Chapter 40

When We're Young: Like a Real Family

Author's Note: I know the game has stories of Shadow Garden's younger days, but I wanted create my own just for the sake of content. The story of Shadow Garden has variety and I love that about the series as a whole. This won't be a story arc as I'm going to space them out every once in a while. They are just one-shots of their younger days, however they may be.

Please continue enjoying this.

"Yaaay! Yaaaay~!" Young Delta jumps around happily as she and the rest of Shadow Garden have built a brand new home to live in for the time being after they left Lord Shadow to fend for themselves.

Rather, they reorganized a broken home that Alpha decided they should stay in as a hideout for Shadow Garden. Alpha looks at the newly built home, which consists of two floors, four windows, a small kitchen, a couple bathrooms, at least 4 bedrooms and a big living room next to the stairs. It's small for the Seven Shadows, but they all agreed they will make it work. The young blonde elf gives a smile and a nod of satisfaction as she turns to face the rest of the members.

"Well, everyone," she says. "We succeeded. This will be our new home from now on. Treat it well, okay?"

"Will do~!" Young Gamma smiles.

"Small, but…it's worth going to sleep in…" Young Eta says.

"Nothing too fancy," Young Epsilon says.

"I can live with that," Young Zeta adds.

"Let's do this~!" Young Beta cheers.

Young Alpha nods. "Let's get settled in, then."

The Seven Shadows enter their new home and get situated. The very first thing Delta does is plop on the couch, curl up and doze off immediately. Eta goes into the bedroom upstairs to set up her equipment for research. Beta gets a stack of books to read in the living room. Alpha and the rest do some minor adjustments to their new home.

About a half-hour later, Alpha then calls in a quick meeting in the living room where the rest of the members gather. Eta has her head down on the couch while Delta is curled up with her fluffy tail around her.

"So, I gathered you all here to tell you that this will be our life from now on," Young Alpha says as she puts a hand on her hip. "Shadow Garden will work hard to train, but also help take care of one another. Eat, sleep, play, however you wish. But remember: Cult of Diablos is our objective, so we must be prepared for anything."

"YES, ALPHA-SAMA!" The rest of the members chorus.

"Excellent," Alpha smiles and closes her eyes. "Haaah…it's all thanks to Lord Shadow. He saved us all…gave us a purpose to live. And now that we found that purpose, we are able to set off on our own."

"It's almost as if we are like a real family~" Young Beta says.

"Huh," Young Alpha rubs her chin in thought. "You know what, you're right. I really do believe that us being here like this makes us family."

"How wonderful~!" Young Gamma clasps her hands together happily. "Us being a family is the best way to think of Shadow Garden as a whole~!"

"Well if we're family, let's think about who's who," Zeta says.

"Hmmm…" Epsilon says, rubbing her chin in thought. "Alpha-sama should be…the mother. She's our leader, so it would make sense."

Alpha blushes as she scratches her cheek. "Oh…well then…that…might be lovely…"

"What about the rest of us?" Zeta asks.

Epsilon nods and raises a finger. "Ah, yes~! I would consider Gamma like the eldest sister. Me, Beta, and Eta? We will be the younger sisters. Eta being the youngest of everyone."

"Excuse…me…?" Eta seems to hear it and sits up while rubbing her eye. "You think…I'm the youngest…?"

"Well considering your small size, yeah," Epsilon shrugs. "Why, do you not want to?"

"I'm…as old as Gamma…I'll have you know…" Eta frowns.

Gamma giggles. "Ufufu~! Very true, but come on, Eta. We're just having fun. Hey, why don't you come up with something for Delta and Zeta~?"

It doesn't take long for Eta to think. She plops her head on the couch. "House pets…"

"WHAT!?" Zeta and Delta chorus in shock. "WHY ARE WE HOUSE PETS!?"

Alpha giggles, covering a hand over her mouth. "Ara, that might not be so bad. You two are beast-kins, so it makes sense."

"There's no way in hell Delta is house pet!" the dog beast-kin growls. "Delta can act human too!"

"Delta~!" Alpha holds up a dog toy. "You want the ball~?"

"Wh-where did you get that?" Delta finds herself wagging her tail and her ears are twitching adorably. She's getting ready to pounce on someone…or something.

"Oh, you're feeling your animal instincts taking over~?" Alpha teases as she waves the dog toy. She opens the front door and chucks the ball. "Go fetch!"

Delta makes a run for it, actually barking and Alpha casually closes the door with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Ufufu~!" the young blonde giggles. "That proves she's the house pet~"

"Unlike that mutt, I can control myself," Zeta crosses her arms.

However, Gamma holds up a ball of yarn, making the cat beast-kin's eyes sparkle and hold up her hands like kitty paws. She goes on all fours as Gamma holds the ball of yarn closer, teasing her more. Zeta cannot take it anymore and just hops toward the yarn.

"Nya~!" Zeta lets out the most cutest sound as she pounces on the ball of yarn, but ends up getting tied up when she rolls around on the floor.

Alpha giggles at this wonderful sight. "Yup. I think this confirms our family status. Now then, I shall be off to visit Lord Shadow to tell him about how we are doing so far. You can do whatever you want for the time being. Be sure to bring Delta back too."

Alpha turns away to leave while the rest of the members spread out and do what they do best.