Chapter 3: Music To The Soul

Balan suddenly moved and the kids heard music that was very catchy before seeing the maestro perform quite a few tricks, even cloning himself, which made the three jump a little, but they settled down at seeing the clones were like backup dancers before the stage lit up with all kinds of special effects and a rainbow of sparkling gems flew out from Balan's hands and piled up in front of the three before the gems fell away to reveal Balan and two others that the kids had never seen before.

Both looked like Balan save for the colors as the one in a grayish-white suit with yellow polka dots all over it stepped forward and grinned as he scooped Leo up in his arms. "Come on!" He said in a cheerful voice as the boy gave a surprised yelp. "Time to reach new heights!"

"Be careful, lad," the maestro said with a smile.

"I will, Balan."

With that, the polka-dotted-suited person flew upwards, making Leo gasp and cling to him fearfully as the being laughed, holding onto the boy and vanishing into a portal that appeared.

The other one had a dark-blue suit on with a starry theme and she smiled before lifting Emma up gently. "Come, little one," she said, her voice kind. "I think it's time you felt like you belonged."

Emma gasped as she clung to the new person as they floated upwards and the person vanished with the girl into another portal while Balan reached out his hand for Rachel to take. She didn't look too keen on it, but he smiled at her. "Take my hand to a better world, my dear," he said, his voice soothing. "You won't be harmed. You're safe."

She sighed. "Just because you say that and you fixed my jacket doesn't mean I'm going to trust you right away," she said.

Balan chuckled. "Trust takes time to earn, little one, but one must be willing to allow someone to earn their trust, am I right?"

These words were spoken gently, but she still felt their effect and she sighed again before looking at his hand, which he opened a bit more to encourage her. "I'm still not sure about this, but...you do have a point," she admitted as she reached up and took his hand, letting him pull her gently to her feet before he scooped her up.

"Hold on tight," he said as they began to hover. She tightened her grip on him and swallowed hard, feeling him move his arms around her more securely before they vanished into a portal that appeared at the snap of his fingers.

Moments later, Balan turned his head and noticed Rachel was holding onto him with her eyes tightly closed. "Open your eyes, my dear," he said gently. "I won't drop you. This is a sight you will enjoy seeing."

She slowly opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder before gasping in surprise. "Whoa," she said in amazement. "What is this place? Is it still in the theater?"

The maestro chuckled. "Yes, in a way," he said. "The theater is actually the entrance to this place, which is called Wonderworld."

"Wonderworld?" She repeated.

He nodded. "We are flying over Fiona's world now," he said. "She's a dear friend who loves the ocean and dolphins." He noticed how the teenager seemed to perk up at the last word and he noticed the gold dolphin earrings she wore. "You like dolphins as well, my dear?"

She nodded. "They're so majestic," she said. "Miss Claire once took us to the Ocean Observatory and we got to see the dolphins and other creatures. It was really amazing."

Just then, the other two that had Leo and Emma showed up and the fifteen-year-olds seemed to be enjoying themselves. "Balan, who are those two?" Rachel asked. "Are they like you?"

He chuckled again. "In a way, they are," he said. "Created by a dear friend and her brother. The one in the dark-blue suit is Midnight and the one in the grayish-white suit is Stardust, Midnight's brother."

Midnight came up to them while still holding Emma and she smiled at the seventeen-year-old. "Emma was wondering how Rachel was doing," she said.

"Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this," Rachel replied.

"It does seem like it's surreal," Emma said. "But...I don't think we're dreaming."

Midnight chuckled. "No, you're not," she said with a smile as they landed on the ground, the two tall beings setting the siblings down while Stardust playfully tossed Leo up into the air, making the boy gasp as he began falling back to the ground, but the tall being caught him easily before they landed, ruffling the boy's hair.

"Kid, you need to learn to relax," Stardust said with a chuckle. "This is Wonderworld. You don't worry about anything here, except to have fun."

"And of course help our friends when needed," Balan pointed out gently.

"Of course, Balan."

Midnight smiled. "My brother tends to be mischievous, but he's harmless," she said. "You kids are safe with him, Balan, and myself."

Leo looked at them. "There's something I don't understand," he said. "Why us, Balan? Why did you choose to adopt me, Emma, and Rachel?"

"Still unsure about my words, my boy?" Balan asked gently.

"No offense, but kind of," the boy replied. "All the others that took us in and fostered us just wanted the extra money. We learned quick how two-faced some of them could really be."

Stardust looked surprised. "Man, no wonder you're all tense," he said. "You guys have a jaded view of the world."

"You learn quick that not everyone has your best interests in mind, especially when you're a teenager in an orphanage and/or foster care," Rachel said quietly.

"Well, I can assure you that Balan has your best interests in mind," Midnight said gently. "He wouldn't have adopted you three for the money and you three deserve a home as much as any child."

"Well, having been in the orphanage and foster care system for so long and no one's picked you to be adopted or has just taken you in for the money...we just don't want this to end up like that," Emma said, tears gathering in her eyes.

It was quiet for a bit until Balan gently brushed a hand over Emma's head and did the same for Leo and Rachel. "Hopefully with time, your uncertainty will fade. Until then, please don't be afraid to come to me or the others for anything. This place is your home now and I assure you, it is a good, safe home," he said. "In fact, I think I know something that will cheer you three up."

"What's that?" Leo asked curiously.

"Follow me."

Midnight and Stardust went with them, bringing up the rear as the kids followed Balan to a hallway where there were three doors with their names on them. "Here are your rooms," he said. "And each are connected to the other."

He opened the door to Rachel's room and her eyes widened as she saw what was inside. It was just like the rooms she had seen at her foster homes for the parents' children and she was almost afraid to step inside, but Balan placed a hand on her back between her shoulder blades and gave her a very gentle push into the room. She obeyed as they all entered. Leo and Emma looked around, stunned as well. "Whoa," Leo said.

Balan chuckled. "Leo, your room is behind that door and Emma, your room is behind that door," he said, pointing to a door on the left for the boy and one on the right for the girl. "Rachel's room is right between your rooms."

Stardust opened the door to Leo's room. "Check it out, man," he said, gesturing inside.

The boy slowly stepped inside his room and he looked around, amazed at what he saw too. Apparently, Balan had done a bit of research and tried to make the room appealing and to the boy, it was a really nice room.

Midnight opened the door to Emma's room and smiled. "I think you'll like it," she said.

The girl peeked inside and was surprised at what she found and she felt a bit unsure. "Um...this is more than what I was expecting," she said softly.

"What were you expecting?" Balan asked gently.

"To be honest, just a sleeping bag or a couch," she replied.

Rachel nodded. "Yeah," she said. "We weren't...always given a room at the foster homes. One place made us sleep in the shed in the middle of winter with just our sleeping bags and some blankets. I don't think we would have lasted the night had a concerned neighbor not called Child Services."

The maestro was appalled at what he just heard. "That's horrible," he said. "And I certainly won't make you all sleep on the floor. You deserve to have rooms and beds to sleep in."

Leo looked at him. "These are our rooms for real?" He asked. "This isn't just for show?"

"No, my boy," Balan replied. "The rooms are yours for real."

The three still looked a bit stunned and he chuckled a little. "Why don't we let you kids get settled in your rooms and you can explore if you'd like. I'll come get you all when dinner is ready," he suggested.

The three teenagers nodded and Balan left with Midnight and Stardust behind him. "Balan...it sounds like these three haven't had good childhoods," the dark-suited girl said.

"They haven't," he replied.

"What can we do to help?" Stardust asked.

"Just be there for them and reassure them," the maestro said. "That's all we can do for now. I knew it was going to be a long road to earn their trust, but after hearing what we were just told, it's not just going to be a road to earn their trust, but to assure them that they are more than welcomed to be here and I have good intentions concerning them."

Midnight placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've got a good start on the road to earn their trust," she said. "Stardust and I saw how they appreciated that you fixed their things."

"Thank you, Midnight," he said.

The three teens explored the theater, amazed at how large it was. "The outside really hides how large it is in here," Rachel said.

"Oh, add all the worlds that are here and it's a whole lot bigger," came a friendly voice and they turned to see someone coming towards them. He looked like a combination of a humanoid and a firetruck. "You three must be the kids Balan adopted."

"How did you know that?" Leo asked.

"Word travels quick here," the person said. "I'm Ladderman, by the way. Welcome to Wonderworld."

"Thank you," Emma said softly.

Ladderman smiled. "Kind of a quiet bunch, aren't ya?" He asked, his tone slightly teasing, but still friendly.

Rachel shrugged. "Sometimes," she said quietly.

He chuckled. "Hey, relax. None of us bite," he said. "Well, maybe if we're battling an enemy, but that's about it."

A person that looked like a white-furred deer came up to them. "Ladderman, go easy on them," she said softly, her voice like a bell. "They are still no doubt trying to get their bearings a little."

Emma's eyes were wide with surprise, which the newcomer noticed and smiled. "Hello," she said pleasantly. "I'm Frost Fairy."

"Hi," Leo said cautiously.

Rachel nodded. "Nice to meet you both," she said, but her tone was a bit wary.

Ladderman smiled. "Hey, Fairy, why don't we show these kids the Tims?" He said. "I bet they'd love them."

"Tims?" Emma asked.

"Follow us and we'll show you," Frost Fairy said, still smiling.

The three siblings followed the two to a door and Ladderman opened it to reveal an area like a garden, only more open and there were creatures very much like the one that the three had seen the other day that had led them to the theater. "Wait, I think we saw one of these the other day," Leo said.

"Most likely," Ladderman said. "These little guys lead those that need help to the theater where Balan helps guide them."

"Guide them through what?" Rachel asked.

"Well, when a person is sad and needs some help overcoming something that is hurting them so much, the theater appears and the Tims lead that person to Balan, who helps them to overcome whatever is causing them so much sorrow," he explained.

"And when they are feeling better and ready to face whatever is troubling them, Balan helps them to have the courage to take care of the issue and become happy again," Frost Fairy said. "We help out when we can."

"So...this place is like a place to...forget the troubles you have and...be free?" Rachel asked.

"Not exactly," Ladderman said gently. "It's helps you to work through the troubles and free you from the doubt that is holding you back from fixing the problem."

"Like taking a step back and giving yourself some space to clear your head and then tackle the problem once you can think a bit more clearly?" Leo asked.

"Yes," Frost Fairy said with a nod.

"Kind of sounds like what we do when we get upset or frustrated," Emma said.

The Tims came up to them, chirping happily and drawing the kids' attention back to them. "They want to cuddle with you guys," Ladderman said, kneeling down as some Tims came up to him and jumped into his arms, making him chuckle as they chirped happily. Frost Fairy followed his lead and was soon holding a few Tims.

The kids looked at each other before kneeling down too and the Tims came up to them at once, acting very much like playful kittens or puppies wanting to play or wanting attention. When Balan came to get them for dinner, he smiled at seeing the three cuddling with the Tims and Leo was holding a baby one in his hands as it had just hatched. "I see Ladderman and Frost Fairy introduced you to the Tims," he said.

When the little creatures saw him, they chirped happily, to which he chuckled and snapped his fingers, colorful crystal drops appearing all around. "Here you go, little Tims. Eat up," the maestro said.

The Tims scurried and began eating the drops eagerly while the kids watched in surprise before looking at the tall being, who smiled. "I imagine you three are quite hungry. Come and let's eat," he said to them.

The teenagers stood up while Ladderman and Frost Fairy saw that all the Tims were fed and Balan led the three to the dining room, where a large meal awaited them. There were other people there and when Emma and Leo saw how there was a large crowd, they moved to stand behind Rachel, who bit her lip as she looked around, not completely sure about wanting to be around such a large crowd.

"Balan!" Someone called out happily and he smiled as he began talking to the people that had come up to him. The three teenagers slowly backed away until they made it to a clear corner of the room where they could just watch everything and they let out a sigh of relief before sitting down in the chairs there.

"This...This is unbelievable," Emma said softly, meaning the situation of them being adopted by someone who wasn't human and wanted them to see he meant well.

"Balan seems like a good guy, but...," Leo trailed off.

"Is it just skin deep or is it genuine?" Rachel finished quietly.

Footsteps sounded nearby and they looked up to see a figure in a purple suit with tendrils that had neon designs on them coming from his back. Gasping, the seventeen-year-old girl got up and stood in front of her siblings, but noticed the person smile gently, his yellow-and-blue eyes curious, yet gentle. "Don't be alarmed," he said, his voice deep like Balan's, but a bit softer. He held out three plates of food to them with a few tendrils while a few other tendrils held drinks. "I noticed you three over here and thought you might be hungry."

A bit stunned by his actions, the three quietly accepted the offerings. "Thank you," Rachel said to him, seeing the drinks were fruit punch. Leo and Emma echoed their thanks before the green-eyed girl looked at him.

"Are you Balan's brother?" She asked curiously.

He smiled. "In a way," he said. "My name is Lance and you three are Rachel, Leo, and Emma."

He gestured to each of them as he spoke their names and Leo nodded. "Ladderman was right. Word does travel fast," he said.

Lance nodded. "I can sense you three are uncertain about this place and Balan's intentions, but Balan never makes a promise and breaks it."

"In other words, you think we should trust him," Rachel said.

"Trust is earned with time, but give him and the others a chance too," he said gently.

Emma looked at him. "How do we know Balan will always keep his word?" She asked.

"Watch his actions and see if they back up his words," Lance said before vanishing.

The three teens looked at each other. "I really hope we're not going to regret this," Leo said. "Because frankly, I'm worried this is going to blow up in our faces."

"I'm afraid about that too," Rachel said. "Even if Balan seems genuine, I guess the real test is ahead of us."

"Yeah," Emma agreed.

None of them saw Balan watching them from a distance and he had heard their conversation with Lance. "I will do what I can to help you three see you can trust me," he said softly to himself. "And to show that you three are safe with me. I promise."

Looks like the kids are settling in, but Balan is about to learn something that may change things. Or will it? Stay tuned to find out. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418