//------------------------------// // Chapter V - The Akron-like World of Wisconsin // Story: A Changeling's Christmas Catastrophe // by AizakkuHorooee //------------------------------// If the way Pane handled Carina’s situation wasn’t the worst way possible, I don’t know what is.  I might have a few colorful things to say to her, so Aita and I will have to separate when we reach Pane.  While the two of us fly though, there’s one point where we see a bit of a sudden glare from the sun, coming from the north. “Isn’t the sun supposed to be in the south?” “I don’t think the glare is coming from the sun itself, Aita.” “So, what’s going on with Mom?” “I know what’s going on with her at the moment only, but even then, I doubt these events’ true forms can ever be grasped with a grain of salt.” “So you don’t want me to know?” “To put it lightly, join your family while I talk to Pane.” “Okay.” ;=; Most of the rest of the trip turns out pretty silent, Aita probably worried sick about Carina, kind of like how I was about Rolling Acres before my last visit. But then, we finally get to Wisconsin... It turns out to be quite a winter wonderland during this time of year.  Well, the winter solstice is coming VERY close, tomorrow even, so I’m not really surprised.  Everything except for the road is covered in some thickness of snow, thin on the sidewalk, thick on the yards.  It reminds me a bit of the last couple of winters where I went to Akron. When Aita finds his current home, he makes a dive, me following suit.  However, landing on the ground, I notice that the level of detail is similar to that of Akron with the houses I see.  They’re also somewhat larger than the ones in Las Pegasus and Ponyville.  I bet I’ll see those who are like that cashier from McDoncald’s, which is in Akron. Aita and I finally land in front of one house.  It’s two stories and has three windows on the front as well as a porch.  But there also seems to be one of the carriage-drone hybrids from when I was first in Akron with Rusty and Pane, although in Akron, we never saw any houses. Aita proceeds to walk up to the door and knock on it.  I catch up with Aita, just before the door opens, which reveals just what I predicted.  The only difference though is that this one has a much flatter chest. “Carina?  Aita?” “Well, it’s actually Carve that’s with me.  But I’m back from the trip to Equestria.” “Oh.  Uh, hey Carve.” “Hi.  So, you’re part of Carina’s family?” “Uh, in a way, yeah.  So, uh, where do you suppose Carina is?” “I don’t know where she is exactly, but I do know Pane’s taking her to a nearby hospital, here in Wisconsin.” “Pain?  Who’s Pain?  Is that name for a pony whose literal escence is pain?” “Nonono, you’re reading too deeply into that.  I live with two ponies who are urban explorers: Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall.” “OOOOHHH!!!  Pane Fall!  Alright, Carve.  You got a deal.  I’ll drive you to the hospital, then the vet if that doesn’t work.” “Hmm... drive...” “I think what Jon means is that we’re all getting in his car.” Aita points to the hybrid stationed in front of the house, suddenly prompting flashbacks to when I was in Trixie’s trailer on my way back to the hive.  And it honestly starts to scare me. “I guess that’s a no,” Jon says. “Actually, maybe you can direct my flight.  I’ll watch carefully at your ‘car’, and I’ll follow it.” “Oh.  Well, if that’s what you want, Carve.  Come on, Aita.” “Woo hoo!” Okay seriously, I don’t know how Aita can embrace running the risk of losing his love.  I know I lost mine when Trixie helped me out.  But... I don’t know if I ever want to think about traveling alone again, not after running into depression when I saw Rolling Acres for the last time.  I know there was coming to Chrysalis’ hive later after Cilia let me know about Carina coming, but it was to see a friend, exactly what I have to do now, only with an alternative this time around.  Plus, Aita has seriously grown on me since the other night- “So, you flying or what?” Jon asks. “I... I think I can join you two just this once.” “Then hop on in, Carve.  The car won’t bite.” ;=; I thought I’d never see the day where a nymph nearly twenty years younger than me would have to comfort me.  The moment the ride started, I regretted my choice.  So, I ended up sitting to the right of Aita in the back. When Jon gets out of the car as it turns off, I have the assumption that we’re at a local hospital.  How he closes the door though makes the car shake one final time, but only within the time the door closes. “Um, Carve?  Has Pane ever done something like this to you before?” “Once... when she assured me Rolling Acres wasn’t going to be torn down.” “And... Rolling Acres WAS torn down.” “Well, she didn’t know it would be when she assured me the opposite after a nightmare I had about it.” “Oh.  But I guess accidents happen.  You forgave her about the nightmare thing, right?” “Well, yeah.  I did.  It wasn’t really her fault for not knowing about the demo.” Suddenly, Jon comes back outside from the building.  Aita and I watch as he walks towards the front left door and opens it. “Carve?  Aita?” “Yes?” we respond. “Apparently, Carina isn’t here, just as I thought.  So we’ll have to go to the vet.” I put my hooves into my face and groan. “Why did Pane ever come here?” “Don’t worry, Carve.  You’ll be able to see Carina pretty soon.  Just hold on for a little bit longer, okay?  It’s just a two minute ride to the vet.” I sigh. “Fine...” Jon proceeds to turn on the car and begin traveling out of the lot, off to the local vet.