//------------------------------// // Chapter Four; Doctor's Visit- Lily // Story: Building a New Family // by Kix //------------------------------// I still can’t believe she actually invited me to her office. I just wish it’d be more… exciting than… this. For the umptenth time I restart the game of solitaire, growing a bit more frustrated as I’ve lost now twenty times, even with cheating. The excitement of coming here of a few hours ago has quickly worn off as she kept me busy with mostly basic shit, like filing, though she did sweeten the deal with the promise of Chinese for lunch. With the few tasks long completed and Chrys locked in her office I can feel the boredom start to really take hold, unable to fight it any more I fold my arms on the desk after shoving the keyboard aside to use as a makeshift pillow. “ATTENTION!” The shout startles me awake, causing me to tilt the chair dangerously backwards in alarm, till I find myself on my back, looking up at the ceiling. “You should know that is a bad habit to get into, brat. Could cost you a job if you get too used to it.” Sheepishly I look at the speaker with a blush after rolling backwards some more and coming to my feet. Even if I’m looking at the floor I immediately recognize the man by his voice and his nickname for me. “Hey Mr. Fire, how are you?” Even if I just met him earlier today I don’t think I will ever forget his voice. Like earlier, he is dressed in suburban camouflage tactical pants, combat boots, a black, long sleeve shirt with the shoulders and sleeves also in the same suburban camouflage and a pair of patches adorn the sleeves as black gloves cover his hands. Over the shirt he has a tactical vest filled with a flashlight, knife, ammo pouch and other assorted gear. His red and orange hair is cut in a crew style while a radio microphone protrudes from his right ear. His blue eyes while serious looking hint at a friendly and fun loving personality. “I’m doing alright, is Chrys in her office?” His question is followed by a playful musing of my hair. “By the way, you may want to get your forehead looked at, that big red boil looks nasty.” “Yes she is, and even if my forehead is bruised, I still look a million times better than you ever could.” With a laugh he walks by and towards her office, giving me another quick mussing before opening the door and stepping inside. Curiously I walk up to the closed door, trying to be as quiet as I can as I place a paper cup against the wood, eavesdropping on the conversation. My gut telling me somehow it involves my parents. “... goes further than we thought, though we have been able to keep them from doing much.” “How far does it go?” The conversation is slightly jumbled but I can tell who is speaking as Chrys’ question sounds more amused than concerned. “So far, we linked the group to a number of politicians, from city level all the way to federal, and even members living in three other countries.” As I hear the report I can feel myself starting to get sick. That… that many people could have… they possibly seen… that? “Alright, what about our other operations going on?” “Well, we were able to ensure forty arrests right now, among them are the brat’s parents. We are also compiling evidence to get another twelve arrested, to include a few congressmen. In regards to the other op, we have been able to obtain a significant portion of money from those that have been arrested and found a total of eight victims, including the brat and her friend. We have secret accounts set up for them, to which they will have access to once they hit eighteen.” “Good. Now Lily, I know you are listening, you might as well come in.” Crap, how could I have forgotten about the security camera, I hope she won’t be too mad. Reluctantly I step in through the door, head hanging as Fire directs me to stand in front of Chrys’ desk. “How much did you hear?” “I… I heard almost all of it. I’m… I didn’t mean to, honest! I was just… curious! I… I wanted to---” “I am a little disappointed, but I’m not mad. However, you cannot tell anyone what you have just heard.” “I won’t, I promise. But could I… could I maybe… watch or even testify against my parents?” “Maybe, I’ll have to talk to Posey about it, first.” Despite her reassurances I still can’t help but feel as if I’m in major trouble, though with Fire taking me out for some ice cream relieved some of my worries. At Least, until I saw Chrysalis’ apparently upset walk and body language, the sense of dread in my stomach even bigger as she refused to acknowledge me before we sped off to go home. *****later that day***** “How was your time with Chrys, Lily?” Celestia walks in with a large smile, followed by her sister and Moonshade. The elder sister is smiling brightly, but both Luna and Moonshade don’t look… angry, but their smiles seem… forced. Atleast Moon is smiling, that’s a plus. I jump up from the sofa, pausing the show I’m watching to help her with her bags. “Yea, though I don’t think I’m going into her line of work, ever.” The backpacks I take are brand new, with one being a pink and white mix while the other is a dark blue. “What are these for?” “Well, you and Moonshade need to test to ensure you are at the proper level of education to get enrolled in Canterlot High. Starting tomorrow you two will be expected to study, so you will be getting up nice and early.” As Moonshade just grumbles I can’t help but snicker at her dislike of being up earlier than noon. *****the next morning***** “Moonshade, darling, you simply must get up. Your breakfast is going to be cold. You also have to work on your test.” As I get out of the bathroom the sight of Rarity trying to gently rock the sleeping mass that is Moon to consciousness as she struggles to stay asleep is kind of funny. “Here Rarity, let me give it a try, I know just the trick.” I step next to the fashionesta, still in her own pjs, with a silent giggle. With a wink I lightly crawl into Moon’s bed, causing it to sink a little under my weight and I settle in front of her, my lips close to her left ear as the crater I create causes her to shift even closer. If she wakes up now, I can’t imagine how badly she’ll freak out. “Daring Do needs your help, Moonshade. She is stuck in the Kitchen of Endless chores, forced to slave away for all of eternity.” “Daring.... help… must… free from… Endless… slave.” Her twitching and mumbled words cause Rarity to giggle, which I silence with a glare before continuing. “Help me, Moonshade, you’re my only hope. Help me, Moonshade. Moonshade, I need your help! MOON, PLEASE… HELP ME!” I start of the pleading in a whisper, growing in volume till I shout as loud as I can, causing her to jump and start, nearly rolling off the bed if it wasn’t for Rarity After both myself and Rarity get our laughing under control and Moon finishes tearing into us, we get ready for the day as normal, with the addition of Celestia leaving us a stack of booklets and a list of homework to be finished before she gets home. Despite her tiredness and complaining, I can’t believe how fast Moon goes through her stack, at some points not even bothering to use a scrap piece of paper or a calculator to do the math part. How can she… get this so easily? Specially with her being mostly asleep? It doesn’t make sense. I’m fully awake and Rarity has to help me understand most of this, sometimes explaining it multiple times, it isn’t fair. “How are you doing, darling?” The purple haired girl’s question startles me out of my thoughts and I just look at her, releasing a frustrated sigh. “No. How… how can she find this so… easy? She’s more than half asleep but yet she’s… she is going through this with no problems. How does she do it?” “I honestly do not know the answer to that, darling. She sort of reminds me of my friends, Twilight and of course Sunset, who are very smart. They too can blow through that stack of booklets in a short amount of time.” Growling at her lack of any real explanation I turn back to the problem at hand, the same one I’ve been stuck on for who knows how long. As the day wears on to noon, Moon grumbles something about early birds and stupid sunshine or something while Rarity and I fix up a nice looking breakfast, which I find sort of annoying with how perfect the plates have to look, which Rarity defends adamantly. I don’t really understand it, it’s gonna be eaten either way. With Moonshade now more awake than this morning, and with it being more ladylike, as Rarity says, I finally get through the remaining books, with Moon’s help. The next couple days are a repeat of wake up, eat breakfast, do homework, eat lunch, get the homework turned in and graded, hang out a little with Rainbow, Rarity or Moonshade, eat dinner and sleep. However, a week from when we started getting into our new routine it is broken up by a surprise appointment with some doctor, that apparently Moonshade met already. Am I… do I really want to… talk to him? I know the others are pushing me to, but do I want to? Am I ready to? The few days spent away from her seems to have lightened her mood as Chrys wraps me in a tight hug and kisses my forehead before I shut the helmet’s mask and get on behind her. Despite how many times I’ve ridden her bike I can’t help but marvel at the power and rumble between my legs, the vibrations shaking my very core as we tear off and towards the office. Still in our riding gear, helmets in hand we walk inside, the coldness of the waiting room’s carpet and walls clash with the brightness of the flowers and posters. The receptionist is in a cheery mood as I step in front of the window, a bright smile decorating her young features. “Hello there, how may I help you today?” “I have an appointment with Doctor Sunshine, the name is Lily Bloom.” “Just in time. Nice to finally meet you, Lily.” An older man stands in the hallway, looking almost like he could be related to Applejack, judging by his western style of dress. As I get closer he smiles widely with an outstretched hand, which I take nervously. “How are you doing today?” “I’m doing alright I guess, nervous though.” As he leads me down towards his office I turn, looking at Chrysalis, who is standing in the main room, giving me an encouraging smile and wave. Once the door closes, I can feel my anxiety starting to peek, my heart thumping faster and harder as old memories come crashing to the fore. Sweat starts to bead along my forehead, neck and cheeks as I stand near the door, my only hope to escape. “Relax Lily, you’re safe here, breathe.” Encouraged by his words and following his example I mimic his motions and breathing techniques, finding that it is indeed calming down my hyperactive mind. Though I still stay by the door as he sits behind the large desk, trying to get as far from me as he could while pulling out a pad of paper. “Now, from my understanding you are friends with Moonshade and Applejack, correct? Did they go over the rules with you?” “Yes, they did. Anything that is said here stays in this, unless you feel I am going to be a danger to myself or others. If I want I can have someone present with me if it will help calm me down. I can choose what I want to talk about, unless there is something you think is of importance. Finally my cell phone and any other device I have on me is to be turned off and placed on the sheet of the door.” As I get to the last part I dig into the breast pocket of my jacket and turn off my phone before it slides into a sleeve. “Correct, and thank you. I know it can get a bit hot in here, there is a coat hanger if you wish to remove your leathers.” As he chuckles I look at him curiously, but keep the familiar suit on. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. I just can’t remember any of my other patients coming in wearing biker leathers. Anyway, whenever you are ready, go ahead and start with whatever you think is relevant and are comfortable talking about.” The toe of my left boot digs into the carpet as I look down, my left arm wrapped tight across my chest as my hand grabs my right arm’s biceps. “Is it… is it… am I a horrible person for… hating my parents, or myself?” “Why don’t we start with you. Why do you hate yourself?” As he looks in my general direction I watch him through my eyelashes as he starts making a few notes. “I just… I feel so… weak and… helpless. I have days where… no matter how long of a shower I take I feel… dirty and I even… it feels as if… sometimes I think that.... Chrysalis doesn’t really want me around, that noone really wants me around.” As I start to talk my back presses against the door and I slide down until I’m sitting, my knees bent as my chest is buried against them. My arms are loosely wrapped around my shins as I continue. “I feel as if… as if… as if I can never be loved anymore.” “What happened to make you feel all of that negativity?” He stops writing his notes and looks at me, cautiously getting up and plucking a stuffed animal off a shelf before he approaches. The bear is lain gently atop my knees before he returns to his desk and out of instinct I pull in for a tight hug, my focus now on it than him as the pain caused by my parents comes flooding out with force. “I… I… how could… why would… why did my parents... hurt me so much? Why couldn’t they… why didn’t they love me? They… they said they… that they love me, but why… why did they put me through so much… hell?” The questions are asked in a whisper, broken up by jerking sobs and sniffs as tears spill onto the comforting bear’s fur. “That is the million dollar question, I guess. And one we may never have a definitive answer for. I can understand how being betrayed by one, or both parents can lead you to feeling unlovable and unwanted. However,” At that word I just look up at him through red rimmed eyes with tears still spilling from the bottom. “I know that there is a family out there who wants to love you, unconditionally. They want to give you the life you deserve and make you happy.” Is that… I know I enjoy being with Chrysalis, but… it seems as if she… why has there been so many times she has seemed to ignore me or… gotten angry with me for no real reason? I doubt she really wants me, she is only doing this to please Luna. “And how do you know?” The words are whispered as I look from him back to the bear, giving it another tight squeeze. “I’ve watched you and that woman as you two pulled into the parking lot. I saw how you two interacted with each other and how easily you got along. I continued to observe you as you both entered the waiting room and as I led you to my office.” Once again he approaches, this time sitting down next to me with a smile that is meant to offer comfort. “I know building a new relationship is hard, and is even harder when you come out of an abusive home like you did. For things to get better you need to talk to her, and not just about random stuff or chit chat, but about the important stuff. Stuff that is really bothering you, no matter what it is. Yes mistakes will be made, but that doesn't mean she cares any less about you.” “Are you… are you sure it will work?” “Unfortunately I can’t give a one hundred percent guarantee, but I have a suspicion it will work with a high degree of success.” “Thank you, I’ll… I’ll give it a try.” As the session draws to a close he schedules me for an appointment for next week, apparently wanting to see both me and Moonshade at the same time. In a surprise move he actually lets me take the teddy bear with me as he escorts me back to the waiting room, where I’m greeted by Chrys and a waiting embrace. After some words exchanged between the two we head on out the building and somehow I feel… lighter and… hopeful. “Come one, come all, experience the biggest fright of your life. This Halloween you are in for a treat. The Fall Circus invites you for a day of fun, tricks and of course, treats.” As we exit the building a pair of older looking teens are standing outside the mall right across from us. They look as if they could be brothers, maybe even twins by how similar they look and dress, though one boy has bright orange skin and deep blue hair while the other’s skin is a darker orange and his hair looks almost like Sunset’s, minus the yellow streaks. Both boys are wearing black cargo shorts and plain black t-shirts. They look lean but very athletic, as if they trained to be more agile and dexterous than strong. Alongside them are a trio of younger kids, younger looking than the crusaders, who are putting up what looks to be posters. One of the two boys has chocolate colored skin with flat, silverish hair wearing blue jean overalls and a white shirt. The other boy has messy, brown hair and lime green skin wearing jean shorts and a red t- shirt. The third member is a girl wearing an outfit that sorta reminds me of a magician’s in a light blue color. Her blue hair is combed neatly and she has light green skin. “Shall we go see what they are advertising?” Her curiosity must be peaked, just like mine is as we walk over, one arm around my new bear while the other is wrapped around her waist. The way her arm is draped across my shoulders just feels… right. “What do you think, Lily, want to check it out? And do you think Moonshade would be interested?”