Fairy Dust

Who knew mushrooms could do so much?

Doxod had given Mirth, Zennick and Sparkletouch a lift to the Junk Yard in repurposed taxi. The wheels had been hard to add, but otherwise it looked similar to a normal taxi, though they'd replaced the green and white paint with red and black.

Sparkletouch as usual had insisted coming, and Mirth and Zennick had stayed quiet the whole ride not willing to prepare Sparkletouch for what she was going to see. On Mirth's side it was malicious, a shock for her to see what Mirth lived with. And on Zennick's side, he just didn't know how to start the conversation; hey, you know that woman you're friends with? Well, most of the time she's Hollow and can barely talk let alone feed herself. Seeing is believing? He thought to himself awkwardly.

The four of them drove into the junkyard and alighted quietly. Even after that moment, Mirth wanted to be close to Zennick. They didn't want to think about the betrayal they felt about him knowing about Aurora. That wasn't important right now. He would support them as he always had, that was important, and no angry mood was going to kick Zennick out of his opportunity to see Aurora either. That's just selfish.

The two led the others through the junkyard. Sander wasn't in the workshop so they went straight to the back room.

She was doing dishes like she never did. Mirth and Zennick caught her down cast eyes and frown through the window and saw it transform into teary smiles as they came into view.

She ran through the door still off it's hinges from days ago, and threw herself at Mirth, bringing Zennick in for a tight hug as well.

'We thought you might've died! Or Hollow. And then that woman,' Sander looked up and saw Sparkletouch standing awkwardly behind them waving and Sander's eyes went wide, 'that woman! said you were ok but they all left and came back without you. I thought I'd never see you again. I thought you were going to be in that Underworld or whatever for ever and my only child was gone. Mirth, my Mirth! I couldn't stand it! We thought we'd lost you!' Sander wept on Mirth, pulling them tight. 'And Zennick wouldn't go and took such good care of us! You were amazing, Zennick. Thank you. And now you've bought Mirth home. Thank you! Thank you!'

Sander, gruff Sander who never said I love you, openly wept on them, pulling them as tight as she could, their breath force out of their bodies. Mirth, overcome by the uncharacteristic outpouring, wept with Sander. Because nothing was fixed, but they were so loved. They never doubted it, but they hadn't had time to mourn either.

'Mirth?' A whispy voice said from the door.

All five looked around and saw Aurora.

'Aurora? Are you ok? You don't look ok?' Sparkletouch said, moving forward, her hands outstretched to take the shorter woman in.

'She doesn't know,' Zennick whispered to Sander and Mirth.

'Know what?' Sparkletouch said unnecessarily loudly. 'Know that Aurora uses drugs? Yes, I know that. Did she go on a bender or something?'

'When did you know? You didn't know before?' Zennick replied, surprised, pulling away and going to Sparkletouch before she reached Aurora.

Aurora only looked at the group with empty eyes.

'I... figured it out,' Sparkeltouch let herself be stopped my Zennick, confused and lost. 'I mean, I didn't really. I was just saying it because I didn't want to look dumb. It seems like everyone knew.'

Mirth pulled Sander closer to the house. 'I didn't know. I had no idea. I still don't really get what's going on. This is the mum I know. This is how she's been for 7 years. I have no idea how she met you or ended up in parties in the Canopy. I don't really want to know until she tells me.'