Reconnecting

Richard pulled up to his house, it was quiet. Too quiet. He pulled out his phone and dialed. It rang for a moment, then the husky voice answered. “Hello, honey!”

 

Richard smiled. “Do you have the children restrained?”

 

“I got some muscle on it,” she chuckled. “Do you have the pizza?”

 

“Yes I do,” he looked at the stack of boxes. “About five with meat on it…and one vegetarian.”

 

“Oh thank you, Flare will appreciate it.”

 

Richard got out of the car and started walking to the other side. “I don’t understand why she’s vegetarian right now.”

 

“She’s on a cut right now.”

 

“Tell her to go on the stairmaster if she’s wanting to cut.”

 

“She hates stairs.”

 

He grabbed the pizzas. “Is she trying to impress a boy?”

 

“For what I heard, she’s going for a body type like….who’s Jade Cargill?”

 

Richard laughed. “Well tell her I got it.”

 

“Ok honey…wait…..Blaze wants to know if you got wings.”

 

“No I didn’t.”

 

“Uh huh…she wants to know why?”

 

“Because I was just getting pizza.”

 

Richard walked up to the door and tapped it with his foot. The door opened. He couldn’t see who opened the door. He then felt something warm and furry wrap around his leg. 

 

“Daddy!” a little white fluffball cried. 

 

Richard stumbled forward. “Hello, Sophie, it’s great to see you, can you please let go of daddy’s leg?”

 

“But I missed you.” his young three year old whined. 

 

Richard cringed as he felt her claws dig into his thigh. Even at age three she had a tough time controlling her claws. “I know, but we can catch up after I get to the-”

 

“HEADS UP!” another husky, yet shrill voice of his wife Molly. 

 

“Oh no,” Richard whimpered. 

 

He could hear wings flapping, out of the corner of his eyes, blurs latched themselves onto his body, claws digging in. “Owwww-lo girls!” He gritted his teeth, smiling through the pain. 

 

The manticore triplets purred. 

 

“Now girls..I know you missed daddy, but daddy needs to get pizza to the kitchen,” he groaned. 

 

Molly, his manticore wife, came around the corner. “I am so sorry! They slipped away.”

 

“It’s fine,” Richard groaned. “Maybe we trim their nails?”

 

The three manticore cubs that were clinging to his shirt are Cheyene, Charlotte, and Claire, all triplets, and four years old. The three of them dressed alike, and looked alike. There was once an attempt to try to get them different color clothes to tell them apart, but that failed miserably. 

 

“If you want to trim their nails you are on your own,” Molly said, prying them off. 

 

Richard stumbled to the dining room where his family was waiting. The oldest hellhound daughters, Ember, Blaze, and Flare, were restraining his griffon daughters, whose names were Anya and Anastasia, Anya being six, and Anastasia five, Anya had red hair like her mother, while Anastasia had black hair like Richard. Their wings flapped when they saw their dad. Thankfully, his hellhound daughters are 18 years old, fully developed, so they can handle two griffons ages six and five.  

 

“Girls! Calm down!” Daria his griffon wife scolded. 

 

The girls frowned and ceased flapping their wings. Daria went over to them and kissed their foreheads. “Daddy will give you hugs as soon as dinner is over, he’s happy to see you both!”

 

As for the hellhounds, restraining his daughters. Ember and Blaze were two of the bulkiest hellhounds. Ember is a wrestler, so she was built like a brick house, sturdy, strong with muscles that bulged like bowling balls. Blaze does ruby, football, and lacrosse, basically any sport where she can hit someone hard. She’s built like a linebacker, yet runs just as fast as a tight end. As for Flare, unlike her sisters, she’s a swimmer, with a nice swimmer’s body, complete with toned thighs and arms, and a nice flat stomach. 

 

“Calm down!” Richard said. “Pizza will be here…” he shook his leg, trying to get Sophie. 

 

His Jinko wife, Jade, came over to pry her off. “Come on, Daddy can’t give you hugs if you are on his leg.”

 

Sophie whined, but let go. Richard breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at his other two Jinko daughters, Rhea and Nicole. They were the older sisters of Sophie. Rhea is the oldest at seven, while Nicole is five years old. “I thought you two were watching your sister.”

 

“She slipped away,” Rhea said. “She’s crafty.”

 

Richard set the pizza down. Waiting right next to the pizza, and his seat, is his youngest hellhound daughter, Selene, age 9. She smiled at him. “Hi, dad.”

 

Richard kissed her forehead. “Hi sweety.”

 

His eyes then fell to the other manticore daughters, not the little ones, the older sisters. Isabel, age nine, and Ximena, age 7. “Why didn’t you two help your mother restrain your sisters?”

 

“The moment they got your scent it was over,” Xiema said. 

 

“They are slippery.” Isabel added. 

 

Richard sat down, letting his body relax. Thankfully, the table was all set, plates, forks, cups, and napkins liked the table. Pitchers of water and lemonade awaited use. And now everyone’s butts were in the seats. Richard looked over his expansive family. Most assumed he would be overrun, four wives, and a total of 14 children. One would naturally make the joke that his pullout game is weak, or because he decided to wed the more dominant mamano, it’s reasonable to think that he always gets leglocked. It is true, but Richard wants to be a father. He loves being a dad, he wants to raise his children to be happy, and productive. It was instilled into him at a young age by his own dad. His own dad raised him right, taught him the values of hard work, treating a woman right, but most importantly, being a father. And now he has it, he has it all. 

 

“Ok,” Richard cleared his throat. “Everyone make sure to take one slice for now, then you can take multiple…” he looked over at Rhea and Nicole. “I’m looking at you two.”

 

They chuffed in response.

 

“Ok…..” He then felt Selene tug on his shirt. 

 

“Yes sweetie?” he asked. 

“Can we say a prayer?” she asked.  

 

Selene was different from his other daughters, she had gotten into religion, She became a follower of the Lunar Goddess. Luna pointed fingers at Fruity Stories, a children’s program that has heavy Lunar Goddess themes, but Richard didn’t mind. Her becoming more religious at a young age meant she wanted to help out more, and she did a good job watching all her younger sisters, and would keep them out of trouble. 

 

Richard smiled. “Of course sweetie.”

 

He looked down at the table. The littler ones put their paws and claws together, the older ones followed, and his wives too. 

 

“Gracious Lunar Goddess, we thank you for these wonderful and bountiful gifts, and we hope to eat well, and bless us with good health,” Selene said. 

 

Considering the pizza was very greasy and fattening, that last part of the prayer would definitely be needed.

 

After the prayer finished, it was time to eat. Pizza boxes were thrown open, and the food was set upon like wild animals, tearing long strands of cheese from every slice. The first round of pizza was devoured instantly, then the rest followed. Richard was glad to have gotten two slices, but the rest of the pizza wasn’t going to last long. He estimated five minutes. 

 

RRRIIINGGGG!

 

Richard groaned. He hated when people called during dinner time. 

 

“Damn telemarketers,” he muttered. 

 

Selene looked up at him. “Did you swear?”

 

“Uh…no,” Richard said nervously. 

 

Selene looked at him inquisitively, and then he sighed. “Ok…I did.”

 

He heard Ember tsk. “Dad…that means you gotta put money in the swear jar.”

 

“I’ll do it after I answer this,” Richard said as he got up. 

 

“It’s probably a telemarketer again,” Molly said. 

 

“Just check the caller ID,” Jade said. 

 

Richard checked the phone, and saw that it was an unknown number. He sighed, of course it was a telemarketer. He answered. “Hello?”

 

His family ate, but Luna kept an eye on him. She saw his face go blank, he talked low, and after half a minute, he hung up. He stood at the phone for a second, staring at the wall. He then went to the kitchen drawer and pulled out his cigarettes and made his way to the door. 

 

“Honey?” she called. 

 

“I’ll…just be outside for a bit,” Richard sounded like he was a robot. 

 

Luna looked at Molly. Molly eyed Jade, and Jade tapped Daria. 

 

They were all nervous, they hadn’t seen a look like that on Richard in a long time. Not since he first came here. 

 

Luna stood up. “I’m gonna go outside, the other women will join us, Ember, Blaze, Flare, you are incharge.”

 

The three older hellhounds grinned and looked at their sisters. 

 

“No roughhousing!” Jade scolded.“Be benevolent!”

 

“We promise,” Ember said, flexing her powerful bicep. 

 

The four women went outside to find Richard smoking a cigarette. He hadn’t smoked in years, he only did so when he was really stressed. 

 

Luna sat down next to him. “Are you ok?”

 

Molly sat beside him. “What did that person say over the phone?”

 

“Should we be worried?” Jade asked. 

 

Daria picked at her wings nervously. “Does it have something to do with our children?”

 

“Oh god…has Ember been taking steroids?” Molly asked.

 

“Hey!” Luna barked. 

 

“Just saying, your daughters have gotten bulkier lately…”

 

“She is all natural!”

 

Jade then smacked the two of them in the back of the head and gestured towards Richard. 

 

Richard took one last puff of his cigarette. He dropped the butt to the ground and stamped it out. “I’m getting my kids back.”

 

11 years ago.

 

Shiny happy people laughing! 

 

Richard nodded his head to the song in the car, he hoped it would cheer him up. He was leaving behind his world, the normal world if he could call it that, and going to a new job, in the Demon Realm. 

 

Meet me in the crowd, people, people

Throw your love around, love me, love me

Take it into town, happy, happy

Put it in the ground where the flowers grow

 

At the same time, he understood why R.E.M hated this song, even though they were the ones who wrote it, it’s too happy, too cheerful. Of course there was nothing he could do, it was on a radio station, and he was driving an old beat-up blue lemon of a car. 

 

“Why couldn’t the dj have played ‘Everybody Hurts’?” he thought. 

 

He sighed as he pulled up to his new place of work. It was some sort of bright purple, yet made of bricks. 

“What is the mud made out of in the Demon Realm?”

 

He parked and got out, the building towered over him, it looked intimidating. He shouldn’t be intimidated, he got hired to work here, for a city government none the less. He had been trying to find a good job, something to help pay the child support to that bitch of a wife, but it was going to help his kids. He found one that needed his services, the city of Clurg, in the Demon Realm. 

 

At first, he was scared of moving, he didn’t want to be so far away from his kids,  but he didn’t even have any visitation rights, so why did it matter?

 

“This is temporary,” he thought as he climbed the steps. “Get the money, then…move up.”

 

He entered the building, it smelled of lemon and tile. He walked up to the receptionist’s desk, but there was no one there. He looked left, then right. He spied a bill that said ‘ring for assistance’.

 

He tapped the bell. 

 

RING!

 

He heard a loud shuffling in the back. The door was thrown open and a plump hellhound wearing a purple top and black skirt with an apple fritter stuffed in her mouth emerged. Richard was a little thrown off by the hellhound. Most hellhounds are lean or bulky with muscles, this one had a little more fat on her. It gave her a rounder body, still making her sexy, just giving her some extra junk in the trunk, and front, with a very pokeable belly. 

 

She waddled to the desk, embarrassed and took out the apple fritter. “Sorry, I was just in the back…getting a snack.”

 

“No problem,” Richard said. “My name is Richard, I’m here for work.”

 

The hellhound wiped her hands and scrolled though her computer. “Richard…Richard….ah here you are! You are here for the finance position right?”

 

“Yes?” Richard sounded unsure. “I was told I would be working with the purchasing department?”

 

“We lump those in,” got up and smoothed out her black skirt. “Now come on, I’ll show you your desk.”

 

She got up and led him to the back. He was surprised how quiet city hall was. He hadn’t seen any other mamano since he arrived. 

 

“Is everyone out?” he asked. 

 

“Some are, others are hiding,” the hellhound pressed a button for the elevator. “I’m Luna by the way.”

 

“Pleasure to meet you,” Richard extended his hand and shook hers. “So…where’s the boss?”

 

“The boss is in a meeting, she’ll introduce herself later.”

 

The elevator dinged and the two got on. She pressed on the down key and the elevator descended down. 

 

“If you don’t mind me asking, what brought you down here?” she asked. 

 

“Work,” Richard answered quickly. 

 

“Not the atmosphere?” Luna chuckled. “Or the housing prices?”

 

“Just work,” Richard didn’t really want to get into the weeds. 

 

Luna nodded and looked ahead. “Ok.”

 

When the elevator opened, Richard signed. “Sorry if I was rude, I just had a long night.”

 

“No worries, do you need a coffee?” 

 

“I would love one.”

 

She led him to his desk. “Now, do you want cream and sugar?”

 

“Yeah, that sounds nice.”

 

“Do you prefer breast milk?”

 

Richard let out a chuckle and looked up at her. She smirked at him. “I mean, we got some minotaurs on staff, though you gotta milk it yourself.”

 

“I think I want to avoid getting on Human Resources’ bad side for now,” Richard chuckled. 

 

“Smart man,” she chuckled. “I’ll bring you that coffee.”

 

She left to get him some coffee. Richard smiled. “What a nice woman.”

 

He then got his stuff out of his box. He set up his phone on his desk and found an outlet for his charger. He then took out a framed picture. He felt his eyes grow heavy looking at it. It was a typical family portrait of him holding his kids. There was his slick black haired oldest son, Arthur, the twins Aurora and Maeve with their long red hair; little Salem, she got her fathers black hair like him, and then sweet baby Justin. Justin was three when he took this picture, but he was still a baby in Richard’s eyes. 

 

He set it down near his computer, then took out a variety of loose photos, ranging from big to small, wallet sized to full sized, all of his children. He taped them carefully to the walls of his desk and on the edges of his computer, making sure no matter where he looked, he could see their smiling faces. 

 

“Daddy will be home soon,” he said to himself. “I know.”

 

He heard the thump of Luna returning. She had a nice cup of coffee for him. 

 

“I take it there’s no breast milk,” he chuckled. 

Luna sighed. “I tried, but that’s called sexual harassment.”

 

The two of them laughed. He sipped his coffee; it was sweet, and helped perk him up. “Thanks again.”

 

“No problem,” Luna smiled. “If you need anything else, just holler. Your supervisor should be stopping by shortly.”

 

She left him at his desk. Richard sat back and looked around. The start of his new life. 

 

He then took out a paper and pencil.

 

“Hi kids…” he wrote. “I hope your mother is treating you well and I hope you are well too. Today’s my first day of work. So far, it’s going well. My supervisor isn’t in yet, but she will be soon. So far … .it’s nice out here. I miss you all. Arthur, I hope your baby brother is well, make sure he doesn’t eat the race cars. And keep an eye on your sisters, the twins were always clever, but especially be there for Salem, I feel like she took it the hardest. Be a good big brother Arthur to them all. I’m counting on you.”

 

He stopped, he couldn’t think of anything else to write at the moment. He could always add to it later, then send it out. 

 

“I’ll see you all…soon.”

 

Now

 

After the kids went to bed, the wives gathered around a shaking Richard. He still couldn’t believe it, after 11 years his kids were returning to him. 

 

Luna sipped her wine nervously, while Daria plucked at her wings nervously. Molly scratched a large scratching post, it soothed her running her claws up something like that. Richard was surprised they made them as big as a coffin for fully grown mamano. Jade was the only one who had some composure, she sipped her tea. 

 

“11 years…” Richard said in disbelief. “11 years…I’m finally getting them back.”

“It’s been that long?” Luna said.

 

“And….they’ll be living here?” Molly said. 

 

“Of course,” Richard looked at her confused. “Why would you ask that?”

 

“I was wondering if we would have to move to the human world,” Molly clarified.

 

“We will need to prepare rooms for them,” Jade said. 

 

“Right…right…” Daria added. “More space…more kids…uh…your wife….”

 

“Ex-wife,” Richard said. “And I don’t know what happened to her, I have a meeting with the social worker on Monday….I’ll get some details.”

 

Luna scooted closer to him. “Are you ok?” 

 

“Just…nervous…that’s all.”

 

Daria looked at him, taking a break from picking at her wings. “Listen….everything will be fine, I know it will.”

 

11 Years Ago. 

 

“Excuse me?” 

 

Richard looked up to see a griffon with reddish brown wings standing over him. “Are you Richard?”

 

“Yes.”

 

She extended her clawed eagle-like hand to him. “I’m Daria. I’m your supervisor.”

 

“Pleasure to meet you,” Richard said. 

 

“Would you mind if I talked to you in my office for a minute?”

 

Richard got up and followed her to her office. 

 

“Is everything ok?” he asked. 

 

“Oh yes, it’s just I don’t think I got the chance to meet you during the interview process,” Richard said. 

 

“No, unfortunately I wasn’t included, well, I was on vacation,” she smiled at him. “I must say we don’t get a lot of human men in this area.”

 

“Well, it is the demon realm,” Richard chuckled nervously. 

 

“True, true…I just had one question,” she nervously fidgeted with her feathers. “I was reading your resume..and your background check…there was something that came up.”

 

Richard’s blood went cold. 

 

“Now, I saw that you had a…assault charge?”

 

Richard nodded his head. 

 

“Now, hold on,” Daria said, sensing his fear. “You aren’t in trouble, it’s just, I just want to make sure that…you don’t do something like that…in this place.”

 

She rested her head on her hand, trying to not groan. She sounded so awkward. “I mean…I don’t know if you are…violent…..oh god.”

 

“It’s fine,” Richard said. “What happened then was a lapse in judgement…and I’m not that kind of man.”

 

“Ok…ok,” Daria cleared her throat. “I just want to make sure you fit  in, and…you will work well with people.”

 

“I’m sure I will.”

 

“Good…good….uh..well…have a good day.”

 

“Thanks,” Richard then left to get back to work. 

 

Daria buried her head in her hands when he left. “I’m so awkward.”

 

She then went upstairs to bother Luna. Luna was on the phone when she spotted Daria. 

 

“Hi, how’s the new guy?”

 

“Oh I blew it,” Daria groaned. 

 

“What?” 

 

“I….I tried to talk to him and I brought up his assault charge.”

 

“He has an assault charge?”

 

Daria groaned. “Damn it!”

 

“Calm down,” Luna said. “Look, he hasn’t quit yet, just…take it easy, don’t worry.”

“Oh god, I suck at flirting!!!”

 

“Relax, just ask him to join some coworkers after work for a drink or two, something casual.”

 

“Will that work?” 

 

“It should.”

 

Now

 

Richard fidgeted with his fingers in the car. Jade drove him to the appointment with the social worker, she was always the most level headed of them.

 

“I know you’re nervous,” Jade remarked. 

 

“What gave it away?” Richard replied. 

 

She held out her paw. “Do you want to touch my beans?”

 

This is a very rare thing for Jade to do. Jade is very stoic, and being a jinko she took pride in her work, and avoiding certain cat things. Though she didn’t show it, she loved her ear scratches, and her paw beans being touched. However, she tended to get flustered, and hissed when he did that.. Jade knows petting his wives relieved a lot of stress. He especially took a massive risk doing it to Jade. And normally when he pet her, ranging from an ear scratch to a bean poke, he got a nice make out session from Jade.

 

“Am I going to get a kiss for that?” Richard chuckled. 

 

“No kiss, just beans.”

 

Cautiously, Richard touched her soft, warm beans. “So soft.”

 

Jade blushed but remained stoic. “I know…I put the lotion you gave me last Christmas on them.”

 

“Mmmmm, eucalyptus.”

 

Jade cleared her throat. “So, we are here.”

 

“I know,” Richard leaned against his seat. “I’m terrified.”

 

“Why? Those are you babies.”

 

“I haven’t seen them in 11 years, I’ve…I’ve missed so much.”

“But you will be there now,” she said, holding his hand. “That’s all that matters.”

 

Richard nodded. It had been so long, he never stopped being a father, especially to his new kids. 

 

He opened the door to leave. 

 

“Honey?”

 

He turned around and was greeted with a sloppy kiss, Jade’s tongue invaded his mouth, sliding down his throat. She held him for a solid 10 seconds before releasing him. 

 

“There will be more later,” she purred. 

 

Richard stammered and stumbled away to the office. Jade sighed, he’s so nervous, and cute. 

 

Her phone then rang. She saw it was Molly and she answered. “Hi Molly.”

 

“How is he?” Molly sounded nervous. 

 

“Nervous.”

 

“Ooooo, I hope he does well, I can’t wait to see his babies, oh we should bake something for them.”

 

“They need to arrive first.”

 

“I know…I hope he’s well, I hate seeing him nervous.”

 

“He’ll be fine,” Jade looked out at him. “I know he will.”

 

11 Years Ago

 

Richard checked over the purchasing sheet. “This can’t be right, machetes? 12 goats?”

 

He went to Daria’s office. “Hey, where can I find…Molly and Jade?” 

 

“Why?” Luna asked.

 

“Well, they work for the Parks Department right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Their purchases are…weird.”

Luna sighed. “Wait, let me see.”

 

He handed her the form. Luna groaned. “Oh god, not this again, just talk to them, Jade will explain everything, though Molly isn’t going to like it…”

 

Her phone rang. “Oh one second.”

 

She answered. “Hello? Oh god…they did what??!?!?!” She covered the phone. “Uh, I gotta take this, they should be on break, Parks Department is down the hall.”

 

“Everything ok?” 

 

Luna laughed nervously. “Oh it’s fine…just…heh…daughters brought a steel chair to wrestling practice…and one…kind of…delivered a piledriver to someone….”

 

She cleared her throat and turned away slowly. Richard left her alone to go find the Parks Department. The purchases caught his eye because they were absurd. Normally when departments make purchasing requests, it’s for things like pens, pencils, or new equipment. For a parks department, it would be new trucks, a bulldozer, or a tiller. Stuff like that. These were so absurd that it reeked of money laundering, or a prank. 

 

Richard walked down the hall and saw a sign on the door that read, “Parks Department.” He opened the door. “Hello?”

 

A manticore with long brunette hair looked up with her green eyes. She smiled at him. “Hello! Are you the new guy?”

 

“Yes, yes I am.”

 

The manticore stood up and extended her paw. “I’m Molly, pleasure to meet you.”

 

“Richard,” Richard looked at his papers. “Uh, so are you the supervisor?”

 

“Sort of, it’s just the two of us, Jade and I, we run this department, get all the work done.”

 

“I see, any extra workers?”

 

“Temporary when needed, but we handle this, so what are you doing here?”

 

“Well, it’s about your equipment request?”

 

“Oh, it’s not too expensive is it?”

 

“Uhhhhhh….” Richard was confused, the machetes they wanted were basic military surplus, not too expensive. The goats were also cheap as they were renting them. 

 

“Look, I understand that it’s a simple weed job, but they’ve gotten too big, and that weedwhacker would help me get the job done in half the time.”

 

“Weedwhacker?”

 

Molly cocked her head. “Yes…that’s my purchase request, it’s about $200.”

 

Richard looked at his sheet again. “Did you send it to the right department?”

 

“Of course I did.”

 

“Well, this one asks for machetes and goats.”

 

Molly’s nostrils flared. “Let me see that!”

 

She snatched the sheet from him. As she scanned the sheet her face turned red with anger, her muscles trembled with aggravation. “JADE!”

 

There was no response. Molly then marched over to a door and nearly ripped the door off the handles. “JADE! YOU MIND EXPLAINING THIS?!?!

In the closet, a white striped jinko, was meditating. She sat on the ground, legs crossed, her eyes were closed, and her arms curled like a monk.

 

“I’m on break,” Jade said. “This is my meditation time.”

 

Molly flung the paper at Jade, the stapled papers landed gently into Jade’s lap after spending a brief time floating in the air. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO OUR PURCHASE REQUEST?”

 

Jade sighed and opened her eyes. She looked at the sheet. “Mmmhmmm, looks right to me.”

 

“Right? I requested a weedwhacker!!”

 

“And I improved it,” Jade replied calmly.

 

“No, no, no, I am not doing this!”

 

“This work needs to be done, and these are the tools for the job.”

 

“The weedwhacker will cut our time in half!”

 

“Why are you afraid of exercise?”

 

“I am not!”

 

“Then the machete is the most effective for this job. We get a workout, and our combined strength will make this job easy.”

 

“And the goats?!!?”

 

“They will eat the leftover plants, saving money on waste transportation. I have a friend who has a nice herd of goats she uses just for this purpose.”

 

Molly groaned. “Why do you always do this?”

 

“I am getting your biceps and triceps toned.”

 

Richard then whispered to Molly. “Do you have a copy of the original form?”

 

“Yes,” she said. 

 

“Print it out and give it to me, I’ll get your weedwhacker, and I’ll approve the goats.”

 

Molly knew that compromise would be the best. “Deal.”

 

Molly slunk over to her computer and printed it out for Richard. Richard then grabbed the form and went to approve the purchase. 

 

“Thank you,” Molly whispered. 

 

Richard then left the parks department. “What an odd couple, he thought.”

 

When he left, Molly glared at Jade. “Did you do that on purpose?”

 

“What do you mean?” Jade replied 

 

“You knew we got a human here, and did you mess with my form with the hopes of bringing him down here?”

 

Jade shrugged, maintaining her stoic face. “Perhaps it was fate, perhaps this was merely a test.”

 

“A test?!?”

 

“A test to see how efficient he is, the previous person never bothered to read through my requests.”

 

“I still haven’t forgiven you for that stunt you pulled back in May.”

 

“It was raining, so I gave you the proper tools.”

 

“You got me a cloak and a scythe! And there was a kids birthday party! The kid thought the Grim Reaper was here to claim her soul!”

 

“It was raining, the cloak was to keep you dry, and the scythe is the most effective at clearing the brush.”

 

Molly growled. “Just don’t change my forms!”

 

“But you’ll get another glance at his cute face.”

 

Molly blushed, Jade cracked a smile. She saw a lot of potential in this man, the type of potential that will make him a perfect father.

 

But first, she needs to get him on a date. 

 

Now

 

Richard sat in the office, nervously awaiting the caseworker. He was nervous. The divorce he went through 11 years ago was messy, very messy. He didn’t get to see his kids at all, as that bitch of a judge granted full custody to his wife, and he had to pay alimony to her. He should have known that the judge would be biased, not that his assault charge helped. But that judge had a lesbian haircut, so he knew what he was in for. He checked his watch, it was about a minute to 10, where is the caseworker?

 

“Of course if I was late I would be in trouble,” he thought. “Damn government workers. “

 

He then noticed black smoke floating into the office. 

 

He jumped up. “Christ! Is there a fire?”

 

The  smoke was thick like someone was burning a field of tobacco. It confused him. Suddenly the office was full of smoke. He coughed as the thick cloud choked him. 

 

“10 o’clock, right on the dot,” a sultry voice said. 

 

Richard turned to see a nurariyon sitting at the desk, a pipe in her hand. Her skin was pale, a stark contrast to her forestfire black hair and black business clothing. Her pupils were also black, making him feel uneasy. She puffed her pipe and let out a long draw of smoke that hovered in the air like smoke coming out of a volcano. 

 

“You are my caseworker?” Richard asked. The last caseworker he had was some overweight Indian woman. 

 

“Yes, you will answer to me from now on, as for your last caseworker, well, your bosses really need to do a better job at checking credentials, that woman had a copy paste resume like her other co-workers,” she shook her head. “Highly inefficient.”

 

Richard didn’t really care about that. “So, my kids…”

 

“Yes I have your file right here,” she then looked at him. “The names Smith by the way.”

 

“Oh, hi…so about my kids…”

 

Smith took a long draw of her pipe while she typed. “Mmmmhmmmm, yes, social services decided that you will be the best fit for children, they are much older now, how long has it been since you saw them last?”

 

“About 11 years.”

 

Smith whistled. “And look at you…” she scanned his file. “Got remarried … .four wives,  14 children?!?!?!” Smith looked at him with disbelief. “Considering the wives you got, I take it they leg lock?”

 

Richard cleared his throat. “Well, three of those children were from a previous marriage, Luna to be exact.”

 

“Mmmmhmmmm, anyways,” she looked at Richard. “We have determined that your house will be a perfect environment for your children, as they are older now, and it seems you have been able to raise your new family well.”

 

Richard didn’t like the term new family, it made it seem like he replaced his old one, he didn’t do that at all, he started a new one, but he always hoped he would see his original spawn again. 

 

“Ok, um, so what happened? What did Bonnie do?”

 

Saying that name left a bitter taste in his mouth, he hadn’t spoken that name in years. 

 

“The courts found her unfit, as did we, and she will no longer have any access to the children ever again,” Smith eyed Richard. “Permanently.”

 

“Permanently?”

 

“Permanently,” Smith said sternly. “Now, your children will arrive at the end of the week.”

 

“The end of the week?” Richard was shocked, this seemed so sudden. “Don’t you have to do an inspection or….”

 

“We just got the inspection done at your house during this meeting, very clean despite all those furry mamano, how do you do it?”

 

Richard was shocked, they came into his home already? “Was…there any trouble?”

“Not at all, Luna was asleep.”

 

“You went in without them knowing?!?!”

 

“They are surprise inspections for a reason, meet your children at the train station of 2nd street at noon Saturday,” she stood up and outstretched her hand to him. “Congratulations, I will be there.”

 

Richard shook her hand, it then turned to smoke the moment he grasped it. He jumped back and a burst of black smoke erupted around him. It stung his eyes. He rubbed them instinctively, then when he opened them, she was gone. 

 

“What the … .was this even real?” he asked himself. 

 

“It was,” Smith whispered. 

 

Richard jumped up and whirled around to see her materialize behind him like a ghost. 

 

“Sorry, I forgot to give you my card,” she gave him her card, then disappeared in a thick smoke.

 

Richard stood there, dumbfounded, but then excitement came over him. 

 

“I’m gonna see my kids.”

 

*****

When Richard got back to his car, he of course was subject to intense kissing and cuddling from Jade. The rest of the day went as expected, helping around the house, playing with the kids and listening to their day, and of course, spotting his three older hellhound daughters while they bench pressed. 

 

Dinner went well, Luna had been making a brisket. Daria won a smoker in a raffle, and Luna was very eager to use it, though Daria did her own share of smoking food. Luna was trying to be a grillmaster, being home alone while all the kids were at daycare or school meant she had to fill her time someway. The brisket filled everyone’s belly. 

 

Richard excused himself from the dishes (that’s what the kids are for) to go outside for a smoke. He still felt a little nervous, he hasn’t seen his kids in 11 years, they would be so old now, he missed their entire childhood. But, he could make up for it. A cigarette would help calm his nerves.

 

He lit the menthol ridden stick with his lighter and took a small puff. He exhaled, smelling the rich tobacco, it tickled his nose smelling…sweet? Like cotton candy?

 

He glanced to his side to see Ember with a vape in her mouth. She smiled at her dad. “Mind if I join you?”

 

“You know your mother doesn’t like it when you vape,” Richard reminded her. 

 

“And she doesn’t like it when you smoke.”

 

Richard puffed on his stick. “Then we are at an impasse.”

 

Ember smiled. “Yep.”

 

The two sat in silence for a second. Ember knew her dad was stressed. He did a good job at hiding it, but she could smell it on him. She remembered how when she was 12, she needed help with her homework, she felt afraid approaching him, she could smell the stress and sweat on him, he had a long day at the office. She half expected him to dismiss her, but he cracked a small smile, grabbed a beer and helped her. She could feel him get less tense as he helped her with calculus. That’s what she loved about him, even when he’s stressed, he takes time for his children. 

 

“So, I’ll be getting some new siblings?” Ember asked. 

 

“Yes,” Richard said. 

 

“I’ve always wanted a brother,” Ember said as she puffed on her vape. “Now I get one.”

 

“You’ll have two brothers,” he said. “And three new sisters.”

 

Ember nodded. “How do you feel?”

 

“You can smell it on me,” Richard laughed dryly. 

 

“I would rather hear you say it.”

 

Richard sighed. “Terrified, it’s been 11 years since I’ve seen them last.”

 

Ember nodded. “Well, word around the house is mixed.”

 

“What?”

 

Ember puffed her vape. “Some are excited, mostly the little ones, the triplets are eager to have more big sisters. The older ones are nervous.”

 

“Are you nervous?”

 

Ember laughed. “I’m going to college soon, I’m not freaking out at all.”

 

“What about your sisters?”

 

“They don’t care.”

 

“Oh….” 

 

Ember looked at her dad. “That’s not a bad thing, they are busy sorting through scholarships and college to worry about that.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“But we’ll treat them like family,” Ember smiled. 

 

“Thanks,” Richard smiled. 

 

Ember took a long draw of her vape. “What are you most scared of?”

 

“I don’t know, I haven’t seen them in 11 years, they were just kids when I had to leave them, I….I’m afraid of messing up.”

 

Ember nodded. “You didn’t mess up with us.”

 

When Richard first started dating Luna, he met her children. The previous father had left them (Richard was surprised that someone actually ran out on a hellhound), Luna had gained some weight, getting more chubby, and was nervous about dating again. She thought she was a hag, but her coworkers convinced her to try it. Of course, it meant Richard had to meet her very energetic 11 year-olds. However, when Richard set his sights on those powerful, and rambunctious girls, he felt something he thought he lost the moment things ended with his life: the ability to be a dad. Sure it was rough at first, Luna would ask Richard to watch the kids, and the girls would gang up on him, trying to show off their new martial arts and wrestling skills. Richard walked away with many bruises. But he persevered, after a while, he started bonding with them. It had been Ember that took the first chance on him, he helped her with math. Soon, Blaze followed when she needed help with English class, then finally Flare was the final one to succumb when Richard comforted her after she broke her leg and was out for the rest of the rugby season. 

 

Those girls warmed up to him, and when the rest of the ladies saw his fatherly actions towards the girls. 

 

Well, you can tell what happened due to all the children he had. 

 

“You are an amazing dad,” Ember smiled at him. She hugged her dad. “And I love you.”

 

“I love you too,” Richard said. 

 

“You’ll do great, being a dad is natural to you.”

 

“But I haven’t seen them in years.”

 

“And it’s a better time than never to make up for it.”

 

Richard smiled. 

 

“And, you’ll have a lot of help, I’m sure the moms would love to help, even mine, I think they’ll be trying to see which one will be the favorite among your kids.”

 

“Ha, and are you gonna try to be the favorite sibling?”

 

“Depends, can I buy them beer?”

 

“Only if you promise not to drink and drive.”

 

“Hi, daddy!” a sweet little voice chirped. 

 

The two turned around to see little Selene, she had a candy cigarette in her hands. “Can I join you?”

 

“Sure,” Richard chuckled. “Need a light?”

 

Selene nodded and stuck out her cigarette, Richard mimed lighting it and she puffed on the candy cigarette. 

 

“So sweety, how much did you hear?” Richard asked. 

 

“Well….I don’t know if momma would like her buying beer,” Selene replied. 

 

Ember puffed her vape nervously. 

 

“Now, you know she was joking right?” Richard asked. 

 

“She was?” 

 

“Of course,” laughed Richard. “She can’t buy beer anyways, she’s 18.”

 

Selene frowned. “But…why does it say 21 on her ID?”

 

Richard turned around. Ember’s eyes were wide like saucers. 

 

“Heh…I…uh…well….time for bed,” Ember slunk into the house. 

 

Richard would have a talk with her tomorrow morning. He looked down at Selene. He picked her up and held her. She’s a big girl for nine years old, but hellhounds mature fast, and he had been working out specifically to be able to lift all his children. “Are you excited about..having more guests?”

 

“I have more brothers and sisters!” Selene squealed. “When will they be here?”

 

“This Saturday.”

 

“Can I come with you?”

 

“Well, I think you should stay here…”

 

“But…but…daddy…” Selene whined. 

 

“It’s just, they might just want to see me, but I promise, you’ll get to see them when I bring them home.”

She hugged him. “Promise?”

 

“I promise,” Richard said as he hugged her back. 

 

****

Richard tapped his foot nervously as he waited for the train to arrive. He dressed up wearing a golf shirt and shorts. He kept checking his watch nervously. They were supposed to arrive at noon, it’s 11:55! 

 

“Calm down, calm down,” he thought. “Trains always run late…well….it takes time…and….”

 

His mind is a mess, he felt like he was dreaming. His kids would be here in five minutes…he hoped at least. He wondered how they were doing, he wondered what interests they have, and most importantly, if they would love him. He racked his brain with these thoughts.  

 

He told his wives that he wanted to pick them up alone, this is his time. They would prepare the house for their arrival while he went to get them. Luna was overly excited and was in a cooking frenzy, making a brisket and ribs. Jade was cooking with her, adding some more green to the mix, such as a salad, both green and potato. But she was also making her own Korean BBQ ribs. Daria and Molly were busy cleaning, and preparing the children for their new siblings. They wanted this to go off without a hitch, no troubles. 

 

He looked at his watch, 11:58. They should be here.

 

He breathed a sigh of relief when he started hearing the train approach. He stood up straight, he couldn’t wait to see them at long last. After all these years. 

 

“Excited?” 

 

He jumped and turned around to see Smith, puffing away with her pipe lazily. Her expression is stoic, like a statue. 

 

“What are you doing here?” asked Richard. 

 

“I’m here to oversee the pickup.” Smith said. “Remember?

 

Richard nodded. “Did you have to scare me like that?”

 

Smith took a long drag. “Trains here.”

 

The station shook as the train pulled to a stop. Richard wrung his hands nervously. “They are on that train, right?”

 

“Of course they are,” Smith replied. 

 

The train finally stopped, mamano filed out of the train cars. Richard darted his head around, trying to see through the masses. He saw some humans, but it was all men with their mamano wives keeping them close to their sides.

 

“Where are they?” he thought. 

 

Finally, he saw a smaller man emerge from the train. He looked like a teen, and he had slick-oil black hair. 

“Arthur….” he whispered. His heart felt heavy, his boy was all grown up, close to being a college boy. A tear came to his eye. Arthur scanned the area, no doubt looking for him. “Where’s the rest?”

 

He looked over at Smith, her face remained stoic like a statue. He hoped she would have some expression of joy or something that would show she had feelings. A father is about to reunite with his kids!

 

He was about to take a step forward when he saw two other figures emerge from the train. One is a malef dragon with long dark black scales that shone like obsidian in the sunlight, and the other with darkish-purple horns protruding from her head is a jabberwock . Did Arthur make some friends? They looked about his age. He squinted eyes, their faces looked familiar, the eyes too. Something about them felt like trying to find a difference between two pictures, like there was some difference, but he couldn’t make it out. Then he saw the long flowing red hair and his mind flashed to the picture of the twins he had on his computer desk.

 

“Ah..ah…Aurora…..” he choked. “Maeve?”

 

What had happened to them?!?! They certainly weren’t monsterized when he left! They were human!!  Did this happen when they came through the portal?

 

Smith could see his face full of anguish and confusion. She kept her stoic face. 

 

He then saw his other son Justin emerge, he still had those beautiful big eyes and he was walking out with a zombie dragon with greyish-green skin with long oily black hair. 

 

“No…no…” he whimpered. “Salem….”

 

His daughters were dragons?!?!? And Salem is a zombie dragon. He turned and looked at Smith coldly. “Did you know?”

 

“Do you still want them?” Smith asked nonchalantly. 

 

Richard felt insulted, of course he still wanted his kids. They are his! He turned away from her and marched towards them. He kept a straight face, holding back tears. These aren’t tears of disgust towards his daughters, he has an entire nursery full of kids at home. The only thing he cares about is having them in his life again. 

 

Arthur first noticed him. He wore a scowl. He nudged his sisters. Aurora and Maeve looked at him. Justin hid behind Salem as she turned toward him. 

 

Richard felt like he had a lump in his throat. He wasn’t sure what to say, he held back his tears. His arms twitched, he wanted to hug them, but he could tell from their faces that it’s not time yet. 

 

Finally, his throat cleared of emotions, his voice cracked. “Arthur….Maeve….Aurora…..Salem…Justin…It’s….it’s been so long.”

 

His children looked at him with wide eyes, aside from Arthur, he looked at him with contempt. It was an awkward, tense silence between the two parties. Arthur’s heart ached for a hug, he wanted to scoop up his children, give them love, but he knew it wasn’t time yet. He could see Justin still trembling. He is older, but he still exhibited the same shy tendencies he had as a baby.The knot reformed in his throat. He felt like he was gonna cry. 

 

Thankfully Smith stepped in. “Arthur, Maeve, Aurora, Salem, and Justin, as you know, this is your biological father, and he is verified to be your real father, hence why I am here. I am Smith, your caseworker. I will be escorting you back to his house. Do you have everything you need?” 

 

“Yes,” Arthur said. He looked back at Justin. “You got my fuzzy?”

 

Justin nodded and held out a small teddy bear. Richard’s heart was given a shot of happiness, he gave Justin that bear the day he had to leave, and he kept it. 

 

“Excellent,” Smith said. “Does anyone need to use the bathroom?”

 

Salem raised her hand. 

 

“Then go, we leave shortly,” Smith said. 

 

Salem left to use the restroom while Richard continued looking at his kids. They were really here, all of them. Though he would need to ask how they got monsterized. 

 

*****

Richard kept a firm hand on the steering wheel to the point where his knuckles turned white. His kids are in the car, and he was excited. He didn’t know how to address the elephant in the room, with his daughters being monsterized. 

 

He cleared his throat. “So….you all have gone through some changes since the last time I saw you.”

 

There was some silence, but it was Salem that cracked a smile and spoke first. “I know, I got taller.”

 

Richard smiled. “I did notice that, what were you eating?”

 

“Steak, eggs, vitamins.”

 

Her comment got some smiles from her sisters, even Justin was looking a little happier. Arthur stared out the window, not even acknowledging his sister’s comment. Richard was happy some of the tension was broken. He looked over at Smith. She was sitting in the passenger seat, expressionless like a robot. It creeped him out. 

 

“So, I should let you know, my wives and kids are eager to meet you,” Richard said.

 

“Wives?” huffed Arthur. 

 

“Yeah..I…got remarried,” Richard replied. 

 

His kids looked nervous.

 

“I know they’ve been cooking something up for you, so I hope you like it, and…I know the kids are eager to have some new siblings,” Richard flashed a nervous smile. 

 

Justin looked forward. “Siblings?”

 

“Yeah, big and older ones, they might need a big brother to help them, or play with,” Richard replied. 

Justin looked down, but Richard could see a smile creeping up on his face. 

 

“I hope the girls are under control,” Richard thought. The girls were very excited to see their new siblings, but now he would have to explain why he had three other mamano children. But he didn’t even know how this happened.

 

Richard looked over at Smith, hoping for an answer. Smith looked at him, her face saying that all will be explained later. 

 

*****

They pulled up to Richard’s house, and all of his kids’ eyes (aside from Arthur) were wide. Richard’s house was huge!

 

“Woah…it’s like a castle,” Justin said. 

 

The twins gawked at the balcony, it was in the center of the house, it looked lush with plants and vines hanging off the balcony, giving it a mysterious vibe like an aging plantation. Richard didn’t tell his wives this but he modeled the house after a level in one of his favorite video games, there’s a plantation level with a beautiful house and you have to defend it from zombies. He got the white coloring, the gates, everything right, with some additional rooms to fit the kids. The only ones who knew the secret was his older daughters, they did enjoy killing zombies. 

 

Richard saw the twins in awe. “Is that a good perch to fly off?”

 

“They aren’t birds,” Arthur said dryly. 

 

“But they have wings,” Richard pulled the car to a stop and started getting out. “And it would make a good way for them to get exercise.”

 

Smith dissipated into smoke and drafted through the cracks in the car door, not even bothering to open it. “Under supervision I would assume.”

 

“Of course,” Richard replied nervously. 

 

The kids filed out, Arthur took the lead with everyone else trailing behind. As they walked to the house Richard noticed that Arthur was leading the pace for his siblings, moving cautiously, eyes scanning the house for any flaws, or something out of place. Arthur’s eyes also glanced at him, trying to read his body movement, his facial expressions. His siblings remained firmly behind him, grouped up, but not enough to where they would be tripping over each other, just enough to give each their space. 

 

They got closer to the house, already Richard could smell the food wafting under the door. He could see his dragon daughter’s tail wagging anxiously, no doubt their increased senses were smelling the delicious delicacies behind the door. Richard’s heart was racing, he knew what to expect: eager wives ready to meet the newest addition to their family, eager daughters swarming their new siblings and seeing if they could start playing with them. 

 

But at the same time, he didn’t know what to expect. 

 

He opened the door, and was pleasantly surprised when he saw a banner saying, “WELCOME!”

 

His daughters, for the first time ever, were lined up in an orderly fashion, not scrambling to hug their daddy, or pounce on him, or dig their claws into his thighs. They were all well behaved, smiles all around, eager to meet their new siblings. His wives were all lined up, with the exception of Luna and Jade. Molly and Daria were wearing their Sunday best. Molly wore a pink flowery dress and Daria wore a purple dress. The two smiled.

 

“Hello!” They said in unison. 

 

Richard’s kids were shocked at how many spawn he had.. It was like he produced his own army. 

 

“Someone doesn’t like to wear a condom,” Arthur thought. 

 

Richard smiled nervously at his original children. “Kids, this is….well….my family, that’s Molly and Daria, and…” he took a deep breath. “These are my kids…..Ember, Blaze, Flare, Selene, Anya, Anastasia, Rhea, Nicole, Sophie, Isabella, Ximena, Cheyene, Charlotte, and Claire.”

 

Maeve looked at the vast amount of kids he had, but noticed jinko and hellhound kids. “Did you adopt some?”

 

Richard laughed. “No, the others….”

 

Jade and Luna bursted out of the kitchen, brisket and ribs in their hands. 

 

“His spawn!” Jade exclaimed as she set down her ribs. 

 

Luna set down her food, she was still wearing an apron. She looked pleasantly at them. “Hello! You must be his children!” she walked up to them, paw outstretched. “I’m Luna, oh you look even cuter in person!”

 

Richard was surprised they weren’t reacting to the fact his daughters were dragons now, when they had seen plenty of pictures of them as human. Salem seemed the most surprised.

 

“We made plenty of food for you to eat,” Luna said with a smile on her face. “So dig in.”

 

“I do hope you enjoy the ribs,” Jade said. “I made them special.”

 

“My brisket was smoked for 18 hours!” Luna said with a smile, though her eyes were narrowing at Jade. 

 

“I cooked mine for six hours, but the meat will melt in your mouth!” Jade growled through a smile. 

 

Richard stepped in. “Honey’s, both of your cooking is phenomenal, and now let’s spend less time arguing and more time eating.”

 

The two women nodded, and the feast was on. Richard’s original children got first crack at the food, they piled their plates high like they’ve never eaten before at all. Then the rest of the children got to it. 

 

Richard’s original children gathered around Arthur, but they themselves found themselves surrounded by Richard’s eager children. They stared Arthur and his siblings down with intense smiles.

 

“Wow…your scales are pretty,” Selene said. 

 

The triplets surrounded Maeve. 

 

“I like your hair,” Cheyenne said. 

 

“Your wings are cool!” Charlotte added.

 

“You want to fly with us?” Claire asked. 

 

Maeve smiled. “Well, I figured you three could show me some tricks.”

 

Isabella laughed. “Careful, they really just know how to glide.”

 

“Isn’t that all flying is? Gliding?” Mave asked. 

 

Anya and Anastasia gasped. 

 

“It is not!” Anya cried. 

 

“There’s skill!” Anastasia added. 

 

Maeve laughed. “Oooo, did I strike a nerve?”

 

Salem chuckled. “Normally I do that.”

 

Aurora, the other half of Mave smiled. “Well, I haven’t had the chance to fly much, so maybe you all could help.”

 

They all grinned eagerly and flooded the three with even more questions. Meanwhile Justin found himself badgered by the jinkos. 

 

“I like your bear,” Sophie said. 

 

“Thanks,” Justin replied, holding it tight. 

 

“Sophie has something similar,” Rhea said. “A little tiger cub.”

 

“So do we,” smiled Nicole. “Did your daddy get that for you?”

 

Justin looked at his father, who was keeping an eye on them while eating and talking with his wives and the social worker. 

 

Justin smiled. “He did.”

 

Meanwhile Richard was talking quietly with the social worker. “Are you enjoying the food?”

 

Smith took a bite. “Yes, your wives cooking is good.”

 

Jade batted her eyes. “Is mine better?”

 

Luna cleared her throat. “Ahem, this isn’t a competition…but mine is better?”

 

Daria then tapped Richard on the shoulder. “Uh, so Richard, I didn’t want to say anything…but why are your girls mamano?”

 

Richard looked at Smith. “That’s what I was going to ask.”

 

Smith looked at him. “Your wife wasn’t responsible for them being monsterized if that’s what you were thinking, though she was an unfit mother.”

 

“Well, what happened?” 

 

“What we do know is that her dating life went to shit after the divorce…”

 

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Richard thought. 

 

“We know she dated someone named Josh Tresh, the man was a big supporter of the Order.”

 

Richard’s blood ran cold. He saw his wives muscles tense, claws twitch, that was a word they didn’t like at all. 

 

Smith continued. “As expected, he was abusive….and according to our interviews, creepy.”

 

“Did he monsterize them?” Richard asked.

 

“No….we think it was one of your daughters ideas, you know, a way to be rebellious, get back at him.”

 

“Which one?” 

 

Smith glanced at the table. “I think it was Salem, but that’s all I know.”

 

Richard looked at his kids. He was glad to see them all together, talking. The only one not fitting in was Arthur, he was at the end of the table eating, not interacting with anyone.

 

“Soon,” Richard thought. “You’ll integrate. I know it.”

 

He also knew he had a good excuse to talk to his daughters, especially Salem.

 

******

The food was delicious, and when the night ended, it was time for bed. Full bellies meant a good night’s sleep. Richard led his original children up the stairs. 

 

“So, we have plenty of room, I have extra space for you all….” he looked at the twins. “Do you want to stay in the same room? I know you two liked that as kids…”

 

“Yes!” they said in unison. 

 

“Good,” he opened the door. “I hope you enjoy it.”

 

The rooms were bare, only a mattress with the comforter and usual bedding. 

 

“You can decorate it how you like,” Richard said. 

 

The twins rushed in eager.

 

He looked at his other children. “Don’t worry, you each will get your own room.”

 

He led Salem to her room. Salem smiled. “Can I paint the walls black?”

 

“Sure!”

 

Salem entered the room with a grin on her face. “We start tomorrow.”

 

Richard led Justin to his room. “Did you have a good time?”

 

“Yeah,” Justin said softly. 

 

“I think my daughters really like you.”

 

“They do?”

 

“Of course, you know, they always wanted a big brother,” he looked over at Arthur. “It means you both can be role models.”

 

“I can be a role model?” Justin smiled. 

 

“Of course,” Richard led him to his room. “Now get some sleep.”

 

Justin went into his room, then finally it was Arthur’s room. Arthur hadn’t spoken much since he arrived. Richard opened the door. “So this is all yours, and I hope you had a good-”

 

Arthur entered his room without saying a word. Richard bit his lip. 

 

“It’ll take some time,” he thought. 

 

*****

Justin woke up to a strange smell. Normally the mornings with his human mother smelled like burnt coffee and eggs, with a hint of cigarette smoke. And it was always followed by some yelling as she got into an argument with her boyfriend. He would cover his ears and wait for the yelling to die down, or until Arthur came in to comfort him.

 

But this smell, it was greasy, salty, and smelled of hickory and meat. There was an aroma of cinnamon in the air.

 

It smelled like food. 

 

He got up, still clutching his teddy bear and wearing his pjs, and opened the door. He went down the stairs before turning a corner. There he saw the hellhound, Luna is her name, humming and cooking. She observed the bacon carefully, making sure each one was cooked perfectly to a nice crisp that can easily break apart. She then turned to flip over some pancakes she had on a griddle. 

 

Justin took another step and the floor made a creek. Luna’s ears perked up and she whirled around with a bright smile on her face. 

 

“Hello there!” she sang. 

 

Justin flinched, he was not used to this radiating energy. Luna saw him jump and she quickly changed her tone. “Oh it’s ok, sorry didn’t mean to scare you, if anything you startled me.”

 

Justin didn’t know what to say. He only trembled. 

 

“Well, you are the first one up, it means you get first crack at the bacon,” she held out a plate of freshly cooked and crisp bacon wafting the smell towards him. Justin scooched forward, inch by inch, getting closer to the food. His mouth watered. 

 

“Now, I got normal bacon, but….” she looked over at the oven with a grin. “I got a different batch cooking in the oven. It’s maple bacon, covered in brown sugar.”

 

Justin took one strip of the hickory bacon and chewed on it. The crisp food melted in his mouth. “Delicious.”

 

The oven dinged and Luna took the new batch of bacon out. “Just in time!”

 

The bacon sizzled on the tray. The sweet and salty smell piqued Justin’s curiosity.

 

“Now we’ll let that cool, in the meantime….” she flipped up the pancakes onto the plate. “How about some pancakes?”

 

Justin looked at them. They were a golden dark brown color . “What are those?”\

 

“These?” Luna smiled. “Cinnamon roll pancakes.”

 

“They smell good.”

 

“And they taste good too, plus….” She grabbed a bowl full of silky white frosting. “You get to add your own frosting onto them, like a real cinnamon roll.”

 

“Really?” 

 

“Yes, and it’s all homemade,” she passed him the bowl. “Now, do you want to add your own frosting to your pancake, or me?”

 

Justin looked at the bowl, he could feel his senses overloading just from the sweet smell of the frosting alone “Can I?”

 

“Yes you can.”

 

Justin started slathering his pancake in frosting, he wasn’t trying to be greedy, he just never had this amount of freedom before. When he was done, his plate looked more like a plate of frosting rather than a pancake. He looked at her, feeling guilty.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

 

“I took too much.”

 

Luna clicked her tongue. “True…but…then again you woke up first.”

 

Justin looked at her, expecting her to be upset. 

 

“Besides, I can always make more, my oldest is cutting back on the carbs and it leaves so many leftovers, you give the frosting to the little ones, well, they are bouncing or flying off the walls,” she chuckled. “You seem like you can handle your sugar.”

 

Justin took a bite out of his frosted up pancake. His tastebuds were blown away by the explosion of sweet, savory frosting. When the pancake managed to get through the globs of frosting, Justin nearly cried because he could taste the cinnamon. Despite him drowning the pancake in frosting, the two sweetnesses were still able to thrive in his mouth. A smile came to his face as he devoured the pancake. 

 

Luna looked at him with joy, they say food is the best way to a person’s heart, and it seemed Justin is already warming up to her. “When you are done eating that, make sure to try the maple bacon…if you haven’t gotten a sugar crash yet.”

 

Justin nodded. 

 

“Well, looks like someone’s already digging in,” laughed Ember. 

 

Normally Ember, Blaze, Flare were the first up. Justin looked over his shoulder, mouth full of food and frosting. 

 

“Mmmmm, those pancakes smell good,” Blaze drooled.

 

“Maybe one wouldn’t hurt,” Flare said. 

 

“I thought you were vegan,” Ember said. 

 

“Vegetarian,” Flare corrected. “Just trying to cut right now.”

 

They sat next to Justin. Justin kept eating, he swallowed his food and asked. “May I have some juice?”

 

“Of course, what do you want?” Luna asked. 

 

“Uh…orange?”

 

“One orange coming up!” Luna went to the fridge and pulled out a couple oranges.

 

Justin was about to say something when Ember nudged him. She gestured with her eyes for him to watch. Luna took the oranges in her fist and squeezed them. With a loud squelch the juice ran from her fist, filling up the cup. 

 

She turned toward him. “You don’t mind pulp, do you?”

 

Justin shook his head no.

 

“And don’t worry, my hands are clean,” Luna squeezed another fruit. 

 

“She always does this,” Blaze whispered. “You should see her with a grapefruit.”

 

After squeezing three oranges, Luna gave Justin his orange juice. “They’re fresh squeezed.”

 

“Thank you,” Justin said. He took the orange juice and drank it. His throat was dry from the sugar. Unfortunately, the orange juice went down the wrong pipe. He spat out the orange juice, his glass falling. It spilled onto the maple bacon. 

 

“Butterfingers,” laughed Ember.

 

Justin coughed, but he flinched, waiting for a yell, a smack across the back of the head. 

 

“Hey, you ok?” Blaze asked.

 

Justin opened his eyes, Luna was moving the bacon and wiping up the mess. She looked up. “Do you need another glass?”

 

Justin trembled, wondering if she was holding back her anger. 

 

Luna cocked her head. “Is everything ok?”

 

“Are…are you mad?”

 

“No?” Luna kept wiping. “It was an accident.”

 

“But..I ruined your bacon.”

 

Luna chuckled. She took a strip of orange juice covered-bacon and ate it. “I do need more Vitamin C in my diet.”

 

Justin still looked scared. Luna could sense his fear. She walked around the counter and spun him around. “Are you ok?”

 

“Are you mad?”

 

“No, surprised, but not mad.”

 

He clutched his bear tighter. Luna felt her heart stiffen. After the children went to bed, the social worker had told them that Richard’s previous wife wasn’t the best, and the household was dysfunctional. She didn’t ask about abuse, but she could tell that Justin was deeply afraid of reprisal. 

 

Luna put a large paw on his shoulder. “You aren’t in trouble, accidents happen.”

 

“I’m…I’m not?” he whimpered. 

 

“Of course not.”

 

Justin then lunged forward and hugged her. Luna was surprised, she wasn’t expecting to hug, not for at least another month. She heard his sharp, sobbing breaths as he cried into her shoulders. She picked him up and held him. He may be 14 years old, but given the average height of a hellhound is eight feet tall, and she is strong, she picked him up like it’s nothing. She held him and whispered. “You are loved in this house, I promise you.”

 

That’s when Justin knew he didn’t need to be scared of this family. 

 

******

 

Eventually everyone else came down for breakfast, and everyone was treated to a more social Justin. He hung out with his new sisters, eating and talking. Salem, Aurora, and Maeve came down and were doing their best to socialize, they did praise Luna’s pancakes. 

 

“Do you always cook?” Salem asked. 

 

“Mostly, I guess it’s an old habit of mine, back when I had the girls I would get up early to cook for them, I always loved seeing their smiles when it was time to eat,” Luna said. 

 

“You cooked for all these girls?” 

 

“Yes…oh sorry, I meant my girls,” she pointed to the trio of tall hellhounds. “Those are mine, Richard’s their step father technically, but they call him dad.”

Salem took a bite out of her pancake. “So you were married?”

 

“Was….” she sighed. “He didn’t want to be a father…..felt….used up.”

 

She then looked lovingly at Richard. “But….your father was there for me…and my daughters.”

 

Richard was interacting with all of his children. He rubbed some heads, some feathers, and gave his wives some kisses. He then went up to Justin. “Sleep well?”

 

Justin smiled. “Yeah, I did……Luna’s nice.”

 

“She is nice,” Richard smiled. 

 

“Are the others…nice?”

 

“Why of course they are,” Richard laughed. “You want to come sit with them, they might pester you for questions, but they are curious about you.”

 

Justin smiled. “Thanks……dad.”

 

Richard felt his heart warm. Justin then hugged him, and Richard felt even happier. He hugged his son back. “Love you son.”

 

Justin went to talk to his new moms. Salem then slid next to him. 

 

“So, we’re gonna paint my room today?” she asked. 

 

“Of course,” Richard said. He looked around. “Hey…where’s Arthur?”

 

“He’s upstairs,” Salem said. 

 

“Sleeping still?”

 

Salem shrugged. She then went to get more food. Richard looked upstairs, it concerned him that Arthur wasn’t down here. Yes he knew it would take time for them to adjust, but even last night Arthur acted like a loner. It concerned him.

 

“Baby steps,” Richard thought. He went upstairs and knocked on Arthur’s door. “Hey, Arthur, breakfast is ready…I’ll try to make sure they save you a plate.”

 

He heard nothing in response, he then turned around and went back downstairs. 

 

“Baby steps,” he told himself. “Baby steps.”

 

*****

 

“So, all black?” Richard asked Salem as they picked out paints at the hardware store. 

 

“Not just black, I’m looking for obsidian black, matches my scales, and is more pleasing to the eyes,” Salem corrected. 

 

“Ok…uh…” he looked at the paints, it all looked the same to him. 

 

“Keep in mind, you are a man, you can only see one type of color,” Salem picked out two cans of paint. “Women like me can see multiple colors.”

 

They bought the paint and drove home. Luckily they didn’t have to purchase brushes, they already had those. They went up to her room. 

 

“So, you gonna help everyone else with their room?” Salem asked as she popped the lid off the paint. 

 

“Justin is fine with his room, the twins like theirs, and Arthur…well..” he sighed “It’s been hard reaching him.”

 

“Gee, it’s like he’s bitter or something,” Salem said sarcastically. 

 

Richard winced. “I don’t blame him.”

 

Salem changed her tone. “Hey, you are here now.”

 

They started painting the walls. Richard easily painted the walls professionally, the brush going up and down like a master painter.

 

“You are good at this,” Salem commented. 

 

“I…had experience,” Richard said. “From…your room….”

 

“And the other children,” Salem said, and snickered. “So dad….did you convert to Mormonism?”

 

“What?”

 

“Multiple wives, kids, like damn!”

 

Richard laughed dryly. “Well…it just happened, I worked with them, we spent a lot of time together…and I was shocked that I could marry them all.” He then turned to her. “But I never forgot about you or your siblings, I promise that.”

 

“I know, I got your letters.”

 

“You…got my letters?”

 

“Well, the one’s mom didn’t intercept,” Salem smiled. “I knew you still loved us, she got better at getting the later ones though.”

 

“I’m sorry, I would have visited…”

 

“Mom really was something,” Salem sighed as she continued painting. 

 

Richard looked at his daughter. She still looked gorgeous, even as a dragon zombie. He mustered up the courage to ask. “Salem…may I ask…why are your sisters are…dragons?”

 

Salem without a beat said. “We got monsterized.”

 

“Yes, but by who?”

 

“Some witch.”

 

Richard knew he couldn’t dodge the questions anymore. “But, who made the suggestion?”

 

Salem stopped painting and looked at him. “Me.”

 

Richard gulped. “Um…may I ask why?”

 

Salem went back to painting. “Well, mom was dating this guy, was really into the Order, you hear of them?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Well, he was an asshole, kept talking about how monsters are filthy creatures, yelling at us for not praying, he didn’t like me dressing like a goth, said I looked like some sort of ghoul or zombie. Well, I had enough, and I thought, ‘if he hates monsters so much, maybe I’ll just become one’.”

 

“And….so you got yourself monsterized?”

 

“Yep, and I got my sisters too.”

Richard nodded. “Why?”

 

“I wanted them to be safe,” she clicked her tongue. “Let’s just say, the guy was staring at them a little too much, and what better way to get him out of the house than to be a monster.”

“So, you got them monsterized?”

 

Salem stopped and looked at Richard coldly. “It was their choice! I didn’t force them!”

 

“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that!” Richard panicked. “I…I just wasn’t expecting that.”

 

“Well, I was wondering what you would think, but after seeing all the kids you have,” she smiled. “I guess you have no quarrel.”

 

“Of course I don’t, I love you no matter what.”

 

She stopped, then looked at him. “Really?”

 

“Of course, I never stopped loving you.”

 

Salem smiled. “Thanks dad.”

 

“Though, I have one question, why a zombie dragon?”

 

Salem grinned. “I thought it would look cool, and I wanted to be a dragon, but why be a live one? A zombie one? Now that’s cool.”

 

“Well, I guess it fits you.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Richard kept painting, but then he smiled. “She called me dad.”

 

****

Painting Salem’s room didn’t take that long, since she wanted it all black. When Richard finished he went to check on the rest of the children. Salem took the opportunity to relax in the hallway while the paint dried.

 

“I can’t believe you were in a room with him,” Arthur said. 

 

Salem turned around to see Arthur finally coming out of his room. 

 

“Good to see you,” Salem smiled. 

 

Arthur still had a scowl on his face. 

 

“Well, I didn’t freak him out,” Salem said. 

 

“He still thinks things are ok? After he left us? Arthur growled. 

Salem sighed. “Look, I was upset too, but mom pushed him away.”

 

“And he left us with her.”

 

“He didn’t want to, fucking judge ruined everything.”

 

“He ruined it, he got in that fight.”

 

Salem bit her lip. “I’m not going to condone that, but he’s trying to make up for it.”

 

Arthur huffed and went back to his room. Salem just leaned in the hallway. “Just give him a chance.”

 

*****

“Now how much experience do you have flying?” asked Daria to Aurora, Maeve, and Salem.

 

The twins looked nervous. 

 

“Well….not much…” Aurora said. 

 

“I thought it would come naturally,” Maeve added. “But…perhaps it would have been better if I was born a dragon.”

 

“Haven’t even tried,” Salem added.

 

“Nonsense, it’s never too late to learn to fly,” Daria said proudly.

 

In an effort to bond with Richard’s kids, Daria offered to help his dragon daughters fly. Molly joined her as well. Daria spread her beautiful golden wings, they cast a shadow over Ricahrd’s daughters. “Now first, spread those glorious wings!”

 

Salem spread her rotten, leathery wings wide. “Are these good for flying? I am a zombie dragon.”

 

“Yes you can fly very well with them,” Daria said. “I’ve seen plenty of dragon zombies fly.”

 

Maeve spread her red-purpilish scaly wings. “It feels weird.”

 

“It’s because you haven’t used them much, the important thing with wings is you have to use them, if you don’t they feel foreign, like a tick!”

 

“A tick?” Molly asked. 

 

Maeve chuckled. “Can I get them removed with fire?”

“Absolutely not!” Daria gasped. 

 

“Just joking,” Maeve said.

 

Aurora spread her obsidian black scaly wings. “This isn’t so bad.”

 

“I see you trained!” Daria clapped. 

 

“Yeah, I liked stretching my wings, haven’t flown but they are nice.”

Daria nodded. “That’s the spirit, stretching wings is important, that’s how I got my babies to fly, wing stretches.”

 

Maeve laughed. “Seriously? What next, you have them watch Richard Simmons?”

 

“Yes actually, got them sweating to the oldies,” sighed Daria. “It was also good for Molly’s cubs.”

 

Molly smiled nervously. “Well, that was one part of it.”

 

“What was the other part?” Salem asked. 

 

“Well, to get them to fly, they had to hop off the roof,” Daria said proudly. “Gave them the boost of confidence they needed to fly.”

 

“You threw your kids off the roof?” Aurora gasped.

 

“Cool!” Maeve squealed.

 

Daria picked up only on Maeve’s reception. “It was wonderful, plus Richard helped.”

 

“How did he help?” Salem asked. 

 

“Why, he helped catch the girls, and he also showed them it was perfectly safe to jump off the roof,”  Daria said proudly. 

 

“He…did that?” Salem asked. 

 

“Yes, and he was amazing…in fact..” Daria took a deep breath. “RICHARD!”

 

Richard poked his head out. “Yes, dear?”

 

“We need your help teaching them to fly!”

 

The color went away from Richard’s face. But why? As a father, he loves seeing his daughters fly and he would help them, but the problem is Daria’s method. 

 

It all started when Anya was 4 and Anastasia was 3. They were learning how to fly, struggling quite a bit. Daria was working hard to help them, but they could only hover. Richard couldn’t really help aside from giving support. 

 

Then came the day he decided to watch Jackass with Ember, Blaze, and Flare. 

 

Richard decided to show them the show, because he enjoyed it in his youth, and who doesn’t like watching Johnny Knoxville get hit in the groin and Steve-O nearly get his ass bitten off by a crocodile? The trio enjoyed it greatly…and then Anya and Anastasia came in. 

 

Richard decided to let them watch it, figuring that it wouldn’t hurt. But he reminded them sternly that they shouldn’t replicate the stunts at all, but he added unless he does it first. 

 

That was a mistake, but Richard didn’t know why just yet. 

 

For a couple months, the girls enjoyed watching Jackass with them, but then Daria found out. But she didn’t find out by walking in on them, or did the twins do a stunt that hurt them. No, she found out because the twins were talking like Beavis and Butthead thanks to the intro in Jackass 3D. 

 

Needless to say, Daria was ticked. First, she was upset because her children were exposed to something so stupid like Beavis and Butthead, then she was upset because of the harmful content that could encourage them to do something that would lead to injury. 

 

The girls  said they wouldn’t do anything unless their dad did it first. It’s important to remember, Daria was still having trouble teaching them to fly. 

 

That’s when Daria got an idea.  

 

The twins were afraid of leaping off heights, and Daria realized the best way to show them it’s not so scary was to have their dad jump off the roof. 

 

Richard of course couldn’t say no, as he knew if he could, his daughters could do it too. He was glad that Daria left a mattress for him at the bottom, but he still walked away with a broken collarbone. He then had to catch them, which wasn’t so bad. But he did it with a broken collar bone, so that hurt like a bitch. 

 

“Uh…honey…” he looked at his daughters. They are way bigger than his young griffon children. “They are a little old…”

 

“But they haven’t flown yet! They need to know it’s ok!” Daria said proudly. 

Richard looked up at the roof then back at his wife. “Do they?”

 

Maeve nodded her head eagerly. “Of course!”

 

Richard groaned. “Ok…ok…ok….” 

 

Richard went back inside, then moments later emerged on the balcony. “You got the mattress?”

 

Molly just finished dragging it out and gave him a nervous thumbs up. Richard touched his collar bone, wincing. Daria is smiling at him and his daughters were interested to see if he would actually do it. He looked at Salem and she gave him a thumbs up. 

 

“Well, let’s get it over with,” he thought. 

 

He took a deep breath and jumped off the roof, he tucked his body, bracing for impact 

 

Salem couldn’t believe it, her dad was actually flying toward the mattress. Aurora and Maeve could only gawk as he got closer to the mattress. 

 

THUD!

 

Richard hit the mattress, and it was followed by a groan as he rolled around. “We didn’t get memory foam this time?”

 

Molly bit her nails nervously. “I….I didn’t have one on hand.”

 

“Oh god,” he rolled up, holding his shoulder. 

 

“Dad, are you ok?” Salem asked, rushing over to him. 

 

Richard touched his shoulder and winced. “Yeah, I dislocated my shoulder.”

 

Daria then rushed over. “OH MY GOODNESS! HONEY! I’M SO SORRY! I DIDN’T THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!”

 

Richard looked at her with disbelief. She did this exact same thing when he broke his collarbone. 

 

“It’s fine,” he grumbled. 

 

Aurora went over to him, looking at him in shock. “Dad…you…you jumped off the roof.”

 

“Well, someone had to show you that it’s safe,” he tugged on his arm. “Uh, I need someone to pop this in place.”

“Did it actually pop out?” Maeve asked. 

 

“Yeah,” Richard replied.

 

Maeve looked at his shoulder like it was some sort of rare specimen. “Can I pop it back into place?”

 

Richard gritted his teeth. “Have you ever done this?”

 

“No.”

 

“Oh boy.”

 

She grabbed his arm. “But, I think I just yank on it right?”

 

He prayed his dragon strength would be enough. “Ok..just be gentle…” 

 

She yanked it like she was tearing off the leg from a turkey. 

 

POP!

 

“FUCK!” Richard yelped. He stumbled back and held his arm. He flexed his shoulder, everything seemed to work now. “Good job.”

 

Maeve smiled. “Thanks!”

 

Daria hugged Maeve. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she glared at Richard. “Why do you do such risky behavior?”

 

“But you….ugh, never mind,” groaned Richard. 

 

Daria then addressed his daughters.”Now, it is time to fly!”

 

Richard’s daughters looked up at the balcony.

 

“So we jump off there?” Aurora asked. 

 

“Well, at least you’ll be fine if you get hurt,” Maeve said to Salem. 

 

“True, true,” Salem then clapped her hands. “Let’s do it!”

 

The girls filed into the house and went up to the balcony. Richard knew his job wasn’t done yet. He stood at the bottom of the mattress, arms out. 

 

“I’m ready, girls!” he called. 

 

He had his arms outstretched. HIs daughters were way bigger now than before, and they had scales, claws, and wings. 

 

“You are gonna catch us?” Maeve asked, confused. 

 

“Well, that’s usually what happens next,” Richard chuckled. 

 

Salem gritted her teeth nervously. “Are you sure this is safe?”

 

“Eh….maybe?” Richard laughed nervously. 

 

Daria smiled. “Don’t worry, he’s tough.”

 

Aurora stepped forward. She flapped her long black wings. “So, I just flap them?” 

 

“Yes!” Daria said proudly. 

 

Aurora took a deep breath. It wouldn’t be so bad leaping off the balcony, her father showed her that it’s not too scary. She hopped off the balcony, flapping her wings. She stumbled in the air, kicking her legs as she got closer to Richard. Richard braced himself for impact. 

 

When suddenly, she flew over him. She did it! She actually was flying, sort of.

 

“Nice wo-ow!” then her tail smacked the back of Richard’s head. 

 

“Sorry!” Aurora called as she stumbled into a landing. 

 

“It’s ok,” Richard said as he rubbed the back of his head. “It wasn’t too bad.”

 

Maeve couldn’t believe it. “Is it that easy?”

 

“Yes,” Daria said. “Just try to get the wind under your wings.”

 

Maeve leapt forward, flapping her wings. “I’m doing it! I’m-FUCK!”

 

She spun to the ground like a plane going into freefall. 

 

“I gotcha!” Richard said as he got under her. 

 

Unfortunately, his leg slipped out from underneath him, and she landed on his stomach. Richard wheezed as the air shot out. 

 

“Dad!” Maeve cried. “Are you ok?”

 

“I’m good…just….let me lie here…”

 

Maeve quickly got off him. “Do I need to call an ambulance?”

 

Molly rushed over to him. “Oh dear! We need to get you inside.”

 

“Wait…just…need to see…Salem….” Richard wheezed. 

 

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Molly said. 

 

“I’ll just lie here,” Richard motioned for Salem to jump. “Come on sweety.”

 

“Uh..I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Salem said. 

 

“I’ll be fine.”

 

“I don’t know….”

 

“Just jump!”

 

Salem looked at Daria, who motioned her forward. Salem then took the leap of faith. She flew through the air. Her powerful wings flapped, kicking up dust. She had remembered that the best way to handle this is to glide. She let the wind carry her wings up as she flew over Richard. 

 

Richard felt a tear come to his eyes. He got to see his daughters take their first flight. Of course it was rough, but now he could be there to help them. 

 

“Nice work girls,” he said. 

 

“Can we do that again?” Aurora asked. 

 

“But please, don’t be underneath us this time, ok?” Maeve said. “We just got you back.”

 

“We could bring him back as a zombie,” Salem said. 

 

“No zombies,” groaned Richard. 

 

Molly helped him up. “Now let’s get you a seat, and would you like some lemonade?”

 

“Yes, please,” he replied.

 

And the rest of the afternoon, he watched his daughters continue to work on their flying skills. They faced their challenges, and got their fair share of bruises and bumps, but they were improving significantly, and that is what is important. And Richard was just glad to finally see them and spend time with them. 

 

In the window, Arthur watched, stewing in anger. “It doesn’t change anything.”

 

******

Justin watched his sisters attempt to fly from the window, but found watching his dad get hurt a little unsettling. It was funny at first, like a slapstick comedy, but after he got a cut on his head and blood gushed out of the wound, he decided he needed a break. He went downstairs to see Ember, Blaze, and Flare on the couch watching TV. 

 

“Absolute cinema!” Ember laughed as she made an exaggerated hand movement. 

 

“You say that after every episode,” Blaze torted.

 

“Because it is,” Ember snickered. 

 

Flare noticed Justin. “Hey, brother.”

 

Justin wasn’t used to his older sisters calling him brother. “Hi.”

 

“Come on,” she waved. “Join us for some TV.”

 

“Whatcha watching?” 

 

Flare smiled. “It’s silly, it’s a show called Uncle Grandpa.”

 

Justin smiled. “I like that show.”

 

Blaze and Ember shot their heads up grinning, with Blaze crowing. “Then join us, fellow Uncle Grandpa, enjoyer!”

 

Justin walked over, but saw no room on the couch. He sat at the foot of the couch just under them. 

 

“What are you doing?” Flare asked. 

 

“There’s no room,” Justin said. “It’s ok, I’ll be fine down here.”

 

“Wrong!” Ember scooped him up and placed him on her lap. “Brothers sit on the couch with sisters, that’s the rules.”

 

“There’s rules?” Justin asked nervously. 

 

“Of course,” Blaze scooted closer and cuddled him. “Does brother not know the rules when hanging with sisters?”

 

“I…I didn’t know, I thought I knew them,” Justin said. 

 

“You are funny,” Flare said, cuddling him. 

 

Justin felt weird. His new sisters were cuddling him like he had lived with them all his life. But he didn’t hate it, he liked it. 

 

“So brother, you got a favorite episode?” asked Blaze.

 

“Uh….the one with Aunt Grandma.”

 

“Gotta be more specific, there’s like three episodes I think.”

 

“First appearance.”

 

“Excellent!” 

 

Blaze flipped over to it. Justin sat with his sisters, embracing the cuddles. 

 

“Comfy?” asked Flare.”

 

“Yes,” Justin replied. 

 

“Good, big sisters gotta take care of their little brothers,” Flare snickered. “But don’t get any ideas.”

 

“What do you mean?” 

 

“You know….” Flare snickered, along with the other two. 

 

“No, I don’t,” Justin was confused. 

 

The sisters chuckled. 

 

“You are so innocent,” Ember laughed. “We are gonna keep it that way.”

 

“Oh, thanks!” Justin replied. 

 

As they watched the show, the sisters thought. “He will make an excellent husband for a mamano, best make sure he gets a good one.”

 

*****

Richard sat on the couch, splayed out with an icepack on his shoulder and thigh. Flight training always ended with bruises and bumps, mostly on him. But in one day his girls had progressed. His other flight-enabled children were swarming their new dragon sisters, trying to plan out times for “sister flights” or wing grooming sessions.

 

Daria sat next to him and gave him a beer. “Long day?”

 

“You were there,” he chuckled. 

 

She wrapped her wings around him. “They learn quickly, but more practice is needed. “

 

“Oh boy, another recurring job,” chuckled Richard.

 

She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. “I’ll try to give you a break, at least for now, I think it did mean a lot to them when you helped them.”

 

Richard smiled. “They called me dad, I thought it would take them forever to do that.”

 

“You are their father, not their stepfather.”

 

“But I haven’t been in their lives in 11 years, I missed so much, and I was afraid they wouldn’t see me as their dad anymore.”

 

“You will always be their father, no matter what,” Daria kissed him again on the cheek. “Now, Molly needs some help in the kitchen making chili, she was chopping onions and her eyes got watery.”

 

“Oh boy,” Richard struggled to get up, his muscles aching and bruises throbbing. “So she can’t see?”

“We want to avoid the ‘Ghost Pepper’ incident again, where she added a little too much spice due to her affected eyesight.”

 

Richard clutched his stomach, that was a night where no one got sleep, and the heartburn medication ran dry. 

 

“On it,” he said as he went to the kitchen.

 

*****

Arthur hadn’t left his room all day. He hadn’t even unpacked his bag the entire day. He spent the day either reading or just lying in his bed, nothing else. 

 

He then heard a knock on the door. It sounded soft enough to not be an adult. He opened it and saw Justin. 

 

“Hey, buddy,” Arthur said with a small smile. 

 

Justin smiled back. “Whatcha doing?”

 

“Nothing much.”

 

“Would you like to come down and watch TV with me and the older sisters?”

 

Arthur knew his actual sisters were still outside, talking with the other mamano. “Which sisters?”

 

“The hellhound ones,” Justin said. 

 

Arthur hesitated. He knew there would be the chance he might run into his dad, and his dad might try to talk to him, he still didn’t want to talk with him yet. But, he couldn’t say no to his brother. “Sure.”

 

Justin led him downstairs with a smile. When he got there, he saw Ember, Blaze, and Flare. 

 

Ember grinned at him. “Well, we know this one’s alive.”

 

“Didn’t see you all morning,” Blaze laughed. 

 

Arthur put on a fake smile and sat in a chair. Justin resumed sitting with his new sisters. 

 

“Your brother is so cute.” Flare said to Arthur as she pinched Justin’s cheeks. “Look at him!”

 

“Yeah, he is,” Arthur said. 

 

“So, you like living here?” Ember asked. 

 

Arthur sighed. “Better than the other place.”

 

“Do you run much?” asked Blaze.

 

“Sometimes,” Arthur replied. 

 

“We try to go for a job in the morning, want to join us tomorrow?”

 

Arthur shrugged. “I don’t know….”

 

“Could I join you?” Justin asked. 

 

“Why of course!” Ember said. “You look like a runner.”

 

“Well, I don’t know,” Arthur said. “I might slow you all down…”

 

“We can adjust,” Blaze said. “We won’t leave you in the dust.”

 

“Maybe,” Flare added. 

 

Justin looked at his brother. “Can we run?”

 

Arthur knew he could say no, but Justin thought that they were both invited. If he said, no, Justin might not join. “Sure, I’ll join.”

 

“At least I’ll have an excuse to break out the running shoes,” Arthur thought. 

 

Arthur could smell something cooking from the kitchen. His stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten all day. “What’s cooking?” 

 

“Chili!” Richard said as he entered the room. “It’s a chili recipe with a little extra flare in it.”

 

“Ghost peppers?” asked Ember.

 

“Not this time,” Richard said. “Molly learned that she shouldn’t be in charge of spice, besides we can’t just burn the mouths of our new arrivals.”

 

Justin smiled at him. “I can handle it.”

 

“That’s what everyone says,” Flare laughed. 

 

“But I can,” Justin said. 

 

“Have you ever eaten ghost peppers?” asked Flare

 

“No.”

 

“Ah give him just one,” Blaze said with a grin.

 

“I don’t know….” Richard said.

 

“How about half of one?” asked Blaze.

Richard looked at Justin, he was nodding eagerly. “Ok…fine.” He then turned to Arthur. “You want anything with your chili? Any extra spice?”

 

“I’m fine,” Arthur replied without even looking at him. 

 

“Ok,” Richard said. “You like cornbread?”

 

“Yeah, I do.”

 

“Ok, we are serving that with the chili.”

 

Arthur didn’t reply. Richard turned around and went back to the kitchen, feeling a little hurt. 

 

“Take it slow,” he thought. “Take it slow.”

 

When dinner was ready, everyone gathered around to eat. Selene once more led everyone in prayer, and they dug in. 

 

Richard looked over at Justin. He took the first bite out of his chili. Richard held his breath, waiting for him to turn red, start sweating, and gagging. But he didn’t. He ate it calmly. 

 

“What the…” Richard thought. 

 

“Told you I could handle a ghost pepper,” Justin said with a smile. 

 

Richard nodded. “Well, I guess I was…”

 

He then noticed Blaze tapping her claw on the table. Her eyes were wide and watering. Her mouth was scrunched shut like she was trying to hold something in. She wheezed out, voice cracking. “Good job….” She patted him on the back. 

 

Richard looked at her chili, then at her. With tear ridden eyes she winked. Blaze calmly picked up her water and drank it calmly. Then she set it down. “I’m feeling like milk.”

 

She calmly walked to the fridge and grabbed a carton, and then viciously chugged it like it was a beer. She squeezed the carton for every drop of milk before dropping it, panting and gagging. 

 

“She must need the calcium,” Justin said. 

 

“Yeah, that’s why,” Richard said. 

 

Luna groaned. “I was gonna use that for breakfast, great, now we’ll be without milk.”

 

“I can grab some after dinner,” Richard said. 

“Can you grab some oatmeal while you are at it?” asked Molly. 

 

“Sure,” Richard replied. 

 

“And brown sugar?” Molly asked. 

 

“Sure.”

 

“And donuts?” Selene asked. 

 

“Well gee, I might as well just grab all of breakfast,” chuckled Richard as he ate his food. 

 

“Well, maybe you could just go tomorrow, school starts next week,” Molly said. 

 

“That would be more efficient,” Daria added. 

 

“School?” Justin asked. 

 

“Yes,” Luna smiled. “School starts next week, we can get you supplies and everything.”

 

“Do they require uniforms?” Maeve asked. 

 

“No,” Luna replied. 

 

“Thank goodness,” Maeve smiled. “I prefer to look fashionable.”

 

Arthur then huffed. “I’m not going.”

 

Luna looked at him, confused. “You don’t want to go shopping?”

 

“I’m not doing school,” he replied coldly. 

 

There was silence at the dinner table, everyone stopped eating. The little ones were looking over at Arthur. No one ever talked to Luna like that. It’s an established rule that you don’t talk to your parents like that in the house at all, but it’s a big no-no to speak to Luna that way. Luna was the sweetest one in the house, who loved all her children, even the ones that didn’t come from her womb. 

 

Luna looked over at Arthur. “But you need an education.”

 

“I got enough of an education already,” Arthur replied. “I’m 17.”

 

“But you still have a year left,” Luna said. “Surely you want to graduate.”

 

“I can just get a GED,” Arthur spat. 

 

“But an education…”

 

“I don’t care!” Arthur spat.

 

A dead silence hung over the table. Richard could see Ember, Flare, and Blaze curling their fists. Luna was shocked, her mouth hung open. 

 

Arthur looked over at his siblings, they stared at him shocked. Salem shook her head, while Aurora and Maeve stared at him in disbelief. But Justin just stared at him with his mouth open. 

 

“What is wrong with you?” Justin asked. 

 

“Fuck this,” Arthur thought. He stood up and marched out of the dining room, leaving a shocked family. 

 

Richard looked at Luna. “I’ll have a talk with him.”

 

****

Richard walked up the stairs. He didn’t like how this would be their first solid father son time, but he knew it had to be done. That’s what a father does. He stopped at his son’s room, pausing for a moment, then raised his hand and rapped on the door.

 

“Go away,” Arthur called from within. 

 

In a low tone, Richard replied. “Son…”

 

“Don’t call me that!”

 

Richard sighed. “Arthur…..”

 

“Go away!”

 

“I’m not leaving without talking to you,” Richard said. “Now.”

 

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

 

“Yes there is!” Richard said sternly. “Your brother and sisters are appalled by your behavior!”

 

There was silence, Richard kept his eyes focused on the door. Finally Arthur called. “Fine…come in.”

 

Richard opened the door, Arthur sat on his bed, hands in his lap. 

“Arthur, look … .I’m not gonna yell at you about the way you talked to Luna, but…you need to go to school.”

 

“Why?” Arthur rolled his eyes. 

 

“Because not only do you need an education, you need to do it for your sisters and brother.”

 

“Why does it matter to them?” 

 

Richard shut the door behind him and crouched down in front of Arthur. “If you don’t, it could hurt their chances here?”

 

“How?” 

 

“As a part of living in this house, and under my guardianship, the social worker says all my children have to go to school,” that got Arthur’s attention. “And if you don’t, it could put your siblings in jeopardy.”

 

“Like…we’ll go into foster care?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Arthur looked scared. “You are lying!”

 

Richard looked at him with contempt. “Do you honestly think I would lie about that?”

 

Arthur looked at the ground, stewing in his emotions. 

 

“You can call the social worker, she’ll confirm,” Richard leaned forward. “And I don’t think you want to hurt Justin’s feelings.”

 

Arthur recoiled, in a frustrated tone, he growled. “How dare you use my brother against me!”

 

“He’s already appalled by what you said to Luna,” Richard replied. “You really want to hurt him again?”

 

Arthur crossed his arms and grumbled. “I’ll go to school.”

 

“You promise?” 

 

“Yeah…I do.”

 

“I’m serious, you need to go to school.”

 

“I will,” Arthur pouted. “But I’m not promising good grades.”

 

“Don’t even think about flunking,” Richard said sternly. “You pass, got it?”

 

Arthur glared at his dad. “Just pass?”

 

“I’m not gonna force you to get A’s, but you better pass, think of your siblings.”

 

Arthur took a moment to think it over, then said. “Deal.”

 

Richard nodded. “Will you come back for dinner?”

 

“I’m full.”

 

“You sure?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Richard got up to leave. He stopped at the door, then turned around. “I love you son, I never stopped loving you. I’m sorry for everything”

 

Arthur remained silent. Richard turned away, a tear running down his cheek as he shut the door.. 

 

*****

The next morning Justin put on a pair of tennis shoes and knocked on Arthur’s door. 

 

“Arthur, ready to go running?” Justin asked. 

 

Arthur creaked the door open. “I’m not feeling too good.”

 

Justin looked disappointed. “But you said you would.”

 

“I just don’t feel good, ok?” 

 

Justin pouted. “Ok.”

 

He left to go running with his hellhound sisters. Blaze, Ember, and Flare were waiting downstairs for him. 

 

“Where’s the big brother?” Blaze asked. 

 

“He’s not feeling well,” Justin sighed. 

 

“Well shoot,” Flare added. “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you have fun, now let’s go.”

 

They led him outside. Blaze led the way, while Justin was in the middle, with Ember and Flare behind to make sure Justin didn’t fall behind. Arthur watched from the window. Maybe he should have gone, but….at the same time he didn’t feel like it. 

 

Knock Knock

 

He went to the door and opened it to see Salem standing there. 

 

“Not feeling well?” she asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice. 

 

“I’m not feeling well,” Arthur said. 

“Then sweat it out,” Salem said. “Justin was looking forward to this run with you.”

 

“Look I wasn’t up for it.”

 

Salem rolled her eyes. “Are you gonna be pissy all the time?”

 

“Hey!”

 

“I mean it, look, I still am a little upset at dad, but he is working to make it better, and come on, his wives are nice, you ever interact with the siblings?”

 

“He surely didn’t waste his time starting a new family.”

 

“He wrote to us about it!” Salem sighed. “Don’t take your frustrations out on everyone else, especially your own kin.” she turned around. “You did a lot for us, and I thank you, Aurora thanks you, Maeve thanks you, and Justin worships you. Don’t start burning bridges just because someone calls you out.”

 

She left him at the door, leaving Arthur to dwell.

 

*****

Richard drove to the store to pick up supplies with Luna, and Selene, Aurora, and Maeve. The other mothers took their own kids to buy supplies. Salem didn’t join as she decided to stick around at the house to keep an eye on Arthur. 

 

“So, what do you need this year for school?” Richard asked Selene. 

 

“Pencils, markers, and lots of notebooks, like eight!” Selene replied. 

 

“Don’t forget pens,” Luna added. “And highlighters.”

 

“It’s pretty much the same for you two right?” Richard asked Aurora and Maeve.

 

“Yeah, pretty much,” Aurora said. 

 

“Though I am curious why I need a battle axe,” Maeve said. 

 

Richard looked confused. “A battle axe?”

 

“Oh the school brought back gladiatorial combat for PE,” Luna said. 

 

“What?” Richard said. 

 

“I remember when I did that, ah those were the days, wrestling against amazons, dueling with swords.”

 

“That sounds unsafe.”

 

“That sounds fun!” Maeve squealed. 

 

“Can I get a mace?” asked Aurora.

 

“I know the best place to shop for one,” Luna said. 

 

“Can I get one?” asked Selene.

 

Richard was about to say no when Luna patted her head and said. “Of course, you get to pick your own weapon.”

 

“Thanks mom!” 

 

Richard sucked on his teeth. “Oh boy, my daughter’s having weapons.”

 

“Sounds lovely,” Luna said. 

 

“Uh, Luna,” Aurora said. “How are you doing?”

 

“Good, why do you ask?”

 

“Well, after last night…”

 

“Oh, don’t worry,” Luna said. “I understand that it’ll take time, I try … .not to let it get to me.”

 

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think you are way better than our last mom,” Aurora said.

 

“Way better,” Maeve added. 

 

Luna felt her heart race. “Really?”

 

“Yeah, you cook better than she does, and you are much more approachable,” Aurora said. 

 

“And I think you are a better person…or…hellhound…mamano….?” Maeve rubbed her chin as she tried to think of what to say. 

 

“My mom is the best,” Selene said. 

 

Luna looked at Richard smiling. “We should get ice cream.”

“Really?” Selene asked eagerly. 

 

“Of course.”

 

They shopped for school supplies, then picked up some ice cream. While the girls ate their ice cream, Richard talked with Luna.

 

“So, you aren’t upset about Arthur?” Richard asked. 

 

“I was shocked, but….I understand, it’ll take time for him to adjust,” Luna said. 

 

“He shouldn’t have taken that tone with you,” Richard said. “That was uncalled for.”

 

“It’s fine, I know it will take time,” she looked at him. “Is he still angry about the fight you had?”

 

Richard sighed. “No doubt about it.”

 

“It was so long ago.”

 

“It was, but to him, it’s what messed everything up.”

 

She hugged her man. “Don’t worry, he’ll come around. 

 

*****

The first day of school arrived soon, and everyone was ready. As per tradition, everyone gathered out front for pictures. 

 

Daria was angling the camera, she had picture duty since she could fly. “Ok, ok, individual shots, make sure hair is good, and make sure the mines are clear! Remember what happened last year Sophie?”

 

Sophie sheepishly looked at the ground. 

 

“No digging for gold, anyone!” 

 

Everyone looked very formal, dressed perfectly. 

 

“Excellent, excellent!” Daria sighed and covered her heart. “My babies are going to school, it’s heart warming!”

 

After getting all the photos of the mamano children, Richard’s children were next. 

 

“Ok, come out, let me see you all!” Daria called. 

 

Justin emerged, wearing a nice red polo shirt and jeans, Salem wore a black; frilly, gothic dress; Maeve wore a pink dress, which clashed with the maelf dragon look, but she didn’t care; Aurora wore a nice lavender dress; while Arthur wore a brown polo. 

 

“You all look amazing!” Daria exclaimed. “Now, let’s get the individual photos, then group photos.”

 

Daria took the photos, each of Richard’s kids smiled brightly, even Arthur gave a half smile for them. 

 

“Perfect! Now everyone gather around for a group picture!” Daria motioned for everyone to gather up. 

 

Both Justin and Arthur stood out like sore thumbs amidst a sea of mamano. Daria angled the camera. “Dang, hold on.”

 

Flapping her wings she hovered above them trying to get the right picture. 

 

“That won’t look blurry will it?” yelled Richard. 

 

“I adjusted the settings so it won’t!” Daria replied. 

 

She took aim and snapped a picture. “There we go!”

 

After that everyone filed into their cars to go off to school. Richard rode in the car with his firstborns, after giving all his other children hugs before they left. 

 

They then set off to school. 

 

“So, first day of school, who’s excited?” asked Richard. 

 

“I’m a little nervous, but eager,” Justin said. 

 

“What are the teachers like?” Maeve asked. 

 

“Well, it’s all mamano,” Richard said. 

 

“Does that cut down on any student teacher relationships?” she winked. 

 

“Well….they are professionals, and their relationships are all professional,” Richard replied. 

 

“But what about with the boys?” 

 

Richard glared at her and she chuckled. 

 

“Well, I’m excited about PE,” Aurora said. “I’ve never had to duel for PE.”

 

“Rember to hit them with a stunner.” Maeve said.

 

“Is that allowed?” Aurora asked. 

 

“All forms of physical combat are allowed … .aside from eye gouging,” Richard said. 

 

They pulled up to Druella High School. It looked like a large castle, with gothic architecture. It towered over the land, making it ominous. Mamano flocked into the building, all shapes and sizes, tails and horns. 

 

“Well, this is it,” Richard said. He got out of the car to say goodbye to his kids. 

 

He gave Justin a hug. “Have a good day, son.”

 

“Thanks dad,” Justin said as he gave him a hug back. “Any advice?”

 

“Be cautious of dark elves.”

 

Justin looked up at him, a little confused, but replied. “Ok.”

 

The twins then hugged him. He hugged them back. “Have a good day, girls.”

 

“Thanks dad,” Aurora said. 

 

“Love you,” Maeve said. 

 

“Love you both,” Richard said. 

 

Salem walked up to him, smiling. 

“So, since you are a goth, does it ruin your image if you hug your dad?”

 

Salem hugged him. “They need to be scared of me.”

 

He hugged her back. He then laid eyes on Arthur, Arthur scowled at him, he opened his arms, hoping his son would hug him. Arthur shrugged him off. 

 

“Have a good day, Arthur,” Richard said. 

 

The four of them walked toward the school, ready to start the day.

 

“Do you have to act like this every time?” Salem scolded. 

 

“You remember what it was like after he abandoned us,” Arthur growled. 

 

Salem stopped, motioning for everyone else to go on ahead. “Listen here, I understand, it was terrible, he made a mistake, and we suffered for it, you protected us, and I will let you know, I am forever thankful for that, we are thankful for that. But I’m gonna be blunt: try to at least not act so hateful, it’s affecting Justin and everyone else.”

 

“But…”

 

“No buts, are you trying to drive everyone else away? Because let me tell you, we stuck together when we went through hell with mom, but don’t throw that all away because you can’t stand your dad.”

 

Arthur bit his lip. “It’ll…take time.”

 

“Then try,” Salem said as she went off to class. She then stopped and turned around. “I do love you, remember that.”

 

“I love you too,” Arthur replied. 

 

They went off to class, ready for their first day. 

 

****

Justin was nervous as he entered his class. He was surrounded by only women, and he’s the only guy in the class. It seems there is a lack of men at this school. He opted to go into the back of the classroom, trying to make himself small. He sat down at his desk. 

 

Sniff Sniff

 

He looked to see a grizzly lazily looking at him. Obviously she was much bigger than him, but she had white fur, so she looked like a polar bear. Justin gulped. “Hi.”

 

“Do you have honey on you?” she asked.

 

Justin was confused. “I have an energy bar that has honey in it.”

 

The grizzly’s stomach rumbled. “I should have eaten breakfast.”

 

Justin looked at the grizzly, then at his backpack. “You want it?”

 

The grizzly’s nose twitched. “You mean it?”

 

“Well…sure, my momma made me a big breakfast, I think I’ll be good all day.”

 

He gave her the energy bar, her massive paw seized it and she devoured it. “Thanks.”

 

“You are welcome, my names Justin, what’s yours?” 

 

“Ursa.”

 

“Nice name.”

 

“Thanks,” she looked him up and down. “How old are you?”

 

“14.”

 

She whistled.”I thought you were in elementary school.”

 

“I look that young?” 

 

“Yeah, and you are cute as a button.”

 

“Awwww, thanks.”

 

Suddenly he felt his hair stand up, like something static was teasing him. He looked at his arm and his hairs were pointing to his left. He looked to see a beast girl with purple blue hair running down her smiling at her desk, focusing on the board, drumming her fingers. Her eyes glanced at him. “Oh, sorry.”

 

“Do you have a static charge?” Justin asked. He didn’t know what this mamano was.

 

“Oh, sorry,” she chuckled. “I’m a raiju.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“You know what an electric eel is?”

“Yes.”

 

“Well, think of me like that, but I’m a mammal.”

 

“Wow,” Justin looked closely at her, he could see bits of blue electricity crawling up her veins, and emerging from her skin. “That’s cool.”

 

“Thanks! Though I gotta be careful because having all this power really, really, really makes it hard to sit still, and keep it contained, but…I’m working on it.”

 

“Woah…so, can you charge a phone or something like that?”

 

“Of course! Want to see?”

 

“Yeah!” Justin pulled out his phone. 

 

“I wouldn’t do that,” Ursa said. 

 

“Why?” Justin asked. 

 

Before he could answer, the raiju pointed her finger at his phone and sent out a small strike of electricity. Justin watched as his battery life went from 50% all the way to 100% in a flash. 

 

“Wow!” Justin said. 

 

“Huh, it didn’t explode,” Ursa commented. 

 

“Huh?” Justin asked. 

 

The raiju breathed a sigh of relief. “I did it!”

 

She held out her hand. “My name is Static.”

 

“Really?” Justin asked. 

 

“Yeah, my mom likes it.”

 

He shook her hand. “Jus-EHH!”

 

A bolt of electricity shot through Justin, his muscles cramped and his hair stuck up like in a classic cartoon. His eyebrows were fried by the sudden burst of power. 

 

“Oh my goodness! Sorry!” Static cried. 

 

“STATIC!” the teacher, a high orc yelled. “Did you just zap a student?”

 

“By accident!” Static cried. 

 

“It was,” Justin called. 

 

The teacher narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need any more mishaps.”

 

“Sorry,” Static bowed her head. 

 

The teacher went back to calling role. 

 

“I know it was an accident,” Justin whispered to her. 

 

“Thanks,” Static sighed. “I have a tough time controlling it, I get so excited meeting new people.”

 

“She got me the first time too,” chuckled Ursa. “My fur poofed out like I was one of those…uh…you know those fluffball dogs, those annoying ones that yip so much.” She shuddered. “Those little bastards.”

 

“I like the bigger dogs,” Justin said. “They are friendlier.”

 

“True that,” Ursa then pulled out a pair of glasses with eyeballs on them. “Cover me, I need to take a nap.”

 

She put them on and leaned forward, her mouth hanging open. Justin was shocked she was asleep. 

 

“Does she do that all the time?” Justin asked Static. 

 

“Yeah, but she absorbs what the teacher says while she sleeps, it’s pretty cool, also want to eat lunch with us?” 

 

“Sure!”

 

Justin smiled. He just made new friends.

 

*****

Salem’s first class was art class. She enjoyed drawing, but was hoping to freshen her skills and do some sculpting. 

 

The teacher of the class is a very beautiful Anubis. “Welcome to class, I am your teacher, Monique, I am so glad you all chose this class, this is a perfect opportunity to … .OH BY THE DEMON LORD!”

 

Salem turned to see a wurm with her entire first in her mouth, and an open paste jar. The wurm seemed unbothered, smiling as she waved with her free hand. 

 

“Amy we talked about this, no paste eating in class!” 

 

“But it’s delicious,” Amy whined.

 

“Paste is for art, not food!” She marched over to the taller, more muscular wurm. “Give it.”

 

Amy pouted. 

 

“Give it now!”

 

Amy frowned and gave her the jar of paste. Salem smiled, this was someone she definitely wanted to be friends with. She scooted over to her. “Hi there.”

 

The wurm looked at the zombie dragon, confused. She pointed to herself. “Me?”

 

“Yeah, you seem cool.”

 

“I’m cool,” she looked over at another dragon at the table, a ryu with a long green, scaly body. “Here that? I’m cool!”

 

The ryu looked at Salem with contempt. “If this is some sort of mean joke, go away right now.”

 

“I’m not joking, she seems very interesting,” Salem could see the wurm smiling. “Not many would still be eating paste at this age, yet you seem to like it.”

 

“Thanks,” Amy blushed. “It tastes like horses.”

 

The ryu groaned. “But you aren’t supposed to.”

 

“But it’s tasty, Lynn.”

 

“Do you season it?” Salem chuckled. 

 

“Yeah, with crayons, like what my dad did in the Marines,” Amy said proudly. 

 

“I am going to love these two,” Salem thought. She extended her arm. “My name is Salem, nice to meet you two.”

 

Amy smiled. “Hi!”

 

“Hi,” Lynn said skeptically. 

 

“So, what art do you all do?” Salem asked. 

 

“Oh! I like collages!” Amy squealed. 

 

“Of course, you do,” Salem said. 

 

“I prefer waterpainting,” Lynn said. “I like the way the colors blend.”

 

“Nice, I like basic pencil and pen, though I want to do sculpting,” Salem said. 

 

“Now that would be fun,” Lynn said.

 

“Can I help?” Amy asked. 

 

“Of course,” Salem said. 

 

*****

Aurora and Maeve sat at the lunch table, already school was exhausting. PE was more intense than they thought, they were playing dodgeball, but you could magically enhance the dodgeballs, that meant some hit with the power of a cannonball, and taking 3 of those to the gut was not good. The other classes were meh at best, the usual stuff. 

 

“Let’s hope the food is good,” Aurora said. 

 

As they entered the cafeteria, they didn’t notice they were being watched. At a much larger table, surrounded by velvet rope, the table was stocked full of much nicer food than the cafeteria. Exquisite boar with an apple in its mouth was laid across the table, still sizzling. At that table was one of the most powerful dragons in the land, with golden scales that shined like freshly polished coins. Long black-blue hair fell down to her back. Her large wings were presented on her like a crown, showing off her status, as they were bigger than the other dragons. 

 

Her name?

 

Aurivelle von Rosenkrantz und Sternthal und von Drachenfels zu Hohenwald.

 

Daughter of one of the most powerful and pristine dragon families in the land. She wasn’t the principal of the school, but she took note of who came to the school, especially new students. She had to ensure the balance of power in school wasn’t disrupted. And 2 human boys, and three new dragon mamano in the school piqued her interest, especially since they were the sisters of those human men.

 

“Yuri, reporting in,” whispered a kunoichi behind Aurivelle. 

 

Aurivelle employed Yuri and her clan to gather information on students, and other people. Being a stealthy ninja mamano had its benefits. She stared straight ahead, eyes focused on the two dragon girls. “What can you tell me about those two?”

 

“Aurora and Maeve Fredericks,” Yuri reported. “Twins, age 17, Aurora is a jabberwock, and Maeve is a malef dragon. Their mother is human, a woman named Bonnie not in the picture anymore.”

 

“How did a human give birth to two dragons?”

 

“She didn’t, they were monsterized, including their sister, Salem, age 15, she’s a zombie dragon.”

 

“So, they are brand new, to being dragons?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Hmmmmm, fascinating,” Aurivelle looked at them intensely. 

 

“I have information on the brothers too…”

 

“Later, first, bring those two to me.”

“Got it,” Yuri cracked her knuckles.

 

“Gently,” Aurivelle said. “With your words, we don’t want to cause a ruckus.”

 

“Right.”

 

In a puff of purple smoke, Yuri disappeared. 

 

“So what are you hungry for?” Maeve asked Aurora.

 

“I gotta see the menu first,” Aurora replied. 

 

One of the problems Aurora had with her dragon body was that despite living in it for a couple months, she had never been around crowds. As she turned to look at the menu, her large tail sent the tray of a student, a satyre flying. 

 

“Hey!”  the satyr balked. 

 

“Oh shit! Sorry!” Aurora turned around to help, but her tail swung like a wrecking ball. Maeve ducked, but the dullahan in the back wasn’t lucky. Her tail sent her head flying across the room. 

 

“Damn it!” the dullahan called as she rolled across the floor. Her body stumbled around, trying to find her head. “To your left! Left! Oh damn it I’m in creamed corn!”

 

Aurora felt her face turn red. “I am so sorry!”

 

While this was going on, Aurivelle shook her head in disappointment. A dragon not being able to control her tail, she learned that before she could even fly! 

 

“You know how much this sucks?” the dullahan growled as her body stumbled over to her. “I got dust in my nose, and my head hurts.”

 

Suddenly her body kicked her head by mistake, sending her flying just a few feet. “Ouch! Damn it! Short steps! Short steps!”

 

Aurivelle knew that dullahan had friends with the undead, and those two would be in the graveyard with a lot of zombies surrounding them. 

 

“Someone needs to show them the ropes,” she thought. 

 

She got up and walked elegantly over to them. Aurora was still in a panic while Maeve was trying to calm her down. 

 

“The more you panic, the more you make a scene,” Maeve said. She looked up to see a shiny golden dragon standing over them. “Oh great, the hall monitor is here.”

 

Aurivelle looked them up and down and tsked. “Such sloppy behavior for dragons.”

 

“Hey, she’s the one that keeps whacking people,” Maeve retorted, she stood up and her wings flew out, no doubt an act of intimidation. However, her wings struck the salad bar, knocking it back. Thankfully it didn’t fall down, but some balsamic vinaigrette splattered on the ground. 

 

“See, sloppy,” Aurivelle said. 

 

“Oh come on, no one got hurt,” Maeve groaned. 

 

Unfortunately for her, a holstaur attempting to get her leafy greens stepped on the balsamic vinaigrette at the wrong angle and landed on her hip with a bang. 

 

“Owwwwwiiiieeeee,” she groaned. 

‘

Maeve looked at Aurora. “Look what you did!”

 

“Me? That was you!” Aurora torted back. 

 

Aurivelle shook her head again. “You two need guidance.”

 

“What are you a counselor?” Maeve asked. 

 

“Consider me, your guidance counselor in being a proper dragon,” Auriville said proudly. 

 

Maeve and Aurora stared at her. 

 

“So…do you work for the school?” Maeve asked. 

 

Aurivelle rolled her eyes, “Come with me.”:

 

“Let me grab lunch first,” Aurora said. 

 

“I have food at my table, we will eat there,” Aurivelle declared. 

 

“What do you got?” Maeve asked.

 

“Do you like boar?” Aurivelle asked. 

 

Maeve paused for a moment and replied. “You do not have that.”

 

Aurivelle continued walking toward the table. Aurora followed her. 

 

“What are you doing?” Maeve asked. 

 

“I’m hungry,” Aurora replied. 

 

“But does she even have it?”

 

“Well, she might have some food, and I’m hungry, and I would much rather not be in the lunch line.”

 

Maeve followed Aurora reluctantly, and was surprised at Aurivelle’s table. It was lined like a feast, there was boar, but also salads, mashed potatoes, and even sparkling cider. 

 

Aurivelle sat down and offered chairs to the two of them. “Have a seat.”

 

The two dragon girls sat down. Aurivelle snapped her fingers and two kikimora’s appeared. Without hesitation they sliced off a nice chunk of boar for the two dragon girls, and filled the plates up with potatoes and salad. 

 

“Fancy.” Maeve whistled. 

 

Aurora drooled, she looked over at Aurivelle who said. “Eat.”

 

Aurora was hungry, but she wasn’t a savage. She ate properly, as did Maeve. 

 

“Thank you for the food,” Aurora said. 

 

“And I’ve been meaning to ask, what’s this about being proper dragons?” Maeve asked. 

 

Aureville smiled. “I’m glad you asked.”

 

*****

Richard picked his children up after school ended. He wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to get closer to them through this. “So how was the day?”

 

“Well, Aurora and I are gonna learn how to be proper dragons,” Maeve said. “Oh, and Salem you gotta come to.”

 

“Why?” groaned Salem. 

 

“Because you are a dragon, you gotta learn all the fancy dragon things.”

 

“What do you mean learn how to be a proper dragon?” Richard asked. 

“Some girl named Aureville said we had to,” Maeve said. “Fancy dragon, looked like she was made out of gold.”

 

Richard’s eyes nearly bursted out of his head. “Wait…did you make friends with Aureville von Rosenkrantz und Sternthal und von Drachenfels zu Hohenwald?”

 

“That’s the woman!” 

 

“She is the daughter of one of the most powerful families in the realm!” 

 

Aurora was shocked. “What?”

 

“You must have done something to get her attention,” Richard said. 

 

“We really didn’t do much…well, except Aurora, she had a little accident in the lunch room,” Maeve snickered. 

 

“You said you wouldn’t tell!” Aurora’s face flushed red with embarrassment. 

 

He looked at Salem.”And your day?”

 

“I made some friends, one can’t stop eating paste, but it’s cute,” Salem said. 

 

He looked at Justin next, then noticed his eyebrows were missing. “What happened to your eyebrows?”

 

“I made friends, and got electrocuted,” Justin said. 

 

“Are you ok?” Richard sounded worried. 

 

“Oh it’s fine, my friend didn’t mean to, she just got excited is all.”

 

He then looked  at Arthur. “Good first day?”

 

“It was just school, nothing much happened,” Arthur said coldly. 

 

Richard nodded. That was probably the most he would get out of him. 

 

When they got home, Richard was swarmed by his other children, and Maeve and Aurora were surrounded by the wives, badgering them about how they now had an in with the von Rosenkrantz und Sternthal und von Drachenfels zu Hohenwalds.

 

“So, why are they powerful?” Maeve asked. 

 

“Their son married into the Demon Lord’s family,” Daria said. 

 

The gears in Aurora’s mind started grinding. “But…..mamano can’t give birth to boys.”

 

“Oh it was an adopted son, one of the Demon Lord’s children took a liking to a boy the dragon’s adopted and thus a bond was made, quite unbreakable, and since then they have been the most powerful family in the realm,” Daria explained. 

 

“So are they untouchable?” Maeve asked. 

 

Daria chuckled. “Well, you could mess with them, but then you are just asking to disappear an never be seen again.”

 

“Oh….cool!”

 

“She is a little weird, she said she wants us to be proper dragons” Aurora said. “I’m a little confused on what that means.”

 

“Oh maybe it’s her way of  saying she wants to be your friend,” Molly said. “The ultra powerful don’t interact with a lot of normal people.”

 

Daria looked at Molly in disbelief. “I think you’ve been watching too many cartoons with the children.”

 

The rest of the night was an easy night, and all were ready for the next day of school. Though Arthur would have other plans. 

 

*****

“Now, your first lesson in being a proper dragon, cleanliness!” Aureville instructed.

 

Maeve, Salem, and Aurora now had a new period in school: dragon etiquette. 

 

Salem raised her hand. “Question.”

 

“Go ahead,” Aureville said. 

 

“I’m a zombie dragon, so doesn’t that defeat the point of cleanliness?”

 

“Even in death, dragons must be proper!”

 

“That’s bullshit.”

 

“It is not a dragon, even when zombified, still must know how to take care of themselves, and at least look decent, because even if they decided to go on a bloody rampage, they still want to look good, looks are how you are remembered as a dragon.”

 

“Bloody rampage?” Salem said, her interest peaked. 

 

“That was back in the day, before the Demon Lord made us more civilized, but you still want to look your most perfect,” Aureville looked her up and down. “I will say, the goth look suits you, but, there is always more to perfect.”

 

She took out a large brush about the size of a 2×4 piece of wood, it looked like a toothbrush. “First, comes the scale polisher, this gets rid of all the dirt and grime that has attached itself to your scales.”

 

Aurora looked at it. “So, we just scrub?”

 

“Nonsense, you have to put on the polish,” Aureville then took out a large tub of Smaug’s Scale Polish with the tagline “Makes Your Scales Glitter in the Light of a Burning Village”. 

 

“Ooooooo,” Aurora was eager to put it on. “Is it scented?”

 

“Of course,” Aureville said. “This one is coco scented.”

 

“Does the scent matter?” Maeve asked.

 

“Good question, no it doesn’t, each dragon needs to have their own preference of scent,” Aureville replied. 

 

“Oh so is there one that smells of death?” Salem joked. 

 

Without missing a beat Aureville replied. “Yes.”

 

Salem was stunned by the response. “Oh.”

 

Aureville passed out the brushes. Maeve picked hers up. “Can we get something more powerful?”

 

“If you are referring to one of those electronic polishers or buffers, you are not ready!” Aureville declared. “It’s very hard to use those, and while it can really make your scales pop, you risk injury!”

 

“How can you injure yourself?” Maeve balked. 

 

Aureville went into a trance and spoke monotony as she reminisced. “It was 14 years ago when I was four years old….my mother left out a buffer…I needed to clean myself….but the only thing I cleaned off….was my pinky toe.”

 

Maeve’s jaw dropped. “You lost a pinky toe?”

 

Aureville shuddered. “It was not a pretty sight, thankfully I got it healed back on.”

 

“Uh…question, if I use something like that on myself, will I lose limbs?” Salem asked. “Being a zombie dragon and all?”

 

“Depends, if you use it improperly, you could lose an arm and a leg, literally,” Aureville replied.

 

Salem’s expression went grim. Now she was paying more attention. The group started brushing their scales, starting gently like they were brushing their teeth.

 

“Now remember, you want to make sure each scale is polished, don’t go too fast, or too slow, you want to make each scale shine, you want everyone to look at you in awe.”

 

Aurora raised her hand. “Excuse me?”

 

“Yes?” Aureville asked. 

 

“Can I go use the bathroom?”

 

“May I.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Part of being a proper dragon is proper linguistics, so you should have asked, ‘may I use the bathroom’ instead.”

 

“Thanks…so may I use the bathroom?”

 

“Of course, take a hallpass.”

 

Aurora went to use the restroom, holding her yellow hallpass. She liked Aureville so far, she’s nice, a little higher class, but helpful. She was wondering if she would like to come over to her house. It was then she spotted Arthur. She waved at him. “Hi Arthur!”

 

Arthur was startled, but cooly waved back. “Hey, Aurora, how are you?”

 

“I’m good, I’m just enjoying my dragon etiquette class, I’m learning how to polish my scales.”

 

“Oh, that’s nice.”

 

“How are classes going for you?”

 

“Just fine.”

 

Aurora noticed something was off about Arthur. For one, he didn’t have a pass on him, and two, classes had just started. “What are you doing in the hallway anyways?”

 

“Just going to the bathroom is all,” Arthur replied. 

 

“Do you have your hall pass?”  She held up her own hall pass to signify what she meant. 

 

Arthur clicked his tongue and checked his pocket. “Damn, I think I dropped it, let me just…circle back.”

 

Aurora stared at him fidgeting with her pass. “Ok….do you need help?”

 

“No, I should be good, just go.”

 

Aurora walked toward the restroom, but looked over her shoulder at him. Something wasn’t right, but he just waved at her. She slipped in, took care of business, then emerged. Arthur wasn’t there anymore. It was expected, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but think the worse. She returned to the classroom and sat next to Salem.She polished her scales, but only focused on one section, scrubbing softly, as she mulled over her thoughts. 

 

Salem sensed her sister’s discomfort . “Are you ok?”

 

Aurora looked at Salem and whispered. “I think Arthur cut class.”

 

*****

 

The kids were waiting for Richard to pick them up. Justin’s friends, Ursa and Static were with them as they are over for dinner tonight. He was eager to have them meet the family. Arthur was hanging with them, but Salem managed to separate him from the group. 

 

“What is it?” Arthur asked. 

 

“Did you cut class today?” Salem asked inquisitively. 

 

Arthur chuckled dryly. “What makes you think that?”

 

“Aurora is worried,” Salem crossed her arms. “She ran into you in the hallway.”

 

“So?”

 

“Yes or no, did you cut class?”

 

Arthur rolled his eyes. “What does it matter?”

 

“Hello? I know about the foster care rules, you have to go to school.”

 

Arthur huffed. “And as long as I go to my classes 60% of the time, we’ll be fine.”

 

Salem stared daggers at him. “You are playing a dangerous game.”

 

“Relax.”

 

“I can’t relax Arthur, you realize what we have here? Loving family, great siblings, and dad is doing his best to make up for everything.”

 

“He’s the reason why we got stuck with her in the first place, he couldn’t control his temper!”

 

Salem shook her head. “There’s consequences to your actions, remember that.”

 

She made her way over to Aurora. Aurora looked at her. 

 

Salem sighed. “He ditched.”

 

Aurora fidgeted nervously. “What do we do?”

 

“Don’t tell dad.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because, we don’t need anymore conflict, dad will try to talk to him, and Arthur will just pour more gasoline on the fire.”

 

Aurora whimpered. “But he needs to go to school.”

 

Salem sighed. “Don’t worry about it.”

 

“But we have to do something.”

 

“Like what? Tell an adult? You can’t tell dad.”

 

A van pulled up, but it wasn’t driven by Richard, it was driven by Luna. She rolled down the window and waved to everyone. “Hi! Richard had to stay a little late, but I’m here to pick you up!”

 

Everyone filed into the van and Luna drove everyone home. When they got home, everyone filed out of the car, but Aurora tapped Luna on the shoulder. 

 

“Luna..can I tell you something?”

 

The hellhound smiled and knelt down. “Of course you can.”

 

“And..you can’t tell dad, ok?”

 

Luna furrowed her eyes with suspicion. “Is it something bad?”

 

“Yes, but…I just need your help, it’s about Arthur.”

 

Her eyes softened. “What about him?”

 

“I think he’s ditching and…I don’t want him to get in trouble.”

 

Luna bit her lip. “Do you want me to do something?”

 

“Yes…but don’t talk to him about it…can you just…maybe help him somehow?” Aurora bowed her head. “I’m sorry, I’m just worried about him.”

 

Luna thought for a moment. Arthur had been standoffish, but that didn’t mean she didn’t care about him. She wanted him to succeed. “I know what to do.”

 

*****

The next day Luna marched into the school, wearing a long yellow and flowery dress. She walked up to the receptionist. “Excuse me.”

 

The receptionist, a succubus, looked up. “How can I help you?”

 

“I’m Luna, I have a meeting with the principal at 9?”

 

The receptionist checked her computer. “Yep, go right in, she’s waiting for you.”

 

Luna thanked the receptionist and walked into the office. Sitting at the desk was a long, blue haired Medusa, she had her little curling snakes tied up in a bun. She smiled pleasantly at Lun. “Welcome, I am Principal Andrea Hannah.”

 

The two shook hands. “I’m Luna Burns, pleasure to meet you.”

They took a seat. 

 

“How can I help you?” the principal asked. “I understand this is about one of your children?”

 

“Yes, it’s Arthur,”

 

The principal looked confused. “Arthur? Not Blaze? Or Ember? Or Flare? Which one was that?”

 

“He’s my new human son, from my husband’s previous marriage, but I love him as much as my own children.”

 

“Flare, Blaze and Ember are doing great, and I’ve heard good things about Selene.”

 

“What about the others?” 

 

“Others?”

 

Luna looked offended. “My other children…haven’t you heard anything about them?”

 

“Other….” it then clicked in the principal’s mind. “Oh yes! The others! Little…” She took a deep breath. “My apologies, we are getting off track. This is about Arthur, correct?”

 

“Oh yes, I’m worried about him,” Luna said. “I found out…he’s ditching class.”

 

“Oh dear.”

 

“Yes, I don’t know how often but I don’t want him to get hurt or in trouble, and I’m afraid what this will do for his education. I am wondering, would you please help him? Don’t punish him, but make sure he can stay in class? I don’t know if you have a program that can help him.”

 

The principal smiled. “Mrs. Burns, we have a protocol for this, you see, our honor society makes it their duty to find those being truant and slacking in class, and ensuring they succeed.”

 

Luna breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”

 

“And you don’t have to worry, we will keep everything anonymous.”

 

“Is that possible?”

 

“The honor society is very effective about what they do, you have nothing to worry about.”

 

“Ok, thank you, I just want him to succeed.”

 

Luna got up and shook the principal’s hand. She turned around to leave when the principal asked. “Also a quick question, will you be making your lemon squares again for this year’s bake sale?”

 

“Of course!”

 

“Excellent, they were very popular last year, have a good day!”

 

Luna left shortly afterwards. Then Principal Hanah rang her secretary. “Summon the honor society.”

 

After a few minutes, three school uniformed mamano entered: A holstaur, a minotaur, and a balrog. They stood in a straight, professional line. The holstaur, Daisy,  was the smallest, but had the bustiest chest. The minotaur, Cathay,  towered over her, toned muscles that showed she had been doing crossfit every morning, but the balrog, Ellen, towered over them, arms that showed she was a body builder, but arms and legs dotted in bruises from her own training in MMA fighting. 

 

“You called us?” Daisy asked. 

 

“What is your bidding?” Cathay added. 

 

“I can assure you those werewolves are being educated,” Ellenm said, cracking her knuckles. 

Principal Hannah smiled, proud of her honor society. “I have heard good things, but this is something more serious: you know Luna Burns?”

 

“The woman with the delicious lemon squares?” Daisy asked. 

 

“They were very popular, raised a lot of money for the after school program,” Cathay said. 

 

“And were delicious,” Ellen added. 

 

“Yes, well, it seems she is at risk of having a bad apple spoil the whole bunch,” Principal Hannah leaned forward. “Her son Arthur.”

 

She slid over his file. “He’s cutting class.”

 

The honor society stiffened. 

 

“And it’s upsetting her,” she added.

 

Fists clenched, and eyes narrowed. 

 

“But it’s not entirely his fault, rough childhood, divorced dad…” the principal looked up at them and smiled. “But what do we say?”

 

Ellen cracked her knuckles. “It doesn’t give you the excuse to be a shi-…bad person.” She’s trying not to swear as much. 

 

“Good, now, read this file, I want him to be given special tutoring sessions,” the principal said. 

 

“What grade point are we looking for?” Daisy asked. 

 

“3.0 to 4.0 range,” the principal said. 

 

“Good, and if he resists?” Cathay asked. 

 

Principal Hannah smiled. “Luna, and her husband, and all of his spouses have brought so much to this school, bright minds, volunteers, and I will not have her upset, if she is upset, it affects her children, and in turn the school. I want him brought in by any means necessary.”

 

Ellen smiled. “It shall be done.”

 

****

Arthur ducked through the hallways, it’s a Friday, and a beautiful day, and he was not going to spend it in school at all. He was going to hang out in the woods, this new school was something. A lot of rich kids are good for money. He had done a little dealing back in the human realm to make ends meet. But he had no idea what mamano liked, but if he found the right supplier, he could make some solid dough off these rich kids. He turned the corner and was greeted by a holstaur wearing a safety sash. 

 

“Halt!” she said, arm out. “You are ditching class, as a member of the honor society, I order you to come with me!”

 

Arthur looked at the small busy holstaur with long blond hair. He chuckled. “I’m just using the bathroom.”

 

“No you aren’t, you are Arthur Burns, a ditcher, so I order you to come with me!”

 

Arthur wasn’t about to hit a girl like this, she is cute, but that’s beside the point. “Don’t you need to milk your tits?”

 

“Jokes on you, I milked them while I studied, which is what you will be doing!”

 

“You are going to milk me while I study?”

 

“What?!?!” she sputtered, her face red. “No! That would distract you and…..just come with me!”

 

Arthur walked past her, ignoring her. “Get out of my way.”

 

Daisy panicked. She threw herself at his legs and wrapped her arm around his leg. “Halt! Please!”

 

Arthur looked at her with contempt. This had to be the most pathetic thing he ever saw. “Don’t you have class to get to?”

 

“I have been assigned a job, and I won’t let go until you return to class!” Daisy continued to tug on his leg. 

 

He kept walking down the hall, when a large minotaur stepped in front of him. 

 

“You can just stop right there,” Cathay said, arms crossed.

 

“I’m slowing him down!” Daisy said.

 

Arthur shook his head. “No she’s not.”

 

“Now you’ll have to face the consequence, ditching school,” huffed Cathay. 

 

Arthur groaned. “Oh great, are you Honor Society too?”

 

“Yes, and you will return to class.”

 

Arthur sized her up. Since the minotaur is the bigger version of the holstaur, this one could take a punch. “And if I don’t?”

 

“Well, I won’t let you pass.”

 

She just stood there, wasn’t taking a combat stance at all. Arthur stood there for half a minute. “So….what are you going to do?”

 

“Not let you pass.”

 

“I know, but what will you do?”

 

“I won’t let you pass.”

 

“I know but how?”

 

“I won’t let you pass.”

 

“I…you know what…” he rubbed his temple. “Screw this.”

 

He tried to side step her, but Cathay stepped in front of him. “Uh-uh.”

 

Arthur sighed and tried to side step again. She stepped in front of him again. “Uh-uh.”

 

This continued for a while, every step he would take she would step in front of him. It was annoying. 

“He’s wearing down! I can feel it!” Daisy said. 

 

While Arthur was irritated, he didn’t want to hit her. This was more like what a child would do or someone trying to prevent you from leaving the party. A smile then came to his face. He then took a step backwards. 

 

Cathay smiled. “It’s working!”

 

“Now he’ll be in class!” Daisy added. 

 

He kept walking backwards, then took a left down the hall. 

“Hey, that’s not the way to class, go right!” Cathay called. 

 

Arthur chuckled and went down the hallway. He yanked his foot from Daisy’s grasp and took off down the hallway. He could hear the two bovines trying to chase after him. He couldn’t believe this was real. 

 

“I thought the honor society was supposed to be smart,” he thought. 

 

He bursted through the door to the outside, and was greeted by an even larger mamano standing in his way. She stood tall like a statue, with a menacing aura. Flames seemed to rise off of her wings like she was projecting herself from the sky. Her long tail laid on the ground. But what really caught his attention, was the long blonde hair, and the fact her fists were clenched, ready for a fight. 

 

“Attention, truant!” Ellen bellowed. “You are in defiance of school rules, you cannot run! You cannot hide! We are judgement!”

 

Arthur couldn’t help but laugh. “Good lord, where do you get off? Do you think you are some sort of bounty hunter?”

 

Ellen cricked her neck. Arthur took that as a sign he was in for a fight. 

 

Not known to anyone, Arthur did his fair share of underground fights back in the human world. He got his ass kicked as he’s an amateur, but he got paid even if he lost. But what’s good about getting your ass kicked, is you learn from everything, and in that moment, he learned how to fight better. Soon instead of throwing the wild haymakers and getting uppercutted, he was the one uppercutting his opponent. Instead of him walking away bruised in the face, the only thing bleeding and bruised were his knuckles. He learned from each encounter, and this mamano, whatever it was, wasn’t going to stand in his way. 

 

With a lightning fast strike he socked her right in the nose. It felt like he was hitting an attack dog training suit, as not only was her skin rough, but it was hard, and seemed to absorb his blow. But there’s another thing he learned: Always aim for the nose. That’s a great way to disorient your opponent. And for a big girl like this, it could give him an opportunity to strike again. 

 

However, as he readied another punch, he froze, just for a brief second. She was smiling, even as a scarlet trail of blood ran down her nose. Arthur then realized that he might have bit off more than he could chew. 

 

“Prepare for sentencing,” she growled sinisterly. 

 

Suddenly, her tail yanked Arthur’s legs out from under him. His body went airborne, only to be sent crashing down when Ellen brought down a nasty axe kick right onto his sternum. He slammed into the ground, air shot out of his chest. He felt like someone shot a cannon ball at his body. 

 

“Ellen!” squealed Daisy. “You aren’t supposed to kill him!”

 

“Oh god! Oh god!” Cathay hyperventilated. “We gotta get a lich right now!”

 

But Arthur wasn’t dead, though he felt just a little bit. He wasn’t going to let this beast take him down. With a bolt of adrenaline fueled rage, he leapt up and grabbed the mamano, lifting her up. Daisy, Cathay, and even Ellen were surprised by how strong he was. He then threw her on the ground like he was slamming a medicine ball. The balrog groaned. 

 

Arthur then glared at the other two. “You gonna stop-?”

 

But then it was the balrog’s turn. She scooped up Arthur and held him over her head. 

 

“Great work!” Daisy clapped. “Now we can take him back to class.”

 

But it was Cathay who saw murder in her eyes. “Oh no.”

 

“My turn!” Ellen growled. She heaved Arthur and threw him towards the school like he was nothing but a football. 

 

“Did you forget your breathing exercises?!!?”! Daisy cried. 

 

“He’ll be fine, I threw him toward the library,” snickered Ellen. 

 

Meanwhile, in the Library

 

Justin held out his hands while Ursa’s paws tensed as she glared at his knuckles. 

 

“I’m gonna get you this time,” she panted. 

 

Justin giggled. “Ok.”

 

Ursa’s paws twitched, but Justin didn’t flinch. Static was the referee. 

 

Suddenly Ursa’s paws moved to slap his knuckles, but Justin pulled them away in time. 

 

“Dang it!” Ursa groaned. 

 

“Too slow,” laughed Justin. 

 

“Well, I ate a big lunch, so my body is trying to store up the fat for winter.”

“I think those are two different reasons.”

 

“Now it’s your turn,” Static said to Ursa. 

 

“Ahem.”

 

The group looked up to see the scylla librarian glaring at them, her tentacles crossed with disappointment. “This is a place of learning, not games.”

 

“But don’t you check out board games?” Static asked. 

 

That made the librarian’s nostrils flare. “You are disrupting the students.”

 

“We’ll study,” Justin said quickly, not wanting to anger the librarian further. He opened his book and looked up at the skylight. “It’s nice you opened the skylight.”

 

That made the librarians’ faces soften. “Yes, it allows fresh air to enter the library.”

 

That was when they heard a sound, it started small at first, but slowly crescendoed into something bigger. 

 

“aaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”

 

Arthur flew right through the open skylight and landed on the table, right in front of his brother. Justin and his friends jumped back. 

 

Ursa looked up. “Is it raining men?”

 

“Hallelujah,” Static sighed. 

 

Arthur groaned and looked up to see his brother staring at him. He smiled weakly. “Hey, how are the studies going?”

 

“Good,” Justin said. “What happened?”

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

*****

 

After that incident, both Richard, Luna, Daria, Molly, and Jade received phone calls while at work, and all five arrived at the school.

 

And Principal Hannah was not ready for that. 

“I told you to talk to him!” Luna balked. 

 

“Wait, Arthur has been cutting class?” Richard balked. 

 

“Does your student council always bully people?” Jade asked, cracking her knuckles. 

 

“You are lucky he isn’t injured!” Molly balked.

 

“And that skylight was open!” Daria added. 

 

The principal remained calm. “Now, things got out of hand, I can assure you though, the Honor Society’s intention was not to hurt him at all.”

 

The principal had informed them of the incident, and Arthur and the honor society were in the office with them.

 

“Now, in our defense….he was a meanie!” Daisy balked. 

 

“That is no excuse to huck my son through a window!” Richard snapped. 

 

He felt a series of claws dig into his arms and shoulders. 

 

“Ahem, you mean our son?” Luna growled politely. 

 

Richard gulped. “Our son, yes.”

 

Ellen then interrupted. “Now in my defense, he struck first, and I responded appropriately.”

 

Principal Hannah looked through the files. “You hit him with an axe kick?”

 

“Yes, I wanted to put him down quickly so we could get back to educating him quicker.” Ellen sighed, but he was a tough one, so I decided to take initiative and place him in a perfect place of learning.”

 

“You threw him through the skylight!” Richard balked. 

 

“But, I knew it was open, so he wouldn’t damage any of the glass.”

 

Principal Hannah cleared her throat. “It is important to note, Arthur did throw the first punch, unprovoked might I add.”

 

“Unprovoked? She was standing in my way, looking at me menacingly!” Arthur snapped. 

 

“I was trying to get you to go back to class, but no, you decided to throw a punch, and what was I supposed to do? Let you get away with that?” Ellen smirked at him. 

 

Arthur glared at her and shook his fist., 

 

“I will not tolerate that!” Principal Hannah barked, she then collected herself. “Anyways, with something like this, it’s shown your son isn’t meant for normal class.”

 

“Now my son is a special boy but he’s not…special…you know?” Molly said. 

 

“No, no, I mean he needs more one-on-one tutoring, and the honor society is the best at this.”

 

Richard and his wives were suspicious.

 

Principal Hannah clarified. “Now, I know today was rough, but this will be much better for him, and I can assure you, everyone will behave, correct?” She narrowed her eyes at the honor society. 

 

“Don’t look at us!” Daisy balked. 

 

“We didn’t fight!” Cathay added. 

 

“He just needs to control his anger,” Ellen said. 

 

Richard looked at his son. “I want what’s best for him.”

 

Arthur huffed under his breath 

 

“But you promise there won’t be any incidents like this again?” Richard asked. 

 

Principal Hannah looked at the Honor Society. They all nodded.  

 

“So, it’s settled,” Principal Hannah said. 

 

After the meeting, everyone went home. When they got out of the car, Richard confronted Arthur. 

 

“Arthur, I thought we agreed you would go to school, and I found out you are ditching?” Richard was shocked. 

 

“I only have to attend class 60% of the time,” Arthur huffed.

 

“That’s not the point, you said you were, for your siblings.”

 

“I love them, but….what’s the point in school?”

 

“Education, and keeps the family together,” Richard sighed. “Is there something you want to talk about?”

 

Arthur opened his mouth, then closed it. “No.”

 

Then he went inside. 

 

He ran into Justin and Salem doing homework with their friends. 

 

“I’m surprised you are still walking.” Salem commented. 

 

Her wurm friend waved at him. “Hi.”

 

Arthur waved back. 

 

“Is it true?” Justin asked.

 

“What?” Arthur replied. 

 

“That you were ditching class.”

 

“Damn it,” Arthur muttered under his breath. He looked at his brother. “Yes, I was ditching.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because…I don’t need it.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I’m mature enough, school has nothing else to teach me.”

 

“Then…why do I have to go to school?”

 

“Because you have potential, you need a good education to go far in life.”

 

“But aren’t I mature enough?”

 

“I don’t mean to offend you, but you aren’t, you are still growing and have potential to learn. You have passions that need to be unlocked, and I know you’ll go far.”

 

“If only you would follow your own advice,” Maeve said. 

 

“When you have scars from cigarette burns you can skip as much as you want too,” Arthur then turned around and left. 

 

Justin and Maeve looked shocked. Meanwhile, Richard’s wives’s first instinct was to follow, as they could never imagine such abuse. 

 

“Arthur,” Luna called. 

 

“Forget it,” Arthur. 

 

Molly tried to follow. “But I think we should…”

 

“There’s nothing to talk about!” Arthur barked. 

 

The door to his room slammed behind him. Jade shook her head. “Richard, you know I am grateful to have more additions to our family, but your son, he needs help.”

 

Richard sighed. “I know.”

 

“He can’t get better on his own.”

 

“He makes it hard, look, I hope the Honor Society will help, but we gotta keep trying with him.”

 

Jade looked up the stairs. “My only fear is as we grow, we’ll lose one who decided to fall behind.”

 

*******

The next day was Arthur’s first day of class with the Honor Society. He walked into a massive classroom, there were a couple mamano already there. One was a cheshire, she had purple and blue fur. She sat lazily in her seat. The other was something that he never saw before. She was short, like almost four feet tall, she had long black and white hair that was tied up in a braid along with long claws.

 

He sat in a desk in between them, he didn’t want to but there were only three desks in the class. 

 

He looked at the cheshire. “Hi.”

 

The cheshire yawned. “You must be new.”

 

“I am.”

 

“Are you the one who punched the balrog?”

 

Arthur smirked. “Yeah, I did.”

 

“And you got your ass kicked,” the cheshire snickered. 

 

The other mamano laughed.

 

“What are you laughing at? You got punted!” the cheshire torted. 

 

The mamano’s face fell and she scowled. 

 

Arthur looked at her. 

 

The mamano glared at him. “Gonna make fun of me?”

 

“I don’t even know what you are.” Arthur said.

 

“I’m a honey badger.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah, really.”

 

Arthur leaned back at his desk. “So, how did you guys get in here?”

 

“Bad grades,” the honey badger girl said. “Coach says I can’t be on the wrestling team if they don’t improve.”

 

“You wrestle?”

 

“Don’t let the size fool you,” she grinned. “I chop a tall person like you down.”

 

“Except you didn’t take down Ellen,” the cheshire teased.

 

“She cheated by punting me!”

 

The cheshire leaned over and whispered to Arthur. “She went right in between the goal post.”

 

“So a clean kick,” chuckled Arthur. 

 

“Shut it!” the honey badger barked

 

He looked over at the cheshire. “And you?”

 

She smiled. “I struggle with writing, English, grammar, all that, I got a special tutor to help me.”

 

She outstretched her paw. “Name’s Becky.”

 

“Arthur,” Arthur replied. He looked over at the honey badger.

 

The honey badger looked at him. “Rosa.”

 

“Nice name.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Suddenly the ground shook as something large came their way. Arthur turned to see a large ushi-oni standing in front of him, she wore the Honor Society jacket. 

 

“Good morning, everyone,” she said. 

 

“Good morning, Selina,” Rosa and Becky said. 

 

Selina looked at Arthur. “It’s your first day, but in the future, please say ‘good morning’ back, it makes things more formal.”

 

Arthur rolled his eyes. 

 

Selina sighed. “I know you are a little troubled, but please follow the rules.” She then cleared her throat. “Now, who is ready to learn today?”

 

Becky smiled. “I am, where is my tutor?”

 

“Ah yes, your tutor.”

 

Emerging from behind her, was a teen with freckles on his face with a dorky haircut. “Hi Becky! Ready for your lesson today?”

 

“Oh yes I am, Mason,” Becky batted her eyes at him. 

 

Arthur rolled his eyes. 

 

“Great! Today, we work on adverbs!” Mason gleamed. 

 

“Yippee!” Becky said.

 

The two of them went to a different part of the room. Selina then focused on the other two mischievous people. 

 

“Now…” she pointed to Arthur. “Daisy, who I’m sure you are familiar with, will be working with you today on calculus.” She then pointed to Rosa. “Cathay will be helping you with your physics homework.”

 

“Physics is so confusing,” Rosa groaned. 

 

“That is why you are here, to help you understand it, or make it less confusing.” Selina cricked her neck. “Me and some other members have a big tutoring job, we got two packs of werewolves and 15 sphinxes that have to be tutored, and it’s not an easy job, you got way too many hyperactive packs and groups…anyways behave yourselfs.”

 

Daisy plopped herself down next to Arthur. “So, what do you know about calculus?”

 

“Nothing,” Arthur replied bluntly. 

 

“Well, that is why you are here,” she plopped a textbook down in front of him. “Now we can learn.”

 

Arthur groaned. “God why did they have to add letters to math? It’s already hard.”

 

“Well, should we start small?”

 

“Small?”

 

“Like, a simple solve for ‘x’?”

 

Arthur sighed. “I know how to solve for x, it’s just when…there’s too many numbers and letters…things get confusing…I’m allowed to use a calculator right?”

 

“Of course, but at least write it out so you can understand.”

 

Arthur narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t going to be one of those where I have to show my work to get the right answer is it?”

 

“No of course not, but I feel writing it out does help you understand it at least, but I won’t grade you like that.”

 

“Wait, you can grade me?”

 

“Yep!”

 

“Oh great.”

 

“Let’s start with an easy one.”

 

She tapped on the problem reading: Find the inverse of function: f (x)=ln (2x-3)  + 2

 

Arthur stared blankly at the problem. Daisy waited patiently. “Need some help?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So first, let’s solve for x, first you, so first you write it as y. So then the equation will look like this.”

 

She scribbled out y – 2= ln(2x-3). 

 

“Now you have to get rid of ln so you divide over to the other side like so, which turns that into e and it makes the y-2 the exponents, now then you can just add three to the other side, leaving 2x, and then you dived by 2 and….”

 

She looked to see Arthur’s eyes glazed over, not out of disrespect but out of confusion. 

 

“Uhhh…so the x….goes and subtracts and……”

 

Daisy bit her lip. “Let’s start over.”

 

Many minutes of painful math later

 

“Ok, see, if you use the calculator, and remember “soh’, ‘cah’, ‘toa’, then it helps a little, and writing it out also helps, right?”

 

Arthur rubbed his temples. “Oh my damn head…..”

 

“Well, think of it like this, you pass and you’ll never use it again.”

 

“That better be a promise.”

 

“Well, do you plan to be a rocket scientist?”

 

Arthur laughed. “Ah, nah, not like that. I like launching them.”

 

“You do?”

 

“Yeah, you know those model rockets?”

 

“Oh yeah!”

 

“Yeah, those are always fun.”

“Really?” Daisy smiled. 

 

Arthur smiled back. “Yeah, it’s fun watching them go up…and sometimes explode.”

 

“How do you do that?”

 

Arthur opened his mouth, but then shut it, he didn’t want to say anything else. “So…we’re done with calculus?”

 

Daisy smiled. “Yep.”

 

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, so….science is next?”

 

“Chemistry to be exact!” Cathay said grinning as she slid next to him . “And look who will be joining you!”

 

She gestured to Rosa who waved. “Yo.”

 

Arthur looked at Cathay with contempt. “So chemistry, how does this work?”

 

“Well, we are going to study reactions!”

 

Arthur rolled his eyes. “Oh great.”

 

Cathay then pulled out a folding table, then produced vials of chemicals along with test tubes, tongs, and eyegoggles and gloves. 

 

Arthur was intrigued. “Are you going to put on a show?”

 

“Actually, we’ll be looking at how different reactions react to different chemicals, safely obviously, and you two will be experimenting!.”

 

Arthur smiled. “Ok, this should be fun.”

 

“Now, you have chemicals, all labeled, on your sheet are instructions on how to mix the chemicals, I want you to mix them together, and observe the reactions,” Cathay explained. 

 

“This could be fun,” Arthur thought. 

 

The first was an easy one, baking soda and vinegar. Sort of a kid’s reaction, but it’s still fun. Arthur added in a little too much baking soda, so when the vinegar was added, it shot out like a geyser. 

 

“Oh dear, I’ll get a towel,” Cathay said. She left to grab a towel. 

Meanwhile, Arthur looked over at Rosa, she was already grinning with her reaction, she added a spoonful of a white substance into water. “There we go!”

 

“What did you add?” Arthur asked. 

 

“Well, the formula calls for sodium in hydrachloric acid.”

 

Arthur saw the substance bubbling, that didn’t look right. “Sodium?”

 

“Yeah, that’s what it says here,” she pointed to the list.

 

Arthur grabbed her. “GET DOWN!”

 

The test tube exploded aggressively. Rosa yelped and covered her ears. 

 

Arthur looked up, there was a smoldering pile where the test tube once was. “So…the recipe called for sodium hydroxide, adding pure sodium…does that.”

 

Cathay sprinted over, her face full of worry and panic. “Oh god not again!”

 

“Wait, this happened before?” Arthur said, shocked, but a little bit of sardonism in his tone.

 

“Uh…well….not exactly…..”

 

Ellen burst into the room. “What the hell happened? Did you accidentally make mustard gas again?!?!”

 

“No!” Cathay balked.

 

“How the hell did you do that?” Arthur asked. 

 

“Hey! I learned how to do that from a King of the Hill episode!” Rosa added.

 

Cathay’s face turned red. “Uhhh…..I…oh no…uh..uh…”

 

Arthur watched as the large minotaur was frozen with fear. On one hand it was amusing, but seeing the pain in her face and panic filled him with a sense of similarity. 

 

He stood up. “Look, it was an accident, we misread the instructions, that’s all, not her fault.”

 

Rosa looked at him, shocked. “We?”

 

“Yeah, we misread an element which led to the explosion, not her fault.”

 

Cathay looked a little relieved. Ellen seemed to accept it. “Ok then, but no more explosions, we don’t want the fire department to come again.”

 

Ellen left, and Arthur looked at Cathay. “The fire department has come before?”

 

“Yeah … .so…I was showing off the flammable properties of sugar and well…..it got a little more heated than I thought…and then there was the time when I showed what happens when you soak flour in diesel.”

 

“What happens?” 

 

Cathay was silent and she slowly turned away. “Let’s uh….move onto something else.”

 

Arthur grinned. There was a lot more to this woman that he thought. “I think it’s pretty cool.”

 

“You do?” she looked at him. 

 

“Yeah, you know the cool side of science.”

 

“Awwww….thank you,” she blushed. 

 

Rosa looked at the smoldering mess. “What else can we blow up?”

 

*****

After some more science, Arthur went to gym for gym class, and changed into his gym clothes in the locker room. He was surprised there weren’t any cameras in there, or holes for the mamano to peer in, I guess they took privacy seriously. When he exited, a groan left his mouth when he saw Ellen was there. “Don’t tell me you are the teacher.”

 

“I’m the strongest here, so yes I am,” Ellen flexed her bicep for him. She wore what looked like a stereotypical gym teacher track suit, except it was red. She had a whistle around her neck and wore a baseball cap with the school’s logo on it.

 

Arthur rolled his eyes, he knew he had to get this over with. “Oh great. So what’s the workout? Laps? Burpees? Dodgeball?”

 

“Actually, we are going to work on your punching.”

 

“What?”

 

“Yeah, it’s a little weak.”

 

Arthur was flabbergasted.”Weak?!?!?”

 

“Yeah, don’t get me wrong, it was a decent slug, but it felt like it was lacking power.”

 

“Hey! I’ve been in fights!”

 

“Yeah, but your form is sloppy, and it looks like you weren’t going up against any heavy hitters.”

 

That comment made Arthur mad. He had done some underground fighting to help raise money for his siblings. “Now who do you think you are….”

 

“I’m a black belt and 2-time Miss Heavy Lifter Champion,” Ellen said bluntly. 

 

Arthur then held his tongue. 

 

“Can you even bench 250?” asked Ellen.

 

“Maybe,” Arthur grumbled. 

 

“Well, anyways, we need to get you stronger than before, so what we are going to do is put you to work on the speedbag.”

 

“Sure! That sounds easy,” Arthur looked around. “Where is it?”

 

Ellen unzipped her tracksuit, revealing a red sports bra, and a set of firm, six pack abs. “Right here.”

 

Arthur gawked at them. They were toned to where they were sticking out like a washboard. He looked at her eyes, then back at her abs, then back up. “Is this some sort of fetish thing?”

 

“No it’s not,” Ellen replied.

 

“Well…why are you wanting me to…hit you?”

 

“Because my abs are strong, and your weak hands need to be toned properly.”

 

“Weak!?!?”

 

“Your punch was good, but it was the equivalent of getting hit in the face with a dodgeball.”

 

That set Arthur off. He took a step forward and cocked his hand. He slammed his fist into her abs with a blow so powerful, it sent the sweat on her abs flying. However, she stood there, remaining unmoved. 

 

“Ok, that was a good hit,” Ellen said. “But….please wrap your hands.”

 

“Whatever,” Arthur said as he turned around. “Where can I find hand wraps?”

 

“Over by my gym bag.”

 

Arthur turned around and went to her bag. Rosa entered in her gym attire. “Ey, what’s up?”

 

Arthur looked up and croaked. “I broke my hand.”

 

“What?”

 

“I hit Ellen in the abs and I think I broke my hand.”

 

“What…are you ok?”

 

“It feels like a plastic bag full of jelly.”

 

“Well….shit, should I take you to the nurse?”

 

“No, I can’t, just get me something strong.”

 

“Like an ibuprofen? Or an aspirin?”

 

“Get me some goddamn painkillers.”

 

“I…I don’t think the nurse has that.”

 

Arthur winced as he laced up his broken hand. “Nevermind, I’ll power through.”

 

“I don’t think you should,” Rosa said. 

 

“No, I got this.”

 

Arthur stood in front of Ellen. 

 

“Ok, ready?” Ellen asked.

 

“Ready,” Arthur said, cocking his fists. 

 

20 minutes of painful speedbag training later

 

“Nice work!” Ellen said. “While I’m not feeling any bruising, I felt your punches getting better.”

 

“Thanks,” Arthur squeaked, trying to hold back the pain. 

 

Ellen tapped her own abs. “These bad boys are solid like steel, good way to train those fists to be unbreakable.”

 

“Very good,” Arthur said. He turned around, now his bones felt like they liquified in his hand. 

 

“By the way, we have a magic class being taught now, they are learning healing spells, stop by there after you shower for your hand.”

 

Arthur turned around bewildered. “You knew?”

 

“I will say it was admirable of you to not break down, but for future reference, don’t fight injured, you’ll do more damage,” Ellen nodded in approval. “But perhaps this means you are tougher than expected, we’ll have to spar more, I’ll show you some of my moves.”

 

“Sounds good,” Arthur said. 

 

“Also good job with your form, you adjusted well to striking harder with your left hand rather than your right hand.”

 

“Thanks,” Arthur felt himself smile. 

 

“It shows you are good at adapting, I like that.”

 

“You do?” 

 

“Yeah,” Ellen smiled. “I do.”

 

Arthur went and took a shower, then got his hand fixed by a blue oni in the magic class. She seemed very nervous as she wasn’t used to being around men at all. She healed his hand, then slipped her phone number into his hand. Arthur didn’t throw it away but put it in his wallet. He then went back to the room where Becky was sitting next to her nervous tutor, who was trying to wipe something off his face. 

 

“Well hey there, troublemaker,” Becky laughed. “Did you have a good day?”

 

“It was…good,” Arthur replied. “Banged up my hand, but it’s fixed.”

 

“Magic students fix it?”

 

“A blue oni did, I think she has a crush on me.”

 

“Well gee, I wonder why, it’s not like you are one of the only boys in the school,” she looked at her tutor. “Am I right?”

 

Her tutor wiped something black off his face. Arthur then noticed that Becky wore black lipstick.

 

“Yeah…makes sense,” Arthur said.

 

“By the way, want to eat lunch with us?”

 

“You two?” 

 

“Yeah, and Rosa too, she should be getting back from the gym soon.”

 

Arthur thought for a minute, he didn’t know them well, but they are his classmates, he might as well start getting to know them. “Sure.”

 

*****

Arthur ate with Rosa and Becky. The menu featured chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. 

 

“Not bad,” Arthur said as he ate. “The food’s pretty good.”

 

“Gotta have good food,” Becky said. “Keeps the find focused.”

 

“Better than what I have at my home,” Rosa said as she ate. “My mom can’t cook.”

 

“How come?” Arthur. 

 

“She’s a honey badger, she hunts, she doesn’t cook, my dad does the cooking but he’s on a business trip now,” Rosa sighed. “I love my mom, but I can’t keep eating ramen noodles every night.”

 

“Hell, I could probably make you something good,” Arthur said.

 

“You know how to cook?” Rosa asked. 

 

“Yeah, I know some things.”

 

“You better keep that a secret,” Becky chuckled. “If mamano finds out you know how to cook they are gonna be lining up for you.”

 

“Speaking of which,” Arthur smirked at her. “How long have you been with that tutor?”

 

Becky grinned. “Since he started tutoring me, he’s a cat person.”

 

Arthur chuckled. “Is there a rule against dating your tutor?”

 

“Frowned upon, but as long as he’s not giving me a pass, we are good, he can be a very strict grader.”

 

“Really?” Arthur snickered. “You try to flirt with him?”

 

“Oh I try, the problem is he is very resilient, I pepper him with kisses, nibble on his ear, and he remains strong, you gotta love a man with integrity,” she purred. “I know he’ll be an excellent husband.”

 

Arthur chuckled. “Well anyways, you all want to maybe come over for some dinner Friday?”

 

“Sure!” Rosa said.

 

“Can I bring my boyfriend?” asked Becky.

 

“Sure, but just not too much PDA, ok? Let’s keep it PG,” Arthur said. 

 

“Got it.”

 

******

When Arthur and his friends were picked up from school, it was Jade who picked them up this time.

 

“I take it your day went well?” Jade asked everyone. 

 

“It’s interesting,” Aurora said. “Today we learned to control our fire…well, I think mine is more like a gas.”

 

“But I managed to do the most damage!” Maeve interjected.

 

“Impressive,” Jade said. She looked at Salem. 

 

“I need to work on it, also Aurivelle was kind enough to let my dragon friends join us, she says she must teach all dragons to be proper, and I guess that includes my friends,” Salem said.

 

“That’s nice of her,” Jade replied. 

 

“It is, but the problem is one of my friends is a wurm, she doesn’t breathe fire, so she ended up spitting a bunch on the wall.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Yeah…..uh…it was a little awkward and we had to stop her from heaving up her lunch.”

 

“Well, wurm’s are better suited for smashing objects, not burning them down.”

 

“Try telling her that, I hate to see what happens when she tries to fly.”

 

“But…wurm’s don’t have wings…do they?” Justin asked. 

 

“No they don’t,” Salem replied.

 

“Well….they aren’t hidden are they?”

 

“Well…..” Salem looked at Aurora and Maeve, they scratched their heads.

 

“They don’t have wings, though there was an incident where a wurm was born to an echidna where a wurm had wings,” Jade said.

 

“How did that turn out?” Salem said.

 

“It was like an indestructible jet airliner that would never stop hitting buildings,” Jade shuddered. “And due to her low intelligence…no offense to your friend….she would constantly hit her own reflection…so many windows had to be replaced.”

 

“By the way, Aurivelle wants to come over Friday, is that ok?” Aurora asked.

 

Jade contained her excitement, someone of great importance is coming over. “Of course, it’s date night this week so we won’t be there, but Ember, Blaze, and Flare should be there, and the little ones, they’ll keep the little ones in line.”

 

“Great!” Aurora and Maeve looked at each other eagerly, while Salem was chill. 

 

“Uh…” Arthur cleared his throat. “I was planning on having some friends over too.”

 

Once more Jade contained her excitement. “That’s ok, just don’t do anything illegal.”

 

“Could my friends come over?” Justin asked. 

 

“Of course,” Jade said. 

 

“Jeez, it’s gonna be a full house,” Arthur thought. 

 

*****

“Arthur is having friends over?” Richard asked as he brushed his teeth. He couldn’t believe it, Arthur was actually making friends? He was glad, but Arthur hadn’t been the easiest to get along with.

 

“I was surprised,” Jade said. “But it’s a great moment.”

 

“Oooo, I wish I had a camera to document it!” Luna said excitedly.

 

“I could hide cameras around the house so we can do just that!” Molly exclaimed. 

 

“No, that is unethical,” Daria reminded them. 

 

“Indeed, we just let them have their fun,” Richard said.

 

“Uh…but…this fun, and the friends of Arthur…are they friends or friends?” asked Luna

 

There was silence all around. They then got into bed, still pondering. 

 

“Shall I give them the talk?” Jade said.

 

“I think Arthur is old enough to know about that,” Richard said.

 

“I mean everyone.”

 

“…….No.”

 

“I doubt there will be anything sexual, the young ones will be in the house,” Daria said.

 

“That is true,” Richard said.

 

He felt Luna walk her fingers up his thigh and sensually whisper. “But that hasn’t stopped us before.”

 

Richard gulped, he could feel lustful eyes on him. 

 

He is in for a long night. 

 

Friday

 

Justin was already in the room with his friends, hanging, watching TV. 

 

“Nice place you got here,” Static commented.

 

“Yeah!” Ursa said as she shoved some cheese puffs in her mouth. “Also tell your mom thanks for the snacks.”

 

“My moms all chipped in,” Justin smiled. “They each got their own.”

 

“Mmmm, I always like the white cheddar snacks,” Static said. “Something about it is just delicious.”

 

“Agreed,” Justin said. 

 

The adults had already gone on their dates, leaving Justin and his friends, and the rest of the children. It was then Aurivelle arrived, with her ‘perfect dragon’s’ in training. 

 

Aurivelle looked up and down the house. “This will suit you.”

 

“It has a nice room to fly off,” Aurora said. 

 

“I think we damaged our dad’s ribs when we jumped off the room,” Salem said. 

 

“I flew the furthest,” Maeve added.

 

“Can I jump off the roof?” Amy asked. 

 

“That’s only if you can fly,” Aurivelle said.

 

Amy pouted. 

 

“Oh who’s to say she can’t jump off the roof?” Maeve chuckled. “I say let her!”

 

“Really?” Amy looked so excited.

 

“You can’t fly!” Lynn shrieked. 

 

“Go ahead, do it!” Maeve cheered.

 

Amy took off upstairs while Lynna chased her. Aurora looked at Maeve nervously. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

 

“Relax, just wait,” Maeve shushed.

 

They heard her open the doors, and Lynn screaming for her to stop. They felt the house shake as Amy jumped off, then at least a few seconds of silence, before hearing what sounded like an asteroid striking the ground, which shook the house. 

 

“Are you ok?” screamed Lynn.

 

There was a brief moment of silence, then Amy asked. “Can I go again?”

 

Aurivelle then went outside “That was excellent jumping, but we need to rest, no more for the night.”

 

“Got it!” Amy climbed out of the hole and went back inside, she didn’t have a scratch on her, aside from some dirt on her clothes.

 

“Hey, Justin,” Salem said. “What are you watching?”

 

“Venture Bros,” Justin said. “Static recommended it, it’s funny.”

 

“Why does the blonde guy sound like Joe?” Ursa asked.

 

“Because it’s the same voice actor,” Static said.

 

“That is so cool!”

 

Aurivelle looked at the show they were watching. “Why does the young boy have testicular torsion?”

 

“I don’t know but it’s funny, “ Justin replied. 

 

Aurora chuckled. “Is this not a show ‘proper dragons’ would watch?”

 

“It intrigues me,” Aurivelle said. “The Mighty Monarch makes me giggle.”

 

Salem looked at Maeve. Laughing? They hadn’t heard even a chuckle come out of her. 

 

They all sat down. Salem sniffed the air. “What’s cooking?” 

 

“Arthur is doing some prep,” Justin said. 

 

“He’s cooking?” 

 

“He’s got friends coming over, remember?”

 

“Oh, right, when are they supposed to arrive?”

 

Knock knock

 

Arthur came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. “They are here!”

 

“So who’s all coming over?” 

 

“Rosa and Becky, and probably Becky’s boyfriend,” he said as he got to the door. He opened and saw his guests, and some additions.

 

“Oh….what are you all doing here?” Arthur said. He had expected Becky, her boyfriend, and Rosa. But Daisy, Cathay, and Ellen were with them!

 

“Well, Rosa was so excited she told us about this,” Daisy said.

 

“She said friends were welcome to dinner,” Cathay said.

 

“We are friends?” Arthur asked.

 

“Well, I assumed so,” Rosa said. “You got along with them well.”

 

Arthur gritted his teeth, his angry feelings toward the honor society had faded, but he still wasn’t ready to have them in his house. He felt something piercing his back, not physically, but mentally. He looked over his shoulder to see Salem staring at him. She was giving him a look of contempt, and it would only get worse if he turned them away.

 

Arthur cleared his throat. “Well, I think I should have enough, come in.”

 

The gang came in. Daisy set her eyes on Justin. “Who is this cute fellah?”

 

“I’m Justin,” Justin said. “Arthur’s brother.”

 

Cathay looked at the dragons. “And….I think these are you sisters…which dragons are your sisters?”

 

Aurora, Salem, and Maeve raised their hands. 

 

“Nice to meet you,” Cathay said. 

 

“So what are you cooking?” Ellen asked Arhur.

 

“I figured something simple, spaghetti, but the meatballs are homemade, along with garlic bread,” Arthur said. 

 

“Fancy,” Ellen sniffed the air. “Smells good.”

 

“Well, I figured I would make a homemade tomato sauce, takes awhile but it’s worth it,” Arthur said. 

 

Rosa felt her mouth watering. “It smells so delicious.”

 

“How close until it’s done?” asked Becky.

 

“Give it about 15 minutes,” Arthur said, he then looked at the couple. “And keep in PG out here!”

 

Mason’s eyes then went to the TV. “Hey! You are watching Venture Bros!”

 

He plopped himself on the couch, while Becky teleported next to him, arms wrapped around him. 

 

Arthur went back to the kitchen, he still had to mash the rest of the tomatoes, he was so close. He might have gone a little overboard with the tomatoes, but it never hurts to have too much sauce. 

 

He took a spoonful of the sauce and sipped it. “Needs more garlic.”

 

“That smells good,” Sophie said. 

 

Arthur turned around to see the little jinko standing there, teddy bear in hand. 

 

“Hi, Sophie,” Arthur said, confused. “What are you doing here?”

 

“Waiting for dinner.”

 

He chuckled. “But aren’t Blaze, Ember, and Flare taking care of you.”

 

“They aren’t here.”

 

“What?”

 

“They aren’t here, so you are taking care of us.”

 

“Us?”

 

“Yeah, my sisters are upstairs playing, they sent me down to see when dinner will be ready.”

 

“Your…sisters?”

 

“Yeah, all of them.”

 

“Aside from….your jinko sisters?”

 

“Yeah, all of them.”

 

Arthur held his breath. “I need to make a call.”

 

*****

“Pick up! Pick up! Pick up!” Arthur grumbled. 

 

“Hello?” Ember answered.

 

“Hey, it’s Arthur, where are you? I thought you were watching your sisters tonight?”

 

‘What? We got called out, coach had a mandatory meeting, and I tried to call you but you didn’t answer, then I sent you a text.”

 

“Well, I didn’t receive it!”

 

“Not even the phone call?”

 

“No!”

 

“What the…..” Arthur could hear her muttering and discussing something with her sisters. “Oh shit…ok, so this is kind of funny, so it appears I inputted your number wrong and I was off by one digit.”

 

“Oh well that’s great, I have friends over!”

 

“Look, I’m sorry! Look, I’ll make it up to you, we will, you can order pizza and we’ll pay you back.”

 

Arthur sighed. “God damn it.”

 

“Hey, it was a mistake, I’m sorry!”

 

“Whatever,” Arthur said as he hung up the phone. He took a deep breath. So now he had a few more mouths to feed. “Good thing I went overboard on the sauce and meatballs.”

 

The garlic bread though needed to be resupplied.

 

He peered out the door. “Hey, who wants to run to the store and get more garlic bread?”

 

Aurivelle took out her phone. “I shall have some brought here, how much do you need and what kind?”

 

“Just maybe, three loaves?”

 

“I’ll make it six, dragons need to eat all they can to have the energy.”

 

“Ok,” Arthur said. “So, dinner will be delayed awhile.”

 

“Why?” asked Rosa.

 

“We got some more mouths to feed.”

 

“Who’s?”

 

Arthur pointed upstairs. “A whole litter of kids.”

 

*******

After the bread had arrived, and was toasted it was dinner time. Justin looked at Sophie. “Call your sisters.”

 

After Sophie called them, they all filed down. Aurivelle was shocked to see so many mamano siblings. She leaned over to Salem. “I see your father’s vitality is well known.”

 

Salem stifled a laugh,but managed to whisper. “Well, I doubt they let him pull out anyways.”

 

“Oh my…..” Aurivelle was blushing. “We’ve never had this many heirs.”

 

“Awwww, your sisters are adorable!” Static cried with cuteness.

 

The large gathering of mamano children were interested in the new guests. The triplets surrounded Aurivelle. 

 

“Are you a princess?” Cheyene asked. 

 

“Yes I am,” the proud dragon extended her large scaly hand. “Aurivelle von Rosenkrantz und Sternthal und von Drachenfels zu Hohenwald.”

 

Salem stepped in. “She’s teaching us how to be proper dragons.”

 

“I fell off the roof!” Amy said proudly. 

 

“Oooo, our dad caught us off the roof too!” Charlotte exclaimed. 

 

“We can glide!” Claire added.

 

“Most impressive,” Aurivelle said. 

 

Meanwhile Becky was flanked by Rhea and Nicole. 

 

“So is it true you can detach your head from your body?” Rhea asked. 

“Sure can!” Becky crowed. 

 

Suddenly with a pop, she disappeared. Rhea and Nicole were puzzled. 

 

“I thought she could remove her head,” Rhea wondered out loud. 

 

“I didn’t want to see her explode,” Nicole added. 

 

“It’s magic!” Becky chirped. 

 

The two turned to see her disembodied head floating around in behind them. “Hi!”

 

The two jinkos jumped back in surprise, but were not afraid. They were instead curious. Nicole waved her hand under her head. “Can you feel that?”

 

“No,” Becky said. “I’m not like a ghost.”

 

“You can sure act like one though,” Rhea said as she waved her hand underneath. “This is so cool!”

 

Arthur then cleared his throat. All eyes were on him. “Dinner time, the little ones get served first.”

 

The girls all scrambled to get ahead, but then Arthur said in a firm, yet gentle tone. “Single file, you may be monsters but you are at least civilized.”

 

That produced a chuckle from the older guests. The girls all lined up, youngest to oldest. They each politely held out their plates and Arthur would put a spoonful of spaghetti, a meatball if they wanted, and of course garlic bread. Each spoonful was provided with a smile on his face. 

 

“This smells amazing,” Anya drooled.

 

Selene was drooling over the meatballs. “Could I get another?”

 

Arthur tapped his chin. “Hmmmm, how many?”

 

“Well….four?”

 

“Well it’s a good thing I made extras,” Arthur then piled on four more meatballs for Selene. She smiled at him and went to the table. 

 

Then it was the older children’s turn. He served them all, and was given a smile from the honor society and Rosa. After everyone got their plate filled, they went to the table. After Selene said a quick prayer, everyone dug into the food. 

“Mmmm, is this sauce homemade?” Daisy asked. 

 

“Yes it is,” Arthur said proudly. 

 

“Phenominal meatballs,” Ellen added. “Did you add some parmesan cheese to them before cooking them?”

 

“Yes, it gives it more flavor,” Arthur replied. 

 

Rosa was enjoying her food, when she noticed Arthur’s plate was empty. “Hey, you forgot your food?”

 

“Oh no, it looks like everyone else was a little more hungry,” Arthur chuckled. 

 

“Well, the chef shouldn’t go hungry at dinner,” Rosa said, she offered her plate to him. “I kinda went overboard.”

 

“Oh no, that’s ok,” Arthur shook his hand gently. “You all deserve it.”

 

“I insist,” Rosa said. “It’s the least I can do.”

 

“No I really can’t.”

 

But Rosa would not take no for an answer, she picked him up (which surprised Arthur, given how small she is) and got him to sit in her lap. Arthur looked at her, confused. “Are you ok?”

 

“Just fine,” Rosa grunted. She stretched her arms and tapped on her plate. “Now, take what you need.”

 

“I feel like I’m crushing you.”

 

“Naw, it’s fine…just…eat quickly.”

 

Arthur looked back at her, then grabbed his own plate and started piling some onto his plate. The last thing he needed was to crush her.  He forked over half then sat back in his chair. Rosa gasped and panted.

 

“Well, that was a little weird,” he thought.  

 

Then Ellen added a couple meatballs. “Spaghetti isn’t complete without meatballs.”

 

“I think spicy Italian sausage is a good substitute,” Aurora said. 

 

“Or meatballs made from spicy Italian sausage,” Salem added.

 

Maeve looked at Aurivelle. “I’m curious, what is the most elegant meat to add to spaghetti?”

 

Aurivelle chewed her food for a second, then answered. “Meatballs are the best, if you use sausage, make sure you put them in ball form.”

 

Ursa had already finished her spaghetti, and was craving more. Except there was none left. She leaned over to Justin. “Can I have an extra piece of garlic bread?”

 

Justin, who had two of them, kindly shared with her. “Here you go.”

 

Ursa ate it up. “Mmmm, man I want more of your brother’s spaghetti.”

 

“He knows how to make a simple meal taste extravagant,” Justin said. 

 

“Really?”

 

“Oh yeah, he can cook a steak just perfect, make a mean lasagna, you name it.”

 

“Where did he learn to cook?”

 

“He’s…self taught…back with our old mom…she didn’t do a lot of cooking, so he stepped up a lot.”

 

Maeve overheard Justin’s comment and looked at Arthur with a smile. “Hey, do you remember the first time you tried to cook a meatloaf?”

 

Arthur chuckled softly. “Yes, I do.”

 

“What happened?” asked Rosa.

 

“So the recipe calls for ketchup, but Arthur here misread one of the labels, and I don’t know how, you think he would have figured it out, but he puts horseradish in the meatloaf,” laughed Maeve.

 

“I thought it would make a good substitute,” laughed Arthur.

 

“Oh I remember that, I lost 2 days worth of sleep because my guts were on fire,” Salem chuckled.

 

“You ate all the leftovers,” Arthur retorted.

 

“But you made it, so who’s fault is it really?”

 

They laughed. 

 

“Oh, remember the time you pranked Justin with the wassabi?” Maeve added.

 

Justin shook his head. “Why did I think it was pistachio ice cream?”

 

“Because you saw a green blob,” Arthur chuckled. 

 

“My chest was on fire!”

 

The dinner table was filled with them sharing memories of Arthur’s cooking. It morphed from his struggles, to where he was making genuine cuisine. 

 

After dinner, the children went upstairs to go to bed, while everyone else hung out in the living room, watching TV. 

It was at 10 p.m. when Ember, Blaze, and Flare returned. 

 

“God what a night,” Ember said with a hint of exhaustion in her voice. 

 

“I hope we didn’t ruin your night,” Blaze said to the group.

 

“Eh, it’s no big deal,” Arthur said. “It was a nice time.”

 

However, unbeknownst to Arthur, his guests had their eyes on him the entire time he was cooking and serving the children. Their mamano minds had already been scouting him as a potential mate, but his cooking, and having a wonderful interaction with his sisters, especially the younger ones, activated the prime mate seeking instincts. 

 

Word would obviously spread.

 

And Arthur was marked as a prime mate. 

 

****

Another day of school had passed. This time, Justin was hanging out with his friends so he didn’t need a ride home, and Aura, Maeve, and Salem were spending time with Aurivelle, and that left Arthur alone. He felt like walking home from school. He had noticed the honor society getting closer and closer to him, and not just in a personal space kind of way, but they were asking more questions about him, his life, his cooking. It was foreign to him. 

 

He then got a call on his phone from Luna. He had to have all the new family members’ phone numbers in his phone, just in case. His dad hadn’t messaged him much, not because he didn’t want to, but he preferred to still try and talk in person instead.

 

He answered the phone. “Yes?”

 

“Oh, Arthur, can you do me a favor?” Luna asked. 

 

“What’s the favor?”

 

“Would you mind walking Selene home from Elementary School? She had basketball practice after school and normally I pick her up, but I’m running late at work.”

 

“Sure,” Arthur said.

 

“Oh thank you so much!”

 

Arthur hung up and walked to the elementary school. He had minimally interacted with Richard’s other kids, but ever since he cooked for them, they were all eager to be around him. He would wake up to them scratching on his door, asking if he could make them breakfast. Granted Luna and Jade on occasion would beat him to it, but on the days that he was able to make them breakfast, he managed to make them French Toast. That proved to be popular, as they were begging for French Toast every morning from Luna after that. When she did make it, one of the littler ones, Nicole, said she liked Arthur’s better. 

 

Boy that was awkward. 

 

But now a rivalry had brewed between him and Richard’s wives: the battle for cooking. 

 

The wives controlled the kitchen as much as they could for dinner and breakfast, but for snacks and lunch, it was left wide open for the taking. 

 

Of course he didn’t mean to start a rivalry, he can’t control their tastebuds.

 

He got to the elementary school where Selene was sitting outside waiting for someone. “Hey, Selene.”

 

She looked up and cocked her head. “Where’s mom?”

 

“She told me to come pick you up, she’s running late,” Arthur said. 

 

“Ok!” 

 

The two of them walked home. It was warm outside, but not too hot as it’s the fall season, when you get that perfect balance between cool and warm. 

 

“So, how was your day?”  Arthur asked. 

 

“Good! Did math, basketball was fun, though my coach says I have to work on not hitting people.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Well, when I try to block the ball, I bring my arms down because if I just hold them straight up, they just shoot over me.”

 

“They tend to do that.”

 

“But I don’t like it, so I like to slap the ball out of their hands, and most of the time I hit only the ball.”

 

“Most of the time?”

 

Selene ignored that comment and continued. “Well, the stupid referee fouls me and it’s annoying.”

 

“I can imagine, if you are only hitting the ball..right?”

 

“Maybe…90% of the time, but I’m clean most of the time!”

 

“Sounds rough.”

 

“I keep getting benched for that, I hate it.”

 

“I know the feeling.”

 

“Did you get benched for doing something illegal in sports?”

 

He thought for a moment, and decided that it probably wasn’t a good idea to tell her about the time he did just a little eye gouging in a fight. “Eh, it just happens, referees are supposed to maintain order, but they can be fools sometimes.”

 

Selene nodded. 

 

“So do your other sisters do sports?” he asked. 

 

“The jinko’s do martial arts, I think they are trying to get the smaller ones into soccer, but it’s a challenge because they keep popping the ball.”

 

“How?”

 

“Oh, the manticore triplets, they keep accidentally activating their spikes, and also have trouble with their claws.”

 

“What about the griffons?”

 

“Baseball, they do that in the spring.”

 

“Nice.”

 

Selene’s stomach rumbled, she rubbed it.

 

“Hungry?” asked Arthur.

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Well, what are you craving?”

She thought for a moment, then smiled. “Grilled cheese.”

 

“Ah, a classic!”

 

She looked up at him. “Can you make me one?”

 

Arthur clicked his tongue. “Sure.”

 

Selene smiled, staring at him intensely, eager to see what he was going to add to it.

 

“Tell me, do we have sourdough bread at home?” Arthur asked. 

 

“Yes,” Selene replied. 

 

“Good, good….what kind of cheese?”

 

Selene pondered that question for a moment. “Cheddar?”

 

“Well, that’s good cheese, but you know what’s even better on a grilled cheese sandwich?” Arthur asked dramatically. 

 

“What?” Selene was intrigued. 

 

“Gouda.”

 

“Gouda?”

 

“It’s special cheese, very good, especially if it’s smoked.”

 

“Ooooooo.”

 

Arthur could see her drooling. “Do we have bacon?”

 

“Uh, no.”

 

“Well, then we need some bacon.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because, that’s going on the sandwich too.”

 

“Really??!?!”

 

“Yes, really.”

 

Selene was agitated, she wanted that grilled cheese now. 

 

“Now, we just need to make a quick pit-stop by the store and we will be set.”

 

After making a quick stop by the store, the two of them made it home. He went to the kitchen while Selene followed him, like a puppy eager for a treat. He rooted through the kitchenware and smiled. “Ah, they have a press, this makes good sandwiches.”

 

He took out a stick of butter and added it to a bowl, then put it in the microwave. “This will help it get soft.”

 

He put it in it for 30 seconds and looked through the spices and smiled. “Ah, garlic powder.” He looked at her and smiled. “You see, this will enhance the flavor of the bread.”

 

Selene’s mouth hung open, panting, she wanted food so badly. 

 

The microwaved beeped and Arthur took out the melted butter. He then cooked up a couple strips of bacon. While the bacon simmered, he applied a dash of garlic powder to the butter and whisked it together. He applied a liberal amount of butter to the bread, then the cheese, and then the bacon. Adding all of it to the press, he then used the press to combine it all together. The wondrous smell of butter, garlic, cheese, and bacon mixed together. Selene felt as though she was having an out of body experience, like she was lifted off the ground like a cartoon character. 

 

After 45 seconds, the sandwich was finished. Arthur offered it to her. “Here you go.”

 

Selene seized it and took a bite out of it. Her pupils dilated as an explosion of taste filled her mouth. She had grilled cheese before, but this was fancy, like something you would get at a coffee shop for $17. “This is delicious!”

 

“I’m glad you like it,” Arthur smiled. He loved cooking for his siblings. It relaxed him. He loved seeing their smiles, it was always the best part, it let him know he made their day just a little better. He then felt a tug on his shirt. He turned around to see the rest of her siblings lining up. He didn’t even need to ask what they were doing here, their predator noses had gotten the scent of good food. “So, how many sandwiches does everyone want?”

 

*****

When the adults finally came home, Luna and Molly half expected to do some cooking, but were treated to the leftover smells of artisan grilled cheese, and the sound of dishes being done. They already knew who had cooked. They entered the kitchen to see Arthur and Selene doing the dishes. 

 

“What was on the menu tonight?” Luna asked. 

 

“Grilled cheese,” Arthur replied. “They all got fed, so you can take the knight off.”

 

Selene looked at her moms. “Do you want one?”

 

“Oh we are good, we’ll just have leftovers,” Molly said. “And thank you Arthur for handling dinner.”

 

“Oh it’s no big deal, besides, after I fed Selene, the rest just kind of….migrated,” he chuckled. 

 

“Well we appreciate it,” Luna said, then smiled and added wittingly. “I should try to get home sooner, gotta make sure they remember their momma’s cooking.”

 

Arthur laughed back. “Well, then I gotta get home before you more.”

 

After doing the dishes Arthur went to do his homework in his room, he had some geometry to do, that seemed easier than calculus, for now. Richard was in the living room talking with Justin. He noticed him. “Hey, thanks again for feeding the little ones tonight.”

 

Arthur just nodded and went upstairs without saying a word. 

 

Richard looked at Justin. “I think that went a little better.”

 

Justin nodded. 

 

******

Justin walked through the hallway, his belly now full of lunch, and he hoped to take some time to study in the library. However, something was different today: he was alone. His friends, Static and Ursa, were out today. Ursa was sick, while filling up on some food at a buffet, she ate some bad shrimp and needed to take some time to relax at home. Static on the other hand is at school, but had to help out some gremlins with a science project. Justin didn’t mind though, he could always see them later this week. 

 

However, for Justin, he didn’t realize that without his friends, he was lacking a natural barrier that kept other mamano away from him. Having two powerhouses meant he was off limits, except if you wanted to be a friend. But for other mamano, it meant he was as vulnerable as a newborn calf. 

 

And stalking in the shadows were the kind of mamano you definitely wanted to avoid: Dark Elves.

 

The three dark elves had set their sights on Justin, him being the perfect little man to bully and make him theirs. However, he was always around those blasted heavy hitters. Options on men were limited, and he was a perfect opportunity for them, being a man fresh from the other dimension, and who would be easily swayed. 

 

And now that he’s all alone, it was a perfect opportunity to take him under their wing, whether he liked it or not. 

 

Justin was just about to turn the corner, when a tall dark elf with long locks stepped in front of him, accidentally bumping into him. She feigned falling down, while Justin looked bewildered. 

 

“Are you ok?” he asked. 

 

“Oh, I’m fine,” she said in a sing-song tone. “Didn’t see you there.”

 

“Neither did I,” he offered his hand to help her up. 

 

She took it and smiled. “What a gentleman.”

 

Justin didn’t know much about dark elves at all, but he smiled back. “Well, my daddy taught me to treat a woman well.”

 

“That is very good, very good indeed,” the dark elf said with a smirk. 

 

“Yeah…..well…I gotta go,” Justin said as he continued his quest to go to the library. 

 

“Now hold on,” the dark elf gently snagged his collar. “Where are you going?”

 

“To the library,” Justin replied, confused. 

“Why don’t you stay, maybe we can get to know each other.”

 

Justin didn’t like being touched like that, and now she was making him uneasy. “Um…no thank you.”

 

“So that’s it, run into a girl, not even talk to her,” she clicked her tongue. “Rude.”

 

“Well…I…..” he turned around and left. Something about her made him uneasy. He didn’t like it at all. He turned around and went to the library.

 

He was about to make it through the doors when another dark elf stepped in front of him, she had much shorter hair that hung just over her ear lobes. He tried to get past her. “Excuse me.”

 

But she stepped in front of him. He tried to get around her again, but she kept stepping in front of him. 

 

Justin stammered. “Excuse me, I’m trying to….”

 

“Silence,” the dark elf growled. 

 

Justin felt fear creep up his spine. 

 

The dark tsked. “Such a rude man is not meant to go into the library.”

 

“What…what do you mean?”

 

“I saw you run into my friend, and rudely walk away.”

 

Justin looked over his shoulder and saw the previous dark elf smirking and waving at him. 

 

“It…it was an accident,” Justin stammered. 

 

“Sure it was,” the short haired dark elf shook her head. “That’s the problem with humans like you, you come from other dimensions, and think you own the place.”

 

“No! I don’t think that at all!” Justin was in a panic. 

 

“Oh yes we do, we know how men like you think,” she grabbed him by the collar. Justin felt so scared that he couldn’t even scream, he could only whimper. “And you need to be kept in line.”

 

There was another set of footsteps as a third dark elf entered the foray. This one wore a long jacket, with combat boots. She clicked her own tongue. “Take him outside, behind the school, out of sight.”

 

Swiftly and cautiously, they dragged Justin outside. Justin could only whimper, he wished his friends were here to help him. They took him behind the school, just out of sight of any nosey teachers and students. 

 

“Don’t….don’t hurt me,” Justin whimpered. 

 

“Now, we won’t…but only if you…”

 

“If he does what?” the gruff growl of Blaze answered.

 

The dark elves turned around and if they could pale, they would have. Three hellhounds stood over them, sizing up, cracking their knuckles. 

 

“Now, what were you going to do to our brother?” Ember asked malevolently. 

 

The lead dark elf gulped. “Bruh-brother?”

 

“Yeah,” Flare growled. “And we don’t like it when people bully our brother.”

 

The lead dark elf and her friends slowly slunk away, while the trio of hellhounds stared daggers at them. After they were out of sight they focused back on Justin. 

 

“Are you ok?” asked Flare.

 

Justin nodded. 

 

“Now, where were you off to for lunch break?” asked Blaze.

 

“Library,” Justin replied. 

 

“Well, looks like we should escort you there,” Ember said. 

 

They led him to the library where they hung out with him. 

 

The rest of the school day went as expected, except after school it didn’t take too long for word to reach the family and his siblings. When he got home, Richard talked to him. Justine explained everything that happened, and wanted to know what to do next time if he ran into them. 

 

“Well, hopefully you should be able to stick with your friend group,” Richard said. “But, try to avoid them, and tell a teacher if they pester you.”

 

“But what if they threaten me again, or corner me? Should I fight back?”

 

Richard gritted his teeth. “Listen, if they strike first, it’s ok to fight back, but just know there are consequences to fighting.”

 

“What kind of consequences?”

 

“He knows,” Arthur huffed. 

 

Richard and Justin turned around to see Arthur standing at the stairs. Arthur continued. “Except when you fight, you don’t have to worry about losing custody.”

 

He then went upstairs. Richard felt the sting of his words in his chest. He looked at Justin. “Listen…he does have a point.”

 

“But…it’s not your fault,” Justin said.

 

“No…but…if you do fight, you have to know when to stop.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“It’s one thing to beat someone up who can’t seem to grasp that they are losing, or who is just too damn tough, but the moment they fall, or the moment they give up, you have to stop.”

 

“But why?”

 

“Because, if you are wailing on someone who is unable to fight back…it doesn’t make you look good,” Richard squeezed his own thighs as he thought back to that night. “Even if the reasons are right, like in your case, the bullies, it shifts from defending yourself to looking like a god damn unstable person. Sure…you can say you were in the moment, but hell, prosecutors and judges don’t take that into consideration.”

 

“So….should I fight back?”

 

Richard looked at his son. “If you need to.”

 

“Can you teach me?”

 

Richard shook his head. “I think your brother knows more than me about that. He can teach you better. But … .avoid it as much as you can.”

 

Justin nodded. 

 

“Now, go talk to your brother, I think he’s just as worried,” Richard said. 

 

Justin got up and started going upstairs,he then turned around and said. “I love you dad.”

 

Richard smiled. “I love you too.”

 

 After Justin left, Richard swallowed his feelings. He looked at his hands, trying not to think of that night. The blood, the screams, the anger. He closed his eyes, trying to relax his mind. He then heard a chuff. He opened his eyes to see Sophie on the couch, smiling at him. 

 

“Hi, daddy,” she said.

 

“Hi, how are you, little cub?” Richard asked.

 

She nuzzled next to him. “Good….are you ok?”

 

He pulled her in for a hug. “I’m feeling much better now.”

 

******

 
Arthur did teach Justin some punches, of course he had to slow down the training for Justin. Arthur had more years of punching faces than Justin ever did, and Arthur was the one who made sure no one would ever touch his brother, ever. He had taught Justin some jabs, hooks, uppercuts, but most importantly to keep his guard up. Though as any big brother would do, he did teach his brother some more down and dirty tricks to deal with bullies. 

 

The bullies didn’t bother Justin for a long time, and things went on as usual. One would think the bullies would find a new weakling to bully.  However, the thing with dark elves is they tend to carry a grudge. And when they set their sights on someone, they’ll go after them. But this isn’t the cute yandere way where they’ll break into your house, kidnap you, and make you an unofficial house husband or try to poke a hole in the condom to entrap you into a shotgun style wedding. 

 

This is more along the lines of teaching someone a lesson and breaking them. 

 

It had been a couple weeks since the last incident, and since the dark elves had left Justin alone, he assumed that he was safe.

 

It was a Friday in fall when Justin decided to walk home, alone, again. His friends had taken off earlier in the week to go on vacation to Static’s Aunt’s cabin. As for his sisters, they were at a wrestling tournament. Leaving him all alone. 

 

And as he walked by the fence, three familiar dark elves knew this was their chance. 

 

In a familiar attack pattern, one stepped in front of him, and the other two behind him. Justin felt his blood go cold from fear. 

 

“It’s been awhile,” the leader hissed. 

 

Justin gulped. “Stay back!”

 

“Or what?” the long haired one growled as she stood over him. “What are you going to do about it?”

 

Justin did the one thing his brother taught him. When faced with someone bigger than you, the best way to take them down a beg is a swift shot to bring them to their knees. 

 

Justin swung his leg out, and delivered a swift kick right to her crotch. The dark elf doubled over, groaning. 

 

Justin was proud of his accomplishment….until the leader delivered a painful punch to his gut. Justin fell over, tears ran down his face. 

 

“So, you got a little fight in you?” the leader hissed malevolently. “And I thought this was going to be boring.”

 

While one was still down, the other two towered over him. Justin was scared. He hadn’t been in many fights, and now he was surrounded. “No….please.”

 

The other one was starting to get up. “You…are going…to pay for that….”

 

“Stay down,” growled Arthur. 

 

Justin smiled with hope, while the other two turned around, confused. Arthur had stayed late after school, because Ellen wanted to help him get some more training in, except she wanted to wrestle. Nothing wrong with that, but it was weird how he had to wrestle Daisy and Cathay…and for some reason a bunch of werewolves were watching them … .and other mamano … .and he didn’t understand why he had to have his shirt off while wrestling. And when he was done, what he did not want to see was his brother being bullied. 

 

The dark elves turned around, scoffing. “Leave us be, or you’ll join him.”

 

“Not gonna happen,” Arthur growled. 

 

Before the leader could open her mouth, Arthur delivered a swift shot to her jaw. Instantly, she was out like a light. She fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. 

 

All that training he did with Ellen had improved the speed of his punches, and the power. Her friend was bewildered and couldn’t even get her fists up in time when two lightning fast punches dropped her. The third one had just gotten to her feet, trying to get ready. But then Arthur delivered a kick to her chest that sent to the ground again.

 

“Had enough?” Arthur growled. 

 

“Yes….” she wheezed. 

 

He then turned to Justin. “Are you ok?”

 

“Kinda,” whimpered Justin. 

 

Arthur then turned towards the dazed dark elves. “You think it’s funny? Picking on someone who can’t fight back?”

 

Now it was the dark elves’ turn to feel fear. The leader gulped. “Take…take it easy.”

 

“Naw…we are past that….” Arthur stepped forward cracking his knuckles. 

 

“STOP!” 

 

Arthur turned around to see a hellhound towering over him, but upon closer inspection, something was off. Instead of coaldust black fur, he saw golden fur that shined like a ray of sunshine. Instead of dark skin, he saw white skin. And instead of ferocious, red irises sitting in the center of a black pool of fear, it was blue eyes that were full of hope. But what really caught his attention was just how busty she is. Her front and back had a perfect ass to tit ratio and she was packing the whole bakery. He was wondering how she was able to find clothes for herself. 

 

“What…are you?” Arthur asked, trying to sound tough, and not aroused. 

 

“I am Joan, a heavenhound!” she said proudly. “And I am the hallmonitor!”

 

Arthur looked at her in disbelief. “What….this isn’t even in the halls.”

 

“Nevertheless, I cannot allow you to inflict further harm! The fight is over!”

 

“These bitches hurt my brother!” Arthur growled. “They deserve what’s coming to them!”

 

“Now, now….you have already won, you spoil your victory with acts of savagery?”

 

“It’s not over until someone’s bones are broken!”

 

The dark elves quivered. Joan then stepped in front of him. “I’m sorry, you cannot harm them any further.”

 

Arthur remembered trying to take on Ellen and how he got his ass kicked, and he knew he shouldn’t write checks his mouth couldn’t cash, but this is his brother he’s talking about.“Get out of my way.”

 

He at least hoped she would step aside, being a heaven hound he would think she would allow some justice to be served. 

 

The busty tall heaven hound stood over him and shook her head. “No.”

 

While she stood her ground, she could overhear the dark elves murmuring about how they can easily rush him, or strike later. 

 

“However…” she said in a low voice. “Those that don’t learn their lesson…..should receive some judgement.”

 

Arthur was confused, but out of the corner of his eye he could see the dark elves getting up. 

 

“And … .what sort of judgement would be ok?”

 

“Well….nothing too bad.”

 

“Maybe a leg?”

 

“Yes….no further.”

 

Arthur grinned as he set his sights on the trio of dark elves. It was about time he got to break some bones. 

 

*****

 

The next day Arthur was having a parent teacher conference with the principal, the honor society, the hall monitor, Justin, and his dad. 

 

Principal Hannah rubbed her temples. “So….you broke the legs of three dark elves?”

 

“It was the right thing to do, they were bullies,” Arthur said. “And they hurt my brother.”

 

“If you think about it, that’s not so bad of a punishment,” Joan said.

 

Principal Hannah shot her a look. “You were a witness to this!”

 

“Yes, and he held back remarkably, it’s just…the bullies didn’t know when they were beaten, and that’s a problem, how are they going to learn if they don’t know when to stop?”

 

Richard interjected. “I think, my son here, he was just defending his younger brother, like any good big brother would do.”

 

He looked over at Justin, who beamed a smile at Arthur, but Arthur stared straight ahead. 

 

Principal Hannah groaned. “Listen, your reason for defending your brother is admirable…and those three dark elves…have been problems…but…..”

 

Richard stood up. “There is no but, my boy was getting bullied, and they hit him might I add, and here’s the thing, there was an incident that happened previously, and thankfully my daughters were there to help him…and yet it seems these girls have a pattern of doing this, since you just told us they are trouble makers.”

 

The principal maintained a cool expression, but fidgeted at her desk. “Yes…but these issues are complicated…”

 

“Complicated?” Richard glanced at Justin. “Did you tell a teacher about this?”

 

“Yes I did,” Justin said.

 

Richard looked at the principal in disbelief. “And…did they do anything about this?”

 

Principal Hannah gulped. “Well, we had talks with them…and you must keep in mind there are a lot of mamano in this school….”

 

“You know, Luna would be very interested in hearing about how her boy was hurt,” Richard looked at Justin. “Did you tell her?”

 

“No,” Justin replied. “After Arthur broke their legs, we got ice cream with her.” he pointed to Joan.

 

“She invited herself,” Arthur added.

 

Principal Hannah gulped. “Now listen … .this incident….we can just…classify as self defense…but Arthur needs to find a good way to channel his….somewhat violent urges into something…better.”

 

Ellen then stepped in, grinning. “Well, the coach could use an extra person to join the judo and wrestling team, and boxing club.”

 

Arthur silently groaned. More extracurriculars. 

 

“Splendid! So we can put this all behind us!” Principal Hannah clapped her hands together. 

 

“Yeah, we can,” Richard stood up and shook her hand. “Thank you.”

 

Everyone left the office. Richard tapped Arthur on the shoulder. “Hey.”

 

Arthur turned around.

 

“Thank you for protecting your brother,” Richard said. “You did good, he appreciates it, and so do I.”

Without missing a beat, Richard turned around and huffed. “Whatever.”

 

He then walked off, Richard felt another bite of emotion, but kept it down. 

 

However, the honor society and the hall monitor had witnessed this, and now questions were forming. 

 

******

Daisy stared at Arthur as he worked on an assignment sheet. Arthur felt uneasy by this. Yes she stared at him many times before, but this felt more intrusive. 

 

“How’s my work?” he asked. 

 

“Huh?” she asked. 

 

“My work, how is it?” 

 

“Oh, let me check,” she looked over. She nodded. “You have improved.”

 

“Thanks….I’m glad I can use a calculator, it helps.”

 

“And so does writing it out?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And the graph?”

 

“Yes, including the graph.”

 

Daisy nodded at him. Arthur looked up, she was still looking at him, like she had a burning question. “What?”

 

“I just have a..question.”

 

“About?”

 

“Your dad….what’s he like?”

 

Arthur smirked. “That son of a bitch cost my siblings and I everything I had and his actions left me with a bitch of a mother and her multiple asshole spouses.”

 

“Oh…..did he run out on you as a child?”

 

“No, divorced.”

 

“That must have been rough, going through that.”

 

“It was,” Arthur brought up his emotional walls, he didn’t want to talk about it. “What’s the next assignment?”

 

Daisy then got him the next assignment, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. But work came first, she could ask later. 

 

Ever since that day, she and her fellow honor society members were curious. Richard seemed like a very nice dad. Arthur’s little brother loved him, but Arthur was very standoffish even after he praised him. They were wondering why he was like that. Daisy had hoped she could crack him, but she would need back up. 

 

*****

Lunch time came soon, and normally, Arthur would eat with Rosa, along with  Becky and her boyfriend. But this time, the honor society had decided to join them. Arthur thought nothing of it at first, he didn’t care. 

 

“So, what’s everyone eating?” asked Daisy.

 

“Peanut butter and jelly,” Becky said. 

 

“Same,” Mason added.

 

“My mom made me tamales,” Rosa said. 

 

“I got ham and turkey,” Arthur said. 

 

“Well, the honor society all got the same thing,” Ellen pulled out a footlong sandwich from her bag. “Meatball subs.”

 

Arthur nodded. “NIce.”

 

“So, I heard you beat up some dark elves,” Rosa asked. 

 

“I did,” Arthur smirked. “They hurt my brother.”

 

“Is it true you broke their legs?”

 

“Only one leg for each of them, I had to compromise.”

 

“Compromise?”

 

“Oh some heaven hound convinced me.”

 

“Joan?”

 

“You know her?” 

 

“She’s interesting,” Becky added. “Rare sight, a heaven hound…and freaking tall!.”

 

“I know right!” Arthur gawked. “I thought my mom was the tallest, and hell I thought Ellen was the biggest in school.”’

 

Ellen looked down at her chest. 

 

“I meant size!” Arthur corrected, but whispered to Rosa. “Though I thought bovine mamano were supposed to be the bustiest.”

 

Rosa snickered. “Her mom must have some of that in her.”

 

Daisy and Cathay strained their ears trying to listen in, but couldn’t hear anything. 

 

“By the way,  what’s the difference between her and a hellhound?” asked Arthur. 

 

“Well, aside from the obvious physical changes, heaven hounds are kinder, good listeners too,” Becky said.

 

“Joan is really nice, I vented to her one day when I got  D in history, and she was so nice,” Rosa added, then she leaned forward. “So, how did she convince you to only break a leg? If it was my brother I would have put them in a coma.

 

“I was about to, but….” Arthur thought for a moment. “Actually … .she just had some sort of control, she was convincing. I guess it was a good idea that I waited for them to get up before breaking a leg.”

 

“God, what I would have given to see those dark elves get what they deserve,” Rosa commented. “Those bitches were always trouble.”

 

“Agreed, and now that he’s in wrestling and judo, he can learn better leg breaking techniques,” Ellen added. 

 

“Yippee,” Richard replied sarcastically. 

 

“Damn, now you can use your moves and be a bodyguard, maybe you could be a hall monitor,” Rosa said eagerly. 

 

“All that skill for a hall monitor job?” Arthur asked. 

 

“Well, no one would cut class anymore,” Rosa said.

 

“She’s got a point,” Becky added.

 

“So…where did you learn to fight?” Daisy asked. 

 

“I just learned,” Arthur said. 

 

“Yeah, I think you did a lot of street fights, right?” Ellen asked. 

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Why?”

 

Arthur looked at her, she was being nosey. But he kept a calm face. “To make money.”

 

“Oh, how come?”

 

“The family needed it.”

 

“Didn’t your mom provide?”

 

Arthur huffed dryly. “If you can call it that.”

 

“Oh, so she wasn’t there?”

 

“She provided minimally, I had to take a lot of responsibility.”

 

“Did your dad send you money?” Daisy asked. 

 

Arthur looked at her coldly. “Why are you so curious about my dad?”

 

“Well, I don’t know everything, and I just don’t know why you seem bitter about your dad, he seems nice.”

“Because he fucked up everything!”

 

“I know divorce is hard….”

 

“He’s the reason why my deadbeat mom got sole custody!” Arthur barked. The table had gone silent. Daisy quivered while Ellen and Cathay were more shocked. Rosa looked down at her food, trying to ignore everything as best she could. Becky and her boyfriend were watching, but in Becky’s mind, she was hoping things wouldn’t go too far. 

 

“Oh….what…what happened?” Daisy asked. 

 

“He beat her boyfriend to a pulp, the day before the hearing! He tarnished his case and we had to put up with her shit for years! All because he couldn’t control his jealousy!” Arthur glared at her. “Does that answer your question?”

 

Daisy’s lip quivered as she looked down at her meal. “Sorry…but….he’s so nice…and….it looks like he tries….”

 

“Listen here!” Arthur snapped. “You don’t know dick about anything! None of you do! You don’t get to just waltz into my private life like that, keep your nose out of my business! Got it?”

 

A silence came over the table. Daisy looked like she was about to cry. “Ok….I understand.”

 

She got up and left. Cathay looked at Arthur and shook her head. Ellen glared at him, but didn’t say anything and went off with her friends. 

 

Rosa looked at Arthur with contempt. 

 

“What?” Arthur asked bluntly. 

 

“What the fuck is the matter with you?” Rosa asked. 

 

“Hey, if you don’t know anything, you shouldn’t stick your nose in people’s business,” Arthur torted.

 

“Yeah, and there’s a kinder way of handling that,” Rosa shook her head. “You were an asshole.”

 

“They are trying to defend him!”

 

Rosa huffed at him, stunned. “You know, you make it seem like your dad was a deadbeat, when it sounds like your mom was. I know deadbeats, my mom works in social services, and your dad, even if he was, it seems like he’s sorry.”

 

“Hey, what did I just tell them, don’t open your mouth if you don’t know dick!”

Rosa took her lunch and spat. “Fuck you.” and left. 

 

Arthur turned to Becky. “You gonna say something.”

 

Becky sighed with contempt. “Actions have consequences, remember that.”

 

“What are you saying?” 

 

“I’m not gonna say anything else, we are friends Arthur, but I know when to not poke the bear.”

 

Arthur snorted. “You are thinking just like them.”

 

“I’m not saying anything.”

 

“They think my dad’s good? They are idiots! That’s what they are! Bunch of idiots!”

 

Becky looked past him, just behind him, out of Arthur’s view, was his brother Justin. No doubt coming over to see if he could eat lunch with his brother. But the look on his face said that he heard what his brother said. He turned around, wiping his eyes. Becky didn’t tell Arthur, not to be cruel, but to show him that his actions have consequences. He had to find out the hard way.

 

******

 

After lunch, Arthur went to class like he always did, but something was off. Daisy acted more robotic, her praises were generic at best, just, “good job” or “nice work” instead of her usual “brilliant” or “see, you are as smart as you are cute”. Cathay also just went over their chemistry assignment, and just watched. Rosa was still upset with him, but Cathay wasn’t as involved as she usually is.

 

He really looked forward to sparring with Ellen, but she just told him to hit the punching bag. He struck it good, venting his anger with each punch, but was frustrated that they were acting like he was a stranger. 

 

“Jeez, are they that pissed?” he thought as he hit the bag. “They were digging into my life and they didn’t know shit.”

 

After class ended, he found Aurora, Maeve, and Salem in the hallway with Aurivelle. As he approached them, he noticed something was off. Salem scowled at him, while Aurora and Maeve looked disappointed in him. 

 

“What?” Arthur asked. 

 

Aurivelle then looked at her dragons and said. “Now, an important lesson for being a proper dragon: choosing your words wisely.  Every word you say must be planned out, to ensure proper communication….” she then glanced at Arthur, with contempt in her eyes. “….. as well as ensuring that you aren’t going to say anything you regret.”

 

Arthur glared at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

Salem stepped in front of him, she looked at her sisters and mentor. “I’ll catch up.”

 

His sisters and Aurivelle left, leaving the siblings. 

 

“What’s their problem?” Arthur asked.

 

Salem was silent, glaring at him.

 

“What? Giving me the cold shoulder?”

 

Salem didn’t answer.

 

“Jesus Christ, what’s your problem?”

 

Finally, she replied. “I’m trying to craft something to say to you, but in a way that gets the point across.”

 

“Good lord,” Arthur groaned. “Why the mystery? Where’s Justin?”

 

“He doesn’t want to see you.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

She looked at him in disbelief. “Can you figure it out?”

 

“Did dad turn him against me?”

 

“Oh my god!” Salem groaned. “You can’t stop blaming dad for everything.”

 

“You know what he-”

 

“Shut up! Just shut up!” Salem was furious with him. “Justin overheard you call him an idiot!”

 

“What? I didn’t call him an idiot!”

 

“You were bitching in the cafeteria!”

 

Arthur thought for a moment, then retorted. “I didn’t call him an idiot! I was talking about how those bitches who kept prying into my life and think he’s good are idiots.”

“Wow, that makes things so much better,” Salem replied sarcastically. 

 

“Look, it’s not like I said…”

 

“Don’t you even finish that sentence!” Salem growled. “Were you really going to say that calling people who love dad are ‘idiots’ isn’t too bad because it’s not that bad of a word.”

 

“Well….look…” Arthur was caught in a trap. “Listen, I didn’t intentionally call him that.”

 

“Well he thinks you did, and he took it hard, he came to me crying!” 

 

Arthur felt his breath go short. “What?”

 

“He was bawling his eyes out, saying how his brother doesn’t like him anymore.”

 

“He is blowing things out of proportion!”

 

“He loves dad, and your little comment included him in that scope!” Salem felt an anger she hadn’t felt in a long time, something she had locked away for so long, now was just pouring out. “You know what hurts Justin even more? He loves you…he looks up to you, and what do you think that does to someone when they hear the person they love insult them like that?”

 

Arthur’s mouth curled into sadness. “I….I didn’t know….listen…I’m sorry…”

 

“You have to apologize to him, not me.”

 

“Justin has to understand, I was just upset with them, they don’t know what Richard…”

 

“Oh for fuck’s sake! Can you just drop it?”

 

“Hey!” barked Arthur. “Did you forget because of him we were stuck with that bitch of a mom?”

 

“Yes! Yes Arthur I know, and you know what, for the longest time, I despised him, we all did!” Salem torted. “But when we found out we were going to live with him, I kept an open mind. I got his letters, I knew he still loved us, I knew he regretted what he did! And even when I saw him, I was hesitant! But you want to know what I did? I kept an open mind!”

 

“Did you forget what I had to do to keep you all alive!” Arthur barked. “I took risks! I dealed, I fought, I made sure I took the brunt of the abuse! I-”

 

“Arthur! Listen!” snapped Salem. She took a deep breath, calming herself down. “I, and all of us are grateful for what you did, we really are. You made life better, and we will forever be grateful. You stepped up. But you have to stop using that as an excuse to hate dad. He is sorry, he really is, and you are letting your attitude affect everyone.”

Arthur glared at the ground, grumbling something under his breath. Salem couldn’t hear it, but she knew it wasn’t good. She couldn’t believe him. Yes, their dad messed up, but he was sorry and he was showing them that he was ready to make up for everything. Ever since they got here, they had been showered with praise and love, something that was lacking at their last home. And Arthur was taking it all for granted. 

 

That’s when Salem felt something just fall off inside of her. No it wasn’t her body decaying, but she just realized that no matter what, talking to him or convincing him was pointless. “I’m done.”

 

“What?” Arthur asked.

 

“I’m done,” she turned around and walked away. 

 

Arthur chased after her. “Hey! Wait! Listen!” he jumped in front of her. “Listen, I’m sorry! Just please! Help me with Justin!”

 

“No, I’m done,” she walked past him. “I told you so many times, to be careful or you’ll find yourself alone. And I’m done with your attitude.”

 

“So that’s it? We aren’t siblings anymore?”

 

She turned around and looked at him, her eyes softer than before. “I love you, Arthur, I really do. But….I can’t help you with this. This is something you need to do.”

 

She turned around and walked down the hallway. 

 

“Wait! I don’t know what to do!” Arthur cried. 

 

“Figure it out!” 

 

Arthur stood in the hallway, his eyes stinging. He wanted to yell more at her, but instead of rage, he felt agony in his chest. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and covered his eyes. He felt his chest heave. He covered his mouth, muffling a sob. He fled outside and went behind the school, trying to cover his sobs as he leaned against the brick. 

 

The crying hurt, the words hurt, but now the reality was setting in on him, which only amplified his emotions, emotions he had kept buried for a long time, emotions that he tried to hide to be strong for his siblings. 

 

He was alone. 

 

*****

 

Arthur sat on a bench. He lost track of time, but his watch said it’s about 4:30. He knew he had to be home soon, but he wasn’t sure if he even wanted to go home. 

 

“Hi.”

 

He looked up to see the towering heaven hound, Joan.

 

“You remember me? Joan?” she asked. 

 

“Yeah,” Arthur croaked. 

 

Joan could smell the melancholy emotions on him. He was hurting. 

 

“Do you mind if I sit with you?” she asked. 

 

“Go ahead.”

 

She sat next to him. “Bad day?”

 

“You could say that.”

 

“I heard some things happened.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“That you blew up in the lunchroom, then had an argument with your sisters.”

“Sounds about right.”

 

There was a moment of silence between them. Arthur wiped his eyes.

 

“I don’t mean to pry, but I heard it was your father that was the catalyst for all this, may I ask why?”

 

Arthur thought for a moment to tell her that it’s none of her business, but he remembered what Rosa said about her being a good listener. He looked at the golden hound. She gave off a kind and warm aura that made him feel safe. Her eyes showed that she genuinely was interested in listening to him. 

 

He sighed. “My dad…Richard…..fucked up everything.”

 

“How?”

 

“When he was going through a divorce with my mom, it was a rough time. She was a…best way to put it, a bitch. She was awful, took advantage of Richard’s kindness and tolerance. You would think she would get better when she had children…but no, still a truly awful person. Well, she decides she wants a divorce, she was seeing this guy already, and decided to get hitched with him instead of Richard. Well, Richard found out about the affair, and this is about a week before the divorce hearing is supposed to happen…he goes and beats the shit out of him at a bar.”

 

“Was it bad?”

 

“Richard not only pounded his face into hamburger meat, but he broke his fingers.”

 

“My goodness!”

 

“Yeah, and because of that, he gets into hot water with the law, and of course that makes him look like an unstable person in the court, so how do you think the divorce proceedings went?”

 

“Very poor.”

 

“Exactly! She gets custody, and Richard can’t ever see us, so he runs away out here, and gets married and has a new family, leaving me to watch over my siblings!”

 

Arthur gripped his thigh so tight he might have been able to rip a chunk of flesh out of it. Joan offered her paw. Arthur looked at it.

 

“Squeeze this instead,” Joan cooed. “It’ll be much softer.”

 

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

 

“You won’t.”

 

Arthur looked at her paws. They were bigger than his skull, and despite the claws protruding out of them, the beans on them looked soft enough. He took her paw and gave it a squeeze. He was surprised how firm and soft they were, it was like squeezing a stressball.

 

Joan smiled as she felt his tension ease. “Now go on, what else happened?”

 

“So….I took the brunt of abuse, I wasn’t going to let her, or her boyfriends touch any of them, especially Justin, he…he was so young, just three years old.”

 

“That is very admirable of you.”

 

“I suffered, for them, and I wouldn’t have had to…but Richard couldn’t control his temper!”

 

“I see….” Joan pondered his words. “That is awful, being left to that. A sacrifice like that doesn’t go unnoticed.”

 

“My siblings are grateful … .or were grateful…” he squeezed her paw tighter. “And now my brother is upset with me!”

 

“What happened?” Joan had heard through the grapevine about what happened. She wanted to hear it from him. 

 

Arthur sighed. “The Honor Society was pressing about Richard…..and I said the people who think my dad is good are idiots, and I guess my brother overheard it.”

 

Joan nodded. “Your brother loves you, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I guess that’s a hard thing to hear.”

 

Arthur replied in a low tone. “You aren’t wrong.”

 

Joan looked at Arthur. “I don’t mean to pry, but when your father left, was he out of your life permanently? Did he try to reach out?”

 

Arthur sighed. “He sent some letters, Salem, my sister, read them a bunch.”

 

“Oh, so he tried to be involved.”

 

“It wasn’t enough.”

 

“Did he miss his alimony payments?”

 

“No, he was on time, but my bitch of a mom hoarded most of it to herself.”

 

“That’s awful, was he aware of this?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Joan drummed her claws on her thighs. “So….when you got to this world, was he distant?”

 

“No, he….he reached out to my siblings, spent time with them.”

 

“Did he ignore you?”

 

“No……I….I was upset with him..and…I ignored him.”

 

“Was his new family rude to you?”

 

“No, they welcomed me….his kids…are nice, and cute…they remind me of Justin.”

 

Joan frowned and looked at the ground. “May I say something?”

 

“What?” Arthur half expected her to say he isn’t that bad, he braced himself for a lecture on how he was just being stubborn.

 

“My dad, he told me the hardest thing one can do when wronged by someone is to forgive them. It’s hard because you don’t want to, they hurt you in some way, and to forgive them feels just wrong. People say you should forgive them because it’s hard, but my dad believes forgiveness must be earned. If you just forgave someone who wronged you, do they learn a lesson? Do they change? Maybe they will, but most of the time, they’ll take it as a weakness or an excuse to never change. But when someone knows that they hurt you, and they take steps to show that they have changed, that they feel regret and want to be a better person, then they have earned forgiveness.”

 

Arthur looked up at her, the words ringing in his mind. 

 

“I don’t want to tell you what to do, that is still up to you, but…..this is just my opinion…I feel like your dad has earned forgiveness….but I feel the next step is to talk to him.”

 

“Talk to him?”

 

“Actions are one thing, but you must also hear his voice, you must look at his body movements, is what he is doing a cover? Or is he truly trying to show that he loves you?” she squeezed his hand back. “But as I said, that is all up to you, for it is your choice. We have free will for a reason.”

 

Arthur gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what to say.”

 

“Yes you do.”

 

He looked at her. “What?”

 

“I can tell you have probably planned this out for many years, crafting the right words to say, or what you wanted to tell him.”

 

Arthur nodded. “I have an idea.”

 

“And that’s all you need, now do you need a ride home?”

 

*****

Joan’s parents picked her and Arthur up. When they pulled up in a truck,  the first thing Arthur noticed was how tall her mom is. She was almost Joan’s height and Joan had inherited her business and muscles and her husband was so short his head only reached the top of her thigh, but he looked as happy as a man with a tall wife could be. 

 

They all sat in the truck, her dad and mom smiling. Her dad looked back at them. “So…..are you her boyfriend?”

“Dad!” Joan cried. “He’s just a friend!”

 

Her mother smiled. “But, he’s a boy, who happens to be your friend, so…. a boyfriend.”

 

“Mom!” Joan covered her face. 

 

Arthur chuckled. “Well, she is a good friend.”

 

Joan peeked through her paws. 

 

“Well, we’ll get you home safely,” her father said. 

 

Arthur gave them directions to his house and they pulled up. 

 

As Arthur got out of the car, he looked at her parents. “Hey, I don’t think I caught your names.”

 

“Oh, I’m Jeb, and this pretty puppy is Autumn.”

 

Autumn waved at him. “Have a good night.”

 

Arthur nodded at her, then looked at Joan. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

“Good luck,” Joan said. 

 

Her family pulled away. Arthur looked at the house. There, his siblings were behind those doors, and most importantly, his father. This is something he had to do. He walked towards the house, formulating the words in his mind. He opened the door and entered. Everyone was gathered in the living room. All eyes were then focused on him. 

 

“Oh you are back!” Luna said. “I was worried when we hadn’t seen you!”

 

“I’m fine,” Arthur said. He then looked at Richard. “Hey….I need to talk to you.”

 

The room went silent. Everyone was trying to figure out if what was said was true. Justin was in the room, hiding behind his sister, but peeked out from under her wing. 

“Of course,” Richard said, standing up. “You want to take this upstairs?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Ok then.”

 

The two of them silently went upstairs, while the adults and older children held their breaths. Richard and Arthur entered Arthur’s room and shut the door behind them. They stood, staring at each other. This had been the second time they were alone in a room together.

 

Arthur’s heart raced, he had formed the words, but now he struggled to say them outloud. 

 

It was Richard who broke the silence. “Is everything ok, son?”

 

That spurred Arthur’s words. “You abandoned us!”

 

Richard wanted to reply, but decided to keep his mouth shut. It was his son’s time to talk.

 

“You left us with that…that bitch! I took so much abuse so I could protect my siblings, and while I suffered, you were here forming a new family!!”

 

Richard cautiously interjected. “Son…I did…form a new family…but you must understand … .I didn’t replace any of your siblings at all, I still love you all.”

 

“If you loved us, then why did you lose your temper? You could have had us! But you beat her boyfriend up just because your wife was fucking him!”

 

Richard looked stunned. “You don’t remember?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Son…..I didn’t beat him up because of that….I hurt him because he laid his hands on you.”

 

Arthur looked stunned. “What…what are you talking about?”

 

“You were just a boy, I came home to talk to your mother, and I saw Salem comforting you, you had a nasty bump on your head, and what looked like a cut. I took you to Urgent Care and the doctors looked you over. Salem didn’t know what happened, said you were just playing in the other room and…her boyfriend was over…..and later she hears what sounds like a ruckus…and….” Richard balled his hands into fists. “He emerged, and your head was bleeding.”

 

“No…no that can’t be,” Arthur stumbled back into his bed. “I…I would have remembered that!”

 

Richard continued.  “The doctors said you had a concussion, and you couldn’t remember what happened. I asked you many times.”

 

Arthur was stunned. He couldn’t remember that, he knew he was spanked by his mom’s boyfriend, but he didn’t remember that. He remembered many hits, but couldn’t recall that particular one.

 

“Well….the nurse thought you fell on the edge of a table….but I knew what happened….I knew,” Richard looked up at Arthur, but his eyes were full of regret. “You are right, I should have controlled my anger, but I couldn’t let anyone lay their hands on my son like that, so I tracked him down to his favorite divebar, and gave him a thrashing that he deserved.”

 

Arthur was still stunned. “Why…why didn’t you tell me?”

 

“Well, I thought you did know but were too afraid to tell me, and I figured you were right to be mad at me, I messed up, and I ruined my chances in the divorce, and I am truely, truely sorry…”

 

Suddenly Arthur bolted forward and wrapped his arms around his dad. Richard embraced him, holding him tight. He didn’t hesitate at all, this was something he had wanted for a long time. 

 

“I fucked up dad, I fucked up,” Arthur cried. “I…I hurt Justin’s feelings, and I drove my friends away and…I don’t know what to do!”

 

Richard held his crying son. “Let it out, let it out….”

 

Richard let Arthur cry into him. He stayed silent, letting Arthur cry. He would then help his son, because that’s what a father does. 

 

****

The next day, Richard met with Justin after school, Justin’s friends were with him. Richard hugged his son. “How was the day?”

 

“Good,” Justin replied. 

 

“Nothing too exciting?”

 

“Not really.”

 

“Well, we’ll have to change that.”

 

“How?”

 

“Hop in the car, tell your friends to come along.”

“Ooooo, what’s the plan?” Ursa asked.

 

“Are we going to the water park?” Static asked. “Because…uh…I’m kinda banned from that.”

 

“Actually, it’s a surprise,” Richard said.

 

He drove them to the thick of the woods, just outside of town, Justin looked out the window. “Are we going camping?”

 

“No, but we are out here because we don’t want to bother anyone,” Richard replied. 

 

They drove to a nice part where targets were set up on the ground, propped up by stands, but also nailed to the trees.

 

“What’s this?” asked Justin. 

 

“You’ll see,” Richard smiled. 

 

They got out of the car, Justin looked at the targets. “Are we shooting?”

 

Arthur then stepped out from behind a tree. “Close.”

 

Justin jumped and glared at his brother, not saying anything. 

 

Arthur smiled shamefully and held out a bow. “Surprise.”

 

Justin looked at the bow. When he was a little kid, he wanted to do archery. He had one of those old bow and arrows that shot those suction cup arrows. He wanted the real thing, but his then mom was too cheap to do anything. “Is that for me?”

 

“Yes….all of this is for you,” Arthur said. “All of it.”

 

Justin looked up at his brother. Arthur smiled at him, his eyes getting wet. “Justin, I’m sorry for what I said, that….that was wrong of me, you are the most brilliant boy ever, and you are so sweet, and I was wrong. I really am. I am your brother, and I need to act like it.”

 

Justin reached for the bow, but then hesitated. “Does…does that mean you’ll give dad a chance?”

 

Richard patted Justin on the back. “He already did, we spent all day setting this up for you.”

 

“Wait…” Justin looked at Arthur. “You missed school?” 

 

“Yes he did,” Richard said proudly. “To show you that he cares for you.”

“All of this?” Justin looked around, he could see all the targets and arrows. “For me?”

 

“Yes, I knew you wanted to try archery, but never got the chance, I figured we could do that, every day, after school.”

 

“You…you mean it?”

 

“And I’ll be here to supervise,” Richard said. 

 

“You..you both will be here?” Justin asked. 

 

“Of course,” Richard smiled. 

 

Justin looked at his brother and smiled. This is all he wanted, his dad to be able to spend time with all of his children. He hugged Arthur. 

 

“So, how do we start?” asked Justin. 

 

“Well, we need to get familiar with it,” Arthur said. “I think I know what I’m doing.”

 

“Uh, I’m not sure if I can do archery,” Ursa said, showing off her big paws. “I might break it.”

 

“Well…I got an idea on how we can use you!” Arthur held out an apple. 

 

“I’m not hungry for an apple right now,” Ursa said.

 

“It’s not for eating, it’s for placing on a head.”

 

“Who’s head?”

 

Arthur smiled at her. 

 

“What?” Ursa said. 

 

Static leaned over to Arthur. “Can I try shooting it off her head with lighting?”

 

“Knock yourself out,” Arthur replied. 

 

*****

The next day, Richard drove Arthur to the mall. A reliable source had told him the honor society was hanging out there. Arthur stared at the mall. They should be in there.

 

“You ready, Arthur?” Richard asked.

 

“What if they aren’t in there?” he asked. 

 

“Well, you try again at school, the whole point is you have to talk to them in person, no  text, no phone call.”

 

Arthur took a deep breath. “What do I say?”

 

“You tell them everything, and you apologize.”

 

“Well..what do I say specifically?”

 

“What I just said, but your apology has to come from the heart, remember that.”

 

Arthur nodded. “Are you coming?”

 

“No, you have to do this by yourself, it’s important.”

 

Arthur slammed the back of his head into the headrest. He had done drug deals, bare knuckled brawls, but now he was getting cold feet!!!

 

Richard sensed his son’s distress, he pet him on the shoulder. “Listen, take the time to think about what you will say to them when you see them. Just walk through, and rehearse it in your mind. You can do this, son.”

 

Arthur gulped, but nodded. He exited the car. The mall looked a lot bigger than he thought, then again he could be imagining that to frighten himself more to dissuade him from going in. He felt terrified. His words that he said to them were awful, he really hurt their feelings. He honestly felt ashamed of what he did, and he needed to make up for it. He took one heavy step forward, it felt like his entire leg was weighed down by the full force of gravity. But he kept onward. 

 

Richard watched as his son entered the mall. “Good luck, son.”

 

Arthur’s fears left him when he entered the mall. It was incredibly packed with mamano. There were shops galore, everything from clothes, to video games, to weapons! All lines up, and each bustling with mamano. Seeing a man in this sea of women was like spotting the great white whale. 

 

“I can only imagine what the food court is like,” Arthur thought. His stomach growled. “Later.”

 

For now, he had to find his way through the mall, and took the Honor Society, and Rosa who was most likely joining them. He only hoped she was, he didn’t want to have to apologize to her separately, it was already going to be hard enough apologizing to all of them, he didn’t want to have to do it again, it was already straining his heart and mind. 

“Ok, ok, just go over it in your mind,” he thought. “Hey, listen, I’m sorry for what I said….ok good start….now what?”

 

He tapped his head. “Ok….I’m sorry I snapped, the trauma from my childhood has made me act out in unhealthy ways … .oh god damn it that’s too wordy.”

 

As Arthur racked his mind he failed to maintain his situational awareness. He had been lucky to avoid most of the surrounding mamano, that’s because they were big and tall, so even despite his mind working overtime on an apology, he could still avoid the big ones. 

 

Just the big ones. 

 

He felt something hit his shin and he cussed. “Did I hit a trash can?”

 

“WATCH IT!” screamed a loud, high pitch voice.

 

Arthur looked down to see some woman with goat horns and hooves, she was very small, and flat. “Oh, sorry miss satyr.”

 

The small mamano looked offended. “Satyr? Satyr? You…you bigger!”

 

“What did you just call me?” Arthur was more confused. 

 

The small mamano stood proudly, proclaiming. “I am an all powerful, mighty, baphomet!”

 

Arthur stared at her. “Ok…..”

 

The baphomet laughed. “I see you are stupefied to realize your mistake of running into me.”

 

“Sure….” Arthur was more confused and started trying to get around her. 

 

The baphomet noticed him leaving. “That’s right, run away!”

 

“Whatever,” Arthur called. 

 

“Halt!” 

 

Arthur rolled his eyes and turned around. “What?”

 

“I will not let some bigger disrespect me like that!”

 

Arthur didn’t have to think long to know what that slur meant. He smiled. Those who live in a glass house shouldn’t throw rocks. “Your flat chest disrespects me.”

 

The baphomet turned red with rage. “How…how….how dare you!!!! You will pay for your insolence!!”

 

Arthur couldn’t believe it, this little petite woman was threatening him? He could probably drop kick her but that would be too cruel. “Look, just run along and go get a happy meal toy or something.”

 

“Joke’s on you, I already have one!” she flashed a small action figure, smiling proudly, but then realized he was poking fun at her. She then put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. 

 

Suddenly, more baphomets appeared, hopping off of a nearby table with their own happy meal toys. Arthur still wasn’t phased. “Oh wow, you got me quivering!”

 

He could drop kick all of these shorties. Suddenly one shot a burst of lighting out of her finger. He jumped back as it struck the ground. His smile faded. “Oh shit.”

 

“GET THE BIGGER!” screamed one of the baphomet’s.

 

Arthur turned around and sprinted away with a small army of baphomets chasing him.

 

“Magic is cheating!” he yelled. 

 

The mamano got out of the way as the little army chased him. Luckily, Arthur remembered one key thing. He is tall, they are small. He has longer legs, they have short legs. And most importantly, he is making a considerable distance. 

 

He took off ahead of them, leaving them behind as they chased him. He hopped over a railing and rolled under a table, catching his breath. 

 

“Uh, excuse us?”

 

He looked to see a bunch of furry legs, and a hellhound looking at him. She had violet eyes, a color that matched parts of her hair. 

 

“Oh…sorry,” Arthur panted. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you all.”

 

“Well, it’s not every day a man dives underneath our table.”

 

“Well, I had a good reason.”

 

“What for?”

 

“I ticked off some….” he snapped his fingers trying to remember the name of the mamano. “Uh….I can’t remember the name…goat lolis?”

She rolled her eyes and groaned. “Baphomets.”

 

“That’s it!”

 

There were a series of groans from above.

 

“By the Demon Lord I hate those grass munchers!” one voice said.

 

“Their horns are the biggest thing on them,” another added. 

 

The purple hellhound then motioned for him to come up. “We’ll keep you safe, besides you are not going to want to miss this.”

 

He got out from under the table and saw five hellhounds sitting at the table. There was the purple one, next to her was a one with eyes as blue as arctic ice, another had piercing green eyes that looked like freshly watered cut grass, one looked normal aside from a more reddish fur on her arms and thighs, then finally one had snow white fur and a paler skin than her friends. An interesting thing to note for all of them is their paws’ colors corresponded to the colors of their eyes, and the lipstick and eyeliner they wore was also color coordinated. 

 

The violet hellhound pointed. “Watch this.”

 

The gang of baphomets were scouring the mall for Arthur, when mall security pulled up. A salamander led a group of lizard men. The salamander looked very tired and done with the situation. “I warned you all, no magic in the mall!”

 

“You dirty bigger! Showing us disrespect!” the leader goaded. “You will all see the light when the Sabbath comes! Your towering body will fall like the trees! And soon you will look up to us! As we-”

 

The salamander looked at a lizard man. “Broom.”

 

The baphomets confidence faded. “Not the broom!”

 

The salamander was handed a broom, a large push broom, and security produced smaller brooms. The baphomets squealed as security descended on them: pushing and whacking them with the brooms. The salamander was having a field day, spearing them and sending the tumbling into each other like they were bowling pins. The leader hissed at the salamander, before the salamander sent her flying across the mall. 

 

“Retreat!”

 

Security gave chase and the baphomets scattered. Arthur laughed with the hellhounds. 

“How many times has that been?” the white hellhound asked. 

 

“Third time this week,” the violet one said.

 

“Does this happen often?” Arthur asked.

 

“Yeah, but don’t worry,” the red one sighed. “God I want to work for mall security.”

 

“How far do you think I could throw one?” the green one asked. 

 

They then remembered the man sitting at their table. The violet one smiled. “Oh how rude, allow me to introduce the pack here: I’m Nyx, the blue one is Morticia, green is Morgana, red is Hectate, the white one here is respectively named Ivory.”

 

They all looked at him, sultry, flirtatious smiles spreading across their faces. “And what is your name?”

 

“Arthur.”

 

“Well, Arthur, how would you like to join us?”

 

Arthur looked at the hellhounds, all were stunning beauties, tall, stacked, toned, and he would much rather stay with them, but his conscience nagged at him. “While I would love to, I have to do something.”

 

The hellhounds pouted. 

 

Ivory leaned over, giving him puppy dog eyes. “Not even a little bit?”

 

Arthur sighed with disappointment. “I would, but I can’t, I have to do something.”

 

He expected them to get aggressive, but then Nyx asked. “What is it, if you don’t mind me asking?”

 

Arthur frowned a little and shook his head. “Just personal stuff, you don’t want to hear that.”

 

Morticia leaned in, looking him up and down. “Looks like it’s something very important on your mind, you want to talk about it?”

 

Arthur hesitated. He wanted to decline, but a part of him wanted to talk about it. It was building in his chest, like someone dropped a barbell with three plates on him. He figured in this situation, it would be best to reveal a little bit. “I have to apologize to some friends.”

 

“Why?” Nyx asked. 

 

“Because….I said some stuff that wasn’t ok…I was frustrated…and I really hurt their feelings.”

 

The hellhounds winced. Morgana spoke up. “How bad was it?”

 

“Well…I think it was more like my tone was unprofessional, I didn’t handle it well,” Arthur sighed. “And…I guess I don’t know what to say.”

 

The hellhounds looked at him like he was missing something incredibly obvious.”

 

“Just say sorry,” Nyx said. 

 

Arthur scoffed softly. “But that doesn’t cut it, I really hurt their feelings.”

 

“Listen,” Hectate chimed in. “When apologizing a lot of people over-think it, yes it’s good to have a plan, but sometimes you just need to say I’m sorry, and the rest of the words will come out.”

 

“It…it can’t be that simple,” Arthur replied. “I need to plan this out, I really need to….”

 

“Hey, listen,” Morgana interrupted politely. “Apologies for us sticking our nose in your business, but it feels like you are really scared, but you just need to hit the main points, I mean, you sound genuine. “

 

“Thanks….but I’m just nervous, I mean..what if they don’t accept it?” Arthur asked. 

 

Ivory sighed. “Look, are you apologizing because you want to hear them forgive you so you can take your feelings off your conscience, or are you apologizing because you are actually sorry?”

 

“Well…I’m really sorry for what I did,” Arthur was confused by her question. 

 

“Yeah but are you apologizing because you need to, or because you want them to forgive you?”

 

“Well…aren’t they supposed to forgive you after you apologize?”

 

“Naw, naw,” Hectate said. “You see, if you go in there expecting forgiveness and they don’t give you it, now I’m not saying you would do this, but one might freak out, try to turn it into how they should be grateful you apologized in the first place. If you feel sorry, you apologize, if they don’t forgive you, that’s them, you can’t change their mind, but … .the important thing is at least you had the guts to face them. Even if you get shot down like that, part of your conscience is clear, you feel better getting those words out.”

 

Arthur was stunned, he didn’t expect such a deep conversation to occur with hellhounds. . “You girls are smart.”

 

They all flashed sharp smiles and said in unison. “Thanks!”

 

“Do you all happen to know where the food court is?” he asked. 

 

“Is that where your friends are or are you just hungry?” Nyx asked.

 

“I’m hoping that’s where they are at,” Arthur replied. 

 

Nyx chewed on her lip. “You look nervous, you want us to come with you?”

 

“Oh…well…look…this is kind of personal…and…well…I’m afraid if I came with a group of girls it might give off the wrong vibe.”

 

“Oh…..” Morgana smiled slyly. “Is this a girlfriend that you are meeting?”

 

“Well…ok…so..they are…I guess friends…who happen to be girls…..but not…in the romantic sense,” Arthur didn’t know why he was so flustered. It could be he had beautiful hellhounds surrounding him and he was going to talk to equally beautiful mamano. 

 

“Girls you say?” Nyx raised her eyebrows, intrigued. “Did you piss off your harem?”

 

Arthur laughed at that comment. “Harem? Naw they are just a group of friends that’s all. Besides, I’m not like my dad, I don’t think I can pull off a harem.”

 

Arthur failed to notice all their ears perk up at that comment. Now they were really fascinated with him. 

 

“Tell you what, how about we hang back, and we just watch, could that work?” asked Nyx.

 

“Well…I guess that could work,” Arthur said. “As long as you stay out of sight, I don’t want them getting the wrong idea or anything.”

 

“Think of us as moral support,” Hectate said. “Just in case shit hits the fan.”

 

“That would help,” Arthur got up. “So, show me to the food court.”

 

The pack of hellhounds walked with Arthur through the mall to the food court. 

 

“So what have they got at the food court?” asked Arthur.

 

“Everything from fast food to some pretty fine dining,” Nyx said.

“Fine dining?” Arthur didn’t think a food court could have that.

 

“Yeah, they got sushi, quality sushi, and some good Italian.”

 

“Like pizza?”

 

“Yeah…but I’m talking about the fancy stuff like…uh,” Nyx looked toward Ivory. “What’s that desert again, you know the one with the dust on it?” 

 

“Tiramasu,” Ivory said.

 

“Yeah that, and the other fancy Italian stuff,.” Nyx said.

 

“Don’t forget the fancy mamano food, they got some really good Zippanu food,” Morgana said. “Jinkos run the place, and boy it’s good, they cook the meat just right, and everything they make is either local, or they hunted or gathered themselves.”

 

“Sounds good,” Arthur said.

 

“And they have a pretty interesting promotion too,” Hectate added. “If you fight their cook and win, you get your meal for free.”

 

“Really?” Arthur asked.

 

“Yeah, except she does this martial art where she only uses her legs, like Sanji.”

 

“Sounds easy,” Arthur smirked. 

 

“There’s a catch though, you and the chef have to take five shots of a hard liquor of your choice, along with an additional shot of bourbon, scotch, and one can or bottle of beer of your choice, the chef does the same as well, she drinks what you drink, and if you lose, you have to pay for the alcohol, both yours and the chefs gets tacked onto your bill.”

 

“Hectate learned the hard way,” Ivory shook her head. 

 

“I didn’t think she could kick that hard,” Hectate protested. 

 

“Literally the chef did one superkick and sweet chin musiced your ass onto the ground,” Ivory snorted.

 

“I was intoxicated!”

 

“So was she!”

 

“Well…she must have a better tolerance.”

 

“No it’s because you can’t hold your liquor and you went with the cheap stuff!”

 

Arthur looked at them. “Are you 21?”

 

Hectate looked embarrassed. “I uh…used a fake ID.”

 

“And she took your fake ID after she kicked your ass,” Ivory added.

 

“Shut it!”

 

“There they are!” Arthur pointed ahead. There, Daisy, Cathay, Ellen, and Rosa were sitting at a table eating their food, and talking. 

 

Nyx sized up the “friends” (no way he wasn’t just friends with them) and thought. “He likes them tall, busy, scrappy, and hot….I think we fit that criteria.”

 

Arthur froze, the last time he saw those girls was at school, they were ice cold and distant toward him. All because he couldn’t control himself and got mean. They looked happy, and he felt guilty interrupting their happiness with his presence. His chest felt heavy, doubt flooded his brain. 

 

“I don’t know if I can do this,” he said. 

 

“What do you mean?” Nyx asked. 

 

“I…I….I just feel like I’ll only make things worse if I confront them.”

 

Ivory looked at him, he was shaking like a leaf. “Listen, this is the hardest thing, it’s easier to avoid it, hell you could turn away right now…”

 

Arthur turned around to take her advice, but was blocked by Ivory and Morgana’s paws. He was not getting out of this.

 

“As I was saying…” Ivory huffed. “It’s easy to just walk away, but it’ll still weight on your mind, and you’ll only torture yourself.”

 

Arthur bowed his head, he looked over his shoulder, she’s right. 

 

“If you go there, confront them, apologize, then your mind is clear, if they don’t forgive you or tell you to ‘piss off’, it’ll hurt, but you at least will have solace knowing you did apologize and try to make amends.”

 

“Ok,” Arthur stood straight up and took a deep breath. It was now or never. 

 

He marched toward them, keeping a straight face as he approached them. It was Daisy that noticed him first, her happy expression turned sour with melancholy. She nudged her friends and they started looking ahead, they too turned sour. That hurt a little, but to an extent, he deserved that. 

 

He stood in front of them. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His mind was blank. He didn’t know what to say. To make matters worse, they weren’t saying anything either, they were just staring at him. He wished they would say something, it might make things a little easier. 

 

But then he remembered what Nyx said. 

 

“Just say sorry.”

 

He looked them square in the eye and said. “I’m sorry.”

 

There was a brief pause. The Honor Society and Rosa looked stunned, they weren’t expecting that, they could hear the sadness in his voice. 

 

He then continued. “I….I was wrong for saying that….and….I could have answered better….”

 

He then explained why he had been so bitter towards his dad, and the latest revelation that was uncovered. As he explained, he could see their looks get softer, and understanding, but there was still a touch of bitterness in the air.

 

He then continued. “I’m…I’m not good with my feelings, I mean I love my siblings…but even I have a tough time trying to control them around them. I guess…I just never learned that, but that’s no excuse for what I did. I didn’t mean to hurt you all, and….I hope that maybe when you tutor me…we can go back to what it was before…if that’s possible…becuase honestly…I miss it so much.”

 

He then stopped, he said what he wanted to say. He waited to see what they would say, but they didn’t respond. He wasn’t going to cry, but he understood. He nodded. “I just wanted to say that, sorry for bothering you.”

 

He turned around to leave.

 

“Hey,” Daisy called. 

 

Arthur turned around. 

 

“Would you like to sit with us?”

 

“Is…is that ok?” Arthur asked. “And are…the rest of you ok with it?”

 

Ellen clicked her tongue. “We’ll have to spar a bit, but … .I think apologizing was the toughest thing you’ve done.”

 

Cathay nodded. “You really meant it.”

 

Rosa shrugged, but smiled. “It’s a start.”

 

Arthur felt a wave of relief come over him. “Oh thank you!”

 

He sat with them, then Daisy looked over his shoulder. “Hey…why are those hellhounds looking at you…and why do they look like they are trying to hold back frustrations?”

 

He looked over his shoulder, he didn’t understand what Daisy meant, they were smiling at him, they looked like stiff smiles, but smiles nevertheless. “Oh, those are some friends I made, they….really helped me.”

 

“Oh, should we invite them over?” Daisy asked. 

 

“If that’s ok with everyone else,” Arthur replied. 

 

The rest nodded and Arhur waved them over. The hellhounds looked relieved and joined them. Daisy was shocked how tall they were. “Wow…..you certainly didn’t waste time finding new friends!”

 

“Well…I needed help to win you all back,” Arthur said. 

 

“You should have seen him, we felt bad for him, he really, really, regretted his actions,” Nyx said. “But now he wants to make amends.”

 

“And that he does,” Daisy smiled. 

 

Arthur felt much better with so much weight off his chest, and now he had his old friends, and new ones. 

 

However, Arthur is just a little oblivious, because if he had been paying attention, he would know that eyes were on him, and him showing emotions, and the ability to own up to his mistakes is a prime choice for a mamano wanting a man. He did not see the hearts in any of their eyes. 

 

*****

Arthur texted his dad, and Richard was ecstatic. Finally, his son texted. The message may have been a brief message that said. “It worked, I’ll be spending the rest of the day with my friends, they’ll give me a ride home, see you soon.”

 

He went home with a smile on his face, and his wives, and children knew that a relationship had been patched. He played with all of his children, passing the time until Arthur came home. Arthur came home at about 9, everyone else was in bed at that time. Richard waited for him on the couch, smiling. 

 

Arthur entered the house and smiled back at him. “Hey, dad.”

 

“Hey, son,” Richard felt warm as his son finally called him dad. “How was the day?”

 

“Great! I mean, I know I have a long way to go, but things are much better!”

 

“Want to have a beer while we talk?”

 

Arthur chuckled. “Dad, I’m 17, isn’t that against the rules?”

 

Richard laughed. “You like PBR?”

 

“Fuck yeah.”

 

He grabbed a couple of cans and the two of them sat down and talked. 

 

“So, we went to the arcade, and it was a little hard because my friend group got larger,” Arthur explained. 

 

“Oh really?” Richard asked. 

 

“Yeah, you see, I was about to chicken out, then I ran into these hellhounds….” Arthur explained how they helped him get the confidence and words he needed to apologize. 

 

“Hellhounds, just like his old man,” Richard thought. 

 

“So when we tried to play the rail shooters, we had to take turns, so basically it went if you died someone would take over, and that works, except Rosa is a terrible shot. We were playingThe Lost World, which I’m surprised is in this realm, and she could not shoot any of the red targets to save a life! The T-rex did so much damage to us!” Arthur explained. 

 

“And you ate I assume?” 

 

“Of course, we went to this really good Asian…I mean Zippangu restaurant.”

 

“Oh yeah, you don’t want to call them Asian.”

 

“Yeah, and let me say, the food was amazing!! It really melts in your mouth, and they add in some authentic spices and everything. I tried those sushi rolls. I have no idea what fish they put in it, but god damn it was good.”

 

“I know the place you are talking about,” Richard smiled. “Took the wives out there for our anniversary.”

 

Arthur chuckled. “Did you do the challenge?”

 

Richard laughed, shaking his head as he remembered. “I made a mistake that night, I was already liquored up on cheap whiskey mixers since it was a Wednesday, and I thought I could take on the chef.”

 

“But don’t they make you drink more?”

 

“Yep, and boy I was far more shitfaced than her.”

 

“Did she win?”

 

“She gave me one kick to the stomach, I crumpled to the ground, and my meal and drinks came up.”

 

“Gross!”

 

“Yeah, the wives had to carry me out,” Richard laughed. “Well, it was still a good anniversary, after some water and sobering I had to give them their present.” Richard winked at him. 

 

“Oh, like what, diamonds?” 

 

Richard chuckled. “Nevermind…..anyways, you got yourself quite the friend group.”

 

“Yeah, they are very nice, it’s good to have friends, I really didn’t have many back in the human world, aside from my siblings.”

 

“Well…” Richard clicked his tongue. “It seems these girls have taken an interest in you.”

 

“Yeah, I’m a great friend.”

 

“Ha, no I mean, they want to be more than friends.”

 

Arthur looked at his beer. “Like…..girlfriend?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“….which ones?”

 

“All of them.”

 

Arthur looked at his dad. “What?”

 

“Look, when a man is surrounded by mamano, it’s reasonable to assume they have some romantic interest in him.”

 

“But … .I don’t want to break their hearts, if they all have a crush on me, I don’t know which one to choose.”

 

“Choose them all.”

 

“What?”

 

“Yeah, I loved all my wives, and I wanted them all, there’s no shame in that, as long as you can provide enough love to each of them.”

 

Arthur nodded. “Ok…but … .if they are into me…I need to take this slow, and you’ll help?”

 

“Of course, besides, what you have is manageable.”

 

“Ok … .but…more can join right?”

 

“Well, you gotta make sure they click with everyone, and that you care for them, do that, and things will be easy.”

 

“Ok, it shouldn’t be too hard.”

 

One year later at Arthur’s 18th Birthday Party. 

 

Arthur had finally turned 18. The family was ready to celebrate, as were his siblings. In the span of a year his grades improved, he was now the Captain of the Boxing Team and Co-Captain of the Judo Team along with Ellen. He no longer felt bitter, or angry, he felt happy. 

 

A lot has changed in just a year. Aurora, Maeve, and Salem had also started dating, the same guy of course. Aurivelle had trained them well to be proper dragons, and with that came the reward: Aurivelle’s brother. Yes, The von Rosenkrantz und Sternthal und von Drachenfels zu Hohenwald always needs more dragon children, but proper ones. Now of course they had to date first, and then there might be a marriage. 

 

As for Justin, well, of course he’s dating Ursa and Static now. It was fairly obvious as Ursa was very, very, affectionate. She had Justin snuggled as they sat while Static was purring next to him, rubbing her head on his cheek, causing a small static charge that made Ursa and Justin’s hair stand up. 

 

Meanwhile, Luna and her daughters were interacting with Joan and the other hellhounds. 

 

“My…goodness, I still can’t get over how tall you are,” Luna said. 

 

“Thank you,” Joan smiled. “My mother passed on some good genes to me.”

 

“Tell me about it,” Nyx winked at Luna and motioned with her head to Joan’s busty rack. 

 

“Yeah, really fills her out,” Morganna snickered. 

 

“You girls sure you don’t want to join the wrestling team?” Blaze asked. “It could teach you some moves you could use on Arthur.”

 

Luna sputtered and looked at Blaze. “That…that is inappropriate!”

 

“Oh so you didn’t do anything like that with dad?”

 

Luna’s jaw clamped shut as her eyes sparked up. 

 

Everyone was getting along, and it was a big gathering, and not just because of the family and their own various spouses.. It was Arthur’s girlfriends.

 

“Holy, shit, son,” Richard whispered to Arthur. 

 

Arthur had taken his dad’s advice, and after some soul-searching and dating, he was able to form his harem, featuring the hellhounds, the honor society, and of course Rosa.

 

However….it didn’t stop there. 

Arthur’s newfound sense of purpose, and kindness made him an attractive target to all mamano. One could say, he had not a harem, but an army. It was formed of the following. 

 

Ushi oni 

An entire pride of sphinxes 15, they really enjoy ear scratches 

2 werewolf packs, 14 each, they were in the honor society’s tutoring class, and eagerly joined the judo and boxing team to get close to Arthur, and also liked to wrestle, a lot. 

An Anubis

2 jinkos, one with white fur and one that’s orange, turns out they worked at the restaurant in the mall and enjoy cooking for Arthur. 

2 ocelomeh, one with golden fur and one with like black fur, who are also on the judo team. 

3 black harpies

A normal harpy.

Joan the Heavenhound, for she knew he’s fixable. 

2 griffins

3 manticores

A chimera

A high orc and 3 orcs, they came as a package deal

A ren xiongmao 

A creeping coin

A yeti.

A night gaunt

A red oni

A blue oni

An ogre

A phoenix

A bogie both the cuddle type and the clown type.

 

Yeah, he is his father’s son. 

 

“My goodness, you are going to need a big house to fit all those kids,” Richard whispered. “Once you cross that bridge.”

 

“Yep,” Arthur smiled. “Honestly, I still can’t believe it, I didn’t think they would want me.”

 

“Well, surprises are surprises for a reason,” Richard flashed a smile. “Speaking of which, I got you a present, follow me to the garage.”

 

Arthur followed Richard to the garage. In it, there was something large under a tarp. 

 

Arthur grinned at his dad. “You got me a car?”

 

“Not just any car…” he pulled back the tarp to reveal a 1970 Chevelle.

Arthur’s jaw dropped. “NO WAY!”

 

“Shhhhh!” Richard shushed and looked around. “Sorry, the wives don’t know I bought this.”

 

“Why wouldn’t they know?”

 

“Because it cost a pretty penny,” Richard winked. 

 

Arthur ran his palm across the hood of the car. “Wow….this…is…..something.”

 

“Do you remember how you played with hotwheels as a kid? That car was your favorite.”

 

“I was 3 at the time.”

 

“Yeah, and a father never forgets what his son loves.”

 

Arthur looked up. “So this is mine, like…I can drive it.”

 

“Yes, though the harem might need to take turns riding inside of it.”

 

Arthur smiled. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

 

“Atta boy.”

 

Arthur looked at his dad. He cringed as he remembered how he treated him, but he knew you only get one dad in life. And those dads that want to do good, will always be there for you.

 

He went over and hugged his dad. “I love you, dad.”

 

“I love you, son, happy birthday.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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