Chapter 451: Meggie – To Save a Friend – (3/3) |
Emma's smiled faded and she grew quiet. After a few moments, she sighed and shook her head. "No. I just... want it to stop."
Meggie nodded. "I can do that." A dark smile crossed her face and she said, "I can make them all stop. And make them regret everything they did to you."
Emma quickly grabbed Meggie's hand. "No, Meggie."
Meggie paused and said, "Why not?"
Emma pursed her lips and then said, "That won't change anything..."
"It will if I go all the way." Meggie was firm and said, "Nothing will change if we just stop part way. But if we go all the way to the source and escalate to the end... well, they'll learn their lesson."
It was a common scene in the Three Realms. Some people just didn't know the weight of the heavens. They were frogs in a well and didn't know the line they were crossing. So in order to warn others, it was important to nail one to the wall as a warning.
And Meggie was fine with doing that. Mom and Dad had said it would be okay too... just as long as she didn't resort to extreme measures. But Meggie had plenty of ways to resolve it if she was creative... And she was sure she could get Big Sis Betty to help too.
Betty was an expert at things like that, after all.
Meggie was quiet for a bit. Then she sighed and hugged Emma back. "You're too nice, Emma."
"...You won't hurt them?"
"Fiiine. I won't hurt them."
Emma smiled and leaned back. "Thank you, Meggie. For listening."
"Only because you're my friend. But still." Meggie frowned and said, "We need to stop this from happening again."
Emma flinched a bit, maybe remembering the events from before. She took a moment to breathe and calm down. Then she said, "How do we do that? Without hurting them?"
"Well..." Meggie sighed and ran her left hand through her hair. "I hate to admit it... but maybe Dad's right. Sometimes, the best way to save someone is to have them be their own savior."
"Eh?"
Meggie stood up and said, "I'm going to make a quick call, Emma. Be right back, okay?"
"O-Okay, Meggie?"
Meggie nodded and left the room, walking back to the living room in the apartment.
Koi was gone, already finished washing the dishes and headed out to finish her work.
That meant that Meggie had a bit of privacy. So, walking to the other side of the apartment so that she wouldn't be overheard, Meggie pulled out her phone and called her dad.
===
In a black sedan, cruising through the streets of Tokyo illuminated by neon signs and streetlamps.
John glanced at the dashboard on the car to double-check the directions to Titor's new home before glancing at his wife and baby daughter in the backseat.
Aurora was tucked inside a car seat, and Yue sat next to her.
Holding a transparent rubber ring, Yue smiled and dangled it over Aurora, giggling as Aurora kept trying to grab and bite it.
John chuckled and said, "You two are having way too much fun with something that simple."
Yue smiled and said, "How can I not? Little Aurora is so adorable." As she said that, she lowered the rubber ring closer to Aurora again.
Aurora quickly reached up and tugged the ring out of Yue's hand, giggling as she did. Then she immediately chomped on the ring, laughing with delight with each bite.
John noticed and said, "You're acting like a puppy instead of a baby, Rory..."
"Wan!" Aurora giggled and then kept chewing on the rubber ring.
Yue laughed.
John rolled his eyes. "Well, if it makes you happy, I guess..."
At that time, a call notification appeared on the car dashboard.
John glanced at it and said, "Can you get that for me, Yue?"
"Of course, Husband." Yue reached over to tap the screen and answer the call before leaning back in her seat.
A moment later, Meggie's voice echoed from the speakers.
"Dad?"
"Hey, Meggie. I'm busy driving right now, but did you need something?"
"Yeah, sorry to bother you. But um..."
"Don't worry, Meggie. You can ask. It's fine."
"...Can I teach Emma how to cultivate?"
"...Come again?"<img src="https://unlimitedwritingworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Transparent-png-with-text.png" alt="" width="450" height="329" />