The Aeronaut's Daughter

The Welcome Celebration

Evening everyone. I'm sorry this chapter didn't come sooner. This week has been so busy. But it is here now. And I'm finishing Episode 8 and the book this weekend. Enjoy the chapter.

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"Pan?" Lyra woke up, gently pushing her sister's wing off. The children had lain down next to each other. After stepping through the window and travelling a long while, they rested and fell asleep. Close by, Mulefas and riders stood guard while some had rolled off to search for the missing daemons and baby Roger.

Lyra realised how dirty she still was and decided it was time to get wet. She walked quietly down to the river, pulled off her trousers and jumper and fell backwards into the lush, cool water. She wiped her face and swam about.

"About time you washed," spooked a voice. Lyra turned to see (M/C) sitting on a rock with his feet in the water, smirking at her. "You smelled really bad,".

"You smell worse," Lyra teased, earning a chuckle back.

"Nice to see you two up," (Y/N) had pulled off her clothes, leaving her in her white top and pants, and before Lyra could react, she flapped her wings, and she was blown back into the water. (M/C) laughed. Lyra stood up and spat it out. Her sister laughed, and so did she.

"Still no sign of the daemons," Will came over and sat next to (M/C).

"Are you alright?". (Y/N) asked.

"I'm not sure. After everything we've been through, and now we're here..." Will glanced at the forests on the cliffs. "It doesn't seem real,".

"Except it is," (M/C) stood up and gazed at the colourful landscape of his homework. "I just can't believe it. After all this, and I'm finally in the world where I'm from,".

"And soon we'll be at your home village," (Y/N) smiled. She noticed her sister looking a little down. "Lyra, are you okay?".

"I don't know," Lyra confessed, avoiding eye contact with them.. "I want to be relieved but... There are so many things I don't understand about my birth parents,".

"Like what?" Will asked

"Like, why they weren't honest with me. Why they did such horrible things,". As she spoke, (Y/N) recalled every terrible thing they did from Coulter kidnapping children and her to Asriel killing Roger. "Why was she interested in me for thirteen years, and then suddenly she was? Why did they abandon me in the first place?" Her voice broken. "When I thought Asriel was my uncle, I idolised him, and then I hated him. I can never forgive him but .... I don't know how to hate him,".

"He saved us all," (M/C) said solemnly. "Both of them did. I guess they just wanted to show you that they did care about you after all,".

"He helped us win the war. And we get to be here," Will said, smiling a bit.

"And we're all together," (Y/N) smiled too. "And I wouldn't have it any other way,".

Will swiped his hand and splashed at her. "Will!".

Will stood up on the rock, pulled off his shirt and dove in. Then (M/C) took off his shirt and dived in too. The children played around the water, splashing each other. Then Lyra, Will and (M/C) each took turns clinging onto (Y/N)'s leg so she could pull them over the water with her wings.

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Standing on the cliff, Melaine, Damian, and Arthur watched the children play. "See how happily they play together?" the angel smiled.