Ghost from the Machine: Friendship from Nothing

by Drawdex

The Second to Speak — The Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

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“The worst thing about being lonely, is the pain of holding memories to yourself.”

Twilight Sparkle, Unknown.

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̴̟̮̬͕̖̝͇̘̦͘ͅ ̳̥̥̩̠̻͙͕̻̫̳̩̰͇̼̳͖̲̝͠ ̴̪̲̪͍͎͞ ̶̯̘͓̜̱̣͚̭̦̥̙͕͍̀ ̵̛̳̲͈̠̕͠͝ ҉̻̜̥̺̜̤̝̪̱͚͉̗͙̬̥͔ ̩͉͈̠̖̜̯̗̯͇̝̼́ ̴̸̖͙̪̙̯̺̺̺͘͡ ̧̼͕͖̣̺̘̫͕̳̹̝̗͍̞͇̕ͅͅ ̴̼̪̫̭̦͈̻̯̞̲̮̻̼͟ ̶̘̺̭̬̙̩̖͉͇̠̲͎̦̳̘̠̤͔̬͞ ̠̺̦͙͚̩͢ ̢̤͎̝̞̘͉̖̙̰̮̀͝ ̡̡̛̲̗͙͚̝̩͔̮̜̫̳̲̜̺̗͚͍̤̕͡ͅ ͓̗͈̱̱̗̜̹̱̺̤̭̦͎̀ ̧̡̡͎̺̩̮̀̀ ̛͏̵̞͙̳̪͇͙ ̨̩̖͈͓̭̠͓̞̱̮ ̢̡̯̣͔̝̙̗̘̲̬̟͙̲̭̮͙̕͡͞ ̵̡̲̖͈͍̜̣̩̙͔̺̰̗̤͘̕͜ ̷̝̭̜͚̖͖̱̰̻̝̩̹͉̘̀ ̢̥͎͎̪̞͉͇̫̞̹̘̜͙̪̯̖̼̜͙͜ ̢́̕͞҉̲̯̰̳̩̖͇̱͉̰͉͎͔̺̝͓ ̨̲̝̻̟͍͙̀̀͜͡ ̴̢̢̯̼̤͓ͅ ̴҉͜҉̦̻͎͔̮̼̣̻͖̱͚̰̮͇̻͈̦̟ͅ ̸̵̪̗͇͓̱͕̠͓̗̮̲́ ̧̦̜͙͍̀ ̷̸̧҉̻͖̳̼̲̬̣̬̹̣̻̝̹̬͓̗̩ ̢̨̝̠̟͉͔̳̘̙̻͚͍̱͚ ̶͕̮̜̭͇̬̫͍̹̝͙͍͎͉͜ͅ ̷̷̳͇̠̱͚͕̰͉͎̖̻̬ͅͅ ̶̸̛̲͔̹̟̦̩̞̀ ̸̸̨̱̮̱̞͕̜̤͔̩̱̭͟͟ͅ ̧̯͍͇̙́͞ ̸̡͇̮̖̟͖̦̻͔̜̺̀͢͢ ̛͝͏̝̙̖̼͇̯̯̬ ̴̢̣̬͕͈̺͈̪̩̩̻̖̲ ̨̢̡̛̱̜̖͈̣͚͓̳͓̤͕͍̖̤̬̼̮̮ ̶̷̩̘̳̹̭̭͓͈̠̀͘ ͏̸͈͔͍͉̬͇͔͉̠̣̠̫̪͢ͅͅ ̨̟̘̩̗̙̱̖̮̖̺̬̥̗̻͍̖̩͘ ̛͉̰͚͖͇̤̻͇͠ ̴͖̝͚͍̰̰̜̬͓͝͠ͅ ̴̛̯̱̤͎̰̩ ̢̢̛̤̭̪̱̩̝͈̺̫̯͎͉̺̺͎̜̤́͞ ̸̬̤̦̣̳͎͕̠̥͢͞ ̶̴̧̱͖͖̠̠̺͖̙́͘ ̷̠̩̪̫̲̟̫̫̘̬͕͕̖͍̯̙̯͡͠ͅ ̳̩̤̗͚̬̱̗̠̳́͟ ̧̫̞̯̳̮̰̻̗̜̙̙͈͎̭̤͡ ̞̻̲̪̕ ̶̷̢̛͙̞̼͕̣͚̜ ̧̛̮̳̘̩̼̬̲̬͖̭̰̤̯̠̘̦̙͜͜͟ͅ ̻̜̼͈̝͍̦̻͓̩̕͟͞ ̷̡̛̗̗̤̙̖͔̩̦͓̟̼̞͙͙̦̥͘ͅ ͏̨͙̯̫ ̶̛̫̣͕̞͎̻̪̫̹͙͔̻̘̝̺͖̀͢ ̡̨̛҉͉̫̥͍̟̞̖̻̫͚̬̣̳̻̳͔ ̸̖͍̟̩͍͕̥̜͙̱͎̹̮̮̼͎̺̺̭͟͢͠ ̨̥̰̞̯̻̘͠ ̷̡͇͍̱̩̭̼͓̖͚͕̦̼͖̹̤͎̙ͅͅ ̟̖̦̲̤̬̗̗̮̱̠͖͇̻͍̳͙͚̀͢͞ ̸̨͉̺̲̥̥̦̙̣̘̙̣͈̙̞̺͖̰̰̘́͡͞ ̧̨̰̠̜̹͕̙̹͖̪͕ͅ ̸̱̫̭̠̻̳̭͕͍̖̟̱̰̲̖̗̱͞͡ ̸̧̢҉͕̠̻̖̥̮̼̣̺͎̝̭ͅ ͉̠̦͔̟͇͓͕͖̙̕͜ ͏̶̸͍͉̬̠̭̜̝͍̲̹͇̣ ̳̙̙̰̮̰̗̦̠̯̫͈̠́̕͡ ̷̢̨̞̻̭̀͜ ̵̡̨͙͎͕̭͙͎̖̰̪̣͖̜͕̻̬͙̀͡ ̶̧̙͙̯͕̭͕̝̭̲̫̀̕ͅ ̶̢͇̼̤̘̫͕̜͍͔͍̭̹̱͟͡ ͢҉̡̻̲̺͍̟̻̤͎̦͉͞ͅͅ ҉̵͜҉̶̜̘̘͙͇͖͎̼̞̘ ̴̴͇͈̗͢ ̨̢̡̛̱̜̖͈̣͚͓̳͓̤͕͍̖̤̬̼̮̮ ̶̷̩̘̳̹̭̭͓͈̠̀͘ ͏̸͈͔͍͉̬͇͔͉̠̣̠̫̪͢ͅͅ ̢́̕͞҉̲̯̰̳̩̖͇̱͉̰͉͎͔̺̝͓ ̨̲̝̻̟͍͙̀̀͜͡ ̴̢̢̯̼̤͓ͅ ̴҉͜҉̦̻͎͔̮̼̣̻͖̱͚̰̮͇̻͈̦̟ͅ ̸̵̪̗͇͓̱͕̠͓̗̮̲́ ̧̦̜͙͍̀ ̷̸̧҉̻͖̳̼̲̬̣̬̹̣̻̝̹̬͓̗̩ ̢̨̝̠̟͉͔̳̘̙̻͚͍̱͚ ̶͕̮̜̭͇̬̫͍̹̝͙͍͎͉͜ͅ ̷̷̳͇̠̱͚͕̰͉͎̖̻̬ͅͅ ̶̸̛̲͔̹̟̦̩̞̀ ̸̸̨̱̮̱̞͕̜̤͔̩̱̭͟͟ͅ ̧̯͍͇̙́͞ ̸̡͇̮̖̟͖̦̻͔̜̺̀͢͢ ̛͝͏̝̙̖̼͇̯̯̬ ̴̢̣̬͕͈̺͈̪̩̩̻̖̲ ̨̢̡̛̱̜̖͈̣͚͓̳͓̤͕͍̖̤̬̼̮̮ ̶̷̩̘̳̹̭̭͓͈̠̀͘ ͏̸͈͔͍͉̬͇͔͉̠̣̠̫̪͢ͅͅ ̨̟̘̩̗̙̱̖̮̖̺̬̥̗̻͍̖̩͘ ̛͉̰͚͖͇̤̻͇͠ ̡͖̹͉͈͈͠͠ ̵̶̛҉̤̟̜͕̹̣̭̙͟ͅͅ ̸̜̜̟̭̳̠̼̭̙͇͟͟ͅ ̶͜͏̡̥̣̣͇̖̱͈͓̪̝̳̩͖͓̮̦̖͖͠ ͘͏̢͎̝̠̝̖͎̥̹̰͙͔͕̤̦̮͈̩̬̲́ ҉̧͉͖͚̖͍͇̭̠͇͢ ҉̢̱̰̹͎̺͔͕̼͖̪̼̰͙͙͟ͅͅ ҉̧̣̠̗̹̫̘͎͙ͅ ̛҉͙̦̥̳̥̻̳̞̯̱̳̬ ̀͢҉̪͕̮͔͝ ̖̳̲̼͇̬̭͕̭͟͠ͅͅͅ ̢̘̪̜̣̤̩̱̖͈̗̝̟̟͝ ̷̢͍͔̝̫̘̫̪͇͇̫͝ ͏̨̣̘̬̯̪̮͖͜ ̧̢̢͔͍̳̗̩͎͓̜͓̦̯̹͎̠͔̘̫͢ ̧͖̦̮̤̹͇͖͈̟̯̣̗̪̭͚̣͕͖ ̸͏̮̞̗͇̻̰͙̳͞ ͈̪̳͖̻̖͍͇̠̼̯̩̝̱̣̣́ ̨͢͡҉̣̤͉͈̫̘̘͍̮̱̩̭͠ ͏̢̠̟̼͔͖̼̝̤͈̻̖͕̮ͅ ̸̪̹̩̺̟͔͓̪̲̥̦̥̥̹̬̹́ ̧̛̠̻̝̼̥̺͈͍͔̞̤͓͕̟̜̫̞̝͢͟ͅ ̜̠̥͖̺͓̞͚̞́͠ ̢̲͇̞̱͍͙͇̜̤̜̟̟͍̪̦̩͔͘ͅͅ ̵̙̙͖̪͓̩͈̥͓̳̱̮̫̻̤̥́͝ͅ ͙͔̜̰̱̀͢ ̷͉̣̲̯̳̰̺̭̼̘͇͜͡͞ͅ ͠҉̷͔̣̹͍̞̯̥̭ ̸̕͏͎̘͚̪͔̙͎̳̖͔͔̮̲͙̮̯̥̗̕ ̸̘̭̥̺͎̰͎̤͙̗̣̘͈͚͉͇̠̻͜͞ͅ ͏̴̶̖̼̦̞̟͚̘̯̬̮͡ ̡̝̻̥͎̤̯̪͓̲̯̠́͜͢ ̧̧̨̞̼̲̹̭̼̜̠͓̩̞̲͉̗́͟ ̸̧҉͈̲̩̞̝̭͕̹̳͙̰̥̗͔͍͖ ̡̲̠̰͙̙̺̠͈̱̜̝͕̘̹͟ ̷̭̬͎̪̫̼̻̬͎̹̮͢͡͞ ͏̸̞̣̥̣̞̠̰̀͡ ̵̡̦͉̬̜̟̣̬̖̘͓̖̰̫̲̦ ̵̟̖͍͓̫̥̙̣͇̘̰̲͎͇̪͚̤̖̪ ̨҉̤͙̲ ̸̢̯̟͎̟̫̲̼̞͈͕̫̗̩ͅ ҉͠͏̶͇̘̟̫͠ ̷̷͍̩̲̹͖͙ ̢̧̣̠͚̤̹͕̮̳͔̯̘̩̟͠ ̡̤͚̘̻͙̣̺͈̠͙͇̯̞̬̪̺̮͘͠

Has anyone in the room ever been in love? Terrible feeling isn’t it? I despise love myself. It makes you so fragile, so easy to be tricked; played with. It opens your essence and by that alone you should know that special someone can mess you up inside out. You learn in life how to harden your fur, keep words like water to rock, just no pain from anyone. But then all it takes it one bonehead, no different that all others you have met, just pops into your life like nothing… And without a second guess, you offer them a part of you. He didn’t ask for it. He just did something weird that day... give you hope, a smile, and then your life is not yours to control. Not anymore…

Love is a foulnapper, and it has no mercy. Eats your hopes and makes them worthless, just crying out for something more, just its light touch. But it only takes one phrase, one gesture of strangeness to your petition. One glance looking at you in confusion and fear as to what you had even suggested. But then you brush it off, a joke you call it, you do those all the time. He may feel something different this time, but if you’re good enough, he will never even tell.

It hurts… so bad… Not just the idea that it can’t happen, but the clue that not even he wants it to begin with. It just makes life not worth anymore. It turns you to the shreds you knew you would become if you ever spoke of this to even your family.

I despise love...

Sorry, I got carried out there, anything on your minds? Another story perhaps?

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Yes... and no, not going to talk about it and I don't need to talk about it.

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True...

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Sure, each one swells details into it like puzzles. Telling a story we already know is no fun. And by all that is good, we need show biz here. And it wouldn't hurt if you ignored my jabbering, I was just thinking of the past. Ignore me.

So... where to start? Maybe from when I got… no, even before that. A happy day. I was happy at least, haven’t discovered how life works yet, ironically something I had been trying to do for some time. The day was actually set in motion by a visit from a friend of mine... alright, don’t get any ideas, it has nothing to do with my babbling, okay? But for anywho, I knew something was going to happened when the day started a little rougher than normal.

̃̏̽ͣ̋̿̂ͤͥ̏̋̋͌͑ͫ͊͘҉͜ ͛̃̉ͣ͟ ̷̉ͩ͒̅̑ͯ͜͞ ̶̡̈́ͮ̌̔̓͌ͥ̉̂̌ͣ͆̽̓͂ͧͯ̀́ ̶ͬ̎̄͐̏͒͑̀̈́̀͊͂̂͌̇̒ͦ͊̋ ̉́̎̑ͧ̑̎͏̛ ̶͆́̈́̾̊ͥͬ̓̒̚̚ ̴̸̡̂͆̔ͮ̏̿̈́̊̇̆̐͒͗ͦ ̧̋̓̾͌̿̒͠ ̶̧̊̉ͤ̆͗̈̂̑̍̎̀̏ͦ ̶ͤͮͧͭ̾ͥ̑̾͋̈́ͯ̀̉͐ͮ̑ͪ̋͡ ̌͐̅̆͆̆̇ͬͫ̾ͪ̚̕͜͏̀́ ̨̃ͩ̈́͑̐ ̨̨̛̄̒̈́̎́̄̓ͭ͞ ̨͛ͤ͌͟͡͏͡ ̵ͨ́͆ͬ͐̽̊̈́͂ͯͭ̽͛̚͏ ̷̷̃̊̒͊̑̾ ̈́̅̃͌͠͠͏ ̴ͯͫͭͫ̄̇ͣ͊ͤ̆̓̆̈́̆̋̈̔̀̚ ͑ͣ̚̚҉҉ ̨̃̓̈́ͬ͂̽̉͆͊̀̒̓ͯ̚͘͡͞ ̶̵͆̎ͯ͐̈́́̃͂̈́̀̕ ̛̉ͪ̾ͮ̚͢͝͞ ̷ͣ̾͋ͥ̓̆͆͗̈́̅҉ ̢̀ͯ̌ͬ͌̄̈̏ͫ̍ͬ̒̇ͭ͟͞͝ ̴̵̨̨͐ͫͫͣͣͦ̿̽̓̽̊ͯͩ͊͋ͨͭ̕ ̴̶̶̏͂ͯ͐ͪ̕̕ ̶̢̄́͆͒̿ͯ͌͑̚͞ ͐̆ͦ̉ͣ̇͗́͂̉͛͊҉̕͠ ͐̈ͨ̋ͬ̔͂ͩͧ͗ͧ́͘͟ ̷͋ͯ͛ͣ̓͌ ̿͆ͣͭ͗̃̋͒͒͂ͨ͑̊ͪͭͫ̚͏̡͘͜͠ ̷̛̂̇͗̀̌͐̈́ͯͪͧ̅ͤͧ̽̽̀͐̐͘͝͡ ̵̶̨̛ͪ͋ͤ̆̐ ̋̍͗ͥ̈́͗ͨ̊̊͂̔̋ͦ͐̇̏̋̈́͜҉̧ ̇ͦ̄̏ͣ̃̌̑̈́ͫͣ́ͥ͑ͬ̊͜͠҉͜ ̑̆̔͝͠ ̶̢̧̨ͫͬ̓̃̌͑͂̄̑ͧ͛̚ ͐̆ͦ̉ͣ̇͗́͂̉͛͊҉̕͠ ͐̈ͨ̋ͬ̔͂ͩͧ͗ͧ́͘͟ ̷͋ͯ͛ͣ̓͌ ̿͆ͣͭ͗̃̋͒͒͂ͨ͑̊ͪͭͫ̚͏̡͘͜͠ ̷̛̂̇͗̀̌͐̈́ͯͪͧ̅ͤͧ̽̽̀͐̐͘͝͡ ̵̶̨̛ͪ͋ͤ̆̐ ̋̍͗ͥ̈́͗ͨ̊̊͂̔̋ͦ͐̇̏̋̈́͜҉̧ ̇ͦ̄̏ͣ̃̌̑̈́ͫͣ́ͥ͑ͬ̊͜͠҉͜ ̑̆̔͝͠ ̶̢̧̨ͫͬ̓̃̌͑͂̄̑ͧ͛̚ ̶̌ͦͪ̆́̏̋̌̈́ͤ̍ͫͬ̐ͦͪ̇͟ ̋̇͒ͫͪͩ͂͊ͬ͏҉ ̎̓̊̔ͥͫ̄̋̂̄͂ͥ́ͣ̈̿ͧ͋ͦ̕͜͞ ͂ͯͫ̍̿͆̍̎͂̈́̒̅͛ͥͫ͛̚͏̴ ̧̓̅̊͋̋̅̇̎ͦ͢͞͞ ̶̐ͨ̒ͭ͠ ̧̛̍̈́̓̌̀ͫ̒ͨ̐̀̀͝ ̸̔͆̀̆ͥ́̀͒ͬ͑ͫ͌̉ͮ͞͏̸͞ ̴̇̂̽̑ͦ̇ͥ̆ͩ͟ ̛̈̊ͤ̔ͮ̒ͮ̑ͧ͊̍͒ͧ̾͗̓̕͟͜ ̏ͨ̆̓̆̔̍ͬ́͜ ͤ̑̍͐ͬ̍́̃̄͒̑̇̚҉̷̕ ̨ͤ̋̈́ͩ̔̄ͧ̌̃̊̒̓ͭ͌̂͋̚ ̧̧ͥ̀ͦ͐̎̇ͬ͑ͦͩ͗͊̄ͬͤ͛̚҉̨͡ ̢̧̌̋̄ͦ̑͌͑̓͛ͫ͒́̚͡͝ ̴̉̉ͧ̈͗̏ͣ̎̈ͣ̆̾҉̨͡ ̷̷̸̇͑̃̓̋͒̋͋ͨ͢͞ ̨̊̅͂̇ͦ͘ ̵̶̂̂̈́̌ͬͬ̿ͥ̓̾̎ͯ̅͢ ̛̔ͫ̔̽̿̀͟͞ ͪͮ̍̔̅͒͌̌ͯ͂ͪͤͩ̈̈̏̚͢͠ ͒̀ͦͣ̿̋̂̽̔̊ͧ̏̆̌ͪ̚҉̴̛͠ ̿͋̃̿̀̂̑ͧ̾̓͒͐͗̎́̑͋̾͋́͜ ̛͌̂ͤ͠ ̅̿̀ͪ̆̒̒̿͆͛̍̎͆ͤ̏̃҉̶͝ ̵̢̢ͮͫ͑̋̍ͮ͐ͬ̅̾̌̊̔̍ͥ̒́ ̴̵̧ͥ̑̈́̿ͯ̑̈ͪ̾ͩ͑̂͂̆̓̌́̾́́ ̧ͣ̾̀͋̀ͮ́̂̄̎ͩ̆̓ͭ͘͜͜ ͧ̃̆́ͭ̋̔͊̽̏̇҉҉̢ ̴̉͂ͣ͂ͦ͠҉ ͫ̒̑̉̏͊́́͜͠ ͩͪͮͭ̆̐̂̓̄̄ͩ̎̓͂ͨ̐̊̓͂҉҉̛͝ ̋̾̓̒̓́͢͜͞ ͋̇̔ͫͯ̄͂̒̅͂̏͘͢ ̸̊̏ͤ̆̒ͥ͊̉̌̒͂͊̆̎̓̐ͪ̚͞ ̶̷̨̂ͮ͗ͦ̾̔͂͋ͨ͢ ̂̄̄̈́ͫ̉ͦ̾̽ͨ̈̉́ͩ͆͛͞͝͡ ̡́ͬ̀̊̍̏̓͗͌̾̈́ͫͫ̀̈̀́͏͝ ͆ͮ̇̄͌͛̉̋̐̀̍́̚̕ ̴̾ͭ̅̌ͯͥͨ͊̏ͧ̓͋̿́ͣ̿̽͌̕͢͠͠ ̶̨̎ͪ̓ͧͩ̿̄ͨͨͮ̃ͦ̐̌ͧ̈̉ ̌̆̑͂́ͪͤ̚͢͞ ̎̉̑ͩ͊ͬ҉̡̕͘͡ ̷̧͆̾̄̈͢ ̸̵͌͆͊̈̌͌̓ͩ̀̉ ̵̶̂̂̈́̌ͬͬ̿ͥ̓̾̎ͯ̅͢ ̛̔ͫ̔̽̿̀͟͞ ͪͮ̍̔̅͒͌̌ͯ͂ͪͤͩ̈̈̏̚͢͠ ͒̀ͦͣ̿̋̂̽̔̊ͧ̏̆̌ͪ̚҉̴̛͠ ̿͋̃̿̀̂̑ͧ̾̓͒͐͗̎́̑͋̾͋́͜ ̛͌̂ͤ͠ ̅̿̀ͪ̆̒̒̿͆͛̍̎͆ͤ̏̃҉̶͝ ̵̢̢ͮͫ͑̋̍ͮ͐ͬ̅̾̌̊̔̍ͥ̒́ ̴̵̧ͥ̑̈́̿ͯ̑̈ͪ̾ͩ͑̂͂̆̓̌́̾́́ ̧ͣ̾̀͋̀ͮ́̂̄̎ͩ̆̓ͭ͘͜͜ ͧ̃̆́ͭ̋̔͊̽̏̇҉҉̢ ̴̉͂ͣ͂ͦ͠҉ ͫ̒̑̉̏͊́́͜͠ ͩͪͮͭ̆̐̂̓̄̄ͩ̎̓͂ͨ̐̊̓͂҉҉̛͝ ̋̾̓̒̓́͢͜͞ ͋̇̔ͫͯ̄͂̒̅͂̏͘͢ ̸̊̏ͤ̆̒ͥ͊̉̌̒͂͊̆̎̓̐ͪ̚͞ ̶̷̨̂ͮ͗ͦ̾̔͂͋ͨ͢ ̂̄̄̈́ͫ̉ͦ̾̽ͨ̈̉́ͩ͆͛͞͝͡ ̡́ͬ̀̊̍̏̓͗͌̾̈́ͫͫ̀̈̀́͏͝ ͆ͮ̇̄͌͛̉̋̐̀̍́̚̕ ̴̾ͭ̅̌ͯͥͨ͊̏ͧ̓͋̿́ͣ̿̽͌̕͢͠͠ ̶̨̎ͪ̓ͧͩ̿̄ͨͨͮ̃ͦ̐̌ͧ̈̉ ̌̆̑͂́ͪͤ̚͢͞ ̎̉̑ͩ͊ͬ҉̡̕͘͡ ̷̧͆̾̄̈͢ ̸̵͌͆͊̈̌͌̓ͩ̀̉ ̛̍̈ͪ͒̓̓ͣ͑͒͑̇ͣ̈ͮ̒͠ ͥ̐̇̓ͩ̓́̀́̕ ͊̿ͬ̕ ̵̵̢ͭ͛̋ͪ́̐͛҉͝ ̵̿̓̇ͪͦ͆̽͆̿ͨͥ́́͛̇ͨ̈́ ̸͆̀ͮ̐ͬ̈̂͛̅ͥ̎̚̚̕͜ ̶ͫ̅̉̋ͧ͐ͦ͗̈ͩ̾ͯ̐͋̌́̐́̕͞ ̸́̔̒̐͗ͬ̓́͝ ̧̨ͤͧ̎̎͋͂ͬ̅̚͡ ̢̧̈̋ͤ͘͜ ̶ͭͦ̋̈́̿̋̔͊̓̚͠ ̏̃ͥͧ̀̀̄̾͌̿̌ͧ̈́ͮ̄ͥͥ̉͘͝ ͨͨ̐̅͘͘̕͞͡ ̶̨ͨͯ̀̈̋̍̈̉̍̊̓ͭ͝ ͋̄̈́ͣͨͮͨ̃̒ͫ̿̂͊҉̶̕͝ ̡̨̡͛̆̒͆͗̽͞ ̴̨͒͐ͫͦ̽̀ͤ̌ ̴͊̀̐͊̀͡ ̧̆̀ͪͯ̒͑̽ͭͦ͂͑ͥ͘͟͏̢ ̾̐ͯ̓̓͊͛͂ͫ̑͌҉ ̴͌̐̆͑͘͢͝ ̵̶̧̃͆͛̔͑ͬ̓̂ͨ͜ ̓ͥͤ͋̀͘͜ ̓́̈́̇ͩ̐ͫ̍̉ͣ̇̾̇͋ͨ̍̕͏̨͞ ̴̿̂̎̋ͩͩ͊̄̾̆̄ͧ̆͗̓͗̓ͭ̀ ̌̔ͩ̑̿ͤ́̀͞͝ ̴̶̆̄͐ͧͦ͊̄ͦ͆͛̒ͤ̃͗͢͝

---

“WAKE UP!” A loud screech resounded through my ears like a bat in a cave, then I felt something soft stike my head in an unusually strong fluffy matter.

“Hhgggrrr…” I groaned in denial and excesive need to sleep, the sun trying to look me in the eyes, I gave it no such pleasure.

The day was cold, as usual, and as most days for me they were always brought by an irritating voice and a soft blow to the head. But it didn’t bother me more than your average Kim, the feeling of everything under silk blanket being warm against everything cold outside was cuddling-pillow worthy. My room was always cold in the morning, the grass on the floor is not exactly a frost distributer. Wooden roof and walls didn't help either, just understand that the inside of a trees are always freezing unless you have magic or something more advanced. At least the windows were uncovered from the dried wheat curtines which allowed the sun to heat the bedroom.

And that's how I like it. But wake up a little later wouldn't have been bad.

“Are you ever going to wake up by yourself?” I gave a sigh as my cousin asked for what I thought was the thousandth time. Every single morning she woke me up, the same question came out of her beak, and it was getting into my nerves. A little variety wouldn’t hurt anygriffin.

“How… late is it?” I asked, but my voice left me as my best friend, "the warm bed," called me to join him in slumber, I happily complied, only to be whipped out of the mood again with that condemned pillow.

“Hey! No sleeping. Ma was going to lure you on after-dawn, you know? With soup or books? But your friend arrived so pick your sorry excuse of a firm flank off the bed.” She said confidently with emphasis on "friend," and at the end with a hint of, irritation? I don’t remember. I felt the pillow go back to the top of my head, forcing me to respond.

“That… wasn’t my query...” I said weakly and with a hint of drama, not even bothering to struggle. My fluffy enemy gave no mercy as it smacked me repeatedly until my eyes were forced to be opened.

“Oh, right, it’s about half dawn.” She answered honestly embarrassed and— aha! She did have a hint of irritation. Not stopping her pillow onslaught though I groaned in the loss of my sleep, raising from my comortable sleeping stubor to an uncomfortable position, hitting hard into the cold morning air with a well deserved puff of feathers and silk to the face.

“Are… they all in the kitchen?” I asked as soon as the piillow felt me speak. Rubbing my eyes with the leaves of my bed, the fluff on those things were really itchy.

“Well, Torqued was sent on his way to learning, so it’s only you, me, Aunt, Dad and your Copper.” She said rather loudly, there was something in that sentence bothered me, obligating me to stop attempting to sleep. And before I could say anything she continued. “And yes, they’re on the table.”

I nodded at that. Reaching then for my nickeled clothes and cap from the side the alluring Orion leaf-bed, I direct myself to the family bathing room. On my way an unusual aglomeration of feathers laid in front of Spear's bedroom door, at the end of the hall. Molting was the word that hopped happily into my mind as I recalled biology, and geez did I love those times of all day group readings. With only two readers. No wonder she acted as if her feathers were ruffled. These type of effects reminded me why I was thankful of not having wings myself.

Without missing a peep I forced myself to place my nickeled cap in the bathing-room door knob and entered assured that anyone trying to enter could see I was there, again. It gets annoying to forget the simple, and remember the not even close subjects. But at the time I was getting better at keeping things in mind.

The waking up bathing routine was basically burned into my core: Go to bathroom, make sure the water is warm, put clothes near edge of stream, wash coat in stream until its natural sky blue colour is visible, leave stream, find brush, comb fur, try to clear any wild locks attempt to make home in tail, and finally dump head inside stream several times before using the comb against my brown mane. The last being the hardest part.

With myself fully awake and in the longest step of my routine, I got a few head free minutes to think about Copper in my home, especially now so early at dawn. Something was bugging me, I didn’t know what at the time.

But of course my thoughts always ended up in why he was here, our project was halted by the queen herself. So, ‘what is he here for?’ And that was the only question I could think of, the possibilities of the answer alone gave me more will to finish my mane faster.

With my mane combed I made my way to my clean clothes near the door, it’s hard to dress with no help, talons make things much easier, but I don’t take long before exiting and taking my cap from the doorknob I head to the now very vivid kitchen with expectation written all over my face. And once I entered, a familiar scene greeted me.

At the table was the group I loved most and knew best: my best friend Copper, Uncle or Uncle Lance, whichever he felt like, Ma and little cousin Spear. They all had a serious case of bad feathers surely from Spear’s recent molting. Copper looked fine though, —brown feathers, brown fur, brown wings— with a brown background he could hide for days without losing. I really disliked playing hide and seek with him when smaller. But even old memories didn’t stop me from glancing at his side, still with a piece of fur growing anew.

The kitchen, like my room, was grassy all around and with walls of the inside of a tree, but this particular room was connected to the living room, the front door and the back exit. We used river rocks, the ones that are smooth, to blockade the doors in case water decides to make a visit. The sink, made out of marble and with a small stream that continued to flow without end, had left over plates, only one, surely my mother's.

I deduced Copper was speaking to everyone in his usual fashion: very hard moral, philosophical and psychological debates that would make anyone listening uncomfortable, except for me of course. My uncle was proving my hypothesis with his very wide polite nervous smile as he tried to find anything or anyone to finish the conversation.

And of course, that was me.

“Oh, there she is!” My uncle said upon seeing me, rapidly patting the spot next to him, between him and Copper. Everyone else in the room had noticed me by now.

“Ya' just can’t stop looking cute, can ya’ Clear?” Copper commented the moment I arrived to my Uncle's side, the side that made him sigh in disappointment as he was still next to Copper. I rolled my eyes on his words, but the smile on my face only grew bigger.

“Good to see you too, Copper.” I reply with a slick smile as my Ma placed a pre-dawn meal ready to eat on my presence, the usual fruit, and meat to the side, I muttered a thanks. Couldn't escape getting my mane corrected with one pass of her talon, like always, I said nothing from how tiresome was fighting about it. “So what has happened that you couldn’t wait till after-dawn to tell me?”

“I’ll tell ya’ after ya’ eat a little, I don’t want to make ya’ lose a meal, do I?”

I give him a look, but I nodded anyway. We all sat with our respective things to do, Copper and Lance continued their discussion, to my uncle’s dismay, and my Ma already finished eating so she was now re-checking Spear’s feathers for the ones that needed to be taken off, to Spear’s embarrassment. And I was silently eating and hoping once I was done I would get my answer right away.

Ma had other things in mind.

“Honey-bear,” My Ma started still on my cousin’s feathers, making me lose my train of thought as I glanced at her, “do you remember the times you were on those exploration missions with Copper?”

“Yes?” I answered questionably, Copper raised his sight at the sound of his name making my uncle sigh. I already told her everything about those trips, especially the last, the good and the bad. Well... not everything, I don’t think anyone would tell everything to their mothers. I was truthfully curious of what she could want to know now.

“That one mission which took a long time to complete—” ’Oh not this again,’ I thought, frustration clear on my face. No pun intended. The subject was very touchy as my uncle’s and cousin's breathing changed tone subtly to a nervious one. They know the kind of throat me and my mother can use to express our destain for the way I do secrecy, and she to discover it. Thankfully, Copper took this one for me.

“Sorry, Icy Trident, ma’am, but ya’ know we can’t talk about that kind of—”

“I know what can and can’t be said dear, now let me finish.” My Ma interrupted back with an "I know more than you child" kind of look. Copper slowly closed his beak and my Ma continued. “I was going to ask now that you’re both here, because Cristal here is not very good at sharing, what did you two see in your way there? Did you go site seeing, shopping?” I was confused at her claim at first, but then the suspicious pause made my eyes narrow a little in thought as I gazed at her. And then she drifted her eyes to look at me. “Talked?”

And, then I remembered why I didn’t like to have Copper home, and if Spears's snickering was any guess she did as well. 'Just like old times, huh Ma?' But as usual, Copper was oblivious.

“Well, we can’t say much about what we saw when we got there, Cristal being all shutty with it has its reasons, but we had our books, but it didn't distract us from watching imposing mountains, rivers and one of those so called trainees, the ones that go on an iron and wood road? Yeah, those. We chatted a lot about everything we were going to do when we came back home, didn’t we, Clear?”

“Yes, yes we did.” I answered Copper, but I wasn't looking in his direction, I was glaring hard at my lovely mother with a gaze ripping to her the phrase. "Knock. It. Off", she returned with a sneer and with an innocent, ‘what?’

“And what did you two talk about? It’s hard to find a discussion between such a young male griffin as yourself and a mare like Cristal, am I right Copper?” She said inoffensively, the intention was obvious in her face. Her smile widened as my nose huffed to emphasize how disagreeable her actions were.

“Oh, not hard really, ya’ already know we’ve known each other for years, Miss Trident.” Garrison answered truthfully, and I needed to put an end to it. Even my uncle gathered wind of what was going on as his face twisted from confusion to a knowing deadpan. “We talked about different things that are taboo mostly, they were the most interesting, at least the only type of books we had were selective on their subjects, Cristal felt bad about it, but it was an interesting talk. She really liked them. The kind of meat sold at the pubs here, the stereotypes of species, about interspecies relatio—“

“Wasn’t it important what you needed to tell me, Copper?” I said quickly, trying to avert the situation with a face so red it might be confused with a cherry. My dearest mother must have been having a cheer attack ready with that smile only a mother could give, my cousin and uncle were too into giggles and talon face scratching respectably to say anything.

“Oh right!” Exclaimed Copper, I looked at my mother, with a glance of ‘Don’t. Speak. A. Sentence.’ She responded with one that said ‘this isn’t over’ emphasizing with her talon at me and a smile, Copper didn’t perceive our exchange, or saw it as normal, I really didn't know what he knew.

“I came to tell ya’ you’re finally going to get the interview.” Copper said happily. Everyone in the room responded with curious looks, me with confusion and my colour got somewhat back to normal.

“Interview?” I asked.

“Interview.” Copper confirmed cryptically.

“Copper, I don’t get what you mean, what interview?”

“The one that will give ya’ answers.” He finished with a wide grin.

Now, I’m not a slow mare, quite the contrary in fact, but I could confirm to anyone who asked, it took me an absurd while to decipher what Copper meant. But when I did, I couldn’t contain myself.

I gave the most feminine girlish squeal I have ever done in my entire life, ran towards a surprised Copper, which dictaded that I hop on top of the table to reach the other side, and using my fore-hooves I hugged his existence to the point it was not even funny, not caring for the stumbled table or my cousin’s ruined feathers. Spinning with the speed of a whirlwind, squealing all the way, I was the happiest mare in town, which is easy being the only pony in town. And I would do it again if I had the chance.

I didn't give him time to react, releasing my captive I galloped to my room as fast as I could, muttering the words "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh," over and over again. At the moment of entering I slipped and crashed under my Orion leaf-bed to find one thing and one thing only.

Searching between all my reports, research and Equestrian-Griffin history books, I found it. Concealed in a small red case of clear distinction, dust all over.

I took a deep breath, silently in suspense. There were many bugs that simply loved paper in these parts, and I have neglected it all the time I had returned back home. Or it could be covered in dust. What did I know?

I carefully opened the small chest, the amount of dust greeted me was luckily small. I made sure it wasn't deteriorated or worse, by raising the huge amount of scroll paper pieces clapped together by small nails and wiped the front page with a hoof, making sure the title was still readable, as well as the signatures. Well, it did have a few marks of decay and some dust molded with the paper, but it was still readable, and that was enough.

I felt a talon reach my mane, now I became aware of my lacking cap that must've left me in some point in between my squealing, I looked up to see Copper with a cheesy smile, his head feathers were a little rattled. I smiled back embarrassed, and like always, it did that strange squeeing noise. I've grown acostumed to it.

“Not so fast Clear,” Copper said voice going grim with his smile going a little sad, I didn’t like it, and at the moment I think I knew why he had it, “there's more to it, come I got to explain everything as we go to the library."

He reached for a couple of the books I took out and looked at me in the eye as he continued, “Bring all the forbidden ones, and we also need to talk to Ashley and tell her the good news.”

“Yeah,” I said ears touching the sides of my head, “do you think she’s mad by not visiting her for so long?”

“Oh, certainly! She must be furious! I mean, mad as a Cassowary!” Copper said lightheartedly and ending with his distinctive chuckling matter. It didn’t help my worries.

With important books on his back and a mission on his mind Garrison gave a nod and left through the still opened wooden door. Leaving me to hold everything I thought important and think of what he had said.

This was what I had wished for a long time, and I would finally get it, even if it will be controlled for reasons I was not being told, I finally got it. I smile involuntarily as all the questions come back into my mind. So much to consider, so little time.

An opportunity to speak with the oldest creatures known to the land of Equestria, doesn’t come every day.

“Clear, are ya’ coming or not?” I overheard Copper's voice coming from the kitchen.

“Calm down I’m coming!” Making sure I was carrying the document with a holder covering it from my teeth, I deduced I would need another bag to carry them all, so I made my way through the hall to the kitchen to find said item. Just before leaving I added the tests I was making and the corrected reports on the collection, if I was to come out I was not going to do it more than once. At the kitchen Copper was packing the books he took in his bag, until he saw the papers on my mouth.

“What’s that?” He asked, I didn’t have to answer, not that I could. I left the document gently on the messy table as the things I brought to the grass floor. They needed organizing to be transported easily. Only after a glance of sorry on my part did my family look at the papers on the table.

“Haven’t seen you take that thing out ever since you brought it.” My Ma said as she looked at the only obviously weird print in the document, and maybe the most noticeable. I smiled as I search with gusto for a nickeled bag I was sure I had placed somewhere under the back exit rocks, I always lost those when I search late at night for a quick meal since I work late.

The paper was of high quality, a paper for royal documents or treaties, not griffin made, which was unique on itself. A hoof was printed in ink at the down right side, next to a talon. But the last one printed in ink was the real eye puller.

The third imprint, a unique print, has never been seen before in the land. It was basically a square with four thin branches on top and a bad branch at its right side. So full of detail as if it was drawn by thousands of quills at a time; lines making curves like waves of an ocean especially in the tips of each digit in which they swirl into impossible angles to make one solid body of ink. If it wasn’t for the splash of black which toned its exterior, it would be thought to be art made after hours of skilled attempts. I remember what Ashley called it.

A handprint.

“Got it!” I exclaimed finding a nickeled bag and swiftly entering everything on the floor onto it. With another happy exclamation I swung the bag into place, and then regretted it as it slammed hard to my back.

“Wait, you’re going out?” My Ma asked with a hint of hope. I roll my eyes and nodded. She was ecstatic. “Let me get my hat and list so we can all get going!”

“Ma, this is about the mission thing I can’t tell you about. We need to go to the secret facility and I don’t think you are allowed in.” I didn’t dislike my mother, the contrary actually. But recently on that time, Ma had been a little too forceful on putting me in situations I was not comfortable with. Getting out of the house was a battle she did daily against me. I always won of course. But again. She was very sneaky with her methods.

“Oh don’t worry, I’ll get something on the road and scolt you there. You’ll not even know I’m around. Besides, Copper is already loaded with those books and I don’t think he can take you.” At the mention of Copper his wings flicked. Copper didn’t like being reminded he was born with wings too weak. I gave a stern look for that, she may have confused it with stubborness.

“We can walk.”

“All the way to the library? Through the bottom of the forest?”

“The facility is on a open hill. It has stairs for a reason.”

“But flying is so much easier. Copper can follow easy from the upper forest with the flyway, with me taking the heavy things.”

“It’s better this way, Ma.” I didn’t even let her continue the discussion as I was out the door, running and jumping the outside rock fence. Copper followed after giving a goodbye, flapping quickly and taking flight once out the door.

The forest was gloomy, cold, and misty. A place I called home and loved to be in. The trees were as high as one could stress their neck to appreciate, and were wide as homes, because they were homes. But you could never see above the first lower branches, blocking the sun, heat, and view. The chilling air made my breath appear before me, reminding me of my days of youth and wonder where I left for the library to meet Garrison every day. The mysteriously wet morning grass lightened my senses through my hooves and giving me a smile that came with faster trotting.

Garrison didn't enjoy the mornings as I did, the cold air making harder his already difficult flying. I always wondered why he tried to fly when he obviously couldn't, he would get hurt because of it.

I mechanically advanced through the forest, everything based on memory, Garrison followed. Passing rows and rows of living quarters after living quarters. Houses which seemed part of the giant trees or the trees themselves, some of two levels or three. All with a small fence of rock or wood showing the limits of the owned land.

But besides obvious living residences, there was not a single other griffin on the old stony road to tell the place was anything other than a ghost town, but I knew the truth. Every now and then any pass byer could see it. A wooden stairwell in every two trees passed, showing a way to raise to the second floor of the city, but to me it wasn't necessary.

After about four groves passed in between my frequent glances at Copper, I saw him heaving. I didn’t feel the physical exercise, but didn’t complain as we stopped. Copper muttering a thanks once he fell on the grassy-stony floor, wasted of strength.

“Well, are we far enough to normally walk now?” Copper asked huffing as he turned to look at me from his laid, upside down, position. I almost smacked myself on the head by not thinking I was the reason for the flying. The cold floor helped his wings, but he did show things hard not to stare at. I really disliked nudity. Feeling the need to take a cold bath I glanced away as I responded.

"You could trot, you know?" I said with a smile looking at the apperently infinete rows of trees, just as I settled down on the grass besides him.

"I will, once I get my wings in shape." He said flapping his wings and wincing at the strain. I flinched when he did; like if I could feel how he got hurt all over again. But then my head, as I was acostumed to, reminded me of things I would not remember in this kind of situation, but again, it was useful information.

"Are we actually going to meet the princesses of Equestria?" I asked with as much subtlety as the sun is from keeping its presence unknown. Not much. Copper coughed out a laugh, you know the kind when you hear it. The "expect that question" style.

“Took ya' long enough.” He said, opening and closing his wings, just to keep them in motion. “That’s pretty much it. But as ya' should know, we’re not in our own reasons as we would like to be.”

“I can understand. It’s because of Ashley, right?” Copper nodded, throwing a talon to the grass and pulling it back while dragging some grass with it, I was told griffins did that while nervous, or in deep thought. Like ponies flicking their tails, or scraping their hoofs with the floor.

“Yeah, she'd been doing real work. The only one that bothers me is how now she's talking all three styles of speech. Equestrian, native griffin, and whatever it was that she'd spoken with in the first place. Six years for something that took me and ya' all our lives. I can feel it's not even fair." Garrison was never this talkative of things, but when it came to Ashley he was always loose on information. I believe it was caused by some form of jealousy, or something in those lines. "She asked for ya' every chance she got though."

“Yeah… but she knew I wasn’t part of anything big when she came with us. So I can’t help in anything political. Unless it's teaching their childrien how to do math or remember their own history before they become snobs.”

"You got the tests with ya?"

"Uhuh."

“That's efficience, at least Ashley will still love ya for that. But I think she was more inclined by her whole country wanting to know what was out here.” Right at that moment Copper passed his talon over my sholder, inclining his head over mine. “But ya' shouldn’t make yourself be so low in anything when it comes to influence. Ya' still had that little encounter with the queen when you came back.”

“Please, don’t remind me.”

“So, ya' regret hoofing her face in?”

“Not at all.” Copper padded me in the head, he does that a lot. I could only blush, but then deathpan as he used my head as a way to lift himself from the grass. He did smile when he helped me up of course.

“So, can ya' walk slowly for me to get a hang into flying again?”

“This is my Ma we are running away from.”

“Then why are we trying again?”

“If we get to a certain distance, there is no reasonable motive for her to ‘help me’ get there.”

“How far is that?” I could feel Copper’s silent curses as he stretched his old wound, they cured well but the time passed recuperating had made him even weaker. It was hard not to stare at it. A patch of fur lighter than the rest, as big as a talon; like something had pushed a wooden pole inside through his fur and skin, not like it wasn't close to that. I bit my lower lip to not say anything, he hated that, as I stood as well.

“Seven more groves. We need to pass them fast. There’s no way I can excuse myself of being late after hearing the news.”

“Then say I was faster.” My mother’s voice startled me bad, making me jump and an easy catch for her to lift from my torso making everything I carried, except clothes, fall unceremoniously. Both of us rising above the branches of the massive trees. Calling back to the tired Copper she said. “See you in the library, Copper!”

“Alright, Miss Icy! Bye Clear!” And up we went, not that I had a say.

Bursting through the initial leaf layer I heard someone screech, startled. I would’ve as well if in the middle of the wind current route someone just blasted from below and appeared on my face. I heard a “Wow! You crazy youngster!” as my mother carried me like a hatchling through the middle of the flightway on the left side, almost touching leafed wall.

The flyway current, maybe the most unique feature of the city of Redwood. Stores, attractions and groceries were built along the leaf tunnel’s length. All the buildings being part of the trees like the homes below but with platforms placed on the sides for easy access to the wares. And not only reserved for flying species as some stairs connected and made a stairwell stuck to the tree spiraling to the ground below. I always believed it was made because of me. I was the first ever to be here that couldn’t fly. Like Copper.

The sun, which entered easily with little resistance by the upper branches, warmed me up and shed light into everywhere around me. The ceiling branches were very thin, and left great amounts of light enter the improvised looking tunnel. I was not paying attention to any of that of course.

“Ma! Stop carrying me, it’s painful! Both on the sides and to my pride!” I said, trying to break free, but to no avail. I couldn't move as I was encased with talons on my belly and under my chin, and with paws tightly on my flanks. Griffins stared as we passed by way too quickly, I could feel a familiar heat grow on my cheeks.

“What? I can’t hear you over the wind! You want to visit the boutique? Or did you say the spa? What kind of joy you are looking for dear?”

“Ma! This is not the best moment for bonding, I have something to do!”

“Well, sure I’ll take you, but you really don’t need to repeat it so much!” I could hear my mother’s laughter over the wind. Some still wondered why I didn’t like to go out anymore. My only mean of escape would be to fall a ten wingspan height, find the nearest stairwell, dodge any griffin that has read the newspaper the last couple of weeks and lose my mom.

The hardest being losing my mom.

There was no hesitation from my part when I stuck out my tounge and pressed it against my mother’s talon. Triggering her to briefly loosen her hold in disgust. I took the opportunity at full, twisted my body and then used my hellishly naturally strong rear legs to push her away; slipping through her talons. Razor sharp talons mind you. Luckily she wasn’t trying to hurt me so she had to let go or it would’ve ended badly.

In freefall I re-twisted myself like those cat pets in Equestria and took an analytic look downward to my landing zone, making it easy to reach one of the many strechy branches of the gigantic tree without it looking like an attempt on suicide.

Already bouncing out and onto one of the twigs on level with the platforms, I ran without looking back to the closest walkways for the stores, ducking my head as I did. I passed hurtling in between the pedestrians looking at all directions for my mother.

It had been a while since I have gotten out, and it showed, all those that I passed by stopped to gape. It was not every day one saw a pony in these parts. Much less one rooted to earth.

And an incredibly marvelous idea it was to look out for my mother, with one glance behind me, from the left side amaizinly, I didn’t think twice to dive to the side, crashing into a stand avoiding an unwanted pickup coming from behind me. Which by the speed she came down I believe she wouldn’t be able to come back anytime soon.

“My cabbages!” Yelled a poor vender as I didn’t get the time to apologize for the broken flying chariot. But sure as crud was I doing it mentally. Thinking, "this is going to bring the guard, Mom, what are you doing?!" Ignoring the hypocrisy I ran and zig-zagged until I found an alley pathway with various inner routs. And hasted to get to the other side.

The pathway, like pretty much any pathway on the flyway, was too close quarters for any flying,sure as claymore had a powerful gust, hard for me to gallop, and even trot. I was almost out in the other side when I recalled that my Mom was the kind to go for the unforeseen. So I stopped fighting the wind and was pushed back without my consent, she would know I would go this path, just too predictable if you knew me, and I knew me, somewhat.

And wouldn’t you know it? The floor I once stood died out, opening the floor. I would've just trotted away if I wasn't analizing how idiotic was my mother being at destroying public property! It almost made me stop, but disgracefully I'm just as stubborn as her.

Looking for any other attempt I paced backwards. And right when I was to turn I froze watching in horror as a couple strolled into the pathway and fell through the hole, yelping in surprise. Luckily all in the city needed a minimum requirement to fly before entering the top part of the city. Showing how many times more weird an earth pony was to the place, and by extend, my worries. Even though it didn't calm my nerves until I saw both griffins fly out of the hole and look at it with wonder. I know a thing or two about believing all griffins can fly.

Out of another side of the pathway with less air resistance I searched for my escape. A central stairwell, stuck to the side of one of the biggest trees of the groove. Proudly griffin crafted. Unluckily for me I could see my Mom waiting next to the entrance with a hat and a kerchief attempting to look normal. But when you are about a head higher than anyone else, you are not an easy griffin to hide. But damn was she fast. And that was the only staircase down for two grooves out, so to descend I had to improvise.

With no fear of heights I jumped onto the nearest low branch. Already knowing the assembly of most branches I steadily moved to its base connecting with the tree and hopped to its lower cousin, making an improvised stairwell of my own. Fast and careful I descended, making sure my nails rasped the branch at least once and pushing to feel my anchors in place before jumping down to the next branch. If there was no breach near I would slide down with my nails, or hoof tip, making resistance against the trunk of the massive tree before I found another branch to hold myself in place.

I sometimes thought of going with my nails all the way down, but with the same frequency of mind I remembered my nails had a limit to what they could achieve, so that was a no.

It was the most physical activity I had in months, and it showed. Starting to feel the strain on my legs, and heaving like a bear in heat, I was hoping it would end soon. And my wishes were answered as I was about to hit the last weak branch to be home free. I was thanking everything that allowed me to get there as I neared the grass floor. But it wouldn’t go that easy.

My Ma truly knew me, being right on the last branch before touching the ground, smiling with that smug little smile of hers as I was without means to escape. I could only vent my frustration.

“Oh, come on!”

“Hold right there!” Just as anticipated, the destruction upstairs didn’t go unnoticed, a small flock of guards, seven in total, appeared around me and my Ma. Filling the essential directions we could run. The leader was the obvious one who spoke first, a big old male griffin by the looks of it. Wearing a familiar set of clothing of beige with a unique stylized hat that made the floor several times more interesting, much more than I would’ve wished.

“Wait, Clear?” I didn’t have to look to know all the guards around us, all new and green, observed the old griffin leader oddly. “Aha! I knew I recognized the 'criminal like description'. Call it off fleet, false alarm.” The old griffin glanced at my mother amused all the way. “Aren’t you looking to go out, colonel?”

“General.” My Ma straightened her back. One of the guards about to apprehend her was feeling really small now. She was already a big griffin, going over a head of any other, but tallying her title made her look several times more intimidating, even with her very feminine hat and kerchief.

“Hello sir, Poison Berry.” I said like a kid apologizing for something wrongly done. Already feeling guilty by the mess.

“Come on sweetheart, already told you, just Berry.” General Poison Berry. The old griffin portrayal didn’t give him justice, his white feathers could be confused for a cloud and his gray fur was his autograph. By old pictures I’ve seen, I knew those feathers were supposed to be black and fur brown. He viewed back to my Ma. “Taking the little filly out I see. Though when she was smaller there were huge rocks involved, and more saddles.”

“Actually I was called for something and—”

“I supposed it would be a great opportunity. You know how Cristal here is with going out lately.”

“That I know.” The General was really enjoying himself with his strange chuckle, the new recruits didn’t know what to do. And once Berry stopped laughing he spared them a serious glance and they all flocked to whatever place they came from. It was then I called out.

“I’m still up here...” It was really getting sore to stand there. It was a very small branch. Essentially a twig.

“Oh, right. You and your tree scaling.” He was always jealous of my skills. “So what is the mission?”

“Who said anything about a mission...?” I was still trying to hide it. Sir Berry carried me like old times, meaning like a hatchling. Talons under forelegs and too close for comfort. So he could see my face and a little pout I’m told I do when I lie.

“You getting out of the house? It’s either the end of the world, or a mission call. Unless you are going out with Coppe—”

“It’s a mission.”

“Well that’s disappointing.” I was disliking the theme of everyone I knew trying to ship me and Copper every time they could, not that I mind the idea— sorry, keep in sequence. I was left on the floor in front of my mother, which I was looking up with a hopeless smile. But then the General said. “Off you go.”

My head snapped to General Berry and then back to Mom, looked at each other with the familiar atmosphere of ‘grownups are going to talk’ kind of thing. The opening was there so I didn’t refuse to take it. Only sparing my Mother a sorry smile I picked up speed and left. Heading to where I knew the hill of the stone library should be.

Only when I was fully out of eyesight Sir Berry began to speak. “Is this what you need to do, for a moment with your daughter nowadays, Colonel? Stalking her down the city, destroying property, and attempting foalnap?”

“Well, what about you playing police guard with no jurisdiction or training, or sleep. I know you have no idea how law works. I thought you were better than that, General.” At those words the sir Berry laughed vigorously, making my mother do the same. Old friends I still didn’t even begin to understand the relationship of.

“Why haven’t you told her, Icy.” The General began with a sigh, rubbing his eyes as he indeed looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“I wanted to spend time with her, do things. I was even considering going to a spa or a boutique for it. Me!”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah.”

“But she is useful, Icy, and we needed her about two weeks ago. Luckily we were able to get the all Master Garrison Copper for the time, bah, but no jokes, real sorry, but he can only get so much done out of updating his reading, without him, with her, or her, with him, I don’t think those two would do anything productive.”

“But General, about this quest they need to do, you know I was not told everything, right?”

“I know.”

“And why is that? I don’t see any harm on having me informed of it. And who in the name of the queen is Ashley?”

“The secrecy to you goes by the same reasoning of why you haven’t left the house unless it’s with Clear.” The General’s tone changed intensely low, my Mom gaining a huge curiosity to everything around her.

“I have no idea what you mean.”

“Of course you don’t.” The general spread his wings, giving a powerful flap before picking up air and going airborne, but he was not done talking to my mother just yet. “Don’t be surprised once you get to see her by the way, Ashley. But keep in mind, anyone could be the enemy. And the brains believe those closest are the most dangerous.” He pointed a talon to her. “Even you. And one last word of advice, grudges get you nowhere."

With those last words said, Poison Berry left my Ma at peace. Well, peace to leave and follow me, but mental peace? Never. She remained standing there, in thought. There was many things to consider for her, and so little time to do so. She scratched her head feathers as she sighed. It would be a long week.

And boy would she hate each second of it.

At the time of the ending discussion I had finally arrived at the library, seeing at its magnificent steps of marble stone and with difficulty raising the steps with a hop on my trot. May I have liked to admit it or not, I have missed the old place. It was truly my second home, and dare say my true home. All I know, all I understand, everything I was, got built through a book club within those strange stone walls with no windows. Old as the city itself, maybe even older.

The library was on a hill, a circle of Redwood's trees stopping from growing after the base of the small collection of dirt. It looked like a beacon of light with the sunlight hitting its perfectly white material. It had statues of griffins holding books and swords, covered my leaves and weeds like the stairs and walls. It may be impressive but it was not free of neglect, the place was never visited because it looked abandoned. And that's how the new owner of the library liked it.

“Wow, you got here fast.” Copper entered my personal space once I had reached the top of the stairs, carrying everything I dropped on my little excursion with my mother. I kept note to tell him to clean the place up a bit, I also liked it as it was, but having visitors wouldn’t hurt.“Was it quick? Or did you find a way to escape.”

“You know I always do.” I said happy to have Copper at my side once more. I thought at the time I was just happy of being outside. “Did you enter? The sun can’t be doing you any good.”

“Well, no, I was waiting outside for you to get here. I don’t think you would be allowed to enter right away if I wasn’t with you.” Leave it to Copper to think of me more than himself.

“Ah, you’re too sweet. But what are we waiting for! There’s a interview we need to prepare for and you need to tell me everything.” I was about to enter if it was not for Copper’s talon reaching me and stopping me on my tracks. I would've enjoyed the contact if I wasn't so immersed on the look in his eyes. “What?”

“Ashley is waiting for you in the lobby.” My face changed from happy to complete whine mode in less than a second. “Aww,” was the best choice of words I had. I was hoping to see her on a happy moment, or any moment that didn’t remind her how long I have come to visit. One month. I sighed in defeat. Unless there was something to calm her in some way, something that forced her to be nice. I could maybe explain my absence. “And there’s another thing you should know—”

“So are we going in or what.” Twice in one day my mother’s voice startled me. Not because it was a surprise, or because I was trying to run from her. But by it coming from right next to my ear in a whisper. In midst of my freak out her laughing made itself known by all living things within a couple of kilometers. Including the guards inside.

“What is going on here— Ah, Master Garrison.” I heard a voice exclaim from my upside down position. I now noticed I always fall when I am startled bad. I was helped by Copper to pick myself up. “This must be your assistant half warrior miss Cristal Clear, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.” I said as I stood. Slightly proud to be recognized. Of course, it made my pride shatter even harder once I saw the guard was actually talking to my mother.

“It’s a pleasure. Heard so much about you from the guys inside.” The griffin guard, wearing iron armor and everything, held my mother’s talon and shook it while nodding his head, my mother looked at me with amusement. “The rumors of political attempts against you. The legend of fights against creatures four times your size. Aha, I even remember the tale of you slapping the queen in the face!”

The guard laughed to his heart’s content as my blood ran cold. I had never told those rumors to my mother. And it showed as her eyes widen, panning to me with a gaze screeching all I needed to know of her opinion on those stories. “But really, I can’t see what the others meant when they said I wouldn’t believe the stories when I saw you. Even when you—”

“Green!” Copper barged in to save the day. “The one you know as Cristal Clear is right here. The griffin in front of you is my assistant's mother, the one that will be joining us today. ”

I really was thankful I was saved. I really, really was. Even knowing I was going to get eaten with words on part of my mother later that day. But my mind couldn’t give me the instant of peace, no~, not once. I had to be a good listener and understand what Copper said immediately.

“Wait, what?! My Ma is going with us too?!” I was apparently the only one there to understand that, as my Mom was surprised when I said it, with her brows slightly lifted; she’s a good actor but even she has her tells. Her frown evolving into a free smile.

“Uhh, yeah. I was told to contact the colonel. But I was thinking of doing it later. Because Ashley was really into talking to you alone.” I paused in thought at Garrison’s words. My mind connecting dots. Either Copper is the biggest and scariest mastermind I have ever met or the coincidence was just happy with me that day. Who wants to have an old friend bite your head off when you can have family nearby to present her.

“That pony is Cristal Clear?!” I wasn’t even in the correct mindset to feel good of melting another stereotyped griffins mind.

“Yeah! Yes, right! Mom! You are coming with us!” I said straining my smile as I moved to my mother and grabbed her by the kerchief with my teeth and moved her to the door. Silencing her complains in my mind. Garrison sighed and was going to follow me if the guard wouldn’t have stopped him in place.

“You are telling me the only thing that has touched the face of the queen and survived... is a pony. And wasn't she even your... you know... property?”

“Recruit Green, those are stories and rumors the superiors made to make Clear look meaner and have no problems with anyone. There’s little tolerance for ponies here but you are not to consider Clear a free pony, or any kind of pony at that.” Garrison’s voice changed to his royal voice, he always did it it when addressing strangers or subordinates he didn’t trust. The soldier was amazingly nodding at his words.

“Don’t need to tell me twice, ‘library master’, I'm not a pony lover, but I keep myself from insulting one." Copper narrowed his eyes, the guard didn't notice. "I've heard what that little thing has done. I don't care much really, but what I hate more are those traitors, calling themselves griffins living in the pony lands. Claiming brave and representing us. Sickening.”

“Now, now, Green, I can tolerate when ya’ go a little excited or depressed, but if ya’ go into anything intolerant, I will do the same with ya’.”

“Yeah, yeah, you always tell me that, Master Copper.”

“Because it'll always be true. And professor is enough, owning the library gives some strange titles, but master is not one of them.” Garrison ended with a strong gaze, the guard saying ‘learn how to take a joke’ under his breath. Then going to the door where my mother and I discussed things in a low volume.

Now I don’t think I will be able to describe it, but I can tell you, we did that a lot. Talking over each others voices, and understanding each others reasoning before replying our own. Again, over the others words. It’s confusing when I think back. But when it’s in progress it feels so natural, believe me.

We discussed about three topics, the rumors about me, the things I didn’t want my mother doing once inside and what I wanted her to be like inside. My Ma, had a dialogue of her own going on over mine. Talking about how little I told her, then about things that happened to me, how she felt of how little things we did together and how little respect I gave her when it came to her way of being.

Truly it’s something only to be understood at the moment, by mother and daughter. Because looking back I really have no idea how we got all that through. Not that it was resolved though, we never really resolve anything like that.

“Ya’ both ready to get in?” Garrison said out loud once near enough to tell we were debating our thoughts. I really liked this Copper and his coincidental slash mastermind actions.

“Yes, we are.” My mother said ending our conversation in a dull note.

“Miss Trident, Colonel, from here one out, I must warn you, the place is a mess since Ashley has not been allowed to exit the building in a really long time."

“Huh, no wonder she’s such a good friend of Clear.” My ears flicked, not that anyone noticed as they were held down by my cap. “But what am I in for, Copper?”

“I don’t think you would believe me if I described her to you, Ma’am— I mean, Colonel.” Garrison stepped forward opening the door just giving a mysterious look at us both, earning a roll of eyes from my mother, she wasn’t into secrecy, I was. We were greeted by nine guards blocking the way inside with their bodies. Copper ignored them and entered without a word and we followed closely. The guards opened way and I was presented with the place I had seen all my life from childhood to becoming an adult.

It was horrid.

First to note was its darkness, all sources of light seemed to have been reduced to small lousy candles spread along equally by the walls. A bed at the midpoint of the library and a small table on the side were the best illuminated. And by all that is good did it smell, I was hoping to get the fragarance of old books into my system but what I got was the combination of so many things I wrinckled my nose for a bit. It would be hard to get used to, the others said nothing about it.

Everything else was of bookshelves, decorations and the hanging gems which glistened with the small sources of light. Very insignificant spaces in between the candles filled with modest images of art and culture on the walls, all with awful lightening, as the back of the room couldn’t be seen at all. And last, even if it is not a flaw of the library's design, the floor was impossible to see with books making home over it, enough books to not only block vision of the floor but also make book pillars in the back of the room.

“So, ya' want to see her?”

My mother tilted her head at the place, trying to avoid stepping on any important piece of literature. “I’m not sure. I feel as if I know her already.”

“Hey, my mess is at least organized!” I was not fond of my Mother Icy’s prompts to my private things while surrounded by strangers, I knew the warriors behind us were snickering away. They thought I wouldn’t have such a good ear, they always underestimate the pony ears.

“Ashley? Ashley, are ya' awake? There's somegriffin I would like you to meet.” Copper called as he advanced into the dark place. My mother Trident flinched by the name. She had been hearing about it for nil less than half a year by then, not that I knew. In her mind she would no longer wonder if I would be eaten at night by the thing those who saw it called it, a predator. She wasn't liking the mysterious air the person, or thing, was kept within. And as she glanced around the room she saw something she had never seen in her life.

"Huh?" Now, it's not a big deal to hear a confused exclamation, but given the circumstances I can say with ease I glanced at my mother when she cried out confusion and dug in between a pile of books. And with a glister in my eye I smiled at the colourful little box she pick out of it.

"Well, you found Ashley's toys." I said as my mother investigated the thing. A wooden cubic box, splitting in twenty seven individual pieces and coloured on the face of each piece, nine equal ones on each side. At least that was what it would look like if it was —as Ashley always said— "solved." It was a puzzle I still wasn't able to get myself to solve. Hooves have limits.

"What is this?" My Ma asked holding the cube with justifiable wonder and rightful bewilderment.

"Ashley calls it a puzzle cube, I still have no idea how she solves it." I said drawing near Mom letting me grab the cube and with difficulty turn it to show it was of moving pieces.

"This crazy thing is supposed to be a puzzle?"

"Yeah."

“How do you ‘solve’ this?”

“Still have no clue.” With those words, my mother left the mysterious item be, and then looked in between the others. All were strange and unique in their own way. And I was surprised at some new ones piled up on the back, barely above the book layer, Ashley had been busy.

"And this?" My mother asked again, this time lifting a small rectangular box. My face took a knowing smile as I deep inside hated the thing.

"Mom, you remember the abacus' we used at school? You know, for math and that sort of thing?" She looked at me as if I had gone mad.

"You are telling me this little box is an abacus?" My Mom asked, not buying it. There was little buttons with rubbles of carbon graffiti Ashley called numbers and a small ‘screen’ in which I could see the moving pieces of clockwork waiting for their next command.

"Essentially, yes."

My mom made a face of amusement and complete not belif before leaving the precious thing be, to my disappointment. The other griffins in the room were now frantically searching. Ashley was the kind of gal to stay hiding until she was ready to show herself. So I wasn't as worried she had left the building.

"And what about this?" My Mother lifted a golden ball, markings I recognized spread in circular motions around its surface. My eyes lit up as an evil idea came to mind.

"Oh, if you tap at it with a claw three times it will reveal its true form." If my mother would have given a momentary glance to me she would've seen me rubbing my hooves together.

And she did what I asked. After the third tapping on the sphere's surface, the little ball started to shake. My mother stared in curiosity. A faint ticking noise spread through the surface of the ball. The sound she was able to somehow hear as she placed her ear closer and shook it. 'Perfect' was my thought as my smile turned wicked.

The little thing vibrated as the clicking became faster. My mother was not fond of mysterious things that speed up ominously and made unnatural sounds, I don't think many are fond of it. So in responce she calmly left the ball on the floor and continued to gape as it vibrated violently. I tsk-ed in disillusionment.

Right then the sphere opened in one quick motion, surface splitting in seven equal pieces as its center moved out of place and eighteen different glass eyes stared at my mother. A golden spider. But not any spider, a huge spider of the size of my head with each leg as thin as a string. I started to feel little shivers around my body, I always felt those when that thing is free. It clicked and clacked as it ticked and tocked. Walking on the floor and freaking the hell out of my Mom as it head into the darkness. As much as a trained colonel could be of course. "Wow. Disturbing." She said eyebrows raised.

“Tell me about it. And that’s not even its final form.”

My mother and I quickly turned, she did so mechanically, and in less than a blink as her body was facing at the dark side of the room, eyes searching to any sign of life. The sudden movement startled the residents, it took a moment before I tried to talk again, especially since I was already with my heart on the roof because the voice was right behind me and I anticipated nothing. But once I thought hard, I remembered the voice and I could breathe a little better. But by the looks of it my mother was not in any familiar situation.

“Ma, calm down, I know it’s not the way you would like to be presented but, I want you to meet—“ But I was interrupted.

“You don’t need to present me blue, I can do so myself.” My mom's eyes found her target once the voice spoke once more. She was long gone with the expression she carried while staring at a pair of eyes shining with the reflection of the little light there was in the room.

“Well, please don’t attack? Heh, sorry, it’s a joke.” The voice said as its shadowy form left the darkness.

I know now my mother Trident had expected a monster; she had expected another griffin; damned be all, she had even expected one of those manticores with the kind of wonder and depredator in nature they placed Ashley. Anything other than what was up right in front of her. It was the first time she had ever, even if unintentionally, looked honestly surprised.

“You must be Clear Cristal’s mother, pleasant to meet you. I’m from the Node of Time, the human region, sole representative. My name is Ashley, hope we can be in good terms.”

---

̦̩͔͚͕͕̪͍̦̠͉͢͢ͅ ̺̺͎̩͉̣̣̻͙̼͉̳̟͔̱̫͝ ̸̧͕̣̖̹̺̙̩͍͈̲͇̳̹̠̻͘͡ ҉̨͚̗͚͍ ̀͜͏̖̝͖̮͈͜ ̻̮̞̳̖̮͙͙̩̫͝͠ͅ ̢͢͟͡͏̤̖̜̝̙͙̝̰͍ ̕҉̟̥̲̲̯̭͇̖̻̝͕͓̗͚̪͝ͅ ̴͍͕̝͉͔̖̪̱̣̝̳̦̫̜͈̩ ̵̼̯͇̩͖̥̻̙̬͔͙̗̕̕͢ͅ ҉҉̱̮̮͉̭̙͕͈͍ ̷̴̝͕͖̰̙͉̬̫̬̮̗̰͓̪̀͘ ̷̜̘̬̖̹̪͖̼͍͇͓̣̖̜̜̰͝ ͏̶̵̼̰̺̫̤̰̲̪̰̤͍̙̱͓͠͠ ͏̸͟҉̷̼͖̘͖̘̫͎ ̢̝̘̠̹͟ͅ ̛̠̩̼̟̲̪̱̤̲͍͡ͅ ̸̧̛͓̮͠ͅ ̵̸̟͉͕͖̬̦̠̫͚̜̜̗̣ ̭̠̠̮̺͓͉͍͞͠͝ ̵́͘͏͙̼̯̝̞̘̘̳̮̣̯͉̞̯͍̖͚͝ ̶̶̛͟͏͖̠̹̺ ̸͈̣̞̙̺̬̕͝ ̧̭̦̞̙̲̫̫̭̼͝ ̷͖̼͉̯̗̗̪̝̯̠͓̟͖̣̟͡ ̸҉̭̱̳͔̜̰͕͍̩͚͕̭̦͍̝̣͙̬ ̶͟҉̢͔͔̻͎͉̘̠̞̭̮̻͚̥͙͓ ̴̩̠͓͎̪̥̬̪̠̪̤͇͇̩̞̰̜͘ ̵̸̝̣̹͙͓͞ ̶҉͍̹͖̜̜̗̥̺̞͖̣̖͕͟ͅ ̨̧̱͕͈͉̮͚̦̱̼̳͉͇̳͔̱̺̰̪͘͜͠ͅ ͕̬͉̫̱̪͔̤̦͖̜̼͎̲͎̱̕͘̕ ̶̴̀͠҉̗͖̦̙̰̹̰̜̳̟͕̘̝ ͜͏̷̨̭̫̺̗̞̥̫̭̼̱̳̠͖͓̺̜ͅ ̩̮̥͓͕͇̱̫̱̦̳̩̥̯͎̤̕͘ͅ ̴̗̯̩̙̘̱̜̣̩͍̰̰̣͠ͅͅ ̶̟͍͎̖̥͉̟̘̀͟͠ ̷̵̛̱͙̫͜͞ ̵̖͖̥̱͇̰̩̩̩̤̯̕͟ ̷̯̬̥͍̜̩͠͠ͅ ̴̤̮͚̱̠̝̘̟̬̣͓̥͚̪̘́͟ ̴̘̮̣͉̻͎̲̱͙̼̀͘ ̷̨̢̛̛͙͍͙̭̫͖ ̸͍͙̜̟̙͉̹̜̮͇̼͎͇͡ͅ ҉͚͚̩̝͖̳̣̤̘̲͎̠͡ ̛̗͔͔̻̯̤͇͕͍̞̗̣͜͡ ҉̡̧͓̘̱̤̹̤̻̗̣͎̗̫̼̪͙͘͟ ҉̲̙̱͕͔̮̩̭͍̯͟ ̡̧̧͍̳̺͕͍̼̤͍̱̙͖͔ ̨̢̰̳̰̰̦͕̟̲̻̮͘ ̕͠҉̴̫̺̪̝͓̝̗͔ ̧͖͕̻̘̬͎̗͉̻͇̙̗͓̩͝ ̶̨͙̙̲͔͝ ̸͖͖̥̟͈̳̝̥̲̜͍͞ ̧͙͍̼̣̲̬̝̜͎̰̲͖͢͜͝͠ ̸̪̰̬̣͈̺̱̖̹̗́̕ͅ ͎̺̹͇͈̗͙͈͟ͅ ̺͖̮̣͖̰̘̞̀͡ͅ ̛̙̻̰̳̦̰̤̭̠̼̬͍͢͟͡͞ͅͅ ̢͠͏͞͏̟̥̦͍͈̫̫ ͟͟҉҉̬͍̙͚̩͓͙̮̝͖͠ͅ ̶̡̛͚̬͇͙̥͉̬̜̺͓͈̣̯ ̷̛͚̥̹̤͓̤̯̗̥̺́͜͟ ̸̧̛͎̟̝̥̬̫͞͡ ̢̲̖̟͉̪̦̖̪̖̹͚̦̱̗͟ ̶̢̦̞̻̝̦͕͉̬̖̝͟ͅ ͡҉̸̹̹̖̩͢ ̴̨̙̻̳̼̺̫͇̲̖̞̝̭̪̘͚̠̗͞͝ ̧̫̹̝̘͔͜͟͞ ̛͞҉̪̙̺̳͙͎̜͓̞ ̨̫̳̳̱̙̟̥͍̼͚͚̤̖̮̟ ̶̵̛͎̣͍̲̙̱̱̙̖̹͞ͅ ̷̢̖̱̻͙̘̰͎͓̣̳̫ ̧͉̜̦̼̯͟ͅ ̧͉̤͖̦͝ ̶̴̢̘͕̩̰̘̜͚̲̖͔͓͡ ̡̥̲̰͔̳̳̕ ̴̛͓̳̗̘̼̙͇͓̺̗̦͘͠͡ͅ ̸҉͏̧̢͍͇͔̼͈̥̳͈ͅ ̛̙̲̣̝̗̜̭̀ ̷̤̫̪͍͕̤̟̙̬̘́̕̕͞ͅ ̶̟͍͎̖̥͉̟̘̀͟͠ ̷̵̛̱͙̫͜͞ ̵̖͖̥̱͇̰̩̩̩̤̯̕͟ ̷̯̬̥͍̜̩͠͠ͅ ̴̤̮͚̱̠̝̘̟̬̣͓̥͚̪̘́͟ ̴̘̮̣͉̻͎̲̱͙̼̀͘ ̷̨̢̛̛͙͍͙̭̫͖ ̸͍͙̜̟̙͉̹̜̮͇̼͎͇͡ͅ ҉͚͚̩̝͖̳̣̤̘̲͎̠͡ ̛̗͔͔̻̯̤͇͕͍̞̗̣͜͡ ҉̡̧͓̘̱̤̹̤̻̗̣͎̗̫̼̪͙͘͟ ҉̲̙̱͕͔̮̩̭͍̯͟ ̡̧̧͍̳̺͕͍̼̤͍̱̙͖͔ ̨̢̰̳̰̰̦͕̟̲̻̮͘ ̕͠҉̴̫̺̪̝͓̝̗͔ ̧͖͕̻̘̬͎̗͉̻͇̙̗͓̩͝ ̶̨͙̙̲͔͝ ̸͖͖̥̟͈̳̝̥̲̜͍͞ ̧͙͍̼̣̲̬̝̜͎̰̲͖͢͜͝͠ ̸̪̰̬̣͈̺̱̖̹̗́̕ͅ ͎̺̹͇͈̗͙͈͟ͅ ̺͖̮̣͖̰̘̞̀͡ͅ ̛̙̻̰̳̦̰̤̭̠̼̬͍͢͟͡͞ͅͅ ̢͠͏͞͏̟̥̦͍͈̫̫ ͟͟҉҉̬͍̙͚̩͓͙̮̝͖͠ͅ ̶̡̛͚̬͇͙̥͉̬̜̺͓͈̣̯ ̷̛͚̥̹̤͓̤̯̗̥̺́͜͟ ̸̧̛͎̟̝̥̬̫͞͡ ̢̲̖̟͉̪̦̖̪̖̹͚̦̱̗͟ ̶̢̦̞̻̝̦͕͉̬̖̝͟ͅ ͡҉̸̹̹̖̩͢ ̴̨̙̻̳̼̺̫͇̲̖̞̝̭̪̘͚̠̗͞͝ ̧̫̹̝̘͔͜͟͞ ̛͞҉̪̙̺̳͙͎̜͓̞ ̨̫̳̳̱̙̟̥͍̼͚͚̤̖̮̟ ̧̛̟̙̘̤͓̯̘̱̫̯͕̗͈̣͎ ̢̨̮͚̠̩͖̺̟̗̼͈͘ ̶̶̸̘̼͈̯̬̖́̕ ̨̟̹̙̗͇̬̹̗̹͓̜̝̺͠ ̟̞̪̱̜̳͟ ҉̵̶͓̭̲͎̦̲̜̬͞͡ ̸̴̛͟͏̺̯̼̩̳͖ ̧̝̦̦̺̼̤̘̜̥̮̫͈̘͔̲͠ ̷̵̞̣͉̬͕̦̹̥̜̝̠͚͢ ̀͜͜͏͏̦̮̤͍̗̜̳̹ͅ ̷̢̡͍̞̰̱̖̩̣͕̖̱͜ͅ ̶͠͝͏͙̞̱̱̱͘ ̢̱̮̳̩͇̼̜̪̜̥̱̥́̕ͅ ͜͠͏͎̗̙͓̫̖̹̭̪̥̥̱͙͚̝̪͍ ̷҉̧̱͈̱͕̖͢ ̶̣̤̞̠͍̙͓̲̗͟ ҉̧͎͔̤̭̭̹̗͓͚͎̟͉͍͖͎͖͓̗̰͢͡ ̷̴͔̺̭͈͍͉̬͕͡͞ ̵̢̪̞̥̝̀͘ ̙̫̥͇̲͍͉̣͇̥͉͚̤͔̱̮͠͞ ̸̨͇̙͖̬̀͞͝ ͢҉̪͉̗̹̙̰͠ ̡̛̣̝͎͖̦̯̼̞̞̪̮̯͔̞̩̟̙̀͜͢ ͡҉̷̙̤̮̳̳̪̘͙͎͞͞ ̢̳͖̣̖̱̰͚̤̼̰̰̰͖̻̤̻́͜͝ͅ ̶̵̤̝͍͍̹̮̩̺͍̮͟͟͢ͅ ̶̧̫͈̗̯̩̬̙̮̙̬͠ ̵͎̩̳̺̹̬̰͙̀͟͜͞ ҉̖̪̭͔̺̫̜̗͢ ̶̸̞̜̣̭̝̮̳̼̭̠͎̰̗̜̞̬̕͟͜ ͎̜͖͈̤͚͓̦̀͘ ̷̙̱̠̮̠̪̲̤́ ̸̖͎̹̙̖͇̦͇̪̲͎͉̥̺͖͕ ̪̝̞̥̦̙͖̣̟̦̻͎̙̱͖͘͝ ̷̵̨̼̟̰̣̗̞̀ ̵̼̥̼͉̖̞̫͎̰͉͕̳̩͙̗̦͜͝

"Presenting Ashley to my mother was an issue I think books of psychology will still be written about it for some time. My Mom is no extreme traditional griffin but she has her limits to how much abnormal things could be around her before she snapped. Five griffins, all trained, fell like flies when Ashley came about. I mean, they had to defend her against anything, diplomats are that kind of messy business, but that crazy girl enjoyed it far too much."

"We were told to leave the next day. The seed was planted, and as you know, it became my doom. I--" Cristal flintched when all of the sudden in the darkness Twilight's distorded voice screeched her to a halt. "Wow, what was that for?"

...

"An idea? What are you thinking Twi?"

...

"Oh, sorry, Smarty Pants."

...

"Really? You think the silent guy's going to cooperate into telling anything?

...

Hey, I already have issues, but alright, if you say so. Your turn. Human. Go all out.

̸̴̛͒͆̀̿̂͐͋̔͗̓̊ͨ̀̈́̀͘ ̶̢̌͐ͤ̐ͪ͢͟ ̶́̔ͦ͂̓ͦ͒̄ͬͥ̐ͦ̈́͂ͩ͛ͮ̽̀͞ ̵̈̎̇͛̈ͮ͐ͫͦ̉̃ͬ̏̇͊̀̚̚͏͝͠ ̒̿͋̄̇̔̄̈́̽͜͏͜ ̃̄͌̓̇̆͂ͭ̐͑̽̊̉ͫ͛̂̇ͤ̅͏̨ ͌́ͧ͒̐ͣ̃̀͜͡ ̡̡͊͌ͪͧͮͦ̓́͛͑̑͋̾͋͒̀ ̷̨̇̌ͬͮͦͭ͛̇ͭ͐̆͌ͭ̀ͫ͞͏͡ ̨͒̅ͧ͋͊̋͊ͮ̂͗ ̷̓̒̑̆͡ ̵̒̍ͤ͑͆͟ ͑͗͛̄̅͑̌͗͘̕͞͝ ̸̴̋̈́ͩͪ̑ͯ͋̍͌̾̌ͬ̌ͥ̊̚͢͜ ̴̀ͦ̃̃̕͠͡ ̸̨̛̒̒ͧͦ̇ͦͬ͊͗̍̄͌ͫ̽͊ͪͬ̒̓͢ ̉̐̏ͤ̇̐̂́̓̌͐͋͒̽̔҉͝ ̸́̂̔̎́̚ ̢͐̏̉ͥ̍͂͂̄̋̽ͧ̊ͪ̿͠ ̷̈ͥ͑͊ͭͬ͐ͭͪ̓̊͛͛̈́̀̚͞ ̵̸ͦͯ̔̍͛ͭ͗ͣ͂̎̌ͬ̑̒̀̚ ̸̡̨ͥ̃̂̃̾̇̌́͋ͯ ̔̊ͮ͟͟͞ ̧ͧ͒̈̃̂̂ͭ̐̄̌͘͏̸͞ ̛͆͊̅ͭ̏ͯ͆͆͌̌̂ͭͣ͑ͤ͊̒͜ ͌͑̓ͩͮ҉͞ ͂̒̀̓̒̚͟͢͡͡ ̾̓̊̉̔͌͋̚͏҉̵̵͟ ̎̒ͤ̓̍̓̏ͧͧ̇͂͗͊̉̏̀̕ ͧ͂ͦ̑ͨ̂ͭ̃̑ͩ̓ͪ̈́̏̅͒͡҉ ̵̔̾̄͒͛ͮͦ̓̿ͣͩͫ̍̿ͭͪ̅̀̂͟͠ ̸͗͛̑̓̍̌ͪ͌ ̵́͋͒̄ͮ̀͘͘͟͡ ͫͦ͑ͭͦ́̓̿̐ͤͬ̄̌́̑͠ ̧ͯ̏ͭͭ̄̿̅̿̇̓͊͆͐̽̿̌ͧ̎͠ ̅́͛҉̵̨͢ ͆͛̄̔̀͒̒̾̏ͪ̇̅̄̕͡͠ ̴̀͆̉̑̅̍̄ͥ̉̆̈́̀ͦ͂̉ͧ͌̅̀͞ ̂̊ͩ͛̚҉͜ ̸̧ͬ̒͌̕͜͞ ̨̢̛͋̋̍̅̀͗ͨ̈́̃ͥ̀͡ ̴ͧ̉̀ͮ͆ͬ̑̉̓̑͑́̌͂̅ ̵̶̛͋ͫ̔̑̊ͬ̈́͝ ̨̧̛͛͛̇͑̏ͯ͑ͮ̓ͥͥ̏ͫ͏ ̏͌̉͒̅̔̿́͋ͭ̓̅̃̈͋͆̒̈́͘͠ ̴̨̨̨͗ͤ͊͆̓̉̽̈͏ ͯ͆̿̋̌ͧ̂̂̀͐͂̓͏̷̵ ̢͒̌̿ͫͥ͐̃ͯ̇̄͋̓͆͆͋̀̚͜͠ ̢ͪ̂̑͛̏͐ͨ̇ͩ̍ͮ̿̎̌͏̛̕ ̶̷̊́͛̾ͯͪ̇́̇̂̚̚͜ ̵̢̀ͨͮ̃̾ͬ̒̿ͯ͛ͥͮͬͤͨ ̸̷͑͗ͩ̌͐̎͞ ̸̛̊̿̌̇͑͟͢͡ ̴̡̨͗̑̊̍̊̒͑̿͂̊͋̓̈́͊̚̚ ̍͐̀̇ͬ̓ͧ͑ͩ͊̀͏̨͝ ̓̑̆ͬ͗̔̑͂̀ ͦ̐͆̈̌̋̐̄ͤ̌̔͂͏҉̸̨͝ ̸̴͐̄͐͑̈̂͘͟ ̇̿ͨ҉͟͝ ̂ͨ̅͊ͪ̈̍͂͏̡̛ ̊̅̿ͩͥ̉͆̏̀̾͐͆ͨͮ̽͊͡͠ ̧̆͐̓̆̃̆̌̌͡ ̶̓̓̊ͣ̚͘͝ ̢̧̎̿̔̋ͬ̌͛̒͋̀̊̑̈̈ͧ̆ͬͩ̕̕͠ ̢̍ͤ̓͗ͭ̃͏ ͣͬ͌̉́̕͞͞ ̿͗ͯͩ͐ͬ̃̔͊ͥ̓́͏҉ ̧̨̛̑ͪͦ̽ͪ̄̽ͥ͊́͢ ̷ͤ̅̓̾ͫ͑̾ͥ͗̈̏͐̾͊̍̿ͯ̌̕ ̶̶ͭͮͤ̉͋ͦ̎̉ͪͥͯͭͭ̆̏ͥ͑̽ͩ͜͜ ̸̢͂̆ͨ̀͘ ̌ͩͥ̓̈́͐ͦ͗̿ͨ̀͡ ̷̑̎ͬ̈ͫ̂̎̄͊́̎̆̑ͯ͐́͊ͣ̈͘͟͠ ̨̡̡ͮͮ͋ͣ͋̐́͘ ̢̨̄ͯ͐̐͑̀̽͋̂̿̏̓͠ ̍̃̽̊̉̈́̓ͮ̉̇͏͟ ̷̧̍̑̈ͭ̅̓̎̓̓̂̋̅͋͏̷͠ ̛̊̓ͣ̄̾̑̿̌͐ͩ̉ͨ̈ͧͦ̈͘ ̵ͦͬ̀̃ͩ̾ͨ̇͌ͯ͋͆͋͆͂̎ͫͤ̓͘͝ ͣ̆ͥ̏̒͒̋̚҉͢ ̡̡̽ͨ͌̉̒̋̕͝ ̸̧ͣ̋ͤ̌ͭ́͟͟ ̨̏̊̾͒ͮ̂̑̊͊͋ͮ̓ͤ͊̽̈́ͨ́͏͜ ͗ͫ̄ͯ͋̓͗̕҉̀͘ ̷̡̎ͮ̈́̈́͌̒̈̀̓͗͛̓́͆̚ ̧̧̐ͣ̎ͫ͐̿̎́͝͠ ̔͛̐̿ͮͫ͏̴́ ̔̊ͮ͟͟͞ ̧ͧ͒̈̃̂̂ͭ̐̄̌͘͏̸͞ ̛͆͊̅ͭ̏ͯ͆͆͌̌̂ͭͣ͑ͤ͊̒͜ ͌͑̓ͩͮ҉͞ ͂̒̀̓̒̚͟͢͡͡ ̾̓̊̉̔͌͋̚͏҉̵̵͟ ̎̒ͤ̓̍̓̏ͧͧ̇͂͗͊̉̏̀̕ ͧ͂ͦ̑ͨ̂ͭ̃̑ͩ̓ͪ̈́̏̅͒͡҉ ̵̔̾̄͒͛ͮͦ̓̿ͣͩͫ̍̿ͭͪ̅̀̂͟͠ ̸͗͛̑̓̍̌ͪ͌ ̵́͋͒̄ͮ̀͘͘͟͡ ͫͦ͑ͭͦ́̓̿̐ͤͬ̄̌́̑͠ ̧ͯ̏ͭͭ̄̿̅̿̇̓͊͆͐̽̿̌ͧ̎͠ ̅́͛҉̵̨͢ ͆͛̄̔̀͒̒̾̏ͪ̇̅̄̕͡͠ ̴̀͆̉̑̅̍̄ͥ̉̆̈́̀ͦ͂̉ͧ͌̅̀͞ ̂̊ͩ͛̚҉͜ ̸̧ͬ̒͌̕͜͞ ̨̢̛͋̋̍̅̀͗ͨ̈́̃ͥ̀͡ ̴ͧ̉̀ͮ͆ͬ̑̉̓̑͑́̌͂̅ ̵̶̛͋ͫ̔̑̊ͬ̈́͝ ̨̧̛͛͛̇͑̏ͯ͑ͮ̓ͥͥ̏ͫ͏ ̧̇ͥͯ̍̓͂̌ͬ̌ͪͬ͋̚̚҉ ̴̴͋͗ͪ̉͋ͭ̈́͢҉̀ ̵̨̑ͭ̇̋̌̿͒ͬ̎̕ ̸̢̨ͭ̌ͮ̑͂͗͐̿ͥ̀͊̾ͣ̊ͩ̆ͣ͊͏ ̈̑ͦ̑̄̓̀̀̐͊͘͢͡ ̷̶ͯ̈́͗ͩ̓͑̓̀͛̂̓́͜ ͒̑̏ͫ͑͌ͪ̐̈́̇ͦ͛͊͏͢͜ ̷̧ͬ͐̆̄̔̉ͪ̂͒ͤ͐̀͢͡ ̴ͭ͋̍̆̇̈̿́͠ ̡̓ͯͩͣ̈̓̈̑̅̋̿̑́̌̌̀͝͡͝ ̴̴̆͌̽ͭ̾̇̂̓ͮ̂ͯ̀ ̸̔̑͛̇̿̋͊ͪͫͯ̌̓͗́ ̏͂͋̅ͯ͐͛͒̉ͯͣͨ̾͐́͜͝͏͘ ̷͗͛ͤ́̃͊̆͊̃͂ͣͮ͐ͦ̈́ͭ͢͡ ̸̈́ͩͩ̐ͤ̑̈̈́̃̄͗ͨ̄̏͜͏̢ ̧̛̿̐ͣ̋͑̆͊͋͋ ̏ͣͬ̽ͮ̽ͤͤ̃̕͏̨ ̶̑̔̂̀͋̇̆̓͗͑̔ͮͨ͋ͥ͊͗̈͜҉҉̧ ̾͊͂ͪ̄͋͌̆̿́̂͗͒ͭ̎ͣ͆̓͏̵̶̛ ̴̨̈̏̅̉͑ͯͫ́͋ͭͪ̿ͥ̄͐ͩ̎͛̚ ͆ͫ̈́̀ͫ̎͑̿ͣ̋̐̽ͨ͗̋̌͑ͬͬ҉͏ ́̏̋͂̈ͦ̄́̕͠ ̡̀ͫ̔̀ ̸̢̢̆ͮ̏́ͯ͂̾̍̑̏̋́ ̶ͯͥ̄̅̈́͛̂̌̅̋̐ͬ́́̚͢ ̡́͐̋͐̉̀ͦͮ͑͋͛̄̾͂͋ͬ̎́͜͡ ̷̒ͦ̉̄ͣ́́̋ͬ̑̈͗̀͘͜͠ ̨̅͊̂͗̏̆ͣͧͩͮ͟ ̓͛͋ͣͭ̃̽͏҉ ̷̢̛͂̂̽͊́̑̃̌̇̀ ͑̽ͮ̓̌̂͗̃̆̾̓͗̓ͣ̎ͨ̕͡͞ ̧̅͆ͯ͑͗ͨ̏̏̑̄͐͋͒̃̐̀ ̵̡ͧ̅̍͗̔͊ͪ͆͝ ̷̵͑ͯ̏̉͛ͭͫͩ̉͌ͭ̾ͫ̋ ̸̴̧̏̄̆ͨ̏̄́̄̂̓ͤͭ͑̿͗̒̕ ̨͆͗͊ͯͣ͋́̆̎ͭ̈ͮ̇͛͗ͦͧ͢͞ ̸̵̒̆͂͂̇͑̾̋̾̽̈ͥ̋̄ͦ̑̚͜͡ ̵́̇ͮ̏̄ͨ̄͗ͪ̾͒͏͏͏ ̛̌͗͋ͫ͆͟ ̷̈́̾ͤ͂̈́ͣ̽̓̆̇ͨ̐ͥ̑̊̓ͨͮ͆ ̵͐ͪͥ͌̀̾ͭͫͩ̈́ͭ̿̏͐́̎͏̨ ̌ͤ̂̔̄̀̚͜͠͏ ̶̡͒̄ͩ͛̅̇̆̆ͬ̀ ̴͌͑͐̏̄͛͛̾ͤ̈͐̍ͮ̽́̚ ̢ͧ̆̋̈̓ͯ̓̓̈́͆ͨͪͪ̃̚͜ ̸̴̶̶̨ͫͦ̆ͤ͆͛͆̿̎̂̆͛͆ͨ̃̎̇ ͭͫͬ̔ͤͯ͛̀͞ ̴̌̈́̉̍́ͥ̍̀ͥ̚̚͏̶͟͠

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“I fear for my life today more than any other day I have lived. Living against the stigma of being different is a challenge upon itself, a challenge that I was supposed to surpass with one mission. But may it have been the maker or any other thing that calls itself god these days responded that it was not to be. As today, all my dreams are crushed, my best friend fatally wounded, and all the crew have died dishonorably. It doesn’t matter if I have made the biggest discovery I could ever achieve in my life. All would’ve been for nothing if I die here. So that’s what I’m going to avoid, dying in the unknown. Dying with no one knowing I was here, hence my fear.”

Professor Cristal Clear, Diary leaf entry one, Land of the unknown.

Author's Note:

Yeah, re-written. I hope that for the better. And I need a proofreader. Trying to find one. But they seem to run away every time I ask for help. So if anyone reading wants to help I would be grateful. I hope to bring these chapters more frequently.

Monthly minimum.

Thank you for reading.

Comments

[Inquisitor-Awesome]

Good chapter.

[Adin Terim]

It's back

... I'd have more to say, but right now my brain is a little fried. I think of something to say tomorrow