Author's Note: I guess chapter titles DO pay off, because "Whipped" got soo many more hits than Disappearance…of course, chapter 1 did get 335 visitors, and chapter 2 got 79 which is kind of weird—to me, at least. Anyway, thanks everyone!

Warning: I am getting back into an anime I dropped many, many, many months ago, and so, I might be compelled to drop this story and make a fanfiction regarding THAT anime, as opposed to this one.

Alicia hurried downstairs to where Fate and the others were laughing hysterically at two girls having a fight on the TV screen with jets of bright light flashing across a dark sky. Tapping Nanoha on the shoulder, she sat down next to her. Nanoha grinned at her before returning to the show, laughing with the rest of them.

Feeling slightly disoriented as well as distant from the group, Alicia suffered through an hour or so of tears, girly smiles, and pink magic puffballs before Hayate announced that she and her "group" (Vita, Shamal and Signum) had to get going.

Alicia gladly followed them, and so did Nanoha, with considerable less enthusiasm. It might just have been Alicia's imagination, but she was a bit nervous—Fate hardly seemed to notice her friends were gone.

You're just paranoid—and probably jealous. Alicia told herself firmly, and stepped out the door, letting the cool evening air wash over her. Nanoha took her hand, surprising Alicia. She looked over at her sister's best friend, and was met with a shy smile.

"You looked worried," Nanoha explained.

"Yeah…I am," admitted Alicia. "About Fate—well, not really—" she stopped herself as Nanoha shook her head slightly.

"I think your problem is one, pressure—probably from that hag—" Nanoha stuck out her tongue comically, "—but also fear that Fate is slipping away from you,"

Alicia shrugged. "Maybe,"

"Fate seems happy there," Nanoha persisted.

"Yeah," Alicia sighed. "Happier than I am now, at least. Hey, how come you all are into that weird show that we were watching just now?" she asked randomly, trying to change the subject.

Nanoha grinned. "Raging Heart? Oh, that's such a funny show—well, not funny, it's cool sometimes, but mostly it's funny—like there's this girl named…eh…Najika, right, and…" she launched into a detailed summary of the show, and Alicia let her thoughts wander aimlessly as she walked through the slowly darkening streets.

It seemed like moments ago she had left the Harlown residence as she knocked on the door to her own house, Nanoha leaving quickly as she did. Alicia couldn't blame her for not wanting another encounter with Precia.

Precia Testarossa opened the door with a welcoming smile. "Alicia, how are you?" she asked sweetly, enveloping her daughter in a hug.

"Um…" Alicia struggled out of her mother's grasp and stepped into the house, "I'm fine. We were just…out," she finished lamely. "Anyway—"

Precia interrupted her. "Were you visiting Fate?" she asked suspiciously.

Alicia gave up. "Yeah, we were," she answered with a sigh, dropping onto the couch, the same one they had cradled Fate in after her day-long capture in the cellar.

Precia pursed her lips. "You shouldn't be visiting filth," she said finally, shooting a disapproving look at her daughter.

"Whatever," Alicia muttered, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV, changing it to an anime show called Feather that she liked.

"Really, Alicia, I might have to ground you," Precia threatened. "I don't want you visiting a monster,"

"S'not a monster," Alicia protested vaguely, entranced by the TV.

"I mean, I never even touched her, and there she goes making up lies about me," Precia went on, eyeing her daughter.

This got Alicia's attention. "You touched her all right," she snorted, turning to face her mother. "With a belt,"

"Just that one time," Precia protested. "I never touched her otherwise,"

"You threw her in the basement," Alicia challenged, feeling tired just by arguing with her mother about this. She didn't even want to remember.

Precia shook her head. "No, Fate fell down there herself, but she didn't call for anyone 'till you two came home. I suppose she's scared of me…"

"Because you whip her,"

"I didn't!" Precia said, her eyes opening wide. "You have to believe me, Alicia—if I really had done anything other than that one time, then I would be in jail by now, obviously,"

"Fate lied to protect you,"

"Fate told the truth to the police," Precia answered, and not letting Alicia protest, she went on. "She's been lying to you all this time, Alicia—can't you see? She wanted to get out of this house and away from you and me, so she faked all of this and cut herself on purpose. I only did what I did to her because she wanted me to," Precia's voice was fervent and sincere, her eyes strong with emotion as she stared at Alicia.

Alicia's mouth dropped open. "No…way…Impossible…" she muttered. "Fate wouldn't… She was happy…"

"Did you see her laugh once in the past couple of weeks, except for today?" asked Precia swiftly, and Alicia had to shake her head. "No, see—she's been lying, to get away from you. To stop from having to spend time with us,"

"Not possible…Fate loves me…us…" Alicia said slowly. Her brain seemed to have stopped right there, she remembered Fate's happy expression and laughs at her new home, comparing that to the sadness and gloom at home…but…"You hurt her…so much…"

"She asked me to, so she could leave," Precia explained. "She didn't want to stay here any longer,"

Alicia wondered, again, if she was really going crazy. This couldn't be true. Fate loved Precia, she had said so numerous times—and she loved Alicia, she didn't even have to say it. "You're lying," she whispered.

"Why would I lie to you right now? I have nothing against Fate, and I have never lied to you before, have I?" asked Precia sweetly.

Alicia's mind spun, and she sprang up, ran upstairs, and slammed the door to her bedroom, and locked the door behind her.

"No…not true…" she whispered to herself, and curled in a ball and started to cry.

***

"God, that was…too…much…fun…" panted Amy, leaning over double, her brown hair falling into her face. "Chrono…did you see his face?"

Fate laughed breathlessly and collapsed onto the floor. "He was all red…like a cross sign," she giggled.

"Yeah—like a cherry with blueberry topping," Arf laughed, sparking more giggles and laughs from Fate and Amy.

"Man…" Amy gasped. "That was so fun…Hey, how late is it?"

"It's ten-thirty, and time for little girls to go to bed," Lindy teased. "After royally embarrassing Chrono-kun, I think we're all tired,"

"Yeah, pretty much," agreed Arf casually. "Fate and I are all ready—but Amy-chan's not," she said mischevously. Amy rolled her eyes at the younger girls.

"Thanks, Arf-chan," she said, heading off to the bathroom with a yawn.

"Then, Arf-chan, Fate-chan, why don't you head into bed…It's late, and you two have school together…" Lindy pointed out.

Fate nodded seriously and the two girl walked slowly into their bedroom. Fate climbed into her plain bed, Arf into her bright pink one, and they turned out their lights.

"Night, Fate…" murmured Arf drowsily. "Eh…can I call you Fate?"
"Sure, Arf," answered Fate, equally tired. "G'night…"

***

"Arf! Wake up, we only have half an hour to get to school!" Fate said, shaking her friend awake. "Come on, Arf!"

"Coming, Fate," mumbled Arf sleepily, but she opened one eye and sat up. "Breakfast?" she asked.

"On the way. Come on!" Fate cried.

"Coming, jeez!" Arf yelled, throwing herself out of bed and pulling off her pajamas. Grabbing her uniform, she pulled it on, with her socks, and grabbed her bag. "Let's go, Miss-Hurry-Up-We-Only-Got-An-Hour!"

Fate ran after her friend, a piece of toast in one hand, her back in the other, and pulled on her shoes. "Come on, I wanna get there on time!" she called.

"Right, just getting my food," Arf explained, grabbing a piece of toast, one foot in a shoe,

"Come on, come on, come on…"

"Jeez, you're excited…" muttered Arf, following Fate out the door. "What about Chrono?"

"He already left," Fate answered, slowing down slightly, as they were out of the house. "But he said it took more than an hour to get to school from here…"

Arf rolled her eyes. "And you believed him. Of course," she sighed.

Fate blushed. "Oops. Hey, I see Alicia and Nanoha!" she cried suddenly. "Come on!"

She and Arf walked forward quickly, catching up with a blond haired girl with pigtails and a brunette, also with pigtails.

"Hi, Alicia," said Fate quietly to her twin sister.

Alicia turned around, and Fate gasped. She was glaring at Fate with a terrible anger that Fate had never seen before. Fate's eyes widened and she stepped back, but it was too late. Alicia's hand shot out, and slapped Fate across the face.

Fate stumbled back several steps and Arf caught her before she fell.

"What the hell was that?" asked Arf indignantly as Fate shook her head and steadied herself slowly. "Seriously!"

Alicia crossed her arms as Nanoha's mouth gaped. "That's what you get for being a liar," she said angrily. "You tried to manipulate me, just so you could get out of the house! If you'd wanted to leave, you could have done it, and told me, you know!"

"What? Alicia…? What are you talking about?" asked Fate, her eyes wide.

"You know what I'm talking about! Your little plan to get out of the horrible life you had with Mother and I! You asked Mother to beat you just so you could leave!" Alicia yelled.

Fate stared at her sister. "That's not true…" she whispered.

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"No, but I…" Fate trailed off at the expression in her twin sister's eyes.

"I'll see you around, I guess," said Alicia abruptly and left the area quickly, her arms over her chest and head held high.

"What happened to your sister, Fate?" asked Arf curiously.

"I don't know," admitted Fate. "But…she was pretty upset…" Fate looked down, and both Arf and Nanoha moved to put an arm around her. "I wonder…"

"Maybe Precia got to her," Nanoha suggested, then looked down. "Sorry," she muttered, realizing she was being insensetive.

"It's fine," Fate answered, shrugging her friends off and forcing a smile. "Come on, let's go," she said, smiling even brighter and turning away.

With a shrug, the two turned to eachother.

A/N: I wrote this watching the Yes! Pretty Cure 5 movie and yelling at the computer for subs…so, please don't hurt me! I'm really looking forward to Pretty Cure All 'cause I'm a girly-girl…and stuff…so, yeah…

Wish me luck, I'm about to tell my mom my horrible test grade! ^^