Daughter of Compassion, Son of Friendship

The First Step

The place was upturned. That was the only word for it.

"What the MEOW happened here?!" Winslow picked up a bucket and stared into it.

"Meow...?" Reuben and Benedict chorused.

"Cat for something Cassie doesn't let me say." Winslow sniggered.

"Of course..." Reuben sighed.

"Maybe the White Pumpkin was here earlier... searching for us..." Benedict mused.

"Well, at least no-one was hurt-"

A small groan echoed through the temple.

Winslow saw a blue boot sticking out of some rubble.

"Holy crap there's someone here!" he did a double take and began scrabbling at the debris.

He pulled away a piece of cobblestone and stared.

A girl around his age was lying there. She had silvery white hair with a blue ribbon at the back. Her outfit was a blue winter dress and a white mink coat, leg warmers, and blue mittens to match the boots.

She must have been boiling in this summer weather!

Winslow gently pushed some hair out of her face. She was pretty. A delicate small white snowflake symbol was on her forehead. Winslow was so taken. She was like a snow princess.

"Woah..."

"Huh?" her eyes opened.

"AHH." Winslow jumped back a bit.

Reuben and Benedict turned their heads his direction.

"Uhh... what's up...?" Reuben didn't see the girl.

Winslow didn't say anything.

The girl sat up and looked at him up and down. "Who are you?"

"I-I'm W-Wins-slow..." the cat boy stuttered.

"Well then W-Wins-slow..." the girl chuckled. "What happened? Why am I on the ground?"

"I don't know... uhh..." Winslow's mind was going blank for some reason.

"Winslow? Who is this?" Benedict raised her eyebrows.

"The name's Silver Bells." the girl stood up. "Some weirdo pumpkin guy just barged in while I was getting my barings and just wrecked everything like he was TRIGGERED!" she yelled the last part.

"Where did you come from? Why are you in this temple?" Reuben stared at the mark on her forehead.

"... I... uhh... hang on..." Silver Bells thought for a moment.

"You don't remember, do you..." Benedict rolled her eyes. Typical something like this would happen...

"I got nothin'..."

"Well-"

"Maybe you can come with us and we can help you get back! We are heroes, after all!" Winslow cut Reuben off, smiling wide.

"Really?" Silver Bells looked at him, arms folded and one eyebrow raised as if to say Seriously? These guys?

Benedict whispered in Reuben's ear.

"I'm not a hero and Winslow isn't either..."

"Well we can't tell her that... she's lost..." Reuben hissed back.

"So. You in?" Winslow jumped a little excitedly.

"Uhh... sure... why not? It's not like I'm just going with the first batch of strangers who pull me out of rubble..." she said sarcastically. "But I have no other options..."

"... great!" Winslow grabbed her arm and bounced along. "This way to the portal network!"

Reuben and Benedict exchanged glances and followed.

"So... where is and what is this 'portal network'?" Silver Bells blinked.

"Well, it's a hall of portals to other worlds. My parents and their friends went adventuring in them!" Reuben smiled. He remembered the stories his mother told him when she returned.

"Mom! Dad! I was so worried! What happened?"

"Aww Reuben don't cry... it's alright. We're back!"

"And Jesse has a lot to tell you..."

"Am I getting a new sibling?!"

"Er... no. Not yet, at least. We'll tell you all about it!"

"Come on Reuben. The portals are just up ahead." Benedict flashed a small smile. She could tell he was reminiscing.

"Uhh... sure!" Reuben hid a small blush. Badly.

"So... a giant egg..." Silver Bells blinked at the first portal.

"Well, this portal is to Sky City. It's now known as Earth City. But that's a story for another day..." Benedict took out a flint and steel.

"Wait. Where did you get that?" Winslow enquired.

"I... borrowed it... from Isa."

"You mean you stole it."

Winslow received a death glare.

"It's OK. Just light it." Reuben tried to ease the tension.

Benedict started to doubt if this was such a good idea. She had never broken rules before! What if Isa got angry? What if she hated her?!

No. You can't think like that. It's to help Isa, after all.

She sparked the flint and steel. The portal lit.

"Come on everyone. Time to be heroes..." Reuben stepped into the blue light.

"Ladies first..." Winslow smiled nervously at Silver Bells.

The girl gave him a weird look then stepped in.
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