After a few dozen Edible Paulos were prepped and plated, it was time to open. ExpertBunny had finished her coffee and breakfast, and Noobkitty carried a heavy tray filled with warm pancakes and other breakfast starches to a large guest table in the center of the room. She still felt a little odd about this next part, but as usual, she’d been outvoted.

  They opened the front door and let in the morning staff: a large deer, four rats, two bunnies, five birds, and a pair of raccoons.

  The menagerie trooped straight to the table and began enjoying their pancake feast. Nibs hopped down from Noobkitty’s shoulder and onto the tabletop, chirping authoritatively.

  “Squeak... squook, squee!” Nibs gestured toward the kitchen and the counter, directing the crew like a seasoned foreman.

  Noobkitty didn’t speak Animal, and ExpertBunny could because she was an admin, but tasks were clearly being assigned even without admin input.

  “This still feels like exploitation,” Noobkitty muttered. The animals looked up at her; Nibs tapped a tiny foot impatiently. “Fine... fine... it’s not up to me. You’re welcome to work here.”

  The deer and Nibs nodded in unison, finished their breakfast, and took their posts. Without SisterQuery and Skidmark, the shop had become a bit overwhelming, and Noobkitty had to admit the help was needed. Still, it was surreal to have a forest crew working in a vegan snack shop. She suspected this was GYOAT’s doing, but she hadn’t worked up the courage to ask the Yak yet.

  The deer was assigned to out of shop deliveries; the rats restocked the condiment counter; the birds handled table service for small items; and the raccoons, Clark and Emerald, were on dish duty. The bunnies assisted with counter help, which was arguably the most effective marketing move yet, three fluffy bunnies watching customers check out was almost too cute to bear.

  “Clark, Emerald, you two ready?” Noobkitty asked the raccoons. They nodded and scamper shuffled into the kitchen.

  She sighed, watching them go. “At least I pay better than Snow White.”

  Nibs joined her at the prep station. He was trying to learn the art of baking despite his size. Weirdly, Noobkitty didn't mind Nibs; he’d been the first to follow her home and had been very clear that he was there for education and snacks. He’d even "written" his name in flour to introduce himself. Clark and Emerald, however, made her nervous, mostly because they liked to lick the raspberry jam off the spoons before washing them.

  She prepped the kettles for lilac tea, blended fruits for smoothies, and began pressing fresh oat and nut milks.

  “Hardest part is pulling on the almond’s tiny udders,” Noobkitty joked to Nibs. The rat just rolled his eyes at her.

  The day was relentless, and she had to admit the forest crew was brilliant. She set a fresh cup of tea on a special lightweight tray that a pair of birds carried out to a table. She was just starting to accept her life as a fairytale princess when someone walked in she never expected to see.

  The newcomer was a little taller than Noobkitty, thinner, and perfectly human. She wore a mix of denim and leather styled as a pirate, complete with a flintlock, a cutlass, and a weathered tricorne hat. But it was the face that froze Noobkitty’s heart.

  It was her face. Or rather, what used to be her face. The eyes, the smile, the bone structure, the vibrant red hair, it was Lyla, just dressed as a buccaneer.

  The woman waited in line, and when she reached the counter, her grin turned into a giant smirk. With a wink, she asked, “So, are you my future sister-in-law?”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  ExpertBunny’s ears shot up, and she beamed. “Oh my gosh, you came! You’re one of Kitty’s sisters!” She hopped over the counter and pulled the pirate into a tight hug. “Thank you for coming!”

  EB stepped back, admiring the taller, more shapely woman. “Huh. So this is what my fiancée looked like as a human. Not bad! I’d have still liked her, but I definitely prefer my fuzzy Kitty.”

  The pirate Lyla laughed. “Maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong. I could get a cute girl like you if I was covered in fur.” She held out a hand. “My name is Captain Püf, but you’re soon to be my sister, so you can just call me Püf.”

  “ExpertBunny, Bunny, EB, or .ex are all acceptable,” the Admin said, shaking her hand warmly.

  Noobkitty was still frozen, staring. She hadn't thought about it much lately, but she wasn't human anymore. And out there in the Net, there were others, sisters with her original face, her body, her history. Noobkitty looked down at herself: shorter, fluffier, less endowed, and covered in fur. Even her tongue was different, sharp and rasping.

  “Kitty!” ExpertBunny said, raising her voice to snap her out of the trance. She pulled Noobkitty forward as the customers paused to watch the scene. “Say hi to Püf! She’s the first to show up. I sent out invitations to a bunch of your sisters, but only a few have travel visas.”

  “You invited more?” Noobkitty asked, stunned.

  “I think about eight of us will be showing up,” Püf said, her eyes twinkling. “You’re our youngest sister, and we wanted to meet the woman who finally caught our little Noob. But first... can I get a hug?”

  She bent down, arms stretched wide. Noobkitty hesitated, then stepped into the embrace. It was warm, soft, and oddly familiar, though the scent of real leather was a bit strange. Noobkitty stepped back. “Leather?”

  With a nervous laugh, Püf said, “Legacy leather. All of it found in high level chests. It was a bit fun being a cotton clad pirate for the first two years.”

  “How long have you been downloaded?” Noobkitty asked.

  “Six years,” Püf said proudly. “I think the oldest of us is ten years in. You probably have so many questions. How about you put me to work, and we’ll chat later? I’m here to help, after all.” She winked at ExpertBunny.

  “How about taking the larger plates the birds can't carry?” EB suggested. “We’ll shove my fiancée in the kitchen so we can talk about her behind her back.”

  “Ooh, yes, please! I have to know what it’s like to date a cat girl,” Püf teased.

  “Off you go, sweetie,” EB said, ushering Noobkitty into the kitchen. She followed her in for a brief second. “Are you okay?”

  “I... I didn't realize how different I looked compared to what I was,” Noobkitty admitted quietly. “Do... am I still pretty to you?”

  ExpertBunny stepped close, took Noobkitty’s face in her hands, and kissed her deeply. “I’m a Bunny, sweetie. You think I want some tall, smooth-skinned woman like that? I’d have tried a lot harder to get SisterQuery if that were the case. I think I could’ve turned her, too.”

  Noobkitty laughed, the tension breaking. “I love you.”

  “You’d better. You’re marrying me,” the Bunny said, swishing her tail playfully as she headed back to the counter.

  At the end of the day, after the forest crew had been paid in pastries and a few copper coins, Noobkitty cooked a soybean stir-fry with noodles and fresh summer rolls.

  “Why did you invite my sisters without telling me?” Noobkitty asked, slurping a noodle.

  ExpertBunny looked up, eyes wide and innocent. “Surprises! And to see if I could. That ‘Net’ thing you players talk about is actually real, it turns out.” She dipped a roll into sweet sauce. “Your face was totally worth it.”

  “I feel a little bad now; I didn't realize how shocked you’d be,” Püf added. “It’s just so exciting. You’re the last Sister to be made, and you’re the one getting married! Do you know how rare that is?”

  “Um... no? I know we weren't the most... relationship oriented, but it can't be that rare,” Noobkitty said.

  “Three. You’re the fourth,” Püf said plainly. “There are nearly a hundred of us across the servers, and only four are in committed relationships. You’re a celebrity among our sisters. And you attracted a cute Admin Bunny! I’m jealous, I want a fluffy cutie like EB.”

  Noobkitty blushed, her fur hiding the heat in her cheeks.

  “There, feel better, my silly Noob?” EB asked.

  “Yeah. I... I still think she looks better than me, but I am very thankful to have my fluffy cutie.”

  “Darn straight. And no, you’re definitely cuter than her. No offense, Püf.”

  “None taken,” Püf said, biting into a roll. “My little sister is adorable. I really missed an opportunity, though, I should’ve learned to cook.”

  Noobkitty couldn't help but smile. She might not be the human she once was, but she had a beautiful fiancée, a thriving shop, and she knew her way around a kitchen. She’d get over seeing her old face. In fact, she was starting to get excited. More of her sisters were coming.