(Phoebus's P.O.V.)
I looked again, glancing upon the slumbering children, "They didn't wake...", and Esmeralda smiled softly, "Those children cannot hear or see us, except for one.". I hear Helga exhale, "Did..did the Silver Heart do this?".
Esmeralda nodded, "Yes. You see, part of the magic in there is the Blue Fairy's magic, and somehow, the Evening Star is seen here in this world like ours, except that it's a tad further away in perspective. Wishes work the same, and she heard a important wish, a much unusual one from what she tells me.". I blinked in surprise, "How unusual?".
Esmeralda smiled lightly, "Naturally, to give a family for any orphan, their wishes usually remarks on a mother and father to reclaim them, a family relative or a foster parent to adopt them, or a wonderful new friend to help them find a home. But this extraordinary child's wish was far different. She was surprisingly specific, shocking a lot of fairies, especially the Blue Fairy. She specifically wished for either of you.".
Helga gasped softly, "But we aren't known here!...Unless we are?". Esmeralda chuckled warmly, "Like the Evening Star, your stories are known here through Helga's story here is a tad more advanced...and Phoebus...your story was intended to be a bit different...Anyhow, the child knew about both of you, but she doesn't know that you two have met in our world or married even...".
I blinked in confusion, "Wait, so she was either wishing for us separately because we didn't meet or get married in her known version of our stories?", and Esmeralda sighed deeply, "Yes. So in short, she deeply believes in magic and all that holds, but she's getting closer to the time where she would be required to grow up. This is the chance now to do this before she forgets her belief or worse...".
Helga held my shoulder, and I glanced at her as she spoke softly to me, "Do you think she's part of our destiny? To be our daughter as we wished it to be?". I smiled reassuringly, "You heard Esmeralda. If this girl wants us, we must meet her, get to know her, and perhaps, she'd be our daughter somehow...".
A smile reached her lips as Helga nodded, "You're right, Phoebus. For one, I am really curious to meet this girl. Esmeralda, lead the way.". Esmeralda nodded with a bright smile, and gestured for us to follow. We walked through the doorway, leaving the room of slumbering children as Esmeralda spoke lightly, "That room we have departed from contained 4 to 6 years old children. The child is in the next room for she's 8, almost 9.".
We kept going down the hallway to another doorway that's partly closed, and Esmeralda silently opened it a tad more as we went into the room. More slumbering children is seen yet a few awake children is attempting to scribble down on paper on their beds that's the closest to the windows with the moonlight shining through. Esmeralda chuckled softly, "Looks like she's still awake.", smiling at a rather homely, adorable girl. She is on the farthest bed on the last window, using a sort of pencil to etch something in the bedpost.
Her skin seems pale, her hair a long mess of brown curls, and it's a bit hard to tell the eye color from here through they are bright. Esmeralda nodded to us, "Wait here.", and walked up to the girl, and laughed lightly, "I think you missed something, Cassie.", and the aforementioned girl whipped around, her eyes wide and her lips forming into a smile. Helga gasped softly as I blinked in amazement at the sight of her eyes. One of them is bright hazel while the other one is bright blue like our crystals.
Cassie laughed happily, "E-E-Esmeralda!", hopping off her bed to hug Esmeralda's waist, "D-Did y-you b-bring t-them?!". Esmeralda hugged her softly, "I am glad to see you much excited. Yes, I brought them, both of them. Are you ready to meet them?".
Cassie nodded, "Y-yes!", and Esmeralda chuckled warmly, glanced over at us with a gesture, and Helga grabbed my hand anxiously as I rubbed her knuckles in comfort. We walked on, coming into the moonlight, barely noticing that the other few children that was awake is now asleep. Cassie gasped softly as she stared at us, and walked slowly to us, shyly speaking, "C-Captain Phoebus?".
I smiled widely, "That's right, through it's officially Captain Phoebus Sinclair...thanks to my amazing wife here, Helga Sinclair.", and Helga brushed my shoulder, "Oi, you're making me blush in front of a darling, adorable girl, dear husband!". Cassie giggled heartily before tilting her head curiously, "B-but you don't have rings?".
I blinked in confusion and was to speak when Esmeralda cut in gently, "Our world is a bit more different than yours, Cass. You see, they already have proof of their marriage. What do you see that they have in common?". Cassie was looking at her before looking back at us, and smiled curiously, "Your necklaces?".
Helga smiled widely, "Oh, you are a clever girl, darling!", and Cassie smiled shyly, "Thank you, Miss Helga.". Helga shook her head softly, "Actually, we are looking to be called something else than that, darling...We heard about your wish...Do you want to know us, have us as your parents?".
Cassie widened her eyes in surprise, "R-Really?!...B-but what about h-having real kids?", and Helga inhaled slowly as I caressed her shoulder softly, "We couldn't, young child...Helga has lost her gift to have real children...". Cassie looked ashamed and guilty, "S-Sorry...", looking down, and Helga leaned down to hug her, "Don't apologize, young lady. It's not your fault or anybody's fault else at that...Was it your fault for being a child who wants a family again?".
Cassie shook her head, "N-no...B-but it w-was s-scary...T-they were b-bad warm...", and I blinked in surprise, glancing over at Esmeralda who spoke softly with a heavy sigh, "Sickness. Something similar to the time of iron-bark parasites, they call it malaria here.". Helga gasped in horror, "Oh, my goodness! Thank god they got you out of there.", remembering all too well about the time of the parasites as I do...It was ten years before Frollo came in...Sarip lost many lives to that...horrible sickness...
Esmeralda nodded softly, "I believe Cassie was simply 6 at the time...It was most fortunately that the people there had strong medicine to make her immune...but her parents couldn't be saved...", and I breathed sharply, "By the sun...", leaning down to join Helga into rubbing Cassie's back as she sniffled into Helga's gown, seeing Helga glance at me with a slight gesture.
I whispered warmly, "Cassie, don't cry. We're here now. We want you to be our daughter.", and Cassie rubbed her eyes roughly, "You're a hero. Heroes say the truth, right?". I smiled softly, cradling her little cheek, drying her tears, "Soldiers are heroes, but I am not a soldier right now. I am just a man seeking for a family with his wife, and you fit into this family.".
Helga kissed her forehead, "Phoebus's right. You already fit in my arms, and that makes you a perfect fit for us, a perfect daughter to love and care for...", and Cassie looked at her with a sniffle, "E-even if I have b-bad dreams?". Helga smiled warmly, "Even then, darling. So, what do you say, Cassie?".
Cassie smiled shyly at us, "I want you guys to be my parents.". I laughed heartily as I hugged Cassie with Helga, and I heard a sob, "I promised myself I couldn't cry, but darn it!", seeing Esmeralda drying her eyes with a handkerchief. Cassie looked over at her, "Can I call you Aunt Esme?", and Esmeralda sobbed even harder, "Yes, yes, you can call me that, Cass!", leaning down as Cassie ran out of our arms to hug Esmeralda tightly.
Cassie then tilted her head thoughtfully, "Wait, how did you get here?", and Esmeralda smiled, "Courtesy of the fairies's magic and your new parents' love, a portal brought us here, but remember what I have told you earlier?".
Cassie blinked softly, "Phoebus and Helga cannot take me home because I might get hurt by Frollo or Scar...", and Helga gasped softly, "God, they could've! Plus, sooner or later, I'd have to go into war with you, being co-captain to you, Phoebus...". I patted her shoulder softly, and glanced at Esmeralda, "She's safe in this world, yes?".
Esmeralda nodded, "Yes, and with the Silver Heart, you will be able to visit Cassie anytime in private, through it's stronger at night, through I must warn you, the magic can only afford you two a few precious hours at a time...". Helga exhaled heavily, "And who knows how much longer will the war go on? It's true that we have the group of United Talons, but we hardly know anything at this time...".
I kissed her temple softly, "Don't fret, my love, we will finish the war sooner or later, and we will bring Cassie home. That's a promise!", and Cassie smiled at me, "Pinky promise?", holding up her pinky. Helga smiled, and crossed her pinky with hers, and I joined in, crossing my pinky with theirs, "We promise, daughter.".
Esmeralda called out, "I apologize, but we must head back to our world now, and besides, you wouldn't want to miss out on your brief honeymoon before you go off to train and fight for our people, would you?". Cassie pouted cutely, "Aww, but I wanted to show you my drawings and stuff!". Helga ruffled her bangs softly, "We will return soon to visit, darling. You'll be sure of that. You take care, Cassie.".
Cassie smiled widely, "I'll miss you too, Helga!", and I chuckled softly, realizing that she will take a while to call us 'Mom' and 'Dad' in proper time. "Stay out of trouble, princess.", I whispered warmly, squeezing her shoulder gently, and Cassie nodded, "I'll miss you too, Phoebus. You two be careful!".
Esmeralda ruffled Cassie's hair warmly, "It's late. You better head to sleep, Cass.", and Cassie nodded, "Okay, Aunt Esme.", heading back into bed, grabbing her blanket as we came forward to tuck her in as she yawned softly, almost instantly falling asleep, a content smile on her face as we joined Esmeralda. Esmeralda touched us on our shoulders, and there was a flash before I blinked, recognizing the balcony of my king's castle.