//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Memories // Story: The Butler // by Immortan Joe //------------------------------// Daddy! Daddy, look at what I made! Whoa, now... what’s this supposed to be? I drew a shark! Really now? Yeah it has a fin and everything... Beep! Beep! Beep! Lee, there’s something I have been meaning to tell you... Beep! Beep! Beep! I. Am . A. Human. Being! Beep! Beep! Beep! If you don’t calm down, you’ll ruin everything we’ve been working towards! Beep! Beep! Beep! She never stopped looking for you... :[-]: My eyes shot open at the sound of my blaring alarm clock. My gaze locked onto the bright white ceiling above me, as a matter of fact the entire room I was in was white. I pushed myself onto my elbows and observed the layout of this familiar room; to my right was a brown oak dresser that had, hanging on the wall just above it, a vanity mirror and just across from me was a opened closet. Inside the closet, on the right, were T-shirts and suits meant for men, while on the left were tops that were meant for women. It took me a few good minutes to process on where I was. But as it began to settle and sink in, I felt this strong feeling building up in my chest. This indescribable feeling of... joy, I guess. A smile began to pierce my lips as I finally found out where I was... I was home, I was right all along, it was just a goddamn dream! Not caring if Alice was sleeping beside me or not. I laughed out loud, not a quiet laugh either. A laugh that echoed around my room, bouncing off the walls and making its way outside into the hallway and down the steps. I laughed so hard my stomach began to hurt and I found myself clutching at mysides. “Lee! Is everything alright up there?” Said a voice. I stopped dead. It was Alice that spoke. For a mere second I almost didn’t recognize her voice. It felt like ages since the last time I heard her. “Eh...” I swallowed. “Ye-yeah.” I responded cautiously for some reason. “What’s so funny?” I needed to think of a reply, I couldn’t tell her the whole story but I needed to think of something. “Nothing it was nothing, just read something funny that’s all!” I glanced at the alarm clock that was still going berserk. Two o’clock in the afternoon it read. “What am I doing waking up this late in the day–” :[-]: “Hey, Honey, how was the meeting?” Alice asked as she dusted off the coffee table while I walked in covered almost head to toe in snow. Outside since this morning it’s been snowing uncontrollably. I remember on the ride home the weather man stated that this is going to be the largest snowstorm in three years. I took off my Lions jacket. “Boring as always, honestly...” I took deep breath expecting another lecture to come after I finished talking. “I hardly paid any attention. Most of the time we were either looking at charts or listening to Mr. Currier give an inspirational speech on how we achieved so much this year!” I said with fake enthusiasm, doing jazz hands for extra effect. Alice laughed. “You know what I said about dozing off during work.” I sighed, having nailed that assumption right on the head. I hung my jacket back up. “Don’t worry, I still got everything done,” I turned my head to look at her. “Besides, all I did was fill out a few papers and hand Currier his lines.” “Still, I don’t want you missing anything,” Alice straightened out her back and folded her dusting rag. I yawned and quickly made an excuse to opt out of this daily lecture. “Sorry to cut our reunion short, but I only got like one hour of sleep last night,” I began heading towards the stairs. But stopped only to remember one last thing. “Oh yeah, thought you should know, but some crazy ass pickup driver nearly rammed me off the road last night.” Alice turned towards me, her eyes wide with shock and her hand covering her mouth.“Oh damn, are you alright... is the other driver alright?” I waved my hand to the side. “Yes I’m alright, so is the other driver, just a small dent on his bumper when he slammed into a street light...–” :[-]: “Well okay then, I left you something to eat on the counter before you go!” I snapped back to reality. “Wh-w-what the fuck was that?!” “Excuse me?” Alice called up from the stairs. “Sorry, I wasn’t talking about you!” I nearly flung the sheets off my bed when I swung my legs over the side. For a second I was still expecting myself to be in my suit, instead I was wearing my baggy jeans and plain red T-shirt. “Lee, are you sure you didn’t get hurt in that accident?” “Yes, I’m alright, Alice!” I pushed myself off the bed began looking around my room for my shoes. What does she mean before I go? Where am I going? And that... flashback I remember it so clearly. Every word, action, and thought, could this actually be real? I shook my head and smiled, of course it is! Why wouldn’t it be? “You better be, well I’m heading out now. I’ll see you after six!” Heading out? where could she be going– :[-]: Alice gave me a peck on the cheek before I went upstairs. “Well, I’m glad to see that you’re okay.” I smiled. “I love you to, Alice.” I said as I turned back towards the stairs. “Oh, Lee, could you wait?” Alice said apologetically. “Wh-what is it?” I asked in a worried tone, spinning to face her. “Today is Grace’s last day of school before break and they’re letting out early, but I won’t be home to pick her up.” I frowned. “Where are you going?” I asked taking my foot off the step. “Leesha called off sick today, and I have to take her place at the retirement home.” Alice briefly explained while she made her way towards the laundry room. “But Alice, I just got home.” I complained half-seriously as I followed her into the hallway. “I knew you wouldn’t be happy about this,” She mumbled. “Couldn’t you just get somebody else to do it for you?” I asked seriously whilst speaking with my hands, a common thing I did when I became aggravated. Alice opened the laundry room door and stepped in, bending over she picked up a basket of fresh clothes. I stood in the doorway and watched her as she worked. “I already tried, but most of the others are already taking their vacation, or their schedules are too tightly packed.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Alright,” I took a few moments of silence. “I take it you want me to pick Grace up from school than? Anything else you want me to do while I’m out?” I asked. Alice nodded her head and brushed past me and began heading into the living room. I followed. “Yes, and no. I’ll stop at the grocery store on the way back.” She stated. “I’ll only be gone for a few hours. I’m just heading in to check up on Mr. Piccard and Mrs. Roseline. After that Kurt said he’ll take over.” Alice placed the basket on the sofa and took out a pair of jeans. I stopped just behind the sofa and looked at her while she folded them. “Alright, sounds like a plan. When does Grace get off school?” “Two twenty-five sharp.” Alice paid no attention to me as she spoke. Instead she stood their focusing on the jeans as if she was defusing a bomb. “Be careful when you get there though. Trying to get out of that school is a living Hell.” “Alrighty then...” I yawned. “I’m going to sleep now.” “Remember, two twenty-five...” :[-]: My eyes blinked rapidly as I was brought back to the realm of reality. “Jesus Christ, I need to stop doing that.” I glanced around the room. “Alice?” I called out returning to my quest for shoes. I received no response. I called her name out once again, no response. The house was silent, she must of left while I was in my dream like state. After what felt like an eternity of searching for my shoes, I finally got the idea to drop down onto my stomach, which to my surprise I and found them deep below my bed. “What the heck are you guys doing under here?” I asked myself out loud as I stretched my arm out and grasped onto them, pulling them out. I pushed myself away from my bed and stood back up, sitting back on my bed I slipped my grey sneakers onto my feet and quickly tied them. Standing up and stretching my sore arms once again, I walked over to my nightstand and turned off my alarm clock which was still screaming for me to wake up. Once that was finished I took one more glance around the room, my room. The thought that I was actually back home brought a smile to my face, I turned walking towards my door. Entering the kitchen, I saw that Alice had quickly worked me up a sandwich before leaving. I took the PB&J in my hands and took a bite out of it. Still holding the sandwich in my hands I went into the living room to grab my car keys. As I walked, I felt my foot make contact with one of Grace’s Xbox controllers! “Fuck!” I yelped, startled by the sudden interruption as I stumbled forward. “God dangit,” I grumbled after I regained balance. Turning around, I took the controller in my free hand and placed it back on the entertainment system that made up most of the front half of our living room. “What did I tell her about leaving her toys out, nearly got myself hurt.” I turned away from the T.V. and began heading towards the door. :[-]: The sound of the school’s ringing bell and the excited shouts of the school children shot me out of my small nap. “What the hell?” I looked around confused. I was just at home a second ago...? How the hell am I here already?! My mind was interrupted by the continuous flashes of me driving to the school, a single image of a man cutting me off, along with a similar tall figure watching me in the distance, and me being caught by a red light. After the images stopped coursing through my mind like a runaway train, my eyes widened and my head shot up. That second to last image burrowed into my mind, a tall dark figure watching me out of the corner of my eye, similar to the creepy as shit white one that watched me. Spinning around in my car seat I looked over my shoulder, hoping to get another glimpse at what I saw in my flashback as you could call it. Nothing, I saw nothing except for the endless waves of children who were either boarding the buses or going to their parents. “Daddy!” I heard a familiar voice shout. “Look at what I made!” I glanced out my car window and saw my young daughter running towards me. She wore her usual pink winter coat, and her non matching blue beanie. “Daddy, Daddy!” She shouted again as she reached the car, she opened the door. “Look at what I made,” she said opening the door, she held out a drawing in front of my face. Forgetting all traces of the tall creature, I smiled. “Whoa, now...” I stopped to observe the image I now held in my hands. It appeared to be a crayon drawing of some sorts, in the center was a large circular object with a diamond like shape sticking out of it. The background was blue with a few green squiggles I couldn’t make out. “What’s this supposed to be?” I asked trying not to sound rude. “I drew shark!” She happily said with the biggest smile on her face. “Really now?” I took another glance at the drawing. “Yeah, see, it has a fin and everything–” “Yeah, see, it has a fin and everything–” The voices said in unison. I froze dead in my seat, eyes wide, my mind constantly playing the word Deja Vu over and over. I remember this, I’d been through this before... well I don’t remember when, nor could I recall the details. But this conversation, I remember this part. Shaking my head to rid myself of those absurd thoughts, I smiled and looked at Grace. “How about we hang this up on the fridge when we get home?” It’s just a coincidence. It has to be. :[-]: I pulled my car up into the driveway, setting it on park I opened the door and stepped out into the cold snow. But before I closed the door, I frowned. Okay this is just fucking weird now... I was just at the school not even five seconds–wait! Wait, before I continued I knew that if I continued to try and connect the dots, I was just going to be smacked in the face with another flash back, or whatever the hell they are. “Daddy, are you okay?” Grace asked tugging on my pant leg. “Yeah, thank you for asking. How about we go hang up your drawing.” I said. Grace looked at me and tilted her head. “What drawing?” I frowned. “Wh-what do you mean, the one you showed me earlier, you know the sharks?” I glanced down at her, in her hand she held a red cup with a straw. She wasn’t wearing her backpack, and the strangest thing of all was that her clothes were different. Her once pink jacket was now a dark shade of purple, her non matching beanie was now blue and her hair was neatly tucked under it. “Where did you...?” I trailed off into silence. “I dunno.” She said as she brushed past me and began heading towards the front door. “Thanks for the ice cream!” My eyes followed her as she pranced up the steps and onto the porch. “What... I, I never... what?!” My mind drew a blank. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what was going on. None of this made sense! When did I get her ice cream? I thought I was at the school, why is she wearing different clothing? I tilted my head back into the car, confused I needed some clarification, I turned the radio back on to check the clock. I frowned. The clock read: Thursday, December Twenty Sixth.... “The day after Christmas,” this wasn’t adding up. Am I in the fucking Matrix or something? Jesus Christ, I couldn’t have gotten her ice cream! It’s near the end of December, the nearest Dairy Queen is closed–! :[-]: “What flavor would you like, sir?” The cashier asked. “Just get me the usual strawberry banana.” I said as I handed her my money. “What about your daughter?” She asked while placing the money in the cash register. “Chocolate would be good!” She squeaked. “Alright then,” She giggled. “It’ll be ready in a few seconds–” :[-]: I slammed the car door shut and glanced back down at the snow. There was no need for the damn flashback! I already remembered everything, but that brought about a whole different question. Why do I keep having these random moments of amnesia? It’s like somebody’s messing with my mind... Could it be Celestia fucking with me? The same way she manipulated her own workers like the cold hearted bitch she made herself out to be. Yeah, I said it, her looks don’t –NO! NO! Stop acting like she’s real, because she ain’t. She’s just some creepy figment of your imagination, Lee... Just think about the happy things, what makes you happy? I could feel my right hand beginning to freeze as I gazed down at the random Dairy Queen cup I held in my hand. “Wh–I don’t even... What?” I glanced over my shoulder for some reason, as if I was afraid somebody was watching me. “Please let this be real.” I pleaded as I looked back at the frozen treat. I brought the straw to my lips and took a sip. The cold mixture of strawberries and bananas flooded my mouth as I gulped down the shake. Closing my eyes, I grinned. “Daddy, come here! I want you to meet someone!” Grace called to me as she leaned out the open front door of our house. I raised an eyebrow and looked at her. “What do you mean?” I began to walk up the concrete path that led to my front porch. “You want me to meet someone? But nobody’s here.” I once again glanced over my shoulder. I kept getting this odd feeling, like I was being watched! I looked back to Grace. “How did you open the front door without my keys–” “Thou shalt perish for harming thy princess!” A voice boomed from within my living room. Fatherly instincts kicking in I quickly made my way passed Grace. Racing into my living room I stopped and turned to whoever was in here. “What the Hell do you think you’re doing in my...” I began to shout but once again trailed off into silence when I noticed the tall blue alicorn sitting on my couch levitating Grace’s Xbox controller in front of her face. Her eyes fully focused on the T.V before her, the dark pony lowered the controller, her head turning as she gently placed the controller onto the coffee table. Her turquoise eyes lining up with mine; as my mind fully came to terms with what was going on I literally felt my heart drop. The Alicorn coughed into her hoof before speaking. “I do apologize for my rude behavior,” She stepped off my couch. “Th-this can’t be real...” I croaked and took a few steps back. My eyes quickly ran over to Grace who was standing by the door; her face emotionless, her body still like a statue. I swore her appearance shimmered like dew in the early morning light. “Grace,” I said her name once again. I glared back at the alicorn. “What did you do to her?!” A few seconds passed and I received no response. I could feel the rage building in the pit of my stomach.“What did you to my dau–!” “I did nothing,” The mare finally replied her voice growing hushed. “And she can’t hear you, Lee...” Her expression began grow in guilt. “Unless you want her to.” I couldn’t reply, how did she know my name? What does she mean that she can only hear me if I want her to? “Mr. Harrison, I know this may be hard for you, but I’m the Goddess of the night. My domain includes the dreams of my subjects. Right now, we’re in the deep half of your sub-conscious and right as we speak your conscious is finally acknowledging the fact that we are in a dream...” I didn’t listen to her instead I stood there focused on Grace, her body still shimmering as it has been since I first entered. “What do you mean we’re in my mind...?” I asked not looking at her. “What’s wrong with Grace... what did you do to her?” She sighed. “Mr. Harrison, as I said, I did nothing, and as much as it pains me to break this to you... That isn’t your daughter–” I took a few steps towards the back of the sofa, jamming my finger in rage at her. “What do you mean that isn’t my–” The mare silenced me with a wave of her hoof. “She isn’t real, Lee, at least in this realm she isn’t. Right now we are in the world of dreams, she cannot move now because your conscious has finally come to a realization.” She explained again. I quirked an eyebrow. “What are you talking about...? Who the hell are you?” She walked back to her spot on the sofa, and tapped the spot beside her beckoning me to sit. “You’re dreaming, Lee Harrison, look around you.” She gestured towards the room. “None of this is real, your subconscious no longer has control of the realm. Instead,” She pointed a hoof at me. “You have control. She won’t, move, talk, or think unless you make her.” She sat back down waiting for me to come to her. “O-okay, but that doesn’t answer my other question,” I said cautiously making my way around the sofa, keeping my eye on her while trying to make sense of everything she was saying. “Who the hell are you? Why are you here? How did you get here–” “One question at a time, Harrison.” She cut me off and continued. “I am Princess Luna,” Luna? I heard that name before a few times coming out of Celestia’s mouth. “I am the Princess of the Night and the Goddess of dreams. I keep order during the night and make sure all of my subjects are having a good nights rest.” She explained with a smile as if she was proud of what she does. Which to me seems like she’s proud of walking into older men’s dreams and literally scaring the shit out of them, yeah that’s a good nights rest right there kiddies. “For your next question, I’m here because...” She fell silent, trying to think of what to say. “Celestia and I have never seen anything like you, all day while you were sleeping and chatting away with her. I was out in about with Princess Twilight–” “Princess Who?” I asked. “Princess Twilight. Please refrain from interrupting me, Lee.” “You interrupted me earlier.” “Can you stop acting like a foal and let me explain?” “Well sorrrrrry, you aren’t the one who just got scared half to death and just learnt that this dream was all a hoax!” “...” “That’s what I thought.” “Princess Twilight and I were out in the old palace, perusing the books of old in an attempt to find out what you are.” She explained, still looking at me with the guilty look... why was she looking at me like that? “Alright, what does that have to do with you being here now?” I asked while rolling my wrist causing it to pop. “If you’d just stop interrupting me and actually let me finish, I will be able to tell you.” Luna’s eyes narrowed in on mine while wrinkles began to form at the tips of her eyebrows as they furrowed. Clearly she was getting quite frustrated by my antics and wanted me to stop immediately, so I did. I nodded my head and gestured for her to continue by waving my hand to the side, she frowned and looked at me confused. “Are you done?” “What are you talking about?” I too was confused. “I’m waiting for you to continue.” Her eyes widened realizing what I meant. “Oh I’m sorry, my fault.” She cleared her throat. “After Twilight and I were unable to figure out anything, I decided the only way to truly learn everything about you and your kind is to well... look into your mind itself.” She gestured out with a hoof. “So here we are now,” she looked at me and smiled. I finally sat down guessing that the coast was clear. “So... let me get this straight...” I rested my right elbow on my knee, my chin on the top of my right hand in a thinker position. “You aren’t a figment of my imagination?” “I’m as real as can be.” She said. “But all of this,” I waved my hands out gesturing towards everything looking like a mad man. “Is just... part of my mind?” Luna nodded her head. “You’re fucking with me.” I deadpanned, as I placed my arms back on my knees. She shook her head. “Lee, you’re asleep–” “And I’m just making you say all of this crap?” I gritted my teeth. The night princess took a long deep breath, and then released. “No... let me explain to you how this all works. Right now, right as we speak. You’re sleeping, but us on the other hand, are awake,” did she just say us, I thought I was the one sleeping? “We-I mean I’m.” She stopped and corrected herself. “I’m sitting in my room reading a novel I’ve been hoping to catch up on in the past one thousand and six hundred years.” “Jesus Christ, I thought I was–oh I’m so sorry,” I quickly apologized. Luna rolled her eyes but continued. “While at the same the mental portion of my mind is attending and helping the dreams and nightmares of most of the ponies in Equestria.” “Is that even physically possible?” I asked, Luna looked at me as if I was dropped when I was child. “It’s a figure of speech,” I said quietly. “Well I think I understand what’s going on here now... sucks really.” I sighed sadly in defeat. “To think... when I woke up, I was actually happy for the first time in... what? Going on forty eight hours now...? I was happy to see Grace, Alice... even Mr. Wilkerson my dick next door neighbor.” I chuckled to myself slowly falling into silence. I licked my lips before I spoke, my voice low and even a bit raspy. “It all felt real... the food I ate, the shows I watched. It all felt... so real!” I rested my forehead in the palm of my hand and breathed heavily. Few still moments passed before I felt the soft touch of Luna’s hoof on my left shoulder. “That’s because your mind wants it to be real, Lee, it wants you to be happy and not forget the good times.” “So what... You’re saying I’m in the state of denial?” I looked at her. She nodded her head. “Exactly, your conciseness isn’t able to comprehend the idea of being in another world.” “Well... if that was the case why not leave me be... leave me to enjoy myself in my dream world?” I asked. “Why pop up out of nowhere and ruin it for me?” “Because, Lee, you’re going to have face the truth someday. Reality is harsh and cold, as much as you want to avoid it. You know that someday, it’s going to catch up to you, it’s inevitable ” “But what if I don’t want to, what if I want to go home. See my daughter again, hug my wife, adopt a dog, see Grace grow up!” I listed the things I wanted, and as I did so Luna’s expression grew even more, and more guiltier. “And in time you will,” Her voice filled with sadness. “But for now, Lee, you must wait.” She said as her head gently drifted towards the floor.. “That’s the thing, Luna,” I said through clenched teeth. “I don’t want to wait. Matter of fact I can’t, you want to know why? I’ll tell you why, because my family is scared, afraid that I’m possibly dead.” “You don’t know that?” Her eyes came back up to greet mine. “I. Was. In. A. Fucking. Car. Wreck!” I roared at the top of my lungs nearly rising up out of my seat. Despite her comforting I wanted pound this horse into submission. “I don’t remember the details but that’s the only way I could’ve gotten those wounds, and the last thing I remember is being in a vehicle.” I said quietly and quickly, trying to keep myself from losing it once again. “That’s the only way I could’ve gotten those wounds, I wasn’t attacked by no fucking animal. If so, where are the bite marks, the scratches the nicks, the nacks? No! Instead I have bruises and a fucking cave in my head, like I was hit by a fucking baseball bat!” I continued to rant. Luna sat there wide eyed watching me as if I was some fucking lunatic. “How do you think my family is going to react when I show up a month later huh? My wife is going to think I fucking split, left her like a plastic bag in the wind. There aren’t going to be any clues on to where I went, no trails, no crunched up snow, no. Just a fucking empty car in a ditch!” I sat back in the sofa and took a deep breath and groaned. “What is Grace going to think?” I said my voice drawn out, I tilted my head towards Luna her expression even worse than before. “My eight year old daughter, losing her father... the father she was so close to...” I felt my heart grow heavier. “The little girl I’d sneak out with to see a movie every Tuesday night because the tickets were half off, even though we weren’t supposed to.” I sniffed. “Even though it was still fucking expensive I’d still buy I us both a large soda and popcorn...” I wiped my eyes trying to prevent myself from breaking down. I released a shaky breath and leaned forward once again. “What is she going to think... is she going to be happy to see me? Pssh... I doubt it.” I answered myself. “Celestia says it’s only going to be a month... even if it isn’t, instead let say it’s only going to be about a week, that doesn’t change a fucking thing.” “Let me tell you something, Luna...” My expression hardening. “Dreams don’t always come true...” Luna, who was apparently crying now sniffed and asked, “Who told you that?” “No one... I learned it for myself.” My voice became darker. “You see, like most young kids back in my world... I wanted to be an astronaut. You know–of course you friggin don’t... I wanted to go to space you see... walk on the moon.” I explained taking momentary breaks to catch my breath and calm myself down. “Now unlike most kids who usually change their minds as the years go by... I didn’t, by the time I graduated high school was still determined to go into space.” I coughed into my fist. “But as it turned out... I wasn’t cut out for it, why? I failed my primary math and science course in college freshman year...” I fell silent. “After that, I dropped out... for awhile... I found myself working at a fucking Burger King three years silently, lived in two bedroom apartment by myself with no social interaction. Haven’t spoken to my grandparents since the incident.” “Why not your real parents?” Luna spoke. “Mother was a drug addict, and my dad took care of me for most of my life, old man was an engineer for a train company. Died back in ninety four when his locomotive derailed.” “I’m truly sorry to hear that.” “Nah, it’s not that bad... the old man was already on the edge as it was... also I think the poor bastard was getting close to cutting the line anyways cause of mom. Anyways...” I stopped trying to figure out where I left off at. “Where was I?” I asked. “Something about, you working some place called... burger–” “Ah right, like I said... the revelation broke me, my entire life goal was for me to go into space at least once. When I learned that I wasn’t compatible I thought my life was over. I didn’t have a back up plan, I had hardly any savings... I thought it was over. But... after I met Alice that’s when my dreams changed.” I smiled sadly. “And what was that?” “I wanted to be a father.” I said hushed. “Alice sent me back to school and I got a degree in real estate after I studied my ass of in mathematics of course. Four years later out comes Grace, I was already working for Mr. Currier and I began to rise through the ranks quickly,” I began to speed up in talking. “And soon I got the point that I was his assistant!” I began to build up fake enthusiasm. “I was making the big bucks, and soon I learnt that if I kept this up I’d be able to take his place!” I stood up. “And I would be able to supply enough money for us that I’d be able to put it in our savings account! The we’d get out of this shitty house! Maybe move to Florida or even California, you know live where it’s always sunny and not snowing!” I turned towards Luna moving voice switching over to anger I began to shout. “And you want to know what happened to ruin that dream for me?!” I shouted. “Come on guess I know you know, cause I fucking heard you when I was comatosed! Fucking both of you! Drugging me and manipulating your subjects so that they see me as one of them! What? So I could fit in?! Do you have any fucking idea how fucked up that is, toying with people's minds! Jesus Christ!” I fell back into my seat. “I didn’t want any of this...” I moped. “I never wanted to be here... I don’t want to be some fucking butler... I just... I just want to do what’s right for my family... I-I” I began to choke up. “I j-just want t-to see her a-a-again...” I felt a tear begin to roll down my cheek. “P-p-please...” I turned my head towards her. “I-I j-just want t-to go home...” Luna closed her eyes and nodded her head. “In time,” she scooched towards me and draped her large wing around my shoulder and pulled me into a hug. “You’ll see your family again, trust me I’ll do whatever it takes to get you home.” She said her eyes full of guilt. I buried my eyes into her coat and weeped for the first time in many years, I cried like a young child who has lost his favorite toy. A boy lost in the supermarket separated from his family desperately looking, only to believe that he’ll never find them ever again even though that they’re only a few aisles over. A few moments of silence passed while I cried silently, I felt Luna shift. “Come on, I know what will cheer you up.” I sniffed and pulled away, embarrassed I rubbed my eyes. “I-I’m sorry,” I said in a low whisper. “There is nothing to be sorry about, Lee, I know what it feels like to be alone. I have gone through and done such terrible things in my life, which have made me feel separated from everypony. I know what you’re going through is tragic, and trust me. Celestia knows what she’s doing is wrong and she feels devastated because of it, she is not out to hurt you or any of her subjects.” I raised an eyebrow. “She doesn’t seemed devastated by it.” “That’s because, my sister is the biggest liar I know, she’s only acting that way because she is working trying to look professional. But if you were to see her in her quarters or in the garden, you’ll know her for who she truly is.” She explained. “Now take this.” Luna levitated the controller off the coffee table and tossed it towards me a little too hard. “What the?!” I caught it before it could hit me in the face. “What’s this for?” “We’re going to cheer you up by playing a game!” Luna beamed.