AN~ Meant to put these in last chapter:
Puckabrina-Percabeth-Fax101: NaNoWriMo is this website that challenges people to write 50,000 words in a month. I failed, but it was fun.
DreamQueen615(formerly DreamerGirl1415): First off, why are you not logged in when you review? It would make it much easier to send you replies...
Secondly, on the subject of your most recent review: I have done the same thing many, many times, but I usually switch to actually working whenever someone who cares is in the room. Lol
Third, replying to your extraordinarily long review: I personally prefer quality over quantity in reviews, so I don't mind one very long one. I'm glad you think this is believable and that I picked good stone colors (yes, they stay on the stones. That way no one gets confused even if they don't remember whose color is whose) and I may use your Charming idea. Thank you for your input.
Daphne was still a turtle, and she was getting really worried. What if she didn't get turned back soon and had to go to school like this? What if she never turned back into a human and had to spend the rest of her life as a small greenish gray lumpy thing who couldn't speak English?
She needed a voice! If she couldn't speak, how could she tell people when she'd made up a new word? How could she say if she'd found a clue?
It wasn't fair! There were tons of animals in Ferryport Landing that could talk! Why couldn't she?
She was suddenly so overcome by the desire to speak, she opened her mouth to scream, expecting the croaking noise that had come out the last time she tried to talk.
That was why she was so surprised when a loud, high-pitched squeal came out of her mouth. She stopped screaming immediately, and looked down at herself, surprised.
"Daphne?" Red asked, sounding confused as she poked her head into the bedroom. "You're not a turtle anymore?"
"Apparently not." Daphne replied, slightly dazed.
"Come on." Red said, smiling. "They're all going to want to interrogate you."
Daphne made a face. "The sad thing," She said, following her, "Is you're right. I bet you not one person will start off with, 'you're human again! Yay!' It'll be 'do you remember why you're not a turtle anymore?'"
She was right.
When most of the family had stopped asking questions long enough for her to get a word in edgewise, she took a breath and said, "I don't know, all right? I don't know how I turned into a turtle in the first place, I don't know why I'm not still one, and I've never done that before. I didn't even know I could do that."
"Maybe we can help you figure it out." Veronica suggested.
"I don't know." Daphne said doubtfully. "I mean, one minute I was in one shape, and the next I wasn't. I didn't feel myself changing or anything."
"Well, what happened right before you changed?" Uncle Jake asked.
"I..." Daphne thought about it, then realized: "I panicked."
"It took you that long to panic about being stuck as a turtle?" Puck asked. "I'm impressed, Marshmallow."
"The sad thing is that I was having a panic attack over not being able to talk." Daphne said with a grin.
"We saved you some dinner, liebling," Granny said, pointing to a plate at the empty seat. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes, very." Daphne said, sitting and digging in to the food.
"Maybe with practice you could transform without having to panic?" Sabrina suggested. "It would be really convenient. Especially since I bet you can turn into more than a turtle. Like, if you could do a bird, then we wouldn't have to fly you to school, you could do it yourself!"
"Don't you like carrying me, then?" Daphne asked, mouth full of food.
"It's not that." Sabrina said. "It's just- well, when we fly, one of us has to carry two people, and I can't do it because I'm not strong enough, and it doesn't seem fair to make Puck do it all the time. And if we were in a hurry, it would be nice if you could just up and away yourself without needing to be next to someone with wings."
"True that." Puck agreed. "The air is usually a lot safer than the ground if someone's chasing you or something, and if you could fly yourself, then your sister and I would only need to grab one person each."
"Why are you three planning for an emergency?" Henry asked wearily. "I'm planning on keeping Sabrina and Daphne, at least, away from any fighting. I can't control what you do, Puck, but it would be nice if you stayed here."
"Dad." Sabrina said. "You can't honestly expect me to not fight. We're going to a school to train us to deal with this."
"There's a war coming, dear." Veronica pointed out. "I doubt there'll be any safe place inside the barrier, and the only way to get the girls out is with Sabrina's cooperation. You may as well accept that and let them be as prepared as possible."
"I know." Henry said. "But I don't want them out fighting. And I plan to keep all these children in the house as soon as the real fighting breaks out."
Sabrina made a face, and Daphne smiled. She could already tell her sister was making plans to sneak out. And she would go with her, no matter how stupid her plan was, because that was what they did. Puck would probably go, too, since it was Sabrina. And Red and Bella? Maybe. Probably, actually, because Bella was totally devoted to Sabrina, and Red was quiet, but under that, she was a really strong, brave girl.
"Well, Henry, if you can keep the girls from going wherever they want, that's better than I've ever been able to do." Granny was saying as Daphne began listening again.
"What?" Henry blinked. "Haven't you been able to control them? I seem to remember you doing a very good job of that with us."
"Well, Henry, you didn't sneak-" Granny began, but Sabrina interrupted.
"Well," She said, standing and clearing her throat loudly, "Daphne and I never actually finished our sword match. Coming, Daph?"
"What?" Daphne asked, looking at her plate. "But I'm not-"
Sabrina gave her a look, and Daphne suddenly understood.
"Oh, right." She said. "Coming."
Once they were out of the room Sabrina turned to her and said, "I got a good idea of your issues already, so don't worry, we won't be sparring again."
Daphne, who had been worried about this very thing, sighed in relief. "Then what will you be doing?"
"Showing you exercises." Sabrina said. "Ones that will make you stronger, or faster. Whichever."
"Like what?" Daphne asked.
"Well, it'll help if you can use your sword, not one of the other ones." Sabrina started. "And adjust the weight. It's way too heavy for you."
"But everyone else is fine!" Daphne complained.
"Daph." Sabrina said. "You're eight. And even now that you're an everafter, you're a young everafter with almost no experience with swords. You need to use a lighter weapon, otherwise you'll look like a baby trying to play with the big kids' toys. But you can work on your strength and endurance and speed."
"What should I do for each one?" Daphne asked.
"Speed- which is the most important thing, it'll keep you alive, even if it doesn't kill anyone else- for that, run. Run all the time, everywhere you go. You'll get faster the more you do it. And dodge things. Or throw them and try to catch them. Race yourself to do things. Try and do them faster and faster each time." Sabrina started. "That will help with your endurance, too. And for strength, lift heavy things. Do push-ups. And sit-ups. Make your sword a little heavier every day, so that it's always a little too heavy."
"All right." Daphne said. "I can do that."
She did. It was harder than she expected to fit it in, because she was now receiving lessons outside of school from Baba Yaga, joining Sabrina- and, to her surprise, Bella- in her hut four days a week.
"You all need lessons on transformation." Baba Yaga explained. "Daphne, you'll need to figure out how to transform at will, instead of in a panic. Sabrina, you weren't even aware you had the ability to do so, and Bella, you aren't using nearly enough of your abilities."
"What?" Bella asked, looking befuddled.
"Goodness, girl, you didn't think turning into a green thing with hair was all you could do, did you?" Baba Yaga cackled.
"Well... kind of." Bella said warily. "And you know, it's more like I'm supposed to be the frog thing. It- it seems natural, somehow."
"That's because of your father." Baba Yaga said, then muttered something about upstart princes who insulted witches.
"What about him?" Sabrina asked. "All of them, actually. Except for the Spider, they're not animals anymore. How come their kids can change into monsters? No offense."
"None taken." Bella assured her.
"It's because the change stays in your blood, girl." Baba Yaga grinned. "Once a monster, always a monster. You tell the old man that, would you? Canis?"
"Why don't you tell him?" Daphne muttered.
"Because Canis and I don't- don't see each other anymore." Baba Yaga said, and Sabrina could have sworn she saw her blush.
"You used to, then?" Bella asked.
"A long time ago." Baba Yaga said. "I've always had a soft spot for animal-people. When I saw him that first time- I helped the man out a bit, and for quite some time, the wolf only came out at night, or when he was angry. And I was always there to help him back. We had an argument, though, about Wilhelm, and then he went feral. We haven't spoken since."
"That's where werewolves come from, then?" Sabrina asked. "Mr. Clay?"
"Why don't you make up with him?" Daphne asked. "I bet he'd like to be friends."
"No." Baba Yaga snapped. "Besides, he's doing the same thing he got angry with me for."
"What was that?" Bella asked.
Baba Yaga's cheeks went from gray to a normal flesh color again, and she glared. "We're not here to talk about me. We're here to teach you three how to use your abilities."
Bella smiled knowingly at Sabrina, who rolled her eyes. Whatever Baba Yaga's issue was, it was none of her business.
"How do I do the wolf thing?" She asked Baba Yaga.
"Normally I'd say anger, but yours is so close to the surface, I doubt that will trigger it." Baba Yaga said thoughtfully.
"Hey, I've been better!" Sabrina protested."I only lost my temper twice this week!"
"True, but you'd have morphed already if that was the case." Baba Yaga was still thinking. "It's been what- Almost a year, now?"
"Yeah." Sabrina said. "So... what do I do?"
"Try letting go of your humanity." Baba Yaga suggested. "The wolf is insane, and in changing into it, you become less human... at least in form. If we manage these classes correctly, you may be able to tap into the power without suffering for it."
"Right." Sabrina said. "I'll go outside and practice." She headed for the door, opened it, and looked out irritably. "House? Are you really going to make me fly?"
The house rumbled and Baba Yaga cackled as everything shook, allowing Sabrina to leave more easily.
"You're easier, girl." Baba Yaga said to Bella. "You already know how to shift fairly well, you just haven't managed frog yet. Join Sabrina and just concentrate on becoming a frog."
Bella ran out of the house, grateful to escape the smell.
"What about me?" Daphne asked.
"You stay with me, girl." Baba Yaga flashed her a gunky, crooked toothed smile, and Daphne shuddered. Baba Yaga had to be the grossest teacher she'd ever had, and she wished there was someone less... creepy to be the resident magic expert. Sabrina didn't seem to have a problem with her, though, which was weird, because Sabrina didn't really like witches.
"Right." Daphne said, and set about the long, difficult process of learning to control her new powers.
Outside, Sabrina was having difficulty thinking like an animal.
"It's not working!" She snapped finally. "I just don't know how animals think!"
Bella, who was already more frog than girl, grunted and hopped away to continue her work somewhere else.
"You're no help anyway." Sabrina muttered, then leaned back against a rock to see if she could 'think like an animal,' as Baba Yaga had put it.
"Whatcha doin', Grimm?" Puck's voice broke what little concentration she'd had, and she glared at him.
"I was trying to do what Baba Yaga was telling me, but you broke my concentration." She snapped.
Puck, who knew from experience that Baba Yaga's lessons tended to end up with Sabrina destroying something, jumped back a little, then looked at her suspiciously. "What exactly does she want you to do?"
"She thinks I can turn into the big bad wolf minus the anger issues, but to do it, I apparently have to get in touch with nature or something." Sabrina rolled her eyes. "It's not working, obviously."
"I dunno." Puck joked. "You're looking kind of hairy."
"Oh, ha-ha." Sabrina said. "Sometimes I just wish I had normal superpowers, you know? Ones that everyone already knows how to use, so that I don't have to get all weirdly philisophical about this. I do much better with direct instructions, like: go here, do this, and this will happen. Not: maybe if you think like an animal for long enough, you can do this thing that we don't even have proof you can do but I think you can!"
"Getting tired?" Puck asked dryly. When Sabrina just glared at him, he suggested, "Why don't we take a break? I don't think thinking like an animal is something you can concentrate on like that."
Sabrina sighed. "All right. It'll do me as much good as anything else."
Puck, in the process of distracting Sabrina, managed to make her think more childishly, and when he turned into an animal, she was so caught up in their game that she found herself morphing into the wolf- which was exactly what Puck had meant to happen.
Sabrina blinked, and looked down at herself, then concentrated on returning to human form, which was much easier than turning into the wolf had been.
"You did that on purpose." She accused.
Puck grinned at her. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"
"So that whole time-" Sabrina started.
"No." Puck said. "It wouldn't have worked if I just wanted to get you to finish your lesson. I reminded you how animals think. Are we going to need to do this every time you have to change into the wolf?"
"No." Sabrina shuddered. "I don't like being that thing. It's... creepy. And I feel like I can't control myself. Like if I lost my temper, I might kill someone. Besides, I've got the feel of it now. I can probably do it again if I need to. But only then."
Puck was staring at her with an oddly respectful look in his eyes. "That's really mature of you, Grimm. Like, the good mature, not the I-can't-have-fun mature."
"Thanks." Sabrina said. "I'll add that to my list of the ever so smooth compliments you've given me."
"My compliments are smooth!" Puck protested. "I just have to think of ways to do it that won't make you bigheaded or think I- never mind."
"Think you what?" Sabrina asked.
"Nothing." Puck said, blushing a little. "Just- forget it, Grimm. It's not important."
He flew off, leaving her standing in his 'bedroom' by herself. She watched him for a long time before heading back to Baba Yaga's hut.
Daphne had, after many days of deliberation, decided that Baba Yaga must be spoken to.
"Um... Baba Yaga?" She said, one day during her transformation lesson.
"What, girl?" Baba Yaga asked crankily.
"I-" Daphne took a deep breath. "I think you should go talk to Mr. Canis again. Soon."
"Why?" Baba Yaga turned to Daphne and looked at her straight on, then stopped when she saw Daphne's expression. "You saw something, didn't you?"
Daphne nodded. "A lot. And I'm just afraid that if you don't talk to him again, you'll- regret it. Or something."
"He started it." Baba Yaga muttered.
Daphne looked at her, exasperated. "It doesn't matter! Whatever you two fought about, whatever reason you're mad at him now, it's not a big deal! And you'll- you have to talk to him."
Baba Yaga sighed and nodded. "I will. Are you going to tell anyone else what you saw?"
Daphne shook her head. "I don't. Ever. Sabrina- she doesn't want to know. It scares her. And Granny likes to be surprised. Nobody else would really listen except Red, and I don't want to burden her. Besides- half the time it changes the next time I get a vision. I don't want to go telling people the future and be proved wrong."
"And yet you're telling me." Baba Yaga said, but it sounded like a question.
Daphne shrugged. "You deserve to know."
"Don't you think this could turn out to be wrong, too?" Baba Yaga asked.
Daphne shrugged again, then shook her head. "No. I mean, I've seen everyone in this town dead in the future at least once, but it usually changes the next time I look at them. You- it's always the same scene, and I've only ever not seen it happen twice since we started lessons."
Baba Yaga nodded, and Daphne could see her accept the news.
"When?" The old woman asked.
"Soon." Daphne said.
"And how?"
"It's quick," Daphne said with a quick hissing intake of breath.
Baba Yaga nodded grimly. "Thank you, child. The chance to prepare is more than most get."
"You're not sad." Daphne noticed.
Baba Yaga laughed bitterly. "I'm old, child, and I've lived my life. My only regrets are the knowledge that will be lost and the wolf man."
"But that's not true." Daphne said. "Sabrina loves you. Puck idolizes you. And Mr. Clay doesn't have to be a regret. Go talk to him."
Baba Yaga smiled at her, and Daphne repressed a shudder as she said, "True, child. I shall go take care of business. Your lesson today is canceled."
Baba Yaga left then, taking her house with her, and Daphne was left alone to find her own way back to the rest of the house.