//------------------------------// // Chap 7 // Story: Shivering entrance // by Hkh4 //------------------------------// A few weeks went by. In those weeks Brent would occasionally wake up with a headache as Luna continued her efforts to get farther into his mind she was starting to be able to push through some of the chaotic blasts getting closer to her goal. Also during the weeks Brent managed to get a job at the bookstore. He spent the majority of his day there even outside of working he even ran into Lacey when she was off duty. They chatted for a little catching up some before both returned to what they were doing. Brent was taking inventory making sure everything was where it was supposed to be. His interactions with Flurry had dwindled since he started working and she was off on diplomatic work. Yet she continued to have a genuinely happy response towards him when they did meet. After a few weeks of working Brent got enough to buy a little house on the outskirts of town near where he had first arrived. It was barely furnished a few chairs a bookshelf and a twin sized bed in the bedroom. that would be Brents first priority to buy a bigger bed. He worked on getting things organized he didn't have much to organize so didn't take too long. After getting his few items sorted out he began familiarizing himself with his new home, he noticed a good size window that would be good to put his battery under. And found he had some simple washing and drying machines and the bathroom was large which seemed to be the norm here. He first thought he would have to get a shower chair soon but then remembered his leg hadn't been as weak since his first night. Come to think of it, I haven't needed my medications either since I've arrived ones that kept me barely functional. I also haven't had my previously constant nerve pain since I came to Equestria must be the ambient magic. After a few more days of working and nothing happening. Flurry somehow found Brents house and decided to visit one evening. "Why and how?" Brent asked. "While it is a bit harder to track now, I can still sense your magic and a few ponies gave me directions." Flurry said as she tried to look into his house. "Answers the how but not the why." Brent replied stubbornly making sure to take up as much of the doorway as possible till he got a complete reply to his question. "Well I was curious what you were up to and what your house is like." Flurry replied still trying to peer around Brent. He sighed slightly before stepping back. "Come on in. Not much to look at right now saving up for a bed first." Flurry looked around the rather plain and empty room before heading down the one hall. Up first was the bathroom, then the laundry room, and finally Brent’s bedroom. Brent called down the hall "Stay out of my room please!" He was in his kitchen looking for any snack items he could pull out. After new bed I'm getting a couch. He thought out loud as Flurry re entered the living room. "Don't have much to offer food wise Flurry. I'm not too much of a snack person. So all I have is-" "It's fine. Here to talk and check in." Flurry said cutting Brent off. "What did you have in mind?" Brent asked. "Well honestly I'm not too sure. What made you decide to move out? There was plenty of space for you." "That's my issue I've been stuck living with someone else ever since my injury but here I've managed to regain independence!!" Brent shouted then coughed. "Been a long time since I raised my voice like that sorry Flurry." That wasn't really anger more like frustration coming off him. And no magic spike? Flurry thought. "Well glad to hear that." She said with a nervous smile. "And are you sure you don't want any help getting this place furnished?" Flurry sat in one of the two chairs as she said this. Brent did the same and set the bag of chips he had in the space between the chairs then nodded. "Yes I'm sure already owe you a lot." He then impulsively snapped and the image of a small table appeared on top of the bag of chips. Flurry blinked twice her eyes widening slightly. "So that's why I can't sense you as well your beginning to be able to control the magic right?" Brent sighed at this. "Kind of can't do more than these illusions though. You're the first to have seen, and I didn't mean to. Just have a neurological twitch that will cause me to snap or shake my leg. Usually the latter. Hasn't happened as much here usually was an anxiety thing." "So do I cause anxiety?" Flurry quietly asked "Yes and no. Like having you around its the uncertainty of what you'll do that makes me anxious, like things being simple and predictable so when they aren't im anxious." He replied. Also I can't get a read on your true motives so that doesn't help. He continued in his mind. "Also there is something you could do to help me with furnishing, is there anyone good with electronics around here also someone I could get a speaker from?" "A no to the electronics but I think I know someone who can help Sunburst the local magic expert. Well more well researched in it. And for the speaker only pony I can think of is Vinyl Scratch in Ponyville. I'll introduce you to Sunburst tomorrow. Getting to Ponyville that's all up to you." The illusion of the table disappeared and Flurry used her magic to get a chip. And a moment later Brent did the same but with his hand. "So are you going to go back to the castle soon for dinner? About time for it and all I got is simple cooking. I was lucky enough to find a griffon selling some chops of meat at the market for pretty cheap so i'm having ribs myself. Wish you guys had bbq sauce." with this Brent looked out the window seeing the last of the sunlight got dark pretty early up here. "Yeah i guess i'll get going, you don't have guest space. Goodnight." Flurry said as she walked out. Brent spoke his thought aloud once the door was closed. "Why would I need guest space you live like 6 blocks away and are one of the most powerful beings on the planet." With that he cooked ate cleaned and went to sleep. His dreams felt like more of a mess than usual that night.