Kay, before you do anything, do yourself a huge favor and go read KaylaDestroyer's new story 'Changed'. It. Is. AWESOME! Just thought I'd put that out there!

Enjoy!

Lela gladly fluttered after Raz down the hall, admiring everything. The shiny waxed floors polished to perfection so she could see her reflection. The pretty gold and silver vases, the way the walls all glittered and reflected themselves. Everything was so big, so tall- so shiny and new looking! But… "Raz?"

"Aye Lela?"

"Wh- Why is it so dark?" only a few torches, mounted with creepily grinning skulls, lit the hallways and tunnels. She was glad they made a steady pace- and she felt special when the servants and workers threw themselves to the ground with hasty bows when they passed, even if they were bowing to Raz.

"Zalim's no' one fer light, little'n."

"H… How come?"

She shrugged. "Ah dunno."

"Oh."

So they continued walking. However, they found Opal waiting for them outside the door. The rabbit sat with her legs crossed, elbows on her knees and hands supporting her head, hanging low with depression. She heaved a sad sigh and shifted a little. She wondered how long she'd been there. "'Ey Gemmy." She said. "Whaddaya think ya doin down there?"

Opal looked up in surprise. "Ha- Have I angered you? I did not mean to loiter." Her ears lowered. "Am I in trouble?"

"Oh yeah yer in troub'l." Raz put her tray down on a nearby table and opened her arms. "Where's mah welc'me back hug?"

With a grin Opal gladly leapt up into her embrace, glad to see her, relishing the happy feeling of gentle arms cradling her. "Raz I missed you! Are you ok?!" she'd been so very worried; her last glimpse of her, three days ago' she'd developed a terrible fever and had three long gashes down her front. Now, however, she looked healthy and spirited as ever. And that awful Scepter was nowhere in sight!

"Aw Opal, Ah'm fine." Raz sat her on the tray before picking it up again. "Don' ya start fussin ova me er noth- Lela!" she grabbed at the tiny mouse, who had been crouching on the edge of the bowl and just plopped in when she picked it up. She had thick broth now all over her, dripping into Raz's palm as she stood there, blushing. "What da ya think ya doin? Thas fer Zalim!"

The mouse giggled innocently, polishing the soup off her right fingers. "What? You said ya needed a taste tesser…"

"No' fer the whole bowl!"

Opal giggled and snuck a quick taste on her finger, immediately understanding her motives. It was delicious. "Mm…" but wait. "Who is she?"

Lela's attention landed on Opal for the first time, and she excitedly leaned forward. "Who're you?"

"I'm Opal." She squinted at her curiously. "Bu' who're you?"

The sprite giggled as Raz set her down to let them get acquainted. Opal kneeled down in front of her and held out her hands, the mouse shyly clambering into them. As she straightened up, she said "'m Lela."

"Oh…" Opal nodded. "What are you?"

"A sprite!" she chirped happily. "But, um…" she turned in a circle, trying to look over her shoulder. "Ya can't really see my wings now, huh?"

Opal giggled. "Nope."

Raz smiled at the two, glad they were getting along. "'ey, Ah got an idea." They both looked to her. "Opal, will ya do me a favor?"

"Sure, anything."

"Take Lela an go gett'er cleaned up. Ya don' want tha stuff ta dry- ' takes fereva ta comb out if ya lettit get hard."

"Oh, ok!" she jumped down from the table. "Lela, I hope you like bubble baths!"

"Bubbly bath!" she cheered as Opal walked off down the hall. Raz smiled and shook her head, laughing to herself.

"Ah, kids. Ya gotta love 'em."

…

Turns out, Opal knew a lot about bubble baths. There was certain plant that's sap bubbled and foamed upon contact will water, and she poured in some peach juice and rose petals so it smelled wonderfully. Lela was happy to jump in with a tiny 'plunk'. Opal giggled as she came up laughing and smelling the wonderfully warm water. "Bubbles!" she took a handful and piled them on her head, swishing her arms in the rainbow foam.

"Lela, c'mere." She same over to the side, where Opal waited with a cotton cloth to wipe the soup off of her. As she was doing this, she asked "So, why aren't you at home with your mommy and daddy? What brings you to the palace?"

Lela sniffled, and Opal realized her mistake as her eyes glazed over with tears. "Th-" she sniffed. "They didn' want me."

"Oh 'm sorry!" she gently hugged the little sprite. "I dunno if it matters, but… I don't have a mom and dad either."

"Wha' bout sisters? Or brothers?"

The bunny shook her head. "Nope. No sibling either. What about you?"

"Nope…" the mouse replied sadly, ears drooping. "Sometimes I dream abou' havin a sister though!"

Opal smiled. "Me too… it'd be nice ta have a sister huh?"

"Yep!" bye now she was clean, but as Opal tried to set her back in the water, Lela hung onto her finger, tugging at her. "C'mon, c'mon!" she chimed. "You too!"

Opal couldn't say no and gladly slid into the warm water as well. She and Lela got along quite nicely- told each other stories of where they came from. Opal was fascinated by what the inside of the sprite kingdom was, and wondered what it felt like to fly. She'd wondered many times- who hadn't?

Lela was equally charmed by all the things 'Big Ones' could do. They were so much bigger and didn't have as many limitations- didn't have to worry about getting stepped on in their sleep, for example. They could see higher than them, and could go swimming in the ocean without worrying about getting eaten by a fish that thought they were a large bug.

As they were laying comfortably in the bath, Opal shifted a little. "See out there?" she pointed to the window they were facing. "See the picture?"

"Um…" she climbed up on her shoulder and squinted at the sky. "Sorta kinda…"

"Look. It's right there. Three stars in a row, then they make a sort of box, and that line there? And there are two under it? See?"

Lela gasped. "I see it!"

"That's O-ri-on." She said it carefully to make sure she made no mistake. "It's a constellation."

She looked up at her. "A sky picture?"

She nodded. "Yep. That's right. Ya know what 'e is?" Lea shook her head.

"Nuh uh."

"He's a warrior. See his shield? And his sword." She nodded vigorously. "Raz says he watches the kids. An some of 'em, he turns inta good warriors too."

She tilted her head, nose twitching curiously. "How come?"

She smiled softly at the little mouse as she yawned suddenly and rubbed her blue eyes. "So they can be safe."

Lela gave her a sleepy smile and leaned against her chest, closing her eyes. Opal smiled down at her and closed her eyes as well. She was happy to just lie there forever with her new mouse friend held close. She'd found another piece of her family.

There you go! Anybody die from an, and I quote here from someone else 'cuteness apocalypse'? aren't they just adorable! Please review!