Mirage Scope

Being Bart's sister had made Margie an expert at chameleoning her height up or down as necessary in a given conversation. Right now, she looked up and down for her next appointment, a new and enthusiastic volunteer for the church in Nisan.

Margie reminded herself, then, that this volunteer was a young girl, and she'd better concentrate a little closer to the ground. Just as she was about to abandon her search to the edge of the street in the shadow of a spire, a distinctive hat appeared, bobbing above the market sellers and goers alike.

That had to be her. Luckily, Margie was able to meet the girl's gaze, and she beckoned. "MOMO! Over here!"

As soon as MOMO, face alight, emerged from the crowd, Margie knew she'd never miss her again: her hair was bright pink! And the hat, of course - she made sure to explain its newfound significance.

"Oh, my beret? Yes, Jr. made it for me!"

Everything from MOMO's application came rushing back. "Your brother, right?" She tried to remember who all MOMO had for nuclear relations, considering that she hadn't been naturally born. How many hundred-odd half-siblings, again?

The beret was somewhat lumpy, not with pumpkin-shaped puffs like those that outlined Margie's own hat, but irregular and tufted, sculpted from a fuzzy and slubful yarn.

It really wasn't quite as perfect as the rest of MOMO was, whether effortlessly or effortfully. How charming.

Or maybe Margie's standards had just been not lowered but altered, somewhat, to reflect a patronizing and condescending air. This wouldn't do and wouldn't stand, if so. Especially MOMO - she had to be welcomed! It was imperative!

What a cute lovecore angel magical girl, one might think, and one would be subject to some adjusting. What a beautiful and valiant scion for peace and pink pom-poms, actually, thank you very much.

Margie was broken out of her descriptive reverie by MOMO's beaming smile and the answer to her offhand question: "Yeah, I guess Jr. is sorta like my brother! And then my mom is Juli, and Ziggy...he's basically my dad!"

"You're surrounded by a lot of family," Margie noted fondly. "It must have helped you survive through all those difficult battles, knowing you were safe with them."

"Yes..." MOMO nodded, steepling her fingers. "I was happy to be fighting with people I love. But it also made me feel a little guilty, to need all that help. I'm supposed to be such an advanced Realian, but still, I could be so fragile sometimes. I just want to be a normal girl."

Normal girls, Margie stopped herself from commenting, were meant to need a lot of help as they became teenagers and went through some of the most challenging changes of their entire lives. Normal girls were not half so sweet and considerate as MOMO when these times came for them, either.

"We're in a time of peace now," Margie was glad to point out. "I think coming here was a wonderful first step. You'll be able to meet all kinds of new people and discover more of your own personality."

MOMO smiled. "That sounds great. Actually, the first thing I'd like to do is change my clothes - being a Realian, I tend to stay in the same sailor suit for a while! That's why Jr. helped me make the different berets."

So...fashion show? Margie was so there.