A week after the cinema deconversion, and a week after the false graduation ceremony. Sil went about life as usual. All apart from a few things. No more school for her. And thus has been more active around the of whole Circus Square.

She's adjusted well to the rules of her magic restriction even if others were still concerned about her.

She has kept her promise of pacifism while not being stupid about it. She fought the Dark Mage, Schezo Wegey to save a kids' magic. With the help of a few other who had the guts to stand up to Wegey. She didn't enjoy doing it, but it had to be done.

She's yet to return to Primp Magic School to teach. But she intends to very soon. She needed to read up on how to teach.

She spent her time twice this week to extended alone time. She came out of her ice-cold bath, on this ridiculously hot summer day. Sil took this opportunity to put on her bikini she never gets to wear otherwise.

She went to her library, put a beach towel over a lounge, made sure she was dry enough, made the room a little more bearable to the in with some cooling magic. Put on some easy listening accordion music on her library's gramophone right next to her, and picked up where she was left off in her current book.

Sil was very comfortable like this. Between this and the exciting novel and the room's antique atmosphere, she had a smile on her face. It felt so homey. "Fufufu~"

"You missed my vital organs."
"ALLOFTHEM!?"

She was in the mood for junk food stories. It was a good time.

That was until the room got just a bit more chilly for her liking. How can that be? The much-needed rainstorm shouldn't come until hours later. In the dead of the night. But looking at her grandfather's clock. It was 20:30. It was a bit too chilly to read now, it was a bit too chilly in general. She got ready to leave. Her hands were ready to hang the beach towel over her shoulder.

"Hey there, Sport."

"HUUUUUUUHHUUAAAAAA!" That made too much sense. Mr. Amitie's dad… He was in the room with her! And her face was bare. She did her best to retreat to her room while covering her face with the towel.

"Wait! I was wonde-"

"Not now!" Sil felt so embarrassed someone saw her relax! She ran down the hall.

"Everything alright?!" Woman shouted. "I heard scream- OW!" Amitie's Mom and Sil bounced against each other.

"Mel!" Silvana peeked out her eyeball.
"Sil?"
"Don't look at me!" Sil clammed up as she teleported to her room.

In her room she found Amitie looking in Silvana's Dress Up closet. Amitie happened to be holding one of Sil's favourites on a coat hanger, the waitress outfit.

Silvana boiled.

"Oh, Hi, Sis!~" Amitie cheerfully greeted. She whistled looked at her sister in a bikini. "Sil, you look great. I'm sure you could've won that swimsui-" Sil was at the tipping point because of the things that happened to her in quick succession. She kicked her sister out without remorse. "Ow… Why?"

"Gather your parents and MEET ME IN THE LIVING ROOM!"

Chapter 66: Not Willing to Accept Part 1

"You guys have a lot to explain. What you're doing here unannounced!?" Sil angrily paced up and down. She had put on her pajamas, mask and wore a bedsheet as mantle because you can never be too modest…

"You don't have to yell, Sport." Mr. Amitie's dad patiently asked. "You didn't hear us knock. The doorbell didn't seem to work. So we split up to find you. We didn't know you were without a mask. Honestly. We didn't get to see your face."

"You do you great in a bikini, by the way." The mother tried to lower the tension.

And Amitie agreed with her and tried the same. "You got a great body." All it did was make Sil angrier because she didn't have the patience to be more embarrassed.

"Well, forgive me for enjoying the privacy of my own home!"

The Roses shrank.

Sil tried to calm down. "What are you here for? It has to be special…"

"Do you wanna tell her, Honey?"
"I think you put it better to Amitie, Dear."
"I'd rather not. But alright."

She gave herself a moment of pause.

"We discovered something deadly in our house. It could've shortened our lifespans considerably if we hadn't discovered it sooner."

"Ah." Sil made a noise to let them know she was listening. She had an idea where this was going.

Mr. Amitie's dad continued. "We're out of house and home for the time being. We brought a bunch of boxes filled with our stuff. We hoped you'd be so kind as to house us until them."

'Aha… Figured…' Silvana was already working things in her head.

"It was my idea, Sil. I thought you wouldn't mind taking us in. Being family and all."

Sil frowned a bit.

"At least house us for today, please?" Mr. Amitie's dad asked gently. "It's storming tonight and we don't have a Plan B."

"We'll sleep on the couch. The uncomfortable ones." Melody bargained.

"You guys can stay."

"We'll do your laund- Huh. Oh, thank you, Sil." The family thanked her from the bottom of their hearts.

"I can offer you guys two bedrooms. So you two have to share." She asked the two adults who have a daughter. "Hope that's okay."

"Sil, you're too kind."

"Well, be a monster to leave friends outside when most of this place is collecting dust."

"Alright." The mother stood up.

"Hold on, Mel." Sil request "This my Caravan and I wanna avoid anyone walking in on everyone if I can help it. I value my privacy" Her open pal circled around her face. The clown wrapped herself tighter in her sheet. "Some ground rules:"

"First of all. ALWAYS KNOCK TO BE SURE!"

"I am seventeen. Not some child, don't treat me like one…"

"Please clean your rooms, that goes triple for you, Ammy."

"Stay out of my cosmetics, they're mine."

"For all our sakes don't break anything that looks ancient. You never know what kind of malevolent spirit is in them these days."

"My money is mine. I'll help but I'm not a money well. Keep your finances to yourself if you can."

"Stay out of wine. It's mine. I'll share if you ask nicely."

"Please keep your toothbrushes separate."

"And don't fill the fridge with junk. In fact, don't tease me with junk food in general." There was more but… eh.

"Is that all?" Mr. Amitie's dad asked.

"Yeah." Sil said. She felt a little more secure. "Did you guys have dinner? I got a leftover pot of-"

"We had a picnic outside." Amitie chirped. "We're full."

Sil showed them the often used Circus employees guest rooms. Sil figured they wouldn't want to spend the night dusting off the even older, but less used guest rooms.

"Sis?"
"Hmm."
"Can we share your room?"
"No." Sil replied bluntly.
"What? Is it because I saw you in-"
"Well, now it is."
"C'mon, Sis, it'll be like a slumber party."
"…Slumber party, Am?"
"Yeah, like the good times!"
"…How old are you?"
"Fifteen… It's not that weird."
"…You'll get used to your new room. Keep moving boxes."
"Aw…"

Silvana and the Roses spent the remainder of the day moving stuff to their rooms, put on some clean bedding, and put off arranging the rooms to their liking until tomorrow.

Silvana took her book from earlier Mr. Amitie's dad had picked up for her in the library and retired to her room. She read for the rest of the day with her mask on. Whilst occasionally ranting to Arms.

*Eerie presence* She didn't hear Mr. Amitie's dad walk by her room. But she certainly felt it…

She didn't like this. A set of parents had moved into her home. A set of parents who just accepted Silvana into the family in a heartbeat.

The caravan is her personal domain. She felt free. Unlike everywhere else, Sil was free. Free to be herself. Not Silvana, not Doppelganger, not Pierrot the Clown and certainly not Arle Nadja. But just a person trying to enjoy herself during alone time. Free to do stuff she normally wouldn't. So if she wanted to read a book on a comfy sofa, lying on it like it was a couch, and eat grapes while practicing accordion while wearing a negligee, then she shall do it. She can do things she'd she wouldn't be caught doing and live it down.

I'm sure you can relate.

She granted had them stay. She would've done it even if they embarrassed her even more than that. They are good people. But they are parents. And they treat her as their own ever since the foolish "I'm part Amitie and proud of it" stint. And parents are good at one thing Sil had learned growing up seeing several kinds of parents…

…Is that parents are good at restricting freedom. You might be able to relate. They will restrict her precious cutting loose time she desperately needs in her life.

"I really should've walked in Primp without a mask. I wouldn't so skittish..." Sil said to herself, fully realizing the cons of that approach. "There is just no winning, Army."

*Wise monkey proverb*

"I don't think that's applicable here."

Out of Sil's window, she heard a sudden constant noise.

"Seems like the storm cames early, Army." She smiled. She felt nostalgic again. Of those times it poured when she was safe in a hideout to watch it all. The rain washed away her troubles. She put a bookmark in her novel and took the time to look outside through the window. If the lightning came early too then maybe she could see the awesome sight of lighting striking the lightning rod on her circus. She couldn't wait. This is like waiting for Santa to come and deliver presents. (See would presume…)

*Knock Knock* "Sis? Can I come in?"

"Sure!" Sil's eyes didn't leave the melancholy sight she's so fond of. Dreaming she could share it with Sig.

Amitie entered the room. Sil gave her a quick glance before she continued window gazing. Amitie was in her pajamas and red Puyo nightcap. With her, she had her wolfie and pillow wrapped in a bedsheet. "I know you said no, Sis." Amitie was a bit shakey. "But storms scare me. And I'm too old for mommy to cuddle me…"

"I don't think your parents would care about that. But you want me to comfort you? Then go." The clown nudged her head towards the bed.

"Thank you, Sis. You're the best~" Amitie threw her things on Sil's queen size. She gave her sister an appreciative sibling hug. Sil patted her back because that's all she could do in the compromised position.

"Don't worry, Li'l Sis. Big Sister Sil will keep you safe." She received a little rub of the cheek.

"Thank you…"

"And don't worry the caravan is disaster-proof. All of them are."

"Lighting is still scary. It's nothing like Lidelle's spells, this is really dangerous."

Serene Sil shrugged. "To each their own. I'll join you in a bit, I wanna enjoy this."

"Okay." Amitie held her pillow, her cuddle buddy, Sil's pillows, Sil's cuddle buddy, and wrapped herself in every blanket and sheet.

"… Aaaaaaaaaaah~~~~~~~~❤"

Amitie looked at Sil enjoying the weather. Not even Lidelle, the local weather mage. would enjoy this weather. How does Sil enjoy the incoming horror?

"Mmmmmmm" Sil moaned.

"Sil. Would you get mad at me if I asked a question?"

"Emmm. Probably not."

"I've been meaning to ask ever since we became sisters. You've become a lot more… Well… Not mean but… Do you hate mommy and dad? You got along so well before."

"No. I don't hate them. If I did I wouldn't let them stay."

"Then why, Sil?"

"Amitie. I just don't think you can relate. Wouldn't you feel a little silly being treated like a child by parents that aren't your own at age seventeen?"

"Em… Maybe?"

"Well, I do. I didn't have any parents, and I don't want them after twelve years… A little too late…" Sil's voice got awfully bitter.

"You want parents, don't you?"

"They're not my family. No matter what loophole makes me related… I can't see my mommy ever again. I mean… Arle's… Mom… Who knows what happened to my… her dad."

"Sil, please lie down." Sil ignored her request.

"My real creators are all evil. Sans Gramps. He's my real dad." She gasped for air. "And he hates the fact that I exist, no matter how much better we get along now…" 'Actually, I don't think I've told her this...' "Ammy. I am the "daughter", so to speak, of that monster who left you hospitalized you. Would you wanna be related to that? Do you think your parents would like it?"

Amitie's brain tried to process it. "I feel like… This is a bad argument? Even if you are, who cares? He doesn't even know who you were, right, Sis? He's not your fault."

"Hmmmm…" 'Amitie checkmated me…. It must be getting late.' "Doesn't seem like lightning wants to strike…" Sil tucked herself in. Held Amitie in a comforting way. "I'll feel better in the morning. Goodnight, Ammy. Practice day tomorrow."

"Yeah, g'night, Big Sis."

The rain helped the girls to drift off early. Especially, Sil.


Sil's alarm went off. Amitie forgot that it went off about an hour early than her own would.

"Sil, you awake?"

"Do think I can stay awake with an alarm like this? Only the comatose, and Sig would sleep through it. Scoot over so I can make it stop."

*Scoot* *Scoot scoot*

*Slam* "There."

"Sil… I wanna lie down some more."

"I'm not stopping you."

"Uh… Can you still stay with me?"

"Ammy… I have to change, make breakfast, apply make-up, and be in the tent in thirty minutes."

"Oh…"

*THUNDERSTRUCK CIRCUS!* (Lightning rod caught it)

"Eep!" Amitie duck and covered.

"What." Sil turned around deadpan. She had heard it was still pouring from the moment the alarm stopped ringing. But lightning still struck. "It's still storming?" Any circus activities are cancelled in a storm like this. Nobody should be in the tent right now. "The weather report did a lousy job this week…"

Sil set the alarm clock for another hour.

"You get your wish, Li'l Sis. But if it's it's still storming after this hour please toughen up. I can't be with you all the time."

"...m'kay…"

"A more distant thunder noise"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Silvana looked at Amitie clinging onto her for dear life. Silvana admittedly was a little embarrassed for Amitie. It was just lightning. As long as you're not out there, you're safe. Sil just didn't understand why this weather isn't as comforting for her. How does Amitie not enjoy the thunderstorm?


*Alarm* *Scoot* *Scoooooot* *Sister double team alarm clock slam*

*Even more distant thunder*

"Ah!"

"Ammy… That one was barely audible…"

*Knock knock knock* "Silvana?" Amitie's mom called. "Can I come in?"

"Give me a second, Mel!" Sil grabbed her mask off the wall and put it on. "Come in!"

"Oh~ Nice room. Ah, Sweetie." She referred to Amitie. "I was wondering why I didn't find you in my bed." She walked up. "I guess you wouldn't get over it for a long time."

"Mommy."

"It'll be okay, Sweetie." She turned to the clown. "Thank you, Sil. For being there for your sister… It means so much."

"No, problem." *Sniff* *Sniff* "Do I smell toast?"

"Yes. Your father took the liberty to make breakfast for everyone under your roof. I hope you don't mind."

"Nah. Thanks, Mel." She weakly smiled. "Snap out of it. You'll barely hear the thunder at the dinner table."

"Raceya!" And she zoomed off.

"Did Ammy zap herself a lot with lightning?"

"So you know."

*And the dinner table*

"Good morning, our little Circus Queen." Mr. Amitie dad was very chipper as he spread some peanut butter he brought on toast as he greeted his host.

"Please don't call me Circus Queen." She took a seat. She just peeled a banana.

"Why not?" The mother asked. "You got a nice theme with our little Circus Princess here." Amitie normally would accept the praise but it was given is such a baby-ish way.

"That title doesn't sit well with me."

"Because it makes you sound old, Sis?"
"Because it makes you sound old, right?"
"Because it makes you sound old, Sport?"

"…No. You guys familiar with _ _?" As soon as that name was uttered. The parents got protective of their daughter. "I'll take that as a yes. Well, he was pretty proud of being the "King of the Circus". And I don't intend to honour his legacy by having me called "Queen of the Circus"…"

"Why didn't you say so, Sis?"
"Oh, Silvana…"
"Yikes…"

"Yet it spreads throughout town anyway. I have to educate newbies why this is a bad thing. So please. Don't call me that…"

She got her wish, everyone agreed to quit it

"Thank you." Sil said sincerely.

The family plus Silvana chatted about whatever they felt like. While the mother wrote on her typewriter.

"What're you writing, Mel?"
"A sequel to a novel I wrote a few years back. It's called Love of Puyo Puyo Champions. I'm hoping to expand the universe."
'She wrote that? Series.' "Good luck." 'I hope it's better than Love of Puyo Puyo Chronicles. Sorry for the refund.'

*Later, at the same table. Playing Go Fish…*

'Got a poker face… Fufufufu.'

"So, Girls." Mr. Amitie's Dad tried to start a conversation. "How's ballet been?"

Amitie was the first to answer. "It's getting less fun."
"And why's that, Kiddo?"
"We're learning interpretive dance."
"OO, that's hard, Kiddo. Can't improvise?"
"Yeah..."
"Buck up, I'm sure you can do it eventually."

"I don't know, Mister. You should see her. She really sucks at it."
"Sil."
"The only interpretable part is how hard she falls on her face."
"Silvana!"
"Ah! Y-Yes, Mel?"
"Be nice to your sister."
"But I'm ri-"
*Glares*
"Yes, Mel."

"It's okay, Mommy. Sil isn't good at it either."

"Yes! But so what?" Sil shrugged. "I'm not taking ballet lessons to dance ballet. It makes me feel less heavy when I'm not floating."

"Hm…" Melody tried to change to the conversation to something more positive. "Well, I'm grateful you helped Amitie discover what she wants to do in life."

"I didn't want her to join."
"I don't wanna be a ballet dancer full time."

"I meant the clown thing."

"Ah."
"Ah."

"It was the biggest relief since it turned out Amitie wasn't autistic."
"What?"
"Oh. You didn't know, Ammy?"
"No! Since when?"

"I don't know… five months ago, Honey?"
"I think six, Dear."
"Six months ago."

"How?"
"Eheh. Turns out they got you somehow mixed up with some else."

"Whose turn was it?" Sil asked.

*Later that day, a different game of Go Fish…*

"Why, Sis?" Amitie handed over the requested cards.

"Because I'm still not over the home evasion." She pretended to pull her eyelid.

"You're so on edge, Sil." The mother commented looking a bit concerned.

"NoI'mnot."

"No." Mr. Amitie's dad disagreed. "Your mother is right, Sport. It's okay to cut loose. Take it from me, paranoia makes people afraid of you."

'That's what makes people afraid of you?'

"Amitie has told me of your varied wardrobe." Melody explained.

"Ammy…"

"Ehehehehe, sorry…"

"Yet all I've ever seen you in are… Very clown-ish…"
"That's the point, Mel…"
"I do get that. But why not something you usually won't wear around us? We won't judge, right?"

"I'll try."
"I wanna wear them too!"

"You're not helping."
"They're not helping."

"But seriously, Sil. Do it if you want. Feel free to take off your mask too. It can't be that bad. Amitie seems to think your face is cute. What's there to hide? We're family, and we'll support you like our own." Amitie and Mr. Amitie's Dad agreed,

Sil said nothing, she just tightened the mask. The room turned sour. And not because Mr. Amitie's Dad was there. "I'm gonna practice in big top… Alone…" She folded her cards.

"Wait!" Melody called out. Sil stopped in her tracks. The mother walked up to her foster daughter. And she gently hugged her. Sil again did nothing but look at the floor so not to look at Amitie and Mr. Amitie's Dad. "You poor dear. You're really not used to having a family, are you?" She empathized. "It's so sad."

Sil sighed. She kept still. She heard the rest get up and soon after two more sets of arms wrapped around her.

"We love, Sis. Don't be scared of your parents."

"Feel free to call me Mommy if you want. I don't mind." And before Mr. Amitie dad could get his equivalent line in, Sil decided she could stand it anymore. She teleported to her room to free herself, reformed the Pierrot shreds into the costume, and ran to the big top through the storm, hoping to hang out with the people who showed up today anyway despite the storm.

…She was alone… Barely sheltered from the rain. Like she often was in the past… She found the darkest place in the tent to complete it.

"Mommy…" She cried. Silvana, (Doppelganger) Arle, Pierrot the Clown or whatever she sees herself as. One thing doesn't change. She always happened to share Arle's mother. Despite all the hate and fear send her way… She was still fond of her. She still thinks highly of her. It felt so wrong to replace her while never being able to show her face to her without losing the will to live…

And the scary part is, as much as she doesn't wanna admit it. She does recognize her soul sister's parents as her own…

Author's Notes:

This is a two-parter because this makes a sweet cliffhanger. AndbecauseIwantacertainchaptertobeacertainnumber. If not for that Part 1 and 2 would be one. In fact, it is already done when you're reading this. You'll get it soon.

Anyway, SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo is out! Silvana lives!

A while after the chapter I made Amitie autistic I felt a bit guilty. Honestly, out of the main five students, she comes across the least autistic to me.

Next up: Part 2. Duh!