"Greta! Greta!" Her arms around the girl's midsection, her eyes gushing with grateful tears, D.W. repeated the beloved name over and over. "My brother can see you! That means you're really alive!"

"It's good to see you, D.W.," said Vanessa, caressing the aardvark girl's hair. "I missed you while I was dead."

Scowling, Arthur confronted her. "You're not Greta," he declared. "I was there when she died. I saw her die."

"Play along," said Vanessa, winking slyly at him.

Arthur's suspicious expression softened. "Uh, won't you come in…Greta?" he said, pushing the front door open.

Vanessa stepped into the Read house, D.W. still clinging to her waist, and was at once startled by the alterations that had taken place. There were several new paintings and portraits on the walls, all of which featured either groups of cat people in alien outfits, or gorgeous landscapes backed by the orange sky of Yordil. The most objectionable addition was a cat woman with blond, bobbed hair, who lounged on the sofa with a novel open in her hands.

"I see you've got one, too," she said sadly. "I'm sorry."

"Her name's Corinthia," Arthur told her. "She's actually pretty nice, except that she won't leave."

The Yordilian woman looked up from her book. "Here's someone I haven't seen before," she said sweetly. "Is she your new girlfriend, Arthur?"

"No, she's not," D.W. exulted. "She's a magical unicorn!"

Corinthia giggled. "You really love your unicorns," she remarked.

"She died, but she came back to life," D.W. told her. "She has powers, like Jesus."

"D.W.," said Vanessa, eager to silence the girl, "your brother and I need to talk in private."

"Sure," said D.W. "Can I come?"

"No, it's private," Vanessa explained.

"Okay," said D.W., a bit disappointed. "Just don't die again."

"I won't," Vanessa promised her.

A quick walk up the stairway later, Arthur and Vanessa were safely ensconced in his bedroom with the door firmly closed. "Why did you come back?" asked Arthur, who sat in a desk chair across from the girl. "Are you here with your family?"

"No, I'm here alone," replied Vanessa, resting on Arthur's bed. "A terrible thing has happened. I can't go back to them—they won't accept me."

"Why not?" said Arthur with concern. "They all saw you change—they know you're really Van."

The long-nosed girl shook her head. "Greta's parents," she related. "They showed up, claiming I was their daughter, and there was nothing I could do, because Logan and Odette believed them. So now I'm living in Greta's house, in Greta's room, in the city of the unicorn people, and unless I do something fast, I'll be there for the rest of my life—which, for a unicorn, is a very long time."

Though his friend's predicament sounded overwhelming, an idea readily occurred to Arthur. "The X-Pets," he said. "Maybe they can help you."

"You mean…" Vanessa searched her memory. "You mean those dogs that stopped the Sentinels from taking me away?"

"Yes, those dogs," said Arthur. "They must know all about the unicorns' weaknesses, if they have any. The Professor—he's the leader—is living with Alan now."

Vanessa sat up on the edge of the bed. "I've got to talk to him right away," she said urgently. "And please, Arthur, don't tell D.W. that I'm not really Greta—I don't want to burst her bubble."

Upon getting permission from Corinthia to leave, Arthur, D.W. and Vanessa raced down the block to the home of the Powers family. Arthur rang the bell, and Alan himself answered. "Come on in," he said in a friendly tone.

"Alan, I need to talk to your dog," said Vanessa determinedly.

The bear boy suppressed a chuckle. "First of all, dogs don't talk. Second, who are you?"

"She knows all about the Professor and the X-Pets, Alan," Arthur assured him. "Don't worry, she's legit."

"If you say so," said Alan. "He's asleep in the den. I'll take you to him."

He led the trio into one of the back rooms, where the little Shih Tzu lay peacefully in a cot, his tiny wheelchair stowed in a corner. "Thanks, Alan," said Vanessa upon seeing the pooch. "I need to be alone with him. It's a very important, very sensitive matter."

"In that case, I'll stay out of your way," said Alan with a grin. He retreated with Arthur and D.W., closing the door to the windowless room.

Vanessa glanced in all directions. I don't think anybody can see or hear me, she thought.

The Professor, awakened by the noise, peered warily at her through his brown, saucer-like eyes. "Woof," he muttered, which translated means, "I'm on to you, unicorn."

"You poor little doggie," said Vanessa, sniffling. "You have to get around in a wheelchair, like I did once." A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another.

The agonized expression on her face puzzled the Professor. "Is something wrong?" he barked.

Vanessa could feel her soul leaking away. "I'm…I'm sorry, little doggie," she said miserably, sticking her hands out. "I have to do this, or…or I'll never see my family again."

Her cheeks stained with tears, she lunged forward, wrapped her fingers around the Professor's furry throat, and squeezed with all her might…

To be continued