Legend of the Seven Lights

B-32. Mother?

This chapter kind of corresponds with Chapter 74, regarding some inter-connecting events.

Chapter B-32: Mother?

Climbers House; Facilier's Emporium

Five days had passed since Wendy spoke with her father. While Vaati was attending to business with the White Lotus, Dr. Facilier resumed giving Wendy magic lessons. Holding a blue rubber ball in hand, Wendy focused her power and thoughts and cast Transfiguro on the ball. It morphed into a blue toad. "Only thing wrong is the color." Wendy said. "Hey Carla, maybe if I get good at this, I can turn you into a human like me!"

"It's any Familiar's honor to be their master's guinea pig." Carla remarked.

"Heh heh." Wendy blushed. "...Is your wing feeling better?"

Carla flapped both wings and lifted off the floor. "I think I'm alright. I suppose I owe Lapis my thanks. Still, I believe the more pressing concern was that display in the sky."

"I'm worried about that, too. I wish my dad would come back soon."

"Wendy, why on Earth do you want to join the Revolutionaries? You haven't even started your first year at school, you're far too young to be a war hero."

"I wasn't sure about it at first, but if my dad thinks it's best for me, maybe I should trust him. Besides, he said that I would be helping the Kids Next Door this way."

"I see. But I have to wonder what your father would have said if you refused?"

"If she did not, it wouldn't change the fact she is my daughter." Carla gasped when Vaati seemed to appear out of thin air.

"DAD!" Wendy jumped up and hugged him.

"WHERE did you come from?!" Carla shouted. "Mr. Facilier said no one could Apparate in here!"

"We Minish tend to be very stealthy." Vaati smirked. He patted his daughter's head and said, "Moving on, whether she is a White Lotus or not, I planned to teach Wendy what I know and help her become stronger. You may not think highly of me, Cat, but don't forget who enrolled Wendy into Hogwarts."

"I've been meaning to ask about that." Wendy said. "Dad, if you're a wanted criminal, how did you get them to accept me?"

"That's one of the beautiful things about that school: they don't care about a person's origin, as long as a body is brimming with magical potential, they will take it. Once they see what you can provide for them, they won't regret their decision." Vaati smiled with confidence for his daughter. "But there is still more to prepare until that day. As a future member of the Revolutionaries, I want to give you a mission."

"Absolutely! What's the mission about?"

"In Las Vegas, there is a casino called Casinopolis. It's a massive casino that draws in even the most modest of men. My spies have done recon on the facility, and have realized there is mind-control in the works. The casino lights manipulate the customers into gambling away all their savings, and it all goes to the wealthy nobles. I was never a fan of casinos, but this makes me hate them more. I would like you to find the source of the mind-control and destroy it."

"You can count on me." Wendy nodded seriously. "But, if it's okay... I want to take Carla with me. It wouldn't feel right doing a mission without her."

"Hmm... Very well." Vaati frowned slightly. "Then it's a good thing I acquired two of these." He pulled out sunglasses from his cloak. "The casino employees wear these to keep from being affected by the lights. Wear them and you'll be safe."