AN UNEXPECTED SUPRISE

Luke and co. were walking through Belkend one day when a couple of strange girls stopped them.

"Excuse me, but have any of you seen some little kids running around?" the first one asked.

Each thought for a moment, then Jade asked. "Do they have red hair?"

The other girl answered kind of shocked "Yes!"

"Then no, we haven't." Anise said.

"Actually you're wrong…" the first girl said. "…look behind you." the other snickered.

"What the…"

"Come on Kiki, and you too Christy. We need to get going, but first we need to find Crim and Lucky. J.C. and Raist are with Mother and Father. Cat you take the little girls back.

I'll find Crim and Lucky." The somewhat oldest of the group said.

"Okay sis, but why do I always have to take 'em?" the girl called Cat asked.

"They actually listen ta ya. Last time I told them to do somethin' they tried ta kill me." the still mystery girl said. "I had ta tie 'em ta their beds ev'ry night fer a week."

"I didn't know it got that bad!" Cat said loudly. "You should have told me Krim."

"Ow. That's exactly why I didn't tell ya. When ya get angry, ya also get loud." the girl obviously called Krim said.

"I thought you said you were looking for Crim." Luke said. "How can you be looking for Crim if you are Krim?"

"My name is Krim with a K. His starts with a C, you dolt."

"Sis you shouldn't say that to his face." Cat said.

"So he's gonna try ta kill me now 'eh?" Krim stated drawing her guns. "Go ahead and try."

"Nee-chan don't hurt them, please?" someone said

"Fine, Crim. I won't hurt 'em as long as you help me find Lucky." she responded.

"I don't know where he is though." the little boy said dejectedly.

"All right then." Krim said. "Keep an eye on him. I'll be back in a minute. Cat. Leave

now I'll be back in a bit"

"Nii-chan I want to go with you." The little boy said sadly.

"I said I'll be back. I didn't say I was leavin' ya behind now did I?" she said

Krim walked into an alley. A couple minutes later a crimson dog came out.

"You can ride on my back now Crim." the dog said. "Now don't pull on my fur too hard, Okay?"

"Okay nee-chan."

"Why are ya all starin' at me like that, 'eh?" the dog said with a pointed look.

Luke's entire group hadn't stopped staring at the dog since it had come out of the alley.

"Are you Krim?" Anise finally asked.

"Of course it's me."

"How..." Tear said. "…did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Turn into a dog." Ion said.

"Oh that. I've always been able to that." she stated. "J.C. and Raist turn into lions, Kiki

and Christy turn into cats, and Cat and I turn into dogs."

"What about Crim and Lucky?"

"We turn into dogs too."

"What?"

"We've never found out why they turn inta dogs though." Krim said.

"Can your parents turn inta animals too?" Luke asked curiously.

"No. That's why it's so weird."

Krim starts sniffin' close ta tha ground.

"Okay Crim. Let's go!"

Crim hops on the dog and they take off.

"Where are you going?" Ion asked

"She got the scent." Crim called back as they rounded the corner.

"We should follow them in case they get into trouble." Jade said and started to follow the

dog and boy.

"Wait for us Colonel!" Anise called. "Let's go guys!"

"Okay. Come on Tear. Guy you follow too." Luke said diligently.

"Fine." they responded.

When they got around the corner they saw Asch and Krim talking.

"Thank you for looking after my brother mister." she said while hugging a little child with red hair.

"Nee-chan he can't breathe." Crim said. "Maybe you should put Lucky down now."

"I'm sorry Lucky." Krim said. "I was just worried that you'd gotten lost again."

"Look. Here comes Mom." Lucky told his siblings. "Let's go see what she wants."

The little kids, along with their big sister, walk over to their parents and start to walk away, but someone stops 'em.

"Where are you going?" the little girl asks.

"Gloomietta." Anise stated bitterly annoyed. "What are you doing here?"