Echo looked at Aggie and nodded strongly.

"Together."

They sat up, still wrapped around each other and started hatching a plan, their voices echoing and blending together in the airy atmosphere of Echo's room even as the sun began to set.

"You said it was either a Dark Mage or a Shadow-Mixer, right?" Echo asked as her mind mulled over the options available. Can we really beat this? Or will just end in disaster?

"Yeah," Aggie said, her tone questioning and slightly confused. "Why?"

"Well, have you fought either of them before?"

"Yes?" Aggie said, still not getting it.

"Then we can look at some of the previous books! There's bound to be something in there about defeating them, even though there's not exactly anything about getting a book back into its pages!" Echo excitedly said, practically flying over to the tall white bookshelf on the far side of the room.

She ran back over with five books in her arms, each with a gold detailing over a solid color. She nearly tripped and sent them flying, but she managed to keep almost all of them, except for book 1, which went flying at Aggie, who caught it deftly.

She glanced at the backend shook her head. "I'll never get used to being a literal book character." She said, staring wistfully off into the distance as Echo settled herself back onto the bed.

"Let's skim through these and find anything about Shadow-Mixers and Dark Mages," Echo said.

Aggie nodded and began leading through book 1 as Echo skimmed book 2. They glided through 3, 4, and 5 as well, though they didn't find much information about either of the the monsters.

"The only thing I found ok defeating a Dark Mage was Blossom telling Willow to run for it when they saw one. They didn't seem to want or be able to fight it," Echo said doubtfully as she closed book 5. "And that's with their fighting skills. I know you're a good fighter, but I'm a bookworm and nerd who does as little as possible in PE. There's no way I could hold my own in a fight."

Aggie chuckled. "Maybe you just need to learn. I can teach you, if you'd like?"

Echo nodded, relieved.

At least I'll have a chance in a fight. I don't want to drag Aggie down if she has to protect both of us, Echo thought. Plus, it means I can spend more time with Aggie!

"I'm in."

"Great!" Aggie exclaimed. "By the way, have you told your mom about... this?"

Echo shook her head. "No way. She'd never believe me, and I'm worried it would put her in more danger."

Aggie nodded thoughtfully, as if lost in thought about something serious. "You might want to tell her, she could get a little worried if her eldest daughter is sword fighting and throwing daggers with her new friend."

"The last thing we need is for her to decide that I can't be around you," Echo agreed.

They heard the front door slam. "Ella Murray Medousa-Pallas! Get back in the house this instant!!" Virginia shouted, presumably at Ella for going outside without permission. "It's almost dark, you will not leave the house young lady!"

"I guess that means I should go," Aggie said to a mortified Echo.

"I guess... tonight we should both keep a look out for monsters, in case more than one escaped with you." Echo said, gathering up Aggies things and returning the books to their shelf.

Aggie agreed and they headed downstairs hand in hand, past a pouting Ella sitting in the time out corner.

"Wow, your mom didn't strike me as a big 'time out' person," Aggie chuckled.

Echo giggled as well, almost leaning up to peck Aggie on the cheek with a kiss, but she immediately changed to an awkward one-armed hug.

I don't think we're THAT close in our friendship yet, Echo thought, frowning at herself internally.

"See you tomorrow I guess," Aggie said, seemingly not noticing Echos awkward goodbye.

"Yeah," Echo said pulling away and locking eyes with Aggie for a moment.

"Bye Ms. Pallas!" Aggie yelled into the house. "Thanks for letting me come over!"

With a final glance at Echo, Aggie opened the door and stepped out into the chill air of the sunset and headed off into the distance in the direction of the bus stop.

"Don't die," muttered Echo softly as she went back upstairs to continue looking for clues in the books while her younger sister still sat in the time out chair.