Chapter One

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Claus and Lucas ran into their new home. It wasn't anything like the cabins they had back in Tazmily, but it sure was better than sleeping in the tents they had to manage in while searching for the nearest city. 

Lucas was ecstatic, running around the place and jumping around, "Finally! Actual beds! An actual stove! You know what that means, Claus? We can have omelettes again! We can have mom's cooking again!"

Hinawa gave Lucas a soft smile, "It's nice to see you so happy again, Lucas. You've looked so somber these past few days with us walking all around the place."

"It was a bit scary, there were so many wild animals around." Lucas sprawled out on the floor, laying on the carpet. Claus walked over and sat next to him, grinning ear to ear. As much as he didn't say it, he was glad to have his family back.

Their mother gave them both a laugh, moving over to ruffle their heads, "Well, I'm glad you're both happy. I'm glad I also have three strong boys to protect me from all those wild animals! I never knew my little Lucas grew to be so strong." 

Lucas frowned a bit, glancing at Claus, then put on a smile, "I won't have to worry about having to become stronger anymore though... we're all together again." 

Flint trudged into the house, carrying the payload and grunting as he set everything down. There wasn't much, except for a few tents and some food they had collected on their short voyage to the city of April. Boney ran in after them, barking and licking both Lucas and Claus on the face.

"I missed you too boy!" laughed Claus, hugging the dog firmly. It was true, he didn't remember when he had last been able to pet or even hug Boney like this since he was a little puppy.

"Let's get settled in boys, okay? And then you two can go explore the city. Maybe you can make friends too. I heard they have a school here, wouldn't it be fun to attend and meet kids your age?" Hinawa stood up, offering Flint a helping hand as she spoke to her children. 

Lucas picked Boney up (to the best of his capability) and nodded, running up the stairs to check out the rooms while Claus followed. "A school sounds fun, right Claus? It'll be cool to meet kids like us!"

"Like us, Lucas?" Claus laughed a bit, "It sounds nice, to have friends, but I'm nervous. There's nobody like me."

Lucas set down Boney, who whined a bit, then turned to look at him, "I'm like you, Claus. I'm your twin brother, remember? Plus, who cares if you're... modified. You're still you. What I mean is, kids that like to play and have fun doing fun stuff, okay?"

The ginger nodded slowly, nervously fiddling with his right arm, "Do you think I could bring gloves or something? Would I look weird for wearing them?"

"Maybe you could say you have like.. a scary genetic mutation.. or you seriously injured your hand in a freak accident!" Lucas waved his arms around in a display of pure exaggeration. Claus gave him a look of disapproval and it was returned with a shrug, "Just a suggestion."

Claus opened the door to one of the rooms, "Let's just... figure it out later. Is this room fine? Do you think we can share bunk beds again? It was fun, but maybe we're too old for that." 

"I don't mind it, just as long as you don't mind if Boney sleeps in our room too! It was so sad to see him sleep outside." The mutt barked in agreement.

"Sure, sure, we can buy him a little doggie bed." Claus patted Boney on the head, "I call top bunk! Let's tell mom and dad, oh, and do you smell that?"

Both Lucas and Claus stood still for a moment, smelling the air. Smells like omelettes. Even Boney was excited by this, with all three of them rushing back down the stairs and fumbling towards the kitchen to clamber around and sit down. Boney sat down patiently near his food bowl, wagging his tail as the smell of eggs grew stronger.

This new life truly was a tiny, enormous miracle, Claus thought to himself.



Ninten ran out of his house, waving to Mimmie and Minnie, "I'll see you two later for your dance recital, hope it goes well! Tell mom I'm gonna hang out with Ness!" His twin sisters waved him away in response.

Today was a bright day in May, Ninten ran through the streets, suddenly remembered that he now had a new opponent: cars, and shifted to running on the sidewalks instead. It was summer, which means school wouldn't be in season for a while. He promised to play baseball with Ness today just until his twin sisters dance recital started.

His parents would knock him on the head if he missed his sisters' dance recital.

He popped into the treehouse that Ness had apparently built before the time-shift, and waved at the similar-looking boy already sitting inside. Ness grinned and gave him a heads-up before jumping down to greet him.

Ninten recalls the day they had met, and why they became friends: it was a few days after his father finally let them out of the basement. The time-shift seemed to be safe, and cities were being renamed. While exploring the cross between Podunk and whatever Onett was, May, he met Ness. They looked exactly alike, almost like twins. Ness was taller, a little chubbier, and had lighter hair, but they both loved to play baseball and they became best friends immediately.

It was that same reason now that they were hanging out today: Ninten pitched a ball and Ness hit it with his bat, watching it fly as Ninten chased it down, "Another good bird, Ness! You should join a league someday!"

"Would be nice, but no way in a million years am I joining a league named the May Flies, hahaha!" Ness grinned, leaning on the bat while Ninten rushed back.

"So you think the Soaring Rabbits is better, huh?" he gave Ness an ogled look.

Ness pointed his bat towards the smaller boy, faking a threatening manner, "You leave the Soaring Rabbits alone, Ninten!"

"You're just saying that cause your girlfriend lives in April."

"Paula is not my girlfriend!"

"Not yet."

"Not yet..." Ness rolled his eyes.

"When are you going to ask her out? You guys both already know you like each other!" Ninten passed him the ball, a little forcefully. Ness dropped the bat and slapped the ball to the floor, waving his hand in the air to quickly relieve the pain.

"Soon, maybe, I don't know, it's hard, we live in different cities, you know?" 

"Different cities that, you know, are really close and, you know, are connected to trains now, you know?" Ninten mocked him.

"When are you gonna find someone?" Ness threw the ball at him. Ninten tried to catch it but missed, getting smacked in the face.

"I dunno, I mean, Ana is cute and all, but she's just a friend. Pippi is sweet too, but she's kind of annoying and talks too much." Ninten laid onto the grass, kicking it back and relaxing, "Who cares? Maybe I'll find someone, maybe I wont!"

"That's just sad, Ninten. That's sad talk." 

Ninten shrugged, "Up for some more ball? Lets get a few more pitches in before my sisters' recital."

Ness grabbed the ball off the floor, juggling it in his palm, "Sure, you swing, I'll throw."

"Ready when you are, buddy!"

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