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Be Alright by Jake Miller


*Chapter 220*

"Hey, you. Flower muncher," Berri snapped with a hard giggle as she arrived at her big brother's lovely, outdoor teleport pad; their humble tower was gorgeously splayed with illuminating houselights, the path all the way to their lovely abode looked really beautiful amidst the evening fog and fireflies, an enchanting addition to the palace's gorgeous atmosphere. Lickity firmly perked her ears high and took a bumbling step, or two, away.

"I-I wasn't eating them, I'm just smelling them!" Lickity pleaded with a sheepish grin as she flattened her ears, Berri assessed her big brother's beautiful front lawn and patio area and was shocked to see every single gorgeous little flower still in tact. Obviously Libby's handiwork, there was one, single glowing white fire flower right at the very start of their patio. Berri smiled at their lovely aesthetic here, though she immediately realized just who hung beyond that inner teleport pad, closer to the inner depths of Ace's and Libby's patio. Lickity cautiously stepped about the soil and finally joined Berri on their beautiful stone pathway, large enough to fit Lickity, surprisingly. Lickity flattened her ears in further secrecy and pressed closer to Berri, "I'm trying to be as quiet as I can, I can smell these flowers from a million miles away. They smell SO good."

"Well, then I'll have mom plant them in your enclosure," Berri muttered with a cute smile, she ruffled her larger hand to the top of Lickity's soft head and relished in the velvety feel of her fluffy white mane. Lickity lulled her huge green eyes closed and marinated in Berri's soft touch, though Berri nervously peered to said dimly glowing, hovering teleport pad, deeper in Ace's patio, and knew now was the time to quietly duck out in hopes of not running in to Mara, "C'mon. I came to collect you. Wanna come back to the tower with me, before your hunt? Chester's there."

"Sure, who else is all there?" Lickity prod cutely as the two began to finally step away from Ace's patio, though much to Berri's whole dismay, said teleport pad softly hummed with life.

"Oh, just... Turbo, Lash, Throttle, Tatum," Berri began to nonchalantly list, as if to pretend she didn't hear the teleport pad buzz, though much to her further dismay, Mara's gentle voice called out to Berri.

"Thanks, Aunt Berri," Mara called, a neutral tone, though emphasis on volume, making clear to Berri that Mara was now in this little debacle as a way of surely getting Berri here, alone; Berri whirled around and pretended this was the first instance she was noticing Mara's presence.

"Oh, you're welcome," Berri tried to ease a natural grin; her neice stood barefoot on the lovely, white wood patio, her larger wrecking hand daintily pressed against the post nearby.

Lickity softened a little as both her and Berri peered up to Mara, though in this instance, Lickity remained still and sneakily drew her gaze to Berri, as if to daintily inquire just what was going to come of this little situation. Berri inhaled a shaky breath and lovingly rested her hand to Lickity's snout, as if to make clear that she was here to pick Lickity up and nothing more. She lofted her long, loose blue hair over her shoulder and peered up to Mara in curious softness, from across their almost two dozen foot gap. Mara wore a comfortable pair of blue cotton shorts and a dainty tank top with cute little white buttons down the front. Her hair was pulled into a little ponytail, a mess of her pastel blue hair and bangs framed her lovely face. Her icy blue eyes hooked tight to Berri's in almost nervous question, and with their bout of silence, Berri sagged her shoulders and was well aware there was now no getting out of talking with Mara. Seemingly, Mara's body language looked open and willing, something that never had typically happened before. Berri knew that Mara wasn't totally akin to the dragons on the lot, them being a big point of contention in her childhood, due to how big and intimidating they were, Mara never really fully grew out of it. Berri glanced to Lickity in defeat and heaved a long, hot sigh through her nose.

"... Is everything okay, Mar?" Berri pressed politely, she tried not to seem irritated, as if she was only asking and wanted a rhetorical question; prepared for the onslaught of sassy remarks, Berri braced herself and cautiously peered to Mara across the gap.

"Yeah, I'm... Okay, I guess I'm just a little lonely," Mara quietly admitted; she crossed her arms and reserved her body language, as if she desperately didn't want to let anyone in, though no one was home and she was eager to have some form of company.

"Where is everyone?" Berri questioned softly, she felt it odd how her feet now very slowly began to travel the cobbles, once more, closer to her fragile, beautiful niece; Mara rolled her eyes, at the situation, and looked off.

"Mom and dad went on a dinner date in the city, and... Beaux's on that stupid... Retreat," Mara muttered in hot defeat as she looked down, she shook her head and smiled in soft irritation, "I didn't want to go, anyways."

"... Retreat?" Berri questioned, she felt a weird bout of golden glow come off of the two, as if Mara had somehow hit a breaking point and was desperate to get grief out of her life, once and for all.

"Yeah... There was this awesome camping retreat our friend-group had been planning for awhile," Mara mumbled as Berri cautiously approached, she finally joined Mara on the lovely, dimly lit patio that wrapped about Ace's and Libby's humble little abode, "I was invited, but... I uninvited myself."

"How come?" Berri carefully wondered, she knew any single question she asked could potentially be a land mine; Mara's piercing eyes glanced to Berri's in nervousness, as if she was terrified to come through with information that could potentially be used against her.

"It's... Not a big deal, just someone on the retreat I now don't get along with," Mara stated in defeat, she shook her head and looked off; Berri grit her teeth inside her mouth, unbeknownst to Mara, and almost jokingly began to make dull assumptions, in her head, about the unbelievable notion of Mara not getting along with others.

"I'm sorry," Berri resorted to keeping a very surfaced stance in this, knowing that if Mara wanted to further open up, she'd only do it on her own accord, and not in the form of prodding questions delivered. Berri sighed in conclusion and pat Lickity's snout, "Welp... This flower muncher won't bother you anymore."

"I am a flower SMELLER," Lickity urged in hot irritation, and though Mara was now comfortable around the flyers, she still kept her arms crossed and remained still.

"I'll talk to mom about planting these flowers in the flyer's enclosure so they won't come bothering you, anymore," Berri giggled as her and Lickity slowly began to peel away once more, "Text me if anything else is wrong, okay?"

"... Berri?" Mara urged in a lilt of almost climbing desperation, though Berri furrowed her eyebrows and peered back over her shoulder.

Berri held her breath in hot confusion as both her and Lickity slowed their roll, confused as to just who this little being was, usually so reserved and snappy, Berri peered hard into Mara's eyes, up the little stoop she had just climbed down. Mara frowned, a look of billowing desperation as frustration crowed her icy eyes with a glassy show of tears, she gestured her hand outward, slumped it to her thigh, sagged her shoulders in defeat and finally looked down to her twiddling fingers. She inhaled a shaky breath and grimaced in a tight show of desperately holding her emotions together.

"I just... Want to apologize for being bitchy towards you," Mara squeaked softly, her icy eyes peered to Berri's in a gentle dig of urgency as Berri remained entirely frozen, "I... I got into a fight with the guy I had a crush on, and... Although he showed his true colors, he pointed out a lot of things that I have been aware of, for some time now."

"... I'll beat this guy up for you, if you'd like," Berri barked in protectiveness; no matter the estranged relationship, she knew, full well, she'd go to war for Mara in a heartbeat.

"Yeah, that'd... Be great," Mara finally beamed a genuine smile and looked down, as if to hide it. She giggled and wiped her cheek as Berri bravely returned back to the patio; Lickity remained distanced, though still close enough to listen and mediate. Mara shook her head and kept her eyes down, "I was THIS close to mustering the courage to tell him that I like him, but... We disagreed on something and I guess I got nervous and kind of made some mean remarks towards him."

"What did he say back to you?" Berri wondered hotly, as if now certain she would make a wonderful big sister; she felt guilt and relief swathe her, all at once, as if the opportunity to sister another girl, outside of the new addition of Tatum, had been right in front of her, all along.

"He just said that... Talking to me is like walking through a mine field, every remark could be super mean or super nice," Mara whimpered, she bravely allowed tears to cascade down her cheeks. She shook her head and continued to look down to her twiddling fingers, "He almost called me a bitch, but instead just said I was rude and super difficult to be around."

"... And Beaux's just down there, hanging out with this douche bag?" Berri barked in further irritation, to which Mara closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Beaux doesn't know about any of this, I just... Told the group I couldn't go," Mara huffed as her nose began to become clogged, "Look, I know I'm really good at pushing people away... I'm just... Tired of feeling like I need to inject myself into everything in order to be liked or included."

Berri frowned and assessed Mara, having come into adulthood a few months ago, she was no longer the sassy, bratty little girl everyone had come to know and love out of tolerance. She was a gorgeous, perfect representation of Tessa's tom-boyish features and desires, so deliciously paired with Libby's beautiful, lithe, tribal princess-y goodness. A true blue gem in her own right, Berri felt her heart sink in guilt at the thought of someone being mean to Mara in her own attempt to clumsily include herself. Berri sighed, looked off and was well aware her and Mara were now here to shake out the skeletons in their closets.

"I'm positive I haven't made this easy for you, have I," Berri mumbled in soft admittance, she shook her head and narrowed her gaze, "I think we definitely started out on the wrong foot. We were children amidst trying to include you in 'older kid' stuff..."

"You have no idea how hard it was to watch you guys go running off when Beaux and I had a bedtime to adhere to," Mara said softly, she inhaled a revived breath and finally peered her lovely, bright eyes tight to Berri's, the cute gap in her teeth made Berri's heart swell with love, the hot reminder that Mara was related to every other person, on this lot, that she adored, "It didn't bother Beaux, but it REALLY bothered me."

"It didn't bother Beaux because... Wren and Theo included him," Berri stated hotly in a guilty show of nervousness as she, too, looked down to her hands and inhaled a shaky breath, "I did a terrible job of making you feel important. I'm really sorry, Mar."

"I'm sorry, too," Mara gestured her hand out and shook her head, "I've just... Developed this bitterness towards you because you were always running off and having a great time, and I couldn't ever join in. And THEN you went and landed a boyfriend like Gunner, got famous, and now are engaged to an Arcade legend. Like..."

"It's not like I did any of this to spite you," Berri choked a small giggle and gave Mara a look of certainty, "I'm just living my life."

"... I want to be included," Mara whimpered as more tears cascaded down her cheeks, "I promise to ease up, just... Please, I don't want to be left out anymore."

Berri smiled and felt her heart melt, what was a long time of sharp, thorny interactions now fully come to a head, Berri lulled her eyes closed and quickly filled her's and Mara's gap. With a firm tug, both girls snug into a tight embrace as Mara let out a soft, little cry. Berri tightened her arms about Mara's neck and shoulders and swayed her a little, she smiled through her closed eyes and was thrilled to feel Mara's arms and hands come about Berri's upper back.

"I'm really sorry, Mara... Truly," Berri mumbled, "I haven't been the kindest to you, but that's only because I genuinely thought you didn't even like me. I just dished it right back to you."

"I love you, you're my only aunt," Mara cried quietly, to which Berri's heart broke a little more; she heaved a hot sigh through her nose and relaxed in Mara's grip.

"You're my only niece," Berri stated in gentle guilt, she shook her head and finally pulled out of Mara's embrace, though she eased her hands to Mara's shoulders and smiled, "Tell yah what... Me and the gang are going to Sugar Sun Island next week for a getaway, and... I have a proposition for you."

"Sugar Sun," Mara repeated in kind inquiry, she sniffled and daintily wiped her cheeks, the humbled look of relief on her face was palpable.

"Please come with, it will be odd numbers if you don't," Berri eased sweetly, she brushed some of Mara's gorgeous, pastel blue hair out of her eyes, "You'll get to jam with us, get to know Turbo a little more, Tatum and aunt Koko are coming."

"Who else?" Mara prod curiously, she looked as if this idea was slowly bringing her back to life.

"We have Turbo, Wren, Theo, Tatum, Throttle, Nox, Koko, me, Chester, you and... Whiplash," Berri now regretfully muttered through her teeth, though Mara sharply furrowed her eyebrows as Berri released her hands from Mara's shoulders.

"Uhg, no way, THAT jerk," Mara muttered darkly, though she gave Berri a cheeky smile and shook her head.

"C'monnnn, he's not so bad once you get to know him, we're inviting him to sort of... Secretly give him a little bit of leeway, see how he handles being let off the leash a little," Berri rushed, though Mara gently crossed her arms and peered to Berri down the bridge of her nose.

"... I'm listening," Mara quipped quietly with a smile.

"I figured having a User present would help aid in that," Berri shrugged with a cute smile, "If he acts up, you can just... Hand him his ass, User-style."

"... Dad HAS been giving me User lessons," Mara trailed as she fingered her lip, she side-eyed Berri in cute curiosity, "So, like... You want me to come and secretly keep an eye on Lash? Make sure he's not up to something sneaky?"

"If you'd be willing, I mean... I invited you to invite you, but if you want to make it a secret job to do so, then by all means," Berri giggled, "Turbo was going to be the one to keep sharp tabs on him, but... It would help to have another pair of eyes."

"You can count on me," Mara bobbed a nod and eased a cute smile, "Thanks for, well... Inviting me. I promise, I'm really trying not to be bitey or mean, any longer. I just..."

"I understand, you've kind of had to fight your way for attention," Berri sighed and looked down, "We all have our struggles, but... We can turn over a new leaf, together. You can hang out with us, anytime. I KNOW that Wren and Theo would agree, and... I'm really sorry all of us have slacked in inviting you, and Beaux, places."

"Wouldn't be so much of an issue had I suddenly NOT ditched my whole friend group," Mara muttered as she looked off, and though Lickity had wandered away to get another nose-full of the nearby flowers, she eased a small smile and relaxed in Berri's now warm and loving presence, "I'm really grateful for this, though. Who needs 'em."

"Yeah, they're jerks, you have us," Berri nodded in affirmation, "Let Beaux enjoy himself on his retreat, you can enjoy yourself on yours."

"Thanks, aunt Berri," Mara stated in warm revival as both girls smiled into each other's eyes, though Berri gave her a cheeky look and waggled her finger.

"Also, don't fret about your crush... He's a jerk, and there are far better men out there," Berri chimed cutely, to which Mara sagged in defeated sweetness, "Ones that may ENJOY mean and sassy remarks. You never really know."

"Yeah, right," Mara giggled as Berri began to slowly step away. Mara crossed her arms in full relaxation and called after Berri, "I'd like to MEET such a guy."