"Certainly planning for the future there.", Haku chuckled as the two of them reached their destination and got off the horses.
One guard at the gates bowed in respect, "Lady Emma, Healer Haku, welcome. They're currently in Lord Phoebus's office.", and Emma smiled, "Thank you, sir.".
The duo went in, and with warm smiles and gestures from the staff, they were directed to the office, and Emma knocked on the door, hearing Phoebus's voice a moment later, "Enter.".
Haku opened the door, politely letting Emma pass through, and closed it after him, and Helga, at the side of the desk, smiled widely, "Emma, Haku!", causing Phoebus to look up from reading a document paper.
"Phoebus, nice to see you again.", Emma smiled as the two of them got up to him. "So, what exactly are you two doing around here?", Phoebus asked.
"Well, I think you might know why.", Haku smirked. Phoebus blinked, trying to think when Helga gasped in delight, "You're going to help us bring Cassie home?!", her hands in a prayer gesture, hiding her lips, but there's hints of a smile.
Emma chuckled, "Surprise. Since it's almost Thanksgiving, why not? She deserves to be with her new family.", with a grin. "I don't know what to say...", Phoebus shook his head.
" A 'You're welcome' would be nice.", Haku chuckled as Phoebus nodded. "That's true. Thank you.", Phoebus smiled.
Emma smiled, "Helga, why don't you go get the Silver Heart crystal? I would need it to assist the interdimensional tree to find the orphanage properly.". Helga smiled happily, "Of course! I'll be right back!", sprinting out of the office to the family wing, to their bedroom.
Phoebus exhaled, "You have no idea how much this means to Helga, and to me...", and Emma chuckled, "I think I do. After all, a family isn't just of relatives or spouses, it's who chooses to be your family, and Cassie is one of them.".
Phoebus smiles gratefully, and glances at Haku, "And you are coming along for backup?", and Haku nodded, "That, and to change the orphanage's minds to think that Cassie either ran away or didn't actually exist. After all, papers get lost in the process of things.".
"Sounds a bit... wrong.", Helga admitted after she came in, holding the Silver Heart, panting slightly after her sprint and search.
"Yeah, but in this case, Cassie doesn't really have anything truly going much back on Earth. She'd be much happier here. But there's the issue that we might end up ruining someone's life back there if we don't at least cover our tracks.", Haku said.
Phoebus nodded, "That actually makes a lot of sense, logically.", and Emma nodded, "Yep.", before smiling as she made a portal to the interdimensional tree, "Come. Let's have the Silver Heart fused with the tree.".
Helga smiled happily as she held the Silver Heart to her chest, with Phoebus squeezing her shoulder, and followed Haku and Emma through, landing in the clearing of the interdimensional tree, and with a gentle smile to Helga, Emm received the Silver Heart, and took a deep breath as she placed the object on the trunk, chanting in the ancient language once more as her stone glowed.
It lasted for a few minutes, and the tree glowed even brighter before dimming down as the Silver Heart is now fused into the trunk itself, and Emma took a deep breath, "Looks like your love made the tree stronger for it will be forever eternal for all time until magic is to end one day. After all, it is one of the fundamental laws for everything that begins, they must have an ending.".
Emma then smiled at the couple, "Let's do this.", laying a hand on the trunk, unlocking it as it twisted into the familiar sight of the interdimensional door, and soon, the door landed upon the view of the orphanage across the street.
"Good, there's no cameras...Huh, that newspaper, is that Slovenian?", Emma nodded, and Haku spoke, "Looks like it. We must be in the East Europe, perhaps north of Italy.".
Emma blinked, "Good to know that this place is English, Italian, and Slovenian. Anyway, let's go.", grabbing Helga's hand with a smile, "Ladies first. Haku, you got Phoebus.", and after sharing a glance, Helga took a deep breath, and walked together with Emma through the portal.
A few moments later, Phoebus and Helga took their first steps in a new world as they went through the portal.
"Must warn you, there's quite a lot that might freak you out.", Emma warned. "We'll be fine.", Phoebus tried to assure her as she shrugged.
They were standing in a sort of park-alley, and Emma locked the tree behind them, and walked up to the edge, looking back and forth, and blinked in surprise to see only pedestrians, and realized that it must be one of the pedestrian streets with a bike route, and smiled as the Stone glowed on her chest, listened, and saw a shimmering shield over them.
Emma grinned, "We're invisible for now. Now, don't dawdle. Eyes on me and Haku, alright?", and Helga nodded, "Yes, ma'am.", hearing the leader tone in her voice, and the couple followed the duo, and crossed the pedestrian street, carefully avoiding people, and made it to the front yard of the orphanage as the shield disappeared, listening for any shouts of surprise behind them, but nothing.
Haku blinked, "Huh, so we were invisible to the cameras in the distance, yet people saw us as a blur, figuring that we were just walking, minding our business. Dang, our magic and our Stones is handy.".
Emma grinned, "Yes, sure is. Now, we must keep up appearances for a bit until we make it to the head's office, and then Haku will do his thing, and the head will be unconscious for an hour or two with his or her mind configuring to its changed memories. I am your sister for support, and Haku is a children's doctor, wanting to make sure the child in question for you two is healthy. Healers are called doctors here. Got it?".
Helga nodded, "I understand." The group soon arrived at the orphanage as Phoebus and Helga took a deep breath.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine.", Emma assured them. "Just leave the talking to us for the most part, you focus on Cassie.".
Phoebus and Helga nodded, and Phoebus used the knocker loudly enough to get attention. They waited for a few moments before hearing a muffled voice, and the door opened to reveal a homely, weary woman.
She blinked in surprise, "Oh, hello! Are you just visiting or are you inquiring to adopt a child?", and Phoebus spoke, "I and my wife here, we are looking to adopt a girl. We were in the neighborhood, and we saw the children playing yesterday, and we saw a girl with unique eyes.".
The woman chuckled, "Oh, how wonderful! Come in, come in, let's go talk in my office. And you two, are you with them?". Emma nodded, "I am Phoebus's sister, Emma. I am supporting them.".
Haku then replied, "I am Haku, a children's doctor.", and Helga replied, "He was recommended to help us to make sure there's nothing wrong with the girl in question.".
The woman smiled, "Naturally! And the girl you are asking about, that is Cassie Boritas. She was lucky to be alive, poor girl!", sighing lightly, "Her parents passed away years ago, malaria I heard. Tragic, really. She witnessed them dying. Filled the orphanage with screams for quite a while. She eventually got better over a year ago, telling stories to the younger children.".
Phoebus replied, "I am glad to hear that, ma'am. I myself was a soldier.", and the woman blinked in surprise, "Ah, that explains the accent. Why have you decided to adopt a child, by the way?", as she opened the door to the office.
Helga winced visibly, speaking, "I lost the ability to carry children after a house explosion. Scarcely got out in time.", and the woman cooed in sympathy, "Oh, that's right down terrible!".
Emma closed the door, and subtly glanced to Haku who nodded, hiding his glowing hands, muttering under his breath as the woman took her seat, and then yawned, falling asleep. Emma craftily sneaked an open book under her hands, to have her wake up, thinking she fell asleep during her book reading.
Haku then exhaled, "She's out for an hour and a half. You know the way upstairs to the kids' floor?", and Phoebus grinned, "Sure do.", exiting the door, with them leaving the office, with Helga anxiously twittering her hands as they went up the stairs, hearing all kinds of voices laughing, talking, and teasing.
The children noticed them, and started gossiping, with kids peeking and taking a better look out of the doors, with one of them gasping. A girl, curly-long haired of brown locks and bicolored eyes of blue and hazel called out, "Mom, Dad!".
"Hey there...", Helga smiled as she laid eyes on Cassie, almost starting to tear up as she ran towards them. "Hey there, sweetie, how have you been?", Phoebus asked.
Cassie smiled widely, "I really am good, Dad! Wait, the other kids can see you?", and Helga kneeled down with a smile, "Things have changed now. I know we have visited you two nights ago, and we got busy yesterday with news of a crime in another kingdom, but those two people, our dear friends, they have decided to help us bring you home, officially.".
Cassie gasped, "Really?!", with a bright smile, and Phoebus smiled warmly, "That's right, princess. And besides, it's almost Thanksgiving. So, are you ready to come home?".
Cassie hugged him happily, "Yes, yes!", before hugging Helga, kissing her on the cheek, "Oh, oh, can I meet Uncle Quasi, Uncle Clopin, please, Mom?".
Helga laughed softly, "Honey, you have all the time to see them. Now, do you have anything to bring along, Cassie Sinclair?", with a smile as she finally officially named her a daughter with their surname.
Cassie shook her head as she was just so excited that she couldn't even think of what she needed to bring along. "Come on, Cassie, surely there's something you need to bring?", Helga chuckled at the young girl's excitement.
Cassie smiled widely, "Yeah, my drawings and pictures from my bed, but there's also something or rather someone I want to bring along from outside.", before nodding, "I'll be right back!", running back to the room where her bed is.
Phoebus blinked, "Someone from outside?", looking at Helga, and Helga shrugged lightly, "Must be a stray pet. After all, we haven't visited in the past two nights.".
Emma hummed lightly, "She doesn't want to leave this someone if it's important.", and Haku nodded, "We'll find out in due time.".
Cassie then returned with a backpack, smiling, "All packed up. Come, Mom and Dad, I want you to meet Topsy!".
The foursome followed Cassie out down the stairs to the backyard, and Cassie grinned, "Topsy, here, girl! Topsy-Turvy!", before looking at her parents, "Takes a minute for her to hear me. She stays around the neighborhood.", with a smile.
Then a chirruping/yelping sound came to their ears, and out of a rotten hole in the fence, came sprinting up to Cassie, is a gray pelted cat with black spots splattered over its back here and there, with a cream underbelly and paws, and dark green eyes, and the cat gave out a bark-like sound as it panted, wagging its tail.
Cassie smiled as she petted the cat's head, "Topsy, meet my parents. Mom, Dad, this is Topsy-Turvy.", with a giggle. "What a cute cat.", Helga smiled as Cassie chuckled.
"She's not a cat, she's a dog!", Cassie told them as the cat barked again. "I suppose she's right, that's the most cat- looking dog I've ever seen.", Phoebus laughed.
Emma smiled, "Well, she's gonna fit pretty well in your family. Topsy-Turvy, indeed.", and Haku chuckled, "That's for sure.".
Cassie looked at Phoebus and Helga, "So? Can I bring her home, pretty please?", and Helga shared a glance with Phoebus before smiling, "Let's not wait any longer. Welcome to the family, Topsy.", and the cat panted, barked excitedly, and licked Cassie as she picked her up with a bright smile.
"Yay, you're coming home with us, Topsy! So, how do we get home?", and Emma smiled warmly, "Don't worry, just stay close to your parents, Cassie. The way home is just across the street.".
"Really?", Emma looked at them funny. "Really. Trust us, it'll be all understood in a bit, we just have to wait for the others.", Helga told her.
Phoebus held Cassie's hand as she held into Topsy, while holding Helga's hand, "That's right. Haku will have to slightly adjust something here first.", and Emma nodded to Haku who chanted in the same ancient language, his hands glowing, and the orphanage glowed for a second before the glow vanished.
Haku nodded, "All done.", and Cassie widened her eyes, "Whoa, that was real magic!", with a gobsmacked look.
Haku grinned, "That's right, but it's all secret around here while it's free in Enchantia, got it?", with a wink. Cassie winked, "Gotcha!", and went to walk with Phoebus and Helga as they led the way back, with Emma whispering to Haku.
"What does the kids think?", she said, and Haku replied in a whisper, "The older kids all think Cassie doesn't exist, and the younger kids think that Cassie was a random kid who ran away after only one day in the orphanage. The Headmistress thinks Cassie doesn't exist, and the document evidence on Cassie is dust.", as they followed behind the newfound family.
"So that should make sure there's no issues?", Phoebus asked. "Not that we would really know, but it should at least keep any sort of trouble from not falling on anyone as we said. Don't want to cause problems, you know?", Emma said.
Phoebus nodded, "Understood.", and with that settled, and with the orphanage behind them, they crossed the street, invisible to cameras, thanks to Haku and Emma's Stones, while being a blur for any pedestrians, and made it to the alley-park, to the tree.
Emma unlocked it, and nodded as the portal turned on, "Okay, go first, Sinclair family.", and with reassuring smiles to Cassie, they held their daughter's shoulders as they walked together through the portal with Haku following half a minute later, and with a sweep of her eyes to make sure nothing's looking, Emma then went through, with the door of the park's tree closing behind her.
From the looks of it, Cassie just had drunk the anti-motion sickness potion, and little Topsy was only shaking it off before barking. Emma locked the interdimensional tree down, satisfied, and smiled, "Alright, just one more portal trip, and then you're all back in Phoebus's office.".
"You alright, Cassie?", Haku asked her as the girl just was standing still and holding her stomach. "That stuff was gross... I feel like I'm going to throw up everything...", she groaned.
"Happens to the best of us.", Haku assured her. Cassie looked at him, "Really?", and Haku nodded, "Yeah. Turns out interdimensional portals are a bit harder on people than normal portals, but that's the way Emma does it. After all, it's her magic gift.".
"But...", Haku kneeled down to give her a smile. "You've done pretty well, and you certainly won't have to do that sort of portal again since I doubt there's much need for you to go back to Earth.".
Cassie shook her head with a grin, "Nope. I got my parents, my cat-dog, a whole different family of new friends that I'd meet soon, and a whole new world to see, to explore, to play in!" with a delighted laugh as she bounced around on her feet, her hands wide and out.
Emma laughed, "Then let's give you a place to start. Sarip, your new hometown. Aye?", looking at Cassie with a smile.
Cassie looked at awe at what she was seeing when Emma opened the portal to Sarip. "Seems someone is impressed.", Emma chuckled as she looked at Cassie's wide-eyed amazement.
Phoebus chuckled, and picked Cassie up, putting her on his shoulders, "Let's go home, daughter, and have some fun.", while Helga picked up the backpack, putting it over her arms, and picked up Topsy gently who barked.
Cassie cheered, "Yeah, let's go, Dad!", and the Sinclair family stepped through the portal, and Phoebus gave Emma a side glance and a grateful smile, and Emma nodded back in understanding, and closed the portal after them.
Haku chuckled, "Looks like Cassie is going to keep them on their feet for some years.", and Emma laughed, "I can believe that easily. Ready to go home to your family, Haku?", with a smile.
"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit homesick myself with things." Haku said as Emma got ready to open another portal. "Certainly hope that she'll have a loving life here."
Emma smiled, "Ditto. Now git, your soulmate and son are waiting for ya. After all, it's almost Thanksgiving in two days.", and Haku nodded, "Yep. Catch you around.", with a smile, and left through the portal to Pocahontas's village.
Emma closed it after him and smiled as she transported herself in a portal flash to Cair Paravel where her entire family, relatives and kids are. Sure enough, Thanksgiving came quickly after the next 24 hours, and huge Thanksgiving parties are popping all over Enchantia in and out, both public and private.