So today is my 9th anniversary for being on this site. Wow, how sad is that?

It worked. Of course it worked. Weatherbold was the greatest sorcerer in kingdoms around and there could be no doubt in his skill or magic. Mimi scooped the seeds into her bill. They were dry and tasteless, but her body loved them as their magic made its way through her. The idea occurred to her that maybe, just maybe, her father had gotten everything wrong and she would instead find herself trapped in some other horrible body. But instead the transformation was like it had been for so many nights, growing and stretching and feathers disappearing until she was herself, her own perfect self and if everything went right this would be her for the rest of her life. She studied her hands, felt her face, scarcely believing it was real. It barely morning, and here she was, just like she was supposed to be. She slipped on the same dirty dress that had been passed around so long and stepped out in the hall.

"It worked," she said.

Abe regained his form, looking no worse for the short experience as a guinea pig. Jacob had managed to find his clothes stashed away in the corner of some room, and Abe was back to bouncing around the hall as if he had just had the greatest adventure and there was nothing more exciting than being transformed into an animal and stuffed in a jar to suffocate.

It took the longest to find the right seeds for Blake. Weatherbold, human again and wrapped in his favorite robe, went through nearly the entire collection, humming to himself and studying Blake and casting jars of herbs aside in favor of others until finally his eyes lit up and he settled on a jar. "This is it. I'm sure of it."

Sure enough, the door opened and Blake stepped out, hands gripping the doorknob as if there were no finer thing to touch. He wore clothes borrowed from Weatherbold. Pale brown hair hung in snarls down his back, but his face was lit with a wide grin and a gleam in his pale eyes that made Mimi sure this was the same squirrel. He was handsome, despite looking a mess. Storybook handsome. Once he was cleaned up there would be no question he was the real Duke.

"This feels wonderful!" was all he could say. He tried to take a step from the door, but stumbled. All that did was make him laugh. "Walking. Real walking."

Mimi ran to his side and helped him up, though he tried weakly to refuse. "So you're Blake," she said, hugging him tightly.

He hugged her back, a little too tightly. Clearly he had not figured out his human strength yet. "I guess we can get real sleep now."

Wouldn't that be nice?

He released her. "Matthias."

The name came too suddenly for Mimi, and she stepped back as if Blake were becoming Matthias. "What?"

"I want him gone." Blake's face was like stone. "I can get him now. I can stop Matthias and Silas now. That's what we're supposed to do now, Mimi. Stop them."

She stared at him. Five minutes as a human and he was ready to storm the manor, though she could not deny the thrill that went through her. Especially at the idea of Matthias' face when she strode right back up to him and… what would she do to him? Imagination was too fun a thing at such times. "All right."

"Only if you want to help me, of course. I have no right assuming—"

"I'll help. It's your right to have that place. Of course I'll help."

"I'd like a little revenge myself," Jacob said.

It was the first thing he had said in a long time. And Mimi had not even noticed. Her Jacob, watching her walk out of that door completely human and pretty or whatever he had called her and he had said nothing. He had not even smiled. What would he do if she ran across the room and threw herself into his arms right at this moment? Would that make him smile and speak to her? Or was something wrong? Maybe she should say something. Except she had no idea what to say.

Her father looked over them all, looking pleased with his skill despite the growing frown. "You're not going to ask for my help with this, are you?"

Mimi looked at him, pleading, all the while trying to remember an instance where he had used magic for something harmful. He could very well do so, she had no doubt. But all those men who had come to him as customers… there had never been anything malevolent that she had known of. "They both tried to have Jacob killed. The Duke killed Blake's entire family."

The pity was there. Her father was a good man. But he shook his head. "You came here seeking help for that? And to turn yourselves back? Was that all? Was that all?"

Blake shakily stepped forward. "Sir, I brought Mimi here for her own help! She wanted to find you, to know what you were all right. And we've done that!"

Weatherbold's face grew dark. "I thank you for your assistance in saving me, Blake. But that gratitude will not manifest itself in killing someone with whom I hold no grudge. I do not kill."

"You let us kill Lavender," Mimi said.

"She meant to harm you. You had no other choice."

Mimi glanced at Jacob, who refused to meet her eyes. What was wrong?

"I'd kill her again," Jacob said softly. "Gladly."

Blake nodded, then managed to pull himself without falling to his full height. "Sir, I understand. I know absolutely nothing about magic except what I was put through all these years and what I've watched from Lavender. I do not even recall asking for your help, though."

Weatherbold blushed.

"All I ask is that you do nothing to stop us." Blake spoke clearly, firmly, just like any decent noble should.

With that the smile Mimi loved about her father returned. "I guess I'm just too used to being asked for things. I hold no allegiance. Do what you will. And perhaps I do have a few things that might… assist you in whatever you try to do."

"Anything you can teach me?" Mimi asked.

Her father's eyes landed on her. "You will not be going anywhere."

"What?" In all these years her father had rarely given her any kind of command. It was not how their system worked. "Father, I have to go. Blake…"

"Blake and Jacob and will be fine, my dear." He approached her and put his hand on her cheek. "I barely remember you of these past few years. I won't let that happen again."

"Father, I'm fine. I—"

"Mimi, you have never made me more proud than you have lately. Standing up to Lavender. Finding me again. Taking control back of the castle. But I can't let you go again."

"Why not?"

But Weatherbold turned away, robe sweeping behind him. The perfect vision of a sorcerer. "Let me know before you leave, gentlemen. I'll be happy to give you anything you need that will not kill."

A few days ago she had wanted nothing more than to be home. And now she was home and forced to remain there, amazingly enough, against her will. When had it come to that? Matthias was back there, His Madness the Duke, and everyone else was just going to head back that way while she sat back here and did… what? Read? Collect herbs in the garden? Storming a manor would probably be the most fun she would ever have.

"Your father is a good man, Mimi," Blake said. He continued to study his now-human self.

"The best," she muttered.

"When are we leaving?" Abe asked excitedly.

"Soon." Blake gazed into the wall like it offered everything he needed to know. "I've never done this thing before."

"Just like coming here," said Jacob with a stiff laugh.

"I'll sneak in," Blake rambled on. "It's one thing I've learned from being a squirrel. I'll sneak in during the dead of night and… do something. I don't know. Jacob, you must know everything about that place. How to break in, the rooms, you'll be helping me, won't you?"

Another laugh, this time more lively. "As I don't see any adoring troops ready for your commands, I suppose I'll have to."

"And your revenge?"

"Of course."

Mimi wanted to scream. She might as well not even have stood there. She was merely some girl now. No longer a goose and apparently useless. She crossed her arms over her chest and slunk down to the floor, wondering why they all just stood in a hall talking.

"Mimi?" Blake asked.

"Go," she said, keeping her eyes on the ground. "End this mess. You've done so much for me already, Blake. I don't think I can ever thank you properly. And now you need to go. Destroy them both. I don't care what you do, but get your manor and your title back. You'll be a wonderful ruler. And marry Lucy! Be sure to come visit me when you're in power. I'll just… stay here."

He seemed surprised by her words. Squirrels simply did not show surprise the way humans did. "Mimi, your father wants you here. You're safe now."

Great. Safe. What a wonderful word. It was the last thing she wanted. She climbed back to her feet. "And you're going, too, Jacob?"

His eyes barely glanced at her. "Of course. Would you expect me to stay here?"

Yes. If that were the only choice. But she did not say that. "No, but…"

"Both your prince and the Duke tried to kill me. I'm helping Blake."

"My prince? You're still calling him that?"

No response.

She crossed the room and slapped him hard across the face. No stupid wing, just the fully wonderful thing known as a hand. How she had missed it! Abe laughed outright, and Jacob put his own hand to his face and stared at her in amazement.

"So you're just going to leave me here, then?"

"Mimi, you heard what your father said."

Yes, she had heard it and she didn't care. Right now her heart was screaming for her to leave this place all over again. And here was Jacob barely speaking to her for some unimaginable reason only hours after kissing her, all ready to leave and possibly get himself killed and never see her again. "Ask my father for my hand."

Blake stumbled to the floor. Mimi felt the way same way. What had she just said? She had been thinking no such thing.

"What did you say?" Jacob asked.

She tried to remember. "Um…"

"You said for him to ask your father for you hand," Abe quickly pointed out.

Yes, that had been right. Why would she want him to do that? Her head was spinning. "Well, if you married me, I could come with you."

"I'm not asking your father to marry you!" Jacob all but yelled.

"I think… I missed something," Blake whispered as he picked himself up.

"Oh, for crying out loud." Jacob grabbed Mimi's wrist and dragged her into the room where Lavender's ashes still littered the floor. "I don't need either of them hearing this."

"I'm sorry I said that." She considered pulling her hand back, but she truthfully did not mind him holding it. "I don't know what I was thinking. I'm back in my body, I can't think straight."

"Obviously. Mimi, I can't marry you!"

"I said I was sorry for saying that."

He kissed her hand then let it go. "You really are a sorcerer's daughter."

"I told you that. I thought you believed me."

"I did! I did believe your father was a sorcerer. But now I've seen it for my own eyes."

"He's not going to turn you into anything again. And I don't know what that has to do with anything. Forget I said that. It's been a really long night."

"Your father is this mighty sorcerer and I'm a cook. My parents were farmers."

What was he talking about? "Jacob—"

"That's why I can't marry you."

"Because of my father?" This was unbelievable. "It's not like I'm a princess."

"You might as well be."

She had a strong urge to hit him again. "Are you saying you would marry me?"

He stared at her a long time. "I thought you just said that to say it."

"I did."

"I'm not speaking to your father. He would say no. I wouldn't even dare."

"I don't want you to." But her heart hurt as she spoke. He would marry her? So now he was in love with her? Just what was she supposed to think about that?"

"Mimi, I'm sorry." He took both of her hands and squeezed them. Then he kissed her.

Was it natural to enjoy a kiss and want to kill the person at the same time?

Jacob, Blake, and Abe did not stay long. That afternoon they left, armed with a few spells from Weatherbold and farewells from her. She had hugged Blake the longest, and could barely be near Jacob. Then she watched them leave, off to try whatever crazy plan was in their heads.

"Good men, both of them," her father as he closed the castle door behind him. It was just he and Mimi in there, back to how it had been for years. "I hope they succeed."

Mimi nodded.

"They were very good friends to you."

"They were."

"You need to eat something. You look so tired."

Food in the kitchen that had so recently been Lavender's. "Father, did Jacob say anything to you?"

The pause was almost indiscernible. Almost. "A few things, of course."

"Anything specific?"

"Mimi, I don't think I need to discuss my business with you." He spoke kindly, just sternly. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be cruel. I missed you so much." He hugged her then, as tightly as she had ever wanted a hug.

She leaned her head against him. Her father was back and all right. No more Lavender. Everything was back to normal. The past few years might as well have not existed and maybe soon the visitors would return, begging for spells.

She yawned. "Would you hate me if I went to lie down?"

"Never. I think you need it. If you need me, I'll be doing what I can with that mess of my workroom."

"Of course." She kissed his cheek.

She stopped in the kitchen. She was hungry. And who couldn't use food?

Her room was wonderful. She did in fact lie back on her bed, loving the feel of something soft underneath her. But a minute or two of that was all she needed, and then she was back, going through her dresses, picking out a few clean ones. It was good to be back in a dress that was hers. And shoes. Was there nothing better than shoes?

Getting out of the window was harder. It was probably safe to walk right out of the doors, but the window just called to her. She asked the servants for a rope and managed to tie it where it did not seem too keen on slipping. Repelling down a wall had nothing on flight. Was she already missing flight?

Before long the castle was far behind her, and there was no sign of her father noticing a thing.