Hello people! I have an important message to bring to y'all today... KATLYN IS BACK! HOORAY! *throws confetti* Also, we're at the 3,000 read special! (And y'all get an inside look with Naomi!) Hope you enjoy!

~Anna

HI! Ms. Sencen? reached Rank TWO in KOTLC! It's only been on the site for about 2 months, with 9 parts! AND WE'RE ALREADY RANKED 2? YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING! Thanks for 3,875 reads too! I can't even express my happiness in words!

~Katlyn

July 20th, Present Day, Alternate Universe, Around 2 A.M.

Naomi's POV:

It's not exactly my fault that the house is a mess right now. You see, my brothers did it... even if I forced them to. Well, my ability is my ability, and Mom says not to be ashamed of who you are. So technically, it could also be blamed on her, because she wants me to use my Talent.

Okay, fine. Maybe it was my fault. 

But Malik was really annoying me and Favian was studying too much! 

And if I want to have fun with my brothers and they won't cooperate, then who's to say I can't make them? I just want it to be like the old times, when Malik wasn't obsessed with himself and Favian wasn't obsessed with school! Is it really that bad to want everything to stay the same?

Mom says that change is something that you just have to accept, and Dad says that change is something you should take advantage of. I say that change is something that shouldn't happen, because change is new and new can never be a good thing.

I just want to be the little sister forever. The one who can make her brothers smile and laugh, the one who can be the person they need, not this new Naomi who is afraid and stubborn and angry all the time.

I don't want to grow up! Ever!

It's time to take things back. It's time to make things the way they were before, when I was the prankster little girl and my brothers were my partners in crime, when Dad would cover for us and Mom would know it was me but still pretend she didn't know.

I just don't want change. Is that too much to ask?

Anyways, enough about my problems. Let's talk about Malik. He's being so annoying. All the time.

I mean, he's my brother and I love him, but he's going through poobertie or whatever Mom called it. She won't tell my anything about it, because apparently I'm not "mature enough" to know what it means without "relentlessly teasing" my brother.

Sounds about right.

Well, he's being a jerk to everyone, except to Thea. I bet they're dating and doing all sorts of mushy stuff that I'd rather not say. Maybe they've even...

No, Mimi, appropriate thoughts. The readers don't want to hear that, especially not from a young and innocent child.

Well, who said I was innocent?

Anyways, as I was saying, pranks are the only option. Some of you may argue (*cough* Favian *cough*), but you gotta admit, pranks are always an option. Not always that good option, but an option nonetheless. 

Mom says that my abilities are something that I should use but definitely not against others, but I say that they're my abilities and I can use them however I want. And if "how I want" means that I want to make my brothers throw flour all around the house, then that's definitely happening.

Let's do a "brief" recap:

"Malik! Favian!" I called as I ran down the hall on the second floor, careful to make sure that Mom and Dad didn't hear. Well, they wouldn't, partially because they slept on the third floor and mostly because they could sleep through an earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption combined and not even tell. 

"Naomi," Favian groaned as he stumbled out into the hall, rubbing his eyes blearily. "What is it?"

"Malik!" I called, ignoring Favian with a cheery smile. "Wake up!"

"No way!" came a muffled shout from his room, then the sound of blankets and pillows rearranging themselves. "I'm sleeping in!"

"Ha, you wish!" I yelled, running into his room and flipping on the lights, hopefully jarring him awake. He shot up like lightning, obviously angry at me. Did I care, you ask? In your dreams.

"Mimi, what is - " Favian started to ask, then paused as I used my power on him and Malik, quite literally rendering them speechless. 

I held out my hands, concentrating as hard as I could. Remember what Granddad taught you, I reminded myself. Never be afraid of what you can do. Still, it was a little unnerving, seeing my brothers standing as still as statues, their eyes blank.

I pushed my thoughts into their minds, making it as fierce and in control as I could. You will go to the kitchen, I commanded. You will take the flour from the cabinet. And then you will dump it everywhere. And I mean everywhere, I added quickly.

They walked off to the kitchens as though in a trance, stumbling over their feet with their eyes snapped straight ahead. I was scared. I had never used my power like this on them. Was this the way it was before? I thought, doubting myself for the millionth time.

Don't have doubt, darling. Granddad will help you. You will be powerful, like you were always meant to be. You won't make the same mistakes I made.

The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. Doubt is something we have to erase from ourselves, because it will never lead us to glory. Doubt is a mortal weakness, not something that elves should experience. Doubt is a monster.

Then I am a monster for believing it.

"Malik! Favian!" I shouted, running down the hall, my bare feet slapping the floor. I cut them out of their trance with a flourish, smiling as wide as I could. 

Malik blinked at me and shook his head, obviously a bit confused. "What just happened?" he asked me. "Wasn't I just..." He trailed off, lost in thought.

"I just had the best idea!" I screamed giddily, clapping my hands together. "Let's prank Mom and Dad!" This was the way it had always been. Maybe doubt wasn't the monster this time. Maybe I was, for thinking I could use my ability on my brothers.

Malik gave his trademark smirk while Favian straightened his glasses. They were in! "So, here's the plan," I whispered to both of them. "We trash the place with flour. You know how Mom promised to make us human cookies but never did? Well, this is our revenge!" Never mind that she promised us that a few weeks ago. It would still be fun!

"Are you sure, Naomi?" asked Favian, a bit concerned for my mental health. Hey - it did happen sometimes. I could get a little crazy if I wanted. But then again, don't we all go crazy from time to time? "Mother promised us that weeks ago. Is now really the best time to retaliate?"

"Favian, Favian," said Malik with a sigh, patting him on the back. "You simply must learn that the voice of reason and logic isn't always the right option! Sometimes it's fun to do things without a reason! Lighten up and live a little, my dear brother!" By now, Malik was literally pounding Favian on the back. Oh well, it wasn't my place to interfere.

Favian winced, obviously uncomfortable. "Stop it, Malik," he said with a groan. "I don't have any time for your childish antics." He pushed his glasses up his nose with his index finger, then sighed and relented, "Fine. I'm in."

"Yay!" I shouted, spinning around. "So, are we using the Mesmer excuse again?" I asked, giggling. "You can push all the blame on me, you know! I don't care, Mom likes me the most no matter what!"

"No she doesn't!" argued Favian hotly, his hands flying around. "I'm obviously the most intellectual child!"

"But no one said the smartest!" said Malik with a smirk, playfully shoving Favian in the shoulder, causing him to stumble to the side and lose his glasses.

"Hey!" Favian shrieked, blindly shoving at the air, his hands pushing me backwards instead of Malik.

"That was me, you jerk!" I shouted, shoving him straight into Malik. 

And with that, we bickered all the way down the hall. It wasn't quite like the old times, for we had changed.

But I had learned that change could be a good thing. We were all growing up and taking our own paths. You can't stay young forever, not even if you're an elf. And maybe that's a good thing.

I've also learned that you should remember the past. You should treasure it, but not obsess over it. Don't think about what you could've done, because that can't change. Think about what you can do right now, and do that. You only have one shot in the present. Make that shot count.

Thank you guys for reading! Remember, constructive criticism is always welcome! We'd be happy to hear it, in fact!

~Anna

P.S. Did you get the message we were trying to get across? It wasn't exactly subtle, you know...

WORD COUNT: 1607