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// 3 Echoes of another time. 
// Story: Chances and Changes:  A Vogonverse Tale 
// by Coruscating Cloak 
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    You ever have one of those days where you just know it is going to be a long day. It isn’t ever anything quite clear just some little hints that your brain picks up on. Maybe the sky is a little overcast, or you can faintly hear sirens in the direction you need to go, an Irate anthropomorphic stallion busting into your room to wake you. Okay that last one maybe isn’t so small.


“Shut up Shining.” I groaned, pulling the blankets over my head “I have the day off and no classes, as I do every year.” The words muffled through the blankets and ungodly loud to my throbbing head. A problem exacerbated by the evil day star, well evil this day anyways.

“Not happening Mac, Cadence is supposed to get here today, and you are going to help me make sure this place is ready to greet her.” It is entirely inappropriate to be that chipper when you friend is dying, or at least feels like it. pulling back the covers and blinking owlishly in the light of the room, I see Shining standing at the foot of the bed with a self satisfied smile on his face that only comes from having woken up trainees in this condition before. “I get it, this is the price I pay for my yearly ritual, Bite me.” I grumble levering myself slightly unsteadily out of bed.

“you said it not me, now come on, get up, get showered and dressed, we have work to do, starting with the bottles from last night.” Having drunk at least as much as I did, I couldn’t understand how he could be that upbeat this morning. Still, it will be nice to have this day have a positive connotation, finally.
“Yeah, haven’t seen your wife in two months, want to put your best suit and impress her.” then as an after thought “it is good you care enough shiny, many here don’t anymore.” carefully ignoring the throbbing in my skull to start to get through the day.


Discovering Shining had a sadistic side was not high on my priorities. The whole morning if there was something that wouldn’t break but would make a resonant noise when dropped he seemed to do exactly that, whenever I couldn’t do anything about it. A sure fire way to make any hangover even less pleasant. The only thing worse would have been airhorns. As murphy’s law indicates we were only half way done when corky came on one of the monitors “She’s here, Boyo” Shining of course, dropped everything and ran to get changed. I got another glass of water and attempted to look like something other than death warmed over.



“Remember Armor, the trance she is in was to help with the transition. I don’t care if you touch her cheek or kiss her to bring her out of it, but give me warning if it is the latter.” I joked nudging him. The flat look I receive indicated that maybe my joke didn’t sound quite as jovial as I thought. I have to give the man credit, his mask was impressive, but in his position i would be nervous as hell. When we walk out I see him take a stutter step when he sees Cadence.  The blank look on her face is more than slightly disconcerting. Still he recovers his momentary lapse long enough to reach his wife. I hung back to allow them a moment, carefully averting my gaze to talk to one of the handlers who, like with Shining, warned me to take care of them, that they aren’t androids and have basic needs. I answered the affirmative, and, seeing that the two of them had not yet broken their kiss, coughed politely. He turned looking sheepish and before he could say anything I answered “Go in, show your wife around, Shining.” Looking to Cadence “Nice to have met you Princess. we can do formal introductions later. Have fun don’t wake the neighbors” I waved trusting Shining to show her around The Facility, as we had begun to call it. Over the last two months Jo had been coming to class less and less, and was often distracted, since I had this day off from all my work I decided to go check up on her and her mom. This would also give the reunited couple a chance to spend some time together. At least that was the plan before we all heard Cadence’s stomach growl. Turns out the pink anthromorph still was able to blush which was rather cute in it’s own way. “Or I can cook while you and shining tour the place we can eat and I can go do my own thing and allow you both the privacy to catch up without prying ears.” I remark “Oh, and princess, don’t use magic right away, shining nearly went into a coma when he did.” I shuddered remembering his reaction to trying to put up a shield for the kids to hit. The fact that he had been able to do magic had floored me. 


“That sounds wonderful Micheal,” Cadence replies “but please call me Cadence, we are friends after all.” Even remembering her from the show i had to take a moment to appreciate the work that went into capturing the essence of the characters. while neither got explored heavily in the show they had distinct and recognizable personalities as well as being portrayed as being very approachable. 

“Very well Cadence, it's Mac by the way, really though, let shining show you around while I cook, and we can talk if you want after.” I make a shooing motion with my hands " Shining can still burn water." both of us chuckle at the afore mentioned stallions dark look. 

"Har har laugh it up you two" he grumbles good naturedly taking his wife's hand "C'mon, the place is big but mostly open space, much like his head." he jerks a thumb at me to which I stuck out my tongue in a completely mature response to the barb. 
Walking in I made a bee-line for the kitchen mostly to hide the smirk when he saw the 'office' and what I had asked some of the kids to do for me. One important thing I had learned was to cut down my meat consumption, mostly out of respect for my friend, but also out of necessity. That in mind I set about making some rice and steamed peppers, with a little bit of shrimp as an option if either wanted it. Almost right on cue I could hear the thundering hoofsteps of an irate Shining Armor coming down the hall. 

"What in Tartarus happened to our room." He demanded pushing open the door and glaring at me horn alight. 
"Right on time, foods ready, could you grab the plates please?" I replied mildly, catching cadences questioning glance as I started setting things on the smaller table in the kitchen. 
"You didn't answer my question" Shinings voice was lower then normal. "What happened to our room?" 
I sigh "I hope the food doesn't get cold. follow me." Leading them out through what had once been a breakroom and back onto the floor that had become the hydroponics garden amongst other such things, I brought them out the back doors and over to a smaller building that had once been known as "The Shed" taking out a couple sets of keys I tossed them to the two anthromorphs "While the whole facility was grandfathers before he died, this was a special project."
Here Cadence interrupts me "I can tell, a lot of time was spent making this a home wasn't it?" her eyes had a slightly out of focus look to them I hadn't seen on anyone in more then five years. 
"yeah it was" I shook my head today was not a day for melancholy thoughts "I haven't had the heart to use it." Here I opened the door and reached over to flip on the lights. 
The old switch bringing the faux candles on giving the room a warm flickering glow. The inside is simple, comfortable chairs, a small dining table and kitchenette at the back, with stairs going up to a loft bedroom. “it may not be royal apartments but I hope you like them” With a smile I get out of their way “I need to go see about one of my students, You two take your time, enjoy the food and have fun.”  With that I turned and left the lovers to their own catching up. 


It was odd making my way through the stacks after spending even a short time with the crystal prince and princess. The ever present sense of loss and despair was amplified nearly a hundred fold. Keeping to some of the back paths it was still impossible to ignore the assorted sounds that hammer against your mind and soul like a jackhammer, Junkies crying out in pain and rage from withdrawal, or ecstasy from their chosen high. Fights both physical and verbal rattling walkways, other sounds that you try not to think about what are causing them. Even the smell, I can’t even find the words to describe it. I have walked these routes a hundred times and still the change in perception was jarring. 


Trying to keep my lunch down I continued on scaling one of the stack to where Jo’s family used to live. Even as I got closer I could feel a heavy sense of dread settle in my stomach. This stack had become too quiet, like the area was holding it’s breath. The first thing you learn regardless of if you live in or near the stacks is this: the door is always locked. The days of being able to trust you neighbors seem to have dwindled to nothing. That said, when I saw their door hanging slightly ajar I felt my blood run cold. Pressing the door the rest of the way open I almost gag. The low buzzing of flies is loud in my ears. The walls are splattered with dark stains, both the dark red-brown of dried blood, and some putrid green. The place looked to have been ransacked. The smell, like copper, rust, and rotting meat, was like a wall. Pray you never smell it.


Swallowing back the bile in my throat I found myself shutting off my brain, the emotional voice in my head that was screaming shoved to the back of my mind. Making my way through the, I can’t call it a home, but living space. Looking first for evidence that Jo and her mother were alive. A lack of bodies wasn’t necessarily the proof I needed, but it did help. I don’t even remember how I made my way back to the facility. I can’t claim I was upset that Shining and Cadence were out in the shed. I just couldn’t deal with anyone, even ignoring corky. Looking at the calendar I grumble at the date. I momentarily glance at the liquor cabinet before passing by it. No, a lack of bodies would have to be enough start searching. As the emotional part of my brain began to come to the forefront again. I felt a cold fury begin to course through me. Whoever had harmed my student was going to be found, and may the gods show them the mercy that I would not. I moved out to the main class area began to move through forms and kata, before practicing against the heavy bags.

To this day I don’t remember going to bed.