[O-oh... something about that little hand patting at her face awakens an extra well of warm, fuzzy motherly feelings, and a fresh set of tears well up. I create this boy. He's made from me! It's still a lot to process.]
I, uh, I'm here now! [She realizes he must be talking about the original her. The one who actually had her and died. But she's not even sure how to explain that to a child. She barely even understands it all herself!]
I- I know I was... gone... but right now I'm here! A friendly fox brought me here. S-so that I can have more time with you! [Which is all technically true! Now that she knows her fate, she wonders if part of the reason that the fox brought her here was so she could meet her son.]
Now we can keep spending time together, a-and have all sorts of fun!
[His eyes brighten at the suggestion. Pressing her for further details on where she'd vanished to isn't firmly on his radar, so he's very easy to distract. What's more important is that she's here now.]
Really? You mean it? You don't have to go away and fight now? [Oh, wait, that clicks with something he'd been told earlier.] Auntie April says there's no Krang here! None at all! We're safe!
[Well okay technically she said nothing will hurt him here, but he can read between the lines.]
That's right! Mother is here to stay! [She frees a hand to rub his head.]
Everything's gonna be better now! There's ice cream, and your auntie's right! None of those awful, awful nasty Krang things that I totally have met before! [A nervous laugh.]
Also, I'm a Legend now! That makes your mom one of the coolest heroes! [She gives a proud flap of her wings.]
[He opens his mouth to agree - obviously, Mom has always been one of the coolest heroes, if not THE coolest on account of being Mom - but when she flaps her wings he notices them for the first time. Everything else was just too exciting.
Awestruck, he reaches a hand out towards the feathers. They're so pretty...]
Wow, wow! Are you an angel? Am I dead now?
[He sure doesn't remember dying. He also doesn't sound especially bothered about the answer potentially being yes. If the afterlife is a nicer place with pizza and ice cream and all of his loved ones, it doesn't seem so bad...!]
No!! [She responds very quickly, as a knee-jerk reaction to the general idea of dead son boy.]
You are not allowed to be dead! I forbid it!! I am like an angel, but a very alive and super awesome one! [She does bring her wing in closer so he can feel the feathers.]
In fact, maybe I should take my prized son out for a flight!
[He's very much okay with being alive as long as everyone else is! Carefully (as gentle as a little kid can be, anyway) he touches the feathers first, then strokes them, fascinated. Those are really attached to his mom, she can move them... wait, she can fly too!?]
[April just gonna look over at them mid conversation with Mikey and wave at them. And slap her ice-creamy butt for good measure. Yeah, she heard you, you lil menaces. Go forth, fly, etc.]
[Casey snickers along with her son, acting as an adult beacon of maturity.]
Yes, it is quite foolish, isn't it? [With that, back to 100 percent son focus.]
Now hold on tight, my child! Away we go!!
[With that, holding tightly to him with both arms, she flaps her wings to lift off the ground, and then sets off! She's flying low and slow at first to help him adjust. And to save some of the fun!]
[Casey giggles further at the slap - Auntie April is the best, as always - but as they launch off the ground it turns into a scream. Not a terrified one, though, oh no. This is the shriek of a kid having the time of his life, like baby's first rollercoaster, like he's anticipating it to get even better the longer they're in the air. Casey Jones (junior), Casey Jones' (senior) son, is a certified thrillseeker, of course. Even this young. No fear in this kid, not in his mother's arms.]
HIGHER!!!
[His arms are straight up, feeling the wind. Yeah, he's gonna love this.]
[Learning to fly has been one of the most incredible, exhilarating experiences she's had. And it feels even more exciting now, carrying such an eager passenger! She slowly picks up speed.]
Higher?? Okay, but only because you have been a good boy! [As a parent, she knows she has to ensure that her child has a strong moral compass.] And I am sure that you will continue being a very good boy!
[Never mind that she didn't actually check with April that he's behaved. It's fine, this is all for fun!]
Now let me take you.... HIIIIGHERRRR!!!
[With a mightly flap of her wings, she lifts them up several more yards into the air!]
[Mother this is a very strange thing to ask a child in the middle of the sky. It takes a few moments for the question to pierce through the giggling noisemaker. (He's clapping his hands, now. He is so, so, so happy.)]
You know that already!!
[Who do you think taught him!? (Well, okay, it was probably a group effort. But Mom would likely have taken charge in the bulk of his training for most things...)]
[Well it had to be asked, regardless of the time and place.]
Of- course I do! [She says with a laugh, but this quickly fades into a confident smile.] Of course I must have taught you diligently! And you must have been such a great pupil! My little best student... let me show you the skies!!
[She starts to speed up her flapping and brings him up towards a cloud!]
[He's pleased both by the teacher/pupil comment, and to flying higher! He's so excited, making grabby hands towards the cloud, as if he could carry it home with him.]
[He marvels at the ghostly feel of the cloud around him, fascinated by how it disperses as they fly around, the wings blowing the fog about. His eyes are bright, delighted by her answer.]
A birdie! I saw a bird when I was with Auntie April! I can be a bird!?
[Ohhhh, he wants to be a bird! He wants to be a bird so bad! He wants to fly! This is so cool!]
[...And then, suddenly, he is a bird. Oh. Oh, that's unexpected, huh. He slips right out of her hands, suddenly too small to be held, and peeps in surprise. The illusion carries on through to his familiar form, turning him into a puffy-feathered, stubby-winged baby bunting.
Better catch your extra tiny son! He's about to plummet.]
[Her initial gut reaction to her arms suddenly feeling empty is panic! But that peep - her eyes hone in on the precious bird, and she quickly but gently snatches him out of the air.]
B-baby bird! You're a beautiful baby bird!! [Now she flaps in place within the air while holding the baby bird boy up to her face.]
That's marvelous, but also don't do that so suddenly!! You could have fallen! You are not ready to fly yet! Understand?!
[He chirps a few more times, too shocked to speak properly, but resting safely in his mother's hands helps him settle enough to try. He'd be flailing his little baby wings if he wasn't currently held between her fingers.]
I'm a bird?! [peep!] I'm a bird! [peep peep!] I didn't know! I didn't [peep!] know I could!
[It's hard to remain stern in the face of of such cuteness! As evident from the wide grin now decorating her face.
She didn't realize he'd retain his Familiar properties at this age, but this has sure been one way to find out! She keeps holding him carefully in her hand, now more careful with her movements now that her son is literally a baby bird in her hand.]
You're magical now! Congratulations! Just- be careful with that power. You had me scared senseless for a moment!
[He can't really do much right now - no proper arms or hands for hugging - so he bonks his head against her fingers. The softest of loving baby headbutts.]
[That little headbutt is enough to warm her heart!!]
It's okay! It's okay, my little baby bird. Just remember to be careful. But for now, your mother is here as your incredible guardian angel! [She adjusts her grip so she's holding onto the lower part of her body, as she starts moving more.]
Now how about this! Spread out your wings, and it'll be like you're flying with me!
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I, uh, I'm here now! [She realizes he must be talking about the original her. The one who actually had her and died. But she's not even sure how to explain that to a child. She barely even understands it all herself!]
I- I know I was... gone... but right now I'm here! A friendly fox brought me here. S-so that I can have more time with you! [Which is all technically true! Now that she knows her fate, she wonders if part of the reason that the fox brought her here was so she could meet her son.]
Now we can keep spending time together, a-and have all sorts of fun!
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Really? You mean it? You don't have to go away and fight now? [Oh, wait, that clicks with something he'd been told earlier.] Auntie April says there's no Krang here! None at all! We're safe!
[Well okay technically she said nothing will hurt him here, but he can read between the lines.]
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Everything's gonna be better now! There's ice cream, and your auntie's right! None of those awful, awful nasty Krang things that I totally have met before! [A nervous laugh.]
Also, I'm a Legend now! That makes your mom one of the coolest heroes! [She gives a proud flap of her wings.]
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Awestruck, he reaches a hand out towards the feathers. They're so pretty...]
Wow, wow! Are you an angel? Am I dead now?
[He sure doesn't remember dying. He also doesn't sound especially bothered about the answer potentially being yes. If the afterlife is a nicer place with pizza and ice cream and all of his loved ones, it doesn't seem so bad...!]
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You are not allowed to be dead! I forbid it!! I am like an angel, but a very alive and super awesome one! [She does bring her wing in closer so he can feel the feathers.]
In fact, maybe I should take my prized son out for a flight!
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Oh- please, please! Can we? Really? I want to!
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Yes, absolutely!! Let me show you the skies!
[But she does think to call out to April.]
April, we're going flying!! ...Also, there's ice cream on your butt!
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Ice cream on your butt!
[Kiddo that's your fault...]
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Yes, it is quite foolish, isn't it? [With that, back to 100 percent son focus.]
Now hold on tight, my child! Away we go!!
[With that, holding tightly to him with both arms, she flaps her wings to lift off the ground, and then sets off! She's flying low and slow at first to help him adjust. And to save some of the fun!]
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HIGHER!!!
[His arms are straight up, feeling the wind. Yeah, he's gonna love this.]
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Higher?? Okay, but only because you have been a good boy! [As a parent, she knows she has to ensure that her child has a strong moral compass.] And I am sure that you will continue being a very good boy!
[Never mind that she didn't actually check with April that he's behaved. It's fine, this is all for fun!]
Now let me take you.... HIIIIGHERRRR!!!
[With a mightly flap of her wings, she lifts them up several more yards into the air!]
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I'm good! I'm sooo good! [If this is his reward, he will be the GOODEST BOY EVER.] YAAAAAAY!!!
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Hahaha! Yes, behold, we are getting so hold up! Just let me know if you start to feel sick or anything. Or if you have to use the toilet!
[After a beat, thinking about how much younger he now is, she thinks to add-]
Have you been trained in the ways of the toilet?
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You know that already!!
[Who do you think taught him!? (Well, okay, it was probably a group effort. But Mom would likely have taken charge in the bulk of his training for most things...)]
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Of- course I do! [She says with a laugh, but this quickly fades into a confident smile.] Of course I must have taught you diligently! And you must have been such a great pupil! My little best student... let me show you the skies!!
[She starts to speed up her flapping and brings him up towards a cloud!]
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[He's pleased both by the teacher/pupil comment, and to flying higher! He's so excited, making grabby hands towards the cloud, as if he could carry it home with him.]
I want wings! Can I have wings too?
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[She goes right up above the cloud, close enough that he could skim his hand through it as they fly!]
Well, yes, one day you can have wings of your own. Not just that, you'll be able to become the most precious little birdie!
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A birdie! I saw a bird when I was with Auntie April! I can be a bird!?
[Ohhhh, he wants to be a bird! He wants to be a bird so bad! He wants to fly! This is so cool!]
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Better catch your extra tiny son! He's about to plummet.]
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[Her initial gut reaction to her arms suddenly feeling empty is panic! But that peep - her eyes hone in on the precious bird, and she quickly but gently snatches him out of the air.]
B-baby bird! You're a beautiful baby bird!! [Now she flaps in place within the air while holding the baby bird boy up to her face.]
That's marvelous, but also don't do that so suddenly!! You could have fallen! You are not ready to fly yet! Understand?!
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I'm a bird?! [peep!] I'm a bird! [peep peep!] I didn't know! I didn't [peep!] know I could!
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[It's hard to remain stern in the face of of such cuteness! As evident from the wide grin now decorating her face.
She didn't realize he'd retain his Familiar properties at this age, but this has sure been one way to find out! She keeps holding him carefully in her hand, now more careful with her movements now that her son is literally a baby bird in her hand.]
You're magical now! Congratulations! Just- be careful with that power. You had me scared senseless for a moment!
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[He can't really do much right now - no proper arms or hands for hugging - so he bonks his head against her fingers. The softest of loving baby headbutts.]
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It's okay! It's okay, my little baby bird. Just remember to be careful. But for now, your mother is here as your incredible guardian angel! [She adjusts her grip so she's holding onto the lower part of her body, as she starts moving more.]
Now how about this! Spread out your wings, and it'll be like you're flying with me!
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