Arabella Flynn's Story

Walking towards the gate to the school was a short blonde woman and a yellow-haired girl holding hands. The little girl's long waves were tied up into pigtails with bright blue ribbons. Sitting on her head and playing with the ribbons was a small, white monkey that seemed to be the happiest monkey on the planet. To the alumni of the school, they would recognize him as Arabella's monkey, Baine. Due to various enchantments, the monkey had a much slower rate of growth. Regular visits to a certain elf aided in the monkey's youth.

The monkey wasn't the only thing different about the girl. She had two orange wings popping out of her back that were fluttering with every step. The girl seemed frustrated as she jumped up and flapped harder.

"Flap them at the same time," Arabella suggested to the small Ashton. She had run to catch up with Ashton's attempts at flight, leaving Jaimie and Rayburn behind. At another failed attempt to lift off, Arabella smiled warmingly before suggesting that Ashton waited until her brother could teach her.

"How about we stop and wait for Daddy and Ray?" She asked, crouching down to get on the little girl's eye level. Arabella waved a hand over Ashton's hair and fixed all of the crazy flyaways that had occurs during Ashton's attempt to "fly away".

Jaimie let Rayburn pull in front of him as they made it to Arabella and Ashton. Rayburn was ecstatic, sending a few stray sparks from his slightly fiery hair. The phoenix looped around Jaimie with his arms spread wide and a few cheers of victory before getting his hair ruffled and extinguished by his father. Rayburn gave his father a big toothy grin before stopping his victory lap.

"Guess you beat me! But keep the heat down buddy, we're not on school grounds yet." Jaimie chuckled and shook off the burning sensation off his hand from his son's flaming hair. He was used to getting burns and by now he knew how long he could put his hand in fire before injuring himself. "They used to be pretty strict about keeping human forms here but I'm sure you can let off some steam once we get inside. Just be careful okay?" Jaimie advised as Rayburn curiously looked over the crowd apparently not paying attention to his father. Jaimie sighed and turned to Arabella giving her a smirk and a shrug as if to say they'd just have to hope for the best.

He then turned to find his son looking over the crowd very intently. "Who did you find?" Jaimie crouched and followed Rayburn's trail of sight to see who the boy was looking at with a hint of recognition.

"Desmond and Kalen!" Jaimie smiled and waved back, "They even brought Arthur." He then turned his head a bit farther to the right to look around some more.

"Is that? No way! Aiden and Amber!" Jaimie felt like a high schooler again he waved to them just as eagerly as he waved to the Rulers. "And if I'm right they brought the pups too." he joked, "They're about Ash's age right?" he turned to Arabella.

Rayburn looked at his Dad unsure, he was saying a lot of names and he was having trouble putting a few of them to faces. His temperature fell as he started to grow more passive.

With a slight increase in pace the Rulers moved forward, Arthur still scanning the others who were approaching and waving to them; a group of four total adults and the same number of kids, at least one of which appeared his age, all seemingly pleasant. Course Arthur knew the Flynns, and their son Rayburn, fairly well. They were always coming over for dinner and such. Mom liked having Arabella drop by or going to the city and shopping together, and Dad was always interested in what Jamie had to say about the latest stories in the Human world… specifically things that were being seen as regular events but were really monsters behaving badly. But seeing the other group he had to think back a little ways to when they had last stopped by. According to Dad they kept a ‘low profile’ which was pretty common in the monster world. But as he looked at the various people from his dad’s stories of the old days a thought occurred to him, “Dad?”

“Hmm?”

“These guys were the people from all your stories about those fights in high school right?”

“That’s right.”

“So who’s the strongest?”

Desmond nearly tripped at that question, “Well, uh, son, that’s a difficult question to place. I mean it wasn’t really a competition we were in.” a diplomatic answer as Kalen chuckled to herself about the sudden outburst her boy had made. It was just like Arthur, always assessing, always curious, always decisive, and Desmond really shouldn’t have been caught off guard there.

“But aren’t you the strongest there is?” he asked again as he looked to the rather large man to the left of them (Aiden) and his wife with a slightly cocked head.

Before Desmond could tell his son a flat nope his loving wife intervened, “Why don’t you judge for yourself?”

Taking her at her word Arthur nodded and moved to the head of the trio as he reached into his collar and withdrew the necklace that hid beneath his shirt. The pendant was warm to the touch despite its steely construction, pulsing with a light beat in harmony with that of his own heart. A brilliantly intricate piece of jewelry. He grasp the pendant and closed his eyes for a moment, his Parents stopping behind him.

“Don’t overdo it now, Arthur.” His pops advised as he stood slightly back with Kalen, watching.

“I won’t.” he assured as he drew form the pendant a small droplet of power. His feet felt lighter as a small circle of air escaped from him, his sports coat blown back slightly as his bangs rose in the air a fraction of an inch. The wind however was minimal and died down after a single burst as his full weight returned to his feet. Opening his eyes he looked about again. A sparkle now rested within those deep green orbs, and with that small drop of power he viewed the world anew.

Looking about he saw each figure as little more than a silhouette, however the surrounding air that was typically boring in the normal spectrum, was on fire in every color of the rainbow. Glancing about he was astounded by what he saw, the kids had some huge aura’s of their own but those two monsters, Arabella and Aiden… they were a whole different thing all together. Heck, the two humans were extraordinary in their own right, each with an Aura as four times larger than any human he knew. By contrast when he looked over his shoulder his mom, Kalen, had no aura what so ever save a slight glowing trail emanating form where her eyes would be. And Desmond’s aura was barely larger than a human’s right now. Guess he’s keeping a low profile too…

He closed his eyes again as he stowed the pendant back in his shirt and began moving again with his parents. “So, what do you think? Have an answer yet?” his mom asked.

“No…” he commented back, “give me a hint?”

“No way, Sport, I’m having too much fun with this.” Desmond chuckled.

Kalen elbowed him lightly, though her strength almost pushed him over as they walked forward, at last meeting at the gate with the other couples. Having come from three directions the three families met simultaneously at the entrance to the school.

“Hello there strangers, I don’t suppose you’re here for the reunion party too?” Desmond said jovially as he and Kalen moved forward for the greetings. Desmond shaking Jamie’s and Aiden’s hands and Kalen pulling Amber and Arabella into a hug, whether or not they wanted it. Arthur, meanwhile, walked straight up to Rayburn.

“Sup, Blaze, how you been?” he asked as he presented his fist calmly in a more youthful greeting. Desmond always said name your children whatever you like, and their friends will call them whatever they want. Rayburn and Arthur knew one another well enough, but didn’t go to the same school. Perhaps a good thing since the young phoenix might torch the place on a whim. Lord knows Arthur had to fight that urge without magical powers. “School out for you too?”

Ashton flitted over to stand between her brother and her dad so that she could hold onto her brother's shirt. Her little hands were turning white with how tightly she was squeezing onto his shirt bottom. The aura from the two families was immense so it made her even more on edge. Then Arthur came over to talk to her brother so she hid even more behind his elbow and looked up at Arthur with her big, blue eyes. She knew who he was, but still stayed quiet.

Baine suddenly perked up his little white head and stopped playing with the yellow pigtails. Something had caught his attention. Without thinking twice about it, the monkey hopped off of Ashton's head and ran straight towards Kalen, pulling itself to sit right on her shoulder. He pulled on her hair lightly as if saying "hi".

Arabella watched Ashton immediately take to Raeburn out of the corner of her eye. She was a little nervous for Ashton because she got so shy. Even though they were adopted, Arabella had immediately felt maternal towards the two of them. Especially towards Ashton since they met before she had hatched. Arabella slipped her hand into Jaimies and gave his a squeeze. Suddenly, Baine took off towards Kalen and she laughed. Arabella's eyes got really wide with excitement and all of her maturity went out the window.

She let go of Jaimie's head so that she didn't drag him or the kids with her so she didn't scare them. She couldn't wait a second more and flashed over right in front of Kalen and squealed with delight. "Kalen!"she shouted, hugging her tightly. She then hugged Desmond with the same enthusiasm, squealing his name as well. Then she looked down at Arthur and grinned. "He's gotten so big!"she said, roughing up the top of his hair. Next she flashed over to Amber and Aiden and gave them the same treatment. She gave the twins a big, collective hug.

Amber blinked with a little surprise as first Kalen hugged her and Arabella, and then Arabella hugged her and Aiden, but it was quickly replaced by a grin. It had been too long since she had seen them, really. She watched the twins being hugged, and glanced over everyone again. She didn't see them all that often; she spent much more time at home, and the others had their busy lives. So it was nice to have a chance to see all of them like this, even if it was at their old school.

"Hello, Kalen, Arabella," she greeted as she was hugged. She made sure to return the hugs; she really was relieved to have time away from the house, and having friends there helped. She looked back to Desmond and shrugged. "Well, it was a chance to actually get out, at least." Perhaps she spent a little too much time at home, she thought, but shrugged it off. She glanced at Arthur, briefly examining the power he released before deciding to ignore it. Anyway, he seemed to want to greet his friend Rayburn more. She only gave a brief glance to Kage as he approached the twins.

She shook her head at Shad's comment, though. She couldn't really say anything, though; she had very little knowledge on the council. She knew Aiden had retrieved artifacts for some of them, but that was about the limit of her knowledge. Still, she greeted both him and Star with a smile. Even if he had taken her blood when they were in high school, she still considered him a friend. She just had to ignore her brother saying she was insane for that.

"It's nice to see everyone again. I missed hanging out with you all."



Arlayna watched everyone greet each other, hiding behind her brother the entire time. She vaguely recognized some of the others there; they didn't get many visitors at home. She hesitated and looked as Kage brought Cici over towards them. She gripped Adriens sleeve tightly, but figured it would be rude not to greet him, since he had spoken to them first. She paused, taking a deep breath before answering in a quiet voice.

"...Hello..." At least she made an effort, she thought. She only hoped she had been loud enough for him to hear, because sge really didn't want to repeat herself. Then she'd just feel ridiculous, and her shyness would only get worse.

Aiden smiled as Desmond took his hand and gave it a good shake. "Its good to see you outside of business for once Desmond." Aiden would say with a lighthearted element to it. it seemed the whole group had arrived. then Shad arrived and Star made her announcement of who was the strongest Aiden looked at Shad and gave him a respectable nod. the two had come to terms and truth was Aiden was probably the one actually holding onto the grudge. But that didn't mean he didn't respect Shad or what he did do to help Amber in those days.

For a breif moment as the other kids wrestled and played Aiden suddenly seemed to realize how removed they had been over the last few years he was about to push the kids over twords the wrestling duo when Kage and Ciciri walked up to them he let out a small sigh of relief as he continued to turn his attention back to the group and shads statement.

"As I remember it most of us here have served on the council at one point or another." Aiden said then gave a small laugh "Some would even say its because of a few of us that certain issues are issues at all." Aiden said as he steeped past amber up to Kalen and Arabella. "I dont even get a hug?" Aiden said with a smile as he opened his arms and hugged the two girls. for a quick second. before letting go and asking them. "How have you guys been?"

After they would answer he would turn back to the group. "Im starting to think maybe we need to take more vacations honey..." Aiden would say with a smile.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Adrein had shoved his sister back again After she had shoved him then they were at the group of adults and there kids. Adrein had seen pictures of a few of them but he hadn't met them and if he did they hadn't left an impression. Finally after a moment two approached them. and instinctively Adrien stepped between them and his sister. it was just an instinctual move and his curiosity had taken over . "Hello Im Adrien and the quite one here is Arlayna." He said staring at the other boys fangs tehn looking over the girl

Just a few feet from the entrance to Carnes-High, an explosion of thick, black smoke disturbed the mountain air. Once it partly cleared, four figures were revealed, a man and woman and a boy and a girl who shared a chilling similarity. One of the man's hands instantly drifted towards the woman protectively as they began to walk.

Lin swept Freezer's hand away like a cobweb. "Stop! I'm fine, honestly" she snapped irritably at him before giving her high-school sweetheart a softer approach. "It's not like I'm inexperienced" she murmured gesturing towards the two children in front of them.

Freezer observed his wife with a small smile, she was wearing a deep blue Maxi-dress, with her miles of thick wavy hair left tumbling down her back. It made her look like a Greek deity. Freezer sighed and held his hands up in defeat. It wasn't her delicate looking body that made him fuss so much, it was the bulging pregnancy bump that expanded out from beneath the dress that concerned him.

Their two children huffed and sighed as the couple realised they'd stopped the group from walking any further. "Come on, at this rate we'll miss the reunion" Lin added giving the children and Freezer a push forwards. Freezer gave a scowl and linked an arm around her waist. "Didn't even want to come. Not when you're like this." he muttered under his breath. 'there are people here who would see to you having a stillborn' He thought the last part, but didn't say it, knowing it would only leave him getting beaten by a heavily pregnant woman.

Elle, one of their children, marched ahead confidently whilst giving her surroundings wide, curious eyes. She had heard stories about this place, about the people in it and now she was here it was difficult to believe her parents actually went to school. That the people in the stories were real.
"Elle not too far ahead!" Lin moaned, knowing the angelic 'looking' little girl would cause nothing but devilish trouble when out of sight.

Falcon on the other hand, their son and Elle's twin, clung to her hand like leech. She smiled down at his gorgeous face as Freezer scowled down at him. "Falcon don't cling to your mother like that, you'll trip her up!"

"I'm helping her walk" Falcon retorted.

Closing in on the school gates, Lin and Freezer actually paid attention to their surroundings and found that they needn't look far for the people they once knew at school. Pretty much all the them stood in a small group just inside the school gates, with children too!!
Lin gave the group a wicked smile and glanced up at Freezer, who couldn't help but give a charming smile, knowing full well he'd missed the sight of the people they used to mess around with. The only problem they faced was how everyone would remember them...

Lin decided to select the most closest individual to her kind. "Well, well if it isn't Arabella..."

Jaimie squeezed Arabella's hand as Lin greeted her, he recognized the two witches instantly and had to stop himself from staring daggers at them. He looked at Freezer briefly with hate, he still didn't take the resort trip they all took in school lightly, the warlock had gone crazy and Jaimie considered him one of the more dangerous monsters in the area. Forgetting that people still may have grudges against him, Jaimie didn't dig out his old enchanted dagger and bow for the occasion and began to feel unsafe without them.

Arabella handled Lin well, but he would just have to hope the pregnant Lin wouldn't take it the wrong way. She seemed to have the situation under control so he let his hand slip out of hers as he turned his attention to the fighting boys. Regardless of the walking burn kit that was his wife, Kalen was right, the boys' game could heat up at any time.

"Boys, can you play tag with the others or something, well, safer?" Jaimie suggested lightly with a smile.

"Why?" Rayburn whined. "We're having fun! No one is going to get hurt! He can't hurt me and I'm not going to burn him." Rayburn argued while shoving some more to try to get Arthur off of him.

Lin grinned at Arabella whilst placing a soft hand on top of her son's head. She eyed all the children present and tried to figure out which ones belonged to the white witch if any but none of the children struck her immediately.

Aiden was next to speak to her, he obviously bore bad memories between them as he stiffened up at the sight of her and her family. Lin lifted her chin up in a defensive manner and brought her children closer, Elle was standing far too close to him. She remembered how unpredictable the werewolf had been at school, she'd seen him at the coven and she wouldn't entrust him with her worst enemy let alone her family.
She smiled at him all the same, the polite smile she used for the husbands of important women, the same husbands that stared at her for longer then they should.
"Haven't you noticed I'm pregnant Aiden, even I need time off eventually. Besides I wanted to revisit the school, we wish to send our children here when they come of age" she replied giving her twins a quick glance.

Freezer on the other hand had acknowledged Aiden's nod and had nodded back to be polite, but he didn't like the vibe he was getting off of some members of the group. He moved forwards slightly, ready to fend off anyone who felt like taking a stab at Lin, especially Aiden who had noticeably reached for a knife.

"We were hesitant to come, after all Lin is so fragile right now, we didn't want to run into any trouble, but mothers will be mothers. They never know when to rest." Freezer exclaimed with a warm smile his eyes on anyone who looked unhappy about their arrival. He wanted to make it clear that Lin was just a heavily pregnant mum, not the devil coming to snatch up their children for supper.

---

---

Elle shrugged away from her mothers hold and eyed the children and adults present. They were a weird looking bunch, especially the kids with wings. She almost glared at them all with her sharp, golden eyes before deciding she would play with some of the girls. "May I go and play?" she asked silkily, a playful smile preying upon her lips.

Falcon clutched his mother's maxi dress in the balls of his hands when Elle asked to go play. There were a lot of strangers and some of the children looked weird.

---

---

Freezer glanced between the kids, the other parents and Lin. He wasn't sure that was a good idea. "I don't know if that's a good idea baby" he murmured to Elle. Lin frowned at him, she seemed indecisive. She looked at the others.

"Are your children strong?" she asked hesitantly, checking whether they'd be able to withstand an accidental slap or poke from her children without breaking in half.

Amber only smiled as Aiden mentioned that they should take more vacations. It was a good idea, but they would always have to plan around the full moon. She hesitated, though, when she heard another familiar voice. She felt a moment of fear, almost feeling like she was back in high school again. But she forced herself to calm down. Sure, Lin had tried to eat her liver, but that had been so long ago. Years had passef, and things had changed. Maybe Lin had changed, too. So she offered the witch a smile in greeting. She glanced around the children when Lin asked if the others were strong. Aiden asked for her opinion, and she paused a moment to think about it.

They were only kids, really. Maybe she really did just want to play; it was possible she wouldn't act the way her mother had during high school. Besides, only one was full human, and the others would help if he needed it. And it wasn't like they were going to be left unsupervised for very long, if at all. She nodded.

"It's okay with me, as long as everyone's careful not to hurt each other." Lin had thought to ask, so maybe she had changed a lot, for the better. This might be a chance for them all to get along.



Arlayna hesitated as Adrien moved closer to the other boy. She hurriedly moved to catch up, to keep close to him. She glanced over the pair, somewhat curious, but also wary. She didn't know these two. Adrien seemed eager to make friends with them, so it looked like she'd be following them around a bit. She wasn't sure, since they were half vampire, and she knew her mother had had blood taken from het by a vampire in high school. Besides, her dad didn't seem to like the vampire there. Still, if Adrien wanted to play and make friends, she'd follow.

(Sorry if it's short; I'm trying to post from my phone.)

Arabella was about to retort about her kids being plenty strong enough when Shad suddenly stepped up to the plate. Arabella lifted her eyebrows at him, but realized he was probably only standing up for his own children. She looked over at Kage and Cici who were busy talking to Amber and Aiden's twins. Where had Stella gotten off to? That girl had been trouble since she was born.

Turning her gaze back to the Bloodoak witches, she eyed their twins carefully. Twin witches. Definitely a force that shouldn't be reckoned with when they're together. Especially if they're fighting against each other.

"As long as they aren't black goo monsters, Ray should be fine with them," she said, glancing at her son. He was well-mannered and had incredible control, but she knew he could stick up for himself. She wasn't sure how Ash would be able to handle older kids, but she wasn't weak. Just inexperienced.

-------------

Ashton tilted her head at the people her mom was talking to. Black goo? She had never heard of a black goo monster! It sounded silly! And flammable! But those people didn't look like goo. They seemed dark and scary! The yellow eyes and black hair reminded her of Aunt Ana's evil kitty that she wasn't supposed to play with.

She reached up and tugged on her dad's sleeve and beckoned for him to come down so she could whisper in his ear. "Daddy, I don't wike them," she whispered once he was down to her level. "What's a goo monster?"

Adrien gave a small smile at the younger vampire named Cici as she stuck her tongue out at him. As Cici asked to have a taste and stared at him with those puppy eyes. Adrien furrowed his brow in response "I dont think thats a good Idea Adrien said rubbing his head as he felt a little funny it was like two forces fighting inside of him one gently pushing in while another was trying to push its way out. He shook his head softly trying to shake the sensation. His dad had told them to find the harmony between themselves and their beast but Adrein wasn't sure where that place was, or if it was even possible. "Besides Cici isn't monster blood supposed to taste horrible? We are most definitely monsters."

Aiden looked at Shad as he spoke about control and winced a little at the remark himself. But instead of going onto the offensive Aiden just stood there. "Today is suppose to be a happy day so lets make it one. Besides I'm rather interested in what You have all been up to. the last ten years....Even you Lin My sister talks to me but well as you can imagine she lacks perspective at times. How is the coven....How are you two holding up these days?" Aiden asked with a small smile and genuine interest trying to get the conversation away from hostilities. Fact was he had seen real villains over the last ten years. Hunting down artifacts and disposing of them had rossed his path with several unsavory characters who wanted ultimate power.

Amber shook her head. "I just don't think it's a good idea to tell them. Dad can have the same temper Kivan has, you know." Where else would hthat thought off as Demsons attacked his son, to show what he was capable of. As long as he could defend himself, she supposed, it didn't matter too much. Still, she couldn't imagine attacking him to prove a point was the best idea. At the very least, they all knew what the human was capable of.

"Well, it certainly looks like they can all take care of themselves." The small fire the young phoenix created, though, also held her attention. It was expected, she supposed; she was young and hadn't learned to control her power just yet. That wold take more time and practice. But she wasn't the only one, she knew.



Arlayna hesitated, clinging to her brother, as the older girl led them off. Sure, she had wanted an adventure, and yes, it would be a chance to make more friends, but now they were a little outnumbered. At first, it had only been the four of them. Now it was much more, and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted that. But still, she followed without much fuss, glancing around as they went. She had to be able to remember how to get back to her parents, if she needed to, right? At the very least, she supposed, she wasn't going to be on her own. And it would be a new place to explore; that didn't happen often. She hesitated when another asked where they were going; the boy that had been talking to them.

"...I want to know...where we're going, too...and...how far is it?" she asked, hesitantly.