//------------------------------// // Xavier Breakthrough Project, Day 16: Mending Connections // Story: Days in the Mind of One that is Great and Powerful // by The REAL Mister Pkmn //------------------------------// Today was the day, the day they might see the most progress. Trixie, Twilight, and Janice had discussed at length with Natalie how they would approach Xavier with today’s lesson. The four of them went to the agreed meetingplace, to see Xavier already there. He seemed a bit lost in thought, pondering something. There was another anthro on the scene, this one a pegasus mare. By process of elimination, they guessed that it was “Frigid Temper”, one of “Skyreach”’s compatriots. She seemed to be addressing Xavier. “The time is near, don’t you think? I won’t pressure you, but you can’t ignore it forever.” At this, Xavier passively nodded. “I know. But today isn’t the day. I’m… not ready. Not ready to anthrofy just yet. Besides… I want one last day to see if I can get people to see the new me before I go thrusting a new change on their plates.” “Frigid” shrugged nonchalantly, and notified Xavier to the girls’ presence. “They’re here. I’ll just get out of your hair.” Once Xavier turned his attention to them, “Frigid” left, making sure that she didn’t make a sound. As agreed, Twilight broached the topic first. “The last time we did this, you were adamant about your position. However, I can see that you’ve changed quite a lot since then. How would you say that you have changed?” Confident that he had the answer, Xavier didn’t hesitate. “I’ve managed to connect to a few people that I’ve wronged before. They see that I’ve changed- and are willing to give me another chance. I’ve become more loyal, more honest, more kind, more generous, more light-hearted, more hopeful, and more able to connect to others. It’s true I still have a ways to go- but that’s okay.” The conviction in his voice was pretty convincing. Yet, he still seemed a bit uncertain. Taking the spotlight, Trixie addressed his concerns. “Though you say you have improved, I hear doubt still within your voice. You fear that your change will not be enough for those you cared about in the past to re-establish their friendships with you, and that is why you have hesitated at some points. Cast this fear aside, for true friends accept you as you are, faults and all.” The topic she touched on really hit home for Xavier. He’d been reluctant to consider reconnecting with Maestro out of fear and doubt. Yet, he knew he had to eventually. It was part of his recovery, and he had a new determination to do so. Nodding his head, he silently vowed that he would try and reach out to Maestro, and finally rebuild that broken friendship. Seeing his determined look, Janice knew that his journey was nearly done. Just a little further now… “When I look into your eyes now, I no longer see that angry, lost drifter that pushed everyone away. Your shift in focus to mending what went wrong is truly something to behold. However, you still have part of you that wants to hold on to the past, the part that still holds a grudge against Leon, Markus, Arnold, Ichabod, and most especially Ramona.” It was true, Xavier knew it to be so. He still had a bit of bad blood towards the former members of Ramona’s gang, let alone Ramona herself. He knew that holding onto this grudge of his would do him no good, but it wasn’t quite that easy to let go of it. He resolved to talk to them at least, and hopefully they could work something out. Natalie smiled, proud of how far Xavier had come, and she was a part of the reason why. She composed herself, and addressed the final point. “Connecting with new people, rebuilding friendships, and letting go of the hurtful things that they sometimes do. These are all things that you’ve come to understand, among many other things in your bid to change yourself. But most important is that friendship is worth fighting for, worth preserving anyway that you can. For if you don’t fight for your friends, you don’t deserve them. Sometimes you might have to figure out which friends need you the most, and try to balance it all out. It’s no easy task, and sometimes you might question if you made the right choice. But as long as you make the effort to keep your friends with you, they will appreciate the effort that you’ve made.” A feeling of clarity rose through Xavier as he nodded. He really was lucky that all these people believed in him, of all people. He used to believe that nobody could change, that everyone was the same miserable person deep down, and that it was his mission to bring that to the surface. But now, he knew that couldn’t be further from the truth. He had people looking out for him. He had a wonderful girlfriend that he knew wouldn’t let him slip back to his old ways. He had a whole new outlook on life. But even so, there were a few things that needed to be done before he could complete his journey. He needed to find those he held ill will against still, and finally let it all go. He knew vaguely where Ramona’s old gang members had gone off to, so after bidding farewell for now, he went off to find them. Ayumi was watching the whole goings on from her pocket mirror as she went through her armory looking for a few things for Xavier once he went through his transition “Glad we finally got through to him.” she said “His powers are already strong enough as a human, I would hate having to deal with him if he became an enemy.” Though, something bothered her still about that anthro in the bodysuit that went through that portal she saw yesterday. Something about that figure didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t know who it was under there, but she had her suspicions. Trying to abate her ill feelings, she turned her mirror’s attention to Maestro’s shop- and she sighed in relief as she saw him there. He was busy as ever, it seemed. Even though she was relieved by this, something still bothered her about that figure. So, she attempted to find where he’d gone- but alas, nothing. Something definitely was going on with this whole situation, but who else might…. She facepalmed. Of course! Those strange anthros that nobody knew! They were highly suspicious, to be sure. So she shifted her mirror’s attention once more, in attempt to find them. After a long search, her mirror showed her a scene... A table shook underneath the weight of a light gray furred fist. “Explain! How did Princess Starfall follow us?! I thought that…..” Crossing the sparse room, “Frigid” attempted to calm their leader down. “Sleighthand, sir. I don’t know how, but that’s what I saw. She’s here, most likely to cause trouble, or worse undo our progress.” Pinching the bridge of his muzzle, “Slighthand” sighed. “Just great. Trouble from… home. This doesn’t bode well. Our very presence interferes with divining the future, as does hers. What would they think if they knew that an enemy of ours has followed us here?” Approaching cautiously, “Mystquake” tried to allay his fears. “Brother, I’m sure they’d help us out! Maybe it’ll take a bit of convincing on some of their parts, but we have the trust of some of them already. We just need to have a bit of faith, is all.” Looking to his brother, “Slighthand” revealed his maroon eyes to be troubled. “I know, but… Some of them might never trust us. Out of necessity, we’ve kept major things from them. If they knew the truth….” He shook his head, and chuckled a bit. “This must be how Maestro feels about his secrets…” “Skyreach” scoffed a little. “Hardly. If you must imagine it, try imagining it ten fold. That is what it is like, my friend.” This earned an affirmative nod from “Hawk-blood”, as well as “Renddown”. Stretching a bit, “Catseye” yawned a little. “Man, these meetings of ours are awfully exhausting. Trust us boss, we’ll see what we can do about Starfall. You just worry about your impression on them all tomorrow. After all, it’ll be when they first meet you. Knowing your luck, you might meet both of ‘them’ instead of just one like your brother did.” “Slighthand” nodded, and dismissed the meeting. But as everyone was leaving, he called out. “Renddown. I must speak with you.” Surprised at this, “Renddown” shrugged, and stayed behind as everyone else left. “What did you want to talk about?” For a long moment, “Slighthand” was silent. He then broached a difficult subject once he was sure the others were gone. “You’ve been distant lately. What’s wrong? You know that you can tell me anything.” Shrugging it off, “Renddown” replied readily. “I’ve been very busy, alright? I’ve got quite a bit to work with, especially with Starfall in the picture. She resents me, you know. I’ve got to be on my toes, more so than ever. I don’t mean to be distant, but…” Smiling softly, “Slighthand” nodded. “I understand. I won’t keep you here any longer- go, get some sleep.” After she left in a hurry, he sighed. “What’s wrong with me…? Why can’t I just man up already?” He pounded his fist on the table. “Dad never had this kind of trouble speaking to Mom back when they were only a couple. Guess the apple’s fallen pretty far from the tree…” He shook his head, and stood. “Tomorrow’s another day, I suppose. Maybe I can actually manage to…” He stopped himself as he reached the edge of the room. “Oh right. I’ll be busy tomorrow. Well, if I do things right…” He then exited, and the room fell silent. Elsewhere, in a secret location… Starlight coarsed more magic through the bodysuited anthro subtly, as he discussed things with Starfall. “All I’m saying is that we’ve got to be more cautious! I know ‘where’ you and those you’re deceiving are from, but did you really have to tip them off that you’re here?” Rolling her eyes, Starfall refuted his argument. “I’ve got a strategy, okay? All this is to-” The bodysuited anthro stomped a hoof, cracking the floor. “Yes! I know what it’s for! But maybe you should assure me that you haven’t gone and lost your marbles! If I’m going to work for you, coerced or not, I deserve a few details!” Starlight sighed, cutting the magic. The spell cearly wasn’t gaining any ground… yet. “Patience, Jet. You are my soldier, and if you want me to fulfil my end of the bargain, I suggest that you reel in your temper.” “Jet” clenched a fist and growled, but then breathed deeply. “Fine. I’ll hold my anger for now. But I will not stand down. I deserve a few details. Tell me this ‘strategy’ of yours…” Shrugging, Starfall approached. “It’s rather simple, really. They know me, so my presence will send them on edge. But they don’t know that you’re on our side now. They don’t even know that you exist in this state. You’re our trump card, the one that’ll ensure we win. Let them know about me all they want- they know nothing of you, and even if they knew that we had you, they don’t know who is under that suit. You’re our best shot of victory, Jet. It’s better that they know that I’m here, rather than find out about you too early.” “Jet” scoffed, turning from them. “I might have to help you, and I expect you to extend our deal indefinitely like the snakes that you are. I will hold my end of the bargain, as I am expected to. Make no mistake- I don’t like it, but I know that I don’t have a choice. If that’s everything, I’ll be on my way. I’ve got business to attend to.” But before he could leave, Starlight called out. “One last thing.” “Jet” turned towards her, and he obeyed her beckoning hand. Once he was near, Starlight presented him with something. “For your efforts thus far. Think of it as a appetiser for what you’ll get if we win.” She opened her hand, revealing a photograph which “Jet” plucked out of her palm too quick for any to see the contents of the photo. He then excused himself, and left post haste. Starlight smirked. “Oh, silly, silly Jet. Fight it for now if you so wish. But soon you will have a different reason to fight on my side…” She chuckled, little sparks sizzling on the palm of her hand. Astonished, Starfall stepped back. She could feel something inside, like she was getting… stronger. She smiled. “It’s begun…” She took a deep breath. Finally. Things were going her way now… she didn’t care if “Slighthand”’s group went unimpeded, just as long as her goal was realized. It wouldn’t be long now...