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"I sense power in you. You are not human" she said. "Neither are you. I am Oberon. The First Fae and rightful heir to Tír na nÓg. Whom do I address?" he asked. "I am Pelé. Goddess of volcanoes, fire, earthquakes and creator of the islands humans call Hawaii" she replied. Oberon did his best not to show concern. He was staring down a true goddess. Even in his heyday he'd have trouble taking such a being down. In his current state he would be no match for her. "On what grounds do you kidnap, shrink, and transform them?" he asked. The group was speechless seeing this play out. Three huge beings and hearing they had been shrunk blew their minds. Just yesterday their biggest worries in life was paying off student loans. Now they were shrunk and trapped in some freakish magic world stared at by savages and a naked giantess who was made of magma.

 

"On what grounds? I have every right to take them! My Menehune are almost gone because of humans! They once numbered in thousands. Now there are barely 50 left. Less than that..." she said looking at Claire. "And you wish to take vengeance?" Oberon asked. "No. Not vengeance. Retribution. They will become Menehune and breed. They will make their tribe numerous again under my protection" she replied. "That explains why only the younger ones were taken. Why them specifically? There are hundreds of thousands of young humans in Hawaii" Keith said mustering courage to speak. "To punish the humans that enslaved the Menehune they captured to build their perverse buildings" she replied. "The hotel. You're saying these little guys built that big hotel?" Claire asked. Pelé nodded. "How did they capture them?" Oberon asked. "My power has weakened as my worshippers followed another God. The realm protecting them became riddled with rifts and holes leading to the human realm."

 

"The realm itself shrank in size and those caught on the edges found themselves among humans" she replied. "We cannot abide you taking them. We don't agree with what humans have done but we cannot allow you to take innocents" Oberon said. "Allow me? Fool. You are in my world. I make the rules" she said snapping her fingers. Oberon felt weak. "You cut the flow of mana. Clever but my nature allows me to store magic as one would hold breath in his lungs" he said. The air grew chilly and a blast of snow sent Pelé staggering. She brushed off his attack. "Get back!" he yelled running to the right. He threw a shard of ice at her and she easily melted it. His foot pivoted in the dirt and he turned to attack her left. Shard after shard he threw turned to steam. She seemed amused as he struggled. His foot would tear up dirt as he moved and when he got within a foot of her he held a spear of ice. "Spear of ice. Gáe Bulg. Invoke..." he whispered in ancient tongue.

 

She went to vaporize it and found it wasn't working. It pierced right through her. Her head snapped back and she went still. "Are you done yet?" Pelé asked. A blast of flame struck him sending him reeling. Oberon did something he hadn't done in centuries. He screamed. "This contest is over. You can die knowing you amused me" she said. Her eyes lit with bright flame as she pointed at the three. "...I love you Aspen" Claire muttered hugging her. Aspen whimpered into her breast. "Not over" Oberon hissed. A glowing blue circle surrounded them all. "What have you done?" Pelé asked seeing her bare foot couldn't burn it away. "An arcane spell. I was drawing it with my feet when I kept dodging. A special time delayed spell not even you can break in time. It will activate in one minute" he said. "...what will it do?" Pelé asked slightly concerned. "Everything inside it will freeze. The temperature will drop so low even blood will freeze. Tell me Pelé. With so many Menehune trapped inside it, how will you get by with just a handful of servants? Take it from me. Without those to worship you, godhood is as fleeting as saltwater is to a man dying of thirst stranded in the middle of an ocean. 45 seconds" Oberon said.

 

"You're bluffing. You'll kill them too" she said. "I'd rather die a human being than a Menehune sex slave" Aspen spat. A few others kidnapped nodded in agreement. "Humans are impressively brave in the face of death. 40 seconds" he said. "I'll take more" she said. "Before or after your realm collapses? 30 seconds" Oberon said. Seconds ticked by as the circle grew brighter and brighter. "We can negotiate if you want. I have a solution to both our problems. Stand down and I'll disengage the circle. 10 seconds" he said. "...FINE!" Pelé yelled. Oberon stopped the circle with a swipe of his foot.

 

"What do you have in mind?" she asked. "First of all. I assume you have a fertility deity?" he asked. "My mother Haumea. I have already called on her services. It's not enough" she replied. "Can she make even the most infertile person fertile?" he asked. "Indeed" she replied. "Excellent. I know a group of people I can give to you that will solve your problem. Give me time to get them" he said. "...you have 48 hrs. After that the transformation will be complete and I will NOT hand them over" she said. "Agreed on the condition they are not to be harmed" Oberon said. The goddess nodded. "Claire, Keith, let us be on our way" Oberon said turning to leave.

 

Under his power, Oberon led them back to where they came from. "You can't be serious. You can't possibly trade the homunculi for them!" Keith yelled grabbing his shoulder. Oberon winced in pain and Keith let go. "I don't mean to hurt ya" he muttered. "No. The battle took a heavy toll. To answer your question absolutely" he replied. "They’re people not some commodity!" Claire yelled. He looked at them both. "Then by your refusal to cooperate you state their lives are more important that Aspen's. Don't look at me like that. It's the dirty truth. Claire, you will never again know the warmth of her breath on your body. Keith. I know you better than anyone. You’d sacrifice your soul to save her if need be. Her smile warms your heart. Her taste drives you mad. Her nether regions make you feel complete. You'd throw that away for people that half the time fear and despise you?" he asked. Keith and Claire turned away from his gaze. "Time is ticking" he said opening the portal.

 

Keith awoke lying on his back in the grass and dirt. Claire awoke in similar fashion in his breast pocket. "Oberon?" Keith asked. "I'm here. Your souls have been returned to your bodies. Make haste your two. I fear nature is not on our side" he replied. The wind was stronger and the skies darker. "I must rest now but I shall return with all the answers you seek. Go...go quickly" Oberon said fading away in his mind. Keith ran as fast as he could back to the hotel. It was swarming with cops now. All looking into the disappearance of over a dozen college kids. Keith didn't even waste time going to his room to get his things. He hopped in a cab and rode to the airport. "Son of a bitch" he muttered seeing hundreds trying to fly out. "Fucks going on?" he asked a guy.

 

"Haven't you heard? Typhoon turned westward. Heading right for Hawaii. People trying to fly out before it hits" he replied. "That's going to be?" Keith asked. "Latest tracker has it landfall on Monday at 1:00 p.m." he replied. Keith looked at the departure screen. Saturday 1:44 p.m. HST. "That's not good. Can we even make it back in time?!" Claire asked. Her tiny voice caused a few to turn and look. "30 hours of flight time. Another 5 or 6 for layovers" he muttered. "That's assuming they don't cancel the return flight!" Claire yelled. "I KNOW THAT CLAIRE!" Keith screamed. Claire whimpered in his pocket. He took her out. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. I'm just stressed" he said cuddling her to his face. "People are staring" she muttered. "Let them stare" he said. Thankfully they were able to book a flight back home.

 

A few hours later in Massachusetts...

"It sure is noisy in the house. Rebecca asked. "Well we got a lot of people out there cooped up here. Let them blow off steam. Speaking of, you know Ritchie went off to be with them. I think he found a girl" Thomas said. "Really? But...they can't make kids" Rebecca said. "I don't think Ritchie is very worried about that right now" Thomas chuckled. Thomas slipped off the tiny shirt of the woman as she sat on the couch. "What are you doing?" Rebecca asked. "When was the last time we had the house to ourselves?" he asked."...true" she muttered standing up and slipping her pants off. "Two kids and still got it. Lose the panties baby" he said. Rebecca let them fall to her feet and blushed. Thomas got undressed and pulled his little wife to him. He caressed her breasts as he looked into her eyes.

 

"They haven't changed a bit" he said. "I'm sure my tits have changed in the years you old fool. Thanks for the compliment though" she said. "Wasn't talking about your tits. I was talking about your eyes. The same deep eyes I saw when I found you in the meadow all those years ago" he said softly. They held each other as they kissed. Thomas had her sit on the floor. His hands holding hers. Rebecca placed her bare feet on his cock and began moving them up and down to get him hard. "You still like this don't you?" she smiled. "You have the most perfect feet I ever seen. You know what the funny thing is?" he asked. "No. What?" she asked. "That day you held that chestnut between your feet and ate it like a chipmunk. Those delicate toes holding that nut turned me on. But it was your goofy face that you made that made me sure you were the one for me" he said. Rebecca stopped. She slid down his shaft and began fucking him.  

 

"That night you held me so close. When my first birthday without mom came and I cried and cried. You were so gentle. You kissed me all over. Sucking my toes. Rubbing my nipples. Telling over and over you'll never leave me. The night we made Claire" she said. "And I never did" he said. They embraced each other as they fucked and when the time came..."I'm not pulling out" he said. "But...but I'll get pregnant" she said. "I know. Give me again a gift only a woman can. Make me father once again" he said. Rebecca was too lost for words. Tears fell from her eyes and she locked her legs around his waist. She kissed him slipping her tongue into his mouth as she felt pulse after pulse of life giving seed shot into her. Their bliss didn't last long as a call came in on the iPhone they used as a tv. She got dressed as fast as she could and unlocked the screen with her dainty foot.

 

"Hello?" Rebecca asked. "Hi sweetie! It's mommy!" Lily said. "Hi mom. Ehat can I do for you?" Rebecca asked. "Just letting you know I am coming into town to see you and witness the birth. I know me and Keith have our issues but I'm sure this will smooth things over" Lily said. "But you don't have a key" Rebecca said. "Not to worry. Aspen gave me one as thanks" Lily said.  "Uh...well...okay...when are you leaving?" Rebecca asked. "First flight out of London tomorrow. See you soon!" Lily said ending the call. "Fuck! Thomas break the news to them outside. I gotta call Aspen and Keith!" Rebecca yelled.      

 

14 hours or so later...

 

"Taxi!" Keith yelled as he turned his phone back on. "Here it comes" Claire said looking out his pocket. "Uhhh...something isn't right. I got 16 missed calls from your mom. Two voicemails" he said. "Keith. This is Rebecca. I just got word my mother is on her way. I know you didn't tell her about our guests. I don't know what to do. Call me back. 9:44 pm Saturday. Message two. Keith she just touched down! I told her the house was locked but she said she has her own key! I got them hiding in Aspen’s old room with the door locked from the inside! Please call me back! 11:15 a.m. Sunday. End of messages. To delete press..."

 

Keith hung the phone up in a cold sweat. Due to time difference, it was currently 12:21 pm Sunday. "Driver. Ipswich and as fast as possible. I'll pay the ticket" he said throwing two $100 bills at him. The taxi took off. "Of all the times for her to come. What will she do if she finds them?" Claire asked sitting him his sweaty palms. "She hates their existence Claire. She'll kill them and any chance to get Aspen and those other kids back" he replied.

 

"So they're in Hawaii? Isn't that dangerous so close to her due date?" Lily asked sitting on the sofa. Rebecca was nervous as shit. Her mother had been here only 25 minutes and had glanced at the upstairs too long for Rebecca's taste. "Well Claire is going to be busy with the baby and she's used to moving about. Keith is with them and he explained he's well versed in childbirth care" Rebecca replied sitting in her lap. "And they'll be back Tuesday?" Lily asked. Rebecca nodded. They kept making small talk for over an hour. When Lily wanted to go anywhere close to the stairs, Rebecca brought something up to distract her. "I'll be right back. Just have to use the restroom" Lily said. "Wait! Umm...just a moment. Can you hold me mom? Kinda missed that" Rebecca said. "Aww...is my little girl love hungry?" Lily chuckled picking her up. She raised her tiny shirt and blew raspberries onto her tummy. "Haha! That tickles! Ahhhh! What was that for?!" Rebecca asked feeling her giantess mother sucking on her stomach.

 

"Couldn't help myself sweetie. You're so cute I could eat you up" Lily grinned at her. "You better not. Me and Thomas just planned to have a third kid" Rebecca said. Lily squealed like a schoolgirl. "That's so nice! Congratulations honey. We'll talk about it after I go to the bathroom" she said. "Wait! Use the downstairs" Rebecca said. "I would but it's number two" Lily said. "In that case use the master bedroom" Rebecca said. Lily shrugged and went upstairs. Aspen's home had three bathrooms. Downstairs, the master bedroom and the third was the one that was attached to Aspen's old room. The same bathroom the homunculi used. That bathroom had two doors. One from the bedroom and the other leading to the hallway. Lily opened the master bedroom door. "My word. Guess they left in a hurry" Lily said seeing clothes thrown about. Lily shut the door not wanting to step around dirty clothes. "This will be fine" she said opening the other bathroom door.

 

"Odd. This is intricate for just Rebecca and her family. Multiple tiny baths. Ladders and towels. All shrunken I see. Ehat was that?" Lily asked hearing sounds from behind the second door. She opened it. "Well well. I guess they took in borrower strays. Hello everyone" Lily said. The homunculi were terrified. Thomas had warned them to stay in the room at all costs. If they heard any movement they were to hide in the dollhouses. Of course that didn't do much as Lily could hear them, smell them, and see them looking out of windows. "My name is Lily. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you" the giantess said sitting down. They were mesmerized by her. Her English accent. Beautiful looks. Gigantic slim legs in nylon. The men were sold on her and the children as well but not all of the women. The boy Chase was caught outside the dollhouse playing with an old toy of Aspen's and too far away to heed anyone's warning. He wandered over to Lily.

 

"You sound like Hermione" the boy chuckled. Lily turned to see him. "Well I am English. Ehats your name?" she asked. "Chase" he replied shyly. "And what a find pursuit you are" she said. The boy giggled at her joke. She held her hand down to have him climb into it. Chase did and stared at her as she raised her hands. They collectively gasped as she moved him to her mouth...and have him a peck on his head. "Are you a friend of Keith and Aspen?" he asked. "I am. My granddaughter Claire as about to have a baby. I came to visit" she replied. "Claire is very nice. She plays with us" he said. "That's nice. Why are they hiding?" she asked. "We were told to as a scary person was coming" he replied. Lily frowned on that. "Scary person? Why would they be scary?" she asked. "Thomas said they won't like us and want to hurt us" he replied. His innocent reply made her feel for the boy. "Well I don't hurt little boys. Girls for that matter too" she replied. "Thank you. I like you Lily. You look like Claire. Can I...hug you?" he asked. Lily felt him hug her cheek hard.

 

It reminded her of the borrowers she saved back home. He was precious and adorable in her eyes. Her fingers petted his side gently. The tiny boy closed his eyes and took in the feeling. Chase began to cry softly. "What's wrong?" she asked. "I miss my mommy" he replied. "Did she die?" Lily asked. It was common for young borrower kids to be orphans or at least lost a parent. "No but I can't see her anymore. Keith said it would be too dangerous. A temptation he called it" he replied. Lily could understand the danger of tracking down a borrower. She knew that intimately, but why call it a temptation? "Temptation? How?" she asked. "Because he afraid I'll hurt the real Chase" he replied. Lily sat back. "Real Chase? You are a borrower right?" she asked. "No...a hom...hom..."

 

"Homunculi" Lily said finishing his sentence. The boy nodded. Lily stood up and left the room. She marched downstairs. "Something wrong mom? You were up there for some time" Rebecca asked shaking. Lily glared at her and kept walking. "Oh no. Mom! MOM!" Rebecca screamed. Lily paid her no mind as she searched for a box. She found one in the closest and took it upstairs. Rebecca started crying. Lily swallowed her feelings as she tore apart the Dollhouses and dumped the screaming tinies into the box. The last one was Chase who she sniffed out literally. "Why are you so mad at us?! he screamed in her fist. She choked back tears and dropped him in with the others. Lily returned downstairs with the full box and tore the patio door open and sat the box down. "Mom you can't do this! They did nothing wrong!" Rebecca yelled. "My child. You don't understand how dangerous these things are.

 

"Each one is a potential murderer that's 4 times as strong as any man. They may smile, cry, or act lovingly but deep down they hunger for an innocent human soul. Worse yet the only way to control them is dead. It was foolish to keep them alive. What I do I do without choice" Lily said. "The mother that was playing with me minutes ago can't be this cruel! You do this, and I'll hate you for the rest of my life! You hear me?! We'll be dead to you!" Rebecca shrieked. Lily looked at her with tears streaming down her face. "...so be it" she muttered.

 

One minute ago...

 

The taxi pulled up the driveway and stopped. Keith raced out of the car and went to the door. "Fuck! No keys! Hold tight Claire!" Keith yelled as he kicked the door in. He saw Lily with a box and Rebecca on the patio. He heard Lily say "so be it". And as she muttered those words, a ball of flame formed in her hand. "OH SHIT! Oberon!" Keith yelled. His eyes closed and they opened. It was the first time Keith willingly gave him control so he saw everything abet he was not in control of his own body. Oberon dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. "Oh my god..." Claire muttered. "Not for her" Oberon said sensing her thoughts.

 

"Stop right there!" Oberon yelled. "Keith! She's going to kill them! I tried to keep them safe! I swear I did!" Rebecca sobbed. "Stand down Lily" he warned. She saw the knife. "You would threaten me with a knife? You lie to me. Put innocents in danger and now brandish a knife at me?" she asked disturbed. "It's not for you" he said cutting his finger. He dove to the floor and quickly drew a circle with symbols. "Arcane..." Lily muttered. "Indeed. Don't make me finish the incantation" he said. "Or what?" Lily asked turning her hand, so the flame was pointed at the box. They could hear heightened screams as the tiny people inside felt the heat. "Or I'll transmute the iron in your blood into lead. I've seen it done before. You'll die convulsing and foaming at the mouth as your bowels fail you. It won't be a clean death by any meaning of the word" he replied. The look in his eyes told Lily it was not an idle threat.

 

The flame evaporated. "Now bring The box back inside and set it down" he said. She did as told. "Good. Now stand fucking still" he said. He began running bloody symbols on her cheeks and speaking in a tongue Lily hadn't heard since she was a child. "Invoke" he said. She felt a tremor in her body and she shrank down. Oberon snatched her up and roughly dropped her on the table. "You shrank me?!" she yelled. "No. I just sealed your powers temporarily" he replied opening The box and taking the people out. "What gives you the right?!" Lily screamed. "What gives you the right to kill people whose only crime is being born?! If you weren’t my ex-wife's daughter I would crush you flat right now!" Oberon screamed. Lily was taken aback by his response. "Ex-wife's daughter? What...what are you saying? How do you know arcane?! Who taught you how to speak Fae?! Answer me Keith!" Lily yelled. He sat down.

 

"The one you're addressing is not Keith" he replied. That sent shivers down her tiny spine. "Who are you?" she asked. "I have many names. The First Fae. The heir and rightful ruler of Tír na nÓg. The Forest King. The Elder Twilight" he said proudly. "...Oberon" she whispered. He bowed.  "Is this really you?" the diminutive woman asked. "Not in flesh but in spirit. Keith. Address the matter at hand please. I must rest again" Oberon said. "Really convenient Oberon" Keith hissed. "Convenient nothing. My soul was flash fried after a duel with a goddess older than some gods. It's a miracle I wasn't destroyed. Besides, it may prove that my power is needed. We have yet to get Aspen back. Explain the situation and see of Bethany's books have anything on Menehune. It would be wise to learn more about our enemy" he said fading back into his mind and body. "What in the world is going on?! Where's Aspen?" Rebecca asked climbing onto the table. Claire hopped out of his pocket and ran to her mother. Her big belly bouncing along the way.

 

"She's been kidnapped by some crazy fire lady!" Claire cried into her arms. "It's true. Aspen and over a dozen others have been spirited away to some realm by Pelé, the local fire goddess" Keith said. "For what purpose? Kidnappers always have some random or purpose involved" Lily said. "It seems her servants, Menehune, are near extinction. Humans had a good hand in that it seems, and she took Aspen and the others for breeding stock" he replied. "Oh my god that’s sick" Rebecca hissed. "Oberon brokered a deal. We give her the homunculi and we get Aspen and the others back" he said. "You can't just trade them off like that! They're people Keith!" Rebecca yelled. "Preaching to the choir! Look, I plan on asking them. Hopefully..." Keith was saying until Ritchie came out of nowhere and hugged Claire and Rebecca sobbing. "Ritchie?" Rebecca asked. "I...I thought I was going to die!" he sobbed. A searing anger filled Rebecca as she realized what he was talking about.

 

She remembered Thomas saying Ritchie was playing with a homunculi girl. He was with their group. In her haste and anger, Lily had scooped him up along with the others not realizing her error. An error that nearly cost the life of her grandson. Rebecca walked briskly towards her mother. Her tiny bare feet slapping the wood surface of the table angrily. Lily looked confused until Rebecca slapped her as hard as she could. Her hand left a red welt on her mother's face. "I hope you're satisfied you stupid bitch. Your paranoia almost got my son killed!" Rebecca yelled. "...wha?" Lily asked nursing her face. "Your grandson was in that box you almost charbroiled! Were you even fucking looking when you snatched them up?!" Rebecca yelled. Lily looked down at her little nyloned feet as if they had an answer. "...I'm sorry" she muttered. "Sorry?! Doesn't fucking cut it mom! ...get out of my sight" she hissed. Lily turned away and hopped off the table. Where she went nobody cared.

 

"Back to the matter at hand. Hmm.....you there sir. I see a bunch ran and hid. It's safe. She can't hurt anyone like that. I need you to gather everyone back here. We need to have a family meeting" Keith said. The man saw his sincerity and of course remembered how he saved them. "Yeah...I'll be back" he said. Keith sighed. He picked up tiny Ritchie in his hands. "Will Aspen be alright?" he asked softly. "We were given her word she would be. What about you? I know that was scary" he said. The teeny teen trembled in his hands. Keith kissed his face a cuddled him for a moment. "Glad you're safe. If something happened to you I'd be heartbroken" he said. "...you would?" he asked. "Of course. I do love you kid. You're my little brother from another mother" Keith chuckled. Ritchie giggled. "Love ya back bro" he said.

 

"So you have been spending more time with them. Any particular reason?" Keith asked. "I may have a girlfriend" Ritchie replied. "Oh details! Details!" Keith laughed as he tickled his little belly. "Hahaha! Okay! She's older than me. 17 years old. Her name's Penny. Reddish hair and got these freckles" he said. "Nice tits?" Keith asked. "Huge tits" Ritchie said blushing. "Firm butt? Nice feet?" Keith asked. Ritchie nodded. "Have you two done it?" Keith asked enjoying the interrogation. "No. Learning she can’t have kids really hurt. She said sex would remind her of that. We have done other stuff. Kissing. Tickling, and something called sixty-nine" he replied. Keith chuckled at him still having some innocence. "Will she be taken too?" he asked worried. "I'm giving them a choice. For this to work I have to have at least 15 of them to agree...if we want Aspen back" he replied. The conflict in Ritchie's eyes was easy to see. Keith placed him back on the table. Ritchie sat down thinking of what may happen. Claire sat with him and hugged him.

 

Soon after, the homunculi gathered before them. Keith shrank down to give off a more sympathetic look. "First off, I'm sorry you had to experience that. I assure you that will NEVER happen again. What I'm about to ask you is not a small thing. As you know, me, Aspen, and Claire went to Hawaii. While there Aspen was kidnapped by Menehune" he said. One raised their hand. "What's Menehune?" an older woman asked. "A native species of tiny people. Kind of like borrowers. They are led by an honest to goodness goddess. Yeah news flash, gods and goddesses are very real" he said. Murmurs abounded the group. Chen was not following much as she didn't understand enough English. Still shaken by recent events, she had faith in her once again savior. She took notice of the same regal voice as before however. She figured she could ask Keith later what this was about.

 

"The goddess offered a deal. We get Aspen and a bunch of others kidnapped back in exchange for you" he said. "Others were kidnapped?" someone asked. "Yeah, bunch of college kids. Apparently, this goddess needs breeding stock to keep the Menehune from dying out" Keith replied. "Look buddy. We really appreciate you giving his food and shelter but we're not Pokémon cards to be traded off" a young man said stepping forward. "I understand that which is why I'm not just shoving you in a cage to be taken. I want volunteers. Honestly, it's probably better for you there than here" Keith said. "How so?" a black woman with an English accent asked. "Well they live in a projected realm. Open spaces. No house arrest. Free to roam all you like in total safety. But the biggest incentive may be the ability to have kids and start new families" he said.

 

"There's a catch. There's always a catch" a Hispanic man said. "Yeah, first of all you'll be transformed into them for this to work. Your physical appearance will change. Simply put you'll look native Hawaiian and lastly, its possible you'll never see what you consider the normal world again. Her realm is tightly guarded and closed off" Keith replied. "And that's the other shoe dropping" the man said. "Not that much difference from not being able to leave this place" another man said. "Speak for yourself. I'm not fucking my way for freedom" some woman said. "I see you need to think it over. You got three hours. After that...well I don't know what the fuck to do" Keith sighed. The group dispersed to talk among themselves. Chen however stuck around. "Hey Chen" he said smiling.  She was very happy he smiled at her, but it was clear he was exhausted and stressed. She pointed to her ear. "Oh. You didn't catch any of that" he said taking his phone out.

 

Keith explained everything with the translator app. "What do you think I should do?" she asked. "Is having kids important to you?" he asked. She nodded. "And the ability to roam free?" he asked. She hesitated. Once the answer would've been a big yes but recently she had come to see the house as a sanctuary and having him around helped. Keith placed her in his lap. Her feet felt the coarse fabric of his shorts and thought of the monster cock underneath. "You see this as home now don't you?" he asked. She nodded. "I can’t make this decision for you. You don't have to find love among them. If some do go you can find love with those...possibly" he said.  "Chen, I say that because love makes something a home. It's not walls or furniture or even the land itself. It's the person you spend it with" he said. "Even if that person is you?" she asked. "...think on it Chen" he said placing her on the floor. "You really dropped a bombshell kid" Thomas said. "Where have you been?!" Rebecca yelled. "Taking it all in"

 

"I don't want to lose my daughter in law. You may have to make the choice for them" Thomas warned. "Like I didn't have enough on my mind" Keith sneered. "Make yourself useful and heat up dinner for the kids" Rebecca said shooing him away. Rebecca was now alone with him. "You mind if I pet ya for awhile? Helps me think when I let someone I care about" he said. "Not at all" she replied seeing a twinge of hopelessness in his eyes. Keith reclined on the sofa with Rebecca in his hand.

He brushed her side back and forth with his fingers. "He has a point" he muttered. Rebecca tapped her little bare foot on his palm. "Keith. I know your heart. You don't have it in you to do that" she said. A few tears fell from his eyes. "...yes I do. If it's for Aspen...yes I do" he whispered. They were silent for almost 10 minutes before Keith spoke again.  "Will you forgive her?" he asked.

 

"My mother? I almost lost my son" she said to him. "Yes, and she feels horrible about it. The thing is will you let this ruin your relationship with her? Can you stand losing your mother a second time?" he asked. He pushed her body to face him. "Do you know how I lost my mother?" he asked. "To a mudslide right?" she replied. "Correct but I didn't say what happened the night before. My father said he was going to take me on my first borrowing hunt. I was excited. Trampling around foraging for berries and nuts. Contributing to the household like a man. Looking good in front of my big sis. I even crafted my own sword out of an old piece of barbed wire. Big rusty fucking thing I was sure could kill even a feral cat. My parents got to arguing and I looked in. Mother said I was too young and to wait another year. Father disagreed. Mother began crying and my father relented. He told me I had to wait another year before I could go. I was so angry at my mother I said I hated her."

 

"Rebecca. The look in her eyes I'll never forget. She...she looked so hurt" Keith said trying to cry. "I went to bed angry at her and pleased I had hurt her. Childishly I thought she deserved it. I woke up the next morning being yanked of bed. Mom, dad, and my sister rushing to grab what we could as the dirt got wetter and wetter from the torrential rain outside our underground den. My sister dragged me up the slope outside and the. There was this horrible slopping sound. We turned to see the roof of the entrance to our home cave in. Mud as think as fucking wet cement came down on my parents. Her arm was poking out waving franticly. I swear to god I could hear her screams as air bubbles popped on the surface of the mud. I screamed for my sister to help get them out but water was running down the slope threatening to send us into that deadly muck. My sister dragged away."

 

"I learned some hard lessons that day. First of all, borrower life is fleeting. Our kind could die any day and any way. Human size I could save them within two seconds easy but when I'm your size like earlier, it reminds me how precious life is. And the second lesson was you don't know when those you love will leave you. It's your responsibility to make every day count. Let go of anger, hate, and misunderstandings. They can't tell you you are loved. Hate can't hug you when you're sad. Anger won't kiss you when you need that extra comfort. You are blessed Rebecca Thimblekin. Don't throw your blessings away" he said. Keith kissed her and sat her down. Rebecca walked away from Keith. His words struck deep into her little borrower heart.

 

She had to admit that Keith made sense. She didn't want her mother to leave her life once again. Rebecca walked the downstairs and the sound of crying led her to the study. There in the windowsill was Lily. "...she hates me now" Lily said crying to herself. Rebecca had every right to still be pissed but looking at her mother crying. Thinking she hated her gave her no satisfaction. She understood what Keith was saying about not holding onto anger. "No, I don't. Just disappointed" Rebecca said to her.  Lily nearly fell out of the windowsill startled by her words. "I never meant it like that. I was so angry he lied to me. Put people in danger" Lily said. "Well maybe he should've been up front about it and you two could've talked. But being around them, mom, they're just people with shitty luck" Rebecca said. Lily hopped down onto the floor.

 

"Homunculi are dangerous honey. They won't be whole until they take that one life" Lily said. "Maybe but there's more to them than that. I met a woman that has memories of her family. The birth of her kids. Her wedding day. When she talks about them I see the pain in her eyes. But she wants to school the kids in that group. She wants to rebuild her life" she said. "I met one of those kids. Chase" Lily said. "He's a cute kid isn’t he? He wants to be an explorer like Aspen and Keith" Rebecca chuckled. "But it's too dangerous for them to be out there" Lily said. "He's knows but still dreams. It's called hope mom. Hope keeps them going. Not the desire to eat souls. If we gave into fear and killed whomever could be dangerous, then I'd have killed Aspen in her sleep long ago. I was terrified when Claire had her first sleepover in Aspen’s room but I had hope that their friendship would see my baby home safe. It's not fear that should drive us. It's hope" Rebecca said.

 

Lily gently nodded. Rebecca hugged her tight. "How did you get so wise?" Lily asked. "I was surrounded by wise people. The wisest one collected all these books you see here" Rebecca said pointing to the small library. "Bethany was an avid reader and many of them are about people like us. She was fascinated by tiny people. We used to have afternoon tea on this desk here" Rebecca said pointing to it. They both climbed on top of it.  "Bethany?" Lily asked. "Aspen's grandmother. Probably the very first human I ever truly trusted. Treated me like an equal. Read to me Moby Dick. I miss her" Rebecca said feeling the smooth but worn varnish under her bare feet. Keith entered the room. "I'm sorry. I'll leave you two alone" he said turning around. "No. It's alright. Something The matter?" Rebecca asked. "Just seeing if any of these books have anything about Menehune" he replied.

 

Keith looked around. "The last volume. Various species of homo smallicus in folklore. Book's kind of thin. That ain't good. Lilliputians, sprites, here it is. Menehune. Menehune are considered folklore as hard evidence has not been found of their existence. What is known has been passed down in stories. According to legend, Menehune arrived in Hawaii along with Polynesians many centuries ago. Their height varied by story but the most common height was 3.3 inches. One of the taller species. Identical in appearance to native Hawaiians and practicing similar cultural norms such as dress and religion. Story goes that the Menehune were servants or messengers of Pelé herself; the goddess of fire, volcanoes, and lightning. Their most notable ability is their impressive power to build things. It's said that some of the oldest structures and bridges were built by Menehune...some in a single night. How they did build things so quickly is unknown."

 

"Menehune mingled with humans freely and even took some as spouses. If you ask how they had children, the answer is they became the form of that which was loved more. The closest thing to proof of them existing is a census of Kauaí taken by a king in 1820 listing 65 people living on the island as Menehune*. As of this writing, no sightings have been confirmed of their existence" Keith said reading the passage.   

 

(Authors note: This is actually true. The last supreme ruler of Hawaii had a census done in 1820 for the island of Kauaí. Indeed 65 people were listed as Menehune. Goes to show that there is always a kernel of truth to legends and folklore)   

 

"Well we can confirm they aren't myth or legend can't we?" Keith said shutting the book. "We didn't learn much..." Rebecca said. "On the contrary I think we did. Let me check something. I have a theory" he said pulling his phone out. Keith googled anything about the hotel they stayed at. "Motherfucker..." he hissed. "I take you found something" Lily said. "I'll say. A news article from Hilo. Ground breaking ceremony for a new hotel to be built. The name was Volcanic Acres. It's dated two months ago" he said coldly. "Two months ago?" Lily asked surprised. "Yep. They built the hotel in just two months. Give you one guess how they pulled that off" he said.

 

"Menehune" Rebecca answered. "Bingo. Pelé said a group of Menehune were accidentally dropped onto the human world. I'm betting they were found by someone that knew exactly what they were and put them to work building that hotel. I already know some died doing it. I wonder how many others did" he said. "Come to dinner. It should be ready" Rebecca said to them. Keith shrank down to enter her home and they ate very quietly. Three hours felt like eternity to him and Claire, but it did come. The group sat collectively on the floor. "So. What's it gonna be?" he asked sitting in front of them. They looked at the giant man and saw he was very fearful of their answer.

 

"Some of us do want to leave. The prospect of starting fresh is too tempting. Having kids, open spaces that is safe" a man replied. "Some? How many is some?" Keith asked. 12 raised their hands. Almost all the kids and shockingly an almost even spread of men and women. It made sense to Keith. The couples sticking together. Them taking the kids for their own safety. "That's not 15" Claire said. Keith held his hand up to silence her. "Alright. Say your goodbyes quickly as we're on the clock. And those that want to stay...I'm not mad. Nothing will change. We're still family" he said. "You'll need my help if this many are going" Lily said looking up at him. "How so?" Keith asked. "Since the selling of borrowers was outlawed, the trafficking of them has been closely monitored. Passport checks, license checks, facial recognition" she said. Keith hung his head. The first one wasn't an issue but the other two was.

 

"Don't sweat it. Got it covered. I can feel...his seal wearing off" she said. She took a deep breath and grew to human size. She pulled her phone out of her purse. "Yeah it me. Have the Lockheed fueled up and a flight plan for Hilo Hawaii filed post haste. I'm aware of that. Now Reginald. Lives are at stake" she said hugging the phone up. "My private jet will be at your disposal" she said. "Sounds like there was trouble" Claire said. "The weather is getting very bad. They might close the airport before you touch down" Lily replied. Keith nodded. Keith had them get back into the box promising it would be the last time. "Let's go" Claire said. "No. You're staying here. It's officially too dangerous Claire" he said. They could see her anger boil over. "Claire...I'm about to fly into a fucking typhoon. I don't know if I'll even make it there. I'll get her back or die trying" he said holding her in his hands.

 

Keith studied her body. Her dainty fingers and toes. Her blue eyes and blonde hair. There was a tremble in the finger he used to pet her cheek. It went down to her belly. His lip quivered as he felt it. The idea of his child in it. "No! You're coming back with her! I want my baby to know her daddy!" Claire screamed as she understood the look he gave her was as if he was preparing himself to never see her again. He lowered his hand to the table. Claire clung to his finger shaking and sobbing. "...take her from me. Please" he whispered. Rebecca pulled her daughter off the giant's finger. While this was going on, a stowaway climbed into the box...

 

Keith rode in the taxi to the airport. Under Lily's, he was taken to the private hanger where her jet sat ready to go. Keith hopped on board. "Mr. Smith. Are you ready to go?" the pilot asked from the cockpit. "Yeah. Ready as I'll ever be" he replied. "Said your prayers?" the woman asked. "Excuse me?" Keith asked the female pilot. "We're about to fly into the edge of a typhoon. Excuse my language but that involves a fuckload of wind shear. We could go into a tailspin or drop like a stone" she said. "I'm aware. I watch discovery channel. Lily must be paying you a lot to take such a risk" he said. "The pay isn't bad but I owe Lily a great deal. There aren't many opportunities for a Roma girl to be a pilot. That and she introduced me to my borrower husband" she replied checking the flaps and ailerons. "Tell me about it enroute. It'll help me take my mind off of things" he said. "Will do now buckle up" she said. Keith sat in his seat and strapped in as the engines fired up. "This is FAE 001 requesting takeoff" the pilot asked. "Foxtrot Alpha Echo 001 you are cleared for runway two niner" the tower replied. "Roger that" she said moving the jet. "FAE...fae...good one Lily" Keith muttered as the jet lurched in speed and took to the air.

 

Hours later...

 

The jet jumped and bumped around as it flew directly above the trailing edge of the storm. They weren't far from Hilo thankfully. "So yeah she married us. Not legally binding but it's the ceremony of it you know?" she said. "Kezia. I understand better than you know" he replied to her. "Keith? What's so important you have to get to Hilo?" she asked. "The most important person in my world was kidnapped" he replied. The pilot girl looked at him and back to her instrument panel. "How do you plan to get her back? The police?" she asked. "No. I'm working against a goddess. Yeah you heard me. I'm hoping we can make a trade. If not..." he said looking at his size watch. "If not?" she asked. "Then I'll make her sorry she ever took from me with this" he said showing the watch to her. "A watch?" she asked dumbfounded. "Not just any watch. It shrinks matter. There's a tiny particle accelerator inside that flings a nanometer sized piece of cobalt-60 around at high speeds. On impact it collects boson particles and injects it into matter causing it to shrink. However, if I put it on overload..."

 

"What then?" she asked. "Not sure. On paper the watch chain reacts blasting boson particles everywhere within a 100 ft. radius. Anything caught in the blast would shrink very small. I've never done it before so I don't know if that would really happen" he said. The woman looked at the watch with far more respect now. "FAE 001. You are requested to divert to Honolulu" Hilo control radioed. Keith quickly shook his head. "Negative control. I am low on fuel. Proceeding to Hilo" she said. "Negative. Radar shows wind shear 20 miles bearing 013 degrees" control said. "Cannot comply control. I have only 44 minutes of fuel left. Computer indicates 53 minutes for Honolulu" she said. "....Roger FAE 001. Be safe" control said. "Get back to your seat and start with the prayers" she said. Keith buckled back in hearing a few whimpers from the box. He hadn't paid it much mind the flight other than dropping some food and a bit of water inside. If he had things might've played out differently...

 

5 minutes later the jet shook violently as she descended through the clouds. Rain pelted the plane. Lightning out in the distance danced in the clouds. Then the plane fell. It was surreal to him. The feeling of weightlessness. He held onto the box as best as he could and wondered if this was it. Surviving almost being crushed and eaten only to die in plane crash. He thought of Aspen. What would she think? That they abandoned her? Gave up? No. Keith swore he would come back. He placed his size watch on an exposed part of the hull. "This better work" he said hitting the enlarge button and quickly pressing it again. The plane groaned loudly and Keith held his breath. "I'll be damned..." he muttered seeing the plane was still in one piece.  He scrambled to the cockpit. "Hell are you doing up here?!" Kezia asked. "Saving our lives. Push on the throttle and nose her down!" he yelled. "That's crazy!" she yelled. "No it's science. Do it before we hit 2000 ft. or we're fucked" he said. She did as he asked. "What the hell? We're going faster than we should" she muttered. "Now yank back hard!" he yelled. The nose went skyward and the plane began to climb. "Easy. Now throttle back" he said.

 

"How did you know what to do?" she asked. "We needed to break out of the wind shear layer using our inertia. Unfortunately, our mass was too small and the engines too weak. So I umm...grew us with my watch" he said. You could’ve knocked her over with a feather. "And how big are we?" she asked. "How tall are you?" he asked. "5'5" she replied. "Then about oh...14 ft. tall give or take an inch" he said. "Madness..." she said. "No kidding. I'm thankful we didn't explode" he chuckled. Her face went pale. "Oops...the watch is touchy about growing things. It can unshrink things easy with anti-bosons but when they react with normal matter...it can cause the atoms to just...pop" he said. "Shut. Up." she said. "Shutting up. Can you take it from here?" he asked. She glared at him. "Okay...I'll just go back and shrink us back down to normal before radar sees us" he said.

 

They were able to land with no issues and Keith raced to the hotel. "Keith. The way to their realm isn't here" Oberon said startling him. "I know. I'm here for some incentive. Since you been sleeping we only got 11 to agree. I'm afraid it won't be enough" Keith replied. "And the hotel has what you seek?" Oberon asked. "I'm betting it does. I'm sure some Menehune were killed when that construction collapsed but I'm betting there are more still there. Aspen and Claire mentioned one named Lea giving them massages. Stands to reason they had Menehune working other duties than building shit" Keith replied. "And we will liberate them as a token of good faith. Clever" Oberon said. The taxi driver was unnerved by the man carrying a box talking to himself.

 

"Can't go no further. They're blocking the road for fear of mudslides" he said. "Good enough" Keith said hopping out. Emergency crews had blocked the road off and cops were diverting traffic. Keith ran right past them. "Hey stop! Holy shit he's fast" the cop muttered. Keith was fast. Being a borrower, he could outrun any human. The wind and ran swept past him. The rain itself stung his face he was running so hard. He had run a full 15 minutes nonstop and was out of breath but he was there. He saw the man from the other night calming guests. He looked frayed with having no sleep. News reporters hung out in the lobby. Didn't help that it seemed some people had been evacuated to the hotel pushing it to capacity. "Buddy we need to talk" Keith said looking dead at him. "Sir I'm extremely busy. A concierge can help you" he said. "No. You're going to help me. I know you used Menehune to build this place" Keith whispered. The man looked terrified. "Got your attention now? Let's step over here" Keith said. "You're going to give me the surviving Menehune you have. You're going to do it with a fucking smile and if you refuse (Keith tore his name badge off, shrank it, and crushed it between his fingers) I'll make the last moments of your wicked life hell" he said. Keith smelled the man pissing himself.

 

"...right this way" he said. The man led him through a door and down into the basement area. Further back past the boiler there was a stack of crates. The man easily pushed aside the empty crates and there was a door he unlocked. "That box..." the man said. Keith looked at the cages and his heart sank. Three of them with water bottles attached to them. Filled with woodchips. "How many?" Keith asked. "17 after the accident Friday night" the man replied. "How many when you found them?" Keith asked. The man didn’t answer. "I SAID HOW MANY?!" Keith screamed. "59! There were 59 of them" he replied. Keith shook his head. "They were a godsend! The developers threatened to pull out if they didn't see us back on schedule for completion before May! I found them not far from here. I knew what they were by how they looked. What was I supposed to do?! I saved them from having to live like filthy borrowers!" he yelled. "As mortals would say...you done fucked up" Oberon thought.

 

Keith placed his hand on his shoulder. At first the man didn't know what to make of it as the room got bigger. "No...no...NO!" he shrieked as he got smaller and smaller. Keith was eerily detached as he picked him up and dropped him in the box. "He makes a sound break his fucking jaw" Keith hissed into the box. The Menehune looked at her fearfully. "Don't be afraid. I'm here to take you home to Pelé" Keith said in the calmest voice he could. Keith placed the cages on a trolley and rolled them out. He trudged through the rain and mud to where the entrance to the realm lay. His hand balancing the box and cages on the trolley.  The homunculi stared at the shrunken man disdainfully as they figured he was the cause of all this. The man himself didn't know what to make of being surrounded by tiny people. In his mind Keith was some kind of demon that had shrank him and these others. "If you help me scratch a hole we can slip out" the man whispered to a teenage kid. The kid punched him braking his nose. "Fuck you. You're the reason why Aspen went missing. I liked that girl. Nice gigantic tits. Nice smile" he hissed. The man tried to back into a corner away from them as he saw no salvation from them.

 

Back home...

 

"Ritchie?! I need your dirty clothes. I'm to do a wash!" Rebecca yelled. "Ritchie?" she asked hearing no answer. "I swear that boy is to horny for his own good" she muttered thinking he was with his homunculi girlfriend. She opened the door to his room to get his clothes. There was a note on his bed. "Mom, dad" was written on it. Rebecca picked it up and read it. Her eyes went wide with shock. She dashed out the room and to the living room. Thomas was watching videos on the iPhone when she closed the app and hurriedly opens the calling app. "I was watching that dear" Thomas said. "Our son ran off to be with her! Ritchie joined them!" she shrieked pulling up the contacts.  "....all circuits are busy. Please try your call again" a computerized voice said. "No!" she said dialing again. Same response.

 

Keith looked at his phone for the time. "No service die to the storm. Damn. Less than an hour" he muttered as he neared the entrance. Oberon took over and opened the gateway to the Menehune realm. They haven’t taken two steps before they were summoned to the village. Pelé herself stood waiting in all her naked glory. Her Menehune servants stood to her left and right on bended knee. "You have brought what was agreed?" she asked. "First I want to see them" Keith said. She snapped her fingers and two servants led the captives to him and Oberon. Keith bent down and picked Aspen up. "Told you I'd be back" he said. Aspen whimpered and hugged his cheek. "You aren't hurt? They didn't..." he said looking at her frayed nighties.

 

"No. They were...I thought I'd never seen you again!" she sobbed. "You know I'd never let you go" he muttered kissing her. "Where's Claire?" she asked. "Back home. It's too dangerous outside right now" he replied. "Excuse me" Pelé said. Keith nodded and opened the box. "Alright everyone. Hop on out" he said. One by one they did and Keith thought nothing of it until he recognized one. "RITCHIE!" Keith yelled. "Hey..." he chuckled. "This isn't funny bro! You have any idea what's going on?!" Keith yelled. "I do. Teresa wants kids she wants to start a family. What makes her happy makes me happy. As much as you want Aspen...I want this" he replied. Keith picked him up. "Your mother is gonna skin me alive" Keith said. "Tell her...tell her to remember what she said to me last week. That should take some heat off you" he said. "Ritchie...we may never see you again" Keith said upset. "Maybe...I'll be happy Keith. Thanks for being my big brother" he said. Keith quietly cried.

 

"We love you. Don't you dare forget that" Keith said cuddling him close. Keith breathed in his scent. His tiny boyish scent...smelled familiar. Familiar in a way a borrower recognizes a family member. It made it that much more painful for him as he had gotten so attached to the kid even his senses thought of him as family. Keith kissed him before placing him back on the ground. Aspen hugged him tightly. "I will always enjoy our time together. Especially that night" she said. The boy blushed remembering the night he had sex with her. She kissed him and held him close. "I'm so very proud of you" she said. "Thank you Aspen. You were right though. You, sis, and Keith were right. There is someone out there for everyone...you just have to be patient" he said. "Make some beautiful babies okay?" she asked choking back tears. "Yes ma'am" he said grinning.

 

"We have a problem. I count only 12. Why tradeoff for less?" Pelé asked. "We bring incentive goddess. Behold. Your lost servants" Oberon said opening the cages. The Menehune ran out to greet lost loved ones. "That's not all. We only brought 11 not 12. This human is responsible for this misery" Oberon said using his foot to push the manager to her. The man stared up seeing the huge vulva of the giantess. His eyes kept going past the cleft of her tits and finally her face as it looked down on him. Pelé bent on her knees. This close to her he could smell her unique scent. The smell of burnt flowers. Her pussy was wet with anticipation for the punishment to come. Drips of her nectar dropped from her nether lips and they landed on the ground. Steam came from them. The man broke into a sprint and didn't get far when a young woman close lined him.

 

"You...please....please have mercy" he begged. "Say my name. Say my name and I'll ask for clemency" she said. The man didn't know her name. "As I thought. We were just tools for you to use. You don't even remember my name. You should. I lost my unborn child because of you. I begged you to give me time for birth but you told me to go back to work scrubbing and washing humans. I slipped on soap and landed on my belly. My child was dead within a nightfall. No. You will find no mercy from me" she said. "Lea. Bring him over" Pelé said. "LEA! YOUR NAME IS LEA!" he shrieked. She slammed her dirty bare foot over his mouth. Her toes lodged deep in his mouth muffling his cries. "Take your punishment with dignity...if that is even possible for a creature as yourself" she said. His broken nose bled again keeping him from talking as she dragged him by his arms to her goddess. Pelé gripped him and pushed him up inside her.

 

The man whimpered as the wetness and tightness was overbearing. Like being wrapped in a blanket in a sauna cranked to max. Pelé turned up the heat. Hotter and hotter it got and now her wetness was scalding him. His screams and struggles were ecstasy to the eons old goddess. Everyone watched in horror. A horrible screech came from her pussy and she came. There was a wet crunch and boiling blood seeped out of her. "Well...okay then. Shall we depart?" Oberon asked. "Not yet. Pelé, I ask a boon of you" Keith said. "Keith let's get the fuck out of here!" Aspen said. "Wait. Outside there is a storm threatening to send a mudslide onto the hotel. Hundreds of innocents are inside" he said. "Your point?" Pelé asked. "If we had help from Menehune, we could save them" he said.

 

Her laugh was like the sound of a volcanic eruption. "Not possible" she said. "Consider this. Humans know of them now. They will know what occurred. If Menehune are seen saving humans, it will cast a very favorable light on them. Such a thing as already occurred on Germany. This is a chance to build a dialog" he said. "He speaks true. Gremlins were hunted mercilessly until one of their own saved many humans. There is far more to gain than losing" Oberon said. "...you may take three. Begone before I change my mind" she said. Needless to say, they left quickly. Keith and all the others were back in the human world safe and back to normal size. The rain was still coming down hard. "Back to the hotel!" Keith yelled. Everyone was shocked to see the missing kids back safe and sound. Questions abound about ehat happened. Keith and Aspen held the three Menehune they returned with. All men and fit. Keith led them back to the road. There was a steep hill going up a small mountain water rushed down it hitting a makeshift barricade. "That won't hold" Kua, the oldest Menehune said.

 

"We need to fortify it brother" Kas, the middle brother said. "We can use the rock of the road. We must hurry. It will fail very soon" Ken, the youngest brother said. "You civilians need to take shelter. You especially miss! Why are you even out here dressed like that?!" a police officer yelled. Keith and Aspen ignored him as he placed the tiny workers on the ground. "Get those borrowers away from here!" he yelled. "They aren't borrowers. They're Menehune" Aspen said. The man stepped back in shock. Born and raised on the island, he had heard tales of them. But it was more shocking to see them work.

 

It was insane to watch. They moved at blinding speed reading up chunks of asphalt and sneezing them together to reinforce the barrier. An hour passed, and another hour. News reporters zoomed in on the workers. It was live broadcasted. Everyone in Hawaii watched the feed. "Menehune are real! They're trying to save evacuees!" the ticker said. As word spread it went global. People in Tokyo, Miami, Cairo, London, people all over were watching. At the same time news filtered out about the kidnapped college kids and what they had seen. People argued in real time on tv and social media about if these beings were justified or not. Kûa collapsed from exhaustion and his brothers continued. "How are they doing that?" Aspen asked. "Don't know. Adrenaline maybe. Boosting their speed and strength to insane levels. No wonder it taxes their bodies so much. Aspen move!" Keith said seeing movement on the hill. People ran as the inevitable mudslides came. Aspen and Keith barely had time to snatch the Menehune up before the multi ton avalanche of earth came crashing down. Everyone held their breaths.

 

The sound of it slamming into the hurriedly constructed wall drowned out the wind and rain. It held. Unbelievably it held. Because so, the mud and earth behind it bunched up on itself and stopped. The worst was over. People cheered all over the world. A reporter got past the officers and ran to Aspen and Keith. "Gotta go" Keith said seeing her. Aspen nodded understanding. "Are they really Menehune?!" she asked. "We...we are" Kas answered. People are saying your kind kidnapped people from the hotel here" she said. "True. We needed to save our kind from extinction" he replied. "Humans are responsible for your extinction?" she asked. "The human that owned that hotel captured many of us and forced us to build it. Many died. We know what we did was wrong but what choice did we have? What would you do to preserve your species?" he asked. The woman didn't respond.

 

"Ma'am. These people are not a threat to humans. They only wanted to keep their kind from dying out. They have the right to love and be free just like we do" Aspen said. "And you are?" the woman asked. "One of the ones that were kidnapped" Aspen replied. That shocked everyone. A kidnappee taking up for them. "Then why help save them?" the woman asked him. "We serve a just goddess that doesn't believe innocents should suffer because of the actions of a few. We only wish to live in harmony with you" he said. "Can we do an interview?" the woman asked. "Sounds good. This is a good opportunity to clear the air so to speak" Aspen replied.

 

Two days later...

 

"You're back" Claire said. Seeing Aspen and Keith walk through the door. "We caught the first flight out when the airports reopened. How you feeling?" Aspen asked holding Claire and placing her on her belly after laying on the sofa. "Baby still inside me" she replied. Claire watched Keith go upstairs. Aspen kicked her shoes off and placed her socked feet on the armrest. "He's not with you is he?" Claire said. "No" Aspen replied. Claire broke out crying. Aspen consoled her rubbing her delicate back. "I should've been nicer to him! All those times I was so mean! I miss by baby brother!" Claire sobbed. "He's happy Claire. He found someone that makes him happy" Aspen muttered. Claire still cried over him. "So he didn't return" Rebecca said walking to them on the coffee table. Aspen made a slight gasp. Rebecca looked like shit.

 

Her hair was a mess. Her eyes red and puffy from crying. Clothes lose on her tiny body. "He chose to stay" Aspen replied. The mother fell to her knees crying. Aspen picked her up. "Put me down!" Rebecca screamed kicking her tiny legs and feet. "It's your fault! If you had only taken him as your mate! He....he...I WANT MY BABY BOY BACK!" she sobbed going limp in her hand. The giantess placed her on her belly next to her daughter. Claire hugged her. "She doesn't mean it Aspen" Claire said. "I know" Aspen said reaching into her pocket. She took out a stone and placed in near them. "Rebecca?" Aspen asked poking her. The little woman looked up at her. "One of the Menehune told me to take this from the volcano. He said its imbued with Pelé's power. Whenever you want to speak to Ritchie, use this stone*" Aspen said.

 

(Authors note: I've heard of the "curse of Pelé" inflicting anyone who stole lava rocks from Hawaii. Doing research for this chapter, I learned this is a superstition created back in the 1940's by park rangers tired of cleaning up lava rocks left by tourists in their vehicles. Go figure...)

 

 

Rebecca touched her little hand on the pumice stone. She thought of her son intensely. A patch of air shimmered and a young teenage boy and girl were send holding hands looking at the sky. The boy turned his head. "Ritchie. He looks different but his eyes. Those are his eyes" she muttered. "He looks happy mom" Claire said. "...he does" Rebecca replied. Rebecca took her hand off the stone and the image disappeared. "Aunt Rebecca?" Aspen asked. "Thank you Aspen. Tell Keith he doesn't need to hide from me" she said. "Oh. You figured that out" Aspen said. Rebecca climbed off her belly onto the floor. "Family knows family" she said leaving them.

 

The next morning was quiet. Ritchie and those that left made the house feel that much emptier. Those that stayed behind visibly missed their makeshift family members. Keith absently stared out the window. Lily and Rebecca knitted baby clothes for Claire. Aspen and Claire watched the news as their story still pervaded the airwaves. "The state legislature has decreed that the Menehune are to be classified as a protected species. Furthermore, multigenerational Hawaiians are pushing for them to be recognized as citizens. The vote comes up tomorrow under closed emergency session. Since elections for seats come later this year, it's almost guaranteed the bill will be signed into law by progressives hoping to garner favor with the demographic natives and younger generation. This raises the question will the US senate will recognize Hawaii state law. If so it opens the door for other states to follow suit with the borrower bill still in committee" the reporter said just before Keith turned the tv off. Keith sat in the middle of the floor with a tired look on his face. "Keith? You alright?" Claire asked. "It's not Keith right now. Claire. Please get Lily and Rebecca in here"

 

"It's time you all learned the reason why I, Oberon, inhabit the body of this man. Why I do and why the fate of millions rests on the people in this house..."

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