It was necessary, wasn't it? They had to know. Muriel was a police officer, and believed strongly in the truth. However there would be no going back from this... once they knew, the secret would no longer be within close family. That was quite a daunting thought, and her main concern was to keep Jenny safe. Still that their daughter was now involved, had to involve her parents too.
It was quite a relief that they knew about magic girls.
"I still believe there is another explanation other then magic though," said Mr Gordon. "Magic is just another word for an unexplained science."
"You'll have to forgive Leslie," said Mrs Gordon. "He is quite the atheist. He does not believe in a religion, or magic."
"Do you?" asked Muriel.
"Well-" Mrs Gordon looked like she had been put on the spot. "I... think it can be fun to pretend it's real, now and then... people do say it's magic that changed the sun- much as you seem to think." It was certainly a very diplomatic way of saying she didn't believe in a force of magic..
"Nonsense," said Leslie. "Just because we don't understand the process, doesn't mean its magic. I'm not about to abandon thousands of years of intellectual heritage on the possibility of magic now in the world." The man actually looked a bit offended, like the very idea of magic, would belittle all he had worked for- all every scientist in the past, had ever worked for in trying to understand the universe around them.
Muriel wondered if she had to go about this another way. "Jenny's... abilities, for lack of a better word, can't be measured as a science. I don't really know how it works... all I know is, that her presence makes things better. "
"It seems... an unfair burden to place on a young child." She said shaking her head.
The police officer sighed. "She's a young child, with a certain sense of knowing where she has to be, and an ability to act as a positive force- in what ever situation she finds herself in. If nothing else, believe that," She said.
"This still doesn't explain cloning," said Leslie.
Melanie walked into the kitchen at that point. Lilly wasn't far behined her, it looked like the squirrel girl wanted to keep an eye on her- even if she was also quite nervous. Her big brother also came into the kitchen.
Mr Gordon looked at the little girl with the curiousity of a scientist. Here was essentially, an artificial being- created in his own lab of all places without them even trying to do so. Yet the explaination was 'magic'? Preposterious! "How did you come to be, little one?"he asked aloud without meaning it.
"Essence," replied Melanie.. "Action, created Essence. An act within this world. The act concluded. Me." she said simply.
"I think I understand what she's saying," Said Mrs Gordon. "You're saying our actions sets up the potential of a magic spell?"
"Big words.. don't know," replied Minus four with a shrug. "I am what you did. We did the rest." Words were so... difficult. Confining. How to explain her existence?
Muriel picked up the girl and placed her on her lap. Whatever Melanie was trying to say, didn't make sense to her, but it was nice that the child was trying. "You need a name still though" she said thoughtfully.
"Melanie," said the strange insect girl. "I- am Melanie. Lilly did it." she glanced at the squirrel girl a little accusingly.
"It's a nice name," smiled Muriel.
Mr Gordon was finding things more difficult to believe. "So- you were around for your creation?" he asked. "If that's the case, where were you before?"
"Nowhere" she replied.
The scientist shook his head. There were so many holes in this fantasy he didn't know where to start or if to humour them.
"Why are you telling us this?" Asked Mrs Gordon.
"You had the right to know." Said Muriel, still hoping she did the right thing.
Lilly looked in shock at what was going on."Y-Your telling the secret! My friends secret!" The squirrel girl was aghast. How could her own mother tell the secret to her own parents? This was horrible! She looked very upset and worried. Muriel ruined it!
Melanie glanced at the curious barrage of emotions emanating from Lilly. It was... interesting? She was such a distracting little creature... even to the larger ones. Maybe she should put her to sleep again? Oh- but she didn't have her abilities any more.
"Please sit down son," said Mr Gordon. "I.. need to think about this." His son- daughter was now friends with a magic girl? Wasn't that going to be... dangerous?
Lilly agitatedly sat down, her twin tails showing her emotional state. This was just... bad!
Mrs Gordon sighed as she looked to Muriel. "I don't know if I like this. You are saying that your child is some kind of... magical person, who has to 'deal with'... what exactly?" The threat was incredibly vague.
Muriel looked a bit tensely. "She deals with things others can't... whatever that might be. Things that other's can't."
"You mean like things the police can't?" asked Mr Gordon.
Muriel got angry at that point. Leslie sure know how to put his foot in his mouth. "Don't you think I wish I can deal with it! She's my daughter! I don't want her in harms way any more then you would want Lilly in harms way!
A great silence descended at that outburst.
"It's not the same though... your Jenny, is capable of defending herself with magic. Lilly is just... a girl" said Mrs Gordon concerned.
"You said I was special!" Reminded Lilly.
"You are to me sweetie," said Mrs Gordon. "That's why we're just trying to protect you."
"Jenny is my only friend... please Mom, I don't have any other friends."
Mrs Gordon broke a bit at that point. She certainly didn't want to have her new daughter in harms way, and Muriel was implying that Jenny did some really dangerous things. She glanced at her husband. She knew exactly what he was thinking...
"You could make new friends," Mr Gordon tried to say.
"I don't want new friends. I like Jenny," said Lilly. "I'm gonna be her friend if you like it or not." she said putting her hands on her hips. She still had to make up with Jenny- she was assuming she was still going to be her friend, but if her parents wouldn't let her have a chance, then it was over.
Mr Gordon blinked. He had never seen Lilly act so defiantly before. Though it was nice to see a little of the old cheeky boy they used to know in her. Though the girl was sadly mistaken. There was a lot they could do. They could pull Lilly out of that school for one. He remembered even his wife knew, that Lilly was no longer old enough to make decisions, and this was a very complicated situation. Jenny could be very dangerous to be around. He didn't want to see his son as some casualty in a war she had no business being in. Not at such a tender young age...
"Billy," her father said hugging the furry girl. "I... don't really believe in magic. But I do believe in sticking with your friends, its admirable..." he said carefully. "But this is really dangerous. You could get seriously hurt next time something happens. Do you really want that to happen?"
Lilly bit her lip. Of course she didn't...
"Would you excuse us," said Mrs Gordon. "I must talk to my husband privately a moment."
Muriel who watched the exchange nodded. She glanced at Lilly who was looking very nervous.
Leslie was lead by his wife into their study. She had a somewhat sad expression on her face- but also quite a serious one. "Dear, remember what it was like before? Billy had no friends after she changed... she cried for an entire month. Even when she finally started to mix with other children, she had no friends. It is not healthy..."
"but.."
"Trust me on this Leslie. We have to assume, Lilly is going to be stuck like this for a very long time... it would be better she had friends. To find what happiness she can, right?"
Leslie bit his lip as his own words were thrown back at him. Yes... he wanted his son to find what happiness she could in her new existence. But being with a magic warrior? It could be a disaster... she was so vulnerable, every instinct in him told him to protect her.
"There might be benefits to this as well dear" said Mrs Gordon with a thought.
"Like what?" Asked Leslie.
"Let's assume magic is real... and that Jenny wields it. It is possible, that Lilly might run into a cure with her..."
Leslie gave that some thought. If magic was indeed real, then his wife certainly had a very good point. It wasn't exactly something to take advantage of, but surely maintaining an alliance in such a way could only be beneficial... considering what Jenny's hair was capable of... there might be something to learn of this unusual force with them. Maybe he could ask Muriel to test Jenny further, on this force of magic... if it could lead to a potential cure... he wasn't sure how, but...
Mrs Gordon smiled. She knew her husband would give in to that."So, shall we let our children be children? Let them be friends if they wanted to be?"
Leslie nodded. "I suppose it would be best."
