(MC and I are walking through a forest on a cool Autumn day)

Ah, the month of November. A time to be thankful.

MC: A time to pile up falling leaves.

A especially, a time to write a brand new story to celebrate Thanksgiving. MC, as usual, would you care to give a summary of what this story is about and what to expect?

MC: Sure. In this story, it will involve our good friend Kari. But this Thanksgiving, she seems a little more sad than happy. And it involves one of her friends.

And you'll find out why. So, without further to do... on with the story!

Disclaimer:... I own... NOTHING.

Chapter 1: Preparing

It was a cool fall day in Los Angeles, California. But right now, it was a momentous time as well. For the community was preparing for a group Thanksgiving dinner at the community building. A Thanksgiving tradition the town has had for many years now and still counting.

And this year, it would be Kari's first time celebrating this tradition. Last year, she missed out due to still recovering from being kidnapped by an evil tyrant from the past... but that's a story for another time.

The one hosting the dinner would be the mother of Kari's twin friends, Tony and Robyn. We go to the building now as we see people setting up the feast, with fruits, various dishes, and of course, the turkey.

Tony and Robyn's mom, Danielle looked over the work and smiled to herself, as Izzy and Jake, Kari's parents, commented on her achievement

"Danielle. I have to say, you've really outdone yourself." Izzy said.

Danielle smiled, liking Izzy's compliment as Jake added this, "Yeah. Now this will make this year's feast like how it was hundreds of years ago."

"I know! I didn't think I could do it. But I did it." Danielle replied. "Now I hope the food will be able to stay fresh until the dinner in three more days."

As the adults continued to talk, three young children walked into the building. It was Kari, Tony, and Robyn, coming to check out the feast, "Wow... this is so cool!" Kari spoke with awe.

"We told you our Mom was awesome." Tony said.

"Yeah!" Robyn agreed, "Look at all of this. Mom knows how to plan her stuff."

As Kari looked around, she gasps at something that catches her eye. It was chocolate puffs, her favorite dessert, sitting on plate in stacks on the table. The nine year old felt her mouth water, "Oh... chocolate puffs... my favorite... I must have..."

She began to reach for one, but suddenly, her hand was pulled away by her father, "Easy Kari. Save your appetite till dinner begins." He told her. Kari pouted, "Aw... okay, Daddy..." She replied.

"Everything's looking good, Momma." Tony said to his mother.

"Oh, thanks, honey. You'll love the turkey when it's fully done." Danielle replied.

That's when another one of Kari's friends entered the building... well, more like her frenemy. It was Alexa McBride, her father Bob (Jake's old boss), her mother Charlotte, and baby brother Pete.

Jake frowned a bit when he saw his old boss walk up to him, "Boss.."

"Hutchinson..." Bob greeted with a smug grin.

"Charlotte..." Izzy spoke with kindness.

"Isabelle..." Charlotte scoffed.

"Alexa..." Kari greeted with disgust.

"Kari..." Alexa greeted back with just as much disgust.

"I kind of figured you and your family would be celebrating Thanksgiving somewhere else this year." Jake said.

"Now why would we do that? You know that we always come to these community dinners. It's part of tradition." Bob replied. Jake frowned even more, "Sure it is.." He said under his breath before turning away.

Charlotte smiled, "And we want to make this extra special for Peter, since it's his first time."

"Well, we're want to make this extra special for Kari, since it's her first time." Izzy replied.

Kari smiled as she blushed, but Alexa smirked at her, "But my brother's time is gonna be more special than yours." She remarked. Kari frowned, "Mine will be the more special one."

"Say!" Robyn said, trying to prevent a argument, "Let's go to the park. We need to meet Cory, Kevin, and Siri there."

"Good idea!" Kari said, as she turned towards her father, "Can we go to the park, Daddy?" She asked sweetly.

Jake smiled, "Sure, sweetie."

"Oh, and Alexa, we need you to look after your brother while we help prepare the dinner. ." Charlotte, handing the toddler to Alexa, much to her dismay, "Do I have to... very well, Mother." She said.

With that, the kids headed off to play in the park. As soon as they made it there, Cory, Kevin, and Kirana (Siri for short), were there waiting for him, "Hi, Kari." Cory greeted, coughing a little. Kari hugged Cory tightly with love, "Cory. You should see the dinner table at the community building. It's great!"

"I can tell." Cory said, before coughing some more.

Kari noticed how hard Cory's coughing was, "Is everything okay, Cory? You're coughing an awful lot."

"Oh, it's just a sore throat. That's all."

Kari wasn't so sure that was it, but she just shrugged it off, as the friends began to play in the park. Alexa, however, was stuck swinging her brother on the swings, much to her dismay. She sighed as he giggle. It wasn't that she didn't love Pete, but she should be playing with her closest friends right now, not babysitting her baby brother.

It felt so boring to her.

"So... how's the baby?" Kirana asked as she walked up to Alexa, "He's doing okay." Was her replied.

Kirana smiled as she ruffled up Pete's hair, "He's getting cute. He's almost two years old isn't he?"

"Yeah."

"So tell us, how does it feel having an adopted brother?"

"Well it is very great, but sometimes I always feel bored with having to babysit him."

"I know... uh, Alexa?"

"Yes?"

"Where did Peter go?"

Alexa then looked down at the swing... only to find it empty. She gasped in shock, "Peter?!" She looked around the park, but she didn't see him anywhere. "Oh no..." The others walked over to her as she began panicking, "Alexa. What's wrong?" Robyn asked.

"Peter's missing, that's what's wrong."

Kari frowned, "Well, he's gotta be around here somewhere... this park isn't but so big."

With that, the kids began to search for the little toddler, he had to be around somewhere, he couldn't have gotten far. He's just a baby. But after ten minutes of searching, Pete was nowhere to be found. Alexa was completely scared stiff. "Don't worry, we'll find him." Kari told her.

However though, it was getting late, and they had to go home soon. But Alexa refused to leave until her little brother was found. They continued searching for him, but after fifteen more minutes, she felt like giving up.

Alexa sighed as she sat on the ground, "We've looked everywhere, and still can't find him."

That's when Kevin walked up to her with a grin, "Hey, Lexi. I have a solution to your problem, it's something I build myself." He revealed to her a doll... that looked just like Pete, in appearance, height, and everything, "This is just to fool your parents until Pete is found. Check it out."

He pressed a secret button, and the doll spoke in a slightly robotic tone, "Hi... my name is Pete McBride..."

The other kids were amazed with what Kevin showed them, but Alexa was less than impressed, this didn't feel right to her at all. But nevertheless, she feared how angry her mother would be if she found out that Alexa lost Pete, so she just took the doll and stared at it, she thought that this was the best she could do for now. But suddenly.

"Alexa!"

That's when Charlotte came into the park, holding little Pete, "Bubby, it's time to come home. Dinner's ready." She said. Wait a sec, Pete was with Charlotte this entire time?

Alexa wanted to question this, but decided that it wasn't worth it. Soon enough, everyone went home for the night. At Kari's house, she was giggling with delight, as she ran into her room, with her father following behind, as if he were a scary monster chasing her, "Come on Kari. You know the family rule, we always bathe before bedtime."

"I washed my face! Isn't that enough?" She asked as Jake picked her up and placed her over his shoulder, "Nice try."

"Aw..."

Soon, enough, after a bath, Jake sat Kari in her bed, "Daddy... what's the Thanksgiving group dinner gonna be like?" She asked.

"Oh Kari, it's going to be a special one. Along with you, me, your mother, and the twins having dinner. Will be spending it with our closest friends and neighbors that have helped us out so much." Jake answered.

"How come we didn't go last year...?"

"You were still held captive by that tyrant. Remember?"

"No... I had gotten free last year on my birthday, but we didn't go the Thanksgiving group dinner..."

Jake then remembered, "Oh yeah. Well, I guess we were still trying to get over the whole tyrant thing that we didn't think about going last year."

Kari nodded as her father pinched her little cheeks softly as he told her this, "Now you go ahead and get some sleep, sweetie. We've got plenty to do before the Thanksgiving dinner."

"Okay... goodnight, Daddy." She said softly, giving him a hug.

"Goodnight Kari."

With that, Jake gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek, as he left the room. Kari herself went fast asleep. Little did she know, was that things were going to take a turn for the worst very soon...

Aw, a cute father daughter moment.

MC: Cute indeed.

So, we've had a bit of preparation, and a bit of play. Next chapter, our friends will get some news...

MC: And it won't be happy news.

That's for sure. So, until then. We shall see you guys later. And as always, don't forget to review, please.