Legend of the Seven Lights

43. Real Friends

Caesar Cipher!

Chapter 43: Real Friends

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

"I really wish Mikaela didn't get you in the habit of calling me 'Aunt.'" Morgan said.

"Good point." Sunni glared at her. "You don't deserve it after what you did to your nephew."

"I was in the middle of an important operation." Morgan argued without changing her moderate voice. "If his parents won't make an effort to control their son, then I have to."

"You tried to kill him!" Sunni shouted. "Is that how your side of the family disciplines children?" Oh, wait, I'm talking to Father's biological daughter.

"You don't have any qualms of trying to kill your mother."

"That's totally different!!" Sunni steamed red. "That's a matter of personal growth, symbolism, thing... Look, what are you doing here, anyway?"

"She's here to pay our mortgage." An old woman's voice said. Morgan stepped aside as Madame Foster came down the stairs. She was shorter than Sunni, with white hair in a large bun, a green overshirt, yellow shirt, glasses, purple skirt, and a cane. "Hello, Morgan Dear. Will you be taking an Extremeasaur today?" She smiled politely, but Sunni noticed the look of resent.

"Hmm... maybe. I'd like to look around, though. We need some extra help around the base."

"Certainly, Dear. Take all the time you need." Madame Foster moved aside as Morgan went up the foyer stairs. Another gang of Anti Guys stared at Sunni before following their master.

After she was gone, Sunni approached Madame Foster and sat before the short woman, "She pays your mortgage?"

"She's the only benefactor that was willing to offer." Foster frowned regretfully. "After Mr. Herriman was killed by a Werehog 10 years ago. Lady Morgan has been a regular visitor before then, ever since she left her Imaginary siblings here. Those four are a delightful bunch, I tell you what." She made a smile. "And we are so grateful to her. It's nice to be friends with the Head of the Corporate Presidents."

"I dunno, I seen that look on your face, you got a problem with her." Sunni's eyes narrowed.

Madame Foster sighed. "In return, Lady Morgan wishes to make contracts with Imaginary Friends. Preferably the Extremeasaurs. Those are the very monstrous kind. But as a request, Lady Morgan wants those Friends to have more freedom. So naturally, the other Friends get terrorized."

"I'm sorry to hear that. But what is this 'contract' thing, anyway?"

She turned to Sunni, "Well, I don't know if you know about psychicbenders, but certain kinds of people with powers come in here to make 'contracts' with the Friends. They can use their powers to summon the Imaginary Friends to their side for whatever chore they had in mind. Lady Morgan and some psychics use their Friends to fight for them."

"That's pretty cruel. And you let her get away with that?"

"Oh, it's not cruel at all, Dear!" Madame Foster proclaimed bubbly. "You'd be surprised how well some of our Friends fight! Besides, it's good for their health. Since their Creators have long abandoned them, they need the psychic energy to stay alive. And by warping Friends to their locations, the benders are giving them their energy. Plus, when that happens, they aren't as hungry for dinner, and Lord knows we need extra hands in cooking."

"I'm trying the best I can, ya know!" Handy walked by and yelled. He was a large, brown glove with a face.

"I wasn't talking about you, Handy! Anyway," Foster faced Sunni again, "forgive me. You must be here to adopt a Friend. What's your name, Dearie?"