There She Is.

There She Is.
Our version.

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Foreword -

I was introduced to this series on a whim by a temporary friend I met on an MMORG place back at least 9 years ago now. I fell in love with it instantly, not knowing it would have such an impact on my future. My now.
I have the friends I made in 2012/2013 and the relationship I found in early '13 to thank, so thank you all so much for helping my opinion on this subject evolve into the positive situation it is now. And thanks for the support!
I love you all so much!

Anne, Quinn, Mystery, Alex, James, Kryptid, Parents, and everyone I don't know who supports these rights.
Have a good one!
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Chapter 1 - There She Is.

The day had started off like any other. It had been sunny so I'd taken a walk in the park. As the clouds rolled in I retreated to the library, scouring the bookshelves for something interesting-looking that I hadn't already read.
Mortal Instruments caught my eye.
"That series is awesome!"
I flinched, turning to face the green eyes of the dark-haired young lady.
"I'm sorry, I meant to recommend that to you."
I took and released a breath.
"Well... Thanks."
"I'm Anne."
I smiled, not able to avoid noticing how pretty her eyes were.
"Ruby."
"Ruby!"
I flinched again and turned in time to meet the one I called my little sister who glomped me. I giggled and hugged her back.
"Hey, Quinn, how was school?"
"We got to toast marshmallows in Chemistry."
"Sounds fun! Save one for me?"
"No, we had to eat them."
"Oh, shame. Maybe we can toast some on our next movie night at home."
"Yep."
She finally noticed Anne who was standing aside patiently.
"Oh, Quinn, Anne, Anne, Quinn."
"Hi."
They shook hands.
"Are we still going to go see that movie?"
I nodded.
"Maybe Anne could come with us? If you want?"
I'd turned to Anne, knowing my 'aid would pick up Quinn's answer even if I wasn't looking at her since I was tuned into her voice.
"Sounds fun. What are we gonna see?"
"We're not too sure yet, we'll see what there is."
"Still sounds fun! It's an adventure!"
I smiled. I liked her optimism.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with the two of the greatest girls in what I considered the world, another was waiting as Quinn and I got home. It was my turn to be host as we switched around every day or whenever it suited us.
"Hey, Ess!"
"Welcome home, girls."
We both considered Ess as both a mother and bigger sister, and we were sure she felt about the same about us.
"Did you have fun with your new friend? Anne, was it?"
I raised an eyebrow at Quinn.
"I never texted her."
I rolled my eyes and we both called in unison, a giggle in our voices.
"Stahp!"
"Never!"
Quinn and I hung out, I helped her with her homework and we chatted about the movie and Ess' day over dinner. Nothing too interesting. The usual amount of psychs between the three of us.

A few weeks passed and Anne started joining us at the houses after schools. I also often found her at the library. It was nice reading with someone else as company. The silence wasn't so awkward either. Sometimes she sat beside me allowing eachother peeks at the other's books, sometimes opposite me. She soon became aware that I could read upside-down, albeit slowly and with effort. I don't know whether she twigged onto Ess, Quinn and I sharing a psychic ability.
Despite that there was always stuff I was bound to miss.
"Anne likes you, you know."
Ess and I were sharing washing up duties. My turn to dry.
"I like her too, she's a great friend."
Ess tilted her head at me.
".... Like-like? But..." I lowered my voice. "You know the rules here..."
"This world could use a positive change, and you and Anne may be the ones to start it off."
Something fluttered in my stomach. Going against the rules sounded exciting, and slightly scary. But I could risk it if it would bring about a positive change as Ess called it... Couldn't I?
I thought about it, making myself think hard about the subject for a few weeks, pros and cons and past experiences on the subject.
I admitted to myself that maybe I did have a thing for girls, despite being raised on all the boy-girl-fairytale stuff that was evidently the more popular choice.
The only time I had admitted I liked a girl to the person herself had ended in disaster after what seemed like a year or two of self-torture amongst the uncertainty, followed by heartbreak. Ess had comforted me then, though the friend and I had put it behind us while she got into a relationship herself. It had hurt but knowing the rules of the city, it would have been difficult anyway.
I continued to hang out with Anne with all this on my mind. I figured she, like Ess, picked up on it. It was a skill I lacked after all.
Eventually I told her one night when it was bugging me most, finding she was easy to talk to about it, which made me feel better and I suspect gave her hope.
I still needed to talk to her about the 'us' that Ess had implied though. I didn't feel pressured, just... Uncertain. I knew I was going with my friend's logic when I planned what to say in my head, and I was going to feel horrible if Anne reacted like I had.
I sat her down in the comfort of my room, the radio softly on in the background. 'True Colours'. Sounded pretty.
I took a deep breath.
"Ok, so um... Y'know the rules of the city, right? Only guys and girls. Not guys-guys or girls-girls."
"I know."
"... So why are you trying to get us to... be like them? A-Are you sure that's how you feel?"
She paused for a moment, watching me thoughtfully. Could she read my mind?
" Are you Christian or religious?"
"... No."
"Were you raised by Disney?"
"Who wasn't?"
"What are you afraid of?"
"I-I'm not. I just... don't understand how it's possible."
"It's the same as with the straights, it's just the two of us. The exact same emotions with the same gender. I promise it's not so different from them."
I leaned my back against the wall and thought it over. What did we have to lose, aside from the respect of our society and most of our country? We had fear to gain from how we knew some of what we were to become were treated.
Somehow I knew Anne would be the fighter of the two of us though. That, I admit, made me feel safer.
I sighed, starting to feel that spark of mixed excitement and fear again.
Take the chance, Ruby, you'll probably only get it once.
I nodded as the song ended.
"Alright." I couldn't help keeping my voice low.
"Let's try going out."
I couldn't help smiling with her.


Chapter 2 - Ups and Downs.

Nothing seemed to be different at first. We acted like we had before, just shrouded in the invisible colourful sparkly cloud of knowledge that were now 'an item'.
I couldn't believe it for the first month. Quinn had squealed her approval and adoration when we told her in privacy, Ess shaking her head with a knowing smile. Of course we'd expected that reaction.
'Dates' consisted of Quinn accompanying us to the theatre, to keep the suspectors away, and sitting a few seats away to let it commence.
The darkness allowed our hands to be in contact briefly. I admit I enjoyed the films more in this new state of mind. In fact I seemed to enjoy almost everything more.
It was still scary, but exciting and secret and wonderful.
Soon enough my birthday sneaked around. Ess escorted me to where a party was being set up, and let me know Anne was delivering the last of the presents and cake. Which of course I wouldn't eat given how picky I was, but I could at least let everyone else enjoy it and enjoy the design myself, wallowing in the small amount of what was considered a 'traditonal birthday'. Quinn and a friend of hers that I hadn't seen for a while, Taina, soon arrived and we sat and caught up with events while Ess kept a lookout.

Outside, Anne was nearing the restaurant. She collided with a black squirrel who caught her balance with her tail and glared at her offender. Her nose twitched and she tilted her head curiously.
"You're the one with Ruby, huh? You have her scent on you."
"You know Ruby?"
The squirrel smirked. There weren't many anthropomorphic animals in the area, so of course she was supposedly well-known and feared.
"We've crossed paths."
"Right... Well, I've gotta deliver this to her..."
"Oh right, it's the runt's birthday, isn't it?"
"How dare you?!"
"Well, compared to Esscaria, she is."
"No-one insults my girl like that!"
"I'm sure if she'd heard that, she'd be proud. But you don't want the whole city hearing your little secret, do you?"
She raised an eyebrow at the human.
"Go on then, head start."
"How long of a head start?"
The squirrel grinned.
"You'll see."
She stood aside and let Anne pass, watching her. Anne herself watched closely in her peripheral vision and saw the slight tensing of the squirrel's muscles. She tensed herself, ready to run.
The squirrel turned, Anne started running. Something made contact with her legs and she stumbled, holding onto everything in one arm and reaching for the door of the restaurant with the other. Boxes went flying, she felt the light on her face and heard people gasp.
"Anne??"
She felt the squirrel's eyes on her as I ran over to her.
"Are you OK?"
Ess calmly walked over, staring at the squirrel who lashed her tail side to side before turning and walking away.
I helped Anne to her feet and to a chair while Quinn and Taina picked up the boxes. The cake was smushed and disfigured in one of them. It was easy enough to see it was supposed to have been a sparkly rainbow, however. I giggled at the irony, took a bite in bravery and followed it quickly with soda.
"Thanks!"
I kissed her cheek, realising the consequence too late as eyes turned to us. Eyes of shame, disapproval, disbelief, shock. So many emotions suddenly filled the one room.
My smile quickly faded as someone of importance stepped up to my party, only to be confronted with and speaking with Ess.
I looked ashamedly down at the floor as guilt flooded through me.
Ess helped us pack up and we celebrated the party back at our own home. It was evident to see the emotions of the other customers were still stabbing at me, but I tried my best to enjoy my party.
The kisses on the nose and forehead almost made me feel better enough to sleep.

I got up the courage, still haunted by these emotions, to head out the next weekend with the usual two to go see a musical that was touring in the city. It was 'a late birthday present', Anne called it.
I enjoyed it despite finding myself trying to convert it in the back of my mind.
The next weekend I decided to try and confront these emotions by letting Quinn know that Anne and myself would be attempting a date by ourselves. I accepted Quinn's luck and wandered around the town with Anne.
"Aww, look!"
A box of puppies sat at the side of a building.
"Husky puppies! Free to take, really?"
"Would Ess let you have one?"
"No idea. Not sure I'm responsible enough for a dog..."
"Well, we can get two, and I'll look after them until you two think you can handle it?"
I nodded, picking out one who yipped and tried to lick me. He was darker in colouring while Anne's was lighter, with blue eyes.
"Honey. I think I'll call her Honey."
I grinned.
"Badger."
Anne laughed and I guessed that meant she approved. We brought supplies for the two and headed to her home to store it, letting the two pups explore their new home. We set up dinner and chose a movie before I called Ess and Quinn to let them know how the date went.
Successfully, I had to admit. With all the distractions I'd almost forgotten about the event at the restaurant.
I felt a kiss on my nose and instinctively smiled slightly as the movie started.
"Everything'll be okay, love."
I rested my head on her, knowing we were in our little shell of protection. In my mind, amongst all the fear and shame I couldn't have asked for anything better.


Chapter 3 - Monster.

I was shocked from my sleep from a sharp shattering sound. I sat up from the reaction light glaring in my face and blinked my eyes clear, noticing the sudden breeze flooding in through the fresh hole in my window.
Ess rushed in as one concerned big sister would, noticing the shards of glass littered on my carpet. She signed for me to stay where I was and retrieved shoes as I put my hearing-aid in and sat up. I noticed a rock amongst all the glass, the two of us putting on shoes for protection.
I texted Anne and Quinn and we arranged spending the day at the former's. I heard Ess' radio turn on as she kept an eye on me getting ready, getting ready beside me herself.
"You alright?"
I nodded, still shaken.  I started to tune into the radio.

Ever since I could remember,
Everything inside of me,
Just wanted to fit in.
I was never one for pretenders,
Everything I tried to be,
Just wouldn't settle in.

The song ended soon after, but it dug into me as I'm sure Ess could tell, and it rang through my head as we headed for Anne's.
She greeted me with a worried hug as soon as the door shut behind us. I hugged her back, still tensed.
"Why would someone do that?"
"You know what this city's like."
"Y-Yeah... Big stupid idiots..."
"As long as we're all OK."
She let go of me and we went to sit down.
"Is Quinn here?"
"Not yet. Have you two had breakfast?"
I shook my head. I sat next to Ess and Anne went to make breakfast.
Big stupid idiots... Yeah, but they were still the majority, and now I understood how scary that was.
Quinn arrived and we chatted as we ate. Ess eventually brought up starting a protest against how mine and Anne's 'kind' were treated.
I figured we wouldn't have been the first ones to try it and instead up questioned why 'we' would be 'feared'. WE were scared of THEM.
"Well, you know the propaganda, don't you?"
"Reminder please?"
"According to the church gays are considered pedos murderers and other such things amongst that life of crime, and that marrying gays would somehow bring about the apocalypse ending the world."
Disbelief and disgust flooded through me. Quinn spoke up.
"'Xcuse me, I thought it was zombies that signified the end of the world? At least we've got brains compared the rest of that scum..."
Ess tilted her head as Anne stifled laughter. My laughter was faint inside, hidden under the fear and the song amongst everything else.
"Well, zombies have brains too, they just use them to get others'."
Us? Predators? Never. At least not us little lot who were still getting used to the idea and would never stray to that horrendus field. Dangerous? Only when one of our 'clan' was threatened.

If I told you what I was,
Would you turn your back on me?
And if I seem dangerous,
Would you be scared?
I get the feeling just because,
Everything I touch isn't dark enough.
If this problem lies in me...

We were greeted by Honey and Badger and having finished eating, Ess offered to escort Anne with walking them and doing a little shopping while Quinn kept me company. Sounded like a plan to me.
I waited for them to leave before letting my thoughts start to flood through my mind. I took a piece of paper and started to write all these thoughts. Quinn seemed to be texting happily with Taina, most likely.
It had only been almost half a year and now my fear was starting to get to me. I knew that stone was only the start of it.
I knew what I was in the eyes of the community I was no longer considered a part of.
The emotions from the restaurant seeped back into me, stabbing fear into my heart again.

I'm only a man with a candle to guide me,
I'm taking a stand to escape what's inside me.
A monster, a monster,
I've turned into a monster,
A monster, a monster,
And it keeps getting stronger.

A relatively peaceful hour passed before the phone rang. I flinched and Quinn checked the phone number before answering.
"Ess?"
I sat, calming myself, watching Quinn. Her expression turned to one of horror.
"Ok, we'll head over right now."
She hung up and ran to grab her coat.
"Quinn?"
"Ess says we have to get to the hospital, it'll be quicker to run."
Run we did. It started raining, of course. We found Honey tied up outside, sheltered under a piece of the overhanging roof by the entrance. I had Quinn stay with her as I went in and enquired where Ess and Anne would be. And where was Badger?
I found them, a smile lit up our faces before I noticed the bandages and black eye on Anne. My heart sank and I was compelled to look around. The feelings from the restaurant started emanating from the other guests and patients.
Ess followed me as I bit back tears, heading for the nearest toilets. As bound as I felt to Anne, I knew we has been over this subject before, and I had been careful. I didn't want to put her through this again.
"Ruby, Ruby, she's alright."
"What the hell happened, Ess??"
"Badger managed to get loose, Anne went after him, came across some anti-gays who started beating her as you can imagine they would."
Disgust and fury flooded through me again, making more tears and causing my fist to clench. How dare they.
"Badger tried to protect her, only for them to turn on him. I psyched the whole thing and rushed out to help."
"So where's Badger?"
"He's at a vet's. I'm paying for his treatment though they say it doesn't look good."
I knew Ess was keeping a strong face in all this slight chaos, and I hated that on top of everything else.
I couldn't... I couldn't do this.
"You're wrong, Ess. I'm not putting her through this again. I-I can't be against the majority."

Can I clear my conscience,
If I'm different from the rest,
Do I have to run and hide?
I never said that I want this,
This burden came to me,
And it's made it's home inside.

I talked to Anne and broke it off, forcing the discussion into an arguement so I could hide my hurt with fake anger at what 'she'd made me turn into'. It hurt but it would keep her safe. I was in training with the squirrel, she was teaching me self defence, so I wasn't worried about myself.
I boarded up the hole in my window and sat thinking about everything in the corner. My phone vibrated beside me and I ignored it. Psychs told me it was Anne, esorted home safely with Honey. Badger was still in critical condition. Why the hell did they turn on the puppy? He was only defending his mistress.
Tapping on the glass made me look up. I got up and opened the window.
"I'm not in the mood for training today, Spirit."
"We're not training. Get your shoes on. We're going for a walk."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Don't give me that look, get your shoes on, now."
I glared and complied. I didn't want to, but I preferred to keep my head on my shoulders.
We walked a little way until she thought I could hear Quinn's voice over a megaphone. I tilted my head and stepped closer to hear.
"We are not pedos, and we are not murders. We are better than them, and we will not end the world. We are just like the rest of you. We deserve our rights as much as you do. What if it was switched around? You would be saying the same things as us.  If God hates gays then why did he make them, give us the chance to be them? And why should anyone be discriminated against for loving someone? We are not evil, we are just regular people like the rest of you."
Tough love from my adopted little sister. I couldn't help but feel proud of her, even though I was on the offending side. I saw Ess, Taina and a few others with their faces hidden holding up anti-propaganda and pictures of Anne and I as 'heroes' signs.
I looked over to another street. A large group of people were carrying an anti-gay sign among others.
That was where I should be, right?
Someone separated from that large group and went over to the minority. I barely heard them as they approached Quinn.
"Let me ask you kids a question. How did you all become gay? I'm assuming you are or you'd be on our side."
"I'm an ally, sir." Ess corrected him as Quinn glared and lowered the megaphone.
"Well how does one becomes straight? How do you become able to love? You don't just chose it or learn it, if you love someone then you love someone."
The guy stood for a minute, processing the information before walking away. Spirit turned to me.
"You see now, kid? They're risking themselves and putting their all to give everyone they can the world you and Anne would have started to create. And what do you? Act on your selfish human instinct to stop any harm coming to you."
"No, that was for Anne's-"
The blunt side of the claw from her tail hit me upside the head and I yelped with the shock and slight pain. Then she grabbed the front of my coat and held her face to mine.
"Open your eyes, kid! They're doing this for what they know you'd prefer to be!"
I looked away, stoning over my heart. I heard Spirit growl and saw her draw her fist back in the corner of my eye.

If I told you what I was,
Would you turn your back on me?
And if I seem dangerous,
Would you be scared?
I get the feeling just because,
Everything I touch isn't dark enough.
If this problem lies in me...

"Hey!"
She looked over at one of the hidden faces running over to us.
"What do you think you're doing??"
"Just knocking some sense into her."
She let go of me and I swayed off balance for a minute as the guy shoved Spirit away.
"Are you alright?"
I nodded vaguely. The majority appeared closer. I could see their signs with pictures of Anne and I cleverly manipulated to show us as demons. Clearly stating we were the evil ones. I felt anger again and shoved it back under my stoning heart.
"Hey!"
The guy who'd spoken to Quinn a few minutes before ran over.
"You realise you're on our turf AND defending one of the evils, don't you??"
"Oh for God's sake, she's not evil! You guys are almost evil in our eyes for thinking that!"
"I'm not one of you." I mumbled.
In the distracted moment the majority guy lunged at the one defending me. Spirit wasted no time jumping into the fray. The rest of the majority group quickly hurried over to assist him.
I sat with my back against the cold blank interior of the cell. Save some more bumps and bruises I'd managed to worm my way free of the fight only to be grabbed by a police officer. Of course the while group blamed it all on me, but me, Spirit and a select other few were taken in.
I psyched my phone ringing. Anne.
Badger hadn't lasted through the afternoon. My heart felt colder. I forced myself not to care. I was part of the majority.
I knew Ess had hurried Quinn and Taina out of harm's way. No need to worry about them at the moment.
"You realise I'm an ally too, don't you?"
I looked up to her. She was glaring at the wall.
"Huh?"
"I'm admitting that, like Esscaria, I'm not gay or anything, but I'm on your side. Or 'their' side if you insist. Turning against 'them' doesn't make you any better than the straights."
I looked back to the floor. I knew that.
It was better this way though, right?

I'm only a man with a candle to guide me,
I'm taking a stand to escape what's inside me.
A monster, a monster,
I've turned into a monster,
A monster, a monster,
And it keeps getting stronger.

But a part of me whispered.
I want to kiss and make up with her.


Chapter 4 - Love Will Find A Way.

She listened vaguely to the bus radio as she sat watching out of the window. Ruby was supposed to be with her. They were supposed to be going to London together. She was going to be great support, maybe even a translator for those wierd accents. Ruby had lived in London for a few years afterall.
Anne thought about the note she'd pinned up at the notice board in the library before heading to the bus stop. It had the banner "What is your wish for the world?". Her answer had simply been 'Equality'.

I was released with Spirit from the police cells the next day. I knew Anne would be boarding a plane within the hour. I couldn't bring myself to go. London wouldn't be any different, would it?
I wished her good luck with her studies in my mind as Spirit and I went our separate ways. Despite the many memories, I went for the library. Or maybe it was because of the memories I went there. I don't know.
I glanced to the notice board, initiating a double take when I saw her writing of one word.
I stood and stared at it, going through the many meanings in my mind.
I thought that if the world wouldn't change, we would never reach happiness.
Everything started to bubble up again. I wanted to fix things.
I would try harder this time.
But she...
With a spark of determination I started running for the airport, despite knowing it was at least half an hour away.
I eventually saw Spirit ahead. She was so much better a running, much fitter than me. She must have known. I went to pass her and she held out a ticket to me.
My ticket. To London.
She must have sneaked into my room to get it.
Should I go with Anne, run away from one place we knew was against us?
I glared and took the ticket. As much as I wanted to tear it up, she still needed to go for her studies.
Spirit smirked and revealed her motorbike.
Well, that explained a lot.
She handed me a spare helmet and I clung onto her as we sat. I had only done this once before. The ticket was safely in my sealed-up pocket as she revved the bike and sped off.
I hoped we could get there in time.
Sired blared behind us. Spirit snarled. A car hooted next to us. I glanced over and recognised Ess' car. I felt something lift me up and carry me like a crane over to the back seat of the car. I glanced over as I landed on the seat and saw the claw retract before we split directions. Ess was clearly headed for the airport. She tapped on a touchscreen without looking at it. Quinn and Taina smiled at me from their seats and I raised an eyebrow in silent questioning. I knew Quinn's answer would be ''Cause we cayan'.
"A, if you would."

Anne tried to ignore the looks people were giving her as she wheeled her luggage off the bus and inside to the desk.
"Freak!"
She saw something white being hurled at her, but heard it impact on something else. She paused and looked up to see the short haired male glaring over at who she presumed had thrown the egg.
Brakes screeched to a halt outside.
"Turn around."
She did so as an evident propaganda advert played over the loud speakers and projected on the wall above the desk.
I stood leaning on the doorway, trying to get my breath. I couldn't be happier to see her.
She stood with her back to the projection, which switched between anti-gays and for gays. The crowd that had gathered stared, waiting for one of us to make a move.
My heart seemed to stop, and all I could see was her.
She was all I needed.
I took a breath and ran forwards, hugging her tightly as I reached her. I felt our heartbeats synchronise as I finally felt happiness bubble inside me.
Jeering started up as we seperated, hands linked together and looked to the crowd. I was still struggling to get my breath back but I glared at them. Ess, Quinn and Taina stepped into the building. Ess nodded at me.
"Well, people, if you don't like what we're gonna say, then don't bloody listen. Some of us are gay. Some of us have similar titles along the lines. Most of us are hiding. You know why. We plan to make a change. We would very much appreciate it if you would accept it, it doesn't mean you have to be us. You just need to ACCEPT us. Us two ourselves are gay, and I personally could not ask for more! I AM PROUD OF IT! If you don't like it, then.... stuff you. We have our rights. We'll do what we want. We're not going to hide anymore."
I caught hearing of the tannoy and looked to Anne, noticing briefly that Quinn and Taina's hands were also linked tightly. That made me smile all the more. I could hear my hearing-aid 'singing'.
"London?"
"London."
I kissed her nose and she kissed mine.
Ess passed us our luggages and we hugged the others goodbye.
Eventually we were on the plane, waving back at them still.
Onto London. Onto a new life.
Our life.
I still couldn't ask for more.
Love had found a way.  And it always would. For everyone.

There's no need to be afraid.
Together we can make this world a better place.
Together we can all be equal.
Let's make a start.