Chapter 5

The two girls climbed up the stairs to ground level, Coraline was intrigued by her and Merita's fortune.

Coraline: ( silently, to self: ) Danger? Vixen? Freeing?

Merita then heard something behind her and Coraline, and she quickly knew who it was, and Coraline noticed it as well. Merita then turned around and jumped at Wybie, who was hiding in the fog, and she got him in a headlock and ruffled his hair with a smile.

Wybie: Ow! Merita! Let go!

Merita: ( happily, to Wybie: ) Aw.. Come on, bro. You should've known that I would see you coming.

When Merita lets Wybie go, Coraline punches him in the arm.

Wybie: Ow!

Coraline: It's the village stalker.

Wybie: I wasn't stalking you. We're hunting banana slugs.

Wybie takes some salad tongs from his tool belt, and snaps them.

Coraline: What d'ya mean, " we? "

There's a soft meowing from under Wybie's coat. Wybie opens up his coat and the cat emerges and climbs onto his shoulders. The cat meowed at Merita and she rolled her eyes in response.

Coraline: Ha! Your cat's not wild, he's a wuss-puss!

The cat glared at Coraline angrily, and Merita chuckled.

Wybie: What? He hates to get his feet wet. Geez.

Coraline: Wuss-puss...

The cats then jump off Wybie's back onto a tree and up onto the roof of the house. Coraline softens as she sees that Merita was now looking for banana slugs with Wybie.

Coraline: ( to Wybie: ) So... That doll. Did you make it look like me?

Wybie: ( while looking for banana slugs: ) Oh no; I found it that way. It's older than Gramma- old as this house prob'ly.

Coraline: C'mon- blue hair, my swampers and raincoat?

Wybie stands excitedly and presents a huge banana slug to Coraline, while Merita was still hunting in the fog in the background.

Wybie: Dang, check out Slugzilla! Wait, where did Meri-

They heard a thud sound and they heard Merita say " Ow! I'm okay! " behind them.

Coraline: ( to Wybie, frustrated: ) You're just like them.

Wybie: Huh?

Coraline: I meant my parents; they don't listen to me either.

Wybie nods, not listening to what Coraline was saying again.

Wybie: Uh huh... You mind?

Merita pops her head out of the fog and watches as Wybie hands his camera to Coraline and they start taking photos of Wybie making silly poses with the banana slug, Merita then mischievously smiled, and as Coraline was about to take another photo, Merita jumped in and play tackled Wybie, right as the camera took the photo, which was now photo bombed by Merita, Coraline couldn't help by giggle at the two.

Coraline: ( giggles ) Mery!

Wybie: ( laughs ) I should've known she would do that.

Merita: ( let's go of Wybie and stands next to Coraline with a smile ) Yes, Wybie, you should've known better.

Finished, Wybie tosses the slug back into the fog, and takes the camera back. He lowers his head, then glances up past the girls at the house.

Wybie: You know, I've never been inside the Pink Palace.

Merita: ( thoughts: ) I prefer nobody goes into the Pink Palace, but...

Coraline: ( to Wybie, sceptical: ) You're kidding.

Wybie: Grandma would kill me. Thinks it's dangerous or something.

Coraline: Dangerous?

Merita's fake smile, turned into a sad one, which she quickly started to keep her fake happy demeanor by humming a song while looking for banana slugs.

Wybie: Well... She had a twin sister.

Merita froze for a few seconds, neither Coraline or Wybie noticed. The cat looked at Merita with sad eyes.

Coraline: So?

Wybie: When they were kids, Grandma's sister disappeared. She says she was stolen.

Coraline: Stolen?

The cat and Merita sensed something and turned to see the Coraline doll at the window, spying on things. Merita mentally groaned, and continued looking for banana slugs in the fog, which fogged up her glasses making her bump into things.

Coraline: ( to Wybie: ) Well, what do you think?

Wybie: Uhhh, I-I don't know.

Wybie grabs his bike, and the cat jumped from the roof back onto his shoulders.

Wybie: Maybe she just ran away?

Merita jumped and bumped into a wall when they heard Wybie's grandmother call out.

Wybie's Grandma: Wyborne!

Wybie: ( to Coraline: ) Look, I gotta go.

Wybie then starts to pull away and left.

Coraline: Wait a minute! ( Groans ) ( turns to see that Merita was bumping into stuff because of her fogged up glasses ) Merita, what are you doing?

Merita: ( to Coraline, a bit teasingly: ) I'm sorry, were you talking to me? Can you say it again?

Coraline: I said, what are you-

Merita: ( to Coraline with a smile: ) Actually I was lost in your voice. ( Laughs ) In all seriousness, help me, I can't see. I keep bumping into things.

Coraline playfully rolls her eyes at the ginger and goes to Merita, going to her aid. Coraline then grabs Merita's glasses and wiped the fog off them with her shirt, before putting them back on the ginger's face.

Merita: Thanks, firecracker. I think I was getting bruises from bumping into things.

Coraline: No problem- Wait, " firecracker?"

Merita blushes slightly before she pulled out a teddy bear that she had made and hands it to Coraline.

Merita: Here. I, uh, made it for you.

( A/n: This is the bear Merita made for Coraline. What do you think? )

Coraline looked at the bear with a smile, before looking at Merita.

Coraline: Thanks. By the way, how did you get in my room yesterday?

Merita: I climbed.

Coraline: ( skeptical: ) You're kidding.

Merita: Nope.

Coraline: Okay... Another question-

They hear a bell, Merita recognize bell as the enchanted handbell.

Merita: Uh, I have to go. See you later, Coraline!

Merita was about to leave, but Coraline grabbed her hand, which caused a memory to flash into Merita's head, causing her to pass out.

Coraline: ( worried: ) Mery!

( In Merita's Flashback )

A eight year old Merita was seen sitting under a beautiful tree in a beautiful forest with a tall human like fox lady wearing a beautiful gown with a flower on her head.

( A/n: What the place looks like, I don't own the image )

( A/n: What the lady Merita is with looks like. What do you think? )

The fox lady was holding the small Merita in her arms with a warm and kind smile as they sat under the tree, seemingly waiting for someone.

Kid Merita: ( to the fox lady: ) Mommy, when is Daddy going to get here with Mero?

The fox lady, now revealed to be Merita's mother, chuckled at Merita and looked at her with a kind smile.

Merita's Mother: They'll be here soon. You must be patient, my dear.

Kid Merita: Mommy...

Merita's Mother: Yes, my daughter.

Kid Merita: Did Daddy know about you not being human when you met?

Merita's Mother: Well... No. Back then, he was still learning about the culture and wonders of our home. You see, my daughter, your father is from a place called " America ", where they don't have a... nice view of other species. You'll understand when you're older, and find a husband that will love you as much as me and your father do-

Kid Merita: But, Mommy. I don't want a husband.

Merita's Mother: Oh?

Kid Merita: I want someone like you, Mommy.

Merita's Mother smiled happily at the eight year old and held her close.

Merita's Mother: Well, I hope she'll see how beautiful and wonderful you are, my daughter...

( Back into the real world )

Merita woke up on a couch, and she sees Coraline in the kitchen, and the blue haired girl noticed that she was awake.

Coraline: ( worried: ) Merita, are you feeling alright?

Merita: Yeah, I'm alright. How long was I out for?

Coraline: A few hours, it's dark out, so my parents said that you could stay the night, if it's okay with you.

Merita: Uh, sure. Ugh, my head.

Coraline: Are you sure you are okay? You really scared me there.

Merita: Yeah. Sorry, for passing out on ya, firecracker. I must've been more tired than I thought.

Coraline: No kidding. Come on, I'll show you where my room is.

Merita: ( jokingly, standing up: ) Alright, outside and through the window.

Coraline: ( chuckles ) No. No windows. The only climbing you're going to do is upstairs, silly.

Merita: Whatever you say, ( does a curtsy with a smile ) your highness.

Coraline playfully punched Merita's arm, before she grabbed Merita's hand and started leading her to the stairs, Merita glanced back to the little door with a hint of sadness and fear.

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That's it for this chapter, I hope you like it

Till next time my agents of mischief 😜