Chapter 28

Ozzy placed one of his crystals on Magic's arm. "Magic, I understand this is something you want to do, but...please be careful, okay?" He said, looking concerned. "What you're about to do is very dangerous."

She nodded, but stood up straight, which told Ozzy that the dancer wasn't going to change her mind. "Okay," he said with a nod. "You got what you need?"

Magic nodded again. "You sure the room will be ready in time?" She asked in sign language.

"It's all ready to go," he said reassuringly. "As soon as you told me your plan, I immediately called some workers to get the room ready."

The dancer was glad to hear that and hugged the larger being, who hugged her back. "Just promise you'll be careful and you'll be back within the hour," he said.

"I will," she signed.

"Okay. Use the crystal to open the portal."

She touched the crystal, her thoughts on V's Tower. The portal opened up to a dark room and, taking a quick look in, Magic stepped gracefully and quietly through the portal, watching it shut behind her as she waved to Ozzy, who was concerned, but waved back. "Good luck," she heard him say before the portal closed up fully.

Taking a deep breath, the dancer moved swiftly, looking around carefully until she spotted her target. Grinning, she quickly set a couple of Ozzy's crystals in place, carefully touching them and thinking about the room in Ozzy's palace that he had gotten ready for the plan.

Moments later, the target was out of V's Tower and at Ozzy's palace. The portals closed and Magic grabbed the two crystals, putting them away for safekeeping. She grew curious and something told her to wait before heading back home. Moving lightly on her feet, she left the room, not seeing that she was being followed.

The dancer paused when she was on one of the outdoor balconies of the tower, pausing as she heard Valentino's voice. She quickly hunkered down, listening as his voice came from down below. She went to the railing and took a careful look, seeing the moth being standing at the door, a bundle in his arms, and a female shark being that was gasping for air before closing her eyes and not moving.

Magic knew at once the female shark had passed away and she heard Val snicker. "Oh, so foolish to ask me for help," he said sinisterly before looking at the bundle in his arms. "Your daughter is payment enough. I've always wanted a shark for a pet. It wasn't fair Vox had pet sharks."

The dancer felt her blood boil at hearing him saying he'd treat the baby like a pet. Not on my watch, she thought to herself, making up her mind fast.

As Valentino walked through the tower, Magic followed until Val stopped at his room, putting the baby inside. "You stay here until I come back," he said before checking his phone. "Ugh, again?! Can't you idiots get anything right?!" He asked no one in anger before stomping away to make a call.

Magic moved quickly, finding Val's room unlocked and she went inside, going up to the bed where the baby was and seeing the child was swaddled tightly in a blanket. She carefully unswaddled the baby, who stretched and began to whimper a bit. The dancer gently touched the baby's head with her hand, gently stroking the baby's dark brown hair.

This seemed to comfort the baby, who looked at her with curious, aqua eyes. Magic smiled and picked up the baby, holding her protectively. The baby settled down in her arms, the small head resting against the dancer's left shoulder, listening to her heartbeat.

Magic saw the child had a lightning bolt birthmark on her tail and she smiled, knowing the perfect name for the baby who she decided she'd adopt. She hoped Vox would agree to adopting the baby because there was no way she was leaving the child in the care of the same man who had hurt her brother and tried to kidnap her.

The dancer immediately left the room and decided to get to the front door before opening a portal. She was worried Val was still nearby.

Her fears were true when Val came around the corner and paused. "Oh? Thought you could come back and steal from me, hmm?" He asked her.

Magic glared at him, holding the baby protectively before she turned and ran fast. Val snarled and ran after her. "Get back here!" He growled.

The dancer didn't stop, managing to get to the ground floor, but when she was running for the doors, Val's security team came out and blocked the way, making her stop short. She held the infant close as she looked around. She didn't want to use her crystal for fear of Val knowing where she was going. Thankfully he hadn't noticed the crystal yet.

Val came closer. "Give up, girl," he said, smirking.

She glared at him, shaking her head 'no'. Just then, something fell around her and exploded into a burst of confetti, making her and the guards jump while Val snarled in shock. Magic felt something mechanical wrap around her waist.

"Hold on," Came a familiar voice in her ear and she turned her head to see Fizz behind her as he stretched his legs and reached up with a hand, grabbing onto a railing and quickly pulling Magic and the baby upwards. Fizz then quickly moved, somersaulting into the air after springing upwards, curling around the dancer and the child before stretching his free arm out and grabbing onto a light post.

Just as he did so and the three of them flew through the sky, they heard Val scream. "I'll find you, Vox, and Angel!" He yelled. "And when I do, you won't escape!"

Magic clung to Fizz, who landed on a nearby rooftop. "Quick, use your crystal," he said.

She did so and as soon as the portal opened, Fizz leapt through it, still carrying the dancer and the baby. Ozzy caught them in his arms just as the portal closed. "Froggie, what happened?!" The larger being asked in worry before looking at Magic, who looked up at him before she looked down at her arms and adjusted the baby in her arms.

Ozzy's jaw dropped in shock at seeing the shark baby. "Magic...where did you find this little one?" He asked after a moment.

Magic handed the baby to Fizz so that her hands were free to talk. "Just as I finished the mission, I went outside to open a portal when I heard Valentino. He was standing over a dying shark woman and he had her baby. I think she passed away giving birth."

The dancer paused a moment before continuing. "He was going to treat her like a pet and I couldn't allow that to happen, so I rescued her, but Valentino spotted us before we could get away. I ran to avoid him, but his security blocked the doors I was aiming for. Just as Valentino came closer, Fizz jumped out of nowhere and saved me and Raya."

"Raya?" Fizz asked, looking curious before looking down at the baby. "Is that her name?"

Magic nodded. "I named her," she signed before looking at Ozzy. "I know this wasn't part of the plan, but...I couldn't leave her with him, Ozzy. I just couldn't."

The larger being smiled. "Magic," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "While risky, that was also quite brave of you." He then looked at the child in Fizz's arms and smiled. "She certainly looks like a Raya. And she's cute."

Fizz brought the child closer and placed her in Ozzy's arms. Magic watched as the larger being held the child protectively and Raya wasn't afraid of him. She smiled up at him and he gently brushed a finger over the baby's small hand, to which she latched onto his finger, making him chuckle. "Welcome to the family, little Raya."

He gently handed the child back to Magic. "I'll get the paperwork together for you and Vox to adopt her," he said. "Why don't you go surprise him?"

The dancer smiled and motioned Fizz to follow her. He did and went they got to the main hall, she hugged him with her free arm and he hugged her back, knowing she was thanking him for helping her save the baby. "Sorry I didn't reveal myself sooner, but I was worried something would go wrong after I overheard Ozzy warning you to be careful and when I saw where you were headed, I followed you," he said.

"I'm glad you did. Thank you," she signed before they got to Vox's office and Fizz opened the door, motioning Magic to wait a moment.

Vox looked up from his paperwork. "Hey, Fizz," he said. "What's up?"

The jester smiled. "Magic was out on an errand and found something you need to see," he said.

Curious, the television being stood up just as Magic walked in. Vox's mouth dropped as he saw the baby shark girl in the dancer's arms. He walked closer, noticing that the baby was a newborn. "She's a newborn," he said quietly.

"The mother passed away and Magic saved the baby from Valentino, who had found the mother and baby," Fizz said.

Vox's head snapped up and he looked at Magic. "Did Val hurt you or the baby?" He asked worriedly.

She shook her head, smiling. "He didn't get the chance to," Fizz said reassuringly.

The baby was looking up at Vox and reached for him, aqua eyes wide with wonder. He reached a hand out and let the baby grasp his finger before seeing her reach for him again. Magic, seeing this, lifted the child to him. Vox was about to protest, but as the baby grasped onto his jacket, his arms instinctively curled around her in a protective hold.

To his shock, the baby settled down and rested her head against his left shoulder, listening to his heartbeat. "She hears your heartbeat," Fizz said, smiling.

Vox looked at the baby, seeing her look up at him with her big eyes. He smiled and gently stroked the left side of the baby's face with the backs of his fingers, taking care to make sure his claws didn't hurt her.

Magic smiled. "Her name is Raya," she signed.

"Raya," he repeated, seeing the baby look up at him. He smiled. "She looks like a Raya."

Fizz smiled. "I think she's picked you guys to be her parents," he said.

Ozzy came in, smiling. "Magic. Vox," he said, getting their attention. "I have the papers here for you two to adopt little Raya."

Vox blinked. "How did you get them ready so fast?" He asked.

The rooster-like being smiled. "I know the right people," he said.

Magic looked at Vox before looking at Raya, smiling. He looked at the dancer, seeing how Raya reached for her and Magic leaned her face closer to the baby, smiling as the baby touched her face and smiled. Magic gently kissed the baby's forehead, smiling.

Raya then reached up to Vox, who leaned his face closer and let the baby touch his face before he smiled and gently kissed her forehead. "No one will ever hurt you, Raya. Mommy and Daddy promise that," he said.

Magic smiled up at him and he looked at her. "Let's sign those papers together," he said.

A moment later, Ozzy sent the signed papers off and they returned a moment later with the stamp of approval. "Congratulations," the rooster-like being said. "Raya is officially your daughter."

"Oh! You're going to need some stuff for her!" Fizz exclaimed. "Ozzy, I need the car. I'll be right back."

Before anyone could say anything, the jester was gone. Ozzy quickly followed, making Vox chuckle and Magic's shoulders shook in silent laughter. "I think they're going to spoil their new niece to pieces," she signed.

"Well, they are her uncles now," Vox said, chuckling. "Speaking of uncles, should we go break the news to your brother?"

Angel literally fell to the floor in shock when the couple showed him Raya and when he heard how she was rescued from Val, he immediately became protective. "No one's going to harm the little polpetta," he said.

Magic looked at him in mock shock. "Did you just call my daughter a meatball?" She asked.

Angel looked at his sister in surprise. "Well, she's a very cute meatball!" He defended himself, yelping in surprise as Magic tackled him and began tickling his underarms, making him laugh.

Vox chuckled as he watched this before looking at his daughter. "I think your uncle Angel has just become protective of you as your mother and I have, my little pumpkin," he said as the two siblings got up and Angel made grabby hands towards the baby.

"Gimme," he said playfully, to which Vox chuckled, but handed his daughter to her uncle.

Angel smiled at the baby. "What's her name?" He asked.

"Raya," Magic signed.

"Raya," Vox replied at the same time.

The spider-like being smiled. "Hello, Raya," he said to the baby, who reached up and touched his face. "Aww, you are just the cutest little polpetta."

Magic threw her hands up in the air in playful exasperation, making Vox laugh in amusement. "Just like you're a silly ganso, Angel," he said.

Angel looked up at him in mock shock. "You did not just call me a goose," he said.

Magic's shoulders shook in silent laughter as Vox looked at Angel with a smirk. "And what if I did?" He playfully taunted. "You can't do anything about it while holding your cute niece."

The spider being slowly set the baby down on the couch before he pounced at Vox, who yelped and ran off with the spider chasing him. Magic grinned before going over to her daughter and picking her up, hugging her and giving her a kiss on the forehead again.

Fizz came into the room. "Why is Angel chasing Vox and calling him a goose?" He asked, smiling.

Magic grinned and set her baby girl down on the couch before signing to Fizz what had happened. He laughed at the end. "Aww, I wanted to nickname her 'meatball'," he said teasingly.

"Oh, not you too!" The dancer signed, but the grin showed that she wasn't mad.

Fizz laughed. "Still, she does need a cute nickname from me and Ozzy," he said, thinking for a moment before smiling. "How about Snickerdoodle?"

"I'm surrounded by silly men who insist on food nicknames!" Magic signed, looking playfully exasperated, making Fizz laugh.

Ozzy smiled. "Things are definitely going to be more lively around here," he said. "Especially when Noodle meets his new cousin."

Vox ran into the living room as Angel caught him and the two got caught in a tickle fight. Magic lifted her baby into her arms while stepping closer to Fizz while Ozzy went and broke up the playful fight by tickling both the spider being and television being at the same time.

Through it all, Raya snuggled closer to her new mother and fell asleep in her arms. Magic held her protectively, silently promising she'd always keep her new daughter safe.

neomoon585 came up with the idea of Raya, the baby shark girl. :) Raya will be in future chapters too. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418