//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven; First Meeting- Moonshade // Story: Runaway // by Kix //------------------------------// Damnit, I know exactly what you are doing and I can’t even defend myself or block out your damn chatter. Screw you for employing such a tactic, whoever you are. Why couldn’t you just leave? Glaring, I watch the women from the picnic sit down off to my right but keep their backs facing away from me. I’ve only read the first three books, do not spoil the others for me. “No, I never could get into that book series Chrys, but if you want to talk about it go ahead.” WHAAA- BUT….. HOW….. THE BEST BOOK SERIES EVER AND YOU HAVEN’T READ IT?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Already I can feel myself wanting to shout at the woman who if I remember is Luna. Only by sheer will do I keep my mouth shut. “Well, the stories are about this marvelous woman who goes on very unique adventures gathering rare and powerful artifacts from around the world. In the first book, called Search for the Sapphire Gem, Daring almost gets killed by her enemy Auchihotle who bound her and left her in a pit that filled with water and piranhas.” Gritting my teeth, I try to reign in my outburst at the strange woman’s intentional destruction of the first book’s storyline so far. Unfortunately, the medicines I’m given easily help tear through my resolve. “FIRST OFF IT’S DARING DO AND THE QUEST FOR THE SAPPHIRE STONE, NOT SEARCH FOR THE SAPPHIRE GEM! SECONDLY, HIS NAME IS AHUIZOTL, AND HE TRIED TO KILL HER USING QUICKSAND, SCORPIONS, SNAKES, SPIDERS AND SPIKED WALLS! THIRDLY, HOW COULD YOU NOT BE INTERESTED IN THE BEST SERIES OF ALL TIME!” “Well, seems like someone is a fan big time. My name is Chrysalis, and this is Luna. It is a pleasure to meet you finally,” the onyx skinned woman says with a smile as she turns towards me, unsurprised by my outburst. “Moonshade, would say it’s a pleasure, but we both know that is a lie. Now could you please leave me alone?” I expected some nurses or even a doctor to show up after that outburst. Seems like these two had this as a plan all along. Luna speaks up with a slight smile, though a hint of sadness flashes through her eyes. “I’m not into adventure stories as Chrys is, heck she lives a life of adventure. But maybe if you can make an argument about why I should change my mind, then I’m all ears.” “If I do, will you two PLEASE go away?” “It will depend on how well you can convince me.” With a smile, Luna turns her chair around along with Chrysalis and they give me their utmost attention. When….. when was the last time an adult wanted to listen this closely to what I have to say? I….. I want to believe what mom and dad said, if it was real. But….. I can’t afford to trust anyone else. Not anymore, can I? Sighing, I turn my head to my audience. “Alright, I don’t expect you to understand, but have you….. ever wished you could be someone else, do something extraordinary? Well, Daring Do is just your average woman who is able to walk into a situation that seems like it’s almost certain death and live through it using her brain, unlike the superheroes more commonly found. She is strong, confident, smart, sassy and patient. She is a reminder that even though you may be just one face in a crowd you can make something of yourself.” “I can see why you like her then, have you ever tried going out on an adventure like she has?” “No, but I’ve always wanted to.” With another sigh, I flop my head onto my pillow and stare up at the ceiling. “Just….. answer me one question, then please go before I call the security staff. Why is it that you, your friends and those girls are so worried about me?” Chrysalis stands up and looks straight at me, her pierced lip turning upside down as her features sadden a little. “I can’t answer for the others, only myself. I know what it’s like to lose everyone you love and the pain of having to deal with it on your own…..” Luna stands up and gives her friend a gentle hug before interrupting. “As for myself, I see a young woman who has potential to be like her hero. It would be a shame if she isn’t allowed to grow and show the world what she can do.” I suspect there is more to what Luna wants to say but I decide against calling her on it. “We’ll be going now Moonshade, we’ll stop by tomorrow for another visit.” I just huff at the threat the blue toned woman gives, though through the hardness I can sense something, just the tiniest sliver of something as they walk out the door. Minutes later the pink haired woman from when I woke up walks back in, smiling a little. “You set that up, didn’t you?” “No, they wanted to come visit of their own accord ever since they learned you were here.” “Let me guess, they seem so nice and attentive, but they were sent by the foster family, weren’t they?” “No, they are close friends of mine who were generally worried about you.” As she speaks, a plastic cup full of water is brought to my lips, and instead of fighting I swallow the cool liquid rapidly. “I know the doctors are worried about you trying to harm yourself judging by the marks on your wrist, and I know the cuffs are unbearable to be in. How about I make you a deal? I’ll convince your doctor to get your cuffs removed if you atleast try and talk to them again and any other visitors I approve, deal?” Not like I have much choice, either be given some semblance of freedom and have to deal with others, or be strapped to this bed without even the ability to turn on the damn t.v. For a couple minutes I just lay there, weighing my options before speaking. “Fine, but I also want the entire Daring Do series brought up as well. And if I tell the visitors to go, they leave immediately.” Smiling, she heads back out the door, stopping to turn the t.v. on to a channel I used to enjoy watching. Judging by how many shows have played through, it’s about two hours before she reappears with the doctor and the cuffs are removed without a word, causing me to immediately roll, stretching and flexing my uninjured arm and leg. “Thanks.” “You are welcome, sweetie. By the way, you have another pair of visitors. Are you in the mood to see them?” “Deal’s a deal.” “Okay, come on in.” At her words, the fiery haired girl and her mom walk in through the door. I can’t help but give a snort as they stop beside the bed. The teen is the first to address me as she holds out her hand. “I’m Sunset Shimmer, though I guess you may or may not already know that. It’s nice to meet you, Moonshade.” Reluctantly, I take her hand and then the hand of the ivory skinned woman next to her. “And I’m Celestia. Are you being treated okay here?” “Fine I guess, can’t wait to get away from this hell hole.” Throughout the whole visit I keep my gaze away from the two. “Why are you two so worried about me? You know nothing about me or what my life has been like.” Celestia is the first one to speak up, her hand reaching out in an attempt to smooth down my hair, a move with I avoid quickly as my lip curls and twitches in a snarl. “I love children. I love having the chance to see them grow and reach their full potential. It saddens me when there is one who needs help.” As she finishes, her attention is drawn to the door where Posey is standing, motioning to get Celestia’s attention. “And what about you? Why care about what happens to some kid you never met before, huh?” Before she answers, she reaches out and turns my head till I’m looking straight at her. Despite my snarling, she answers calmly and in a somewhat saddened voice. “Because up until recently I never had a family of my own before. I never had friends before. I had a mentor who tried to teach me everything she knew, but I was too….. prideful and….. stupid to pay attention. Eventually I ran away from her and spent a couple years on my own. I was so….. angry and hurt that I turned bitter and basically a….. grade A bitch. Thanks to my friends, I was able to see that the path I was on was wrong and they helped guide me onto a better path. Now that I am there, I wish to extend that offer to you. I can tell you that it won’t be easy or all fun and games. But the reward is more than worth the risk.” As she speaks I can’t help but feel the weight of the truth of her words. Can I….. can I really have that kind of….. peace and happiness again? “I….. how can I know I can trust you? Or Celestia, or Chrysalis or Luna huh? How do I know that you guys won’t just be a repeat of the hell my life has been?” “I know it’s hard, but the first step in learning to trust someone is to give them the chance to show you they truly want to help.”