The spider creature seemed to be too afraid to say a single word. He was doing nothing but staring at me in horror and quivering.
- I asked you a question. - I said impatiently.
- Well... I-I... I've accidentally... p-p-peeped through the window and... eavesdropped what you said about yourself.
- Oh I see. You're a spy, arencha?
- No! It was an accident, I swear! I didn't mean to bother you or anyone else. I just...
- Yeees?
- Nothing! Really! Please, don't hurt me! I'll do anything. Just, please, spare me! I implore you!
- Anything?
- Yes, yes! Anything!
- Ok then. Why don't you tell me who you are and why you're here?
- Alright. My name is Grief and I am an Arachner. And - basically - I came here in search for food.
- Food?
- Yeah. I haven't had a meal in several days. I'm starving and desperate for something to eat.
At the same second he finished that phrase, his tummy growled like and angry bear, expressing its urge to be filled with someting edible.
-A-ha. So you're hungry, huh? And what do you usually eat?
- Well... normally my species is carnivorous. But I am more like omnivorous. I'd have anything, even a sweet, sweet piece of cake.
- A piece of cake, you say? I think I've got an idea.
I reached for my magical repository and releashed a very special toy.
- What is this thing? - asked Grief.
- Easy Bake Oven. - I answered. - a girly toy I magically modified to make real, delicious pastry of many kinds. Now, which one to choose? Muffins? Donuts? Chocolate cake? Cheese cake? Or maybe...
- I'll have them all! - Interrupted Grief with greed. - Gimme, gimme, gimme!
- Hey, hey, hey! Not so fast, dude! What's the magical word?
- Gimme, gimme, gimme... pretty please.
- Correct. Here we go!
I pushed a random button. It took only 15 seconds for six medium-sized vanilla muffins to get ready to eat. Easy Bake Oven's door fell down, letting out thick, white steam. Sweet, intensive scent has hit his nostrils, filling his mouth with tons of saliva, as a result.
- Smells goooooood! - said Grief with a dreamy voice.
I handed the freshly-baked muffins over to him. Grief devoured them all with one bite.
- Can I, please, have more of these?
I giggled and started making another types of pastry. I wanted him to try everything. No matter which of sweet stuff I gave him, he loved it. Eventually, many, many cakes later...
- I'm full. - he announced before falling down on his butt and resting his back on the wall behind him.
- Finally. - I gasped.
Grief burped loudly, apopogized and said: - Thank you. For sparing me and feeding me as well.
- Don't mention it.
- You know - for a Witch, you are very nice.
- Oh come on! Me? Nice!? Dream on! - I'm serious. The stories describe Witches as cruel, ruthless, emotionless, voracious monsters no one could compete with. And you... you showed me kindness by letting me live and giving me food. I'm grateful for this.
I laughed in an embarrassed way.
- Hold up for a second.
- What's the matter?
- Just hold up.
I turned around and connected with Loo-Loo, checking on Loo-nah. She was fully enjoying her time with her mommy. I disconnected after about 20 seconds. I didn't need to continue watching them since they were perfectly fine. I turned back to Grief and asked:
- Do you have a place to go back to? - Not really.
- That's what I thought. Why don't you stay here, in the attic of Dib's mansion?
- If it's not a problem...
- It's not. If you do so, you'll never be hungry again. I promise that to you.
- Really? Oh thank you. Thank you so much!
Before I realized, I was already hugged by the joyful Arachner. After a long moment of squeezing me, he finally let go of me.
- Can I ask you something?
- What?
- You said you're the Toy Witch. What exactly can you do?
- Many different things. I can fully control toys by making them move and turn them into their monstrous-selves, I can fix them no matter how badly damaged they are, I can see and hear everything around them with their eyes and ears, whether they are near of far. They kinda spy for me.
- Wow. And what about living things? Can you control them as well?
- I don't know. I never tried and I don't think I'd ever try.
- Why?
- Because mind control is as much of enslavement as what Irkens do to all the other races. And I hate slavery!
- You do?
- Why of course I do. I believe everyone in the universe should be free. Well... maybe except for criminals. But slavery is something horrible, unacceptable and unforgivable. Something that should have never existed at all.
- I agree with you.
I took my magic mirror and ordered it to show me what Dib was doing. I saw him walking down a hallway and looking around. - Solitaire, where are you? - he whispered.
- Dib is looking for me. - I concluded.
I teleported myself by using my kendama and appeared right in front of the boy.
- Ahh! Solitaire! - he gasped and measured me with his eyes from the bottom to the top.
- Hey Dib. Is there something wrong? - I asked.
- No, no, no. Everything is fine. So far so good, really.
- So why were you looking for me? - I only want to make sure if you are okay.
- Why wouldn't I be okay?
- I dunno. Aren't you a bit lonely , hiding from everyone else like that?
- Who? Me? Lonely!? Don't be ridiculous! My nickname derives from French word for '' loner''. I haven't chosen it for no reason.
- Oh. So you mean you like to be alone, right?
- Exactly.
- Ok then. Anyhow, I told Queen Loo-mi-nah about the plan to overthrow the Irken Empire.
- And...?
- And she is sceptical.
- I'm not surprised. Don't worry. You sure will become a hero you've always wanted to be. It's only a matter of time.
- If you say so...
- Now, if you excuse me, I'd prefer to get back to my hideout before someone comes and sees you with me.
I said a quick ''bye'' to Dib and immediately found myself at the attic again.
- Hey, Solitaire... - Grief spoke out bashfully.
- Huh?
- Well... I... Can I ask you for a favor?
- What favor?
- You see...
One hour later, first completely empty attic, now was filled with dozens of toys. And those did notr belong to me.
- Cool... - I said with my eyes open wide and stuck on all the beauties around me. - Your toy collection is just a little bit smaller than mine. And so beautiful.
- Awww, thank you, Solitaire.
That was the moment somethin g caught my attention. I made few steps forward and approached one of miniature, irregular, colorfull hills. I grabbed a pink and round soft toy and turned it around so I could see its front side. My eyes gew even bigger, I blinked few times very rapidly. I was shocked by view of a toy from my very own dimension. A vintage Popples plushie was staring right at me, pulling the strings of my sentimental heart.
Somehow I managed to get this question out of my throat:
- Where did you get this?
- Uhm... It's a long story.
- This came from my dimension, didn't it?
- Yes, it did.
- But... how? Tell me everything!