The Adventure

"But you are. And if monetizing research would be a path to you living at home—or even having a secret lab and just being home for eating, sleeping, and keeping a healthy relationship with your mom…

"I think she can accept ‘cheating’ when the alternative is losing you." Small Fry hopes Eliza understands that "compromising only works if your mother compromises too, and in a way that you both get what you want… or at least the bit that matters most."

Small Fry opens her palm and casually tosses a fireball up and down. She cups her hands on it, and when she separates her hands, a rainbow arcs from one to the other. The light jiggles somewhat like a slinky as the pixyish heroine moves her hands up and down.

"If you don’t object, I’m gonna toss this rainbow into the air. I think my teammates will know it’s my version of the Bat Signal."

If Eliza’s okay with it, Small Fry uses her Sunshine & Rainbow powers to send the rainbow eastward as a means to lead her teammates to her.

Small Fry involuntarily shrinks an inch* when her eyes lock onto the apparent Nordic goddess.

*(…which is significant when one is five inches tall to begin with. That’s a 20% reduction in her height, and nearly a 50% reduction in mass!)

"Uh… yes, ma’am. I—I… I wouldn’t exactly call it trouble." She glances back at the van. "I mean—I-I m-mean sure! The van’s probably not properly insured since neither Eliza nor C8 could possibly have a license. Not without a fake ID and-or other shenanigans. But that wouldn’t get a kid in trouble with Heaven, would it?"

Small Fry is in shock—and probably good at hiding her disappointment that Victor changed back, albeit accidentally. She is literally glowing a rosy hue from her flush cheeks.

"Oh! So that’s your power??? Haha, you’re not intimidating now that I know you’re you!"

Small Fry giggles lightly. "You know what I mean! You’re still intimidating to bad guys!

"And come to think of it, you’re the only one on the team who is." She flexes her tiny muscles. "No matter how toned these guns are, they’re pea-shooters."

Small Fry is saddened to see how easily Eliza can reject affection. But she did make a promise.

She turns to the mom.

"Mrs. Caldwell? Our team took on this job because none of us could bear the thought of doing nothing when a kid is reported missing.

"Returning to you means we did our job, but… I want this reunion to last." She glances at the wall of animals ‘protecting’ the child. "I don’t want to just say ‘good luck’ and wonder how many days will pass before your daughter runs away again.

"Maybe… we can help?"

She flutters to a place where she’s between the mother and daughter, but also off to the side.

"How about you each tell each other what matters most to you right now."

Small Fry isn’t sure this will work. But she’s going to try.

Small Fry wonders if Victor would’ve been more helpful in that goddess form. Or would there be this objectively-hot Nordic beauty scratching her head saying ‘jeez?’

She starts by growing as close to her full 4’11" as she dares. Her sundress is flimsy and faded, ripped at the hem. She’s barefoot. A quarter-inch taller, Lily may have ended up at least partially nude. But it’s better to pass for human than flutter about, for this situation.

"Mrs. Caldwell?" If anyone asks, Liky will tell them she’s nineteen, though she could pass for any age in the teens. It may be her petite stature. It may be the smoothness of her limbs. It may even be a psychological connection to her own power, like the clothing that morphs stylistically at certain sizes. Lily isn’t quite comfortable to think herself as truly part of the adult world, so it’s not Sarah. It’s "Mrs. Caldwell," whereas the older woman gets to "call me Lily, please.

"And… you’re not being judged. I don’t think you’ll hit her again. I think you know that would push Eliza away. And that’s the last thing you want."

She turns to Eliza.

"And running away from your mother is the path to villainy. It’s not take-over-the-world evil. It’s a baby step in that direction. Because you know you can’t get rid of your mother without shedding love and empathy.

"And I’m being a bit of a nag. Sorry for that. But that’s the world. It’s full of nags, and if I could trick you, while holding back—"

She casually tosses a fireball at the van. Instead of exploding. it ‘tags’ the van with a psychedelic rainbow ‘paint job’ (which will gradually fade).

Lily is pretty sure she’s made the point that her powers could be used destructively. She simply chooses not to.

"—there will be others who know how to befuddle or manipulate a superior, logical mind, whose cruelty knows no bounds. The worst adults of all are the ones who divide families, especially parents from children.

"You need your mom, and it’s fortunate for you that she’s ordinary. And, willing to compromise."

Yes, Lily heard Sarah say that. So she cuts to the chase.

"In the van, I suggested to Eliza you homeschool her. I don’t necessarily mean you teach her math and science and such. But quit your job and be a full time mom; see what the state requires for standardized tests. Eliza probably writes procedural documents and does equations—" She points out the wall of animals. "—and science projects.

"I’d give her at least a 98. And Eliza seems confident she can monetize her brilliance enough to support you, and probably also fund herself.

"You can just provide the parenting, the unconditional love." She turns to Eliza. "It won’t be nag-free. She’s be a lousy mother if she didn’t nag you.

"It won’t stop when you’re over eighteen either."

Her voice is a little choked up when she says this.

Small Fry replies, "I sent the rainbow up."

To demonstrate how, she opens her palm. A tiny spark appears, and fades after one second. It might have been more than one color.

"Huh… I can show you later, maybe? We’re trying to kinda cool down all the fairy and valkyrie stuff. Victor and I are reuniting a mother and daughter." She gestures to each. "Mrs. Sarah Caldwell, Eliza Caldwell… the monkey’s C8, and I’m Lily LaViolette. That’s French for ‘the violet.’"