Rose's foot pushed closed the door behind her. The click of the lock engaging reassuring her the outside world could not violate the privacy of her retreat.
“Home at last.” She sighed then ditched shoes and jackets in their usual place. Her keys clattered into the empty fruit bowl.
“News.” She commanded the air and the artificial tones of the news anchor spilt from the concealed speakers. More doom and gloom for the economy, more politicians telling everyone what to do. Nope not dealing with that today. “Music. Play cooking playlist two.”
The soothing sounds of hang and water drums mixed. The kitchen was smaller than some wardrobes. Her hand trailed over the missing corner of the work surface. In a stunning example of miscommunicationTim and David had failed to agree on rotating it one way or the other.
The chopping board and knife were retrieved from their homes and soon an assortment of veg was well on their way to being diced. The simple task and positive vibes from the peaceful harmonics stripped away the stress of the day.
The sky outside dimmed, the warm tones of sunset crept in. Rose sighed. Oh to just be able to fly away into the sunset.
In the dimming twilight, Rose settled down with a bowl of cherry ice cream. She picked up her phone. Tim’s message was still there, still saying David was dead.
It was just a simple brief message and he had not replied to anything since. She had to call his parents to get confirmation. That had gotten confirmation but no details only an angry rant it was her fault. Another mouthful of ice cream did its best to fight off the guilt. Was this all because we missed his party?
Her eyes found the hiding place of her secret diversion. A thick tome with a flower put on top. A little bit of rearranging and she had the tome on the coffee table.
She sighed. “The longer I wait the harder this will be.” She placed the half-eaten ice cream down and opened the book. Instead of pages of text inside was a pony pad. The one electronic gadget none of her other friends would accept.
The screen flashed into life, showing her beautiful pegasus wings splayed in an action pose. An explorer's helm perched on her head and a mix of adventuring and archaeologist’s equipment were strapped to her body.
Procrastination was definitely a sin she was prone to. She did nothing to contract Davids friends. Instead with a few gestures, her pony avatar passed back and forth, her wings constantly shifted in agitation.
Rose’s hands covered her face, her fingers and thumb massaged her temples. “I can’t do this.”
A soft ding snapped her attention back to the screen.
Message from Nightstone
“David?” She stood the pony pad held out in front of her. On the other side of the glass, her average leapt into the air catching the scroll that just teleported in.
The pony broke the seal and their eyes started to scan the text before her hooves even touched the ground again.
Hi Rosy Skies, saw you were online. Want to join me on an adventure again? Even if you don’t please at least reply. It would be nice to talk to one of my friends over there that does not hate me now.
Well, all the best and lots of friendship stuff,
~Nightstone the Adventurer
As Rose fell back in her chair Rosy fell back onto her haunches.
The screen before her depicted her friend’s equine avatar walking beside her own. Rose took a calming breath. “So why did you do it?”
“So you want to talk about that or to finish the adventure?”
Nightstone sighed. “I saw the way the wind was blowing. Soon you won't just be able to walk up and ask to emigrate.”
“What's it like really being here?”
A wide smile broke out showing his fangs. “Better than you can imagine. I finally feel alive.” He struck a heroic pose. Horn held high. “They say you are the hero of your own story. Out there it's a lie you tell yourself to give your life wroth. Here. Here it's true and we have our benevolent Princess to thank for it.”
Rose looked around the scene. Her pony avatar moving to investigate whatever caught her eyes. What’s that? A line of a different green stood out in the undergrowth. Her avatar focused on it and drew nearer the almost object revealed itself to be a Hiden stone marker.
Nightstone followed her moving so close he almost brushed against her avatar.
What must it be like to actually be there? The question just would not leave her alone. Her avatar stole a glance at Nightstone a thoughtful expression on her muzzle.
Rose glance at the camera on the pony pad that gazed soullessly at her. Then at the fictional world where her character lived. Your reacting to my feeling before I even know I have them.
Rose smiled. Her friend was still there. Ubbiden her avatar spread a wing and draped it over Nightstone back. Pulling him closer and directing his gaze at the faded markings on the ancient stone.
With a glow of his horn, the years seem to fall off the old marker. The lettering and images gaining just enough clarity to hint at what they once were.
The merciless alarm screeched its electronic war cry. Sleep fought valiantly but eventually, her eyes opened. Bleary eyes found the assuming red numbers. Two hours, that was all the sleep she had.
She groaned hiding her head under the pillow. Last Night had been fun, the hours exploring that lost tomb. Her eyes found the pony pad before she sighed.
Her day’s grand adventure started with the heroic effort needed to get out of bed.
Thirty-seven minutes late Rose finally got the clock-in machine. The simple evil thing that would cost you half an hours pay for being ten seconds late.
She swiped in and it rewarded her with an unhappy beep. It knew she was late.
“Your late,” The gruff voice of the shift leader said.
Rose tried not to meet the overweight guy’s eyes. “Sorry, there was a road closure.”
“That’s no excuse. You are meant to be here and working on the hour.”
“I know but there was an accident and the police…”
“Not my problem, if you are late again don’t bother turning up. This is your last chance.”
She gulped and nodded. The shift leader stomped off, a self assumes swagger in his stride.
“Bastard…” She grumbled. She glanced out the window to the wide inviting sky. A short trip and a few words that’s all it would take.
Not daring to linger longer she got to work.