//------------------------------// // An alternate perspective // Story: Growing A Shell // by bluemoon1996 //------------------------------// I let out a giggle as Unkee Johnny's friend Dalton mumbled something about mangos in his sleep. He looked so adorable with the way his wings were wrapping around him like a big blanket. "Kylie could you come up here?" I heard Sage ask from up near the driver's area. I quickly hopped off of the dinner table's seat, leaving the drawing I had been working on. Hopping up in the shotgun seat, I couldn't help but look in awe at the all the pine trees! They were everywhere! I had only seen one or two at a time but the road was lined with them! Sage let out a laugh, "welcome to Arkansas Kylie." "Arkansas? I've never been out of Texas before!" I wasn't lying, Mommy and Daddy did take me down to see her family really close to Mexico but we didn't cross the border. So this really was my first time out of the state! "Well, we're going all the way to the other side of the country." Wow, Daddy never went that far from home! I sighed as I thought about them, they must be missing me so much. Suddenly I had an idea and couldn't help but smile, "wanna see the picture I've been drawing?" "I'd love to see it," She smiled and I hurried back to the table, grabbing it. The drawing was of me, Unkee Johnny, Sage, and Dalton all standing in front of the RV. "The drawing has four of us in it; even mister sleepyhead Dalton," I said as I pointed at a person lying on the ground with a pair of grey wings coming out of their back. Sage let out a giggle and I pointed at the person with a horn on their head, "that's you," then I pointed at the person with black lines across their head, "that's me!" I then pointed at another person who was blank. "I don't know what to do for Unkee Johnny though," I sighed, frowning. "Maybe just make his skin black and eyes green?" I nodded in agreement, "thats a great idea!" I can have this done before he woke up from his nap; I'm sure he'd love it. With that, I gave Sage a quick hug hurried back to the table, taking my seat once again as I dug in my color box for a black and a green. After finding them, I took the green and make two big gree- My ears perked up, swiveling about to face where Johnny was taking his nap. Coughing, and from the sounds of it, rather bad coughing too. I hope he's okay. Quietly, I got up and began making my way over to the door to the little room he was sleeping in. As I drew closer, the coughing seemed to grow louder and more violent. What the heck is goin- The door was violently yanked open and I let out a scream as I fell backwards onto my butt. Unkee Johnny came staggering out but it didn't look like him anymore! His skin had turned entirely black and the remaining hair on his head had fallen out, leaving him utterly bald. He had developed the pony ears and a wicked looking black horn stuck out of his forehead. But that wasn't why I screamed; it was his mouth. He had fangs and was oozing green goop like a rabid dog! His eyes widened as he saw me and let out a gargle and raised his hands to his neck before he collapsed to the floor. Time slowed down as the camper came screeching to a halt. Somehow, my scream managed to wake up Dalton who seemed to spring into life the moment he saw Johnny on the ground. Soft arms wrapped themselves around me as tears began pouring out; my eyes unable to leave his still chest. He wasn't breathing! Unkee Johnny was gonna die! "Get Kylie outta here!" He barked as knelt over Johnny, his wings obscuring my view. Sage began pulling me away as tears clouded my vision. Unkee Johnny was gonna die! He was gonna die just like Unkee Tim did! I let out a pathetic whimper as Sage led me outside the camper and hugged me tight. "I-It's gonna be alright Kylie," her voice wavered, "Johnny's gonna be just fine." I don't know how much time passed but when we heard the door open, me and Sage both turned to see Dalton stepping out of the RV. "Is he okay? Is Johnny alright?" Dalton nodded and we both breathed a collective sigh of relief. "C-Can I see him?" Dalton nodded, "he's asleep on the big bed in the back." I nodded and hopped back in the camper. He was right where Dalton said he was. Tucked in nice and tight, Unkee Johnny was quietly snoring away. His terrified face from earlier was a distant memory to the peaceful look he now bore. Almost like he was dea- I shook my head; No, don't think like that Kylie. He's one hundred precent grade A not dead. The RV lurched to a start as I hugged his sleeping body tight. Why is his skin so hard? Changelings are only just bugs and bugs have those shells on them. ... I mentally facehooved when I answered my own question. A loud snore turned my attention back to Johnny as he rolled about to face a wall. I rolled my eyes, daddy snored like this too. I gave him a small kiss on the cheek as I hugged him again "I'm not gonna leave you ever again. Pinkie Pie Promise."