Unicorn Academy - Honorary Siblings

Chapter 18 - Halloween Hallucinations

October 31, 2023

Valentina - "Talulah, I'm so excited for you! Did you find a costume yet?"

Talulah - "Not yet, Val. Rory and I have been...busy with...uh—"

Rory - "A secret mission! Yes, a top secret mission that can only be completed by the most amazing and iconic sibling pairing known to mankind!"

Sophia - "...Right. Well, maybe you could think of a theme for your costume. It might make things easier to decide."

Talulah - "Hmm...I guess I've always been interested in birds...Maybe something like that? Wait, never mind, that sounds stupid out loud."

Isabel - "Why would it be stupid?"

Talulah - "It's just...A bird costume isn't really something my parents would want me wearing. Heavens forbid that their daughter wore something other than a tailored gown."

Valentina - "Well, your parents won't be here to see you wearing it, so it's not like they can stop you. Besides, I think you'd look amazing in a bird costume! I'm partial to phoenixes, but you'll look good no matter what you wear!"

Talulah - "...There is one bird I really like...But the story behind it is a little...complicated."

Ava - "I'm sure whatever it is, it's as adorable and amazing as you, Talulah!"

Talulah - "Hahaha, thanks, Ava!...My ancestor, Sylvia Prescott, discovered a baby crow outside her bedroom window. He was missing a good chunk of his feathers, and could barely stand on his own. Joseph Fairchild, my great-great-grandfather, made prosthetic wings for him, and Sylvia took care of him since. His wings, while they couldn't help him fly like a normal bird, were made of feathers that my grandfather spent days collecting. Sylvia's journal describes him as a bird with majestic colored wings, and the two became close after Joseph had to return to Eqeoneian to continue his training. When Joseph proposed to Sylvia in their mid-twenties, he trained the bird to fly and give her the ring. On the day they got married, Joseph declared the crow to be the new mascot for Eqeoneian."

Valentina - "...That. Is. Adorable!"

Sophia - "Who knew a bird could have such an impact on history!"

Rory - "..."

Isabel - "...Rory? Are you crying?"

Rory - "W-What?! No! I'm not crying! I just—I just got some dust in my eyes! From the old costumes!"

Ava - "Well, I'm crying! That's so romantic and wholesome!"

Rory kept denying the tears in his eyes, while Ava gushed to Talulah about how cute she thought the story was. Amused by her reaction, Talulah promises to tell Ava more about her ancestors' romantic past, Layla eagerly asking to join so she can learn more about Eqeoneian. With her costume figured out, Talulah and the riders spend a good hour looking for supplies to make her costume, when a figure in the mirror next to Talulah makes her jump back and yell in shock.

Valentina - "What's wrong?!"

Layla - "What happened?!"

Talulah - "It's—It's nothing! I just...thought I saw something, that's it! But, uh, Rory? I need to talk to you about something very important! In the other room!"

Rory - "You got it, Sis!"

Sophia - "Wait, what did you—?"

Talulah and Rory run out of the room before Sophia could finish her sentence, and the riders look at the door in confusion. On the other side of the door, Talulah's holding onto Rory to catch her breath, while the latter stands there in a panic. As Talulah explains what she saw, Rory's face shows nothing but horror.