The next six months felt like an eternity.

Everything changed.

After five months living in a safe house, Joan and Chris decided not to rely on their mother anymore and moved back into the city. They chose a different part of town and Chris got a job at a warehouse, stocking product and building pallets. It wasn't glamorous, but it was a living, and he and Joan found a place, small and affordable.

When their mother tested positive for drugs, David moved into foster care, but the family that took him in was nice, and Joan was glad for him.

Since she wasn't old enough to have a full-time job, Joan picked up about twenty hours a week at a music café down the street from their apartment. It had a beautiful baby grand tucked in the corner and musicians came to play every Saturday afternoon.

School and her job kept her busy, but Joan made time to visit Trollmarket every week to practice singing with Nomura. Then, Chris started to take an interest in music too. In his free time, instead of watching TV and playing games on his phone, he wrote songs on an old laptop he found at a thrift store. Incredibly, the thing still worked.

Joan often hummed along once she learned his songs, and she suggested to her brother that they work together – her voice and his music. He agreed, and Joan came to love the time they spent together. It was one of the most amazing feelings she'd ever had.

One day, they decided to do something they'd never dared consider. They trekked to the middle of the shopping district, Chris with his computer and a speaker set and Joan with her karaoke microphone.

The grey sky threatened rain.

"Man, that's too bad…" Chris said as he eyed the clouds.

"No, it's perfect!" Joan smiled. "Nomura can come outside in weather like this. Come no, hit it."

Chris set up the cheap speakers and started the music.

"On a moonless night,

Yet a starry night,

In the forest deep

Someone takes a leap!

Beware – the danger's near;

Beware – there's reason to fear!

A jump so elegant

A twirl could kill an elephant.

Beware the dancing troll!

Each step a deadly toll!"

People stopped to listen. Joan sang several songs – all hers and Chris's, then clapping stopped her.

"That's so cool!" a teenager said to her friend. "I haven't ever heard anything like it before. It's so different."

Joan smiled and looked toward the roof of the building across the street Did you see, Nomura?

A woman approached. She was Asian with long, straight, black hair and green eyes. "My, what a little Night Queen," she said.

Joan blinked. Little Night Queen? But that's what–

"Yup. She's somethin'," Chris grinned, oblivious.

"You've come a long way." The woman nodded.

It can't be… Can it?

"What's wrong, little Night Queen?"

"No-Nomura? Is that… you?"

"W-what?!" Chris stammered.

The woman gave them a warm smile. "Stricklander owed me a favor. There's a mask that enables the wearer to look like anyone they want. It broke during the war, but, as I said, he owed me. I had him fix it," she tapped her face, "and deliver it all the way from California."

"You came!" Joan hugged Nomura tight.

She stroked Joan's hair. "Of course, I did. I had to see if all my hard work paid off."

Chris smiled. "Thanks for coming. You wanna grab a bite with us?"

"The mask's effects are only illusionary. I can't eat human food or be out in sunlight. Thank God for the weather. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing where Joan works. I'll just order some water."

"Of course!" Joan beamed and grabbed Nomura's hand. It was… warm and human, unlike her true, stony troll hide. "You'll love the café! They have pictures of famous classic artists, and they let me use the piano after hours whenever I want. I'm not any good yet, but I found a piano book that shows the basics. They said when I am good enough, they'll let me perform! And pay me for it!"

Nomura let Joan drag her along as Chris followed with the equipment.

"David's visiting soon too," said Joan. "He doesn't want to be in a gang anymore, thank God."

"Josh's meltdown and me getting shot kind of shattered the illusion for him," Chris said. "Man, if Joan never stood up to Josh…" He shook his head.

"I could only stand up to him because of what Nomura taught me," Joan blushed.

They stopped at a light and waited for the cross-walk symbol to change.

Nomura chuckled and ruffed Joan's hair. "You helped me too," she said. "By the way, I hope you're free tonight. There's a performance of Faust at the theatre."

"Yes!" Joan cheered.

The cross-walk blinked green and Joan skipped to the other side of the street alongside Nomura and Chris.

"Now that Nomura can look human, shouldn't you guys be buying tickets?" Chris said as they neared the café.

"But the beams across the ceiling are the best seats in the house!" Joan protested.

"Haven't gone a hundred percent straight, huh?" Chris winked at her.

"I'll pay when I earn some more money, okay?" Joan said.

Chris chuckled.

"Tickets are over-priced anyway," Nomura said.

The group entered the café. As the little bell over the door jingled, Joan couldn't help but think that they looked an odd ensemble, but she didn't care. They were happy. And, in the end that was what mattered.

The End

Story has been edited by Dtill359
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