A few minutes later, Ray returned with Sylvia and Lila, and upon seeing Mimi's aura, Lila quickly conjured up a list for Sylvia who read it.
"Ah, okay, the ingredients for making the potion would take a full day of foraging and preparing it...And then upon taking the potion, the bad memories go away forever, changing into a positive force of magic for the village, protecting the people while Mimi de-ages to the age she first learned a hard lesson...", Sylvia replies softly.
Mimi whispers, "I was 14 when Ray and Naveen were sold away before the others...That was when I learned that the master controlled everything over us...".
Sylvia then replies, "So, when you drink the potion, you get 16 days where you age a year per day from 14 years old, to the current age you are, 30 years old...So, that's just a bit over two weeks.".
"And...", Ray held his tongue for a moment. "What about her life?", he asked Sylvia, obviously fearful about what would eventually come with things.
Sylvia sighed softly, "She will be up to absolute health for most of the days, able to make the best of making good, happy memories, but as she nears the last days, she will lose energy to go outside and such, but she'll still be able to make good memories with less strenuous activities, and on her last day, she would have some last bursts of energy before she decides when to leave on her own will, but it won't be painful with the aging and such, it's only the bad memories that'd be painful.".
Ray sighed as Evangeline put her hand on his shoulder. He knew what she would say, it was probably for the best; Mimi just wasn't recovering like anyone, especially herself, had hoped.
Mimi whispers quietly, "So, I take the potion tomorrow? And the taking of the bad memories from my mind is the only painful part?", and Sylvia smiles gently, "Yes. And with my husband, Jiminy's help, we will find the ingredients for the potion on this list my sweet Lila got. So, I ask you, not to waste our time, do you really want this, Mimi?".
Mimi exhales and looks at Sylvia, "You saved me, Sylvia, and I would never thank you enough for it...But it's time for me to keep the village safe, and I want to forget what that...that bastard did to my family, to my belief of freedom and home, to me...".
"You still have time to change your mind...", Sylvia said; at least making sure the woman had an out... just in case she suddenly had second doubts, or a brief moment of clarity might come to help break the nightmares she continued to suffer and perhaps to keep going.
Mimi directly looked her in the eye, "I know I do, but I'm not budging. I'm tired of the fucking nightmares! I want memories where I have no master! I want to hear my voice again!", before blinking in surprise at the sudden courage she had and glanced at Ray and Evangeline who smiled proudly at her.
Sylvia replied, "Well, there's a voice inside you, and right now, it's breaking free...What do you think, Lila?", looking down at her baby daughter who squealed happily, and she smiled, "Very well, Mimi, I and Jiminy will get down to it then. If you'll excuse me.", with a respectful nod before smiling at Ray, "No wonder why you care for her. She's a spark off the fire in your family.", as she bundled herself and Lila again, and then left the house, heading back to Jiminy and Terrence in Naveen and Carlo where Terrence was making friends with Odette, soon telling him that they have to head home and follow their daughter's instructions on the ingredients and the potion.
Evangeline smiled softly, looking at Mimi, "Your parents would be proud of you...", and Ray nodded, "Especially Mama Odie...You got that nonsense flair from her...".
Mimi sighed as she gave a small nod before Ray hugged her once more. "I only wish I had more of it...", she whispered. "Maybe then... maybe I could've had the strength to escape... there was a chance a few times for sure...".
Evangeline went to rub her shoulder in the hug, "Hey, we all have thoughts about the past, Mimi. Best thing right now is to just take a day at a time, enjoy the present.".
Mimi gave a little smile before exhaling, "I've reached the limit of socializing and hugs for this morning, Ray...", and Ray let her go, nodding, "Of course, Dreamy-Mimi. We'll send ya some lunch in an hour.", using his fond nickname for her, if only able to use it once a day, as he knew it would take her to call him Jay-Ray...like how they used to do when they were with the family.
Mimi nodded, and then left the couple, to head back to her room to do some crocheting, a warm soaking bath, and such.
Ray took a deep breath, and Evangeline squeezed his hand, "Come on, help me do some lunch, my love.", and Ray smiled softly, "Of course, my angel of my heart.".
And so, after feeding the twins, Sylvia and Jiminy went to buy, forage, and find the ingredients for the potion and such for the whole rest of the day, preparing it on breaks between bathing and taking care of the twins.
Then the next day came, and the family returned back to Astre, where Mimi is anxiously waiting, with Ray and Evangeline by her side, with the couple's teenage twins, Charlotte and Louis staying nearby in support of their cousin.
"How are you feeling?", Evangeline asked Mimi as she nodded, "Alright... just..."
"I can't even truly imagine what you're thinking right now.", Evangeline admitted as Mimi gave another nod. "It's something I wouldn't wish on anyone, that's for sure.", she whispered.
Ray rubbed her shoulder gently, "I know, but it's only you...Don't worry, we'll be by your side when the bad memories leave.".
Mimi gave a small smile at Ray, as the whole family is waiting in the community hall, the heart of Astre, and barely held back a flinch when the Evening Star beamed down, with the magical family appearing in sparkles.
Sylvia is holding the potion while Jiminy is holding the twins in his arms, and she smiled gently at Mimi and the others, "You ready, Mimi?".
Mimi took a deep breath, "Yes.", and Sylvia nodded, "Okay.", as she clicked her fingers and the chair Mimi's in, became the most comfortable chair for three.
"Ray, Evangeline, sit by her sides. This will be quite painful as the bad memories will be taken backwards from the most recent one, to the very earliest one.", Sylvia advised, and the couple sat between Mimi.
Sylvia looked at Mimi, "As the bad memories come out, they will change into a magical force, right from the heart of the village, to be a protective aura over the village to the very last board of the docks...This is the last time I ask you. Do you want this?".
Mimi took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes...", that was all she said, there was no need to explain any more that hadn't already been said before. Sylvia nodded herself as she got the last things ready.
Sylvia then held the potion, handing it over to Mimi softly, who took it in her hand, and with a deep breath, she drank it.
After two minutes, Mimi yelled out in pain, tears streaking as a stream of bad memories started to flow out and downwards into the floor of the community hall, from her mind, as she choked out, "Jay-Ray! Angeline!", as Ray and Evangeline enveloped her in their arms swiftly, with Ray whispering, "I'm here, I'm here, Dreamy-Mimi!", while Evangeline shushed her gently, "It's okay, it's okay, darling.".
The bad memories became a positive force of magic, as the magic flowed from the community hall to the village, as Mimi de-aged with every bad memory while crying and yelling in pain, seeing them flash by.
"Is it supposed to be like this?", Ray asked as Sylvia nodded, "Yes, don't fear... it's working as intended if you were worried for a moment there.".
Evangeline replied, "We got this, Ray, we got her...It's okay, Mimi, we're right here...", kissing her on the hair, as Ray nodded, agreeing with his wife, their arms firm and warm, making sure that Mimi knows that she's safe.
Ray still couldn't help but feel the pain in his heart with what he was seeing. Pretty much now, her life was at an end very soon, even if she'd have her last days be ones that were much better than the nightmarish years she suffered.
The whole process took an hour due to how traumatic the bad memories of her recent past, and now slowing down to the less traumatic memories of where she learned hard lessons without suffering.
The protective aura became something spectacular like the Northern Lights, keeping the village safe from the outside world's bigotry and such, and Mimi herself had less and less tears as she came through, and then when the last bad memory finally left her, she's back to her 14-year-old self, exhausted yet finding herself in awe yet relief, looking down at herself before looking up at Ray.
She gave a giggle, a laugh she hadn't heard herself in years, "I forgot how small I was compared to your giant self, Jay-Ray.".
"So...", Ray spoke. "You at least know... that you were older before? That you haven't just suddenly woken up and blanked on decades of life?".
Mimi gave a big smile of dimples, "Yes, I do. I somehow know the good memories of being older, though they are rare compared to the ones in my childhood up to my age right now, including our reunion and the past few weeks.".
Ray smiled, "Oh, Dreamy-Mimi!", hugging her happily, seeing the light in her eyes again. Ray had seen the light dim away in her eyes and her smile disappear away when he and Naveen was taken away in the cart from the plantation.
Others in attendance took a deep sigh of relief upon hearing that. At least her last days would thankfully be good ones without the horrible past plaguing her practically every dreaming moment.
As it was long after midnight, Mimi yawned, and Ray smiled wryly, "Let's get you to bed, sleepyhead, and then once you get up in the morning, you'd help out with breakfast.", scooping her up.
Mimi pouted, "Jay-Ray, I ain't a baby!", and Ray chuckled, "No, but would you deny this old man a start on new memories, hmm?".
"No...I guess not...Can I play snowball with Lottie and Louis before breakfast, please?", Mimi gave him her puppy eyes, and Ray laughed heartily, "Of course you can, but promise you'll bundle up, rascal.".
Mimi smiled widely, "Pinky swear!", as Charlotte and Louis cheered, excited to play with their cousin, and Mimi then yawned again, wrapping her arms around Ray sleepily, with Evangeline ruffling Mimi's hair warmly, "Sleep, darling.", with a smile.
Sylvia smiled gently, "This is her first day since the spell started just after midnight, so, she has just over 16 days. I know it hurts, but make sure you count that on the calendar.".
Evangeline nodded, "We will...Thank you, Sylvia. Come along, kids, it's very late for you two as well.", and Charlotte pouted, "Aww, Mama!", before yawning, and Louis snickered, "Nice try, sis, but we literally went to stay up for Cousin Mimi. And you know we can't argue with Mama.".
"Alright.", Charlotte sighed as they followed their mother while Ray stayed a few more moments with Sylvia. "I know...", she put a hand on his shoulder. "I know it'll be painful... but we must remember that she was the one that wanted this; that she just wanted to be free of the pain...".
Ray nodded softly, "I know...", as he felt Mimi's soft snores, sleeping on his shoulder, "Thank you for everything...including saving her life. At least the guilt will be less...And the village's protected?".
Sylvia smiled gently with a nod, "She's like you. Always finding a way to repay. Go take her home. She deserves to have a new memory of sleeping cozily and free in bed.".
Ray smiled gently and then went onwards, cradling his newfound little cousin, leaving Sylvia, Jiminy and the twins. Jiminy held the babies warmly as he kissed Sylvia on the cheek, "They're gonna be okay...We made this happen for them, and Mimi is forever free of those horrible memories.".
Sylvia nodded, "Yeah...Let's go home and give attention to our twins before we take turns on our jobs.", with a smile as she grabbed Terrence who gurgled at her, and so they went home to the Evening Star.
Mimi became a lively girl, laughing as she played with the kids of the village in snowball fights and such, smiling heartily as she socialized at the marketplace, the village amazed and awed to see Mimi as a true girl.
Every day, she aged a year, yet she never changed into the submissive, quiet woman she was, becoming somehow the bubbly, outgoing, strong-willed, mischievous, and kind woman from the girl she was, loving to be read to sleep every night, making cookies or such, and even foraging in the woods without fear.
As she came through puberty, she was happy when the village suggested a dance in the ballroom every few days as she developed through the hormone-induced days of teenagerhood and young adulthood, sharing dances with all the bachelor men of the village, gossiping with the single girls over the buffet table.
Reaching the mid-20s, Mimi became a thoughtful woman, and she knew she wanted to thank Evangeline and Ray somehow before she reaches 30 years old, where she will be weak and such to do anything.
"Angeline, Jay-Ray, can I talk with you?", Mimi asked after lunch, while Charlotte and Louis are still at school. "Sure, what is it?", Ray asked her as she was rubbing her arm, clearly a bit nervous about something.
Evangeline replied gently, "It's only us, Mimi.", with a smile, and Mimi bit her lip, "I...I want to know lovemaking...I...I never felt attracted to any of the bachelor men at those dances...And I don't want to hurt your feelings, Ray...as it would feel like incest with you...but...you're married to Evangeline...and I felt attracted to her when I saw her come out in the dances...".
Evangeline widened her eyes in surprise, "You're attracted to me?", and Mimi nodded shyly, "You were so beautiful dancing with Ray and everything...I have the faint feeling that I am not inclined to romance, like romantic feelings, thanks to just taking care of the kids, and being a social single woman which I like very much about, but...attraction, and wanting to just know what's like to be kissed and...to be in lovemaking...I wouldn't ever dare come into on Lottie or even Louis as that felt so bad, and so incestuous!".
Both of them were fairly stunned with this news, but it made a little sense at least in terms of how Mimi at least wanted to know what it felt like once before she died. But the issue of those who were closest to her were blood... except for Evangeline.
Ray exhaled deeply, looking at Evangeline, "She has a point...You're the only one not of blood relation, Evangeline...I admit I'm surprised, but she's right...You're very attractive, my angel of my heart, no denying that.".
Evangeline looked at him, "You sure? Like she said, I also don't want to hurt your feelings either especially when we're married...Even when it makes sense for her to be attracted to me...and to the point of intimacy...".
Ray gave a small chuckle, "You couldn't dare hurt my feelings... considering this whole family is only a thing because of you... and we both know it isn't normal in the slightest and that... sharing around has certainly been a thing.".
Mimi looked at Ray in surprise, "You aren't mad?", and Ray smiled gently as he then looked at Mimi, "Dreamy-Mimi, you're much older now than when I used to carry you to bed and all. You deserve to know all the good things of humanity and that involves intimacy. I want you to be happy. And I wouldn't stop you from learning it all from Evangeline. She's quite stunning when she's off clothes.".
Evangeline blushed wildly, smiling, "Ray!", before looking at Mimi, "Do you want to go for it, Mimi? After all, we already ate lunch, so you'd be really good to pursue me without being fatigued.".
Mimi hummed softly, "And what about the twins?", and Ray replied, "They wouldn't be home yet for a few hours as they'd want to play in the snow before dinner. And if you feel weird about me in the room, it's okay as I understand, and I'll just read a book or do some chores around the house.".
Mimi nodded. "I think I would feel a bit better if it was just me and Eva...", she told him as Ray nodded. "I understand. Truth be told, I would feel really weird and almost a bit sick if I watched.", he admitted. "I can go check on the twins and run interference for a few hours if need be.".