This was requested by Diamond ( https://buildabearsfurever.wordpress.com/ ) to clear up the confusion. :)
Carly hadn't seen anyone other than Issa. She had fallen asleep on the couch in the room Issa had left her in almost immediately. It must be the next day now and she still had no idea where she was... she was still waiting for answers.
Suddenly the door opened, and an elderly lady walked in with a smile.
"Hello, Carly. I'm so sorry all of this is taking so long."
"Oh, hi. I guess you already know my name. Who are you?" Carly asked excitedly.
"Ms. Prince." The woman introduced herself as she sat down beside Carly, "Now, I'm sorry this has to be so rushed but, how much do you know?"
"Um, what do you mean?" Carly asked, "Know about what?"
"About the Shadows." The lady said simply, "Mrs. Cabot was supposed to tell you when you turned 10."
"Oh, um." Carly felt stung by the reminder of her loss, "Mrs. Cabot died when I was 9."
"Oh, dear. I'm so sorry." It may have been odd to be hugged by a stranger, but Carly hadn't felt loved for a while. It felt good.
The door opened again, and two people walked in.
One was a man who looked about the same age as the lady beside her.
A boy about her age followed behind.
"How much does she know?" The man asked the Mrs. Prince, who seemed to be his wife.
The she shook her head. "Nothing."
"Well then, Carly Benson,"
"Meet Carson Benson, your brother."
Carly was shocked. She couldn't remember ever having a brother.
And yet... the longer she looked at the boy, his wavy black hair and dark tanned skin, his high cheek bones and pointed chin...yes, this must be her brother. Carly couldn't explain, even years later, how she knew. She just did.
Soon we were all settled and the man and woman, who introduced themselves as Mr. and Ms. Prince, began to explain.
"Not so long ago, the world was one. There was no division. King Moonfall and Queen Sunrise ruled the land, and everyone was happy...except the king and queen. They hated each other, so much in fact, that they started a war. It was a bitter struggle lasting 4 and 1/2 years. It is know today as the War of Daybreak." Mrs. Prince paused and Mr. Prince took up the story.
"Finally the prince and princess, Ray and Luna, decided to put a stop to it. The two of them, went on a quest for a force only heard of in legends. The Leif.
Ray was sure it would bring his parents together, but when they released the Leif it did the exact opposite. It split the world in two. Two world as different as light and dark... sun and moon... day and night. Both the Day World and the Night World go on at the same, existing in parallel, overlapping but never touching. People in the Night World can neither hear nor see people of the Day World, and vice versa. "
"You see, each person took on their own Leif, some Light, some Dark. People live in the world corresponding to their Leif. Most people get only one Leif... some however are special. Some people received two Leif, a light and a dark. These people are called Shadows and Shadows can see sunset."
"Wait...that means... me?" Carly whispered.
"Me and him? Us?"
Carson sighed.
"Yes, you two are the last Shadow pair. Now, some people got two Leif, like you, but some got no Leif...empties. Empties are creatures that thirst for the Leif that they never got. They can steal people's Leif, but they never really take it on. Five or six empties could absorb all the Leif in the world, thankfully they are stuck in the void, the world between the worlds. But now the Night and Day worlds are pulling farther and farther apart...it's creating a hole between both worlds, through the void."
'But...but... will an of the empties be able to get out?" Carly asked.
"Not yet, but soon." Mrs. Prince replied, "However if you and Carson are able to get the weapon of legends in time we may be able to close the hole, before anything gets out."
Carly looked over at Carson.
"Well, Car. Should we do it?"
Carson sighed again, "I don't think we have a choice. And don't call me 'Car'."
So it was decided. They would set off the next morning. Carly was excited but not about the quest, she was excited to get to know her brother.
Eeee! Carly is just so sweet! I can't wait to develop their relationship. :)
~ Megan