punishment to teach what life’s like from our side at that age, after the way she attacked Taylor and her friends.”

Faith nodded, “Bethany didn’t know at the time, but she does now. She’s been keeping an eye on the young girl, but she can’t watch her forever. Let’s see what her future holds.”

Jennifer carefully wrapped her arms around Faith even as her hands began to glow a soft, greenish white. “Take my power and make it yours,” she whispered.

Faith took the power Jennifer offered and focused it on the mirror portal to show them the potential fates of the girl before them. All of them seemed to end up with her beaten to death by her old friends. Some turned out ok, but none of them turned into a happy life for her.

Jennifer flinched, and several seconds of silence passed as she stared blankly at the mirror. Finally she broke her silence. “I’m... confused.”

Faith looked up at Jennifer. “About what daughter? How a beautiful child like that could be abused like that?”

“I thought Sunshine Academy was supposed to encourage kids to explore who they are, including gender, but in at least five of those possible futures, it’s the kid’s former friends - and in one, her classmates, who beat her six ways from Sunday.”

“Those friends of his aren’t from Sunshine. They are from outside, and sometimes kids can just be cruel no matter how much tolerance you teach them.” Faith sighed. “Free will is a bitch, as you would say.”

“I guess you have a point,” she answered with a frown. “But still... Becoming a persona at that age... I’m worried about the repercussions, especially while he-slash-she is still trying to deal with and cope with Bethany’s punishment. But at the same time that could work out to your advantage, making him-slash-her appear to be an easy target.”

Faith nodded. “It’s either that or let her die young, and I’d rather her in this situation live a lifetime under my brother’s care. And he will care for her. I know him. His hate is for me and me alone. He will love her like a daughter - as I love all of my children.”

Faith used the last of Jenn’s energy that she had borrowed to set things to work. taking herself and Jenn to the site to watch. This time though, she brought Nari back as well.

As her ancient lover materialized, Jennifer nearly knocked Faith down sprinting to Nari’s side. “Nari!” she squealed happily, scooping her up in a hug that swept her off her feet, and spun her around once before kissing her. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon!”

Nari giggled and lay her head on Jennifer’s shoulder. She looked as though she wanted to say something more, but hesitated. “It is good to see you again as well, my beloved Island Princess.”

Faith giggled, "Now is not the time, you two love birds. All good things come to those who wait," and then winked.

“Can they see us?” Nari asked, still a little stunned by the sudden teleportation, but apparently understanding what was happening.

“Not even my brother will know we are here. That is your many many greats nephew. She is destined for greatness soon, so lets just watch. You won’t like what you see soon, but I promise it will end well.” Faith sighed as they stood outside the park watching the young girl play and some young boys watching her from a small distance. “I have foreseen this as the most likely of the girl’s futures. It pains me greatly, but I cannot interfere. And neither can you.”

The boys walked closer to the young girl playing. “Well if it isn’t the sissy-fag boy,” the older boy called out.

“Go away Mick!” the young girl cried.

The older boy looked at the other boys, “Ha ha! Go away? You think you can order US around now, you little bitch? Should we teach this sissy a lesson?”

Nari struggled to get out of Faith’s hold to help protect the boy, “No! Let me go Faith! She doesn’t deserve this!”

Faith held Nari tight along with Jennifer on the other side with a sad look on her face. “Nari, it has to happen for the events that are set to unfold. I am so sorry.”

“I promise this will end well,” Jennifer whispered despite her own tears.

The bigger boys surrounded the young girl and started to beat her, kicking her on the ground till she was unconscious. The older boy named Mick, kicked her in the head as they walked away. Suddenly the raven haired older man popped in to the scene with a flash of light, and his face was stricken with much sadness and grief. Jennifer thought she could see tears glistening on the man’s cheeks as he knelt.

“Oh my dear child,” he cried softly, “Stand up, and know no more pain.”

The child stood up and opened his swollen eyes. Despite the severe injuries, she seemed to be in no pain whatsoever. “Who are you?” she asked in a broken, confused voice.

“I am that is who I am, as she is who she is. This has saddened me child. Come closer. I took the name Hate, but I am not Hate.. “ His voice carried strong overtones of grief. “Your lineage was not meant for such an awful fate. Let me help you.” His body began to glow a rosy red color, and he embraced the girl as a father hugging a frightened child. He let go of her again, and then offered her his hand.

“Child, take my hand and forever you will be my persona of Hate. I can carry the burden no longer, but you... You know hate like no mortal could. I see it in you now,” he wept for the young boy/girl, not realizing that he didn’t create Hate at all. “Do you hate those boys that did this to you?” he asked, as the girl accepted his hand, and the red energy flowed into her body.

Nari looked to Faith, “Did he really make her the Persona of Hate? Why did you let him do that?!”

Jennifer gently nudged Nari’s side and pointed at the scene, whispering, “Watch what happens next, my love. You’re going to like this.” She almost giggled as she said it.

The young girl looked at the man, but she didn’t answer right away. After several seconds passed, as her wounds began to mend themselves, she shook her head softly. “I don’t hate anyone. I don’t hate Bethany either. She opened my eyes to what I am,” she replied with a childlike innocence, shocking the older man.

The man dropped to his knees in front of the child, “You can’t defy my decisions sweet one. Unless...” the man craned his head around slowly and scowled. “Dear sister, I know you are there somewhere. Show yourself.”

Faith grinned knowing he would know, as this was all part of her plan, but remained unaware of the other two present - at least for now. She stepped out of nowhere into existence once more and gave a little curtsey. “Hello dear brother. I see you found your next persona?” she asked innocently.

“You interfered Faith,” he growled as he stood to face her. :What gives you the right to do such things? You are still the brat you were when you locked me away. I should have ended you when I had the chance.”

Jennifer’s soft laugh carried on the breeze at that, and she stepped through to reality, holding Nari’s hand. “Hello old man,” she said with a cheerful smile.

“Wait! I know you... You are Jennifer in this life, and in that body, but I see your true name etched upon your soul, Spirit Guardian... and that must mean you are Nari?” he looked them over, “You two have changed much. You both have.”

“A lot has happened...” Jennifer answered simply, holding onto Nari’s hand firmly.

“Only a child of my creation can defy my word. She is yours then Nari?” the man looked at his Nari.

“She is, but I am no longer yours, Father. I belong to Jennifer and she belongs to Faith still so I am Faith’s. I’m sorry.” Nari looked at the man before her who she once called her god.

The man stood up and looked at his sister. Anger, but something else as well, flashed in his eyes, “You take my children now too Faith?”

Jennifer stepped forward now, putting herself between them. “No. I chose to follow Faith, but it was not a decision I made lightly. I chose, for the good of humankind, to follow Faith in your absence.”

Faith put her hand on Jennifer’s shoulder and shook her head, “I have this dear child, this is now between us.” She walked around Jennifer and put a finger to her brother’s chest. “You will listen while I talk. I have two thousand years of a story to tell you in a short time.”

Jennifer followed Faith, but only so she could kneel beside the child, whispering, “Are you okay?”

The girl nodded her head as she watched her new father and her aunt, “I’m ok Jennifer,” she answered, looking a little confused, not sure how she knew the older girl’s name. Jennifer nodded, gave the girl a gentle hug, and then stood to return to Nari’s side, watching Faith and her brother carefully.

“This feud dear brother almost made me destroy existence. I left earth for a long time after I locked you up. I came to figure it all out in a short time as I observed humans. I fell in love with them.

“I’m sorry I touted my power over your head, back then, and I’m sorry it seems that I’m doing it again, but I am not. I’m trying to help you. These two Personas I could have taken. They are very powerful in magic, but instead I offered them to you.” she sighed, “Can’t you see I’m asking you to forgive me?”

He looked deeply into Faith’s eyes for several seconds before responding slowly. “I am older then you Faith, but you were born as the universe and I, stuck with the subverse. How do you call that fair? A spoiled, petulant child given the greatest power in all the cosmos.”

Faith looked into her brother’s eyes as well, her light blue eyes shining in the mid-afternoon light. “It isn’t fair, you’re right, but whatever created us chose that for us, not you nor I. We are just what we are, big brother. I’ve grown up despite this body, and I’ve learned much. Watching my friends, who would become War and Death, suffer, and be murdered, for being true to themselves was the second-greatest sorrow that I have ever felt. It changed me.”

Bethany, Kris, and Marry chose that moment to make their presence known, albeit by quietly stepping up behind Jennifer and Nari. Marry lay her hand on Jennifer’s shoulder to let her know, as Bethany peeked out from behind Kris, using him as a shield.

The young girl that was just turned into a persona was joined by a blonde girl who put her arms around her and held her, standing near the raven haired man.

“You’re asking me to forgive you. You tricked me into taking the two most powerful mages you could find and turned them into my personas so you could ask me for forgiveness...”

He looked at the two young people standing near him, and then turned to Faith and hers. “I forgive you, sister, if you forgive me. But I have a request. These two belong in this universe, not the subverse. Will they be allowed to continue their lives here, or should I forbid it on your wish?”

Bethany looked at her former student then to her mother and back watching as the last of the young girls wounds healed before her eyes, and a beautiful young girl took her place. She grinned proudly.

Faith stared into her brother’s eyes for several agonizing seconds, as if she were searching for something. Finally she giggled and threw her arms around him. “Of course they can stay! I would not dream of forcing them out, even if you hadn’t accepted my apology! They, as you, are always welcome here.”

He smiled as he hugged his sister tightly whispering in her ear, “I still won’t abandon my goal of getting those two twins. You already have a set.” He winked.

Faith laughed. “Free will, dear brother. I had nothing to do with what happened earlier today. And the other two are merely under my protection. However, I will concede this much: they are traveling in circles of my influence. The new Coven will invite them to join, and I plan to bless that coven, and allow its expansion. My plan was to do this, with or without the children though.”

Eric chuckled at what Faith said, “Still dear sister, a good jest of a game, I want them, but I won’t use my magic to influence the game, I promise.”

Marry casually strode over to her new counterpart, looking her over as she looped her thumbs in her pockets and slowly walked around her, giving her an appraising glance. The blonde watched Marry nervously, and jumped a little as her elder counterpart stuck out her hand.

“Name’s Marry. Think you’ve got what it takes to keep up with me?”

The blonde, still not over her mortal coils yet shyly took Marry’s hand, “Like um, maybe? We’ll see I guess?” she smiled a little however.

Marry laughed, pulling her into a light hug. “I’m just messing with you dearie. Welcome to the ‘family’ - Both of you.”

Bethany looked at the girl who moments ago looked beaten to death, then looked at her uncle and mother, “So what persona is she?”

Faith giggled rather sheepishly as she turned to Bethany, still hugging her brother tightly. “What is the opposite of hate, my little princess?” she asked as if posing a riddle.

“Love? But I’m Love!” Bethany complained. She wasn’t in her adult form, which made the outburst even more adorable.

Faith giggled, “Yes but the Subverse had no persona of love until now. Her job won’t interfere with yours.”

Kris cleared his throat, leaving his post of guarding the two not-yet-but-almost personas to approach. “Um, about that... Could one of you crazy kids explain to us not-really-gods what a subverse is?”

Faith giggled and Eric laughed as he spoke first, “The Subverse is a part of the universe that co-exists with this one, except in the subverse things run slightly differently. You can’t tell me being Death you haven’t been there to take the dead to the afterlife yet?”

Kris stared blankly at the pair. “Gee, Faith, you think you could have mentioned that eighty years ago? Man, I’m going to catch hell from a friggen MOUNTAIN of pissed off souls for this.”

“You should have known Kris. You can feel the dead can’t you?” Faith grinned. “You should see about that soon.”

“S’cuse me, folks. I’ve got some catching up to do,” he grunted, vanishing for a moment. And reappearing a moment later next to Marry. Before he could say anything, she laughed and pressed a finger to his lips.

“Yeah, yeah. I waited this long, I can wait a few more days. Go. Reap.”

“Thanks,” he answered sheepishly, kissing her cheek. He then turned to Jennifer and Nari. “You two: you’ve just been conscripted.”

“Huh?” Jennifer asked, blinking.

“You’re a Spirit Guardian. You’re the most powerful spirit user in existence. You and Nari are going to help me clean up this mess. You DO want to spend more time with Nari right?” he asked, grinning broadly.

“Well since you put it like that... Let’s go reap some souls!”

Nari giggled and kissed Jennifer’s lips as the three faded from view.

Bethany giggled a little as she approached the newly reborn Alexa. “Umm... Sorry about... All this. I really was trying to help you.”

Alexa turned to Bethany and giggled, throwing her arms around her. “I know what you were doing for me Bethany. I realized it with the help of Taylor and her friends, and then I figured something else out. I realized that I wanted to be a real girl. I didn’t want to admit it, but I LOVED shopping with you. I had to stop myself twice from calling you Mom that day. And now I am a real girl, like Marry was once a boy and now a girl.” she babbled, though she wasn’t sure where she got that information from either.

Bethany giggled at the confused look. “You’ll get used to that feeling, by the way. So, um, does this mean I’m not going to be your principal anymore?”

“Well I was kinda hoping I didn’t have to go to school anymore, but Father wishes me to continue attending so I can learn what it means to be a Persona from someone who’s been doing this job for awhile.”

“Yay! I’ll personally help you.” She paused and grinned. “Besides, you look damn cute in a plaid skirt,” she added playfully.

“Can I atleast pretend to be a high schooler?” she giggled.

Bethany laughed. “I suppose, but then what’d we tell your new friends?”

Alexa frowned a little then smiled, “Well I know they would be happy if Alexa got adopted and had to move away. I mean they would be sad for awhile, but then they would be happy for her.”

“Good point. We’ll put our heads together and write some super-super-super sappy story about how Alexa moved to be with her new family in England and how she has walk-in closets full of beautiful things to wear, and never ever has to worry about being hurt again.” Bethany clapped her hands together excitedly and giggled, bouncing up and down.

Alexa grinned, “In my high school girl form you can call me Trisha or something, I don’t know.” she giggled, watching Bethany’s excited bouncing.

“Oooh!” Bethany suddenly squealed. “I’ll create a new teen version of myself so you’re not starting over alone! I never got to be a teenager either.”

Alexa reached out for Bethany’s hand. Both girls being the persona of love from different sides of the multiverse already knew their fate, but neither seemed to mind. “Let’s go shopping then! I need a teen wardrobe and so will you.”

“Awesome! So, you’ll be Trisha... I guess that makes me... Um.. Annie! You know, Beth Any.” She giggled as the pair faded from view, leaving just Faith, Eric, Marry and the subverse War.

Marry looked at the new girl with a grin. “You any good at chess?”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “I LOVE chess! But like, I can never find a partner because everyone thinks I’m like, just a stupid bimbo. Oh I forgot to tell you my name”

“Lisa right?” Marry answered with a grin as the two faded out to go play a game of chess.

Faith smiled at her brother. “So a friendly wager on the twins?”

“How about, if I win you renounce your powers to me?” he answered with a clearly teasing grin.

Faith giggled, “You know I can’t do that. But how about this, If you win, you get the next powerful magic user to have as another persona, otherwise if I win, I get that person?”

“You really have changed, haven’t you?” he answered thoughtfully as he lightly tousled her hair.

Faith giggled happily at his touch, resting her head against him. “Yes I have. I learned a lot in a short period of time.”

Eric smiled down at Faith and kissed her forehead. “Then you’re on.”

Faith nodded. “Deal. But don’t take it TOO personally if Ashleigh throws you out on your ass. She is a strong-willed one, even without me getting involved.” She winked.

Eric laughed, “How about I create a new mortal to counterbalance her? Eh, one without magic.”

“That does seem fair. I’ve had years to set things in motion so I’ll also let you see what I’ve been doing so you’re not trying to play a game of chess with my half of the board completely covered.”

Eric hugged Faith, “I trust you. I trusted you before; I just went mad with how much power you had and how little I had. I’m so sorry Faith. Seeing that little girl suffer broke my heart so.”

Faith giggled to herself. “I know, big brother. It’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back. Lets go see your home, shall we?” Eric smiled as they both disappeared from the earth.

~oOo~

Back at Sunshine Academy Bailey and Jonelle knocked on Angel and Casey’s dorm door. “Are you two busy?” Jonelle called through the door.

“Be right with you!” both girls called wearing bath towels around themselves as they quickly picked clothes to wear to greet their visitors so they wouldn’t be naked. Both girls quickly dressed, and Angel answered the door, “Mr. and Mrs. Summers, what are you two doing here?

Bailey smiled, “Well we are here for two reasons. Reason one, I know that it’s not been more than 24 hours since your parents passed away but me and Jonelle were wondering if you wouldn’t mind if we adopted you?” he asked, giving the girls a smile.

Jonelle smiled as well, “The second reason is we wanted to welcome you to the school.” she turned around and picked up a tupperware case with a apple pie in it.

“Adopt us?” the girls asked in unison, too stunned to even notice the offer of pie. Casey spoke up first.

“But... You hardly know us.”

“It’s not that we’re ungrateful,” Angel continued.

“It’s just really surprising,” Casey finished.

Bailey and Jonelle nodded, “I know that it seems fast, but both of us had read your reports and why you are here, and it breaks my heart that your parents treated you both so poorly.” Jonelle sighed, “Just give us a chance, and get to know us as well. I’m sure you both will love being our children.”

The girls both giggled, Angel responding, “Sure, there’s no harm in that.”

Casey nodded. “You both seem nice, and we were serious about looking forward to your classes.”

Bailey grinned, “We live in the teacher housing on this side of campus, but you two can continue to live in this dorm room if you want. We won’t be that far away, and you both can come and go in our home as you want.”

Casey frowned thoughtfully for a moment. “You guys do know what Pink House was set up for? I mean... Why I’m here?”

Bailey and Jonelle both laughed and Jonelle spoke up, “Casey, we know all about you and your sister. I teach the girls side Magical Arts class, and Bailey teaches the boys how to control their magic, so we also know you were a boy as well, and we don’t care.”

“Magical what?!” they both answered in unison, utterly shocked.

Jonelle blushed, “Sorry, dear. You weren’t to know that yet. Go ahead and ask Jolien, and she’ll explain it to you. Unfortunately Bailey and I have to go meet with Bethany and the new vice principal.”

“Oooo-”

“kaaay...” the girls finished each others’ thought perfectly. As the two adults left, the girls raced across the hall, pounding on Jolien’s door. “Jolien! Jolien tell us you’re home!”

Jolien answered her door, her hair wrapped in a towel and anotherwrapped around her body, “What?” she looked at the two a little annoyed..

The girls froze and stared for a second or two. “... Sorry,” Angel began.

“It’s just Jonelle and Bailey just said something REALLY crazy and then ran off. They told us to ask you.”

Jolien looked between the crazy twins for a second. “What did they say to you then?” she asked, motioning for the two to come in so they can get out of the hallway and talk in private. Jolien’s roommate, the girl from the espresso stand, was sitting at her desk finishing some writing on her laptop. She glanced up from her writing, but the typing continued.

The girls stepped inside, but glanced at Jolien’s roommate for a second before answering. Angel stood up on her toes, cupping her hand over Jolien’s ear because she just knew this was going to sound completely insane. “She said she was a magical arts teacher. I think she’s gone ‘round the bend this time,” she said, quoting her favorite movie.

Jolien giggled as she fell onto her bed looking back at her roommate and girlfriend, “Our two twins here have begun to delve the secrets of Sunshine, Cassidy. Mrs. Summers has told them about her special class.”

The pair turned in unison from Jolien to the girl identified as Cassidy, completely unblinking, and then back to Jolien again. “You’re all insane,” they answered in unison.

Jolien shook her head, stood up and pointed to the door. The girls almost thought she was telling them to leave but as they turned around the door was gone and instead was their bedroom on the other side of the frame. “Chaos magic at its best, no? I also know that you two used your magic twice at the mall!” she added cheerfully.

The twins looked blankly confused.

“Where do you think Danielle’s shoes and the gelato came from - thin air? Lacy and I were watching you two the ‘ole time.”

The look on the twins faces was priceless, as if a lightbulb went off over their heads.

“Cassidy, do you have magic?” Angel asked.

Cassidy giggled, “I don’t have magic, but I do have a power called Magic Sight. I’m actually quite adept at it. I can see auras and discern from that, the strength and nature of others’ abilities.”

Jolien stood from her bed and walked over to wrap her arms around Cassidy from behind, leaning down to kiss her lips. “You can see me at my best. This is all the magic that matters.” She grinned softly, glancing back at the still-stunned girls.

“Did I break you?” she asked, a tinge of concern in her voice.

“THAT’S AMAZING!” the girls practically squealed, once the shock of Jolien’s portal had finally fully sunk in. “How did you do that?!” Angel added.

Cassidy pushed her laptop closed, reaching her hands up to rest them on Jolien’s. “You can go ahead and get your shower, babe. I’ll unbreak the girls.” She grinned brightly, showing off her purple braces again. Jolien laughed and kissed her one more time before reluctantly pulling away and heading into the bathroom.

Cassidy turned to the twins, “Jolien is a Chaos magic user, and she also has a second power that she hasn’t shown me yet. She can do some pretty amazing things with her first power however. As Jolien pointed out, you both glow with an incredibly strong magic aura, but I’m not sure what kind it is yet. It’s an aura I’ve never seen before..”

“This is really-”

“Confusing. Bethany said-”

“Magic isn’t real, even when-”

“Angel joked about it,” the pair rapid-fired Cassidy.

Cassidy nodded, “It’s what magic users tell others who aren’t ready or don’t have powers, that magic is not real. But I think that since Jonelle told you about her class, that you two will be training in your powers soon.”

“Our powers? You... You really see something?” Casey asked.

Cassidy nodded her head, “A very dark pink glow around you both. I’ve seen a similar glow before, but not this shade. Though it would explain the other person with a pinkish aura...” She trailed off thoughtfully and smiled. “Besides, if Jolien and Lacy saw you using magic, that just confirms what I’m seeing right now.”

“We’re pink!” the pair announced with a hyper giggle.

“Oh, that totally reminds me, I snuck a bottle of pink hair dye when you weren’t looking!” Angel added as if the whole ‘by the way you’re magic’ discussion hadn’t just happened seconds before.

Cassidy giggled, “Well I need to take a shower and get ready to go down to the commons to get dinner. You girls should join us.”

Angel grinned, “Only after I dye Casey’s hair with a pink streak like mine!”

“We’ll see you later!” Casey announced cheerfully. “Oh, hey, before we go one last question! Does everyone in Pink House know about this magicky stuff, or just the four of us?”

Cassidy shook her head, “No. The users in Pink house are you, Angel, Jolien, Lacy, and a girl named Dove upon the fourth floor. There are users in each of the other houses as well, however.”

“Cool!” the pair announced and turned to race through the door to their bedroom, courtesy of Jolien’s magic. Once safely on the other side of the portal, it closed, leaving their closed door behind them.

Angel and Casey looked at each other and at the same time they both announced to each other, “That was frickin weird and cool!”

At that exact moment their phones chimed for a text message. They both jumped slightly, whipping out their phones to see what the received message was.

The text message read, ‘School announcements - Cheerleader tryouts next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday new basketball team and football team tryouts. - Signed Head mistress Bethany and Vice Principal Alexa.’

“Bo-ring!” they announced in unison and giggled as a second text message rang through to their phones which read, ‘Tomorrow, magical arts orientation begins. ALL magically inclined students that live on campus must attend. This means you, girls ;-) - Signed Head mistress Bethany and Vice Principal Alexa.’

“Wow... So this is for real,” Angel giggled. “I mean... Cassidy and Jolien and Jonelle and Bailey aren’t just screwing with us.” She paused thoughtfully. “Then again that was a hell of a neat trick with the door.”

Casey gasped, causing Angel to stare at her. “What?”

“You said hell!”

Angel giggled. “You just said it too. And look, no alarms, no screaming parents. I love this place.”

“Did you notice Bailey and Jonelle didn’t even notice our belly button rings too?”

“I’m sure they did, but they aren’t our parents yet so they can’t say squat!” Angel giggled, “Right now Stephanie is our parent, and she said we could do almost anything we wanted. Besides if they disapprove then they wouldn't be cool parents and I don’t want parents that are not cool.”

Casey nodded, replying in her best Valley Girl voice. “Like, I don’t want uncool parents either! Our real parents were total bitches, or something!”

Angel giggled loudly. “Like, totally fer shure!” she shot back as she took the bottle of pink dye from one of her shopping bags, still sitting in a neat row by her closet, and went into Casey’s bathroom, “Let’s get you that streak you wanted. I don’t know about you but I’m totally hungry.”

Casey followed Angel and ten minutes later, emerged with her new pink streak, making it even more difficult to tell the two girls apart. She giggled happily, turning around to hug her sister.

“I love you Angel! You’re the best!”

“Love you too Casey, always and forever.” Angel giggled.

“So what are we wearing for dinner?” Casey asked. “I think we should wear our cute new shoes, but I don’t know what to pair with them.”

“This!” Angel bubbled as she emerged from ehr closet and held up a light pink plaid skirt and a white blouse.

“Oh, that’s cute! You’re so much better at this than me,” she added then turned and disappeared into her closet, emerging with the same outfit a few seconds later.

“Hey don’t down yourself. You have good taste too. I mean, you picked these shoes!” Angel grinned as she changed.

“Yeah. I can’t believe I found another pair in Danielle’s size! God she was so happy,” Casey bubbled as she started to change too. “Hmm. Now what socks... I was thinking the white ones with the cute lace, but that might be too girly. But they’d look so cute with these shoes.”

“Magic, remember?” Angel answered. “But if magic means we get to make cool people like Danielle happy, I’m all for it!”

After the girls finished getting dressed, they stepped out of their room just as Jolien and Cassidy emerged, holding hands. Jolien had on a sleeveless black dress that fit very tightly, with the mid-calf high boots she bought earlier, and Cassidy wore a purple scoop-neck dress that matched her glasses, with a pair of flats that, except for missing the bow, looked a lot like the shoes the girls were wearing.

Casey giggled. “Nice shoes,” she added cheerfully. Cassidy stuck out her tongue and laughed.

“I can’t wear heels. I topple over every time.”

“So she says, but I plan to teach her how to walk. I will teach you both as well, when you are just a little bit older!” she added with a playful wink.

Both girls giggled then Jolien asked, “So now you both look so alike how will we know which one is which?”

The girls looked at each other and giggled. “Guess!” they announced.

Jolien looked between the two for a moment then pointed to the one of the left, “Angel?”

“Casey,” Cassidy answered with a laugh.

Casey blinked a few times. “How’d you know?”

Cassidy giggled. “Magic sight, remember?” But then she paused, grinning broadly. “Actually, I can smell your hair dye from here. There’s complex science involving the way air currents work in these dorm halls, but I’ll just leave it at ‘hair dye’,” she finished with an innocent, half-nerdy grin.

“Well shoot. Try it again tomorrow!” both girls said in stereo.

“It’ll be interesting to see if I actually can use magic sight on you two... Most twins have a tell, but as far as either of us can tell you two don’t - not even in your auras. It’s remarkable.”

“You are more identical than most twins,” Jolien added with a nod as they started down the hallway together. “I suppose I could perhaps grow a wart on one of your noses?” she teased.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Both girls cringed.

Jolien held up her finger and then reached up to scratch her cheek, giggling. “No, I wouldn’t. Even if there weren’t restrictions on using magic against others.”

Angel and Casey both nodded, “Did you two get the notice about Monday?”

“Yep,” Cassidy answered, “But cheer’s not really our thing.”

Casey and Angel giggled and Casey started, “That is-”

Angel finished, “Next monday.”

Both girls blurted out, “We meant this Monday.”

“But now I can’t get the mental image of Jolien in a cheerleading uniform outta my head...” Cassidy pouted playfully, giggling as Jolien gave her shoulder a light swat.

“I am not athletic enough for those … tricks? Stunts? Whatever they are called. But yes, we received the notice about the magic studies - and yes, Headmistress was addressing you in her PostScript.”

“Oh good. So we’ve decided you two are not insane, nor is Jonelle and Bailey” both girls giggled.

Jolien and Cassidy shook their heads and Jolien spoke, “You know you two are insane right?”

Casey laughed, “Two staff members plus our dorm mates telling us Magic is real and then opening a... I-don’t-know-what to our room from their own room... That feels pretty crazy, yeah.”

“Completely mad,” Angel added. “Just needs a white rabbit with a pocket watch.”

Jolien giggled, “I can manage that next time. Do you want it to say ‘I’m late I’m late for a very important date’? because if you do that, um, ‘ow do you say costs extra?”

Angel cackled. “I wanted to be Alice for Halloween for the longest time, but Mom wouldn’t let Casey wear what she wanted, so it didn’t feel right.”

“We went as Peter Pan and Wendy a lot,” Casey added. “At least I got to wear tights.”

Cassidy and Jolien both giggled as they got in the elevator to go down, “Sounds fun.” Cassidy responded.

The twins followed, and Angel nodded. “Especially the day after when I made Casey parade around my room in my Wendy costume.”

“‘Made’, huh?” Cassidy teased, grinning at Casey. She giggled.

“Enthusiastically volunteered,” Casey answered. “Not sure what I’ll do this year. Maybe go as Sleeping Beauty or something. Blonde and pink.”

Jolien had been about to say something, when the elevator doors opened onto the lobby, and two new girls carrying a load of luggage each stood waiting. One of them had waist length sandy brown hair, wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt with a heart air-brushed at the center. She also has a guitar in a gig bag strapped to her back The other girl had strawberry blonde hair, wearing a pink skirt and a black midriff shirt showing off a dangling belly button ring.

“Hey, cool piercing!” the twins announced in unison as they stepped off, followed by Jolien and Cassidy.

“New residents? Bonjour, and welcome to Pink House!” Jolien announced with a sweeping gesture and a cheerful smile. “Do you need help with those?”

The strawberry blonde girl popped a bubble with her gum and smiled brightly. “Sure, but looks like you girls are all going on a date or something. We don’t want to keep you.”

Casey and Angel looked at each other and started laughing. “We’re not,” they announced in unison, and turned back to Jolien and Cassidy, adding, “You guys go ahead.”

Jolien and Cassidy both shook their heads, “Ok fine, but don’t scare the new girls, ok?” Cassidy replied, grinning.

“Who, us?” they asked in unison, giggling as they turned to the new arrivals.

“I’m Casey by the way,” Angel said with a cheesy grin.

“And I’m Angel,” Casey finished. They stopped, looked at each other, and giggled.

“Wait. Strike that. Reverse it,” Angel said.

“Bethany warned us about you two.” The sandy brown haired girl giggled.

“We’re not THAT bad,” Casey answered as she took some of the girl’s suitcases and bags.

“Usually,” Angel added.

“Oh, I’m Trisha,” the blonde-haired girl said as she handed over some of her luggage. “This is my girlfriend B- I mean Annie. We both just applied after researching GLBT-friendly schools online over the last year.”

Angel smiled, “Cool I’m transgendered.” giving Casey a wink, “So what floor are you on?”

The blonde haired girl looked at the two confused, “Neither one of you could be transgendered, or the both of you, because you both look like identical twins.”

“Near-identical,” Casey answered. “But only because Angel has her nails painted, and I haven’t had time to do mine yet.” She grinned innocently at the bad joke.

The two new girls shook their heads and laughed. Annie spoke, “So really, I bet you are both lesbians are something and pulling our legs about being transgendered right?”

The elevator stopped on the third floor and opened. “Well that answered my question.” Angel giggled.

Annie nodded. “Seems like it’s hard to get people to voluntarily take the upper floors for some reason.”

“Not me,” Trisha added, giggling. “I LOVE heights. Bungee jumping, skydiving... But Annie and me really just took the first available dorm room that would let us stay together. We didn’t tell them we’re dating, but I think they kinda knew anyway,” she giggled. Annie rolled her eyes.

Angel nodded, “Well if you share a wall with Casey and I, can you promise to keep the noise down?” she teased, giggling..

Annie and Trisha looked at each other and giggled, the former answering, “Only if you promise to do the same.” She grinned, earning a playful swat from Trisha.

“Be nice!” she laughed.

Angel and Casey both looked at each other “Eeeewww gross!”

Annie giggled. “I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t resist. But you don’t have to worry about us.”

“Except that Annie snores like an old sow,” Trisha added with a nod.

Annie swatted Trisha again, “Well atleast I dont talk and grind my teeth when I sleep.”

“I keep telling you if you let me chew on your neck I won’t grind my teeth,” she shot back playfully as they started down the hallway toward their room, one room down from Jolien and Cassidy’s.

“And Ms. Bethany warned you about us?” Casey giggled.

“Maybe she meant to warn us about you instead?” Angel added.

“So have you two been here long?” Trisha asked as she unlocked the door to their room with her student ID card.

Casey went to speak but instead they got stereo again, “No we just got here ourselves.”

“Oh cool, so we’re not the only new girls,” Annie chimed in cheerfully as she set some of her bags down on the bed, haphazardly tossing the duffel bag into the bathroom with a loud thud that echoed throughout the tiled room. She carefully set her guitar down on the bed and opened the case to reveal a brilliantly bright pink sparkling guitar. “We just got off the plane a couple of hours ago.”

Angel spoke without stereo this time, “Where did you two come in from?”

Annie stopped suddenly and glanced over at Trisha, who without missing a beat replied, “We’re from Omaha. Nice place, but we wanted to go to school somewhere guys wouldn’t constantly be catcalling us when we’re holding hands or something.”

~oOo~

Cassidy pulled Jolien aside, whispering “Something strange about those two.”

“Ooooh?” Jolien asked.

“The one with the tie-dyed shirt, has an identical magic aura to Ms. Anderson, IDENTICAL. I’ve never seen Ms. Anderson’s magic aura anywhere else. I mean down to the tee, dot the i’s, identical. She could be Ms. Anderson’s twin, like the girls, except that they’re drastically different in ages. The other one has a similar aura too.”

“Hmm.. We have to watch those two,” Jolien said thoughtfully.

Cassidy added, “Until I met Angel and Casey today, I’d never seen anyone with identical auras. Everyone has something different about their aura, so this has me confused... I can understand Angel and Casey; they’re twins. If you can’t tell them apart externally, why would you be able to tell them apart magically?”

“That is where your powers are so handy Cassidy. I really think that we should be watching them,” Jolien answered as they entered the food court area of Pink House to get some food..

“I agree. There’s something screwy going on here. Let’s not mention this to anyone just yet though. It could be a cosmic coincidence.”

“I feel compelled to make a joke about coincidence and The Force,” Jolien teased, “Were you serious about Angel and Casey’s colors being pink?”

Cassidy nodded her head, “First time I’ve seen that shade of pink. I’m going to ask Jonelle on Monday if she knows what the color represents in magic.”

“What ever it is it is very powerful. I mean they made an whole restaurant appear without them knowing they did it. I wonder if it is rare? Because I thought you knew all aura colors. I mean, you can even tell a difference between Spirit and Storm which I believe are very similar? Or... is that Spirit and Chaos? I forget... I barely can wield Chaos.” She giggled.

“Spirit magic and weather magic are very close in color.”

Jolien giggled. “The thing I have trouble with is defining what too much use is. Like that trick with the portal for the girls earlier. Every time I use my magic, I fear that I will be visited by some Universal police unit or persona or somesuch telling me I am gone too far, oui? Perhaps I am just being silly.” And with that she reached out to pluck a single thornless red rose from behind Cassidy’s ear, offering it to her as they sat down at their table..

Suddenly Lacy spoke in a very gruff voice as she put a firm hand on Jolien’s shoulder. “I saw that, young lady.”

Jolien squealed, throwing her hands up, which caused both Lacy and Cassidy to crack up laughing. Jolien, blushing, turned around to swat Lacy’s arm. “Vache! That was evil!”

Lacy giggled. “Who are you calling a cow?” she shot back playfully, still laughing. “But it was sooo funny,” she answered as she wandered off to find something to eat, herself.

“By the way, would you be able to tell an Persona if you saw one, Cassidy?” Jolien asked.

“No because no one has admitted to be an Persona!” Cassidy said, and then stuck her tongue out at Jolien.

Casey came down stairs moments later, and approached Jolien and Cassidy’s table. Cassidy stared, a little uncertain, as the girl approached, but quickly smiled as Casey spoke.

“There’s something fishy going on with those two.”

“We were just talking about that before Lacy almost made Jolien pee herself,” Cassidy giggled.

Jolien glared at Lacy at the food line then turned back to Cassidy, “We were thinking about bringing these two into our coven at least unofficially. I think its ok to tell them what we talked about.”

“That soon?” Cassidy asked, glancing at Casey. “But I suppose it’s wise.”

Jolien nodded, “They are more powerful already then I am, oui, And besides Bethany suggested it.”

Cassidy’s eyebrows arched delicately at that, but she nodded. “Okay, this concerns Bethany anyway, so I’ll go ahead and let you in on this. Once Angel and Lacy get here I’ll tell you all what’s going on, okay?”

Casey nodded. “Sure thing. I need to go get our drinks while she’s getting our food. You’re sure you don’t mind us sitting with you?”

Jolien and Cassidy looked at each other, then laughed. “Of course we do not mind!” Jolien replied. “This is not a real date. We dress like this to throw off suspicion as we plan for tonight. Now, go, get drinks. We will wait for you here. And... Could you get me a lemonade too? I will pay you back.”

“Consider it a gift,” Casey answered with a cheerful grin as she turned to walk away. Jolien then turned back to Cassidy. “Now... What was that look about? I know you Cassidy. You have no … ‘ow you say, poker face?”

Cassidy frowned slightly. “It’s the weirdest thing. Casey... She had no aura.”

“That is no possible!” Jolien whispered. “Every user has an aura. Only the truly most powerful can hide or mask it.”

“I know, but I’m telling you. Casey was completely auraless, like a normal human.”

“This is strange... Oh, here they come. Shh!”

“So what’d you want to tell us?” Casey asked as she, Angel, and Lacy all returned at once.

“First of all, you two don’t have a tell, right? You’re... basically almost, if not completely identical?” Cassidy began.

Angel and Casey nodded their heads once. “As far as we can tell,” they answered in unison.

“Even your auras are identical. But you’re not the only ones with identical auras. That girl in the tie-dyed t-shirt-”

“Annie,” Casey added.

“Annie... Her aura is the same as Bethany’s. I don’t mean similar, either. It’s completely one hundred percent unquestioningly the same. The other girl’s is similar too, but not identical. Auras are like a fingerprint. No two people should be able to share the same aura, even if they’re related. You two I can accept being the exception, but this girl...”

“Do you think Bethany’s a shapeshifter?” Angel asked thoughtfully. Cassidy shook her head.

“No. I’ve met shapeshifters as part of my aura sense training. Bethany’s, as well as this girl’s, are a bright fuchsia, with very specific … um... heart-shaped ‘indentations’. They’re very tiny. Most Sight users would probably overlook it.”

The two new girls came out of the elevator at that moment and waved to the twins and their friends, as they went to the food court and sat a table a bit away from the group. Annie looked over to her Trisha and grinned, “New set of meddling old women, hey?” she giggled.

Trisha laughed. “You have to give them credit for their initiative though. The girl - Cassidy - already knows there’s something wrong with your aura.”

“You weren’t peeking in her head were you?” Annie asked playfully. Trisha shook her head.

“Of course not! She just needs to learn to whisper a little more quietly,” she answered, but giggled. “Okay, maybe I cruised her surface thoughts... But it’s the same thing!”

Annie giggled. “I wasn’t chastising you. Why do you think I made the meddling ladies crack? In fact the old broads could learn from those girls. They have twins legitimately in their coven rather than trying to force it.”

Alexa giggled, “You were telling me about that before, but wasn’t it just one of the old ladies that was trying to force them into joining, not the whole coven?”

Bethany nodded grimly. “Yeah. Apparently she’s been stripped of her powers, but I don’t know if that means she’s still being punished, or what they did with her.” She frowned. “Kris has been too busy dealing with the mountain of souls he’s been abandoning so I can’t really ask him.”

Trisha giggled as she took Annie’s hand. She brought it up, pressing her lips against the palm. “Thank you for coming with me. Really, for showing me my true self too. I’ve never felt so happy in my life.”

“You know that really wasn’t my intention. Unlike Mom I don’t have foresight except in matters of the heart. You totally came outta left field.”

“Admit it. You were fantasizing about me weren’t you?”

Annie blushed brightly. “That would have been highly inappropriate.”

“I’m not hearing a no,” Trisha teased. Annie sighed.

“Okay, yes, I was fantasizing about you just a little, but your punishment had nothing to do with what I wanted to do with you in the bedroom. … You really did look cute though.”

Trisha laughed as she squeezed Annie’s hand. “Even if it wasn’t your intention, you showed me something... What’s going to happen to Mick and those other losers anyway? Just because I don’t hate them doesn’t mean they don’t need to be taken over someone’s knee with a two-by-four.”

Annie laughed softly as she chewed on a french fry, the mood ring on her finger turning a bright violet. “You know how magic works right? How mortals without magic can’t see what we’re really doing? Well, a mortal was watching what transpired. They saw you get the crap kicked out of you, and assumed that Faith’s brother was just a bystander coming to rescue you. They filed charges with the local police department, and there’s very soon going to be an investigation.”

“Oh, I see. And the nice man who rescued me has asked to adopt me and take me away from those horrible meanies, right?” Trisha grinned wide as Annie nodded.

“Preeee-cisely!”

The girls at the other table had been quietly discussing their plans for the evening, to induct Casey and Angel into their coven. The girls wanted to redo their nail polish first, so finishing their meal, headed back up to their room. As soon as they were out of earshot, Lacy leaned closer and whispered, “I don’t want to alarm anyone, but the new girls have been staring at us this entire time.”

“I’m telling you,” Cassidy answered, “They’re up to something. Let’s head back to our rooms for now and see if they follow us tonight. We’ll meet at the usual place. The ley lines are shifting, but I believe we still have time to induct the newcomers before the moon’s pull shifts them too far.”

~oOo~

Late that night, a knock came at the girls’ door. They were both wearing their bathrobes, in case it was Stephanie or another adult, with their street clothes underneath. Waiting on the other side however, were three figures dressed in dark red, bulky hooded robes. They lurched forward and grabbed the twins before they could scream, and covered their mouths.

The figures then vanished, reappearing in a forested area by a small, babbling brook. A large boulder nearby sat laden with candles, and a circle containing ornate arcane symbols had been drawn on the ground in some sort of white substance. The robed figures released the girls, and the apparent ringleader pulled back the hood to reveal Cassidy underneath.

“Jesus! You scared us half to death!” Casey whined.

Jolien and Lacy threw off their hoods next and Jolien giggled. “I’m sorry, but it’s a tradition that no one outside the coven can see the way to reach this place. But we will be fixing that tonight, oui?”

A fourth figure, dressed not in the robes of the other girls, but in plain street clothes - a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, and jet black hair approached. In the fiery light of the others’ torches and candles, the twins could clearly see her face. She was with Annabell at the mall earlier that day.

“Hi gals,” Nikki called cheerfully. “Glad you could make it.”

Jolien grinned. “Hello ‘boss’.”

Nikki waved dismissively. “Seriously, you guys can stop calling me that any time now,” she shot back, turning an appraising eye on the twins. “Cassidy?” she asked, outstretching her hand without even looking over at her. Cassidy rushed to her side and took Nikki’s hand, interlocking her fingers. Jolien stood on the other side, taking Cassidy’s other hand in the same manner.

“What are they doing?” Angel whispered.

“Heck if I know,” Lacy answered.

“Jolien and I are both Chaos users,” Nikki answered. “You’ll learn more about that in your magical arts studies soon enough, but basically... Cassidy is letting us see what she sees. It’s a complex thing, mimicking Magic Sight, so I need both their help. Don’t worry - this won’t hurt … Well, it won’t hurt you anyway. I’m gonna have a splitting headache tomorrow.”

“There’s also great power here,” Lacy added, glancing over at Nikki as she continued to focus. “Are you okay?” Nikki squinted, and then she nodded slowly.

“I’m okay. You were right to bring these two to our attention.” She let go of the girls’ hands on either side of her and staggered backwards, resting against the large boulder. Angel and Casey both raced to her side, asking in unison,

“Are you okay?!”

Nikki grinned, sitting upright as though nothing had happened.. “I’m fine. Just a little test. By the way, you passed. I didn’t really cast a spell or anything. I just wanted to see how you’d react if you thought I had hurt myself trying to see what Cassidy sees in your auras.”

“You tricked us?” the girls asked. “But why?” Angel added.

“I needed to see if I could trust you. We didn’t bring you out here tonight to initiate you into some secret society or anything. We just wanted to have a little fun while we asked if you’d like to join us. It’s not unheard of for magic users to go it alone, and we’re not asking you to ignore what you’ll learn from your proper instructors. We’re more like … a magical arts study group. Officially the Coven cannot have more than four members, but we still want to help you to harness your power. We won’t ask anything in return - just that you let us help you.”

“Nikki’s our leader,” Cassidy added, “And quite possibly the second most powerful chaos user I’ve ever met.”

“Who’s the first?” Angel blurted without even thinking. Nikki laughed, grinning.

“My mentor - Grandma Lily. This spot is her coven’s meeting place. It has been for hundreds of years now, but even a magic user doesn’t live forever, and so we’ve been slowly taking over the more mundane duties the elder coven once handled, in lieu of their losing Eva.”

Both girls blurted out, “Mundane duties - what kind?”

“Like getting pizza for them?” Casey asked

Nikki, Cassidy, Lacy, and Jolien all looked at each other a little bit stunned by the question. They all started laughing, as Nikki waved her hand, motioning to the chalk glyph on the ground. “Not quite THAT mundane. Besides, Grandma hates pizza. She’s convinced it’s still the same recipe that came out of Italy a few centuries ago.” She paused to wink, letting that comment sink in.

“No, what we’re going to be doing tonight is maintenance of the ley lines. And as a gift to the two of you, we’d like you to stay and watch, whether or not you decide you want to join us. Wait here. This is gonna be a helluva light show,” she added with a playful wink.

“Girls?” Nikki asked as she stepped forward, and suddenly was clad in a dark red robe. It wasn’t as though it appeared out of thin air, or that she donned it as she approached the circle. It simply was there, as though it had always been there.

The four girls took their places, and something occurred to Angel. “North,” she whispered. Casey nodded.

“And South, East and West. I noticed that too,” she whispered back.

Nikki glanced at the twins at that and winked as she took Cassidy and Lacy’s hands, with Jolien directly across from her at the South point in the circle..

“Through dark of night,” Lacy began.

“By Magic’s Sight,” Cassidy answered.

As the chant continued around the circle, a brisk wind picked up, blowing out the torches and candles, but in doing so, the twins could now see that the runes under the others’ feet were glowing brightly enough to illuminate the area. The light began as a bright white, but it slowly faded until it was the color of the full moon in the night sky.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning, striking from out of nowhere, landed dead-center of the runes, causing Angel and Casey to squeal and leap into each others’ arms. The four elder witches didn’t even flinch.

The light from the runes almost seemed to shoot straight into the sky, as though it were tangible matter. It faded slowly, taking the runes with it, and as the torches and candles reignited themselves, Nikki concluded, “It’s done.” She turned to approach the twins again.

“What was that?!” they gasped in unison. Nikki grinned.

“Remember I told you that we do the mundane work for the elder coven? What you just witnessed was … a bit like winterizing your home or bracing a loose floorboard. We recemented the ley lines here. Can you feel it?”

“I feel something,” Casey answered first. Angel nodded.

“Alpine Springs is a nexus point. It’s the point in the universe where all magic began. That’s why users are drawn to this place at least once in their lives. All that foot traffic tends to wreak havoc on the ley lines though, so sometimes someone has to tack ‘em down. It’s just the natural order of the universe - ironically, that everything succumbs to chaos.”

“That is why Chaos magic is so powerful,” Jolien added. “Chaos is the closest thing to the Universe itself.”

Nikki glanced at Jolien and shook her head. “Not quite. That WAS true up until recently, though.”

Jolien blinked, genuinely surprised. “What are you saying then?”

Nikki smiled as she motioned to the girls. “Twin magic hasn’t been seen since the dawn of magic. The Universe worried that it was too powerful. Grandma doesn’t know exactly why she’s allowed it to return, but you’re looking at one of the only two sets of twin magic users in existence.”

Cassidy gasped. “Oh my God! That’s why their Auras looked the same!”

Nikki nodded with a grin as she rested her hands on Angel and Casey’s shoulders. Her hands felt strangely warm to the touch, but not uncomfortably so. It was almost a pleasant, tingly sensation.. “Exactly. I didn’t even know twin magic existed until recently myself.”

“Wait a minute though,” Cassidy frowned. “What about people who share auras who AREN’T twins?”

Nikki blinked at the question. “That... shouldn’t be possible outside of shapeshifters.”

“Yes, but shapeshifters don’t have bright fuchsia auras,” Casey answered. Nikki stared thoughtfully for a moment or two. She chuckled to herself.

Cassidy’s frown darkened slightly. “What?”

Nikki shook her head. “It’s nothing. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“You’re not telling me something Nikki Morgan,” Cassidy pouted cutely.

Nikki started to say something, but something odd in the distance caught her attention.

A pink inflatable ball came bouncing into the clearing and splashed into the water. In the wind a young girl’s giggle echoed.

“What the...” Lacy began.

“Everyone stay back,” Nikki commanded, in an uncharacteristically firm tone. “Protect the twins,” she commanded as she stepped forward. The other three formed a circle around the girls with Nikki in front of them. Her hands glowed a deep, dark red that caused the twins to back away from her slightly, bumping into Cassidy.

“Oh no need to be scared Nikki.” a young girl’s voice came again through the wind, “I’ve only come to play.”

“... That voice...” Nikki answered softly, as if she couldn’t believe her own ears. “Faith?”

The giggling continued. “Nikki, Lacy, Cassidy, Angel, Casey and Jolien... My Daughters, stand proud and I will show myself.” the voice now sounded more commanding but not demanding.

Nikki grinned as she motioned for the others to come to her side. The twins tried to hide behind Jolien, but a gentle magical ‘nudge’ against their backs forced them front and center. Nikki placed her hands on their shoulders again and grinned. “To what do we owe this visit, O Pink one? And why hadn’t you revealed yourself to me sooner?”

Faith walked out from the trees and grinned. “That was not for you to know at the time my daughter.” Her voice changed to a more mature loving voice, “But I have news now for your Coven.”

Nikki nodded. “What message does the Universe bring that my lowly-” she paused and scowled. “Y’know what, I’m sorry, but I can’t keep this fancy thee’s and thou’s up. I don’t CARE if it’s tradition, I can’t TALK like that and keep a straight face any more!” She grinned softly at Faith as she stepped closer to hug her. “What can we do for you? I mean, Grandma’s coven will be here later tonight if you’d rather work with them.”

Faith nearly fell on her butt giggling, returning Nikki’s hug happily. “I love it!” she squealed happily. “I wish your grandmother would talk like that to me. I hate all that formal nonsense. Anyway, Nikki your grandmother is on her last cycle, dear. She’s getting old, and her coven won’t be here much longer. Micia will remain to help you even after they have gone, but when their time has passed, it will be you who leads.

“I have decided to get more involved with things here on earth, so here I am.”

Nikki nodded. “I was afraid of that.” She paused, blushing just a little. “I mean, about my Grandma, not about you getting involved.”

Lacy couldn’t hold in her laughter at Nikki’s comment, causing Jolien and Cassidy to start laughing as well. “I’m sorry. No disrespect, but the way that came out was too funny.”

Faith laughed as she nodded. “It was quite funny,” she added, glancing back at Nikki with a grin. “When your grandmother’s coven goes, it will be your job to replace the barrier and keep it up.”

“But...” Nikki frowned. “The original barrier required a sacrifice, didn’t it?”

“That’s the story that I’d heard,” Cassidy added. “Micia Jewel gave her life the second time, and the Elder of the Coven before Eva Crowley sacrificed herself to create the first barrier.”

Faith nodded. “That’s the only way they could figure it out Nikki. There are other ways to do it though. Each of you will play a role in seeking that answer.” She turned to approach Cassidy, stretching out her hand to take it. “My child, you still doubt yourself.”

“What?” she asked, stunned. She knew what Faith meant, though.

Faith giggled. “Magic Sight is a new ability. It will be the secret to unlocking the mystery. Yours is the most important job in this coven, and when you discover it, you will discover, as well, your true potential.”

“But that kind of power...” She glanced down at the twins on either side of her, and then back at Faith.

“What?” the girls answered in unison, blinking at Nikki.

Nikki grinned. “Girls, I know what I said before about this being like a magic study session, but it seems fate has other plans. You know all those stories in the bible about God and all that?”

The girls nodded. “Sure. Mom and Dad were big on that stuff,” Casey answered with a frown.

“Well...” she motioned to Faith. “Meet God.”

Faith took a bow and grinned. “Pleasure to meet you Angel”, pointing right at Angel not needing to be introduced, “And you as well Casey” pointing at Casey, “But I am not just god, I am who I am as my brother says, and he is who he is.” She giggled.

“Right,” Nikki explained, as the twins stared slack-jawed. “Turns out the ancients didn’t quite get it right. Faith is the Universe personified. I knew her as my friend Sarah’s cousin, up until just tonight, but I knew she existed before that. She HATES it when people kowtow to her, so whatever you do, just treat her like you would me and you’ll be fine.”

“This is-”

“So cool!” the girls exclaimed.

“So now comes the million dollar question... Will you join our coven and help us to continue the legacy my Grandmother’s leaving us? Officially we can only have four members, but the barrier is all that stands between people like you, Casey, and a whole lot more hatred than what you’ve already endured. It... has a way of tempering people to tolerance not just for transgendered folk, but lesbian and gay like me, magic users, and the like. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing. I would welcome your help in keeping it intact.”

Angel and Casey nodded their heads and in stereo answered, “Oh my God, sign us up right now!” both giggled then added, “That should be goddess huh?”

Nikki smiled as she turned around to face the girls, and the others joined hands around them. She turned to look over her shoulder at Faith, extending her hand. “Would you join us too?”

Faith grinned. “I told you I’m taking a more active role with your Coven. No more go betweens with me and my Guardians or my personas. It’s time you dealt with me instead.” She walked over and took Nikki’s hand in hers. Lacy took her other hand, completing the circle.

“As my Grandmother before me, as all Users before us, we welcome you, Casey and Angel, in the eyes of Almighty G-” she cut herself off and grinned, “Faith, and with her blessing. You don’t serve us. We serve each other - we serve to lift each other up, so that we can all become stronger together than any one of us alone. And I swear to Faith this is the last long-winded speech you’ll ever hear from me again.”

Faith giggled under her breath and nodded, “I mote it be. Coven of Alpine Springs you be strong, your powers grow and will continue to grow, your the first generation of users whose coven will grow, and solely with my blessing this shall be.”

The girls broke their circle, though it really more so morphed into one big group hug centered on the twins. A moment later Nikki turned to hug Faith. “I know it’s not necessary, with you being the Universe and all, but I’d still like to consider you a member of this circle. Since we’re breaking traditions anyway, might as well ask the big boss to join us.” She winked.

Faith bowed, “It’s an honor be part of this. I can’t promise I will always be here for you girls, but when it’s important I will.”

“Man, I wish Jenn could see this. She’d die,” Nikki giggled and hugged Faith.

Faith grinned wide, “Really?” she pulled a pink cell phone out of her skirt pocket and texted someone with the same wide grin on her face, then she flipped it closed.

From behind Nikki someone wrapped her in a tight hug then her voice gave her away, “Aloha Nikki.” she giggled.

“ACK!” Nikki literally squealed as she spun around. “Jenn?! What the hell?!” She threw her arms around her, nearly lifting her off her feet. “Where’d you come from? How’d you get here so fast?!”

“You’re not the only one who’s been keeping secrets,” Jenn answered in a sing song tone, giving Nikki’s chest a playful poke.

Faith giggled, “Jennifer has had many names. She is the oldest living human, and the original practitioner of the Guardian protocol. There are other guardians in the world, born of Entropy, but Jenn is the oldest and the most powerful.”

Nikki’s jaw dropped. “Um... Come again?”

Jenn nodded. “Y’know how you’re always teasing me about how zen I can be sometimes, like I’m older than I look? Weeeell, I was born 1600 years ago.”

“Oh my Gawd,” she whispered. “But why pretend to be my age? I mean, if you’re that old you surely should’ve moved beyond the need to ‘recycle’, right?”

Jenn glanced at Faith for a moment and smiled sadly. “Like I said, it’s a long story. Ever cycle I choose a host family and I am - I was - reborn. Faith, her brother and I had a … falling out. But things are as they should be now, and I can FINALLY tell you the truth! Because of that cycle of true rebirth, I AM your age. FYI though, you really are my best friend. I haven’t had friends like you, Allison, or Robin in centuries.”

Faith added casually, “The Guardians hold the keystone to the powers you wield. Without a guardian there would be no power of that kind. The only sets of magic that have no Guardians yet are twin magic and sight.”

“Or was immortal...” Jennifer continued.

Nikki questioned, “Was?”

“I asked at Camp Kutomanu, and Faith agreed, for this be my last cycle. I am so world-weary. Sixteen centuries wears on the soul.”

“Oh about that …” Faith started.

Jenn suddenly became downcast. “Don’t tell me you changed your mind?”

Faith giggled, "No, I didn't change my mind my daughter. You just need to pick and train your guardian replacement before your time is up, but it is not a rush. You have plenty of time."

"Can it be anyone with Spirit magic, even if they are accidental?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, but if that person is who I think it is, her time has not come, and you are not to inform her of her power yet. That time will come before your time is up."

Cassidy slowly approached Jenn as the three of them talked. She didn’t interrupt them, or even make an attempt to, instead seeming almost transfixed, like a child meeting their rock star idol for the first time. She stared, captivated by what she apparently was seeing.

Jenn turned to face Cassidy and grinned. “Yes?”

“I’ve never seen such a powerful aura. I-it’s almost blinding.”

“Oh!” Jenn laughed. She almost seemed to be focusing for a moment, and then smiled at the awestruck girl. “Does that help?”

Cassidy laughed. “You didn’t have to tone it down. I’m just surprised. I’ve never even heard of anyone with such powerful ability. Even Lily Rose Morgan’s aura isn’t close to that magnitude.”

“It’s why the coven here once shunned me. Eva was jealous of my power, and it was made worse by my... Ahem... feud with Faith. She couldn’t understand why I wasn’t stripped of my power centuries ago. But before anyone starts digging into history books, let me just say that it was a cosmic-sized misunderstanding, and leave it at that.” She grinned at Faith.

“Oh!” Lacy exclaimed. “Hey, Cassidy ask her about the thing!”

“The thing?” Cassidy asked.

“The girl with the aura identical to Mademoiselle Anderson,” Jolien answered.

“OH! Faith, apart from Angel and Casey, I saw another person with an aura identical to someone else, but these two are so not twins. But they’re not shapeshifters either.”

Faith smiled, “Cosmic flook. There might be another set of people just like it somewhere else. It happens once in awhile.”

“... So it really is just a coincidence? Aww. I was hoping we were on to some big school mystery or something. Y’know, besides a coven of teenage witches working directly with the Universe to promote peace at the central ley lines to prevent the destruction of magic and possibly the Earth.”

“Right,” Nikki added, “So no setting up surveillance spells without authorization,” she winked twice, grinning.

Faith winked at Nikki. “I’ll pretend I didn’t just see that, young lady.” She sighed. “You’re going to be a handful just like your grandmother.”

Nikki giggled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Gram in her true form still looks pretty young. Does that mean she still has a few years left?”

Faith nodded. “Yes. They all do. There’s enough time for them to train you and get you prepared for the role you are to undertake.”

“We should get the girls back before anyone misses them,” Nikki said, turning back to face the twins. “But if you’ll remind one of us, we’ll show you how to get here the mundane way. It’s quite a hike, so chaos gates are faster. Also my friends like to camp out here sometimes, so don’t freak out if you come here and find tents set up.”

“This is a popular spot huh?” Jenn teased. “All right. Faith, if you could send me back, I’ve got school tomorrow so I need to get some sleep.”

“We’ll get everyone else back safely,” Nikki added, and Faith gave a nod.

“Allow me,” she replied, stretching out her hand. Three swirls of energy came into existence before her: one leading directly to the Morgan Estate, one to Jennifer’s, and the third opened onto the third floor hallway of Pink House.

“Have an excellent first day of school, my daughters.” Faith smiled brightly, her pink irises shifting to a brilliant, beautiful blue as everyone entered their respective portals.

Back at Pink House, the twins shared a glance with their dorm mates. “That was weird,” Angel and Casey announced in unison. Jolien laughed.

“Welcome to Alpine Springs,” she answered, waving as the older girls parted ways.

Down the hall, the elevator doors opened, and for just a moment, Lacy thought she had caught a glimpse of two young girls inside, but when she turned to face them, found Trisha and Annie, the two new students from earlier smiling back at her. She gave the pair a quiet nod and stepped onto the elevator as they left.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Annie commented with a wink.

“Tell?” Lacy asked. Just before the doors closed, Trisha answered with a bubbly giggle.

“About us all being out after curfew!”

Lacy pressed her back against the wall of the elevator after pressing ‘2’ and sighed. “I’ve been studying waaay too hard...”