Bedtime for Sapna

Author's note: So it looks like Illyana is spending more time with the Indian girl Sapna.

If you examine a child's fears you'll find that the number one fear is almost always abandonment. Something has happened for Sapna, and has happened to Illyana as well.

Rather interesting parallels with Illyana's own childhood (which I somehow doubt is accidental). Sapna is young and has been abandoned by her mother and father once they learned of her actual mutant abilities. Sapna apparently has power (i.e. a demon whisperer) that made her parents decide she was evil. Leaving Sapna with nobody (poor kid). Likely most of the other mutant must find her scary as well due to the whole demon thing.

Part 1: Now I lay be down to sleep

Sapna was in Illyana's bedroom in bed with Illyana. Booger (Sapna's pet demon) was snoozing at the foot of the bed.

"Could you... tell me a story" Sapna asked with a little sad voice. "I know I'm too old, but my Maan and Pita (Mother and Father in Hini) used to tell me stories all the time before... before...". Before they abandoned her here in Limbo after her mutant power manifested.

Sapna began to cry again.

Illyana gave her a tight hug and said comforting words.

"There there little one. I know... it hurts, hurts so bad. Don't... don't think that you have to hold it in".

Sapna had a good long cry (one of many to come). Afterwards she asked a question while sniffling.

"Magik, why... why don't you tell me it's going to be all right? The other adults do, or try to".

Illyana answered honestly after some hesitation.

"Is it ok that your Maan and Pita said such things and left you"?

A soft and tearful "No..." from Sapna.

"That's why I don't say it. I... I don't know if you and your Maan and Pita will ever be together again. I dearly hope so... but... I won't offer false hope little one".

Sapna began to weep again and gave out a plaintive and heart wrenching bawl "Nobody loves me any more! Nobody cares"!

Part 2: An hour before

Sapna was crying on her cot in her tent.

It was late, very late, and she only had her pet demon Booger for company (Booger was a good listener but not very helpful). The tent she had shared with her Mother and Father was now empty but for her and her pet (nobody else wanted to stay in the same tent with her and the other kids her age were not friendly and were very scared of her as well).

As she softly cried (she didn't want to make too much noise as the surrounding tents would complain) she held a knock at the canvas door of the tent, which was odd in that it sounded just like somebody was knocking at a wooden door (ahh the convenience of magic).

She looked up, Magik was at the tent's doorway.

"Sapna may I come in?" Illyana asked.

"Yes... please". Sapna answered while sitting up and wiping away her tears.

"Hey Booger" Illyana said as she entered the tent holding out her hand for the demon animal to sniff and give a gentle lick to. Booger was more of a dog like demon. But rather big in that he could easily take down a horse (think great Dane and then add a red leathery skin and a mouth that could bite a child in half and claws that would make a bear proud).

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" Illyana asked. She was holding two coffee cups, each capped with whipped cream.

"Yes please" was Sapna's soft answer.

Illyana sat on the cot and gave Sapna a cup. Sapna took a sip, it was good, really good.

She sniffled as she took another sip.

Illyana knew of the difficulties Sapna was having with the other kids, and many of the adults as well (although having Booger at her side left her quite safe).

Illyana glanced around the tent and then back at Sapna's rumbled and unkempt appearance.

"Sapna would you like to... sleep in my room with me for a while. I think things are very scary and alone for you right now".

Sapna's face scrunched up with grief again and tears began to flow. She was all choked up and couldn't answer but only nodded her head yes.

With a flash of a teleportation disk Illyana, Sapna, and Booger were in Illyana's school bedroom (Illyana had one of the senior instructor's bedrooms and a queen sized bed with nice soft blue silk sheets).

Sapna had a long cry as Illyana put her to bed and then got in bed to hold the child.

Part 3: Tell me a story

"A story. Hmm, let me think". Illyana mused as Sapna slurped more hot chocolate (One of Illyana's special cups for kids which provided an endless supply of hot chocolate).

Illyana eyed Sapna, she was recovering from the M-Pox. But now the child was hurt in a way that medical attention could never fix.

"Let me tell you a tale of Cat, the brave adventurous, and her Kit. This is a special story as Kit is me when I was young".

"Who is Cat? Was she your mother? Were you her kitten"?

"No, Cat was my friend. She... was my teacher for several years here in Limbo when I was your age".

"Ok..." Sapna answered while taking another long drink of chocolate.

Illyana then told the tale of the grumpy troll and the indigestion he suffered for daring the wrath of Cat (a rated G version of a tale of Cat and Illyana in the wilds of Limbo). It was a long story filled with trials and travails and the eventual loss of the troll's one gold tooth (in reality the troll lost more then the tooth, but this is the rate G version).

Sapna giggled a few times and was content to listen. It was a good story, but Illyana was somewhat teary eyed herself at the end. Sapna has a question when the story ended.

"Magik, why are you crying"?

"I... I miss those times with Cat... and Cat as well. She... well... I really understand what you're feeling".

"Did... did your Maan and Pita..." Sapna couldn't finish the question.

"Yes... yes they did". Was Illyana's answer as she hugged Sapna.

"Did... they ever... Sapna again couldn't finish the question.

"No... never ever again was I their daughter to them".

Sapna was not a happy child, but... well Magik wasn't Maan and Pita, she could never be. But at least somebody cared for Sapna again.