Sparkle (KOTLC) {Completed}

15

As they waited for Amy/Natalie to be brought over to Havenfield, the group made their way outside and Janessa lingered behind, standing at the door nervously. Sophie was the one who was Amy's sister, not her, so Sophie should be able to see her without interference.

"Hey."

Janessa flinched at the sudden sound, tensing her shoulders. Dex put a hand on her shoulder and the usual warm emotions she couldn't pick apart came over her. For once, though, she could distinctly feel his concern mixed in with the others.

"Hey." Janessa replied softly.

"You ok?" Dex asked, waves of concern flowing through him.

"Mmhmm." Janessa hummed unconvincingly, nodding without making eye contact. In the corner of her eye, she saw Amy arrive with Physic and look around in awe.

Dex moved in front of her with his hands on her shoulders until she finally looked up at him, realizing for the first time just how much he'd grown since before she was kidnapped. He was probably Keefe's height by now. "Don't hold it in. I'm here for you, right?" Janessa nodded again. "I'm not leaving until you're not so anxious, ok?"

"Thanks, Dex." 

"Do you wanna tell me what's wrong?" He asked, still holding eye contact.

"I..." Janessa trailed off for a second, staring at Natalie who looked so happy. "How can I deserve to talk to her again? He took her parents. Sophie's parents too. Natalie looks so happy. I'll just ruin it. They should stick together. I'm the odd one out, and I should be."

"Stop being stupid." Janessa's eyes widened and her breath caught. Dex had never insulted her before. His warm, indecipherable emotions turned hard and... hurt? Somehow, she could read everything clearly. "I'm really trying to be supportive and give you time, but, acting like this, distancing yourself, it's not good for you. It's just hurting everyone else more. We all care about you and want you to be happy. That's how you'll make us happy, not by running away and hiding again. We're your friends." 

He's right. She was hiding. She was always hiding and running away. Glimmer said it too, but Janessa just ignored it. "You can't use that as an excuse forever."  

They were all right. She had cut herself off from her friends telling herself she was protecting them, but then, why were Dex's emotions suddenly so raw and painful?

"I'm..." Janessa started to say, frowning. Dex pulled his hands back, looking away to hide the expression on his face.

As he stepped back, Janessa opened her mouth to speak again, but she was interrupted by another voice. 

"Janessa?!" Natalie was staring at her in shock, mouth hanging open, before a grin spread across her face. She sprinted over to the white-haired girl and launched herself at her in a hug. Janessa froze in place, conflicted from Dex's comments as she hesitantly wrapped her arms around the younger girl. Biana gazed at her, asking if she was ok with her eyes, and Janessa nodded back hesitantly.

Natalie pulled away and stared at Janessa some more. "What happened to your face?"

Janessa managed to smile at the girl. "I was attacked by an ogre. It's ok though."

"It looks badass! More importantly, you're one of them? Since when?" Natalie's mood dropped to something more serious as she stared at the elf girl.

"I've always been. I'm actually Sophie's twin sister, but we never met until last year." Janessa explained briefly. "I was supposed to watch over you guys actually, but after my injuries, someone else took over."

Amy frowned. "Does that mean... you only hung out with me cuz it was your job?"

Janessa got a puzzled look on her face, never having considered the idea. "Of course not, I wasn't supposed to interact with you guys, I chose to cuz I like you."

Amy grinned, a realization filling her eyes. "Hey, does this mean you're actually my sister too? Since you're Sophie's twin?"

Wonder filled Janessa's face at the idea that Natalie would want her as a sister. "I mean, we don't share DNA, but I guess the same mom gave birth to us technically. So yeah, if you want."

Amy hugged Janessa tightly again. "That's so cool!"

Looking over, Janessa was smiling until she saw Sophie's upset and jealous face. Of course she wouldn't want Amy to care about Janessa. Janessa's smile died.

"Do you live here too? It's so... woah." 

Janessa pondered the question for a second. "I mean, I've been staying here for about a week but I'm pretty sure it's just a temporary thing."

"Does that mean you could stay with me? Since this is just temporary?" Amy asked hopefully.

Janessa looked over at Physic, who nodded gladly, then Sophie who had a look of pure betrayal on her face as she stared between her two sisters. "Sure, if you really want me to." Looking at Dex, who still had a frown on his face and crossed arms from before, Janessa forced herself to add, "But, Sophie would definitely have to come have sleepovers with us and we could have sister nights."

Amy paused for a moment, before a shy smile came over her face as she looked over at the oldest sister. "That'd be fun, yeah."

Sophie's face lit up and her previous sour expression brightened to one of gratitude and relief aimed towards the white-haired girl, who felt her own shaky relief.

Sophie approached the two of them, smiling. "I look forward to it. That would be really fun." Amy grinned in reply, most of her shyness fading. "Now, do you wanna continue your tour?"

Amy nodded enthusiastically and the three sisters started to make their way around the grounds, the oldest pointing landmarks and creatures out to the younger ones who held hands. When Janessa noticed the sadness lurking in Amy's emotions, they all sat down together to comfort the youngest about her missing family; Sophie even went so far as to bring the alicorns to visit and let Amy ride Silveny, the female.

At the end of the day, the younger girls hugged Sophie goodbye to return Amy to Atlantis, with Janessa tagging along. Janessa wanted to go talk to Dex, but Physic and Amy were waiting for her with a lightleaper ready. She hesitated for a minute before Amy called her over and she vowed to make sure to talk to him properly the next day. She wouldn't hide.