Sky left the room a few hours later, his heart heavy. He knew what he had to do; there wasn't any other way to keep everyone he loved safe. And yet... No. He couldn't let himself worry anymore, he'd made up his mind.

     "Clancy, do you have a moment?" Sky stood in the doorway of the room she and Yoi had gone to. Yoi was asleep, so Clancy quickly crossed the room to see what Sky wanted. Together they traveled downstairs to the living room, where they sat down in opposing chairs.

     "I've decided to use the serum." Sky said, looking up at Clancy briefly. She looked like she was about to talk, so he hurried on. "I know it could have some bad side effects, but it's the only way I can keep everyone safe..."

     Clancy sighed, and nodded. "I know. Even as much as I dislike Cassia, I don't like the idea of that serum being used on anyone. Steven still isn't the same after that..." She winced, trying to forget that memory. "But... yeah. If she's left alone to develop her brine side, Yoi could get hurt."

     Sky nodded, a worried expression crossing his face. "Even with the serum we'll have to keep her contained, as I don't think Yoi would think much of us using something like that with Cassia. For reasons I don't understand, she's developed a bond with her." Even as he spoke he felt the sting of the lie; he knew exactly why the two girls had grown close. But no one else did, and he planned on keeping it that way until the time was right.

     "I'll keep Yoi occupied while you do what you need to." Clancy said after a moment of silence. "Do you have any idea when Cassia might wake up? Because if we're lucky, Yoi might still be sleeping if it's soon enough."

     Sky glanced over again to where the sleeping girls were, and sighed. "I don't know when she'd wake up on her own... But there is a way I can wake her brine side, which will then allow her physical form to wake up. She'll be furious though, so I'll have to inject her with the serum quickly."

     "I'll go keep an eye on Yoi." Clancy said as she stood. "You do what you need to do." She started to leave, but stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned back to Sky. "You stay safe okay?" And then she left, hiding her face so he couldn't see her tears as she fled upstairs.

     Sky waited a few minutes longer, and then started down the hall to where Cassia was sleeping, the master bedroom. Once he arrived there, he resumed his position in the chair beside her bed. "Hey Cassia... " he spoke quietly, even though she couldn't hear him. "I know you don't know this yet, but... There's a chance you'll remember who I am after this. Who Yoi is to you, and who your real parents are. I... I don't want that to change who you are though, so I'm going to try and prevent that."

     With a sigh, Sky summoned the vial of blue liquid from the void, and set it on the bedside table. Now came the hard part; waking Cassia up mid-transition.

     Placing his hand on her forehead, he sent a spiral of power to her. The magic inside of her began to stir, but it was sluggish and slow. He sent more power, his brow drawn with concentration.

     At once, the dormant magic in Cassia exploded and shocked her awake. Something felt wrong to her, and she acted on instinct, tossing a punch at the nearest person. Sky ducked, but not fast enough. Her knuckles caught the edge of his jaw, knocking him off balance and away from the serum laced needle on the bedside table.

     "You!" Cassia's eyes narrowed in anger as she realized who she was fighting. "How could you?!" she yelled, powering up for a fireball. It was unclear of what she was talking about, but one thing was clear; she intended to kill Sky here and now.

     "Cassia, calm down!" Sky shouted back, ducking her hastily thrown fireball. "I'm not the bad guy here!" The flames hit the wall behind him, leaving a blackened mark where it had struck.

     "Like hell you aren't!" She yelled back, sending a beam of pure power his way. Her magic was a light purple, not white or gold like any other brine's. He ducked, and then she and Sky started circling around each other. Sky got closer and closer to the bedside table with each step.

     "I'm sorry, Cassia." He whispered as he struck, sending her reeling toward the door as he spun around and quickly grabbed the needle he'd filled with the serum, plunging it into her neck and depressing the plunger.

     Immediately, Cassia slowed down, her movements muted and slow. She swayed on her feet, looking like she was about to pass out. "Cassia." Sky said gently, putting a hand on her arm. "Come sit down on the bed, okay? You'll feel much better."

     Almost as if she was in a trance, she obeyed, letting Sky guide her over to the bed she'd recently vacated. "What... What's going on, Dad?" She looked lost, almost forlorn.

     But those words send Sky reeling. He knew Cassia was seeing her adoptive father, Donald, in place of him due to the serum, but those words were still like a punch to the gut. When he spoke again, his words were shaky, like he was about to cry. "It's okay, my dear." He said softly, sitting next to her on the bed. "I had to do this to keep you and your friend," Sky nearly chocked on the word, "safe. Are you able to answer some questions for me, sweetie? Do you trust me?"

     Cassia looked at him with a glazed over expression, but she had a smile on her face. "Of course, daddy. I trust you more than anyone else in my life..." she trailed off, lost in some memory or the other.

     Sky took a deep breath, trying to get his emotions under control. He had limited time with Cassia, and he had to use it wisely. He couldn't waste time on sentimental thoughts. "Well... After you left Yoi and Clancy, where did you go? They were worried sick about you, Cassia. Why did you disappear?" He kept his voice gentle and soft, as to not spook her.

     She frowned at that, a slightly angry look coming over her. "I... I wanted answers, Dad. Ever since you and mom passed away, I've been on my own. I met someone amazing, Yoi. She's like the little sister I never had, y'know?" Cassia's expression softened, and she smiled again. "You'd like her, Dad. She's sweet, and so kind, and she's the most adorable little neko you ever would lay eyes on." She was rambling a bit now, eager to tell her "Dad" everything she'd done. "But... I went to the End, to find out the truth. Strange things kept happening to me, fragments of memories that didn't make sense. I needed to know what was happening, so I went to one of the oldest beings in Minecraftia, the Ender Dragon. She... She didn't want to see me at first, so I broke one of her crystals and passed out from the explosion. But afterwards, when I woke up, things got even stranger... There was a girl, Kit, I think. I woke up in her bedroom, hardly able to move... She went to go get her mom, Queen Endress. But... That's the last thing I remember before... Before... " She became confused, as if she couldn't quite remember.

     "What were we talking about again, Daddy?" Cassia asked, glancing over at Sky with adoration on her face. She loved her Dad, that much was evident. Sky could hardly bear to keep going at this rate.

     "Sky? Sky! Answer me, dammit!" Banging could be heard from the locked door, as well as the hushed but frantic voice of Clancy. Evidently the previous sounds of explosions had drawn her here.

     "Cassia, you stay right here, okay darling?" Sky said softly. She nodded, and he quickly got up and opened the door. "Clancy, where's Yoi?" he hisses, keeping the door open barely a crack so Cassia couldn't see Clancy. "I told you to keep an eye on her while I was with Cassia!"

     "I came to find you, you blithering idiot!" Clancy spat, her terror fading as she could see Sky wasn't hurt. "But what the hell were you doing up here, making bombs?!" She was furious now, she'd run up the stairs to make sure Sky was okay, and was greeted with this attitude.

     Sky glanced back guiltily at Cassia, who seemed to have drifted off into memories again, then back at Clancy. "Cassia and I are fine now, okay? There was a bit of a scuffle, but I handled it. Right now though, I need you to keep an eye on Yoi though. Where is she??" Now he was the frantic one, he didn't want Yoi to get hurt if she wandered off.

     "W-what's all t-the sho-shouting about?" Yoi's small voice piped up from the immediate left of the two. She was rubbing her eyes sleepily, like she had just woken up.

     Both Sky and Clancy turned at the same time, identical expressions of shock on their face. Sky was the first to find his words again as he stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him, hiding Cassia from view. "Hey, Yoi. Did you sleep well?" he asked pleasantly, leaning against the door to prevent anyone from opening it.

     "I h-heard sho-shouting. Is e-everyone okay?" Yoi asked anxiously, refusing to have the subject changed. She glanced from Sky to Clancy, hoping to get an answer from one of them.

     Clancy sighed, and looked over at Sky, who nodded. "It wasn't serious, Yoi, Sky and I just had a... disagreement." One could tell it almost pained her to say that. "Everything is fine now."

     "Then c-can I s-see Cas-Cassia?" Yoi asked hopefully. Clancy bit her lip and glanced over at Sky, who took a step forward and knelt down in front of Yoi. "She's sleeping right now, okay?" He said gently. "She needs time to rest, she's very weak right now."

     Yoi looked at Sky, then at the door. "C-can I still see h-her? I w-want to make su-sure she's o-okay. I haven't s-seen her since you br-brought her i-in..."

     Sky backed into the door, barring her access. "I can't let you see her right now, Yoi. She can't be disturbed in the delicate state she's in right now." He could feel the minutes slipping away, and he was anxious to get back to Cassia before the serum stopped working. It did have a time limit, as most potions did. And, in the loosest sense of the word, the special serum was a potion.

     Yoi looked down, unwilling to look Sky in the eye. "O-oh... B-but you said s-she was o-okay..." She glanced up at Clancy, hoping to have at least her on her side. "C-clancy? C-can I s-see Cassia if y-you're with m-me?"

     Clancy opened her mouth to respond, but Sky shot her a glare. "Can I have a word, Clancy?" he asked in a clipped voice, evidently not willing to take no for an answer. She sighed, and followed Sky down the hallway a bit, out of earshot of Yoi, who stood by the door.

     "Clancy, you know we can't let her see Cassia!" Sky hissed in a low voice, glaring daggers at her.  She put her hands up in a 'woah, slow down' gesture, taking a step back so Sky isn't in her face anymore. "Cool it, Sky. I wasn't going to let her in. What do you take me for, an idiot?"

     Meanwhile Yoi was left alone by the door, dithering. She really wanted to see Cassia; one tiny peak wouldn't hurt, right? She glanced toward Sky and Clancy, and edged closer to the door, opening it slowly. She kept an eye on the two arguing down the hall as she slipped into the room, and closed to door behind her.

     And when she turned around, her breath caught in her throat as she saw Cassia. Calm Cassia, complacent Cassia, lost Cassia. All the emotions that Yoi had never seen in her friend before, plain on the girl's face. "C-Cassia?" she whispered, getting closer to her.

     Cassia didn't respond, her unfocused eyes not seeing Yoi. How could she? She didn't know what was going on; she didn't know she was under the control of some serum. All she knew right now was Sky, who she didn't even know was Sky.

     Yoi shook Cassia's shoulder gently, hoping to get a response out of her. "C-Cassia?" she asked again, as though hoping repeating herself would help. "Cassia, it's m-me. Y-yoi."

Still no response.

     "Yoi, get away from her." The sharp tone of Sky came from the door, and Yoi turned, terror in her gaze. Clancy stood in the background, as though unsure of interacting or not.

     "W-what did y-you do to h-her?" Yoi asked in a shaky voice, not budging an inch. "What did you do?!" For once, her voice didn't shake. She didn't stutter; the strength of the bond she felt with Cassia gave her the courage to stand up for her. She didn't know why, but she knew this was wrong.

     Sky scowl deepened. He shouldn't have ever left the door unguarded, and he was more mad at himself than he was at the young girl in front of him. "She's fine, Yoi." he said in a clipped voice. He hated being this emotionless, but he knew he had to, or something bad could happen. "Go to your room, she needs to be left alone right now." His eyes held no compassion, no give. There would be no arguing with him on the matter.

     Yoi glanced back at Cassia, and then at the two adults in the doorway. Without another word, she ran for the door, worming her way through the small gap left to escape into the hallway. She kept going, down the stairs, out the front door, through the lawn and into the woods. Yoi was heading for her special place, the one she and her brother shared when their mom was drunk. It was the only place she felt safe, secure. The only place where she could trust to always be there.

     "Shit." Sky dropped his angry attitude, looking to Clancy for help. He rubbed a hand over his face, as if trying to clear his mind. "What are we supposed to do now?" Clancy's eyebrow went up so high it nearly vanished into her hair. "We?" she snapped, her very being radiating hostility. "You're the egoistic man who just drove Yoi away because you wouldn't let her see her friend!"

     "I'm the one at fault here?" Sly snapped back, his hostility rising again. "So, you loosing track of Yoi, letting her roam free so she eventually found her way here, and saw Cassia?"

     Clancy rose up, standing toe to toe with Sky, even though he was taller. "It's your fault for doing this to Cassia in the first place! You forced the transformation, you gave her that damned pendant, you brought her back here!" Her voice was furious, but not because she was mad at Cassia, but because she was furious at Sky for putting Yoi in danger. That's all she cared about anymore. Yoi had been her responsibility since James had been taken, and she'd rather be dead than let harm come to the young girl she'd fostered.

     Sky looked like he was ready to let fly any number of insults, but he paused. In Clancy's glare he could see the same love he felt for Yoi, and the passion she had for keeping the young neko safe. He could understand both of those emotions. With a sigh, he backed down. "You're right." he admitted, defeat clear in his tone. "You're right about all of that. But," he glanced up at the still angry woman, an apology in his golden eyes. "regardless of what I've done, we need to work together to fix this. Can you go find Yoi, and I'll join you as soon as I finish with Cassia?"

     Clancy narrowed her eyes at him; she was still rather angry. But, despite how annoying it was, Sky had a point. "Fine." she snapped, making it clear she was only doing this because she had to. "It's not like you know her hiding places anyways." Clancy muttered under her breath as she walked away, following the same path Yoi had taken.

     Sky stayed in the doorway a few minutes longer, then went back into Cassia's room. Her face lit up as he approached, but that did nothing more than drive the point Yoi had said even deeper in his heart. "Hey, Cassia. Something's come up, and I have to go. Do you want to take a nap until I get back? This bed is nice and cozy." His tone was low and calming, but he need not have bothered.

     Cassia was already yawning, her eyes starting to droop closed. "Are you going to come back, Dad? It's been so long since you visited me... I missed you." She sounded sincere, and that was the first worst part to Sky.

     "Of course, little star." He said gently, struggling not to cry. Little star is what he had called her back when she was first born, and even through he knew Cassia wouldn't remember it, he had been wanting to say that again for the longest time. "I'm not going anywhere far, I'll stay close this time. Now, it's time to sleep, okay? You need your rest."

     Cassia nodded, paused a moment, and then hugged Sky. He stiffened, frozen from shock. "I'll see you soon, Dad." she said gently before turning back to the bed and laying down. She was asleep within moments, the last of the serum leaving her as she slipped into a deep slumber.

     After a few long moments, Sky managed to pull himself away, and headed downstairs to help look for Yoi. Each step he took was an effort, there was a pull to both the girls. But, right now, Yoi needed him more. He had to keep reminding himself that.

     And for Yoi's sake, he hoped he found her soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wowza
That was sure was a roller coaster of emotions, wasn't it?

kawaiiKiya29
You happy with this outcome?
I was, haha.

Anyways,
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