A few days later, the twelve of us all left for Shiz. I was more than a little nervous, because Alice and I both knew I'd be meeting my biological sisters for the first time, and my biological father—we didn't think about it at all—when I was talking to Nessa in one of our mental conversations, I was also careful to block Edward.
When we reached Shiz, I saw that we were right behind a family of three. I glanced at Alice and she nodded. Concentrating, I thought, Hi, Nessarose. Madison? Please, Father says I just made you up—that you're not real. I am real, Nessa. Turn around. Nessa sighed, and, after turning around towards the twelve of us—the eight Cullens and the four Quileutes—, grabbed Elphaba's arm. "Oh my gosh," she said slowly, shocked. I waved shyly. "Hi, Nessa." I whispered softly. "It's me—told you I was real." Nessa turned to her—our—older sister and said, "Fabala, this is her—the girl I've been telling you about—my twin sister—Madison Tiffany-Crystal Cullen. That's her family—Edward and Renesmee Masen, Madison's 'twin' sister, Alice Cullen, Rosalie and Jasper Hale, Emmett and Bella Swan, Jacob and Embry Black and Seth Clearwater and his older, bitter harpy, sister, Leah Clearwater—the last four are all Native Americans—Quileutes." Elphaba sighed and nodded. Frexspar looked at his younger daughter, and said, "Nessa, what have I told you about lying and making things up?" I slowly walked forward, ready to protect my sister. Nessa bit her lip and said, "Father..." "She's not lying, Father," I said, strongly.
When Leah grabbed my arm, I hissed at her, "Let go of me, dog." She released me and, when I stumbled, snapped, "Whatever you want, leech-lover." I struggled back to my feet and began walking over to Seth, I said, "Come on. You can hit Leah for me, later." "Besides, you have to meet my family, too—my biological family as my best friend, 'cuz that's what you are," I added quickly, "and we want to make a good impression on Father. He can be quite difficult." "Okay, Madison, whatever you want," Seth said, smiling gently at me. Soon after that exchange with Seth, I was standing next to Nessa. "Hello, Father. It's been a long time," I said, smiling sweetly at my father. Frexspar choked and then stared at me in shock. "But...you...dead...grave...gone." He choked out, still flustered. I held up my hand and said, "I've lived with the Cullens—they go camping a lot, so I've stayed with my—er—our Uncle Charlie, in La Push—trying to avoid Leah—we don't get along." Then I motioned to Seth, and said, "Father, Elphaba, and Nessa this is my best friend, Seth Clearwater. Seth, this is my father, my older sister, Nessarose, and my other older sister, Elphaba." Seth smiled at the three of them and said, "Pleasure to meet you." Frexspar gave him a dagger glare and said, "I don't approve." Elphaba rolled her eyes and Nessa smiled at the two of us. Are you happy being friends with Seth? she thought to me. Yeah, Nessa, I am—he takes good care of me—nearly ripped Leah apart when she left me when we were attacked by the bear—it was pretty scary—keeps me safe for Alistair Italiano—Alistair's my boyfriend. YOU WERE ATTACKED BY A BEAR? Nessa thought-shrieked at me. Nessa, chill out. I'll explain. It's a long story. I don't really remember everything. All I remember is bear, Leah, and waking up in the hospital, I think. I don't even remember what I remember. Does that make any sense? No, not really, but who cares? I don't. Neither do I.
Frexspar held up his hand and said, "How are you able to walk while your twin is stuck in a wheelchair?" I shrugged and said, "Carlisle and the other Cullens, and Seth's family—Jacob, Rachel, Paul, Billy, Sam, Emily—she's nice—Quil, Claire, Jared, Kim, Collin, Brady, Embry, and Seth—basically everyone except for Leah, all helped me. Carlisle fixed my legs—a lot of surgery—I still have the scars—and the others helped me learn how to walk—Leah just shoved me around a lot." Lowering my head, I muttered under my breath. "Don't deny it, mutt." "My cousins, the Denalis—Tanya, Kate, Garrett, Carmen, and Eleazar—also helped me learn to walk, too," I added hastily. Leah growled and stepped toward the four of us. Jacob, Embry, and the other Cullens quickly gathered, forming a protective wall around us. I ignored them.
Then I turned back to Nessa. "Nessa, when you were about five, did your face—the left half—ever feel like it was being ripped off?" I asked, slowly, dreading the answer. Nodding, Nessa said, "Yes." Elphaba jumped in and said, "Yeah, she fell out of her wheelchair, grabbed her face, and started screaming in pain. I ran over to her and remember asking, 'Nessa, what is it? What's wrong?' She just kept screaming, "My face hurts!' over and over again. I ran downstairs and said, 'Father, something's wrong with Nessa!' Actually, according to him, I screamed that in his ear, but I don't remember that part. A doctor came and she was fine." I sighed and slowly said, "Here's why your face hurt that day, Nessa." I reached toward my hair and heard the Cullens all stop breathing at the same time—I had never let anyone else see my scars before. Suddenly, I hesitated. Dropping to my knees, I grabbed Nessa's hands. Squeezing them quickly, I then turned said, "No matter what happens, can the three of you promise me something?" Nessa and Elphaba nodded immediately, and after a little coaxing, Frexspar nodded. "Promise me that no matter what happens now you won't stare at me. It bugs me, a lot." I stood up again, and reaching toward the hair that hid my face, I said slowly, "You are among the first people, including my good friend, Emily Young—she's the person I said was nice—my cousins, Tanya Denali, Kate Denali, Garrett Denali, Carmen Denali, Eleazar Denali, Jasper Hale, Alice Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Emmett Cullen, Edward Cullen, Bella Cullen, Nessie Cullen, Jacob Black, Seth Clearwater, Embry Call, Leah Clearwater, Claire, Quil Ateara, Paul, Rachel Black, Jared, Kim, Carlisle Cullen, Esme Cullen, Collin, Brady, Sam Uley, Aro Volturi, Marcus Volturi, Cauis Volturi, Sulpicia Volturi, Athenodora Volturi, Renata Volturi, Jane Volturi, Alec Volturi, Chelsea Volturi, Heidi Volturi,Corin Volturi, and Alistair Italiano to see this." Before I could change my mind, I shoved the hair back. I stood calmly and Frexspar said, "You look awful." Immediately, I knew he hated me. Elphaba reached over and gently touched my shoulder. Nessa wheeled over and asked, "What happened to you, that day?" Glancing at Alice, I quickly went with the public story—the lie. "Leah and I were going for a walk. A bear attacked us, and Leah ran for help. I got hurt. Then I fainted, and when I woke up, I was in the hospital with Carlisle stitching up my face." Nessa, Elphaba, and Frexspar all nodded, completely buying the lie—I sighed and thought, We go with the public story to explain my scars, agreed, guys? Edward nodded quietly at me.