AN: Thanks to princesskatra for adding this story to your favorites.
RJ's POV
Madeline's birthday is tomorrow, and I'm working hard on her present - I call it the Animal Spirit Revivor. I programmed it to bring back any fallen Pai Zhaq Master. There are two rules, rule 1 the person using it must have a similar animal spirit to the Master. Rule 2, The person using it must be a master also. I screw on the last piece on my invention a small viewing screen to show a picture of the Master's animal spirit.
I hear someone walking up the stairs to the loft. Before I turn around, I grab the sheet next to me and use it to cover up my project. I see Madeline walking up to me.
"Hey, Uncle RJ, is that my birthday present you're hiding under that sheet?" She asks.
"Yes, and no peeking," I answer.
"Aw, please, I promise to act surprised when you give it to me tomorrow." She says giving me the puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry, Madeline, you'll have to wait," I say.
"Okay," She sighs.
"I need to put a few things away. I'll meet you down in the pizzeria," I say.
Madeline's POV
I want to go back to Dai Shi's temple, but I know that I'll have to fight mom. After what happened the last time, I'm afraid that I'll end up getting poisoned again. I walk into the dining room and sit down next to Dominic at the bar area near the register. I let out a long, sad sigh.
"Hey, why are you so sad?" Dominic asks.
"Yeah, I'm always super excited the day before my birthday," Theo adds.
"Sorry, everyone, but with everything that happened the past few days. I'm not in the mood to celebrate. That's all," I say honestly
"That is a good reason, but I think you still should do something," RJ says.
We look over to the door and see Uncle RJ walking up.
"Okay, but as long as we don't have a party," I sigh.
"Can we still have cake and ice cream," Dominic whines.
"Yes, as long as everyone is okay a dairy-free cake," I inform.
"What kind of cake is it going to be?" Theo asks.
"I was thinking Devil's food," I answer.
"What about the ice cream?" Lilly asks.
"I've got it covered," Uncle RJ answers.
Normal POV
Julio and Master Snowy, Fiona, enter Dai Shi's throne room. They stand in front of him. Julio scenes that Dai Shi's is upset about what happened earlier during the fight. His has a snarl on his face, and his eyes were staring him down like he is ready to attack.
"Julio, why did you let Severus and Master Swoop and Phant escape," Dai Shi snaps.
"I didn't let them escape Dai Shi. It was all part of my plan," Julio says.
"Really," Dai Shi asks raising his eyebrow skeptically.
"Yes, I'm positive that Madeline will come back since her mom is still under my spell," Julio says confidently.
"If she doesn't come back I'm going to be taking your animal spirit instead. Am I clear," Dai Shi threatens.
"Yes, sir," Julio says.
Madeline's POV
We open up the shop. Dominic and I wait tables while Lily and Casey work in the kitchen. Theo works at the register. Ten minutes later, Sophia and her father, Oliver, walk in.
"Hello, Madeline," Oliver says.
"Hi, will you be getting the usual pizza, today? Double cheese with pepperoni and ham," I ask.
"Not today, her mom would like to try something different," Oliver answers.
"Yeah, she wants to put broccoli and spinach on it. I know I won't like it," Sophia whines.
"Honey, remember what I've told you before, You need to try the pizza first," Oliver reminds her.
"It's going to be to go then," I ask.
"Yes," Oliver says.
"What size is the pizza going to be," I question.
"Medium," Oliver answers.
"Got it,"I say.
I write down his order and takes it to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, the pizza is ready. Casey puts it in a box. I walk back out the dining room and go over to the register. Oliver and Sophia walk over to it. After he paid for it, I hand the pizza to him.
"Thank you," Oliver says.
"You're welcome, and enjoy," Theo says.
Before they leave the restaurant, Oliver put a five dollar bill in the tip jar next to the register. I get back to work and shows the next customers to their table. Eight o'clock arrives, and we close the shop for the night. Everyone gets to work cleaning the pizzeria. Dominic carries the cheese shakers and napkin holders to the kitchen to put them away.
Dominic's POV
"So. Dominic, what are you going to get Madeline for her birthday?" Casey asks.
"It's a surprise," I answer.
"It other words you can't think of anything to get her, am I right?" Lilly asks,
"Yeah," I admit nervously scratching the back of my neck.
"I'm pretty sure she'd loved to have the spell on her mother broken," Theo says.
"How am I supposed to do that Theo," I ask.
"I have an idea," RJ says walking in.
"What is it," Casey asks curiously.
"It's a secret," RJ answers.
Twenty minutes later we finish cleaning up the store and head up to the loft. RJ brings up a large pizza.
"It has soy cheese on it right?" Madeline asks.
"Half has soy cheese the other has regular cheese," RJ answers.
"Which side has the soy cheese?" Theo asks.
RJ opened the box and noticed that one side the pepperoni is in a straight line making three small stripes and the other has enough on it just to covered the cheese.
"My half is the striped, isn't it," Madeline asks.
"You got it," Uncle RJ says.
Madeline smiles, pick up a piece and quickly eat it. Then pick up her second piece and gobble that one up too.
"Madeline, slow down," RJ says.
"Yeah, he made that half especially for you," I remind her.
Madeline's POV
"Sorry, I haven't had pizza since we found out I was lactose intolerant," I say.
"How old were you when you found out?" Theo asks.
"It was three years ago, so I was fifteen," I answer.
"How did you find out exactly?" Casey asks.
"I went to a friends birthday party, and two hours after I got home. My stomach started to hurt. I'm sorry if this next bit grosses anyone out since we're eating. I started to throw up." I answer.
"Then what did you do?" Lily asks.
I pick up a bottle of water and take a few sips before I answer, " The next day mom took me to the doctor, and she told the doctor that she thought I was lactose intolerant. The doctor tested by blood sugar by having me drink this weird liquid that had lactose in it. The next two hours I had my fingers pricked to see whether my blood sugar level rose or not. Since they didn't, I was diagnosed to be lactose intolerant,"
"Wow," Theo gasps.
"Yeah, but mom was able to find lactose free items at the store," I say.
"That good, have about we head to that ice cream shop in an hour or so?" Dominic asks.
"No thank you, may I be excused," I ask.
Uncle RJ nods. I get up and go over to one of the vines. I look back at the others and fake a smile before I swing out of the room. I start to walk through the forest trying to come up with some way to break the spell Julio put on my mom. I sit down on a log and nervously tap the heels of shoes up against it. A few minutes later, I see my dad appear in front of me.
"Hi, sweetie," Dad says.
"Dad, I'm scared that the only way to break the spell Julio put on mom is to destroy her. I don't want to lose her too." I say tearfully.
"Maddie, I know this has been stressful for you. Please, try to remain positive and not focus on the worse case scenario. I know that we can break the spell on your mom together." Dad says reassuringly.
"How are we going to do that?" I ask wiping my tears away.
"You'll find out soon," Dad says.
A few seconds later, dad disappears so I get up to head back to the loft. I change for bed, climb into the hammock and slowly drift off to sleep.