//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Helping Hands // Story: Eye of the Storm // by Doodle Note //------------------------------// Sunset decided to stay in the village for the rest of the day, even after what happened back at the saloon. Right now, she was at the village's park, sitting down under the shade of a big tree watching as children were playing and running around with kites in their grasp. As she watched them, she grinned. Those children with kites somehow reminded her of Starlight Glimmer. It was said that she loved kites as much as anyone who owns one. Turning to her satchel, she reached for it and placed it on her lap before she opened it to pull out a brown journal with a red and yellow sun-like emblem on it, a pink and black pen clipped on the cover. Once she opened it, she flipped every page that was covered with her handwriting until she found an empty page. Clicking the pen, she started to write. Thursday, March 16th As usual, I'm alone. No one to watch over me, no one to pick me up when I fall, no one... It's just me, myself and I. There is my horse, but leave her as an exception. You already know this, but I still miss everyone. Jesse, Petra, Lukas, Olivia, Axel, Ivor, everyone. It's lonely, and I have to admit it. It still bothers me to this day. I wish everyone was here with me. But now that they have other important things to do, they can't be. Not right now, I bet not ever. "Excuse me..." A voice of a small child suddenly caught her ears. Sunset looked up at her journal, only to find a little girl with blonde hair that reached her mid-back dressed in a white dress that was wrapped with a pink ribbon and white flats. She was surprised to be greeted by a younger human, even on a lonely day like the one she is living through now. But somehow, her loneliness was slowly fading away because of her. "Hello," Sunset said, closing her journal and slipping it back into her satchel. "What brings you-" She was cut off when the girl held a fresh red apple in front of her. Sunset raised an eyebrow in confusion before she was struck with a realization. Taking the apple from her, she thanked the child and took a bite from it. Then, she patiently waited for the little girl to leave her. But instead, she walked to her side and sat down beside her. "You seem lonely." The girl said. "I am," Sunset said as she munched on her apple. "Did you have friends before?" Yeah, I did." She nodded. "But they all had to leave for more important things. We all had to go our separate ways, and they just left me all alone. I miss them all." "I'm sorry..." The girl wore a face of pity. Sunset let out a chuckle. "You don't even know me, kid." Soon, silence fell between both of them before the girl stood up and said, "How about you come to my house for lunch?" This made the flame-haired girl blink and look at her. "Wait, what?" "I'm inviting you to lunch at my house." The girl smiled. "I'm sure my mommy and daddy will like you." "But we just met." "I know." With that, the little girl was already taking Sunset to her house. Over there, the girl, whose name was Elise, explained to her parents about her encounter with her and how lonely she felt. So, her parents decided to take her in. Sunset didn't think it was necessary for Elise and her parents to invite her for lunch and to let her stay in their house. However, she decided to play along, for Elise's mother insisted on her staying for the sake of her health. Right now, Sunset was already having lunch with the family. She was already stuffing herself with bread rolls, salad, and steak. Elise's parents were quick to notice her and her actions. "Well," Elise's father said with a chuckle. "You seem to be very hungry after traveling for so long." In response, Sunset nodded before she turned to find Elise's mother approach her with a glass pitcher filled with iced tea. "More iced tea?" She said, getting a nod from the ember-haired girl and pouring more ice tea into her glass. After her glass was full again, the ember-haired girl turned to Elise and said, "You didn't have to do this, you know." "Well, that's our daughter." The girl's father chuckled again and ruffled his daughter's hair. "Always the helping hand, just like her mother." Elise's mother let out a laugh. "Oh, stop it! You know helping other people is my passion!" "I know, sweetheart." With that, he earned a peck on the cheek from his wife. Meanwhile, Sunset grinned and looked down at her plate. "You know, this is exactly what I have been needing all this time. I was just waiting for a helping hand after traveling around the land for so long." "Why were you traveling alone?" Elise asked, giving her a look of pity, "Well..." She paused, and the whole table was silent. "Let's just say that I had these friends. I met them two years ago, and the first time I did, I was confused. I came from another land. It was nothing like this one, and it's inhabitants weren't ordinary people. They were like my first friends back then." "What happened to them?" Elise's mother asked, sitting down on a vacant chair. "We had to leave each other for more important things." Sunset frowned. "One of them became a mayor, two of them became a part of separate kingdoms, one of them was writing a book, and one of them became part of a mine of some sort. Me, I just decided to travel around and protect those who threaten others. I even got scars in the process." "So, you were wandering around the land to save lives, huh?" Elise's father was becoming infatuated by Sunset's story. "You can put it that way." She shrugged. "But I must admit, the journey does get lonely, and it gets boring because of it. I had no one else to turn to nowadays. I've known those other people for two years, and I wish we could just stay together." "Will you see them again?" Elise asked, getting her light blue gaze. "I don't know..." With that, Elise's mother stood up from her chair and approached Sunset. Once she got closer, she placed a hand on her shoulder. The magical girl with ember colored hair smiled again, placing her hand on the one that grabbed her shoulder. A long while of traveling and she was finally getting support and comfort. But it still wasn't enough to fill the empty place within her heart, however... "Don't worry..." Elise's mother said. "We'll be here for you." "Thank you, miss." Sunset was feeling even more support, but she still missed all of her friends...