//------------------------------// // Heroines in Tears // Story: Two in the Space // by Josh Crapo //------------------------------// June 8, 2159 Two changelings are at the front door, who my mom knows. Wrench and Hut, right? “Hey Air Wiff, I got some news for you.” “Yes, what is it Wrench?” “How’d you like to go to Yakyakistan, bringing Air Vent with you?” “Hut... are you involved with horrible advertising?” “No, for real! We’re going to Halma and you can go if you want.” “Halma? As in the capital? As in where Endy lives?!?” The two nod, causing Air Wiff to cheer. Well, looks like I’m going to meet some yaks for the summer. “Not only that, but Queen Shell is going too.” Suddenly, I fall to the floor. The very changeling I look up to is going. When I look back up, I see one watch on each of the changelings’ left forehoof, and they look like the one I found on the floor in my old home. At Queen Shell’s home, I come up to her throne in excitement. “Is it true? Are you going to Halma?” “Yes, but for the reason you might not expect.” “What do you mean?” Looking at Queen Shell, I can see sadness buried somewhere beyond her calm form. “You’ll see.” Following the queen, I hear a heavy sigh. “Are you sure you want to go to Yakyakistan, Air Wiff?” “Well, I’m ready now.” “Okay. I’ll be sure that Golden Treasure knows you’re coming.” Golden Treasure? That sounds like a pony’s name. This is completely unlike Queen Shell. I’ve seen her as someone who’s tough and comforting through the thick and thin. But now, it’s as if she lost something she could never live without. It’s rather hard to see her like this. Mom turns to me with concern about Queen Shell. “Are you still sure you want to go with me and the others? I’m sure I could get Aura Draft to hang with you if you want. But if you want to still go, I hope you understand that you treat the situation with care.” “I understand. So, when would I expect to see Aura Draft?” “In about an hour.” I nod at Mom, who extends her wing to my back and pulls me in. We hug before she, Wrench, Hut and Queen Shell all leave the home. ----- Who do you want to contact? “Aura Draft.” Au- “Call.” Calling... “Air Wiff?!?” “Aura Draft, where are you?” “Tiholena. What’s going on?” “I’m going to be at Yakyakistan with Wrench, Hut and Queen Shell and I need you to watch over Air Vent.” “Got it. I’ll be there in an hour.” “Thanks.” Air Wiff turns off the video feed on the whitewatch and catches up to the other three. ----- I get back home and find another book out of the shelf for a blast from the recent past. I find a couple of Daring Do books, the Sky Bound trilogy, The Newbie and the Hovercraft Foals series. Then, I jump to a knock on the door. Arriving at the door and pulling the handle to open the door, I see Aura Draft. “Hey Venty.” I wave hello and offer a hoof bump, which Aura Draft accepts. “Say, how long is Air Wiff going to be gone?” “Until tomorrow at least.” “Okay. If you want, I could take you to the grand opening of a new arcade, tomorrow.” I nod to the sound of that. At least it would get my mind off of Mom and Queen Shell. “Did you hear what happened to me?” I ask. “No, what happened?” “I went to the emergency room. All because I found that watch in my old room yesterday.” “Your old room? Wait, did you ask Queen Shell if you could visit your old house?” I nod, heading to the kitchen to get my water bottle. Refilling the bottle, my eyes start to water, thinking of the sunken parts of the floor upstairs, the artwork, the non-windows, the fallen in doors, the complete mess of a first floor. I come back to the living room, drinking my water along the way. “Air Vent, what’s the matter?” “I made a connection of what I did in the past to something i read.” “What’d you read?” “Cobble and Mile.” “Yeah, that was quite a beautiful story. Air Wiff and I read it when we were about your age.” “Really?” “And that dates back to sixty years ago.” My jaw hangs as I blink. How long ago was Cobble and Mile made? I know Daring Do has to be a series that dates back a century and a half, but how old is Cobble and Mile? Then, something comes to mind. “Hey Aura Draft?” “Yes? “Have you ever seen Queen Shell sad before?” “No.” “I did... before I got home. It was worrying Mom but I didn’t know what it was that made Queen Shell feel the way she felt.” “I have no clue. But I could probably give Air Wiff a call.” Who do you want to contact? Did that watch just talk? And what was that sound afterwards? “Air Wiff.” Air- “Call.” Calling... I’m confused now. I did that watch just do? “Hello?” Oh no, not Mom too. “Air Wiff, what’s wrong this time?” “It’s about Endy.” Aura Draft gasps. “You don’t mean?” The call goes on for quite a while longer as I head to my room until I hear noise on the watch. Aura Draft comes to my room. “So, what do you want to do now?” “I have no idea.” “I got some music on my whitewatch if you want to listen to some.” Well, I wouldn’t want to miss this chance.