A New Journey...

It started with Kaira’s eyes snapping open. What should have been a wave of relief over realizing it was just dream, instead became a flood of tears. One hand clamped to her mouth, as the sobs wracked her body, while the other reached out for her husband.

These nightmares were getting more frequent as this newest pregnancy formed and their new house came together. The stress of everything weighed heavily on Kaira, not to mention the constant paperwork and back-and-forthing trying to wrench custody of Midori from her biological mother.

Finally, she sat up, a sharp cry barely muffled by her hand as her still drowsy mind raced with terrible thoughts.

Kaira immediately buried her face in the crook of his neck. The moment she heard his voice, the thoughts came to a violent stop. He was here, she was okay.

“It’s the nightmares again,” she admitted wearily, “The ones where you leave me and take our kids with you.”

“Oh Kaira...” Azure sighed the last traces of sleep from him, and hugged her back tightly, “You know that’ll never happen, right? It’s just a nightmare...” 

The doctor had warned them that vivid nightmares could be a side effect of pregnancy... but she hadn’t had nearly this bad of a reaction with Mia right? 

He gently reached forward and tucked her hair behind her ear, “I’ll never leave you. Not after I’ve finally found you again.”

It started with Kaira’s eyes snapping open. What should have been a wave of relief over realizing it was just dream, instead became a flood of tears. One hand clamped to her mouth, as the sobs wracked her body, while the other reached out for her husband.

These nightmares were getting more frequent as this newest pregnancy formed and their new house came together. The stress of everything weighed heavily on Kaira, not to mention the constant paperwork and back-and-forthing trying to wrench custody of Midori from her biological mother.

Finally, she sat up, a sharp cry barely muffled by her hand as her still drowsy mind raced with terrible thoughts.

“Dash suddenly turning savage.

“We designed them, then tried to make them, but the fabric was really hard to work with. Aunt Lily came over and helped!” Cy smiled, “Then, you like them, right?”

Kaira turned the costume over in her hands, looking like she might cry. This would have been an adorable gift, if the circumstances weren’t so awful. Having to hide their identities so that they wouldn’t be putting their family into anymore danger. How terrifying.

“I know no one knows who or what I am,” Cy continued, “but I’m going to change my appearance too, so that I can stay with Ember and we don’t look terribly out of place without you guys. We’ll stay on the perimeter and be like a safe point for you guys to escape to in case things go south.”

Azure smiled, and reached across to ruffle Cy’s hair, “Thank you Cy, and Amber. Both of you.” He looked down at the costume. If he was honest with himself, the idea made him feel rather silly.

He hadn’t dressed up in anything since before he was ten years old. But... there was no way he wanted anyone to learn their identities, and track them back home. Uncomfortable or not, Azure would wear the costume to keep his family back home safe...

Alright, alright! Cy looked both excited and nervous as he pulled the two, newspaper wrapped packages from his bag. They were carefully wrapped, covered in both paper and tape; marked up with adorable doodles of Kaira and Azure rescuing Mia from some shady-looking stick figures.

Inside, the two would fine two surprisingly beautiful costumes. Stitched together and themed after the small children’s favorite heros, Noibatman and the Noivernesse.

“We know we’re going up against some really bad people,” Cy explained, a sheepish look coming over his face, “And if they knew who was coming after them, then everyone back in Yggdra could be in danger! So… I asked Aunt Lily to make these costumes for you two. I can change my appearance at will, you should be able to as well…”

He trailed off, feeling terribly silly now.

Azure was instantly impressed by the costume, “Cy, Amber... did you two make these yourselves? They are beautiful.” He could feel his stomach clench underneath though. He had a feeling where this was going. 

Cy pressed his face to the window as the plane soared over Castelia City. The last huge place he had been was Lumiose, but he had no memories of that. The tall skyscrapers, bustling streets, beautiful glistening docks were mesmerizing to the two small children. Honestly, Kaira had never been here before herself, so she was also glued to the window, her hand idly stroking Azure’s knuckles.

She had to be here. Kaira had committed almost entirely to the idea that Mia was here, held captive and transmorphed by whatever evil Gabriel was a part of. The very idea of having to see Gabriel again made her blood run cold. All she had were terrible memories of him, of how their parents doted on him and left her to rot on that Island, barely supervised by the professor. Why was he still tormenting her. even now?

The plane landed and the little family gathered their things. Kaira finally managed to relax in the taxi drive to their hotel and almost collapsed entirely inside the hotel room. As she flopped back on the bed, Cy bounced up onto with her, beaming brightly.

He couldn’t help but think that this whole thing felt wrong. And, he didn’t know what would be worse... if Kaira was wrong, or if he was wrong. If Kaira was wrong, that meant this whole trip would be for nothing... they’d be back to square one. With no leads on their daughter, and no idea who even took her. But, if she was right... that meant someone, whether it was Kaira’s brother or not, did horrible things to Mia... genetic experiments, like they did to their son. The thought that another one of their children would have to go through that hell was torture to him. And, if that was the case... how would they explain it to Mia, in a way to convince her to return? Explain to her that she was actually their one year old baby, and that she had been kidnapped at a week old? It all just felt so wrong. All he wanted was to get Mia back, and return home with his wife and family. 

Thinking of his family, he suddenly heard Cy’s voice, and it snapped him out of his thoughts. He startled slightly, and looked up to see Cy looking over with a bright, beaming smile.