Gloria stretched as the sun shone into her room. Today was her 16th birthday and unlike last year, she would be enjoying a much quieter day. Looking over at Sasha who was rolled up in a sleeping bag, she nudged her to wake up. "Sasha you awake?"
Sasha groaned, rolling over as her friend tried to wake her. "What time is it," she grumbled.
"8:30 Sasha," Gloria stated. "Cmon early bird gets the worm."
"Too early," Sasha whined as she threw a pillow over her head. Gloria smirked, shaking her head as she now pulled the pillow off Sasha. "Cmon Sasha we gotta get a move on." Sasha grunted throwing the pillow at her friend as she slowly stood up. The 15 year old had stayed up way too late last night as her and Gloria talked well past midnight. "When my 16th birthday happens next month we're sleeping in." Gloria chuckled promising Sasha they would sleep in for her birthday.
As the two teens descended the stairs they could already see Gloria's family up. Lisa was in the kitchen, feeding an almost one year old Lynne as Jason poured himself a cup of coffee. Hearing Gloria the two now smiled. "Happy birthday Gloria," they said happily.
Gloria smiled thanking her parents as the two teens now sat at the table. "Hope you two are hungry," Jason said, presenting the teens with a stack of pancakes. "I made your favorite, blueberry pancakes."
"Thanks dad," Gloria said, giving her father a hug. Glancing to the side she could see Sasha eagerly digging into her stack, causing Gloria to laugh. "See getting up early has its advantages." Sasha could only frown as she continued to shovel the pancakes into her mouth.
"So you ready to get your license today," Lisa asked as she wiped Lynne's mouth. "Kinda nervous," Gloria responded. "Wish I had more practice. "
"You're going to do great Glo," Lisa smiled. Gloria thanked her mom as she now began to eat. Hopefully this birthday would be a bit quieter than last year.
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The portal opening just outside the Turner home was thankfully unnoticed by the neighbors. As quickly as it appeared, it vanished leaving a rather large group of 5th graders standing outside. "Well here we are," Mia said happily, gesturing around the neighborhood. Winery, Drake, Fayth, Terumi, Pyrrha, and Zack blinked staring in awe at the neighborhood.
"Very impressive," Winry stated. "I had no idea you could move between timelines."
"Mia is getting really good at magic," Zack smiled. "You'd be amazed at some of the stuff she can do." Winry turned, a smile on her face before giving Zack a critical look. "You really need to comb your hair Zack," she stated in an almost motherly fashion. "I mean our parents have asked us to reach out to the wizards on their behalf. We really need to make a good impression." Mia grit her teeth as Zack apologized, combing his wild dark hair.
Rexie watched her master as she frowned at the she wolf. Winry was the princess of the wolf beasts. When the other magical families discovered Zack and Mia had a connection to the wizards they approached them, asking to make contact with them in order to forge an alliance. While Mia was only too happy to help, she found herself bothered in the way Winry seemed to nitpick everything Zack did. Zack was her best friend and she wasnt exactly thrilled with anyone telling him what to do.
Rexie though knew differently as to why her master was bothered by Winry and Zack. The imp had gotten a glimpse of her charges future, a future that saw her married to Zack. At 11 the two kids only thought of themselves as best friends but Rexie knew things were about to change. As the two grew older their feelings would become more romantic. Mia was perhaps still too young to figure it out but she was falling in love with Zack. Right now though she simply saw Winry as someone who was picking on Zack, not as a romantic rival.
"Zack looks fine Winry," Mia sighed. "Will you just leave him alone."
"You only get one chance to make a first impression Mia," Winry responded, causing Mia to sigh.
"Winry is right Mia," Pyrrha stated. "I just wish I had the proper outfit. I look like a pauper in these rags." Mia looked the mummified princess over, giving her a wry look. The mummy princess appeared to have changed her wrappings, the fine gauze was bleach white on her dried skin, while she appeared to have bathed herself in a lavender fragrance. "You look great Pyrrha," Mia chuckled. "Trust me Gloria isnt the kind of girl concerned with appearances. She'll like you just the way you are."
"So how did you meet," Fayth asked as floated between the others.
"Theough her sister and aunt," Mia said. "They actually rescued me from a rogue kitsune. We became friends this past summer."
"Really a rogue kitsune," Terumi the tanuki said in awe, causing Mia to nod. "Wow. I'll have to ask my cousin when I see him. He used to date a kitsune, I think her name was Kiko. Wonder what he knows."
"I just want to meet the girl that turns into a dragonness," Drake said excitedly.
"Oh that's Samantha," Mia stated. "Shea a friend of Gloria's sister. I'll have to ask Gloria about meeting her later on." The group of monster children could only nod as Mia now rang the bell.
Gloria gazed curiously at the door, wondering who could be. Katie and Kellie were back at school and Jackie had Ann sleepover at her house the night before. "You expecting anyone mom," she asked.
"Cant say that I am," Lisa said as she picked up Lynne. Gloria and Dasha exchanged a curious look as they now slowly approached the door. "Think its safe," Sasha asked.
"I hope so," Gloria replied as she fingered her ring. "Yeah same," Sasha mumbled. "I dont feel like dying in my jammies." As the two teens slowly opened the door, they gaped at the group of children in front of them.
"Hi Gloria," Mia said happily. "Happy birthday. I was hoping we could talk."