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 Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:01 pm
Michael was sitting with Devyn on the bench in the park, waiting for their Moon Pages to return, when there was a sudden shift in the auras around them. Of course, only Michael could feel the change, and he tensed for a moment--
And then relaxed with a small smile tugging at his lips.
“I think our boys have a surprise for us,” he glanced over at Devyn as he stood from the bench. He made sure there were no other signatures around them, before taking a few steps forward towards the brambles to make sure the two young Moon Squires made it out okay.
He had a flashlight with him, and turned it on so he could light the path, and also help them see that they were waiting for them and not just some creepy people waiting in the shadows. Ephesus was so excited! Not only had they been given a little more power, but he had magic that could heal!
He was still holding tightly to Amarynthos’ hand, but beamed brightly when he saw Michael and Devyn waiting for them a little ways away with a flashlight.
“Look, look!” he gasped cheerfully, making sure Amarynthos was ready to move through the brambles before he did. Oh, and he would probably try to avoid the pointy parts with nothing covering his legs.
“Doesn’t Mary look so handsome?” Effie certainly thought so.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:09 pm
Devyn saw the smile before he saw the boys, and there was a split second of confusion and curiosity when he questioned Michael’s cryptic message. He didn’t have long to wonder, though.
He rose after Michael and followed after him. It took him another second to realize why Michael seemed so pleased. Why Ephesus seemed so excited.
He saw Amarynthos first, because he was pushing back against the brambles with his clothed legs to make a little more room for Ephesus to pass through. He was very aware of his friend’s bare legs and didn’t want him to get scratched up on the way out–even if he had healing magic.
“Look at you two!” Devyn said proudly. He trusted that if anything felt amiss, Michael would feel it before it could become a problem. “How did you manage this, what were you two doing up there?”
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:19 pm
“Come out this way so we can get a better look,” Michael suggested, stepping away from the darkness of the trees and bushes so they could make their way to the brighter light park.
“We’re both really proud of you. We knew it was only a matter of time.”
He wasn’t sure what they did while they were on the moon, but they’d both been through a lot, and having a little more power seemed like the next step for them. Ephesus squeezed Amarynthos’ hand in thanks as he followed directly behind him, careful about the bushes.
“We were just cleaning up! Oh, we did so much work, but Mary was amazing, he cleared out so much of the old vines and carried everything I couldn’t. He definitely worked harder than I did, but I guess our Wonders thought we could use a little more magic and I can heal now,” he said excitedly, holding up the rod as Michael was reaching to take the backpack from his shoulders and the rakes they had with them.
Effie smiled up at him in thanks, and then took a few more steps into the light so he could help show off how amazing Amarynthos looked.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:39 pm
Amarynthos was prideful, obviously pleased with his new appearance. He took a moment to present himself, and to hold his head up high, but shortly after that he was reaching out to tug Ephesus closer so he could spin him.
“Ephesus healed me, I scratched my arm. We worked together very well, we were a good team. And he found some earrings. I should give this one back to you, don’t let me forget,” Amarynthos said, as if he weren’t going to be powering up with Ephesus again the next time he planned to go up to the moon. “He deserves a lot of praise, he was really cool. I don’t know what my magic does, I couldn’t figure out how to use it, but I’ll figure it out soon. Were you two waiting for long?”
“No, not too long,” Devyn said, and couldn’t help but smile again at the two. “You two look good–congratulations, Effie. Healing magic is very useful! You’ll figure yours out too,” he assured Amarynthos, but he supposed Michael would know more about that.
He glanced at him and smiled, proudly–amused–because a little good news was always worth celebrating. “How hard did you two work, are you hungry? Do we need to get ice cream or something to celebrate on the way home?”
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 6:48 pm
Ephesus squeaked and giggled with delight when Amarynthos spun him around. And to make sure he didn’t fall over, he made sure to place his hands on Amarynthos’ shoulders and stood close to him. He would have tucked his arms around him and inside his jacket if he wasn’t trying to give both Michael and Devyn his attention.
Oh, but maybe he would be okay if he rested his head a little against his hand on Amarynthos’ shoulder. He just wanted to be close. His heart was still racing with excitement from being made Squires and learning about his healing magic.
“We’re a really good team,” Ephesus agreed, trying to ignore the way his cheeks burned as Amarynthos praised him. He would remember to get the earring back, if only to make sure they were in the same place when they powered back up, but it wasn’t as though he wouldn’t just let Mary listen to his thoughts again.
“We worked really hard. We want to make sure none of our future guests trip on the overgrown plants. But I’m very hungry, are you?” he looked up at Amarynthos, although he was content just standing there with him. Michael watched the two with amusement, glad that they were both okay and having a good time on the Moon.
“We’ll figure out your magic. Don’t worry,” Michael promised, reaching out to take Amarynthos’ bag as well so they wouldn’t have to worry about them disappearing when they powered down. “I don’t use my magic very much, but it’s useful when I need it. I usually give the energy I’d have for my magic to Princess instead. She’s much more useful to me than an illusion of a storm.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:03 pm
“Oh, thanks,” Amarynthos said, shrugging the bag over to Michael so he could power down. He looked around, just to make sure, and almost regretted it. He felt so much more tired all of a sudden. More hungry, too, but that didn’t seem like such a bad thing when Devyn had offered a celebratory treat.
“I’m probably going to use my magic when I figure out what it is. I don’t think I’m good enough at fighting to not play it safe,” Elliot reasoned. “I wish I could borrow Princess, maybe I’ll make friends with some ancient magical creature, too. But probably not tonight, and I am tired, so yeah, I would really like to get something to eat, please. We worked really hard, I regret not taking pictures. I wish we had so we could show you. But we want to take you two up so you can see. Oh, but after we get it just a little more cleaned up. I want you to get a good first impression, and we’ve got a long way to go.”
That wasn’t too vain, right? He could probably ask them for help, too–and he would!–but he also wanted to prove that they could do it themselves.
Devyn was still smiling fondly at the two of them when he tugged a backpack over for himself so Michael didn’t have to carry everything.
“Do you think I could spend the night tonight, Michael? I mean, if that’s okay. I haven’t asked my parents.”
He reached out to hold Effie’s hand, and was already working up to unleashing his big, pleading eyes.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:18 pm
Atticus held Elliot’s hand, although he didn’t think his normal clothes were nearly as cute as his Squire outfit, but that was okay. Maybe he could go shopping with Momma and Devyn at some point and get some clothes that suited him better. He was just glad that Elliot didn’t seem to mind him wearing really frilly looking things.
But of course he wouldn’t! He was super supportive all the time! That wasn’t the problem! And it wasn’t really a problem, it was just that, well… Atticus kinda wanted Elliot to like him, so… he didn’t want to wear anything that might be too… much.
Right now, he didn’t want to think about it. He swung his hand a little with Elliot and looked pleadingly up at Michael and Devyn as well. Michael just laughed, because he’d already assumed Elliot would be planning on spending the night. After all, they were out late and probably wouldn’t want to leave each other’s sides.
“I’ll text your parents. I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Michael smiled as he handed Devyn the flashlight as well so he could pull out his phone and send a quick text.
“Come on, we can either go out to get ice cream, or I can make some strawberry shortcake with ice cream at home. You can borrow Princess if you can beat her in a race, how about that?” he grinned, amused because even Devyn could only beat Princess when she was goofing off.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:24 pm
“I know, for a fact, you are trying to set me up for an impossible standard, because even Devyn can’t beat her. But I also know that you can’t keep Princess out forever, so, yes. I will race her, but only if we do it here on Earth, and if we have five minutes to do it,” Elliot huffed, but he had a skip in his step so he was obviously enjoying himself and going to have fun either way. He wasn’t fast enough to beat Devyn–yet–so he knew he didn’t stand a chance against Princess.
Devyn laughed, partly at Elliot and partly at Michael, and partly just because it just felt good to laugh.
There was a weight on his shoulders that he knew would grow over the next few days, next few weeks, but for tonight, his heart was light.
He had hope. Powerful, unyielding, invigorating hope.
Michael’s smile certainly didn’t hurt.
“I can wait until we get home, your strawberry shortcake sounds good,” Elliot added, fingers laced with Atticus as he swung their hands together. “We ate a lot of the snacks you packed for us, thank you. Next time, I want to take a picnic up, I hope we’ll have somewhere nice to eat. When we find a good spot, you two can come up and try it out, too,” he promised. He was ready to get out of the park before anyone started snooping–and, if Michael was going to make some strawberry shortcake, that was plenty of time to get cleaned up, first.
…And drop in to say good night to his parents, too, because he wanted to tell them about the Moon, too.
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