Chapter 5: Now do you see where we get it from?
“So I suppose just saying that I was born this way wouldn’t be a sufficient answer?” Gaia felt the urge to slowly back up as the look on Erina’s face got slightly more angry. But he knew from experience that with fillies, small fractions on the outside translated to bigger things on the inside.
“No, no it won’t,” Erina replied.
“Ah I see...well then I’ll start close to the beginning. As you know my mom is Princess Twilight..and my dad well….that’s that part that’s hard to explain,” Gaia tried his best while avoiding Erina’s gaze which he could still feel while he stared at the ceiling
“What’s hard about it? He is a stallion right?” Erina countered
“Well yes and no….You wouldn’t happen to be well read on old Equestrian mythology would you?” Gaia asked her hoping this wouldn't require him to help her much
“I’m a noble like you, what do you think?” Gaia winced slightly for forgetting she was a princess herself.
“Well did you ever read the tale about a creature called The Bookkeeper?” He asked watching her anger mix with some confusion.
“ The one about the creature from another world chosen by Faust and sent to Eques...tria?” Erina paused in the middle of the word as the gears in her head stopped turning for a moment and then began again as she slowly put everything together. “Your dad...is the Bookkeeper?” she watched as Gaia slowly shook his head. “Your dad isn’t a pony?”
“Well that question is open for debate. Cause when he first got here years ago, no he wasn’t a pony,” Gaia told her and was going to continue before his sister cut in.
“Yeah and now he can turn into a pony and because he works for Auntie Faust it’s not easy to tell exactly what-”
“Wait did you say Faust?” Erina interrupted Hope before she could finish.
“Yeah you know, Faust. Creator of everything, multiversal deity and such, our dad works for her. She’s really nice,” Hope responded to Erina before she returned to her seat to look out the window.
“You’ve met...Faust?” Erina was stunned, she had read about ponies who had met Faust under very very weird circumstances but to know that these eight who were younger than her had met the divine creator, and had a parent who worked for her as a sort of messenger or errand runner.
“Wait a minute this is getting off topic, how does that explain how you have eight hooves?” Erina suddenly shook off all her feeling about what she was learning when she realized her question still hadn’t been answered.
“Well it’s a roundabout way of saying how my genetics are a little different from-”
“yes you’ve made that perfectly clear already in a variety of ways,” Erina interrupted silencing the colt once again as the two stared each other down while everyone else watched in amusement.
“Ten minutes to Ponyville,” The conductor's voice came over the speakers again signaling that they would shortly arrive at their destination.
“Well what do you want me to say? I mean if you want me to be simple I can just tell you that i was born this way. That the honest truth!” Gaia told Erina hoping she would accept some answer he gave her and stop giving him that glare she was wearing.
“So you’re telling me that when you were born you had four hooves and could magically split each of them so you would have eight?” Erina asked.
“What? no don’t be ridiculous,” Gaia laughed causing Erina to relax slightly before he stopped and said “I was born with eight and learned how to combine two of each to make it look like I have only four,” he said in a matter of fact tone. “See watch,” he said as he held two of them up in front of Erina and in a quick flash of magic the two fused together and when it was done there was only one. “And now in reverse,” he said again and with another quick flash he was back too two hooves. “See it’s pretty easy it’s a mix of an illusion spell and another one i can’t quite remember and in situation it come in...Erina...you ok?” he stopped his rambling when he noticed that Erina was staring, but not at him more into space than anything.
“You…you’re impossible,” were her only words as her vacant staring continued.
‘Yeah kinda, but that’s how it goes when you mom is an Alicorn and your dad is a human who travels the multiverse and you sister is also an Alicorn. So honestly for me it’s par for the course. But if you think we’re weird just wait until you see Ponyville,”
“Ponyville?” Erina finally snapped out of her trance when Gaia mentioned the town. Moving over to the window she noticed that they were approaching a train station and form that the town where this group was from.
“Yeah it’s a great place, especially to grow up. Also it’s nice to look at when you’re walking around.
“I’ll take your word for it but once the train pulls into the station i’ll be staying here and waiting for the train to take me back to Canterlot,” Erina said as she tried to think of how to salvage the rest of her day once she got back home to Canterlot. This caught Gaia off guard as he was walking to pick up his things and had him stumbling over his legs
“”Wait what!? You’re not gonna get off the train for a visit?” Gaia quickly zipped from across the car to be face to face with Erina, the shock in his eyes clear to see at the distance between the two.
“Umm...my house is in Canterlot, it’s the end of the first day of school and i have things to do, so besides this little diversion i have no intention of wasting any more of my time so i will not be-” Erina said slowly as she planted a hoof on Gaia’s chest and slowly pushed him back far enough to not be in her personal space. But just as she was about to finish her reasoning as to why she would remain on the train a pink blur zoomed into the space between them and another pony was now invading her personal space.
“But you can’t leave without visiting!” Doppler said as she clung to Erina trying to make sure she wouldn't go anywhere for some reason. “You can’t go without getting the full story on us and our crazy powers and meeting our parents!” Erina went still as she began to think on Doppler’s words, it was also possible that her mind was trying to distract her body from the crushing it was receiving. “Plus you’ll miss the most important thing to do in Ponyville!” Doppler suddenly let go letting Erina fill her lungs as she watched Doppler strike a pose, her hoof raised to the sky. Erina decided to let the filly have her moment as she began to brush herself off.
“You’ll miss the chance to try out a bunch of great sweets at Sugarcube Corner!” Dopple shouted and immediately noticed a reaction in Erina. Erina’s hoof stopped mid brush and her attention was fully focused on Doppler.
“Did you say Sugarcube Corner?” Everyone besides Doppler noticed the change of Erina ‘s voice and how it sounded just a bit more foal-ish.
“Yeah Sugarcube Corner the best bakery in Equestria with the bestest ever sweets in the whole universe,” Doppler zoomed over to Erina, and wrapped an arm around her before she quickly zipped both of them over to the window and pointed to a building in the distance the the top look reminiscently of a cupcake.
“I...well...I...it’s a nice offer but I need to….” Erina voice wavered as she kept staring out the window. If everyone in the car could see her they would see her eyes wide and shimmering with excitement and a very small bit of drool at the corner of her mouth. “I mean I’ve heard of the place but I've never gotten to...but I can’t because i need to get back home before Mother and Father start to worry,” Erina argued with herself as the train finally pulled into the station and something else caught Erina’s eye besides the legendary bakery she had heard of. Just a few feet away from the train platform there was a large group of ponies many of them staring at the train, almost as if they were waiting for someone to get off. “Um do any of you know what is going on?” She said getting everyone’s attention to the situation outside.
“Oh...I think I know what’s going on,” Gaia said as he looked out the window. “Let’s just say that little incident back in Canterlot wasn’t the first time I’ve done something like that,” Gaia said as he watched the crowd get closer as the train slowed to a crawl.
“Oh really ?” Erina asked mockingly, seeing him fight could give the impression that he had probably gotten into a number of incidents.
“He’s just putting it that way cause the number is actually kind of high, he needs more than eight hooves to count them!” Ember joked laughing at herself and leaving many to roll their eyes as the train finally came to a halt.
“Ok let me out first so i can go give the ponies what they want,” Gaia sighed shaking his head in disbelief as he grabbed his saddlebags and moved over to the door, wrenching it open with slightly more force than necessary. Erina watched as he walked out to meet the crowd, many faces changing into different states of emotion as they saw the bandages on his head, and bits quickly changing hooves.
“They were betting on him getting into a fight?” Erina was confused and a bit mad at the actions of the ponies, betting on whether or not their prince would get into a fight on his first day of high school. “Well that seems positively deplorable,” She said and the response from everyone in the car was to immediately start laughing.
“Well you’re kind of right Erina,” Hope said as she strode up to Erina while wiping a tear from her eye. “It would be absolutely deplorable...if it wasn’t Gaia’s idea,” she told Erina and watched her go back to looking at Gaia as he made it to the head of the crowd.
“Alright everybody,” he shouted getting the groups attention. “As you can probably seen by the bandages yes i did wipe the floor with some snot nosed punks who were up to no good, although one of them got a lucky shot,” he said motioning to his bandages as some ponies started to cheer thinking they had won their bet. “But! But let me make it clear that it was after the school day was over and it was not on school grounds!” he got a kick out of seeing emotions switch in the group, those that had been cheering now were saddened and vice versa and money that had exchanged hooves was now exchanged back and then some as the actual losers now had to pay out.
As he watched the crowd finish it’s business and start to disperse Gaia waved to the train car and everyone came and filled out with Erina slowly coming out and taking in her surroundings. The group chuckled a bit as they watched her as somepony behind them interrupted their fun.
“Well looks like you all had a fun day, seems like yall made a new friend as well,” Erina’s attention was brought to an orange mare wearing a stetson standing next to a empty cart. She watched as Apple Core strode over to the mare who pulled him into a hug. “Hey there Sugarcube, did you have a nice first day of school?” her smile was warm as she muffled up Apple Core’s mane slightly.
“Yeah mom I did. It was interesting,” he told her as she finally let him free of her grip. The mare looked over the group and then to Erina once she noticed that she was staring at her.
“Well I’ve never seen you here in Ponyville here before,” She trotted up Erina giving her a once over.
“Ah yes sorry about that let me introduce myself my Name is Erina-” Erina extended her hoof out and before she could finish her name a shaking feeling took hold of her body as the mare grabbed it with both hooves and vigorously shook it.
“Well howdy there Erina I’m Apple Core’s mom Applejack. It’s sure nice to see a new face. Ponyville’s a great place for new visitors. So you came home with the youngins, did they rope you into a visit or is it something else?” Erina could barely hear what the the mare was saying because of how hard she was shaking even after she let go of her hoof. It wasn't until something grabbed her hoof that everything stopped moving. When she could finally see straight again she saw Gaia holding her hoof between two of his. “What was sorry about that I always forget my own strength,” Applejack gave a sheepish smile as Erina got back to her feet, quickly pulling her hoof from Gaia’s grasp.
“It’s okay misses Applejack i was just taken by surprise, there aren’t many ponies in Canterlot who shake someone’s hoof so enthusiastically, Erina said with a smile as she flexed her hoof, making sure it was still in working order. “And as for why i’m here well…” Erina was stuck trying to think of a polite way to say something about Gaia.
“She’s on the receiving end of Gaia’s ‘help’,” Apple Core with his simple explanation got Erina’s and his mother’s attention. Erina couldn’t help but notice the way he said “help” and guessed that Gaia tended to put himself into situations like before.
“Ah I get it. Is that how you got them bandages?” she called over to Gaia who had been chatting with some ponies.
“IT WAS A LUCKY SHOT!” he shouted slightly angry from how much grief ponies were giving him over it.
“Yeah i bet it was,” Applejack chuckled giving Apple Core and Erina a knowing look.
“You should’ve seen it Aunty A!” Chroma floated loftily on a cloud above the three. “after the guy hit him from behind on the head, Gaia just stood there with the blood dripping down his muzzle and then he went all ragey with some awesome lines and then WHAM!” Chroma swung her hoof in the air imitating Gaia punching the first colt from the incident. “I swear that first colt really got some air! What do you think Core? I think he had to get at least ten feet!” she said grinning the whole while.
“I think at max he got about fifteen feet,” he said looking at his mom who rolled her eyes.
“A new record huh? well at least that proves that he can get…” Applejack started to say something but stopped to stare into the distance. Apple Core noticed and was about to say something before he noticed her trademark smirk. “Hey Chroma, on you six,” She called out to the pegasus who gave her a confused look before putting whatever it was the mare was trying to tell her together.
“Is something the matter?” Erina asked wondering what she was missing out on as she watched Erina get up and give a quick stretch.
“No not in particular,” Erina looked away from Chroma as she heard a new voice and a mare sat down beside her. “Just a weekly contest going on speedster mom and daughter,” the mare said as she took her silver mane and tied it back into a ponytail. Erina stared at her feeling like she had seen this mare somewhere, not personally but in a picture or something, but she couldn’t quite put her hoof on it. “Hey instead of staring at me you should be staring out there. Blink and you’ll miss it,” The mare redirected Erina’s gaze by pointing her hoof forward and as Erina looked back she noticed something in the distance behind Chroma. A blue speck just a shade different than the color of the sky, and it was getting bigger fast as it approached. And as it did Erina noticed something else.
“Is that a rainbow?”
“Yeah, and if you want to be specific that’s my mom Rainbow Dash!” Chroma said as she finished stretching and then with a quick flourish took off and started heading towards what Erina could assume was the pegasus who was Chroma’s mother. She watched as a different yet equally nice looking rainbow formed behind Chroma as the two blue blurs moved towards each other at frightening speed. And just as soon as it looked like they were going to collide each blur suddenly banked and turned missing each other by a small margin. But as Erina thought they would slow down and fly next to each other the two kept turning and after only a few seconds they were back on course to collide. Erina sucked in a breath as she watch them go at each other again and again missing each other. She kept doing this as they repeated the same action multiple times seeming to get closer and closer each time until suddenly the regular rainbow banked off and slowed down and started to approach where she was sitting.
“Ok ok that’s enough i give i give,” an older voice called out as she landed in front of the mare sitting next to Erina. “Jeez she’s getting better at calling some of my bluffs, her turning is getting sharper Swift,” she said as she wiped the sweat of her brow.
“Well what do you expect Dash? She’s got most of your speed and most of my flexibility. She won’t beat us in a single category but put them together and she’ll eventually get us,” The mare said to Rainbow Dash as she handed her a towel. “And i wouldn’t expect anything less from our daughter,” the mare smiled warmly as she wrapped wing around Rainbow Dash and drew her in and kissed her.
Now Erina had never seen a same sex couple before. In the area of Canterlot where she lived most of the families were what she had heard many nobles claim as “proper” but she and many of ponies in Equestria had nothing against two ponies of the same gender being in love. But just as it was the first time her seeing a same sex couple it was also her first time seeing one kiss, and two mare in fact. And the fact that she was so close to the scene made her blush.
“Oh for crying out loud will you two get a room!” Chroma finally landed after celebrating her victory over her mother, and after noticing the scene between her parents and a still staring Erina she simply rolled her eyes and butted in.
“Oy! Let your parents have a moment about how we’re getting old and you’re growing up. Otherwise I’m taking back your victory and you’ll still have to do all your chores for the week,” Swift Gale turned to her daughter watching the victorious smirk vanish from her face.
“Hey that’s not fair! You can’t do that I won fair and square!” quicker than Erina could blink Chroma closed the gap between her and her parents, her face inches away from her mother’s.
“I’m the judge I can make any decision i want and my ruling is final,” Swift said as she pulled her daughter in with one arm and proceeded to give her a noogie with the other while Chroma struggled to get out of her grip.
“Now now Swift, that's not very nice. The kid beat me this week so her chores are mine,” Rainbow Dash used her spouse's full name just to give a little more impact with her words.
“Yeah yeah I know but what’s the point of having a foal if you can’t mess with them from time to time, they’re so gullible, “ She said finally letting go of Chroma who wasted no time in zipping away from her iron gripped mother and straight passed Erina. The force of the speed she was going sending Erina into a bit of a spin.
“WHOA WHOA WHOA whoa whoa whoa whoa!” she spun around , everything becoming a blur before she finally started to slow down. And when she finally did she fell over because of the extreme dizziness. When he vision finally stopped moving and everything settled she just stared up at the sky wondering how much weirder this day could get. She had originally thought she had gotten to the craziness cap but once she stepped off the train into Ponyville the cap suddenly shot much higher than she ever thought it could be.
“Oh my gosh are you alright?” a shadow that cast itself over her got her attention and with a quick look she found herself staring into a pair of worrying and comforting blue eyes.
“What? oh yes i am i just…” Erina couldn’t even begin to think of a reason as she got up trying to talk to the worrying mare.
“You’re not hurt are you? I know Chroma, Rainbow Dash, and Swift Gale can be a bit...turbulent when you first meet them but they should be a bit more careful,” The mare apologized for some reason Erina didn’t quite understand. “I’, just glad you don’t have any injuries, that means we won’t need the first aid kit. Isn’t that right Bulk?” Erina watched as a hulking mass of a pony walked over to the mare. She had seen larger ponies in her life but this mass of muscle was in a category all his own.
“I guess you’re right honey,” he said as he set down a first aid kit which in size was more akin to a small medicine cabinet, Erina wondered just how much first aid they usually gave to somepony, but before she could ask she was interrupted.
“Hey mom,hey dad!” Erina ducked slightly as Ember flew over her head landing a few steps in front of her before she wrapped a foreleg around both ponies. The mare moved easily into the hug as her daughter pulled her while the large stallion moved slightly less. Once their hug was over Ember turned around to Erina. “Oh Erina so i see you’ve met my folks. How bout a proper introduction?” she said stepping out of the way. “HEY GAIA ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME YOU BE A PROPER ROYAL HOST AND START GIVING OUT INTRODUCTIONS!” she shouted surprising Erina, who had expected her to introduce her own parents. She turned to see Gaia walking over his head hanging low in exasperation as one eye looked up glaring at Ember.
“You know one of these days Ember…” he started to say but kept his mouth shut when Ember’s mom gave him a look. “fine then, everybody line up and let’s give Erina a proper introduction for who is here,” he called out and everybody whose parent or parents was here grouped up. “Ok first you’ve already met Apple Core’s mom and Element of Honesty, Applejack.” He pointed over to her and both her and Apple Core gave a polite in sync nod.
“Next we have Chroma and her mom's Rainbow Dash and Swift Gale, the speedsters and adrenaline junkies of Ponyville. And before you ask yes, Rainbow Dash was a former lead Wonderbolt and also the Element of Loyalty. And yes, the Swift Gale, former Captain of the Royal Guard,” Gaia said and watched Erina jaw snap shut when he preemptively answered her question. Each of the pegasus struck a bit of a pose trying to look cool as Gaia kept talking. “They probably have a bunch of other things they want me to say that will make them sound more awesome to them but i’ll let them do that some other,” he said side stepping away from them leaving them to react in shock as he stepped up to Ember and her parents. “And lastly for now we have the delightful...and sometimes a pain in the flank, Ember. Along with the literal wall of muscle for a father, Bulk Biceps. And last but not least the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy,” he said and quickly ducked a hoof from Fluttershy aimed at the top of his head.
“It’s very nice to meet all of you. I’ve heard so many stories about you,” Erina gave a little bow which got mixed reactions from some of the ponies.
“Oh I hope the things you’ve heard have been good?” Fluttershy asked causing Erina to think back. She had heard goods things but she had also heard some rather weird things about the Element Bearers. “Ahhh….uhhh,”
“Erina darlin? Don't try to force yourself just be honest, it’ll be better for yourself...also i’ll know if you're lying,” Applejack told Erina when she paused for awhile trying to come up with a response to Fluttershy’s question.
“Um well i mean...it’s kinda mixed. I mean I've been told the stories like everypony else in Equestria but I've also heard some other things.
“Well that’s about par for the course,” Applejack gave a nod as she turned to head off with Apple Core. “Well it was nice meeting you Erina. I appreciate you helping our youngins out with whatever trouble they may get into...or at least trying not to insert yourself in the middle of it for your own safety,” she paused in the middle of her thank you, she nor any of the other parents had asked why she had come back with their kids yet. But she was sure their kids would tell them later. “Well have a nice evening everyone. Me and Core are gonna head back to the farm,” She said before they both turned and headed away from the town. As everyone said goodbye the each gave a solitary wave as they walked their backs facing the group.
“Yeah i think we should start moving. We got more of Ponyville to show Erina. Although it will be awhile before mom gets home though…” Gaia said looking to his sister and Erina before looking to find that Chroma, Swift , and Rainbow Dash had already left, the three of them making a wide multicolored streak across the sky.
“Oh that reminds me Gaia, your dad’s home already from his trip,” Fluttershy got Gaia’s and Erina’s attention with her announcement.
“Dad is home already? Wow that was a quick trip. Must have not had to do much,” Gaia said looking back into the town, a small bit of excitement in his eyes.
“I believe so. Oh by the way since you’re showing Erina around Ponyville, you are going to stop by Sugarcube corner right?” Fluttershy asked her tone becoming a bit more serious.
“Of course we wouldn’t dream of denying Erina of the experience,”
“Oh good i’m sure she’ll love it,” Fluttershy said before Gaia left with what was left of the group. Ember, Bulk, and her waited there watching them leave and once they were out of earshot Ember spoke.
“So what didn’t you tell them mom?” After being raised by her Ember always knew when her mom was purposefully leaving something out. Like the time she didn’t want to make her upset so she left out the part about Santa Hooves not giving naughty foals presents.
“Well let’s say that Dan said he was going to take a nap when he got back and that since he didn’t get a good night sleep that he didn’t want to be disturbed,” Fluttershy told her daughter as Ember handed her dad her saddlebags.
“Wow mom looks like all the time spent with uncle Discord is finally paying off,” Ember laughed knowing that Gaia without knowing it was walking into a trap.
“No one calls my daughter a pain in the flank and gets away with it,” Fluttershy quickly kissed her daughter on the head before they all got up to head towards the cottage. “Now let’s hurry i’m sure Zwei wants to hear all about your first day of high school. you should’ve seen him, for awhile he just sat on the window sill staring out and waiting for you,” Fluttershy talked about her daughter’s pet and all the other animals who surely missed having Ember around.
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“So? What do you think?” Gaia asked Erina as he gestured to what Erina had to assume was his and Hope’s home since he had been talking about it. And for once more today Erina was speechless. What she was looking at was part tree, part crystal, and all of it was huge. She could see what was the original tree, its roots reaching into the ground. And then on various places on the tree crystal sprang out forming new branches and adding onto the trunk and base.
“Well it’s...interesting. How did this happen to a tree?” Erina asked, it being the first question on a rapidly growing list.
“I’m not keen to all the details since it happened before Hop and I were born. But apparently our mom and the other Elements found this tree where the Elements of Harmony first came from and then gave them back and then since apparently since the tree was sentient it gave them different yet kind of the same powers while also tethering part of itself to the tree here causing it to morph, change, and grow over time?” Gaia answered like he was asking another question, more or less hoping his words made sense to Erina. It was true that he didn’t know the full details of how his home had ended up like it did, he had always known it this way since he was a small foal and he never minded it.
“OH ok that makes... sense…” Erina said still sounding just a bit confused.
“You can ask my mom later, and she’ll give you all the details about it. She spent the years after that event scientifically studying every little change.
“Btu as a princess couldn’t she have someone do it for her?”
“She could but as she would put it ‘why let somepony else have all the fun?’,” Gaia told her as he strode up to the door, “You guys stay out here for a bit i’ll go see what dad is up to maybe he’ll come with us to Sugarcube corner, that way you’ll have plenty of time to ask all the questions you have, he’ll be better at answering them than i do,” he said as he opened the door and stepped inside with it closing behind him. Erina sat in silence for awhile watching Flair, G, and Doppler talk while hope checked something in her saddlebags.
“it’s not like he’s trying to avoid giving you a direct answer you know,” Hope said without looking surprising Erina.
“What? I mean...uh,”
“It’s easy to tell from your expressions and how you react,” Erina sat down beside Erina staring up at the house waiting for her brother to return. “Don’t worry i’m not judging you or anything, it’s just something i’ve picked up while watching you two,” Erina didn’t know what to say as the Alicorn kept talking. “Both of us have some of our parents….eccentricities. Most ponies say i have both of my parent’s minds, My mother’s astute scientific appreciative-ness and my father’s unbound imagination. While Gaia has their hearts. He’s not one to leave someone to fend for themselves with their problems unless he fully knows it’s what they want and they won’t hurt themselves while doing it. He just likes to help...although that sometimes puts him in some...situations, if you know what i mean?” she smiled knowing that Erina was probably putting the answer together in her own head.
Erina listened to hope picturing Gaia and all that she had seen him do and what she had heard. But before she could answer Hope a cacophony of noises rang from inside the tree/library/palace. It started in one area and then bounced around, the sounds of crashes, explosions and other things making it sound like a miniature war was going on inside.
“Uh oh, he must have tried to wake Dad up from a nap. Didn’t he know Dad didn’t get a lot of sleep last night? I mean that’s sort of my fault having him help me with the checklist for this morning and all but…” Hope said watching and listening to the commotion.
And once Again before Erina could fully understand and formulate some kind of sentence she heard a crash from above. Looking up she could see the form of a pony that had just crashed through one of the top windows. She saw multiple hooves flail in some kind of attempt before with a solid thud the pony hit the ground.
“Ooh that looked like it hurt,” Erina heard G say as he laughed while walking over to the crumpled still form of Gaia. “Hey Gaia you dead yet? Cause we still have a tour to finish,”
“I’m...fine. Just give me a minute to untangle myself, feel like i got tied up like a pretzel,” Erina could hear Gaia say as he started to move, his limbs slowly untangling themselves.
“It sounds like your father didn’t appreciate whatever you did in there,” Erina said causing Gaia to crane his neck from where he was laying to see her laughing at him in his state.
“Yeah I forgot about his don’t wake while napping rule, although I think he took it easy on me,”
“What makes you say that?” Erina asked wondering.
“A piece of furniture didn’t follow me out the window,” He said watching the surprise on Erina’s face before she burst out laughing.
“You really are just impossible,” she laughed.
“Yeah yeah, tragedy plus timing equals comedy so laugh it up. Anyway I think we’ll come back later to this part of the tour, how about we head to Sugarcube Corner next? i could use a snack after that,” Gaia said as he finally got to his feet and walked away from the library tree palace, none of them noticing when their backs were turned that a magical flame came out through the broken window and pick up the shards of glass before floating them back up and fixing the window as if it was never broken.