Up on the tree the young child slept, minded by the ever watchful gaze of her father from the window. The night was gentle, and actually very pleasant to the animal changed. It was as if nature Herself was trying to welcome them all to a new state of being. Different, but not without its charms. Though certainly, one should always be wary with change. The moon was at the moment a half moon, with one side shrouded in darkness. Ghostly clouds of nebulous hues, transcending across the sky giving everything an ethereal feel.
The squirrel girl shivered just a little despite the fur that kept her warm, wrapping her twin tails around herself as a cover.. Her father wondered if he should bring her back in. He carefully brought a chair to the window, to watch her, reading a book as he did so. She didn't seem to be in any danger of falling, but the scientist understood an instinct when he saw one. It was possible Lilly had no idea she had gone into the tree in her sleep.
He... wished he had spent more time with his new daughter. He had tried to push her to fight this, and every step he feared he was losing his son... but looking at his daughter, he knew he loved her and would move heaven and earth for her. It was a little strange that her new brother didn't have quite so many issues, but at this point he welcomed it.
He turned the page on his book, thinking back to when he used to read to Billy as a young boy. He wanted to show him so much of the world they lived in, and be inspired by the elegance and mastery of science. But he was so easily distracted. Still, the new school seemed to be helping her.
If only, he could make her happy.
Lilly was dreaming.
The boy looked in confusion at the strange forest. How did he get here again? And where was his... counterpart? It was strange to think of her like this. Was he supposed to 'hunt' for the 'animal' now? But she could be anywhere. In the trees, and very difficult to find - for a human. Still he felt her had to go look for her. Maybe make her understand that he didn't want to be... like that. Their last encounter seemed to give them an uneasy truce, so that he could give Sakura her name.
He walked past the trees, occasionally looking up to try and guess where she might be. He didn't hear any crying so 'Lilly' had to be feeling fairly happy right? He hoped so anyway.
He emerged into a clearing, with only a few scattered trees. Somewhat surreality, there was a swing right in the middle. It was the swing he first met Jenny... it seemed so much smaller when he looked down on it as he recalled that day. It felt like it was a long time ago that that it happened. The memory was a sad one... he remembered pushing Jenny away - when all she did was try to help... how could anyone be friends with a troubling person as her - him?
The soil here had changed from dark brown, to a light yellow. It was like sand. Soft sand, that left footprints behind as it sunk into his trainers. He continued to walk to the middle of the clearing- when suddenly he felt his shoe snag on something. He glanced back and tried to pull out of the sticky sand and was startled to see that his shoe had actually submerged. He pulled and pulled and somehow, managed to get his shoe loose from his foot. Glancing at the other foot though it had become equally submerged. "W-what the-" He felt himself get scared, as he felt himself sink deeper.
"W-what's going on? Help!" He cried out with no other option left.
He heard a rustle from a nearby tree just outside the clearing. He glanced up seeing Lilly. The squirrel girl was looking at him with a bemused expression. "I'm really sorry," she said. "But you gotta stay there so I can play!" Lilly then bounded away, looking happily as she played in blissful ignorance, as children would. She seemed to ignore her human male counterpart completely. This place was a playground, and it didn't have any purpose for an elder boy as him.
The boy struggled as he sank deeper. "P-Please- don't do this!" The boy said with rising panic in his voice. Whatever was going on, it seemed like Lilly had all the power in this dream. "I helped you before right?" Wasn't that enough? He tried to get some leverage with his arms, as the sand seemed to be like quicksand.
Lilly stopped skipping, and turned to look at him. They were now at the same height. "Yeah, but then you went right back to bein' a boy. An' that ain't gonna work! But it's okay. I'm gonna fix it all. Look I'll show you!" Lilly continued to play before cupping her hands to her mouth and shouted; "Artemis! Jenny!"
Instantly, people he knew started to materialise in the clearing, greeting the squirrel girl as a friend. It was like being in the playground - but with one difference. Everyone liked Lilly. She even saw Bruce and Hannah in the background, seeming to talk to each other, but also showing their friendliness to his counterpart. None of them could see him though.
Jenny smiled to the squirrel girl, flicking back her long white hair. "What we gonna play? I have lots of time now! Bein' a magic girl can be so busy."
Artemis also joined them. "Hi Lilly. I'm sorry 'bout 'fore all that-"
Lilly just shook her head. "'is okay. I was jus' so confused but I ain't confused now! Oh- an' I got this for you" The squirrel girl gave out the friendship bracelet she had been trying to give her ever since they had the argument.
Artemis looked at it and glanced at Jenny, who only smiled showing her own. Artemis then wrapped it around her wrist, looking at it curiously.
"D-do you like it?" The squirrel girl asked hopefully. Her eyes looked so hopeful, and it was enough for even her male counterpart to hold his breath with that same hope.
Artemis nodded. "Oh- Lilly that's so nice. T-thanks." She gave a warm and inviting hug, her skin blushing in their curious moon-like way. The relief was palpable, she was so happy to have made up. Now they could all be friends again.
"W-Wait!" The boy cried out, as he was now submerged to his neck in the sand. "Please Jenny! Artemis! S-somone help me!" He was scared he was going to suffocate. Then what would happen to him? He had to get out of this! Lilly wouldn't do this to him would she?
"... Did you hear something?" Asked the white haired girl glancing around.
"Nuh uh," Lilly said shaking her head. "I'm glad we're friends now. Let's play tag!"
On the moon, Selena and Lucas watched the dream unfold on a crystal ball.
"I'm going in there," Said Lucas. "Show me how to do it." Walking into a dream must be easy to the gods.
Selena shook her head. "Patience, my angel. A dream is only a dream, and sometimes they are important to have. She is not in any danger. Besides... we can't just walk into a dream. It is considered rather rude."
Lucas tilted her head at the idea that anything a goddess could do might be considered 'rude'. For now she continued to watch. "Isn't it rude to watch too?"
Selena blushed just a touch at that. "Well... I suppose it is. However I have my reasons..."
The three girls started to play their game in the clearing all while the boy was trapped in the sand, deeper and deeper. He tried calling out to them, but none of them would acknowledge him. Only the sound of giggling fun could be heard. He cried desperately, pleading to them his eyes crying, but still nobody came. In the end all he could do was just watch as his counterpart played. Stopping his struggling seemed to stop him from sinking, so he dared not move. Lilly occasionally glanced at him with a pitiable look still a little aware of him, but otherwise ignoring him.
"Me an' Artemis think you could make a good magic girl Lilly," Jenny said at the end of their game. "We're gonna bring you with us to the sky next time to help!"
"R-really?" The squirrel girl blushed a bit. "Yay!" The child looked so happy at the idea, positively beaming in fact. She gave another look to her counterpart, frowning as it was harder now to see him.
The boy in the sand wasn't sure he could hear this any more. They... they wanted to accept her, but not him. He felt himself sinking even further and further... there just didn't seem to be any point struggling. She was just too strong. She couldn't beat her... she couldn't fight her... everything started to get dark.
"...Play with Lilly" A voice stated.
Another friend his counterpart made? Lilly was already more popular then he ever was. Everyone wanted to be her friend. But not him. Never him. it was always about her. Everything had to be about her.
"... said you would play with me. So you have to play with me."
The boy recognised that voice. It was Melanie? He tried to focus on the voice, trying to get a look at what was going on. Melanie with her insect legs traversed the sand, ignoring all the others. The squirrel girl watched her with an annoyed look, however Melanie was focused completely on the near submerged boy.
"...Lilly." She named looking right at him, and touched his head. Just like that... everything changed.
Lilly felt the quicksand give way around- her. She glanced down at the twin tailed squirrel girl body. The sand took away her old clothes as well as her human form, which would have been too big for her anyway. She gazed at Melanie as she vanished into shadow, leaving her alone. The old swing was left behind, as she felt a compulsion to sit there, alone. For a while she contemplated the strangeness of this place.
"I... don't understand," The girl said confused, her words echoing in the empty space.
Lilly glanced back, feeling the swing being pushed by someone. She was unable to see who it was though. She tried to glance back, but every time she did, the swing just became faster and faster. All she could do was hold on for the ride, moving her legs up. She could see a single pointed star in the sky and for a while... it felt as if, she really could fly up there just by swinging - and be as light as Jenny, and Artemis...
... but then, this was just a dream.
"You see?" Said Selena. "All resolved." She waved her hand over the globe, dismissing the imagery. Whatever happened next, she felt was for Lilly to see alone.
Lucas scoffed. "Hardly."
"I've observed humans have a massive compulsion to 'resolve' things as quickly as possible," she thought with some bemusement. "This is as resolved as most dreams get."
"What does it mean?"
"Must it have a direct meaning? It could mean a lot of things. The question is, what does it mean to you?"
Lucas sighed. "I... guess it means she's unsure of herself? Ever since the Enemy got to her... she was acting really strange. What is happening to her Neurite?" The angel asked looking at the globe filled with concern. It was like ever since she had encountered the Enemy, Lilly was even more divided then ever.
The moon goddess pursed her lips, as she gave it some thought. "It is a... side effect, when one without magical power, encounters the Enemy in such a profound way," said the goddess sadly. "It is very hard to explain it with words." There were many viewpoints, but no one way was right. Humans were part of the universe, as much as they observed it... and the enemy was part of that same unknown aspect of the cosmos... lurking in the aspects of the physical and non-physical world. so of course, there would be an interaction on a very fundamental level.
"Is she going to be okay?" The angel asked, a slight edge to her voice. If the enemy had harmed her in any way, she was certainly okay for another round with them. Her sword was positively itching for it.
Selena nodded. "She will be. Children are exceptionally resilient to this 'sickness'" she explained delicately. "It is probably the reason why only the very young can get close enough to the Enemy to attack them. But it will be hard on her all the same. On adults, it would be far worse- and may require intervention... but in this case, I believe she will be fine."
"What about Hawkins? he got close and has no magical protection."
"Hawkins has one of the strongest focused minds I have ever seen. He manages his uncertainties as part of his role in life. The enemy shouldn't affect him quite as much." At least she certainly hoped that.
Lucas sighed. Still she was relieved that Selena had some idea of what had happened to Lilly. But she still didn't understand. "What has the enemy done exactly?"
The moon goddess waved her hands over the globe, turning it into a depiction of the earth. The image calmed her some. "You're used to thinking of the enemy as a discreet individual, but it doesn't work that way. Think of them like... gravity. Affecting everything in a very tiny way, because normally they are so distant."
"But in this case, Lilly got extremely close to them," thought Lucas.
"Yes. There was a... mingling I suppose you could say. It... can affect people in unpredictable ways. Children tend to shrug it off in a few days, but adults can be driven to sheer madness at worse. Or end up completely at the thralls of whatever instinct their form has." She gazed at Lucas a moment at those words. "Lilly's balance will be restored in time..."
Lucas thought a bit about that. "The Enemy wouldn't have liked her father much... Supposing this encounter was inevitable to their family.. it was rather lucky the sun reverted her into a child, right?"
The moon goddess gave a little look. "I suppose it was rather fortunate..."
