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// Chp 12: Galena: "For a Friend" 
// Story: Canterlot: The First Days 
// by AZFlashfire 
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	The familiarity of Shengming's house wasn't present in Galena's mind. She'd been there possibly hundreds of times within the two years they'd known each other, but under the newly tightened border laws, she hadn't been there in weeks.
She seriously needed new friends, she knew that already, but Shengming was the only one she could talk to with no inhibitions. They were the closest two friends could be, short of sexually, but those thoughts tended to wander their way into Galena's teenage mind from time to time.
Something kept her from simply banging on Shengming's door -- Whether it was the shiver down her spine due to risk of being deported at literally any time, or that possibly Shengming simply wouldn't like her anymore, or would think her a stalker. She stood still with a hoof in the air, contemplating over this simple decision, for a full five seconds she froze, and only was able to move when Ferra rapped on the door a few times. Able to relax, Galena knew neither of Shengming's parents were home, both off to work. She'd been able to deduce that her father was on border patrol for the Rising Sun side, and before the law ratcheted down on the border, she frequently saw him, and the next day after learning that he worked there, greeted him every day. But now she wasn't able to cross the border, occasionally drifting close to and around it, and from that she wasn't able to see Shengming's father anymore. The door opened with a small welcoming creak, one that made Galena reminisce of days past, before the border law, even before the Eternal Winter.

"G-Galena, what are you doing..?" Shengming opened the door slightly, visibly surprised at who was at the door.

(Continuing later, sorry for the wait.)