"Aspen I'm really not trying to argue with you right now" Claire huffed packing her gym bag. "I don't like you going to that place this close to my due date" Aspen said as she sat on the toilet. "Keith doesn't have the time to do it and he asked us...us as in me" she said. Aspen flushed the toilet and wiped her herself. Pulling her panties and sweatpants back up, she washed her hands and left the bathroom. "Then I'll go to" she said. "You can't even go an hour without peeing. You're staying put. Case closed" Claire said zipping her little bag up. "Our first martial spat" Aspen sighed. "Yep" the tiny girl huffed. The pregnant giantess sat next to her wife. "It'll be like a day. Two tops. With Ritchie on our side I know they'll say yes" Claire said patting her giant hand. Aspen wrapped her fingers around her and picked her up. "I want kisses" she muttered. "That I can do" Claire said to her. She kissed and licked her lips taking a moment to snuggle them.

Yesterday, Keith had called them from Japan asking for them to get support from the Menehune. Both easily agreed knowing they'd need as much help as they could get. Seeing her wife waddling around going to the bathroom constantly caused Claire worry. Seeing as where they were going wasn't dangerous (not this time anyway), Claire thought it best to leave Aspen at home. She informed her family of what she was doing, got the pumice stone from her mother and went to prepare for her trip. Not before Lily had some choice words...

"I don't like it. Nothing good comes from entering other realms not your own" she said. "Grandma, your own grandson lives there. Not like I'm going to the Hellmouth or anything" Claire said. "The what now?" Lily asked. "Someone needs to binge watch Buffy. My point is this needs to get done. I appreciate your concern, but this is going to happen" Claire said. "That place spooked Oberon himself. I'm really not trying to lose my granddaughter to some random madness" Lily said. "And I'm not trying to lose the world or my surrogate daughter" Claire spat at her. Lily put her head in her hands. The sunroom was silent except for a faint sound of crying. Claire climbed up her leg. "I'm scared sunflower. So very scared" Lily said softly. Sunflower was a nickname given to Claire by her due to her blonde hair. The recent events of the group that put them to sleep with borrowed magics had shown Lily the real threat they were facing. It wasn't academic anymore.

"Look at me. Everything is going to be fine" Claire said to her. Lily held her in her palm. She felt embarrassed this young woman was holding it together better than she. "Just don't lose sight of who you are. My mother once said venturing into a realm not your own can...change you. You are Claire McCollin. A Fae who is loved" she said kissing her face. Claire hopped down on the table Lily was sitting at. Holding the pumice stone, she thought of her little brother. It would open the doorway leading to him as per his instructions. A ring of fire formed before her giving way to the portal leading to the realm of Pelé. "Stay safe little one" Lily told her. Claire nodded and stepped through. Immediately, her skin felt tingly. Even her toes in her sandals tingled. It felt similar to when she absorbed magic. Claire remembered last time she was here. On a mission to rescue Aspen, she, Keith, and the revealed Oberon had come here. What Oberon said then she recalled. "This is a realm steeped in magic."

The sky was blue with strange traces of reddish orange. The air was clean and slightly humid. She was not alone. Surrounded by Menehune villagers, Claire was very wary. "Claire?" someone asked. Claire turned to see who it was. "...Tiffany?" Claire asked as she looked similar in the eyes. "Long time no see!" Tiffany replied moving a shoulder sling aside. Doing so revealed an infant boy latched to her breast. "Is that Kuno?" Claire asked. "Yep. Say hi to your auntie Kuno" she said. The baby was more focused on nursing that greeting her. "I was just heading home" Tiffany said to her. Claire held a basket for her as they walked through the village. "Sorry I missed your wedding" she said. "Don't worry about it. It was...different" Claire said. "So I heard. I, glad you're here. He's been distant since he came back. Lost in thought and he's seems upset like he's on edge" Tiffany said. Claire silently nodded.

"How have the homunculi adjusted?" Claire asked changing the subject. "Awesome. Over half have started families already. It was an adjustment for sure at first. No modern technology. Magic. Learning an actual goddess exists. It hasn't been boring" Tiffany replied. "Well I see you took to it like water or is that grass skirt the new addition to the Paris catalog?" Claire chuckled. "Just like your brother" Tiffany said turning to walk down a road. It led to a cabin made of sticks. Shockingly it looked quite well. No doubt from the skills of a Menehune. It oversaw a running brook. A lone figure stood on the back deck. Claire had Tiffany not say a word as she tiptoed to him. Ritchie was mindlessly flicking pebbles into the water. She could see he looked stressed out.

She covered his eyes with her hands. "Guess who?" she asked. "...a girl who used to push her dirty feet in my face. Teased me. Made me cry. Told me she loved when I needed it most. Was my first friend. Best sister a little brother could ask for" he muttered. Claire heard the solemnness in his voice as she took her hands away. Ritchie turned around. There were bags under his eyes. The boy wasn't sleeping right. This is not what Claire wished to see. Ritchie hugged her tightly and kissed her lips. "What's going on with you?" she asked. "Stuff" he replied. He looked over her shoulder. "Welcome back sweetie. I'll take the baby if you can start on lunch" he said walking to her. Ritchie took their son and went into the cabin. "I see what you mean" Claire said. He looked somewhat happy as he cuddled his son. Tiffany stir fried vegetables and strips of chicken while Claire sat with him on the floor. "Little brother I asked a question" she said. Ritchie paused.

"I looked into the Menehune helping with the fight. Pelé has forbidden it" he said. "None?" Claire asked. "Menehune aren't warriors Claire. They're builders. Tiny contractors on steroids. Hammers and nails not swords and shields" he said. "Didn't you say you know magic?" she asked. "Very basic fire and healing spells. If you are expecting a magical brigade think again. Including me there are 6 of us that can perform magic. Only reason we can is because we carry borrower blood...more like traces of Fae blood" he said. "So why do you look like shit?" she asked. "Because I said I'd help! My nightmares are filled with the screams of people I love. You have any idea how it feels to look at that knowing you can't do a thing to stop it?" he asked. "All too well the day I was eaten" Claire said softly. Claire held her nephew. The boy began crying. "I'll do it" Claire said taking her shirt off. The infant began to breastfeed off his aunt. "You tried and that's what matters. You want to do something? Sleep and stay healthy. Stop worrying your wife and you sister" she said standing up. " Easy for you...OW! Claire!" he yelled as she pushed him on his back with her bare foot. Taking her foot, she pressed it hard into his cheek. Her toes gripping his nose. "This is where you say yes sis! Not peddle your pity!" she yelled. "ALRIGHT! Just get your sweaty foot off my face!" he yelled. Claire took it off him. Tiffany nodded chuckling.

"I love you you little shit. More so since you moved here which is funny in a way. You have no idea what it meant to me to see your face that night. So I do not want you worrying yourself over something not in your control. You're the only sibling I have..." she said tearing up. "...sorry. Both of you" he muttered.

Tiffany sat the food down on a low table and they went and ate lunch. "Claire since you're here. Can I ask you a few questions?" Tiffany asked. Claire nodded as she kept eating. "Are borrowers perpetually horny?" she asked. Claire nearly choked on her food. "Well this guy here even though we're Menehune now he still has some borrower qualities...including that" Tiffany said. "Borrowers do have high sex drives. It's what kept us from going extinct. It can be...off putting for someone with your background" Claire replied. "I see that. He was all over me when I was pregnant. And does all of them have a foot fetish?" she asked. This time it was Ritchie who nearly choked. Claire laughed. "Tiffany. Borrowers evolved certain traits for survival. Sensitive feet for one. It not only helps us detect predators but they're an erogenous zone for us. He wants you to feel as good as possible" Claire said. "I'm here in the room" Ritchie groaned.

"Not complaining. It feels good to have my toes sucked" Tiffany said eating a bit of lettuce. "Tell me about it. Aspen does this thing with her tongue between my toes that's makes me wet as the pacific" Claire giggled. "Thanks for lunch" Ritchie said getting up and leaving. "That was fun" Tiffany chuckled. "It's fun to tease him. Might be the last time I get the chance" Claire said softly. She put her fork down. "13 days Tiffany. That's the time we got left" she said. Claire stood up and left the room to find Ritchie. He was back on the deck looking at the brook. "Came to embarrass me again?" he asked. "No. I came to show you something" she said taking his hand. They walked over a bride leading far away from the village. Claire looked around. "This should be okay. Don't move" she said to him. Claire cast a spell growing her to human size. She shot up so fast she got dizzy. "Whoa. That never happened before" she said. Ritchie was beyond stunned. His big sister was well...big.

"Pretty cool huh? Grandma taught me how to do it on my own. Man, you look tiny. Come here" she said grabbing him. She smiled as she pet his naked chest. She planted kisses on him. Claire stared at him for a moment. He looked at her with awe. The thought of not seeing him again terrified her. "You lip is quivering" he said. She felt the overwhelming urge to smell and lick him. To remember his essence. Her tongue licked him so hard his grass skirt came right off. Spitting it out her mouth she saw he was nude. The tip of her tongue felt the underside of his tiny balls. His little cock rested on it before she sucked it into her mouth. "Now I know something is wrong" he groaned. Ritchie didn't fight her. He enjoyed it as any ex-borrower should. With a contented sigh he came on her tongue. Claire tasted his seed. Youthful and healthy. "I won't eat you. I swear I won't" she muttered before pushing him into her mouth.

She sat on the grass sucking on him as hard as she could. The taste of sweat and little brother clung to her palate. She loved him, she loved him so much she thought her heart would burst. And as the days ticked by closer to the fated day, Claire had been thinking about her life. Mostly times that could've been better. Times arguing with Aspen. How she could've been nicer to Keith when he first came there. And today, today she thought of all the times she could've been nicer to her brother. The time wasted tormenting him instead of hugging him. Making him cry instead of making him laugh. Claire was learning a life lesson. Thinking about the roads not taken when our time draws near. She found herself cumming as she shed tears. Soaked to the bone riding her tongue, he came once more. And as he rode it out, he heard and felt not sighing, moaning, or groaning.

She spat him out on her palm. "That time I said I wish you were never born I didn't mean it! I should've just gave you have the peanut!" she sobbed. Ritchie was perplexed. He wondered what the hell she was on about until he remembered. "Sis? That was nearly 10 years ago. I forgave you for that long ago" he said. "But I never forgave myself for it. The look on your face when I said it. You cried so hard" Claire sobbed. "Claire? Big sis? What aren't you telling me?" he asked. Claire told him about Keith finding out the date Aspen would give birth. The date that would decide everything. "Oh. Siblings fight Claire. It happens. Yeah it hurt. Every time you yelled at me it hurt. But at the end of the day, you kept me from being lonely. Me and Tiffany fight now and then but in the end we both can't imagine a life without one another. That's love without being spoken. The fact you feel guilty about something from a decade ago says you care about me. You always have. That is what you need to think about right now. Not what you could've done different. But what you did and wouldn't change" he said.

Claire smiled at little and cuddled him. "Where did you learn something so grownup?" she asked. "He learned it from me" a voice said. Claire turned to see a beautiful woman her size stepping through the brook. Her skin was tan like everyone else. Her hair was long all the way down to her bare ass. Her breasts were large but firm. Early 20's with eyes that sparkled like polished bronze. Claire was hard pressed to remember anyone as breathtaking as her. "Welcome Claire. It's nice to see you under somewhat better circumstances" she said. "Ritchie? Do we..." she was saying until she saw her little brother prostrating before this woman in her palm. "Ah. One second" the woman said snapping her fingers. Instantly her form was changed to a rocky molten shape of a woman. Heat and power irradiated off her. "Pelé" Claire muttered. The goddess snapped her fingers once more changing back. "I chose this form as to not scare you" she said. She walked closer to her.

She took Ritchie from her. "May I speak to your sister alone?" she asked. "By your will goddess" he replied. She gave his small body delicate kisses. "I prefer you not to address me with such regality. Our happy go lucky nature was a breath of fresh air for me" she said. Ritchie blushed. "I'll try to remember that" he said. She placed him on the ground at their feet. "Come Claire. We have things to discuss" she said taking ahold of her hand. Pelé led her over the brook. Her hand was very warm but soft. Her scent was of pineapple and exotic flowers. She became concerned of how drawn she felt to her. "Don't be worried. It's natural because of my nature. One of my tasks is to oversee procreation and the act of love itself" Pelé said as if reading her mind. With and outstretched hand, Pelé commanded two stone pedestals to grow from the ground and moss and flowers to grow as cushions. She bid her to sit across from her.

Her smile was warm. She gave no indication she was angry or anything of malice. "Would you like to hear a story? It's one I haven't told anyone in thousands of years" she asked. Claire couldn't help but nod. "Long ago, very long ago, there was a time when magic did not exist in this world. There were no spells, no arcane, and also no homo smallicus. Fae, koonago, Yaksha...none of the species you have met existed then. Only the ancestors of humans...and I was once one of them" she said. "WHOA! Wait a minute! You were human once?!" Claire asked. "Yes, around 65,000 years ago I was a mortal like you. Felt cold, hunger, pain, menstruated just like any other human. Then one night that all changed. Where it came from I don't know. Another universe? The mind of a true God or goddess? None of us could say but it came nonetheless. Me, my sister, and our two brothers were enveloped in a bright light as we slept. Our fellow tribe knew not what it was. None could even approach us. Not even our parents."

When morning came we felt different. We felt no hunger or need to relieve ourselves. People we knew our whole lives feared us. An older man tried to kill my sister only to have his spear break harmlessly on her skin. Scared, she raised her hand at him and in an instant lightning from a clear sky stuck him down. It was the first time any of us had seen magic. His sons wanting revenge attacked us with sharpened stone knives and our brothers killed them with gust of wind throwing them into a rock face. Everyone was terrified of us. Wanting not to anger is any further, they bowed to us. Even our parents. In the days that followed, we gave a name to this power in us...Etherion.   Over time we found there was little we could not do. Make fire, cause rain and ice to fall. Crack open mountains. We didn't even age. Within a generation, those we knew had died and this new generation grew up to worship us. Our tribe grew as more and more came to find protection from other tribes. Those that did...we used them for selfish reasons"

"Our youngest brother however pleaded with us to use our magic to bring happiness and prosperity to the lands. We laughed at him. We told him it was pointless as humans would always find ways to bring misery to one another. I wish we had done what he asked. He left us to roam the world helping others and we didn't stop him. Claire...I'm ashamed to think about what we used our powers on back then and what happened later on" she said. Pelé turned away with tears in her eyes. They left steam in the air as they hit the ground. "Power corrupts. It always does and after 5,000 years we found ourselves fighting with one another as to who was better at ruling the continent of Africa. After all that time you'd think we'd left the continent to explore and claim our own lands. We didn't. Too paranoid of each other to leave. A family now conspiring against one another as to who would lead. A God and two goddesses arguing as to who subjugated humans better. It sickens me to think I was part of that."

"Well, it all came to a head as people chose sides. Each one of us had followers and of course that brought its own troubles. Thousands fought and died to please us and soon we ourselves got into the fight. Imagine the destruction one could cause with Etherion at their command. You could rip the stars from the heavens themselves if you wished. Reality warping and twisting by the second as we tried to kill an immortal being. The land burned, the sky wept black rain. At the height of the battle, he appeared. Our gentle little brother to stop us. Caught in the crossfire of our most vicious spells, he was obliterated. Nothing remained of him. His share of Etherion was shattered like glass creating modern magic. The magic of light and dark as you know it now. Just a shadow of what it once was. We stopped fighting. We were in shock at the loss. He was our blood. We lived with one another. Hunted and gathered with one another. Stared at the stars with one another. And our foolishness has exacted a horrific toll far worse than we had believed"

"Winter had come and it did not leave for two years. Our fight so brutal we damaged the world. Our people dead, from our fight, we wandered the world trying to save as many as we could. Atonement for our brother and our pride. Where we went we found no humans save a handful. I'm serious Claire. A few dozen at the most. We dared not try to rule them. We left them be hoping they wouldn't go extinct. Etherion wasn't enough to fix this. No, even that was beyond it and we weren't brave enough to try. We all met one last time to discuss what we should do. It was a unanimous agreement. We would renounce our connection with Etherion and embrace the fledgling magic our little brother had left in the world with one exception. We feared Etherion would find another host one day, so we decided that when the time came, we each would create a magical race as a vanguard. After that we went our separate ways never seeing one another again"

"I chose a group of islands far away as my home and used my power to tame it. Calmed the volcanoes, grew trees and grass. Transforming it into a paradise. Ehat would've took me a few days with Etherion took 100 years. The time was well spent as it showed me what it meant to create. Not conjure but to truly create. There I was alone for a very long time.  Many thousands of years later, humans in boats appeared on my shores. Humans had prospered and multiplied, and some came to my shore. I saw they feared this new place and I was so lonely I appeared before them. They bowed before me seeing my fiery form. I admit it felt good to have them worship me, but I has changed since the last time. No more was I inclined to rape teenage boys and young men or shrink and do away with girls I thought prettier than me. I...excuse me..." she said crying. Claire held her hands.

"I would protect them. They would be my children and I their goddess mother. I shrank some and gave them the ability to fantastically build things. Things that would endure and shelter them. Women that couldn't have children, I would stick my finger in my vagina and anoint their bodies as they prayed at my giant feet. I would be the goddess I should've been so long ago" she said. "Is that why you fear Aspen's unborn child so much?" Claire asked. "Yes. I've seen what unbridled power can do to the world. And as I have siphoned magic from my Etherion seed to shape the lands in lieu of creating a magical race, I'm inclined to intervene myself" she replied. "But Ritchie said if you die it would be catastrophic!" Claire said. "True. I'm so connected to this region of the world it would imbalance everything. The entire pacific rim would collapse into chaos. Volcanoes would erupt. Earthquakes, tsunamis would come forth from the power vacuum alone" Pelé said.  

"With all due respect, why exactly are you telling me all this? I'm an outsider and being married to Aspen, wouldn't that kinda put me at odds with you?" Claire asked. Pelé cracked a smile. "I know full well of your exhausting training with your grandmother. You being this size now speaks to your dedication but frankly, it's not enough. Even if you trained nonstop for the next 13 days you still couldn't withstand the might of a Mogwai let alone this Ebonheart. Your match with Lawan was impressive but she was holding back. She underestimated you and you took advantage. The Mogwai won't make that mistake. They will crush you in the first strike. I propose an alternative. One unique to your position" she replied. "What kind of alternative?" Claire asked. "Inside you is the blood of Fae. A direct descendant of the most powerful one that ever lived. However, you also carry the blood of borrowers. Because of that you will always be limited by what you could do. There is a way to fully awaken the Fae in you. Up to this point you could only force some of it out. You are Fae in name only, but I have a way in changing all that" she said holding her hand out. "Behold. The last sliver of my Etherion power. It has been weakened considerably by borrowing power from it over the centuries, but I think that will work in your favor" she said. The spark of magic power shined like a tiny star in her hand.

"And if I take your offer?" Claire asked. "Then your Fae blood will fully awaken and the magic at your command will be second only to a user of Etherion. You won't be a borrower anymore. You will truly be Fae" she replied. "What's the catch? There's always a catch" Claire said narrowing her eyes. "Astute. Very good. Yes, there's a catch Claire. Even if this is a smidgen of Etherion, it's still stupendously powerful. There's no telling what will happen to a person not suited for it. It's like trying to run a car on rocket fuel. Worst case it could burn you to ashes" she replied. There was silence. "I understand if you need..."

"I'll do it" Claire said abruptly. "Are you serious? You need to think this over Claire. It's very possible you could live a long life regardless of the outcome in the fight" Pelé said. "If it comes to it, I'll die defending my daughter. To survive when we've lost would be too cruel a fate. Especially if I have to think back to this moment wondering what could've been if I had said yes" Claire told her. "Then so be it" Pele said waving her hand over the magic seed. It transformed into a miniature version of herself. A tiny once inch Pelé. "Why?" Claire asked. "Etherion was a part of my being. It makes sense that condensing it to a solid form would be like this. Here" she said handing the tiny magical thing to her. It stared at her with no emotion. Claire felt queasy. She had sucked and nommed on Aspen and Keith countless times. Even her own brother just recently but to eat someone? Claire shook her head. "She's not a person" she told herself as she took the thing between her fingers and raised her to her mouth.

She opened her mouth and let the magical girl fall inside. She didn't think she could taste her, but she did. Claire had never tasted such a thing before. Power, power as it had a flavor. Sweet but not sweet. Sour but not sour. Her tongue tingled as it crossed her palate. And with a loud gulp, sent it down to her stomach. Claire waited. "I don't feel different. Guess it..." she said until a surge of agony shot through her body. Claire fell to the ground convulsing. Her legs jerked so fiercely her sandals flew off. Her head jerking back and forth, her toes clenching so tight her toe knuckles were white. Claire was having a seizure. "God...please don't let me die. She needs me...they need me. Just...just give me another miracle" she prayed. The pain and jerking subsided and Claire lay still. Pelé went to pick her up and was cast aside like a rag doll. Claire stood up on her own. An intense flame surrounded Claire and burned her clothes clean off leaving her skin untouched. "Oh no" Pelé muttered seeing a crazed look in Claire's eyes. She let off an animalistic growl and sniffed the air. Turning her attention to the village, Claire stormed off.

"No!" Pelé yelled growing trees, vines, and shrubs to block her path. Claire smashed through all of it with ease. Ritchie waited anxiously on his deck until he saw his giantess sister cracking right towards him. A bad luck would have it, two children were playing in the brook not too far away. "Claire?" Ritchie said hopping off his deck. He ran to her seeing something very off about her. Claire abruptly stopped her sprint looking dead at the children. One was very young, a girl about 6 or 7. The other a teenage boy around 15. Claire bent down. The two were terrified of her. She eyed them and her stomach growled. With uncanny speed, she grabbed them both up. The girl crying for her big brother to save her. He himself fighting her fingers franticly. She opened her mouth ready to devour the little girl but paused. The air shifted carrying the teenager's scent. She looked at him and then the girl once more. Oddly enough she released her just in time for Ritchie to catch her. "Run!" Ritchie yelled at her.

Claire tore off what flimsy clothing the boy had. She could smell his youthful pheromones. Her pussy got wet and her breasts leaked milk as she licked and kissed the boy. She lowered him to her pussy. "Claire no!" Ritchie yelled. She grabbed him with her other hand and then paused. She brought him close to smell. Sniffing his feet and crotch made her look surprised. "Stop this at once!" Pelé said using thick vines to ensnare her ankles and wrists. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HER?!" Ritchie screamed. "She took my magic to awaken her full powers! Right now, her borrower blood is fighting back! She's running on pure instinct!" Pelé shouted. Claire looked at him blushing. "Oh shit. Instinct? Eating and mating is all she knows right now” Ritchie said. "I'll have to smite her to protect everyone. I'm so sorry Claire. This is all my fault" Pelé said concentrating a ball of intense flame. "NO! She's still in there!" Ritchie yelled. "Look at her? She's trying to decide if to eat or fuck you to death!" Pelé yelled. "No. She smells me. She knows this scent even instinctually. She knows I'm little brother" he said.

Claire snapped the vines holding her wrists. The clothes Ritchie had put back on were ripped clean away. "Claire? Can you hear me?" he said.  Claire gave no answer as she began pushing him into her pussy feet first. "I love you sis. I won't stop loving you even after this" he said. She paused. Tears fell from her eyes. Claire pulled him back out setting him down. He ignored the sticky pussy juice on his legs and feet. She let out a pitiful scream and shrank down. Before he could go to her she rose into the air a flew away at high speed. A streak or red light she seems to be disappearing back where she had come. "I'll see to her" Pelé said. "No. You've done enough. This is a Thimblekin matter" he hissed as she began to cross the brook.

Ritchie walked for an hour guided by a shining red light in the far distance. When he finally approached it, he found Claire hiding under an orchid. She was writhing about until she saw him getting close. "STAY BACK!" she yelled. Ritchie didn't stop. "Don't...don't come any closer...please" she begged. He kept walking. She went to fly off once more, but he grabbed her ankle forcing her down. She was radiating power so brightly he had to squint. Breastmilk turned to steam as her body was so warm with magic and lust. "Please...I don't want to rape you" she whined. He smiled at her and picked her up in his arms. "Taking you home" he said to her. "Are you crazy?! Look at me?! I'm a fucking monster! I would've eaten that girl and raped that boy to death! God Ritchie...I almost raped you" she sobbed. "All those times I pissed you off, got on your nerves, embarrassed you...did you ever cast me away?" he asked. She didn't answer.

"You're suffering. How could I turn my back on you sis? Holding you in my arms like this feels so right. I'm not going to run away from what's going on with you. I'll hold on to you as long as I must. You're my big sister and the first friend of ever had. This is like that peanut. Don't hoard it again this time. Share it with me" he said softly. Her arms held around his neck tighter as he buried her head into his chest. Exhausted, she ended up falling asleep. "Jesus Ritchie" Tiffany said seeing him carry in a sleeping red glowing Claire. "Is she even safe like that?" she asked. "You can take you and the baby to the neighbors just in case" he said. "What about you?!" she asked. "I'm not leaving her side" he replied laying her on his bed. Tiffany took their son out the house. Pelé sat nearby waiting. "Anything?" Pelé asked. Tiffany shook her head. Pelé stood guard outside ready to strike down Claire if necessary. She hoped she wouldn't have to. She was too ashamed to approach them directly at that time. "We'll see" she muttered looming through the small window at the reddish light.

He didn't leave her side the whole night. Whimpering in bed. Sweating. He cooled her naked body with damp cloths. Rubbed her feet to soothe her body. Pushed the sparkling hair from her face. The hair in question was no longer blonde. Like spun ruby. Transformed from the infusion of power running wild in her. When dawn broke, Claire awoke. "Hey sis...want some..." he was saying before she shoved him aside and ran out. The moss like grass burned under her bare soles as magic power spewed from her. "Resting did nothing" Pelé hissed. She raised her hand. "Goddess no!" Ritchie yelled coming outside. "The power is going to destroy her from the inside out. This is a mercy child" she said. Claire was oblivious to all this as she fought to reign it in. It began to ebb. "I saw that. Claire. If you can hear me do that again but stronger!" Pelé said. Claire was thinking of those she loved and the wish of seeing them again. There was a tug of war with her control. Her borrower blood screamed for survival as magic was awakening her Fae side. A perfect storm of chaos at the genetic level.

" I can feel your heart girl. Focus...focus on a perfect moment. The moment you were at the most peace. The greatest happiness you ever felt. Use it to reign it in. Don't let it be your master. YOU are its master" Pelé pleaded. Claire's mind raced for that moment. Several fit the bill. The first time Aspen said she loved her. Had sex. Got married. Found out she was pregnant. And then it came to her. That truly perfect moment. And the words that came out her mouth expressed it simply..."It's a boy".

Her tears fell as she remembered birthing her child, hearing it cry, the vet telling her it was a boy. Claire looked at Pelé as the raging power internalized. "I can't...hold it" she said. "Look inside yourself like I did. Find The form it must take. The form you wish for and it will be so" Pelé said thinking of herself so long ago. "Grandma? Are fairies nice?" Claire asked. "Some are. Stories say they live children very much and guide them safely out of their forests" Aspen’s grandmother replied. "I want to be a fairy!" Claire yelled jumping up and down on the teacup saucer she was standing on. Her bare feet slipped on it and she tumbled backwards into her tea. The tiny 9-year-old borrower girl came up coughing. "You okay sweetie?" the woman asked. Claire giggled pushing a lemon slice out of the way. "I'm cool" she replied. The woman sighed plucking her from her tea. She took off all her clothes to dry her with a napkin. "I wanted to be a fairy too once. I have memories of one. Kind, gentle, showed me the world from your perspective. Shrinking me down and dancing with me on top of a flower" the woman snickered.

"I always felt safe around him...my Oberon" she muttered. Claire had totally forgotten that memory until then but recalling it changed her forever. "I want to be a fairy" she muttered. Ritchie and Pelé were blinded by an intense burst of red light. When they could see again, Claire was changed. Her hair was like living fire. Her skin glowed like red St. Elmo's Fire. And most shockingly there were two pairs of wings on her back. They themselves looked like they were made of embers. "Claire?" Ritchie asked. "It's alright. Everything is okay now" she said smiling. Ritchie went to hug her but stopped seeing the flames. "They won't hurt you. Not if I wish it" she said. He touched her hair and found it warm. It didn't burn him. He hugged her tightly and cried. "I know I scared you so bad. I'm sorry for that. I'll never forget what you said to me little brother. It gave me hope" she said kissing his cheek. Pelé smiled on them warmly. Relieved that it worked out she began to walk away. "Wait. What happens now?" Claire asked her. "You are my champion Claire. My hopes and dreams are within you" she replied. "That is one relieved deity" Ritchie said. "We got an audience" Claire said pointing to villagers. Ritchie took her inside the house.

Hesitantly, Tiffany came back with her son. "Cool!" Ritchie said as Claire turned on and off her power. "Does you asscheeks always glow when that happens now?" Tiffany asked. "Oh...she's right" Ritchie said pointing to her right buttcheek. The rose birthmark on it glowed fiercely when she changed. "Guess so. Grandma said it was proof of my Fae blood" she replied. "How does it feel?" Tiffany asked. "Strange. I can't smell things so easily anymore. My borrower abilities are really gone" she replied. "You know what that means? You can't stop me from tickling you anymore!" Ritchie cackled as he pushed Claire down. He tickled under her arms and ribs getting her to laugh. "Not my feet you asshole!" she yelled as his fingers raked up her soles. The two laughed and rolled around on the floor stopping only to catch their breath. "I should get home soon. I promised I'd be back today" she said. Ritchie nodded and helped her up. "Say hi to everyone for me and Claire? I'll..." he said trailing off. "I know" she said kissing him. Claire formed a portal and left for home.

"How did it go?" Lily asked seeing her granddaughter enter the living room. "They aren't coming" she replied. "Well, that was expected" Lily sighed. "I didn't come back empty handed" Claire said transforming. Lily was aghast from the magic coming off her. Not even she was this powerful even at her height. "Care for some practice?" Claire asked. "...go easy on an old woman" she replied. Claire smiled at her. "So that power...did it come easy?" Lily asked sensing ancient power in her. "As easy as the love of family" she replied.

24 hours earlier...

The clack and clang of wood and metal resounded through the training hall. Xaimei swung her glave back and forth to strike her opponent. Her opponent, an old man easily deflected it. She grunted as she twirled it making the man fall back a step. She smiled thinking she got the upper hand only to have him slam the pole right down on her foot. "Fuck!" she yelled dropping her weapon and falling to the floor. "You've gotten much better, but you still sacrifice footing for power. Even a palace will crumble under a bad foundation" the old man said. "Yes...sifu" she said nursing her big toe. The old man bent down and took her foot in his hands. Her toe was obviously broken. His hands glowed as he healed her. "There. Why did you come here today? You of all people should be busy elsewhere" he said. "Needed something to take my mind off of things" she replied. "Namely why your uncle hasn't adhered to ritual code?" he asked. "Mostly" she whispered.

"He refuses to give permission! Without it I cannot take his life or assume the mantle of West!" she yelled. The old man nodded. "Once I was given a task having a politician in Beijing persuade others to have talks with Nixon. He was a stubborn young man. Believed whole heartedly in the party, in the country, in Mao. Nothing I said or did would make him do as I said. Shrinking him and threatening to crush or eat him did nothing. He had no family to threaten. Fearless in the face of death threats. Do you know how I turned him?" he asked. Xaimei shook his head. "He had a mistress he cared nothing for, but I used my magic to make sure she got pregnant. By the time he was born, the party was divided in welcoming Nixon to China. They just needed a push. I told this young man I would crush his shrunken infant son between my fingers as if he was an ant if he did not do as I said. He obeyed. Even the most stubborn of people have a point in which they must relent" he said.

"You had that woman give birth only to use the baby as leverage?" Xaimei asked. The old man stroked his beard. "What's one more human?" he chuckled. Xaimei stood up and bowed. "Thanks for the lesson" she said. "Thanks for letting me see a sweaty pretty girl. This old man needs stimulation now and then" he said smiling. Xaimei headed back home thinking about what she could say or do to have her uncle agree to be killed by her. By Mogwai law, the head of the family was an appointment for life. If one became too old and feeble, the next in line would kill them with consent. Consent being the key. The same went if one was severely disabled in the event of battle or accident. If they were an extreme burden and weaker than a human, which was the yardstick so to speak, they were expected to die as well. It was a disgrace to have a weak leader and reflected on the entire family. In the case of Xaimei's uncle, being shrunk to the size of a grain of salt fit the bill. Problem was he refused to hand the family over to her nor agree to die by her hand. Without his consent and death, she couldn't assume leadership.

She stepped onto the estate and kicked off her flats. "Where is he?" she asked seeing her mother. She pointed to a desk in the living room. She came up from behind him. Now at her scale, he was barely an inch tall but acted as if nothing had changed. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Looking over the assets being deployed" he said not looking at her. He paced back and forth on a sheet of paper mumbling. "And what can you do about it?" she asked. "I was shrunk not enfeebled in the mind" he replied roughly. "You embarrass us. Everyone speaks of your cowardice!" she yelled. "Servant. Tea" he ordered her. It incensed her as this fat tiny fuck ordered her mother around. She dutifully set a cup of tea down. "Pour some on the platter fool!" he yelled. The woman cringed at the speck of a man and let a few drops fall on the saucer. Xaimei was disgusted by him crawling to it and drinking like a mangy dog. "You can't even grow to our size can you?" she asked. He snapped his fingers and grew...only to her navel. "Look at you. Struggling to even do that. How long can you hold it?" she said pushing him to the floor. His size faltered and he shrunk back down. "Pathetic. And you think you're fit to lead? You're a dust mite. A grain of sand. Toe jam. Speaking of..." she said.

She pointed to him and the ring on her finger glowed. With little warning, she slammed her bare foot on his body. His miniscule head poked out between her toes. "What are you doing?! Get...your smelly fucking foot off me!" he yelled. "Make me. Oh...you can't. Don't worry. I fortified you before I did this. See, there's one thing a person like you cherishes. Not my father, not me, not even the honor of this family. Your life. And that's the rub isn't it? A coward who values his life over family honor. I'm going to give you something you'll care more about than your life. The peace of death" she hissed. "...what does that mean?" he asked. "I'm going to fortify you so much damn near nothing will kill you but I'm going to make sure you feel the pain just as normal. By the end of this day you will beg for death" she said. "Please...use your ring. The stone can cure me" he whined. "As if I'd use it on you. You forgot about the dishonorable things you did to me?!" she yelled. 

"I was your niece. A 13-year-old girl" she hissed as she moved her big toe right over his head and began pushing down. Xaimei was so angry she shed tears. The man couldn't scream as toe flesh covered most of his mouth. Even if he could open it, sweat, grime, and bits of callous would fall in for sure. Wen, her servant and mother, stood uneasy. Her daughter's anger was borderline manic. She could only imagine the pain the man felt as normally his head would've popped like a grape by that point. "Mistress...is there another way?" she asked. "Do not feel sorry for this creature. This is karma at its finest" Xaimei said. "Still. If you let up he may relent instead of dragging this out for spite" she said. Xaimei ushered her close. "He raped your daughter when she was 13" she whispered. Xaimei was almost shocked at her mother's expression. Never had she seen such a scowl on her. "...do as you will" she said leaving her. Xaimei watched her leave and took her foot and big toe off him.

"How was it? Came back from practice so I know my feet reek. Maybe the pain was worse? Yes, I fortified your body but made sure you could still feel the same amount of pain. Tell me Uncle Jin. You lusted after my feet for years. How does it feel to be at their mercy? TELL ME!" she screamed. She raised her foot and slammed it down on his body. Over and over she did screaming her question. She only paused to catch her breath. Jin was bruised all over but very much alive. Coughing blood and gasping, he glared at her. "You'll never...lead this family whore" he coughed. The giantess kicked him hard sending him right into the wall. "Heal yourself if you want. Makes no difference" she said leaving him there. She cleaned herself up and sat in a robe on her bed. Her mother came into her room. With not a word she sat down to comb Xaimei's hair. Minutes passed, and her mother went to work a braid on her hair. "Where was I?" she asked. "What?" Xaimei asked. "Where was I?" Wen asked. "Oh, you mean back then" Xaimei replied.

Her hands shook as Xaimei took ahold of them. "You were here. We were traveling when he...this was not on you" she said. "I am your mother. It is always on me" she said. Xaimei could see she was deeply disturbed by the news. "No. Not even you can be everywhere. It's all on him" she sneered. Wen put the brush down. "I'm going to make tea" she said standing up abruptly. "None for me" Xaimei said. "Is it not for you. It's for him" she said coldly. Xaimei was about to ask why she would even do that until she saw a wickedness in her eyes that made her blood run cold. Wen quietly made tea as she tapped her bare foot in deep thought. When it was done, she poured a cup and went over to Jin. Still dazed and sore, he managed to jump as giant toes missed him by inches. "We shall have a talk master Jin" she said plucking him up.