Autumn groaned at the mud beneath her. Hazel may have been regressed down to twelve years old, but she still was capable of her duties as a twenty year old. It didn’t help so much that she had a smaller version of her armor with her. When someone tried to make fun of her because of her age, she made sure they walked away crawling.
Now, she was training Autumn for battle. She had dragged her through the obstacle course and military practice grounds. She had to also teach her how to fight with an actual sword, but got pinned down by the child each time.
“Come on, Dervila! The mud is your friend!” Hazel yelled at her before making her drop down and roll herself in it. “You gotta feel it! Rub in it! Smell it! Watch it!” Autumn looked up to see that Hazel had made a mud ball before throwing it in her face. “Taste it!”
“Okay, Hazel, your shift is over for now. Meet us in the living room at the Castle in half an hour, okay?” Typevader spoke as he entered the room.
“Understood” she then stared down at Autumn, who was trying to get up from the mud. “I’ll be back again soon, Sweetheart”
They couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not because she didn’t smile as she made her way out.
Typevader then helped the Princess to her feet. “I take it your day is not going very well?”
“Quite horrid, even her OCs hate me”
“Well we can deal with that later, for now we must get you all cleaned. Come now”
“Hey! I escort her in these grounds!” Hazel suddenly appeared as she took Autumn by the hand to lead her to the girls’ room.
Typevader chuckled at the sight. Normally, it’s the adults that guide the child by the hand, and now it’s been a change in roles. “Oh look at you, Autumn, commanded and led by a child”
Autumn cleaned herself up and wore a purple shirt with a plum skirt and magenta boots. She and Hazel soon returned to the Castle to meet with Snowdrop again. Right now, the Princess and Captain were walking down the hallway to the bedroom floor with the snowflake Alicorn.
Hazel was beginning to look nervous and uneasy as they walked through the regal halls. The setting was bringing back scary memories of her past. She wondered why she was brought along to go up here, but her fears were drowning out everything else. She fought the urge to let out a whimper, but the other signs were unable to be controlled. Her breathing was starting to get a little more uneasy. Her pupils were dilating. Her heart pounded.
She felt her scary memories come back to her. Her mother killing her pet bunny, her mother stealing her brother and sister’s souls, her mother separating her from Hester, her mother beating her till she bled, Hester trapped in a dark room, almost being killed by when she was finally put to justice…
“Hazel?”
Autumn’s voice snapped her out of her trance. She looked up at the woman. Was it her, or did she actually look concerned for her? She recomposed herself, but her fear was still there.
“Yes?”
“You seemed a little uneasy, are you alright?”
“Sweetheart, why haven’t I been?”
“You know, I could hold your hand if you’re getting scared” she offered.
“I’m not scared of anything! I was just thinking!” she then sighed. “Why are we here again, Snowdrop?”
“You’ll see soon”
They soon stopped infront of a door that had the symbols for Hidebrit: Two shy eyes peeking out of a bush, a pair of fangs beneath them. Hazel and Hester only went there sometimes only when needed, and they almost always had to have Shadow Kirby come along or they won’t calm down.
Snowdrop took out the key and opened it. Inside was a single bed fit for two. The room was a shade of faded pink with a lightbulb to light it. There was a shelf with books nearby. There was also a desk with pens and pencils for writing or drawing. There was also a dresser with a brush and mirror. It also had a window that gave a clear view of the Fandom side.
At that moment, Hazel already got the picture of what was going to happen. “No. No. No. No. No way. No”
“Yes, Hazel, you’re going to spend some quality time with Autumn here for the whole day. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten how much you fear the fancy quarter of the Castle if you’re alone. With Shadow not here, you need a substitute”
“No one can substitute dad”
“I know, but you must give her a shot. Yes, you have someone who takes the role of a father in your life. But you don’t have someone who takes the role of a mother. Every child needs both parents if he or she is to grow happy”
“Give it a chance, Hazel” Autumn called to her. “Hester would’ve wanted it”
The mention of her Familiar’s name caught her attention. “What do you know of Hester?”
“She was someone who meant a lot to you. She was your best friend, sister, and Familiar. You were always together…” she paused and bit her lip before continuing. “…and the reason why you hate me”
Hazel was surprised at how much the girl knew about her Familiar. She was not even afraid to admit she was the reason why she was alone. Still, she stood her ground as she faced Snowdrop.
“Dad’s enough! And if I did want a mom, I would’ve still longed for it! And besides, why her?!” she pointed to Autumn angrily, small tears appearing in her eyes. “She’s literally the last person I want since what happened to Hest!”
Autumn had to have her say. “Hazel…”
“Shut it! You don’t know what this is like! It was hard enough without dad, my brother, and my sister and yet you had to take the last person I had left! Why did you take away the one who meant the most to me?!”
“Look, Hazel, please” Autumn put a hand on the child make her pay attention. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. My mom died before my own eyes. She was my mother and family. I miss her smile and strength everyday”
“I miss my Familiar Hester Hide. She wasn’t even mentally strong, but she was my only family” Hazel’s voice began to crack at that.
“As long as you keep holding onto the past like that, you’ll never get to truly grieve her” that made the depressed child look at her. It was like she understood her pain. “Give me chance, okay? I promised to my mother to look after you and the others before she died. I know I can’t replace Hester, but I can help you to truly grieve her”
Hazel looked like she was thinking for a bit. Autumn was afraid of how she would be if she said no. Hester was the main reason why she was upset and cold. She may look tough and merciless on the outside, but on the inside she’s broken and still hurt. All of the pain was hidden for so many years. She was training the soldiers roughly so they won’t end up like her Familiar. She needs someone to talk to.
Finally, she sighed as she wiped away her tears. “Fine” she hid her hurt with anger.
Well, this wasn’t going so well. Autumn tried to get Hazel to atleast smile with the activities she was doing in that room with her. Snowdrop and Typevader were watching from a distance. They first tried drawing; Autumn made a sketch of her and Hazel happy, but the Captain made a sketch of her blowing Autumn up. Then they tried eating bagels; but Hazel hated the peanut butter that Autumn put on them. They then did some yoga, and the child was getting annoyed. Now, came the most awkward task.
“Fourth Test: Smile!” Autumn coached.
That was the thing. She never smiled since the day on Hester’s death. She never wanted to. She didn’t even feel it anymore. Now, she hated her decision to give the Princess a shot.
“Come on, like this, see?” she showed her smile.
Hazel tried to make herself smile, but it wasn’t working.
“Come on, show me those pearly whites!”
She was starting to feel some uneasiness. This was just like with her mother.
“Come on, you can do it!”
At that moment, her patience snapped. Her fear turned into anger. Taking a deep breath, she yelled.
“Um, Hazel?” Autumn got frightened at her.
She dodged to avoid the girl from attacking her. She got out of her range as the child threw a tantrum. She wasn’t even going for a single thing now; she was attacking everything in her sight. She was kicking around pillows and books with abandon. The black stuff from earlier was coming out again, but she didn’t even mind it, and her hair still covered the eye. All the while, she was yelling in anger.
Typevader, Snowdrop, and Autumn all hid behind one of the shelves for protection.
“Oh my goodness, I have never seen this angry before! It’s like she’s gone worse!” Autumn panicked.
“At this rate, we’re all doomed” Snowdrop covered her face.
“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” Hazel yelled before covering her face and dropping down on the ground as she began to roll around with abandon. They couldn’t even tell if she was having a tantrum or she’s gone mad.
Autumn cautiously approached her. She knew the dangers, but she had to calm her down. “Um, Hazel?”
The only response she got was another yell.
Carefully, she picked her up, but held her at arm’s length to avoid getting attacked. Due to how young she was now, she was slightly smaller than her so she was easier to pick up, but not easier to calm down. She flailed like a worm on a hook as her yelling echoed in the room.
“What do I do now?!” Autumn asked as she tried to keep the child from slashing her face off.
“Throw her out the window!” Typevader yelled, completely frightened and scared of the angry child.
“Restrain her!” Snowdrop cried.
“How?!” She didn’t even know what to do anymore. There was only one shot left, risky but she had to take it. Taking a deep breath, she pulled Hazel in for a bear hug. She made sure it was tight enough to not let her attack her. She yelled and kept thrashing about before her movements began to grow slower and finally stopped.
Autumn grew slightly worried when that happened. Her initial struggles were the worst thing she ever saw, but her now utter calmness was more alarming.
“Hazel?” she slowly put her down. “Are you okay?”
The Captain walked backwards a bit, staggering a little. She steadied herself, but didn’t move after. Her expression was blank. Everyone watched from where they are to see what she was going to do next. She didn’t even move after. She looked into the empty space as an old memory found its way back to her.
Lauren held Hysteria close to her in a loving embrace. This was going to be her fight for when she was going to reality to face the real-world counterpart of the Anti’s King. Everyone who Lauren befriended and met with were all scared and uneasy. She spent a moment with each to say a farewell, and let them for the best that she comes back.
She let go of Hysteria as the filly walked a bit backwards before separating back into the duo that formed her.
“Promise me one thing” Lauren whispered to them.
They nodded to listen.
“Look after her for me, okay?”
“We promise” they both said at once.
She smiled warmly at them before returning her gaze back to the others. They were all so upset and afraid of what awaited them. She was going out to face the danger’s counterpart in reality. This act will either be the one to save them, or the one that will ruin them. She walked over to the mirror as Twilight escorted her. She wiped away a tear from the mare’s eye before she went to join the others.
She stood on the mirror’s entrance, ready to go. She looked back at them. They were all waving at her. Some stronger ones hid their tears, other let them fall freely.
“Wish me luck, everypony”
Hazel always felt what Hysteria felt in that form. She always remembered that hug. It was the last one she ever shared with Lauren, together with Hester. It was almost like her dad’s. She never had a hug in a long time. Autumn’s reminded her of it, and was breaking the stone wall she built around her heart.
She felt her tears fall. The black from her left one was replaced with normal water. She bit her lip as she tried to swallow her sobbing. It was a hard battle as it just shook her body.
“Hazel?” Autumn called to her again.
She looked up to her. She knew it was her the moment she fell down, but she was trying to convince herself it wasn’t. Heck, she even looked almost exactly like Lauren. And her Essence? You know the answer. Before Lauren left to the battle she returned from, she made her and Hester promise that they would look after her daughter as they did to her when she comes. She never breaks promises, but she did, because she was angry and hurt.
One’s Essence can sometimes be slightly broken or dented for a while if they feel extreme and insatiable hurt or guilt. Right now, hers was already having a small crack in the middle. It hurt slightly, but she had another hurt in her. The sorrow and pain from Hester’s death was consuming her. It hurt so much that she used her temper to hide it. But now, it was all too much to conceal.
“I’m sorry!” she sobbed as she lunged forward to the Princess. “I can’t…I can’t do this anymore! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!”
“What hurts, Hazel?” Autumn tried to ask the crying child. She couldn’t speak anymore as her voice choked with sobs. She held her close in a comforting embrace as she pet her hair to try and calm her down. “Shh, it’s okay, Hazel, it’s okay. Whatever hurts, just tell me what it is. I’m here for you. Just let it out, let it all out, don’t hold it back in. Just let it out”
And she did.
From a distance, Typevader and Snowdrop looked on. Crying, that was the one thing they never saw Hazel do since the day Hester died. She was never seen crying again. They got it now. On the outside, she was tough and merciless, and the inside was soft and still broken. Autumn had found that part of her.