Silvana woke to the rays of sunshine shining through the window. She found herself a little confused about where she was until she remembered.

A possible mistake.

"Are you awake, uh… Um. Sorry, I forgot your name." Mrs. Nadja spoke from the other bed.

"It's Arle, mommy…"

"You mean Silva, right?"

"Aaaaaaah! I'm sorry… It happens. Please forgive me, Mrs. Nadja!"

Chapter 80: Home (Part 2)

That was a fun thing to wake up to. It felt like she was in hell. Not helped by the hesitation her inner conflict caused answering her host's questions. Somehow she managed to further clear things up.

'Is curry just like mommy used to make them even worth it?'

"So Silvana." The woman lowered the ladder to the attic again, making Doppel wonder why. "While you were taking a bath I found something interesting. You said you run a circus right?"

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Then follow me." She moved up and Sil cautiously followed her to an ancient-looking chest.

An ancient-looking chest with a stamp of something that looked familiar to her. In more than one way.

"It's full of circus things. I've always wondered what's it's here for. Arle played with it when she was very young." It did ring a bell as Sil juggled a trio of dusty balls she dugout. "Wow. You're good."

Sil giggled. "Thank you. But it's easier than it looks." She stopped juggling, all the balls landed in her hands. "I think I remember this chest? I forget a lot when in a single-minded mindset."

"Focused so much on being Arle that you forget what Arle is like?"

The clown gave a moan that unequivocally meant "yes" and that she didn't want to go any further.

She dug deep in the chest to find an old mask? "An… ton?"

"Who?" Silvana began to explain whatever she remembered related to the most important Pierrot that came before her. Pierrot V aka Anton Nadja (Read: Chapter 49: Family Tree at your own risk).

"So I'm still technically part of the family..." She kicked herself for riding that high of that realization.

Mrs. Nadja did take note that Sil hated herself for it. "I think being a clown is your true calling."

"You based that off of my juggling…"

Mrs. Nadja ignored the doppelganger's reaction on her snide comment. "It is interesting. To think my great-great-[the give-or-take amounts of "greats"]-grandfather-in-law was a part of a forgotten circus. How did you know about this?"

"From a book my teacher gave me."

"And how does this teacher have a book on a circus from this world?"

"Huh…" Silvana never actually thought about it. "I gotta ask her someday. Can I take this chest home?"

"Only if you tell me how you got to this world." She put her elbows on the thing. "How did you get to this world if you live in Primp? And where's Arle?" She said with a tone that implied she still knew Arle was still alive. "Where is she? She hasn't visited me in a concerningly long time."

"Ummm… My desire to be Arle was so strong I learned how to tear rifts in space just to keep following her… InhindsightI'mnotproudofthat."

"And where's Arle? Is she in Primp?"

"…Yes…"

"I see. How can I trust you she's safe from you?"

"…I basically gave up using harmful magicks."

"Oh… Was magic just as important to you as it is to her?"

"…Stop caring about me." She put her mask on. "I do my best to avoid her for our mutual friend's sake… Which isn't easy since she's my mailman…"

The woman winced.

"I came up with a cover, and gave her a reason to avoid me."

"Hm…" She took off the mask of Silvana's face. "Does she know?" She turned Silvana's face to make her look at her. "She's told stories of your circus skirmish." Among others.

"She's got amnesia."

"Amnesia? You mean memory loss?!"

"Yeah… She forgot a lot." Sil gave her a quick rundown (Read: Chapter 45: Lapsing at your own risk).

"Oh, my little Arlene…"

"Arlene?" Doppel got distracted by two hands on her shoulders.

"Can you take me to my little girl?!"

"Uuh. Noooooooo…" Sil lied. "And even if I could. I'd get jealous. You don't wanna make me jealous to Arle, who knows what I will do? Would you really want you me to take you to HeR?"

The mother let go… The venom in Doppel's voice made things more heavy for her. "Poor Arle…"

"'m sorry… " Sil apologized. "If you like I can fill the voi- Nevermind…"

"Ready to go to the market, Silvana?"
"She'sslowlyrecovering!"


And thus, Sil spent about half-an-hour in the mirror to mask to the public that she has Arle's face. Mrs. Nadja also gave her a dress meant for Arle that was too big at the time. Anything Arle or Clowny about Silvana was hidden well. If not by makeup, then by a giddy demeanor.

While Sil was embarrassed being dolled up like this for the sake of a disguise in front of Mrs. #1 reason she exists, she couldn't hide she enjoyed it either. She giggled like a little kid fantasizing about being a princess making that dress twirl.

"Hey, if your no good daughter doesn't want this dress, can I have it?"

Mrs. Nadja stood there wide-eyed. She had trouble making Arle care about table manners. But Sil does it with no problem. Arle is a tomboyish handful that gags when she sees something she deems too girly. But this Silvana is a relatively well-behaved young lady who has no problem flaunting it seems. "You're making it so hard for me Silvana."

"Wha?" Sil looked up from the outside dress. Thinking about how no one will recognize her because who in this town has actually seen Arle since she moved out of town and disappeared?

"Nevermind. You can keep it."

"I'll pay you back double you paid for it." The girl said with glee. "I'm sorry. I don't often get to walk around like this in public."

'You're really making this difficult.'

"Do you have matching shoes?" Sil looked at hers. "These ol' boots just don't match."

Mrs. Nadja's mind got bent.


At the market. The two got into an amicable chat. "No, we don't have vending machines in Primp yet. As far as I know anyway. Zeri may have it. But this world has them despite it being… I guess they'd call it medieval? I disagree, kinda."

"What does medieval mean?"

"You know, I got good grades in history and still have no clue." Sil shrugged. "Something about heroes and sorcery. And the architecture certain fits the bill. All the cities I've been to in the other world have all these awesome, neat, colorful and unique buildings."

"I see. I didn't get the chance to visit Primp yet. And I guess that might not change for a while. A kilo sack of rice, please." She asked the man behind the counter.

"I would take you. But all the "why"s that would be asked..." 'And Arle'.

"I… appreciate the thought regardless." She said while lifting the rice into Mrs. Nadja's wagon. Sil had some nostalgic memories riding this thing.

"Ouchie!" They heard a kid scream out. Sil started to run towards her when she heard the crying but the kid's mother beat her to the punch.

"Sweetie. What did I tell you about running into walls?" She said hugging her.

Sil comically turned and walked back with a nervous grin to Mrs. Nadja. "She's got it under control. And I left my balloons in my shorts."

Mrs. Nadja chuckled a bit. "Reminds me when you ran into every wall you saw. Hahahaha."

"Mmmmmmmmmmmrrgh!" Sil desperately wanted to whine Mooooooommmy! But she caught herself. Mrs. Nadja was caught off guard. That was quite the visceral reaction. More visceral than the woman expected. "Not funny!" The clown growled.

Mrs. Nadja defensively put up her hands. "Did I… touch a nerve?"

"Yesssssss." Sil replied in a hiss. Trying to regain her cool. She turned her back. "You may not like it, Mrs. Nadja, but I was your little girl at one point. And that girl bumped her head against a mirror. And that's the last thing that must've happened to me before I became a copy."

"I get it's all tragic, but did you have to bring that "your little girl" bit in?"

"…No…. Yes… Nyeso… I'll be out of your hair soon." She slumped. "I hope."

The two quietly walked through the market for ingredients and general groceries. "Didn't you say something about a new family?"

"Yeah…" She smiled. "It started with my new sister. Her name's Amitie Rose." She said low-key fishing if she knew that name.

"Oh, is that the handful redhead girl?" That wasn't the answer she was looking for. Either of them.

"Blonde actually. I'm actually sorta blood-related to her too."

"…How?"

"…Not gonna explain that it's easier that way and less morbid to boot (Read: This fanfic at your own risk). It pretty much opened up me up to something new, something that tugs me harder in the right direction than whatever did before. I think?"

"Are you sure you can't explain it?"

"I got emotional whiplash because of it." She hoped that was the right term. "The important part is that there's a new family that accept me. And I… um… chickened out when new mom pointed out I… well… called her mom subconsciously. I ran away and here I am. Eheheheh…"

"You cling to me like child…"

"Well, gee, guess who was denied a childhood!?" Sil lashed out.

"And I'm sorry. But that's great news." She genuinely praised. "I hope things go well at your new family."

Those words from this woman was all Sil needed to hear. "…Thanks. I just hope I didn't burn that bridge by running away."

"They could be worried. Do they see you as a daughter?"

"Uf… They're worried." Sil realized.

"Let's make this curry quickly and then you can get home."
"Yeah!"
"And I've got a secret ingredient that's to- Hm… Nevermind."
"O… kay…?"
"Say! Got any other wonderful things to tell about Primp?"
"I got a boyfriend. Er…"
"Oh, wow. Really?"
"Well… It's not li-"
"What is he like? Come on, tell me."
"It's not your business…"
"I'd still like to know."

Sil's lip wrinkled and scrunched up a little. "He hasn't exactly hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet… He's so doofy and funny too. I feel so wonderful around him~❤ And I know he's into me too… But I wouldn't know why… I'm too high a maintenance for a boy like him… He's a great cuddler too, he can be really gentle or as firm as he needs to be. His sleepy eyes look better they should. He has this cute little ghostie sticking out of him and that's basically the only ghost I can stand to see anymore. We go on dates, buy and make each other gifts, we sleep in the same bed more times than I like to admit, I flirt with him. Not that it has much effect on him besides me showing my cards on how much I love him." Sil had her love-filled heart on full-display. She was a bit embarrassed by it, the girl shrunk and fidgeted. "I'm such a girly girl…" She covered her face regretting she said words. "What have I become?..."

"Hey, I think you're cute." The older woman praised. "I think you're onto something."

Sil smiled and played with one of her twin tails in a way that looks like a rope climbing motion. It was easier to swallow coming from Arle's mom. If only if the same will hold through for Melody. "I don't get to be like this often. I feel so free like this." She said like a ray of sunshine.

"I hope it becomes the norm for you. And I hope you tie the knot with your boyfriend." She got a friendly elbow poke in her side and a wink.

"I hope so two… Both of those I mean." 'Only problem he and everyone else has is a connection to Arle…'

"And good luck with that. You could stand to sounds less like Lala though."

"Lala?" Sil tried to recall. "Oh! Yeah, but unlike her crush, my bonds are bonds that last!"

Mrs. Nadja rolled her eyes. "That's what Lala would say."


When they got home, Sil decided to stroll about the surroundings of Magical Village and be back in time for dinner.

Sil looked down at this dress and a felt like she should just skip everywhere without a care. She'd put on her mask, but that would clash horribly (that and it was back at Mrs. Nadja's).

"Heh. Usually, people put on masks to be less shy." She said to herself. "That's not even untrue to say about myself." Silvana kept laughing at herself.

The clown was about done exploring the town. It's been expended. By about 4 houses, so that's still a small town. Primp had like more than a hundred at least. Heck, other towns in this world had more than this.

Maybe she should visit the other side of the mountain and see her grandma. Just walk by and say hello as a stranger. Nobody recognized her as home town hero Arle on the street so maybe grammy won't.

*Later…*

"GRAMMY'S HOUSE IS GONE!" Sil in a panic shouted out as she entered Mrs. Nadja's home.

"That's because she's gone." She said while continuing to stir.

"WHAT!? Where's she buried?!"

"Buried?! Oh. Hahaha. I'm so sorry about that. She moved away."

"Oh, where?"

"If you're planning on visiting her before you go home…" She tried to find a way to put it that nicely. "She's on vacation."

"Ah." As Sil grew up she learned to hate rollercoasters of emotions.

*Later, at dinner time…*

Mrs. Nadja gently put a plate on the table. "Bon Appétit. Don't leave anything for me." She put a giant pot on the table. "It's all yours."

"Wow. I've gotta go on a diet again after today. Are you sure?"

"Yes." The woman nodded. "I think it's important you have your fix before we say goodbye. I'll be out for a stroll in the meantime. I've made sandwiches for myself." She shook a lunchbox as she walked to the front door.

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes." She opened the door. "I'll be back. Enjoy~"

And she was gone. Sil was all alone with this mountain of curry.

And she wanted to appreciate it all. She's gonna have to burn these calories when she gets home.

*Par time eating later…*

"Silvana. I'm home. Sorry, I was gone for so long, I met an old friend and just had to catch up, you know how it goes." Sil wasn't at the messy table.

"Sil? Are you gone?"

She heard a groan of moderate discomfort. Mrs. Nadja followed the noise to the bedroom.

"Sil…" She was a bit disappointed finding her in bed. "What are you doing in there?"

"Hrrrrrrrrrrrg… I ate myself to a stomach cramp." She winced.

"Oh, dear."

"Can I stay until I sleep it off?"

"…Of course, but after that, you'll have to go."

The cramped clown nodded profusely. "Re… ci… pe…" She wheezed. "Also water... " Her tongue was burned.

When she woke up the pain was gone and true to her word immediately prepared to leave. She gave her final words.

"Thanks for not poisoning me." The mother gasped. "Don't fret it, I had a hunch you might do it and you didn't." She shrugged with a smile. "I'd kill me too. Years ago I wish I could kill myself…"

"Um…"

"Don't worry. I turned my stomach acid into antidote just in case."

"That's possible?"

"I invented it. Check out the in new spell books, I'm sure it's in there somewhere. Got screwed out of royalties though because of having "false identity"... I should try again in Primp." She spoke casually.

Mrs. Nadja didn't wanna unpack that can of worms. "Ah… haaaaaaaaaa…" 'How much of this is she naturally screwed up? And how much is it the broom twhacks?'

Silvana hugged Mrs. Nadja. "Thank you." She got one back.

"Take care."

After a little while, they broke off. Sil smiled. "Good-bye. I'll miss you." She said as she casted Go Home on her stuff and walked off with a wave.

"Aren't you warping home too?"

"I'm gonna sightsee! One last farewell! Bye!…" And that one sealed it. Silvana was out of the proximity of Arle's mom.

She saw everything she wanted to see before she got hungry and decided to go home and accept the new family in her heart.

"I need to forget how to get here…"

"Pffft! Maybe new Mom can whack me with a broom…" It because apparent to her that sentence wasn't as funny as she thought it would be.

She went home optimistically. Absolutely sure the Roses are the only family for her. Because when Sil said this is the last time she'll see her world of origin. She meant it.

SHE DESTROYED THE PLANET!

Just kidding. Sil left Mrs. Nadja a sack of golden credits for the dress and but that's the last real visit.

"I FORGOT TO ASK ABOUT DADDY!"

Author's Notes:
Something I cut was that the Pierrot mask Arle got at the end of Puyo Puyo~n was on the wall in her Mom's house. But Arle got her own house.

This was also supposed to have a bad end but decided against it.

Okay, after this chapter and 1 or 2 mini-chapters I've been meaning to do for ages. SFCtC will go into hiatus, again. This time I'll hold to it. In that meantime, I may upload the ending but please keep in mind if that ending's uploaded expect a new chapter between 2 to 3 weeks from then.

Next up: Mini-Chapter: Spirit Animals