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The Mistaken Identity: Part Five


by lemonlovingcutie

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Edward’s tail sloshed behind him as he galloped back towards the little shop that held his sister captive. His bones felt like they were filled with slow moving molasses. His breath never faltered, but now he was having his doubts of returning in one piece.

      The little shop was a welcoming sight. The shop itself was quite small in size. It had gingerbread colored shingles and olive green shudders on each window. Bricks had been cautiously placed along the trail leading to the entry way, to save those who might be hard of sight; those who used a cane or walking stick to feel their way from place to place.

      Edward was agile; jumping over bushes and turning sharp corners. He rammed through the door to the shop and bounded up to the nurse who was serving as the cashier.

      “Miss, I can—”

      “Now hun...” The nurse paid little attention to Edward as she dusted off her countertops which were neatly lined with odd medications and other bits and baubles. “I do not know how you did it, but some man came by and paid off your debt. Your little sister is free to go.”

      “I can work... wait... what?” Edward looked from baby Jane to the Blue Nurse in shock. The nurse gave Edward a sheepish grin; the grin assured him that this nurse was not joking.

      “Do not act foolish, young one; the man knew your sister’s name. He said you sent him to pay your debt. Anyways, please shoo, I must start counting my till. A new day is itching to start.” The nurse grabbed a broom and dust pan and began to wave them over her head. “It is closing time now, so please to me a favor and scurry on out of here before I have to push you out myself!”

      As Edward left the little shop, he thought back to what had happened at the Wishing Well. Could his encounter with the strange man have anything to do with what just happened? Edward knew one thing for sure, he was not going to complain about the incident. He did wish that he had kept that strange coin that was now settled in muck and grim at the bottom of the small well, but he also knew that he would not pay that place another visit until he was sure there was no one around.

      Baby Jane crawled though the overgrown grass over to Edward and hugged on his paw. With a toothless smile she turned to him and grumbled, “Home?”

      “Yes, Jane, home.”

      As Edward made his way home, he deliberated a great many things. With each passing tree, bush, or grass blade, his thoughts turned to something different. Most of his thoughts concerned his future path. Not the path home, but a path that would lead him to bigger and better things. He wondered if he told his new family about his past, if they would still accept him, and if he would get to stay with them. Would they just ship him back off to the pound when they heard about his past habits? Or would they merely kick him back onto the dastardly streets that he once lived on?

      He also wondered if he should continue thieving. It would have been nice for him to know that when one ever has horrid doubts about a situation, they should wisely make a list of the good things and those bad things that could come with acting said situation.

      “Jane,” Edward began, “I think I am going to do something I would have kicked myself in the tail for in the past.”

      Edward could not be sure, but he would have promised you that he saw baby Jane smile and mumble something.

      Edward made his way back to his house with a lingering walk. His tail sadly sagged behind him in a disorderly fashion. He could not be sure about what was to come.

      Finally Edward came upon his temporary residence. He was sure Quinn would be proud of him for bringing back baby Jane in one piece, and with great health. He could not be sure how she would handle hearing the words that were chomping at the end of his tongue.

      “Quinn? Quinn!” Edward called through the house, before he thought better of the situation he called back again, “Max, Isabella! Is anyone home?”

      Edward walked through the kitchen, and was shocked to see that all the lights were out in the house. He passed through the hallway; he peered in the living room. No lights were on, no family was present.

      Edward sighed; nothing seemed to come easy anymore, not even breathing.

      What’s that smell? Edward thought as he peered into each room.

      A flavorful smell wafted through the air, baby Jane sat straighter on Edward’s back and her small nose sucked in each breath with a hungry purpose. The smell was delightful, and succulent. It smelled like roast ham and leeks, lemons and cranberries. He followed the scent as far as he could until his weary nose pushed up against a wall leading to the back of the house.

      Edward slowly opened the door and—

      “Surprise, Edward!” shouted Quinn, Isabella, Max in unison, “Welcome back!”

      Edward began to speak, but then he withdrew his voice quickly. Unlike before, his faux family did not call him “Edwin”. They called him by his actual, real thief name.

      “H-h-how did you...” Edward’s voice trailed off; his posture stiffened as he began to run through the layout of the house. He made note of the quickest possible escape.

      Quinn walked over slowly and lifted Jane off his back, as Max swung his arm around Edward’s neck.

      “We knew all along, Edward,” Isabella said bluntly.

      “Then why did you adopt me? Why did you want to adopt a... a...”

      “A thief?” chirped Jane in a very sophisticated voice.

      “You can speak?” Edward was past his breaking point; this whole thing could not be possible.

      “Edward, forgive us, for we have not been quite honest with you. Come to think of it, neither have you.” Quinn began to speak, her lips curved into a soothing smile that set Edward at ease for a moment. “You see, my family and I are part of the Neopian Adoption Committee of Un-adoptable Pets. You may not have guessed it, but Max, Isabella, and Jane have found me quite like I have found you. The Committee has people in high places, and they knew about you, they wanted to set you on the right track.”

      “But why?”

      “Why, Edward? Because as we have seen from your trip to the Pharmacy, you are quite dependable; you just were not quite in your right mind.”

      Jane opened her paw to reveal six gold coins; Edward guessed that they were the ones he had assumed were lost.

      “Wha’ Quinn is tryin’ to say is that we were in the same situation as you were. As you might’a guessed, I was once a captor of the seas. Now I am simply a land lovin’ sea mate.” Max extended his wings and preened his feathers as if what was happening to him was simply normal. Edward thought about it, and was shocked to think that the very lovely Isabella was anything but lady-like.

      “Isabella, what happened to you? And Jane?” Edward asked looking from face to face, truly perplexed.

      “I abused and misused the Beauty Contest. I stole fashions from the leading beauties that partake in the Beauty Contest’s most prized events.” Isabella smirked and twirled in an oblong circle. “I am no longer the star I once was, but at least I am living honestly now.”

      Jane smiled and withdrew the lollypop she had placed in her mouth, “I was a pickpocket. No one ever suspected a little baby when something went missing!” She smiled, and placed the sugary snack back in her mouth.

      “Edward,” Quinn sounded like she meant business; her face was solemn and promising, “would you like to join our family. If you choose to stay, you will have to give up thieving and stealing.”

      Edward looked at his paws, they were worn and sore. He looked at his tail; it hung at a crooked angle. He thought of his past, his present, and possibly his future. He thought about his stomach, and about the countless times that it had been empty and rumbling.

      “You know what,” Edward began backing towards the door with a smile, “I think that I could get used to the family life, but only on one condition.”

      “And what might that be?” Quinn asked quietly.

      Edward licked his lips.

      “I will only stay as long as I always get double servings of dinner!”

      Quinn, Isabella, Max, and even baby Jane began to laugh at Edward’s remark. The family proceeded inside and began to feast on a dinner that was not only tasty, but was also very sentimental.

      It was on that day, during a very special time that Neopia lost one of its finest thieves. And it was on that day, during a very special time that a past no-good Neopian gained a very loving family.

The End

 
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Other Episodes


» The Mistaken Identity: Part One
» The Mistaken Identity: Part Two
» The Mistaken Identity: Part Three
» The Mistaken Identity: Part Four



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