//------------------------------// // 007 // Story: Secret Service: Operation Anthropology // by Kaliann25 //------------------------------// Human world, Michakelos residence; Wednesday 5:15am Laura looked at the clock, damn too early as always since she arrived to this world. But simply she couldn’t sleep. Obviously her stress was taking the best of her, but what else she could do? The girl from the book store advised her to share her grief with the people who loved her; at that time she didn’t knew she actually had a family in that world but now it almost seemed like a good idea, almost; but if she tell the truth to her parents they’ll take her as crazy. But her fake memory lost caused suspicion too and she wasn’t fooling anyone. God damn it, what she could do? Still dealing with her troubles Laura dressed quickly and went to the front door for an early running. That was what she needed, exercise; and since she promised not to wake her little sister this seemed like the best option. Her new home was separated from the town by a small path in the middle of a small forest, the perfect view to relax the green-haired girl before see her family on breakfast. After fifteen minutes she entered to the city outskirts. The streets were almost empty, just a few pedestrians and fewer cars. Laura spotted a girl opening a book-store, ey, it wasn’t the same girl from the other day; the one who advised her? What was her name again? The young counter girl called Monica made a small yawn before put her key on the keyhole. She liked her summer job but having to wake this early on her vacation was kind of annoying but again, the job worthed it. But suddenly a shadow appeared right behind her followed by a threatening voice: “Give us your phone and wallet and you won’t get hurt, understood?” Monica turned slowly to see two scary-looking men; one of them threatening with a knife. “Your phone and wallet” demanded the one of the knife. The girl got so nervous that she dropped her keys. The robber with a knife made a sign to his partner who began to revise Monica when a sudden voice called: “STOP IT!” The two robbers turned, what was this, a modern example of heroism? But before they could react the girl her made a flying kick right to the robber revising Monica’s face. The one with the knife aimed his weapon to this intruder and tried to stab her but she punched him on the forearm followed to one kick straight to the hand holding the knife making him drop it. Disarmed and confused he was finished by Laura with a punch to the jaw. The other robber stood slowly looking for something on his waist but Laura reacted quickly and kicked him on the knee making him lost his balance and like his partner was finished with a punch to the jaw making him fall unconscious. “Are you alright?” Asked Laura offering a hand to Monica. “Yeah, thanks to you” mumbled Monica. “Lyra, right? That was amazing” “Just a little Kung-Fu, and my name is now Laura apparently” “What now?” Asked Monica. “Long story: the paternity test tot positive meaning my whole life has been a lie and…” She shook head sadly. “Sorry, I was running to deal with my stress and told you too much. Anyway, take care and better call the police to deal with those two” “Ehm, sure. But ey, do you want a cup of coffee?” “What? Sure, thank you. But just like that?” Asked Laura shyly. Monica chuckled. “Is the least I can do for saving me. Besides you seem like you need a friend” Laura nodded and followed Monica inside the story, where the called the police and Monica turned on the coffee maker on the back store. “Are you sure I’m not interrupting you?” Asked Laura when Monica offered her a cup. “No, we don’t open until seven so I always eat my breakfast here” “I see” They sipped their coffee in silence for a while until Monica smiled to her warmly. “So you were telling me about your new name” Laura sighed. “What can I tell you? It seems like I really have family here; I never thought it was possible” “But why were you so sure that you the paternity test would fail?” Asked Monica unsure if she was asking too much. But Laura needed to tell someone; even if it wasn’t the whole story she couldn’t handle all of that on her own. “How do I explain? Let’s say certain idiot I met had this crazy theory about me; I don’t know how he came with the idea but at the end… no one believed him, not even me. But at the end he was right, all this time he was right proving someone I trusted my whole life have been lying to me since the very beginning. But I can’t give you too much detail without you taking me to the nearest psychiatric facility” “Okay, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to” smiled Monica. “Besides I’m not the one you should share this, don’t you think?” “You may be right. Anyway I have to go home so thank you for the coffee and everything” smiled Laura walking to the front door. Monica waved her hand to the girl and finished her coffee. What an interesting case. In the meantime Laura returned home, she didn’t know how much she was outside but when she opened the door her family were in chaos. Her father was talking desperately through the phone while her mother was trying to concentrate in making breakfast but she couldn’t. “Ey, what did I missed?” Asked Laura entering. Half of a second later her two parents ran to trap her into a tight hug. “What…?” “Where have you been?” Shouted her father. “Do you have any idea how your mother and I felt when we saw your room with the door open and empty? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!” Laura gulped, not even Bon-Bon get this mad whenever she returned home late. But then her parents hugged her again. “We already lost you once Laura, we can’t stand the idea of losing you again” sobbed her mother. The green-haired girl simply lowered her head. “I’m sorry, I woke up early and since I promised you not to wake Chloe again I went out for a morning jugging” The Michelakos released their daughter sighing. “That’s it, we’re going to get you a phone” mumbled Thomas. “Definitely,” agreed Selena, “it’s okay if you like to exercise darling but until we get you a phone leave us a note. Please” “Sure” said Laura weakly. Back in Equestria she was considered old enough to be a soldier; not to mention go out by her own whenever she wanted. But now she was just a human teenager and she better get used to it soon. Then they heard small footsteps coming closer. Laura sighed. “I guess we woke Chloe again” Mister and Miss Michakelos chuckled. “Sorry we woke you again Chloe” apologized Thomas when his younger daughter walked to the room. “But I promise when our situation with your sister normalize we’ll stop doing it” The seven-year-old girl rubbed her eyes sleeply. “It doesn’t matter. Laura, can you keep telling me about Equestria?” Laura smiled. “Sure, but first I need a shower since I’m just returning from running” “Can we shower together?” Asked the little one. That was a new one but still Laura smiled and they both moved to the main bathroom. In the meantime the two adults were scratching their heads confusedly still on the living room. “Since when they get along this well?” “What on earth is Equestria?” In the bathroom Laura was washing Chloe’s hair while she was lost in her memories telling her sister about Equestria as it was just another fairy tale. “Just imagine Chloe: the poor Heartstrings was about to eat Mr. Cake’s Deluxe Red Velvet, so delicious that he only made three at day and you had to be incredibly lucky to get just one” “It sounds delicious” smiled Chloe dreamingly. “Yeah, pure perfection! But right when she was about to try it for the first time, a horrible creature ate it all. The worst of monsters, the horrid Parasprites” “Parasprites?” “Parasprites, cute little fur balls with amazing glittering eyes and beautiful wings that reflected all the colors of rainbow” “That doesn’t sound that horrible” said Chloe confusedly. “Don’t get fooled by their cuteness. They have the power to multiply infinitely and just eat, eat and eat. They’re always hungry!!” Laura kept telling her about that adventure, and Chloe especially enjoyed the part where Twilight Sparkle used a spell that switched their appetite for food by an insatiable hunger for buildings, furniture and such. “And the worst part, after all that effort for Celestia not to know about it was a waste of time since Mayor Mare had to write her asking for founds to repair the town” Chloe laughed happily. “And what Twilight said?” “No one had ever tell her, the poor thing still thinks Princess Celestia have no idea of what really happened” Again Chloe laughed. “That Princess Celestia sounds really good” Laura frowned but Chloe didn’t seem to notice it. “Yeah, that’s why almost all her subjects love her” “Almost?” Again Laura frowned realizing she had to learn to control her recently found feelings about Celestia in front of Chloe; this girl was sharper than Laura thought, but it somehow made her proud. “Yeah” continued Laura, “from time to time you have evil ponies who doesn’t like her like King Sombra and even her own sister turned against her turning into the horrid Nightmare Moon” Chloe’s eyes brightened. “Tell me!” “Right after you get back from school, we’re taking a really long shower” Chloe nodded satisfied and after the two sisters were they walked downstairs to have breakfast. “Since when you two get along this well?” Asked Miss Michelakos. “Let’s just say I’m good inventing funny stories for Chloe” smiled Laura. “They’re great!” Cheered Chloe. Laura sat and slightly lowered her head thoughtful; it was kind of nice having a way to talk about Equestria without being taken as crazy and also win Chloe’s friendship. It was a good thing, but she still felt a little guilty for having to lie about it. Equestrian was real, was her home… and still she couldn’t tell anyone how she missed it, at least openly. And suddenly her father interrupted her thoughts: “So, Laura, since your sister is now happy to have you around, would you like to join us to drive her to school?” “What? Huh? Oh, sure!” The idea seemed good at first but Laura automatically regretted since she had to grab to the seat with her nails. Damn, stupid cars. “Do you get dizzy with cars?” Asked Chloe. “A little, I’ll be fine” Thomas laughed. “I suppose the driving lessons are out of the question, at least for now” Laura made a forced smile. Driving lessons? Great, that meant a lot of trips on that chariot of hell. They arrived to school, luckily it wasn’t that far from her home. “Come on Laura, I want my friends to meet my elder sister” Laura looked at her father who smiled and nodded, walking out of the car with her. The sight of a green-haired girl walking with Chloe Michalekos was something that no one in the school understood, but right after her was the father so it tranquilized the teachers a little. “Mister Michelakos?” Asked Chloe’s teacher. “Who is that?” “It’s a long story Miss Smith, please let me introduce you to Laura; Chloe’s elder sister” The teacher looked at the teenage girl not believing what she heard. Really? The story of the Michelakos’ lost daughter was famous all over Philadelphia, so did her really found her after all this years? This strange girl? Laura just smiled shyly and waved her hand. “What’s up?” “For real? You’re Laura Michelakos? Where have you been all this time?” “No idea, can we leave now dad?” Asked Laura nervously. Thomas noticed Laura’s discomfort and agreed. Finally they got back in the car that much for Laura’s surprise was a relief. “Sorry, I shouldn’t introduce you out of nowhere like that but I’m just too happy to have you back Laura” “I know, I know, but you should understand this whole thing is just too weird. Just give me some time” They began driving back home when her father took an unexpected turn. “This is not the way home” mumbled Laura scared. “I know, we’ll get you a new cell phone young lady. You won’t scare me again” If they weren’t on the damn car Laura would chuckle. Maybe she couldn’t tell the truth yet, but it was good to have a family.