Elicia Hughes

[Action]

[Life goes on.

And for Elicia, losing quite a few loved ones in such a short time-frame hasn't entirely exhausted her youthful determination. She has a super hero to look out for her papa. And she has Jack's special compass. The last few days she's been outside her school with said magical device, pacing back and forth, watching the small needle turn and turn with no set destination. It's what she's doing today, pacing and watching it never stop. They weren't here. The people see was waiting for, that is. It's what she wanted most, and 'cause they're not here the compass says no.

Well, she'd just try again tomorrow!]

[Video]



[... it's been a long time since she really tried to talk to everyone. She smiles big for the camera.]

Hey! Today I read a really good book; it was called the Swan Princess! I didn't know some of the words, but I knew mooost of them... It must feel really funny to change into animals and stuff. But the worst is getting turned into a frog! 'Cause you'd be all slimy and green and tiny! And you'd have to get a kiss, even though you're a frog...

But I'd kiss a frog! I-if it meant helping someone change back, I'd do it! ... Maybe on the cheek!

Definitely on the cheek!

And if it was a prince maybe he'd give me a cool crown for helping him!

[Siiigh. That sounds so cool.]

I wouldn't kiss a big lion, though, because they like to scratch! Unless they say they're friendly. But I don't know anyone who knows a friendly lion...

( The Inner Introspection of a Confused Child )

[Voice]

U-um...

[the buzz of silence, for a few seconds]

It's all real funny... Everything's real funny... B-but—!!

[another pause, like she's thinking, really thinking.

When she speaks up again, there's a determined, watery noise in her tone.]

But why's that mean it's gotta all go away? How come we can't have both? What's wrong with being families still?! I know it was just make pretend, b-but it wasn't! Don't all go away and not wanna be family no more... 'Cause p—'cause papa says you don't gotta be from the same family to be a real family! You don't! So please, still be my family here...

I want you guys to stay my family... Please, pretty please... 'cause I know me and papa want you to. 'Cause you're still my family, even if you don't wanna be mine...!

[another pause—she's full of them, it seems]

... Is it okay if I put my pictures on my wall, from when we picked fruits?


[Later on after school—what a lonely, quiet day it seemed, today—she sits in front of her real house, watching just how much this place seemed to be effected. It was sad. It was so sad, to see everyone so sad. She had to do something, something to make it happy! But what should she do? There's gotta be... something fun. Something that'd make people smile, like before! When she played giant robo!

Aha! Mama always said that when you give compliments, people feel better about themselves!

So she pulls out her New Feathers Stand and sits at it, except with a new sign (...proooobably with a little help from a certain papa. Judging by the spelling.):]

"FREE COMPLIMENTS!"