Chapter 22: Something in Return
After a few moments of flying, I got a glimpse of my house. I started to get nervous. I hold on Nod waist tightly. He noticed that I was nervous.
" Hey Don't worry. Don't get nervous, you said it will be fine" Nod said, comforting me. I smiled a little.
" Yeah, but I don't know exactly what to say. I guess I'll just improvise." I said. Nod smiled.
" That's my girl" Nod said. I blushed and giggled. I looked up and saw one of dad's camera. Then an idea came to me.
" Wait" I shouted. Nod, Ronin, and the two leafmen that came with us stopped.
" What's wrong?" Ronin asked, serious.
" I have an idea" I said, pointing to dads camera. Ronin nodded.
" Good. I thought I will have to hear your dad in slow motion again. Remember." Ronin said, mocking me. I rolled my eyes.
"I huurt myyy eeeelbooow." Nod mocked. He started laughing. I chuckled, but then I nudge him. He was still my dad. " Sorry, force of habit" I rolled my eyes. Ronin signal the two leafmen to the camera. Then we landed on the branch, were dad's camera was. Nod hopped down, and as always, he helped me down. I walked over to dad's camera. Then my dad appeared on the screen. I waved.
" M.K.! I thought I wasn't going to see you again. I got your photos, but after that you haven't text or send pictures or anything" Dad said, sadly. Oh right, I forgot about the phone. I just have been so busy.
" Yeah, sorry dad. It just that I been real busy and well I forgot. I'm sorry" I said. I was a horrible daughter. Dad just smiled.
" Nah, is ok. I'm just glad you're ok. And what brings you here? I- Oh god you brought leafmen with you" Dad exclaimed. I laughed a little. They all waved. Queen Jinny and Flora were surprised. Queen Jinny giggled when dad exclaimed. "And who is that young lady?" Dad asked. It made Queen Jinny giggle more. I giggled too.
" Dad this is Queen Jinny, Life of the forest." I said. Queen Jinny stopped giggling and waved at dad.
" Hi, nice to meet you." Queen Jinny said.
" Oh well is nice to meet you too, your majesty." Dad said. It made Queen Jinny giggle again. Dad smiled and looked at Nod and Ronin.
" Oh hi, mmm... Nod right?" Dad asked. Nod nodded.
" Yeah, hi Professor." Nod said, waving. I giggled. He gave me a look. I giggled again. Dad looked at me and I gave him a shut-up look. Dad just smiled and winked at me. I hit my forehead with my palm.
" And you must be... Ronin, right, Leader of the Leafmen?" Dad asked. Ronin nodded and smiled.
" That's right, Professor. Is good to see you again" Ronin said. Dad smiled a wide smile.
" Well the same to you... And...umm M.K. What brings you here? Are you coming back?" Dad asked. I sighed. I looked at everybody. They all nodded and left to a nearby branch. " Where are they going?" Dad asked. I looked at him.
" Don't worry they'll be back... But dad I need to talk to you and ask you something" I said. Dad looked suspicious, but worried.
" Tell me, you know you can tell me anything M.K." Dad said. I smiled at him. He smiled back. I tooked a deep breath.
" Ok... Umm dad I decided that I wanted to stay...you know...here with the leafmen and the Jinn people." Dad face grew sad.
" Why?" Dad asked, sad.
" It just that I realize that this world needs me, and well cares really about me. And I'm already part of it." I said. Dad looked sad.
" So you're leaving m-
" Noo no no Dad... I just came here to ask you if, you know... Wanted to come with me." I said. Dad's eyes widen, but not of shocked, of surprise.
" What? Wait your telling me that I can live with you and the Jinn and..." Dad was really surprised. I smiled.
" Yes, you can I already talked with the Queen and she said that it will be an honor to have you there" I said. Dad smile widen. Then out of nowhere, Ozzie appeared on the screen. Ozzie barked.
" Oooh what is that cute big thing?" Queen Jinny squealed. She appeared out of nowhere. I jumped. " Aaww who is that cutie?" Queen Jinny asked. I laughed a little.
" This is Ozzie. She is my dog." I said. Queen Jinny looked at me, puzzled. I smiled. " A dog is an animal that has fur and four paws... Well Ozzie has three paws" I said.
" Oh what happened to her?" Queen Jinny asked, sad. I looked at dad.
" Umm she had an accident and she lost a paw, and also an eye and she is kind of deaf" Dad said, sadly. I felt sad too. Queen Jinny was too.
" Aaww you poor little...uumm well big thing., but still she looks adorable." Queen Jinny giggled. I giggled too. Dad laughed and then grew worried.
" M.K. What about Ozzie, I can't leave her alone" Dad said. I forgot about Ozzie. Man, so much for my great idea. I couldnt leave Ozzie, she's family. But then Queen Jinny spoked.
" Oh I could shrink her. She really adorablee. And I'm always alone, it will be good to have a dog to play with." Queen Jinny said. My eyes widen. I was really lucky. I wasn't going to have only my dad, but also my dog. Dad started laughing and cheering.
" You hear that Ozzie... We are going to be part of the world that we been studying are whole life." Dad laughed and cheers. I laughed too.
" So dad... Do you want to live here or-
" Are you kidding? Finally I'm going to be part of the world I been studying on" Dad said. I laughed.
" So is that a yes?" I asked. It was silly, but I needed to be sure.
" Of course, is a yes... Wuuu" Dad cheers. I laughed. " So when are we leaving?" Dad asked. I looked at Ronin.
" Well I don't see why not tonight" Ronin grinned. I smiled at him. I looked at Queen Jinny.
" Let's do this" Queen Jinny said. I chuckled. I looked at Dad.
" Want to leave tonight dad?" I asked.
" Of course, I'll be waiting outside with Ozzie... I'll see you soon M.- woo" Dad fell from his chair of excitement.
" Dad!" I gasped. Everybody's eyes were wide.
" I'm ok" Dad said. He stood up and straighten his glasses. " That always happens, you know." Dad said, a little embarrassed. I laughed.
" I know dad. Well, we better leave. You wait outside, ok" I said.
" Ok, and M.K. I'm so proud of you." Dad said. I looked at him.
" For what?" I asked. I didn't know why.
" You have done so much for this world, that is not even your own... Your mother would have been proud too" Dad said. My eyes started to get watery. I smiled at dad.
" Thanks Dad." I said. He smiled at me and he turn off the monitor. I turned and saw everybody already in their hummingbirds.
" Coming?" Nod asked. He held his hand and I took it. He lifted me behind his back and we went flying. Then Nod leaned and whispered.
" I'm proud of you too, you know" Nod whispered. I smiled at him. He smiled back.
" I know you are" I said. I kissed his cheek. He blushed a little and smiled.
" Hey...umm are you going to tell your dad about us or..." Nod said. My eyes widen, I haven't think of that.
" Umm I guess so, but I think he knows cause he's always giving me the look when I'm done talking to you on the camera." I admitted, a little embarrassed. Nod grinned.
" Good, then I don't have to do the impress-your-girlfriend-father show." Nod joked. I giggled.
" Yeah, I guess not." I smiled. Then I looked over Nod's shoulder and saw my house. After a few seconds, we landed on the porch. Dad was in one of the rocking chairs. He had Ozzie in his arms. When he saw us, he got up.
" Iii aam reeaadyy" Dad said. Nod started to chuckle. I looked at him and he shut up. I rolled my eyes. He shrugged. I giggled. Then I looked at Queen Jinny.
" His ready when you are" I said. Queen Jinny nodded. She put both index fingers in her temple, while sticking her tongue out. I tried not to giggle. Then Dad and Ozzie started spinning around and around and around till they hit ground. I looked down and saw them on the floor. I jumped down. Dad stood up and he saw me.
" Dad!" I shouted.
" M.K.!" Dad shouted. I ran toward him and I bumped into him. I hugged him tightly.
" I missed you Dad" I said. I did really missed him. I could feel Dad smiling.
" I missed you too" Dad said. I let go of him, then I heard someone landing behind us. I turned and saw Nod and Ronin. Nod smiled at me. I smiled back. Then out of nowhere Ozzie, now small, goes running toward Nod. She jumps and throws Nod into the ground. Ozzie started giving him kisses. Nod started laughing. I laughed too.
" Ozzie, no kisses" I laughed.
" I think she likes me" Nod said. I smiled at him. " Aaww she is kind of cute. Now the last time a saw you, you tried to eat me." Nod said to Ozzie. I laughed. I turned a saw Dad giving me the look he gives me when I'm talking with Nod.
" What?" I said. He smiled.
" Oh is nothing, is just that umm... Do you guys are finally something or what?" Dad said. I tilted my head.
" What do you mean by ' finally'?" I asked. He looked a little embarrassed.
" Well you guys talked a lot on the camera and well you know... I'm not good at this M.K." Dad said. I smiled at him.
" Well, yeah dad were... A thing." I said, shyly. He smiled at me.
" You're not a little girl anymore." Dad said. I looked at him sadly, but hugged him.
" I love you, dad" I whispered. I could feel him smiling.
" I love you too M.K." Dad said, and he hugged me tighter. We let go and I turned to Nod. He and Queen Jinny were playing with Ozzie, while Ronin stood there laughing. Queen Jinny tooked Ozzie in her arms.
" Aww your poor little thing, she is really injured... Mmm I have an idea." Queen Jinny said. She put Ozzie on the floor and put her fingers in her temples. Then Ozzie started glowing and then he stopped. I looked at Ozzie. She had four paws and her eye was ok. I smiled the widest smiled ever.
" Ozzie, you're fix... I mean ok" Dad said. Ozzie barked. " And you're not deaf either" Dad said. I was still shocked. Then Ozzie looked at me and ran toward me. I grabbed her in arms.
" Oh Ozzie, you're alright!" I squealed. Then Ozzie started kissing me. " Ozziee, no kisses." I said. Nod laughed at me. I gave him a look and he shrugged. I rolled my eyes. I looked at Ronin. I put Ozzie on the ground. "Hey Ozzie, go to Ronin. Go, go to Ronin" Ozzie barked and run toward Ronin. Ronin eyes widen.
" Oh no no." Ronin said, but Ozzie jump and throw him to the ground and started kissing him. Nod and I started laughing like crazy, but mostly Nod.
" You... Should... Have seen your face" Nod said, still laughing. Ronin rolled his eyes.
" Ha ha really funny" Ronin mocked. " Besides" He took Ozzie in his arms. " She is not bad at all" Ronin said. Dad, Queen Jinny, Flora and Ronin started playing with Ozzie. Nod tried to calm himself, he had a really bad laughing attack. I walked toward him.
" So...umm Dad knows" I said. Nod tooked a deep breath and looked at me.
" Is he ok with it?" He asked, a little nervous. I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
" Yeah, well actually he was waiting. He asked if we finally had a thing." I said, a little embarrassed. Nod looked a little embarrassed too. He rubs the back of his neck.
" Was it that obvious?" He asked. I nodded.
" Looks like it" I said, embarrassed. Nod smiled. And so did I. Then Ronin came toward us.
" Well we must go. Don't want to keep the kingdom worried." Ronin said. Ronin whistled and the hummingbirds landed in front of us, so did the leafmen. Dad eyes widen.
" Oh wow this... This is amazing." Dad said. Then I remember something.
" Umm Ronin. Dad wants to know how the hummingbirds respond to your whistle" I said. Ronin smiled.
" Well, we train 4 hours a day. We take some leafmen and they whistle to their birds. Then they keep doing it for a month until the bird start responding to their owners whistle." Ronin said. Dad eyes widen.
" Wow now that's a pretty good technique" Dad said. I giggled.
" Now this leafmen will take you and Ozzie to Moonhaven" Ronin said, while giving Ozzie to Dad. Dad hop on the hummingbird behind the leafmen, while he hold Ozzie in his other hand. I hop behind Nod and looked at Dad.
" Ready, dad?" I asked. Dad nodded.
" I think so" Dad said. Then we all lift up, with my Dad screaming a little. I laughed. Dad hold on tightly to the leafmen, almost taking his breath away.
" Dad, let the leafmen breath." I said. Dad noticed and stopped holding so tightly, the leafmen gasped.
" Ops Sorry my bad." Dad said. I giggled. After a few moments, we landed in Moonhaven, with Dad eyes popping out of his head. He was greeted by so many Jinn people. He got on pretty well with Mub and Grub, but he got on well the most with Nim Galuu. I smiled. He was soo happy to be here. And so did I.