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What is it like to go home as Momma's and Daddy's daughter but days ago you were an orphan boy?

Enterprise

Chapter Seven ~ Home

By Ariel Montine

I had told Erika moments ago how I was given magic while completing a task with friends as a transwoman that Erika had helped, which history no longer reflects,. I had not intended to remove years from her as well and now her once faded hair shown brilliant red as she was 20 again. Erika began, "My daughter, I cherish the gift you have given me , thank you." She smiled at me and tried to make sure I knew that she meant it. I told her, "You are welcome."

Erika turned her attention to me and asked," What about your friend Rachel?" I sadly told her, "Rachel, I'm sorry but I don't have any special knowledge on how to tell when someone is ready for a permanent change."

" Until I know differently, it seems that using the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care is the best way to handle it. I don't want to do anything to harm you by acting unwisely" I replied.

Rachel said, "I can wait till I have clearance for surgery if I get what you just did to Erika instead."

I told her, "Rachel, I promise! I don't know how I am going to manage but it makes sense to me to limit it to a few test cases to see how it works rather than trying to meet the world's needs. Erika and Rachel if I can have your word not to tell anyone else about this until I can know for sure what I should do."

Rachel responded, "I will, Alana"

Erica smiled at her and said, "I'll keep your secret, Alana, and in order to do that I'll have to return to my proper age. Do you feel you can do that?"

I smiled at her and touched her hand, "Sorry to be an Indian giver, I've absorbed the chant now so I can do it. Are you going to be OK?"

Erika smiled at me and looked into my eyes, "More than OK, to be a complete woman. Go ahead, Alana."

I began to chant and Erika started aging and when she was almost the age she was before then she stopped aging and the chant faded to nothingness. I asked her," Erika, Are you OK?"

Erika responded, "I feel wonderful. As great as this has been, I have a new client waiting, I would like to bid you both God Speed till we meet again." She paused and said, "Or Goddess Speed, which ever works!" And the three of us were still giggling when Erika escorted us thru the door.

The lady in the waiting room appeared very eager and she said, "Hi, I'm Tina Caruthers!" and she smiled at the three of us. Tina looked all woman so I assumed that she must be one of Erika's female to male clients.

Erika told her, "Hi I'm Dr Erika Johansen. Please have a seat in my office and I will be right in after seeing my friends, Alana and Rachel, out." Erika led us out to the parking lot, gave us both a hug and waved good bye. Since Erika was the only person in sight, I began chanting and ported us out as we watched Erika turn back to return to the building. I had caught a glint of sunlight from the direction of Erika's office window but it was gone and so were we, too.

We both exited inside Rachel's dorm room because Rachel needed to make a change before going to class. I told her, "Bye Rachel! See ya!" She gave me a hug and smiled at me then let me go and I ported away.

I was getting good at finding out of the way spots to port to and I ported in unobserved then went over and found my class and sat down and opened up my laptop to study my notes waiting for class to start.

After classes we had all agreed to meet at the Student Center. As one by one my sisters met me, we talked and decided that we knew a place at the convenience store on the corner that we could arrive unobserved. We all went into the ladies room and after we determined that we were alone in there, I ported us away to the unobserved point at the convenience store.

Once we arrived thru the portal, all of my sisters took off running and I ran after them too. Amazingly enough as we came to the yard, we filed in one by one walking with Atina the oldest at one end of the line of women and in order by age until I brought up the end of the line. Each of us received a hug and kiss from Momma and Daddy as we came in and once inside we collected another hug and kiss from our sister Ariel. We all sat down in the living room and caught each other up on everything that had gone on (except for those things that national security had classified Top Secret)

Ariel loved the idea of us becoming a touring dance company and she wanted to quit school and dance with us too. Momma and Daddy told her that she had to wait till she could manage to get college credit for the tour like we had managed to be awarded. Ariel just couldn't wait to grow up and what we heard about her boyfriend Eric made us wonder if she might elope. However as much as Ariel wanted to grow up, she also wanted a big fancy wedding so she had to wait till she was eighteen so Daddy would pay for her wedding.

Supper was wonderful as each of us girls pitched in to prepare and cook the meal as well as set the table. Dinner was very pleasant and we were all thankful to have the family together. When the meal was finished we all pitched in again to clear the table, put up the food and wash the dishes. When all the work was done we girls excused ourselves and went up to the bedrooms since we decided that it was time that we checked on our secret place.

Atina explained to Ariel that we would all be having a private meeting for a little bit but we would give her time later. Ariel agreed to be patient and she knew from the past that we would make it worth her while to be patient when things had concluded. My sisters and I had gathered in Atina's room and when she came in and closed the door. Each of my sisters touched me to be prepared for all of us to port into the secret room instead of having to go thru all the passages and secret places . We all exited the portal in the huge room with the high domed ceiling above us. My sisters powered up each of the spheres around the room that were together designed to mask what we chose to do in the room.

Each of my sisters went thru all the tricks that they had learned to manipulate their elemental force. Something was not quite right to me so I searched thru each cubby hole and place that some one might hide. Finally, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief as I coaxed a young woman to stand. But when I saw her face, I called out in disbelief, "Tina, what are you doing here?" And I was not mistaken because it was Tina.

Tina exclaimed, "Please don't hurt me!" Tina cowered in fear of me so I was careful not to make any motion that could have been misunderstood as threatening.

"Tina, you are someone that I ordinarily would love to help. I'm going to see if I can find out a couple of things first." ~'Andrina, Tina is here that I met leaving Erin's office. Can you safely determine her status?'~

Andrina thought back to me, ~'I can safely scan her and see where she stands.'~ Andrina remotely determined what gender brain she had and her chromosomes. ~'Alana, she is a pre-op male to female transsexual'~

"Tina, did you bug Erin's office or otherwise were you able to observe what went on in there?"

"Honest, Alana, I was not there to spy on you or your friend. I had personal business there myself. I'm a pre-op mtf transsexual, I've had over 2 years of real life test and now I have enough money to get my SRS. While I was in town, to check on you and your sisters for the agency, I made an appointment with Erika to get my second SRS letter." Tina opened a concealed compartment in her belt and drew out a folded paper. When I unfolded it, I found that it was indeed a SRS letter for Tina from Erika.

I asked her, "What else can you tell me about your knowledge of the situation?"

She told me, " I entered the situation at the debriefing at VAB. The agency had me portraying a yeoman in uniform who was taking care of the whims of the brass. My specialty is disguise and getting into places thought impossible. I was told about all of your abilities as demonstrated in space after the world and Enterprise was saved. I was also provided with background info from the life you all left behind to do your good deeds. When Michael Briggs, codenamed Archangel, but not his real designation of course, had his cover blown by you after that exit where you practically thumbed your nose at the brass, I was assigned instead to watch to see if you were going to cause any trouble. I agree they deserved it but they are not used to independent women sticking it to them. "

I asked, "You aren't going to apply for dance team coach, are you?"

"I agree you need someone really talented for you girls to pull this off so I won't fake it. You will be needing a travel coordinator and one, contrary to Archangel that job is not beneath me and two, I hope to become one of you so that I can be an asset and have friends cause I need good friends like you girls. The Agency is going to want someone with you reporting on your activities, so wouldn't it be better if it were a friend who could mislead them at times than someone you didn't know who it was?" Tina explained

"That's an interesting question that I will put to my sisters but I have a question for you first. If you give me your word that you will keep something secret, can I count on you to keep it?" I asked

"Yes Alana, If I give you my word then I will keep your secret." Tina answered

"I'll give you something for free and you'll have to take it on faith cause I can't prove it. Prior to that magic being released on Harmony I was a transwoman same as you but I had not even started RLT yet. I tell you this because I want you to know that I am motivated to make your situation better. Can I trust you to keep any ability that I may have in this area especially how it may or may not effect you, secret? ", I asked

"Yes I will keep it secret and I agree to let you change me to be whole, please Alana?", Tina answered

I nodded yes and began chanting and it took hold of Tina and she was made whole. As the changes settled out, I mentally explained Tina's offer to my sisters and asked them if we should trust her to make her a part of us and they all agreed.

Tina whooped, "Woo hoo! I'm whole! Thank you for trusting me Alana."

I told her, "I'm happy for you, Tina and my sisters and I would like you to be one of us and for you to be our travel coordinator. One of the things we will need to do is get you out of the way when we do something unique so you have plausible deniability. Today is one of those times so I am going to port you out of here. I'm sure you would like to be somewhere private anyway to check things out. Where can I port you?"

"If you can port me to the Tech student center, I can find my way to my room from there. It just occurred to me that Beth Harding from the Agency is a dance genius Her dance resume is impressive and it is all real. Beth is a straight shooter and she will cooperate with me on what the Agency is told. Would you like for me to make contact and put her in touch with the Head Coach for the dance team coaching job?"

"You have my blessing to include Beth. Good Luck Tina!" and I chanted and opened a portal for Tina to walk thru into the student center.

We decided not to delay and we began our attempt to make more magic. I drew a pentagram in the center of the huge geodesic domed room. I called my sisters one by one and directed them to the point on the pentagram that they were to stand. Finally when only I was left, I entered the center without stepping on any lines. "All Ready?" and my sisters told me in unison, "Yes!"

After we were all in position, I drew on my memory of the music which had first been revealed in Harmony. It was an instrument that I plucked and tuned as I added each member of our group.

"Adella, Summon and Contain" Adella summoned a contained sphere of gravity floating above her head. A note sounded sweetly by itself in the room.

"Arista, Summon and Contain" Arista summoned a contained sphere of plasma above her head floating at the same level. The first harmonic of the note blended and richened the sound.

"Aquata, Summon and Contain" Aquata summoned a contained sphere of weather overhead, again even with the other two. The second harmonic joined in, and the sound became richer.

"Atina, Summon and Contain" Atina ‘s sphere of cryonics was quickly placed in alignment with the others. The third harmonic made to sound richer still, .

"Andrina, Summon and Contain!" Andrina’s sphere contained electromagnetism. When it was also in alignment with the others, the fourth harmonic blended and richened the sound again. They formed a very pleasing note that began to increase in volume.

Without delay I called, "All Unify!" All of the spheres were flung towards a point over my head. Instead of trying to overpower it, I willed my astral form to beat the spheres to the point of convergence. All of the energies were channeled thru me and directed what had become powerful magic into forming a portal. As before, once it had done its work, it withdrew back within me and my astral form approached to join with my body underneath it.

Stepping thru the portal was an amazingly beautiful woman dressed in Celtic garb of a Queen as she floated in the air. Even without observing her regal mannerisms and deportment, I am sensing that she is a Goddess. My sisters sensed the same thing and as she neared landing on the ground clear of our circle, they and I dropped to kneel and prostrate ourselves.

"My daughters you do well to recognize me as worthy of respect. I am the Goddess Danu, Mother to all Faerie, and I am here to reveal your true selves. You are not psionic as you suppose in having the ability to yield those forces of nature." explained the Goddess Danu.

She began again after pausing, "Daughters, I give you leave to rise before me and also to ask your questions.There are other Faerie Queens but I am Queen of all the Queens since I am mother to all Faerie."

Arista, as she was bidden rise, asked the Goddess Danu, "If we are not really psionic, What was it that gave us our powers?"

"What it was, was Magic!" The Goddess Danu paused to let them take it in. "You, daughters of Triton and Athena, are faerie even though your father is mortal. You have been blessed to not be required to bear a physical mark that would bear witness that you are all faerie. Even though five of you are faerie elemental and the sixth is faerie enchantress all of you are faerie and I am your queen!"

Atina, as she was bidden rise, asked the Goddess Danu, "Goddess, what is your will that we should use such powerful forces as you have entrusted to us?"

The Goddess replied, "As it was in the beginning, even to now, the faerie are nature's caretaker. Man is a great threat and while war in the manner of the men is not proper, your power is applied with wisdom and using your wiles. Open yourself up to the secret things and do their bidding only as it does not interfere with your reason to exist."

Adella, as she was bidden rise, asked the Goddess Danu, "Goddess, how can we recognize other faerie since we had no idea that neither us or our mother was faerie?

"My daughter, your mother asked me for a human childhood for you. So you did not possess the ability to fly, gliding on the breezes, the ability to become invisible, and the ability to use glamour to alter appearance, and the ability to sense another faerie. I give you your birthright now and hope that you will use these talents as wisely as you have used the ones you possess. "

Aquata. as she was bidden rise, asked the Goddess Danu, "Goddess, in times before, your temple containing your recorded words and your priestess could direct a supplicant to know your will. How will we know your will, Goddess Danu?" and she curtseyed to the goddess and listened for the response.

"My Daughter, I will make my will known to you as you are ready to receive it. Have faith and it will be provided for you all." the Goddess answered.

I rose as I was bidden and asked," Goddess, Would you please send me a teacher so that I can understand what new enchantments that can be used as we together try to achieve your purpose?"

The Goddess smiled and touched my shoulder and told me, "This too will be provided as you are ready to receive it. I must go but I or my word will come for you when you need to hear my wisdom." The Goddess flew up to the pentacle of the room and a portal opened at its apex and the Goddess passed thru it and the portal vanished.

Atina told us, "Who all thinks its time to get ready for bed and sleep on this one?"

My sisters and I shouted together, "We Do!" They all gathered as before and I ported us up into the house. I was the first out of the room because I wanted to catch up with Ariel since she and I were sharing a room since we were the two youngest. I finally found her in the den playing her video game. She was so glad to see me that she stopped her game in the middle of it and leaped into my arms for a hug. While we were entwined, I could not help but perceive that Ariel was also Faerie. I wondered what kind of secrets she had tucked away waiting for her to grow up.

Ariel told me, "I didn't think you all would ever get thru. Its been so long and I miss you Alana and all my sisters." She got out the linens to make up my bed and we made it up together.

"I missed you too Ariel, I don't know about the rest of our sisters but I promise to be around more. I love you, sis!", I told Ariel as I got her to show me where everything else was since it had been so long since I had slept there.

Ariel told me, "I love you too, Alana" We got into our nightgowns and got under the covers. We also said our goodnights but what that means when 2 sisters had not seen each other for a while is that instead of talking normally we started whispering. Eventually we both went to sleep. I began to ponder that I had been born into a faerie family and I wondered if I dared tell Ariel. I wept tears of joy as it finally registered that after all these years, "I've come home!"