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Mia runs her hand through Johnny's mane, trying to soothe herself. Her fingers feel a little numb and shaky. She left Raynor and Mayla hiding down in the basement, going through her routine with a lump in her throat. She doesn't know if that's because she’s worried her grandpa will catch them or because they're here at all, probably a hyper specific mix of both, one she doesn't want to dissect.
Mario's gone, so she can’t use him for support. Maybe if she had told him the whole truth and nothing but the truth about her emotional turmoil, he would've stayed, but he's not overly interested in the strange magical shenanigans, and she didn't feel like speaking up. Not like he could've done much, other than distract her, which might've been comforting but inconvenient. He'd be one more person to protect if this goes awry. It's only then she remembers promised her friends a Skype call earlier.
She drags her feet up the stairs, hoping team terrific will be of assistance, if she can work up the motivation to tell them. Mia joins the call, the rest of the group already there.
"Hi guys."
"Hi." The other three members state simultaneously, drawing a smile out of her.
"What were you talking about?" She questions, seeing the disturbed expression on Paula's face. Violetta smirks like the redeemed agent of chaos that she is.
"Violetta thinks the evil dark elf guys sound gay." Vincent shudders in an exaggerated manner. There's a beat of silence, Mia's face goes through the five stages of grief before she bursts out in nervous, perturbed laughter. As if the day couldn't get stranger.
Violetta starts defending her point again, much to Paula's dismay as she covers her ears. Mia's almost breathless, in sheer disbelief. Violetta just keeps on rambling like it’s all some girl talk at school, stating that there’s just so many times a guy can call someone master before it gets weird.
"Ok, but," Vincent joins in on the nonsense. "The king has to be bisexual. He was way too excited about Rixel reminding him of his old friend."
Mia positively screeches in laughter, the sound almost painful as she tries to remember to breathe. It's not funny, the guy's hiding in her basement as they speak, but... It's so stupid. It feels cathartic to laugh after the day she's had.
"I'm never telling you guys about what happens in Centopia ever again." Mia wipes a couple tears from her cheeks, looking redder than a tomato.
"You good?" Paula giggles, watching her friend catch her breath after she saw her flail around for a hot minute.
"No. I'm perturbed, disturbed and confused." Mia says. "I'm almost too afraid to ask what else came up before I joined. Almost. Anything else?"
"We're guessing what's going on." Paula tells her. "It's mostly Vincent pretending it's dungeons and dragons."
Vincent straightens up, like he's a lawyer about to present a case.
"Okay, so, listen... The evil overlord guy is one of those celestials that wants all the power again." Vincent says, his mouth full of popcorn. Violetta looks slightly disgusted at the sight and sound, and the boy makes a face at her.
"The celestials were supposed to love us." Mia answers. Theorizing would be more fun if she understood what's going on, but she's just as clueless, and she’s more affected by the reality of it.
"Yeah, so much love they like ruined the world as they knew it." Violetta points out. "Dark elves aren't part of the original myth, right? And they were regular elves, except maybe for him. Weren't celestials also similar to normal elves?"
"They were desperate to save the leviathan; it's kind of sweet." Paula defends, picturing it like a romantic movie. Vincent and Violetta each raise an eyebrow. Paula shrugs, silently accepting that they did ruin the balance for everyone.
"They might've been misguided, but not cruel. Dark elves are evil, that guy must be as well," Mia cuts in again, her face scrunching at the memory. "After what happened to Yuko, I don't want to believe anything celestial was involved."
The group shudders, before moving on.
"Well, regular elves are like celestials. Celestial, y'know, like stars. I know Centopian stars aren't the same but think of it." Vincent prefaces. "Maybe elves are like stars that need magical energy to keep them alive, and if they expel it, like a supernova... Well, you know what happens."
"Are the dark elves black holes in your theory, then?" Paula asks, sandwiched between Vincent and Violetta's insanity. Vincent pouts, considering it, before nodding in an unsure manner.
"The celestials left to roam around, y'know like that guy who lost his husband. Why do people just start roaming aimlessly?" Violetta says, which is something Mia hadn't considered and which she can only shrug to.
"Elves roam Elarion as well." Not that Mia knows why they must be travelers. Why it is meant to be normal.
"You're also not quite an elf." Paula brings up the elephant in the room, or rather one of several. The conversation is more like a circus of animals to be addressed by now.
Mia huffs, stifling a laugh. Her? A celestial? "I have baby pictures, guys. I think I know I'm not some divine creature."
"Well, you're something." Paula adds, considering Mia is definitely not a normal human like them. They haven't experienced the side effects she has when going to Centopia.
"Maybe that golden place is where they were before, and it's changing you." Vincent throws out another hypothesis. The golden in-between she goes through could be some kind of celestial place.
"It was supposed to be gone." Mia says.
"Well, maybe your bracelet is a piece of the sky from when they fell or something." Vincent jokes, a little exasperated that Mia isn't giving them much to work with. Something's up with her.
"How would her parents have gotten that, exactly?" Paula's pitch heightens as she talks, her head tilting.
"How did they get or know anything at all?" Vincent counters. "They made some of it, we know that. Your dad was a science-y guy, right Mia?"
"I suppose so." Mia looks a little more hesitant now it involves them. "I still don't know why my charger was a leviathan heart. My parents would've never-"
Mia can remember her father taking an hour off his day, no matter how tired he was, to read to her about Centopia. He'd talk about nature, the fantasy daydream effect of it all. Her mother would be more blatant, making sure to tell her that the elves and the unicorns had to protect the realm. Why would they drill goodness into her mind if they hadn't stood for it? Then again, Raynor and Mayla also did the same, or at least it seemed like they did.
"We know." Violetta reassures her, something that would've sent the Mia from a couple years ago into a coma. The other members of their team certainly have thoughts, but they are not going to speculate on her parents potentially doing something sketchy.
"Maybe they went to Centopia, or one of them was from there. There was human world stuff around the palace, wasn't there?" Paula asks. Mia freezes at the mention of the palace, and Vincent can't hold back any longer.
"What is it? Something's wrong today." His tone makes it obvious he’s not going to accept dismissal, the call going awkwardly silent.
"...They arrested Raynor and Mayla." The call erupts into confused questions. The fact she's not calling them the king and queen is out of character.
"They? Who are they?" Paula panics, sitting up.
"Iriditopian guards. They said they weren't the rightful rulers. Ono agreed, he said they were lying all this time and he knew it." Mia feels like someone's giving her heart yet another shank and a twist when Violetta's face falls. She'd grown quite fond of Mayla, considering the nightmare her own mother was. She looks betrayed as well.
"What?" Violetta frowns, mulling it over.
"I know. I'm... I'm sad too." She feels like a stupid child, losing Mo's parents and her seeming safety net. Is that why they were always so kind? To keep her dumb and keep her from questioning all the things that seem obvious in hindsight?
"Why wouldn't Ono say anything?" Violetta immediately asks. Mia has not given it much thought, having been more bothered with the secret keeping from her supposed rulers. Is Onchao's father also up to something? She hopes not, she's struggling with the idea her parents might've done bad deeds. Mo's living through it. Onchao shouldn't suffer this strange generational curse as well.
"I don't know... Rosal called Onchao a prince, but he didn't acknowledge Mo as one. We didn’t notice at the time, but in hindsight..." It's almost as if powerful enough creatures, Elarion itself, just knew something was off even when they didn't. Her brow furrows at the thought, remembering all the times the fabric of the universe seemed to act up when they lied.
Mia continues. "We broke them out and now they're kind of hiding in my basement."
"You're hiding interdimensional criminals on the farm?" Vincent repeats, just to make sure he has all the facts. Mia nods.
“Technically they’re not criminals here.” Paula provides.
“We don’t know that, based on what Mia said, they seemed sketchy about this world. And. How. Else. Do. We. Explain. The. Human. Stuff?” Vincent emphasizes every word, like he’s drawing his own conclusions. Mia puts a pin on that, remembering they did seem knowledgeable of things they shouldn’t have been aware of considering that, had they been the rightful rulers, they would’ve stayed in Centopia. She draws their attention again.
"The elves are currently trying to figure out how to hide Mo's appearance in Centopia. They're after him for being the heir." And there is no way she is letting anyone, or anything, separate them. Guards, orders or whatever Elarion law exists be damned.
“What about you and Yuko?” Violetta asks, not missing the opportunity for an assist in getting Mia to voice her feelings. Vincent taught her said term.
“Yeah, they’re also going to hide us, the guards aren’t looking for us because they didn’t know Mo had…” Had chosen his partners, meant to stay with him in Centopia and rule. Taro’s words come to mind, childishly asking when she’d marry them, Mia promptly drops the train of thought and leaves the sentence as it is. Paula has mercy on her, clearing her throat.
"Well, they'll need a new ruler anyhow. Why not him?" Paula says.
"I... It was all so sudden. Mo's being strong but it can't be easy for him. We just didn't think he'd have to be king now. Raynor and Mayla swear they're clueless, so we can't even prove his innocence without information." Information or... Understanding. Maybe the theorizing session isn't such a bad idea. The rest of team terrific light up, coming to the same conclusion. This way they can help their friends.
"Think of it like this, Mia." Vicent starts his small motivational speech. It's also true. "If the oracles didn't lead you down another path, it means this had to happen for the better."
"He's right. You three are good for Centopia, that's something no one can deny." Violetta interjects.
Mia sighs, they're right. Whatever is going on might simply be necessary, even if the oracles sometimes feel like a separate entity hovering over her, they never lead her astray. She interprets the books... Will and it helps her keep her loved ones safe. Tit for tat. She has to trust it and follow the advice she gave Mo.
"What if they're shape shifters or something?" Paula provides the first theory.
"They have magic, and they look like elves." Mia states. The others in the call stare back at her, who has magic and looks like an elf but swears she's mostly human. "Fair enough."
Mia remembers the strange behavior, their attempts to tell the trio something. Like they were hiding a secret and waiting for the right time. Now they're swearing they know nothing. The Iriditopians mentioned Queen Linoa as one of the rulers who ordered the arrest. She and Hinex chose Panthea, if they'd chosen Raynor after that, she would've obviously known. It means there had to be some ruler in between, one they did usurp the throne from.
"There was this gift we found cleaning up. From this Cora person to her cherished. Maybe they were supposed to get the throne." Mia shakes her head even as she talks, something not quite adding up. The guards would've come looking for a specific ruler that was usurped if Hinex and Linoa had chosen someone at all, asked about them, right?
"If there are guards, adults, why didn't they help you guys?" Another hole in the story, pointed out by Violetta. Something's fishy, or severely wrong. She doesn’t believe Savia or her guards would hurt the kids, or that all adults are evil, which means something must’ve happened for the Iriditopians not to intervene.
Mia frowns. "That's another good question." One she could get answers to if she spied on them a little more to find out how Iriditopia is holding up.
"Pretty convenient." Vincent scoffs. "Let the teenagers do all the hard work and then swoop in."
"They didn't seem to have information on Panthea's defeat when we spied on them today. They believe we're hiding because we're scared, that Raynor and Mayla did something to make us so skittish. Not sure how they think Panthea's been defeated." Which is... More confusing. Great, Mia. Not that the kids who have been running circles around the guards seemed anything but mischievous, so she’s not sure why they still think they’re hiding out of fear of other elves.
"Can you not talk to them?" Paula tries to be the voice of reason.
"We could. Not sure it's our best option right now." Mia rests her cheek on her palm. The plan is growing more and more enticing, but she’ll delay it as much as she can. Maybe, if they hide him successfully, the Iriditopians will think Mo ran off and search somewhere else. They’ll probably still leave the island under supervision, though, if not try to pick a ruler altogether.
"And what about them? Are they still there in your grandpa’s house?" Violetta says,
"Yeah, I just brought them here today. No idea what we're going to do, but at least they can't reach them here..." Mia starts to explain, being cut off by Vincent.
"But do you trust them?" Because they lied. Massively.
Mia remembers the two years of guidance, of supposed protection. They swore Mo they loved him no matter what. They were the people she'd run to when she couldn't understand her oracles, who'd indulge her...
"No." She states quietly, pained by the damage done to what was once their bond. "I wish I could, I'm dying to believe them, but I don't."
Vincent nods solemnly, sighing. Now the answer is clear they all get to work, trying to come up with an explanation that could benefit Mo.
Later, her grandpa goes to sleep, and she finally gets to sneak some food to the basement. Her heart almost stops when she sees them wearing the clothes she gave them. Her parents' clothes. She wordlessly turns away, only taking one step up the stairs when she feels a hand on her arm.
Mia swallows thickly, not wanting to look like an angry, betrayed child when she'd been so dignified earlier.
"We meant to tell you." Mayla says softly.
Oh no. She can't do this when she's already playing dumb to avoid spiraling over what her own parents' involvement might've been. Mia can't do this while they're standing in a basement full of her childhood memories, wearing their clothes. She's held on for a long time, convinced fate wouldn't put her through anything she can't handle. This, however, is one of those moments when she gets too close to full capacity.
"Don't." It comes off more like a plea than an order. Mia would've never guessed she'd ever be talking to them like she has today. Not in either sense. She would've never disrespected them before, and she thought she'd never have to beg them for anything. She continues. "Unless you're actually going to tell me the truth, don't bother. I'm not Mo, you're not my parents, I'm not as desperate to believe you."
"We didn't lie to him today. We do love him; we love you and Yuko." Here comes the evasion again, Mayla takes a step closer, her hand coming to rest on her cheek. "Do you think that's a lie?"
The former queen’s touch is so familiar she almost doubts herself, feeling her thumb brush over her cheek with all the care in the world. Mia can vividly remember their first interaction, how Mayla been amused at her nervousness as if she was laughing with her and not at her. She assured her they would be kind to her, that there would be no need for redundant formalities and she could just talk with her new friend’s parents normally.
Mia's gaze lands on Raynor, who's silently observing them, the same childhood photos and souvenirs she'd left out the other day scattered on the ground. His gaze lands on her family's picture at the aquarium, then up at her again. Mia knows she won't get answers, so she hurries up the stairs.
She definitely does not cry over it when she tries to sleep and can't manage to quell the sinking feeling in her stomach. She broke them out for Mo's sake, but she doesn't feel safe. Feeling uneasy with them out of all people makes her realize how quickly it's all gone wrong. The sense impending doom inside her practically screaming she's just allowed two mimics into her home.
She doesn't sleep that night, sitting on the living room couch and staring at the door down to the basement. Vincent's words as they threw ideas around are still fresh in her mind.
"Maybe it's not so black and white, Mia, the elves could have their own secrets too.”