Skye Prower

"She... she didn't say goodbye," said Melody after Hope left, sounding upset. "I think she must have still been worked up over her argument with Dad. And I think we scared Rouge off as well!" said Skye.

"Yes, we, uh met at the door," said Anna in response to Shadow. She then turned to Red. "Are you sure you won't mind if I call you M-mom?" she asked. Melody tried to convay 'I think she needs this' in a look towards Red. Meanwhile Skye had been muttering quietly to himself. "She doesn't really look like mother, hardly sounds like her, certainly doesn't act like her. And given how we've messed up tome she never will be. Just accecpt her..." He got up and walked over to Anna. "Hi Anna, nice to finally meet you." To his surprise, Anna suddenly gave him a large hug. "I know this must be really strange for you," Anna whispered to Skye, "So thank you for trying to accept me." "i'll give it my best shot and more," whispered back Skye as they broje off the hug. ----- "Should we join in the introductions or lesve them to it," asked Ziona

"I... I know, but... but... I'm sorry," said Anna, looking at the floor. "Hey, it's alright. You've nothing to be sorry about," pointed out Melody. ----------------- "For now. I'll need to deal with it later unfortunately."

"T-thanks Re... M-m-mom," said Anna, tripping over the last word. 'Thank goodness Mom didn't laugh, that would've been awkward,' Melody thought to herself. Anna turned to face Shadow, and started shaking slightly. Very slowly, she reached out and shook his outstretched hand. "Hello," she managed to say in a small voice. -------------- "Yeah. I don't know what... Oh hell, this is gonna mean more paperwork. Another Zone refugee."

Anna gave a little giggle and blushed slightly. "Very nice to meet you Crowley." "Looks like the fan club is still running," Skye muttered to himself. "This is beyond weird."

Mina stood awkwardly in the doorway. "T-thanks, but, ah, erm, my name..." Mina began to say as Melody came over. "Don't worry, we've got that in hand Anna," she said. "Ann... Anna? Is that...?" asked Mina "Only if you want it to be," clarified Melody. Mina thought about it. She had been expecting something radically different, as opposed to slightly similar. But then, the slight similarity would make it easier to get used to. "And Mom chose it," continued Melody. Mina gave small smile. "Then I'll definitely use it." "Great! Now then Sis, time to introduce yourself to everyone." "What! But, but they already know me," replied a slightly shocked Mina, backing slightly out the door. "Fresh start, clean slate, remember?" pointed out Melody. Mina gave a slight nod, and walked forward into the room nervously. "H-hello everyone. I'm...... I'm Anna. Nice to meet you all," she said in a shy voice. Melody walked up behind her and put her hands on her shoulders. "Anyone laughs and they get punched in the gut," Melody warned. Anna smiled, pleased that Melody... her sister... was standing up for her. ----------- Ziona was at the balcony door and had seen the whole thing. "You won't believe what's going on out there," she said to Glen.

"Daddy? Hope? Can we not get into an argument about history please?" asked Melody. ------- "You're probably right Glen. But as I'm up, I'm gonna get a refill." Zonia shook her,empty milkshake glass. Are you wanting anything?" she asked. ------ Mina reached the door to the hotel penthouse, wiing away her tears. She went to knock, then hesitated. The idea of a family, while what she wanted, was an alien concept to her, and the idea did scare her. It wasn't too late to turn back. She could easily run back to where Miles was. But then she remembered what she'd been shown of her future, and Mina knew she couldn't go back. Then another thought entered her head; what if this was all a trick? Just some was to force her to swap sides. She shook her head. No, it was far too elaborate, and far to detailed, just to be a trick on her. Besides, she knew Melody and Skye were really. And if they, the craziest part of this,whole thing, were real, then so was the rest. Taking a deep breath, Mina knocked on the penthouse door.

"You are welcome to come along," Melody offered to Hope, "but it is gonna be a very strange day, so...." She let the sentence trail off as Locke spoke up. Skye and Melody looked each other. "Soooo..... no more inviting people into the family without permission?" Melody asked. "And what do you say about the dream machine?" -------------- "Hum, you're probably right. The sooner I get that done, the sooner we can relax without worries," said Ziona as she made to leave the balcony.

Melody's face fell. "What already....? but... you'll stay in touch right? And don't remember our deal," Melody moved closer to whisper in Hope's ear. "I'll see if I can teach you magic, and you tech me to use a lab." Melody glanced round to make sure Skye hadn't heard.

"When you put it that was I suppose I can understand. Once she get's back you can judge if she still wants to cheer you on or not." "As long as you're meaning a real doughnut and not a dream doughnut. And it better be an impressive one! But I may be busy over the next day or so; family issues, y'know."

"I dunno. She did want you to stay back in the medical bay after al.... wait, did you say depressing?" asked Skye. "Oh no, I'm sure you can find someone else as your guinea pig," laughed Melody

"Actually, the more different she is, the easier accepting this will be. Though maybe I should start looking up properties?" said Skye, only half joking. "But you shouldn't be too happy Crowley. Your fan-club's in this Zone permanently now!" Melody snickered. "Such things would be evil and abhorrent... Unless used for cheep tricks...."

"I suppose you'll be able to judge for yourself soon. I wonder how long the softness will last," Skye wondered out loud. "Now, be a good girl Hope and no adding brain scramblers or mind control to your machine," joked Melody

"Huh boy," murmured Skye. "Just... be very careful when you ask her Shadow. She's.... she's gone all strange and, well, soft." "Brain scrambler? Why would it have a brain scrambler? Wait, don't answer that, I don't want to know!" said Melody, half mortified.

"Such as an easier exit I ... wait, what?" exclaimed Melody as she heard Shadow's statement. "Good, the bastard deserves it," said Skye. "Just... don't mention it to Mina. I'm not sure how she'd take it in her current mind."

"Another mission? Who's he after now?" asked Skye. "Yeah, about time.... Sorry, that wasn't meant to be a bad pun," said Melody, grinning. "Is that the dream machine you're working on?"

"Phew. That save the rather awkward explanations," said Melody as she headed up. "Its... Its okay Dad. I'll get used to it. I hope. And you don't need to make up for anything. It was Melody who kinda forced you into this situation," Skye said to Locke. "I..uh... yeah. Sorry Mom and Dad. I should'a asked you first," apologised Melody when she overheard Skye. ----------- "It's professional just to hear one kid, and assume the other one that you're meant to be watching is there too?" asked Ziona jokingly.

"Hi!," called Melody waving. "We got back, Mom's okay and, uh, well..... things have gotten kinda weird..." Melody explained. Behind her, Skye rolled his eyes. -------------- "I know where they are now. I think that's good enough for work. We can leave them to it."

"We can at least warn some of them... I hope... if anyone's still at the hotel," said Skye. "Crowley may have told some of them after he left. Let's find out," said Melody as they entered the penthouse. "HELLO! ANYONE HERE?" she shouted. --------------- "Job... huh!" Ziona began laughing. "I hope my bosses to come to check up on my job and see this. I don't even know where the children..." Then she heard Melody shouting. "Nevermind."

"I guess we should warn everyone else about this," murmured Skye. -------------- "I though I already smiled a lot!"

(ooc: Hey, don't apologise. I actually think it's a good thing if one can sympathise with the villains.) "Anna?" Melody tried it out. "Anna.... An-na... Similar enough to be still her, yet different at the same time. I like it. What do you think Skye?" "Well, yeah, but it is her choice at the end of the day," said Skye as they reached the hotel. "But given Mom's the one who chose it, I don't think she'll object." --------------- "Yes, it... I was about to say it was a while ago, but it's only been a few days. But so much has happened since then. But don't worry about opening up. You've already done a lot. The rest will come with time, when you're ready."

(ooc: Is that pity for Miles?!?) "So, uh," began Skye as they headed to the hotel. "What about names? We probably wanted something vaguely similar, so either short or beginning with M." "Something signifying a new beginning perhaps? What about 'Dawn'?" suggested Melody. "Dawn? Can really see her as a 'Dawn' with her fur as dark as it is." Melody gave Skye a playful slap on the back of the head. (ooc: I am more than open to other suggestions) --------------- "I don't think either of us should try and hide from each other."

(ooc: Poor Chaos) "You might find it a little easier than the rest of us," Skye said to Locke. "You don't have the.... prior connection..." "We should get back to the hotel," said Melody. -------------- "Oh, have I surprised you?" Ziona asked. ------------- "C'mon Mina," said Miles, pushing aside a boulder which revealed a crevice leading inside the mountain, "let's get inside. Did you find out anything about what the Prime Zoners are up to?" Mina looked at Miles, and for a moment considered lying to him, saying she was going to go undercover, and find out more that way. But no, it wouldn't be fair to leave him like that. "Miles I... I came to say goodbye." "Goodb...WHAT?" Miles turned and started at Mina. He realised something was wrong. The way she was standing, the tone of her voice, the tears in her eyes. It was like looking at someone else. "What happened to you?" asked Miles with concern. "I... I saw where my life was leading... And I found... something I wanted... something I needed. I'm staying Miles." "Staying?" Miles couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But..." He didn't get a chance to say anything more as Mina handed him a letter. "Next time you see Red, please... please give that to her. I know you... you had a crush on me Miles," said Mina, beginning to take off her bracers. Underneath the fur was thin, as they'd never been taken off before. Miles stood there, somewhat stunned that Mina knew. "But I'm not that girl anymore. I can't be. But here's something to remember her by." Mina shoved her bracers into Miles hands, murmured goodbye again, and ran off. "You...You think you can just change like that?" Miles shouted after her. "You're a Moebian. You won't be able to fit in here, You'll come back to us. Its just a matter of time." Tears filled Mina's eyes as she ran, scared that Miles words were true. Miles slumped down to he knees, also beginning to cry. He cradled the bracers. "Mina.... What did they do to you?" he asked with despair.

"I suppose... that we have to trust her. In her current state I don't think her knowing we are spying on her would help," said Melody. Skye slumped down in a nearby chair. "I'm gonna need therapy," he muttered. "Like you didn't before," shot back Melody with a grin. "But, yeah, it is pretty freaky." "Huh? But you were the one pushing for this," pointed out Skye with surprise. "Because.... Cause I knew it was what she wanted. It was the same thing I did. It wouldn't have been fair to block her off after you and I had a second chance. Besides, like you said, we'll get used to it." ----------------- "There could well be an 'us' Glen," said Ziona. "I'll need time to get used to the idea, but there could well be." ---------------------- On a ledge half way up one of the mountains on Angel Island, a two-tailed fox was pacing back and forth. "Where's is she?" Miles muttered to himself. "She's never late. Never." He turned as he heard someone approach. His face broke into a smile. "There you are Mina. What took you so long?" he asked.

"Hmm.. er.." pondered Skye. "I... don't want to know now," interrupted Mina. "I was to find out when I get back." She started walking out the medical bay. "I won't be too long. See you back at the hotel," she smiled. --------------- "Hey, why the grumpy face?" asked Ziona, giving Glen a half poke, half tickle in the ribs.