.......................

Arcane: Wait......you're my Aunt?

???: *nods* I...am Akara...sister to your mother, Jamella.

Arcane: *his ears droop* Chaos......this is becoming so confusing. Finding out that I had killed my eldest brother and that my older brother is out there on the loose.

Akara: Brothers?

Arcane: Yeah...I killed Klauss, my eldest brother.

Akara: Ah...Klauss and Jhericho...

Arcane: So you know them...

Akara: Yes. Before you were born into the world, your mother had told me of her plan to make sure that you would never become like your brothers today. So she ran from your father and came to an outlying hospital, where I saw you come out into the world...

Arcane: So that was when my mother and you devised a plan to make sure that I was given a second chance...to become who I am today.

Akara: Exactly...and I'm glad you're here, actually.

Arcane: Why's that?

Akara: Well, there's a little girl that's going through what you've gone through...I was wondering if you could see her.

Arcane: I'll see that I do...where is she?

Akara: Come...*she leads Arcane down a hallway, opens a door, and shows him the way*

Arcane: *enters the room and sees a small ferret in a corner, shaking with fear. He kneels and softly smiles* Hey...*softly speaking, while putting an arm forward*

???: *she closes her eyes and buries her head deeper, still shaking*

Arcane: *puts his arm back and notices the bruises and cuts she's suffered* You weren't kidding, Aunt Akara...who would do this to her? It's......unforgivable.

???: *slowly raises her head*

Akara: Yes, it is...this is why I wanted you to see her, since you've experienced this before.

Arcane: I can see why...*he places the mechanical arm on her shoulder gently* I'm not gonna hurt you...I promise.

???: *she wipes away her tears, as new ones begin to flow* But......I-I thought...

Arcane: Shhhhh...*he hugs the ferret gently*...It's okay......I can take you away from all of this......but only if you're willing.

???: *her gaze widens, as she hears what seemed like a sanctuary call*

Akara: *smiles*

???: You......you really mean it?

Arcane: Of course...*he softly smiles*

???: *she smiles a little and feels a weight being lifted from her* Th-Thank you...so much.

Arcane: You're welcome...Aunt Akara, does she have a name?

Akara: Yes. Her name is Crystal.

Arcane: I see...*turns to Crystal* Well, then...would you like to meet very nice people, like me?

Crystal: Y-Yes sir...

Arcane: Okay...*he puts his mechanical arm forward*...Come with me.

Crystal: *she hugs Arcane and smiles brightly*

Arcane: *he smiles and a tear goes down his cheek*

Akara: Thank you for taking Crystal with you, Arloc...you've become her guardian angel.

Arcane: A guardian angel......I like that. C'mon Crystal...your family awaits.

Crystal: *stands up and holds his hand, smiling*

*As the three begin to head back to the gate, Crystal looks back and sees a few boys looking at her. One of the boys picks up a rock and throws it at her, causing her to squeak*

Arcane: *?!* *sees the rock and catches it. He spots a few of the boys and crushes the rock, causing them to run very quickly* Are you alright, Crystal?

Crystal: *she opens her eyes and sees Arcane smiling at her* Mmhmm...*she nods*

Akara: One more thing, Arcane...can you...get rid of the collar, please?

Arcane: Of course! *grabs the collar around his Aunt's arm and breaks the lock that bond it together. He tosses it into the air and it explodes*

Akara: Thank you, Arloc...I can see that Ryan and Felicia have raised you well...give them my regards when you see them.

Arcane: Thank you, Aunt Akara...*both him and Crystal exit the orphanage*

Crystal: Woooooow...*she looks all around, seeing the snow on the mountains and the plateaus, filled with flowers*

Arcane: *smiles* Up you go. *he picks her up and places Crystal on his shoulder*

Crystal: *giggles as she sees everything from a higher view*

Arcane: Are you ready to meet your mother?

Crystal: *nods and hugs his head*

Arcane: *he softly smiles and walks all the way back to the village, traversing up the mountain road*

Arcane!

Arcane: *turns around and sees Isaac* Hey!

Isaac: You've returned. Welcome home...and I see that you've adopted a little girl.

Arcane: Yup...this is Crystal. *he lets Crystal climb down*

Isaac: A pleasure to meet you, little lady.

Crystal: Th-Thank you sir...

Arcane: She went through what I have.

Isaac: Oh...*kneels to Crystal's height*...your dad will treat you with love...always remember that.

Crystal: *smiles as she hugs Arcane's leg*

Arcane: Awww...*smiles softly*

Isaac: Well, I'd better get back to work...see you later, Arcane!

Arcane: Right back at you, Isaac!

Crystal: *takes Arcane's mechanical hand and follows him*

Arcane: Well...here we are. *opens the door slowly*...Come on in...

Crystal: *slowly enters the house and sits on the couch, feeling very nervous*

Arcane: Mother! I'm home!

Felicia: *comes downstairs and sees Arcane. She smiles and hugs* Welcome home...

Arcane: Thank you...mother, I'd like you to meet someone...

Felicia: Who?

Arcane: *shows a hand to Crystal, in which she walks to them slowly*

Felicia: Aaaaawwwwwww...*picks her up gently* You're so adorable...

Crystal: *giggles* Thank you...

Arcane: Is Jasmine here? I want to show her our new daughter.

Felicia: *!* You adopted this little angel?

Arcane: *nods* She went through what I did...and how could I say no?

Felicia:...*puts Crystal down and smiles at Arcane*...That's my son...*ruffles up his fur*

Arcane: Ah...hey! *smiles as he fixes the fur* Anyway, where is she?

Felicia: She's upstairs.

Arcane: Okay. *He dashes upstairs, with Crystal following, and sees her reading a book* Honey...?

Jasmine: *!* *looks up* Arcane...*she stands up and kisses him* Welcome back.

Arcane: Thank you. I'd like you to meet someone.

Jasmine: *?*

Arcane: Our daughter...

Crystal: *she slowly walks to Jasmine, as she kneels*...

Jasmine: Aawww...such a beautiful little girl...*she hugs Crystal*

Crystal:...*she hugs back and has a tear roll down her cheek, seeing that her new father had kept his promise to the very end*

END OF CHAPTER 42