Pyrrha was sound asleep...she had never slept this well before in her entire life. Before now, she had just been kill and felt the cold sting of death but now she was warm. Slowly, she opened her eyes but it was very dark where she was laying and she found it rather hard to simply wake up as she was very comfortable. Slowly, her eyes began to adjust and she realized she wasn't in the same place where she had been killed.
She rolled onto her side and felt the soft warm blanket that was covering her and for a second, she thought someone had bound her but when she realized it was nothing more than a blanket her thoughts hovered somewhere between intriguement and confusion...Where was she?
At the moment however, that really didn't seem to matter as much as the fact that she was warm and sleeping on a soft bed. So, she pulled the blanket back over herself and drifted back into sleep.
It seemed like mere seconds before she was awoken by a voice. "Pyrrha. Pyrrha, Sweetie. It's time to wake up." It was a female voice, a very kind and almost motherly sounding voice, which reminded Pyrrha very much of her own
Opening her eyes once again, she realized she was in the last possible place she would have ever expected. The first thing she noticed were the bars and a fleeting thought that she was in jail passed her mind before she realized it was actually a crib. Though she wasn't scared by all this, she was very confused.
Looking around, she soon located the source of the kind motherly voice that had woken her up. The woman was standing next to her crib, looking down at Pyrrha with a kind smile on her face. Pyrrha couldn't believe it, was she dreaming? She blinked several times just to make sure she wasn't. "No, this definitely isn't a dream." she thought. The woman who was looking down at her was very tall, a giantess compared to Pyrrha, who felt very small in her crib. Their eyes met and Pyrrha realized the woman was watching her to see how she'd react.
Seeing the confused look on Pyrrha's face, she sighed and in that kindly voice she said, "I know you want some answers, so feel free to ask me anything you like. And don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you."
The first thing Pyrrha asked was, "Did I shrink?"
The lady shook her head. "No, Sweetie. You didn't shrink. I just don't know how to explain it."
Pyrrha just kind of shook her head a little and said, "Then tell it to me straight."
Looking back down at Pyrrha, their eyes met and Pyrrha could see the sincerity in her gaze.
"Well, the truth is," the woman began, "You are not on Remnant anymore. You're on my home planet."
Pyrrha just looked confused but thought for a moment, trying to swallow what she had just heard.
The lady continued. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? I haven't even told you my name. It's Karen and I would love it if you would let me be your new mother."
"My new mother?"
Karen smiled that warm smile and nodded. "Yes, Sweetie. That's why you're here. That's why you're alive. You were saved. And we would like to adopt you."
She sat up. "Adopt? Do you mean, I'm going to be a part of your family?"
Karen simply nodded again and looked down on her with that warm, kindly smile. Smiling a little back at her, Pyrrha then looked away and thought how nice it would be to have a family so far from home.
Then she asked "What's the catch?" Her time living in Mistral had taught Pyrrha that rarely did you get something for nothing.
Still smiling, Karen replied, "Nothing really, you just have to be our baby girl. More of a toddler, really. I can't have kids and when they showed us your photo, my heart just melted and I knew right away that you were the one for us."
This really piqued Pyrrha's curiosity, then she examined herself and realized she was wearing footed pj's and a diaper. The diaper was something she recognized well, as she had worn them once long ago when she had been sick with the stomach flu. She supposed she could live with the diapers, because it sure beat having to go to the bathroom all the time.
Pyrrha looked back at Karen. "So, you mean I have to wear them all the time? It's fine if I do, but do I have to change them myself?"
Karen giggled a little. "No, Sweetie. I'm your mommy now and it's up to mommy to change her baby."
Pyrrha looked away and began processing it all over in her mind. Then tears flooded her eyes as the bad memories of her last battle and sacrifice all rushed into her head at once like a tidal wave. How she valiantly fought Cinder in order to protect Beacon Tower, only for it to fall and for her to lose her life in vain. It was not something that one would so easily forget.
Karen saw the tears in Pyrrha's eyes and once again. in that kind voice, she asked Pyrrha what was the matter.
Pyrrha's tears flowed more freely now and between her cries, she choked out, "Why did you choose me? I'm nobody special. I'm just a girl who died fight for nothing." She sniffled and looked away. "This has to be a dream, because it's too nice to be real and I don't want to wake up. I'd rather die again than wake up!" She tried to say something else, but she choked on her sobs and sniffles.
Karen frowned very slightly. "Aw, Sweetie. We know that wasn't your fault. We chose you because you fight bravely and would need the most help with the rebound. I promise you that Daddy and I will always take care of you and love you with all of our hearts. Here, Honey. Come to Mommy."
She held out her arms to Pyrrha and Pyrrha held out her arms to Karen. Pyrrha was so depressed that she was nearly numb, as if nothing seemed to matter. Then Karen lifted Pyrrha up out of her crib and held her close, like a mother. She cradled Pyrrha in her arms, gently stroking her head gently, and rocking her back and forth.
In that soothing voice, she told Pyrrha "It's okay, Sweetie. You'll never have to worry again because nobody will ever hurt you."
Pyrrha rested her head on Karen's shoulder as she walked them over and sat down in the biggest rocking chair that Pyrrha had ever seen. As she was rocked back and forth, Pyrrha rested her head on Karen's chest, still sniffling. It was only just yesterday since she had been held and loved like this. And in that moment, she knew she would be safe here. Safe and contempt as part of this family.
Once Pyrrha has calmed down, Karen wiped the tears from her eyes. "There now, Sweetie," she said, "Those eyes of yours are much too pretty for tears." Pyrrha smiled.
"All better now, Honey?"
Pyrrha nodded.
"Are you hungry?"
Pyrrha nodded again
"Then let's go to the kitchen and get you some breakfast, shall we?"
Karen then carried her down a long hallway and down some stairs.
The house looked really huge to Pyrrha and they passed through, she was amazed by the sheer size of it. When they reached the kitchen, Pyrrha was put in a high chair then strapped in around the middle so she wouldn't fall out.
"Let's see here..." said Karen, "Would you like some cereal? Or how about some pancakes and sausage?"
"Pancakes and sausage, please!" Pyrrha replied
Again smiling that warm smile, Karen said "All right, Sweetie. You just sit there and Mommy will fix it for you."
As Karen began to cook, Pyrrha sat there and made little arcs on her high-chair table with her fingers. Then they began to talk a little more.
"I'm amazed you have taken this all so well. It's gone so well, in fact that I think I am going to take you to the doctor today. They all said you would be a little wild, even the doctor said that when I made the appointment but I just knew you wouldn't be and I told them you would be a strong-hearted girl. The doctor even said I should cancel until you get settled in but I think you're doing just fine."
Pyrrha nodded. "Well to be honest, anything beats being dead or worse if anything."
Then she looked away and blushed, continuing to make little arcs on the high-chair table with her fingers. "I think I'm still a child on the inside, though being somewhat talented has made me have to grow up much faster than I would have liked. I can't even tell you how much of a childhood that I've missed, but you seem so sweet and kind that I wouldn't really mind being a child again."
Then she blushed again, almost crying from happiness, she said, "Thank you for making me a part of your family."
Karen then smiled that warm smile again. "Aww. You are most welcome, Sweetheart." Then she bent down and kissed Pyrrha on the forehead.
Soon, breakfast was done and Karen set the high-chair table in front of Pyrrha along with some utensils. Immediately, Pyrrha noticed they all had what look to be Zwei on them. Again she smiled, then she proceeded to eat. It was so good! She hadn't had anything this delicious to eat in a very long time. She ate slowly, savoring every bite and was thankful to have a home cooked meal in her stomach once again.
The sippy cup that Karen had given her, which was also had Zwei on it, had milk in it and even that tasted wonderful. They both ate quietly and Karen smiled as she watched Pyrrha eat her breakfast. Pyrrha didn't mind being stared at, especially if the stares came from a pair of eyes as warm and loving as Karen's were. Plus, the food was so yummy and it was hard to think of anything else.
Once they had finished, Karen took the dishes and set them in the sink then she looked at the clock on the wall. "Well, it looks like we still have plenty of time before you gotta go see the doctor. How about I curl that pretty hair of yours?"
Pyrrha smiled. "That would be nice!"
"I even bought you a few articles of clothing," said Karen, "And after the doctor's appointment we can go shopping. What do you say to that?"
"Shopping? Really? Wow." said Pyrrha, smiling. She hadn't been shopping in a long time. She hadn't genuinely smiled like this in a long time either.
"Yeah," said Karen, "We should have time for that. After all, I gotta buy my pretty new daughter a Welcome Home present. Sound good, Honey?"
Smiling wider than she had perhaps ever smiled, Pyrrha said "That sounds great."
"Well then, I suppose we better get you ready for your big day." And with that, she picked Pyrrha up out of the high chair, carried her back to the nursery, and set her down on the floor.
Then, much to Pyrrha's surprise, she noticed the room was full of what look to be Zwei themed stuff.
Again, she smiled and watched as Karen looked through the closet for an outfit to put her in. "How did you know I liked dogs?" she asked.
With her back still to Pyrrha, Karen replied, "One of the picture they showed us, was of you cradling this cute little guy with genuine happiness and care. We took that as a good sign and decorate the nursery with him."
Karen pulled out an outfit "Ahh, here we go. This will be perfect for you."
It was a little sailor dress that had puffy sleeves lined with blue ribbons and a pair of matching bloomers, also lined with blue ribbons. Pyrrha then remembered another question she had been meaning to ask for some time now.
"Who are THEY?" Pyrrha asked, looking rather curious.
As Karen began to undress her, she replied, "THEY are the Rescue and Adoption Agency. You see, we're not allowed to have kids because of our longevity. We'd get overpopulated rather quickly if we tried. It has something to do with the water that we have here. And since we have such advanced technology, it's just easier for us to go to Remnant and adopt little humans like you."
By now, Pyrrha was dressed. Karen sat her down and started to brush her hair. "We find it best if we rescued people who are about to be die, alone and unreachable. Mainly, cuz they're the most in need of love."
"Ah..I see now," said Pyrrha, "That must be why most of the bodies of the supposedly deceased remain unfound..."
"Exactly." said Karen as she finished brushing Pyrrha's hair, then she put the little sailor cap that came with the outfit atop Pyrrha's head. Then she began straightening Pyrrha's clothes and when she was satisfied, she got down on her knees, looked Pyrrha over, and smiled. Then last but not least, she took Pyrrha up into her arms and put some frilly socks along with a pair of Mary Jane shoes onto to her feet.
Pyrrha leaned her head back onto Karen and smiled. Karen was one of the sweetest and most loving person that Pyrrha had ever met, it made her feel so good to be cared for.
Karen noticed Pyrrha smiling and said "You look so happy, Sweetie." Then she smiled that warm smile again.
"Alright then, Sweetie," said Karen, "I'm going to go get the stroller into the car and fix you a little snack. You can play while I'm gone, okay?" Then she gently placed Pyrrha on the floor and left the room.
It was at this time, Pyrrha decided it was time to have a proper look around. There were some shelves, a dollhouse, and a pink wooden toy box with "Pyrrha" painted on it. Looking around inside, she found some Barbie stuff in a case. She took it out and closed the box before sitting down. When she opened it and looked inside, she found a Barbie doll, a Ken doll, 2 children dolls, a brush, and some extra outfits. She took the Ken doll into her hands and she was immediately reminded of that one dear person who she had cared for. She gently placed him on her crib and went to open up the dollhouse but by that time Karen had come return.
"Okay, Sweetie. Are you ready?" she said. Then she looked down at what Pyrrha was doing and said "I'm so happy you like the dollies I got you but you'll have to wait, cuz we got a lot to do today."
Pyrrha stood and lifted her arms up to Karen, who picked her up and held her in her arms like a mother holds her child. Karen then carried her out to the SUV, which looked to Pyrrha to be the size of a semi-truck, then sat her into the car seat in back and strapped her in. Then they pulled out of the driveway to go to the hairdressers and then to the doctor's office.
