The Unknown Daughters Reunion:The Early Days

In the bedroom of a typical teenager, a group of friends assembled for their usual 'detective club meeting'.

The friends met in their high school library over the year, noticing their similar tastes in the books each other were reading. Appraising the others reading material, they began chatting softly in the library, and eventually talking about mystery novels outside of school. With a few more friends they made in their gaming exploits, they formed a routine hangout after school at each others homes.

Going back a couple months...

One day a loud truck carrying two shipping containers, passed through the highway intersection while they were driving home.

That truck was like most that they had seen since growing up there. It headed in the direction of a construction zone that had begun long before they were born.

One of the friends in the car; riding shotgun, made a passing comment of wondering when the new place was going to open up. Wanting to drive down the streets and see the shiny new buildings.

Another in the car, replying to her that he heard that the streets weren't like regular roads, and they'd have to ride bikes or something.

As the conversation rolled on, it changed from facts, to rumor, and finally to speculation on what was there.

"I heard there's going to be a theme park there. A castle at the center like Disneyland has" Aaron said.

"Meh, another knockoff tourist trap that'll be closed in a couple years. Those things are so dated. What is this, the 90's, do they have arcades too?" Eric said with dismay, mocking theme parks.

"Don't care. If they have a pool, I'll try it out." Sarah declared.

Though the conversation lasted most of the the way to Sarah's house, it didn't entirely leave their thoughts.

---

Now over the past few weeks, they had looked up the place as much as they could, trying to sate their curiosity. Overhead maps on the net, as well as the now dated and closed investment opportunities that once existed to attract funding.

Despite the world of information at their fingertips, little was available on what it was officially going to be. Even satellite views didn't have street names or future locations pointed out. Social media; was all speculation and no answers...

This Tuesday evening, they were drawing up plans to make the trek outside of town, and try to use their bikes to make way through the wooded paths to the construction site.

Though it wasn't far, they expected more than a half hour walk to get there if they had to do it on foot.

They were going to be doing this covertly, and not driving up to the entrance gates and parking. The last thing they wanted to do, was get back to their car to find it was ticketed or towed.

Finally deciding to park on a side street on the south border of the woods, and then hiking the rest of the way; they began figuring out supplies.

"So, some energy bars and bottled water?" Eric asked.

"Bleck, those things taste like fake cardboard!" Leah complained.

"Lol, you must have been getting the cheap junk?" Mark teased her.

"Give me a chocolate or peanut butter granola any day" John said.

"Alright, everyone bring a few of whatever's around the house. Bottled water, can of pop, energy drink, or whatever" Aaron replied.

"What about cameras? Anyone have an actual digital camera?" Eric asked the group.

"Got one on my phone" Sara said.

"I mean an Actual camera, not something that's made for selfies and gets low res blurry motion. We won't have time to expect everything to hold still in good lighting while the thing decides to focus on crap!" Eric complained, his experiences with low light smart phone pictures coming out.

"Gah, Leave Some of my head on next time!" Sara chastised him.

"Sorry, sorry. Just, drives me nuts when I see a great shot, and the picture comes out all jankey.." Eric apologized.

"Why don't I just bring my drone?" Mark asked.

"Don't bother. When they get past the trees, the wifi signal drops. Those that tried, had to go in and rescue their drones. Usually being told off by the construction crews." John informed Mark.

"Are they jamming wifi? I didn't know that was possible, let alone legal?" Joey asked.

"No idea. I don't even know if we'll get cell signal there.." John added.

"They must. Its a construction zone. They gotta be able to call ambulances" Leah replied.

"I guess we'll find out.. When can everyone be ready?" Mark asked the group.

Friday evening had come. After making a detour to one of their houses to pick up things that he forgot, they parked the car on the shoulder of the road besides the woods.

Loading their pockets, and grabbing a couple backpacks; they set off into the woods.

In the light of the lengthening shadows, they made their way through the trees. Little did they know that the trees were not that much older than they themselves were.

Planted as a privacy buffer before the construction began, they had grown faster and stronger than trees usually did. Though the few people who noticed, had attributed it to the soil being rich.

Reaching the opposite edge of the woods, they looked outward toward the cityscape.

"Not much to see yet, besides more trees.." Eric stated, cracking open a soda.

"Those must be the orchards I saw from the satellite view?" Leah presumed.

"Orchards?" John asked, opening a granola bar.

"Must be orchards, the trees are spaced out and they're in separate sections. One even looked like it was for grapes or something.." She elaborated, fishing out a water bottle.

"Don't go anywhere, gotta.. go." Mark excused himself.

"Yeah, anyone else have to? After this point, we probably wont find many good spots to take care of business." Joey proposed to everyone.

With a couple affirmatives, they temporally split up to find a private place to relieve themselves in the woods.

Crossing the open space between the woods and the unfinished orchards, they moved cautiously, watching and listening for any movement.

Besides squirrels and birds, all was quiet as they made there way through a pear orchard.

Coming to a stop at it's edge, they took in the two meter-tall wall that fenced the cities perimeter.

Joey, hoisting Aaron up; asked what he could see.

Aaron, seeing little beyond a building that blocked most of his view.

Hopping down, he suggest they try a little ways down, to their left.

Doing so again, Aaron found nobody in sight this time.

"It's clear, lets break out the rope." Aaron said.

Going back to their previous location, one by one, they scaled the wall and dropped down the other side. Landing onto the dirt, a couple of them cursed softly that they were leaving tracks.

Peering around the right edge of the building, they looked into the city's limits;

Being at the end of the day on a Friday, few workers were still hanging around. A couple of trucks here and there, mostly landscapers watering their recent plantings.

Going back toward their left, they began their sightseeing; cautiously taking in the backside of the building as they passed by them.

Walking around to the front side of the buildings they passed between, there was a road. However, the road was not like a common street. It was paved in large hexagonal blocks, and split into two paths with long raised platforms in the middle. Spaced intermittently, they appeared to be both; planters, as well as lamp post platforms. Though there was nothing planted in them yet.

"Wowww.. fancy" Sarah said in a hushed tone.

"Yeah..." the rest acknowledged.

"So... where to?" Eric wondered.

"This street seems deserted, should we follow it to the center?" Leah asked.

"Sure, but lets stay close to the buildings and shrubs in case we need cover" Joey suggested.

Making their way up the road, the path they traveled became greener as the dirt was replaced by young grass and softer ground; the landscaping having reached out that far.

Before the grass however, the street planters were already sprouting life with flowers and shrubberies.

Thankful for the added cover, their attention was drawn to the cityscape around them.

Some buildings looked like shops, others condo's with massive lawns; the latter having a ring shape. Being six or more floors, they reminded them of the capitol records building, but more curved and rounded.

In fact, all of the buildings shied away from having hard edges or blunt corners. They looked, a little space-aged?

Continuing up the street, they ducked in and out of fields of solar array panels, and planted parks; which there were many of both.

In the distance, there were a few very large buildings, which they presumed to be warehouses or factories. As small crates were set out on the nearby streets surrounding them.

Every so often, there were greenhouses. And looking inside one of them, they saw that had produce growing inside; Carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, beets, potatoes...

"Aww, I was hoping for something else.." Leah said dejectedly.

"Of course you were" Eric laughed.

Finally making their way to the center of the city, they came to a very wide road.

Looking to the left and the right, they saw that it curved inward. Likely a ring that surrounded what was beyond it.

On the other side of the road, was a meter tall wall, separating the traffic from the castle Aaron mentioned. The castle however, was encased in an expansive lawn, landscaped to the nines in flowers, shrubs, and trees.

"Are you sure this is supposed to be an attraction Aaron?" John asked him.

"If it is.... they spared no expense" He said, not realizing what he quoted.

"Lets just hope we aren't going to be eaten" Sarah grinned, the others stifling their laughs.

With the sun getting nearer to the horizon, they moved with stealth across the road, over the wall, and into the nearest shrubbery that they came to.

Catching their breath and looking to make sure the coast was still clear, they went from cluster of shrubs, to cluster; and then up to the front door of the castle.

"We really should of planned this better.." Eric burst, slightly panicked.

"What do you mean?" Leah asked him.

"What if it's locked!?" He exclaimed as he lifted the lever on the door.

With a 'click', the door pulled inward. Motorized, it opened automatically to its full extent.

In a panic, they all piled in to get out of sight. Worried that the door might have given them away, they hid behind the opposite door until the other door closed automatically.

Letting out a breath of relief, Joey said;

"Jeeze, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack."

"Quiet, stupid!" Aaron said in a strained whisper.

"Oh! yeah" Joey replied in a whisper; remembering where they all were.

They were in deep trespassing territory, but at least no one could say they broke and entered..

Looking around, the entrance-way was immense. The hallways extending from there, nearly as tall and wide. A boom lift would be needed to change a bulb in the chandeliers. Though by their flickering, they were modern as well.

There were columns built into the walls, padded sitting benches made of crafted wood and fabric, and framed portraits along the walls.

Though the portraits were unusual; They were recessed into the walls, framed with intricate carvings... and were screens, video screens. Their static contents changing softly every few minutes.

And their contents...

They were mythical creatures, often equine in nature. Some looking like oil paintings, others nearly like photographs...

Stepping softly, they poked their heads into a room, to find a grand dining room; fully furnished.

Coming to another, was a library. One that put the public one in their town to shame.

In another room, was something that they had to take a picture of;

Walking in, it was an office of some kind. Beyond the exquisite looking desk, along the far wall; was the most extensive sound system they had ever seen. Dating to a little before the turn of the century, it was pristine; The soft glow of red leds indicating that they were standing-by, ready for use.

Joey, reaching for one of the buttons almost got him tackled by the rest. Instead, simply receiving strained grunts and whispered threats from the others.

Overhead, there were three conventional portraits. What was unconventional however, was what they depicted;

Though the three were similar, they were quite different in color. One was blue, another: black, and a third: white. All of them having unicorn horns, though the one in the middle had unusual eyes; like a cats, or maybe a fox?

"Who are they?" Eric muttered, mostly to himself.

"What are they?" Leah added.

Turning to the left; were rows and rows of physical media. They didn't even have to look into them to believe that proverbially everything was there.

To the right, were rows upon rows of books, upon numerous bookcases.

Restraining their urge to whistle at the sight, they turned around.

As they walked past the Shigeru Kawai grand piano; John made passing note of Clair de Lune being left on its music rack.

The group walked through the door back into the hall, leaving the office as quietly as they came.

Coming to the end of a hall, there was a door; What looked to be an elevator door. Shrugging, Sarah pressed the button.

Immediately, they all jumped when the soft 'bong' chimed and its doors opened.

Looking uneasily amongst each other, they all stepped inside.

The doors having closed, they let out a sigh once more having gotten out of the open in the hallway.

"Where to now?" Mark asked the group.

"Well, we wanted to get to the bottom of this, so.." Eric stated as he pressed the bottom button, taking his own pun literally.

The elevator, finally having come to a stop at the bottom of its travel; opened its doors.

"That felt longer than three floors.." John said what they all were thinking.

Finding the courage to step into the unknown; Mark walked out of the elevator and into the finished hallway.

It was very clean down there, and well lit.

"Which way?" He asked.

"Your call" John replied.

Turning to the right, the others followed as they came to the last set of doors the adjacent wall had. There was no label to the doors, and a high security lock on its handle, but he tried his luck anyways.

Like the front door had done, this one unlatched and opened automatically. Leading to another well lit room.

As they entered slowly, they saw something that they had only seen in Hollywood movies..

"What is all this?" Mark asked in bewilderment.

"Oh my god!" Sarah whispered as she put her hands over her mouth.

In the room that was large enough to be used as a call center; were clear chambers, or incubators. Dozens upon dozens of them. The equipment maintaining them, humming softly.

Approaching a couple of them hesitantly, and then peering into the glass; they saw a tiny horse floating inside. It's eyes were closed, its coat not yet having grown in, and occasionally making a little twitch as would a baby 'kick'

"Awww. It's so tiny" A couple of them cooed.

"Is.. Is that a horn?" Joey asked.

"I, think... it is! It's a..." Mark exclaimed.

"unicorn..." Sarah whispered.

Falling into silence, they didn't notice that they weren't the only ones there, besides the foals.

"Beautiful, are they not?" A voice asked them, softly as to not startle them too badly.

Spinning around toward the foreign voice, some almost falling over in their haste.

Meeting the eyes of the curious trespassers, the speaker spoke again with a smile;

"Welcome, young ones. I have been expecting you, for a long time now."