• Published 3rd Apr 2020
  • 7,107 Views, 273 Comments

Indomitable - Slendy



The long trek of a wayward Human now Lucario lost in the world of Equestria, he needs to find a way home, with a little help from a new acquaintance, issue is, can he find his way home or will he choose to stay?

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Chp. 10 - Found

๐˜ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ'๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ๐˜บ ๐˜จ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜จ๐˜ฉ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต

๐˜ ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜บ, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ง๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ

๐˜‰๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ

๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ, ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ด๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ...


My bed feels so soft... ahh. My tail swished a little at the warmth, as I reached to pull the cover closer to me. My brow raised, Strange, very leathery... oh wait, this her wing, ain't it?

"Gah!!" Yep, her indeed. Blinking I awoke to peer my head over the side of a small bed, finding the perplexed and startled Bat-Pony staring up at me, her face completely red. "You wake up... after three days... and you do that to me?"

"Sorry, though, your fault for draping your wing over me, I'm very grabby in my sleep," I smiled, immediately wincing at her lunge onto my still tender injuries as Yui muzzle buried itself into my shoulder, hooves holding me tighter as I let my own blush bloom while wrapping an arm around her gently. "I think I deserve a smack to the head."

I felt Yui hold on dearly, "You do, and so much more," Her voice cut in. "But not right now..."

|H-Hey! He's awake!| A voice broke out that had us separate quickly, both of us unable to face the other as I spotted another Pokemon, the only missing one from the fight, the Shiny Kirlia, and a dude. His leafy arm waved between us,|Um... was I--|

"NO!!" We yelled, obviously Yui just guessed what he was doing. That had him hold his arms up in defense, then several bodies knocked him flying into a wall

I was once more greeted by all Eevees and Merry, alongside the soft yellow pegasus, basically Veterinarian, Fluttershy. The Egg-head and main student of the Princess, Twilight Sparkle, and last, the Tomboy that would be too much for me to handle alongside Taka, Rainbow Dash. The others were probably busy or something, or still downstairs since this was a small room.

"Ah, you're awake, that's a relief!" Twilight started, stepping forward. "After the incident with that monster your pet here suffered many lacerations and poisoning due to a toxin in his bloodstream, that was only made worse by the sulphuric fumes that creature spilled," She smiled knowingly. "Luckily, Fluttershy was able to remove the poison and patch him up, so a few extra days of rest and he should be back to normal."

|Did I just get called your 'Pet'? Am I offended? I think I should be offended| I deflated, Yui trying not to answer me but she did respond

Yui didn't like the sound of it either, "He's not my pet, Miss Sparkle, more of a travel companion who's kept me safe for a while now," Yui smiled happily to me. "I'm just glad you and your friends could help him, so thank you, truly."

|Welcome to the club of, 'we're all just dumb animals to this sadist', we have meetings on Wendsdays| Merry chuckled half-heartedly, earning a flick of that Umbreon's tail. |Hey! Don't act like it doesn't still bother you!|

|It's... grating, but she's not heartless... I think?| If the calm and collective one was unsure then I'm shocked they survived this long. Trinity, I'd like to go back to the Everfree

๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ!

My gaze flattened. Have you been here this entire time?

...๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜บ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ...

We'll talk later. I sighed, pinching my nose before tapping Yui's shoulder. |Maybe we should try my aura telepathy, I'm not playing the 'dumb animal' card with this pony| My bluntness was apparent, and Yui looked more than happy to agree

"Sure, but I think one of them wants to talk to you." Her hoof pointed to the Eevee, her eyes looking up at me warily

|Sup?|

|The sky, you?|

Haha, a woman of humor, I shrugged, |I've been better, thank you for the support before, a really good set of moves you got|

She bowed politely, |It pays to be both offensive and defensive| Then she sat up with her paw raised to me, |Great, manners are slipping, I'm Summer| Her ears pointed to the rest. |The Glaceon is Taka. Umbreon is Kazu. And the nervous Kirlia is Asher|

My smile remained, |Well, nice to... to...| Thoughts came crashing down like stars

The world lost focus for a second while I stared down at the little Eevee, her paw waiting with a smile, her eyes closed. But I saw instead a pale hand reaching out to me, wearing a signature outfit I awoke to almost every morning during the summer days I lazied in bed. The scarlet of her eyes met with the contrast of white hair, just like mine. Just like... it can't be...

I slowly gulped, mouth ajar. |...y-you're here...| Her eyes opened, head craned to one side as the others watched our interaction. |...Sunny...| Her eyes finally twitched, ears folded back

|Wait, but how...?| I didn't stop moving, nor did I care to. My arms reached down to wrap the puffy Eevee tightly in my arms as I smiled with a newfound lightness to my chest

I chuckled slightly, |I love you ...big sis| Her soft gasp was all I needed as her paws curled around me gingerly

|Zen? Zen, i-it's you!? How did--| She started to examine me, clearly dumbfounded by my new appearance as I was

I was laughing, spinning once as I saw the looks of shellshock on the other Pokemon, say for Merry who scratched her head at the scene. |It's me! That's my name! Hahahaha, Summer, Taka, Kazu, Asher, you guys got dragged into this mess too!|

|Not sure how I feel about you saying that...| Taka did a half chuckle, rubbing her nape. |Of all places, of course, you'd end up stuck here with us, you asshole|

By then the five of us were in a group hug as the ponies and Froakie watched the scene with levels of interest and smiles as we laughed. I was so scared I'd never been able to tell them what happened to me, or if I'd ever be back, now... I really don't have any regrets... I had my family back, that's all I cared about. |I love you guys...|

Taka scoffed and broke the hug. |We know, dummy, it's you we're talking about| We all gave her a look, and I held in my squeal of joy at her embarrassed smile. |I-I'm glad you're okay|

|We all are| Summer added, sitting beside me while my smile turned devilish

|So... does this mean I'm the older sibling now?| Her face leered with rage |Aw, it's cute when you pout!| She bit my claw, |Ah! Some girl you are! Where's the love for your dear Big Brother!?|

|I will bite you again, and it will paralyze you| She jabbed a paw at me

"Sorry to interrupt, but what the heck are they sayin' Flutters?" Rainbow asked from afar, Yui just kept a warm smile but something else festered, was it sorrow? I couldn't place in time for Fluttershy's answer

"Um, Zen, the new one, he's apparently Summer's younger brother," Her meek reply brought a dampening silence

I nudged Taka, her ear leaned in. |Think the cat's out...?|

|Give it a minute|

"WHAT!?!"

"Ah, sensitive ears, why, every time!" Yui scowled at primarily Twilight as said Egg-head looked about ready to blow a fuse


"--But this isn't biologically possible!" Again, for the uncounted time those words left Twilight's mouth as we sat around the main floor of her Libary, I'd love to browse her wares but I can't read Equish yet, though Yui has given me a few pointers on our travel. Twilight's magic levitated notes on the others, something I still wasn't given proper confirmation about as Yui was to answer twenty questions. "The DNA of these five is completely redundant due to the evolution properties throwing data through loops with its ever-evolving code! And now I'm trying to piece together how 'He' is related in some logical way to Summer!"

Fluttershy rubbed the back of her head, "Um, Twilight, Z-Zen asked if you... uh, understand how biology works in general." That earned me a glare while I mindlessly rubbed Yui's back, her hooves running circles over her temples, Rainbow just snorted a laugh at my remark

"Twilight, for the last time, I can't tell you how they're related but you can clearly tell from earlier they both a connection," Thank you, Yui! Even Summer looked to sigh as Yui stared unimpressed at the mare

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "No use trying to tell her that, she's not stopping now -- Besides, Twilight's been testing these five for months now and still can barely make heads or tail of any of them, say for maybe the Eevees before two evolved." She motioned to Taka and Kazu. She crossed her hooves. "And after what happened in Spring, yeesh."

|What happened in Spring?| My question traveled through Fluttershy while Taka broke from her stupor and refused to meet my inquisitive gaze, while Kazu looked rather happy, both their auras bounced in tangent as I tried to formulate an answer

Twilight groaned irritably. "Those two--" Her hoof jabbed to the Glaceon and Umbreon. "Happened." That didn't... "Springtime is mating season for many animals, and both Summer and Taka had gone into heat, and the latter couldn't exactly quarantine herself, resulted in Taka having an egg."

I blinked, with Yui sharing a blank look with me. Taka just hid her face behind her ears, but she couldn't stop smiling while Kazu looked just as pleased. |You two...|

Taka snapped, |Oh for all that is holy! Yes, we banged okay! Reeeeal good time it was, happy!?|

Kazu merely morphed into a shadow and slipped into another. |I'll... just move over here...|

|Oh no...| Asher face-palmed

I snorted, |About time|

|What's that mean!?| The floor started to crystalize with ice

My claw pointed crudely at her. |You realize that we had to watch in agony until you two finally decided to hook up? And it took being sent to another world to do so, and you entering heat too| I smiled happily for them anyhow, |Still, can I see the egg? Please-Please-Pleeeease!|

Taka just shook her head in her paw, |Sure, just... you know, be careful, and no picking it up, otherwise you'll be praying that Glavenus cut your head off| That deathly glare, a mother's protective instincts at work, Taka adapts fast it seems. She pouted though, lost in thought, |I've been on edge since Twilight went and examined it without my knowledge so... kind-of want to hurt her|

That had the rest tense up, even Yui flinched at my sudden silence. |What?|

Taka pressed it, glaring at the rambling Twilight who looked to be prepping some new material. |Oh, you heard me, bud. That demon over there hasn't stopped prodding us for DNA and experiments in vain to figure out our biology and stuff! To top it off, trying to keep the stupid timeline in-check has been the biggest pain, so imagine when I'm trying to help keep things in order this broad goes and nicks MY kid!|

My eyes slowly transitioned to Summer, who frowned. |It was annoying always being tested when just about anything popped up, thanks to Asher though I've been fine| Said Kirlia smiled sheepishly at my sister upon seeing her signature closed-eyes smile, the expression could warm the hearts of Gods themselves. |Again, thank you|

He shook his head, |N-Not a problem, anytime, really|

I still didn't really tune it all in. Something... like a pin or coin dropped, sort of like a... 'ping' in a dark, empty room. I could barely hear Yui's muffled worry, and Fluttershy looked to Rainbow with as much concern. My hands felt fuzzy, and not because of the bandages, no... this was... familiar... like when Rika was finally laid to rest... it was this emotion I had only felt the urge to act on once... and the sensation was very... primal.

"--Yui?" Said Bat-Pony looked to Twilight quickly. "You think I could get some samples from Zen? It won't take long but we've only documented five cases and to see a new and highly adapted form is just too foolish to pass up."

While she was eager, Yui didn't share that sentiment, "Twilight, I don't think that's a good idea," She held out her hoof, "I understand, but you keep referring to me like I'm Zen's master when in reality he's my closest friend," Her hoof wrapped around my paw, snapping me back to reality a little, gently squeezing it. "I would have died long before I reached Ponyville, but I had Zen, he taught me so many new things, trusted me, and me in return. So no, you can't have anything on him," Her voice was strict. "If you do, you have to ask Zen."

Twilight huffed a little, "But this could be the greatest discovery in Equestrian history! I've read your documentation after we patched Zen up, you of all ponies should know the value of such information, just the documents alone on these five are near endless troves of priceless knowledge into the animal kingdom as a whole! So--!"

"Don't you dare yell at her...!" I growled, and while the process of projecting my thoughts across everyone gave me a headache, I didn't care, I had heard quite enough

Their heads all swayed to the walls. "Who's saying that?" Rainbow inquired, Asher pointed his arm from the place on Rainbow's lap, her gaze met me. Steadily, her hoof raised. "T-Twilight...?" She jabbed it quickly my way

"Telepathy..!" Fluttershy gaped in shellshock, while Twilight looked at me with that... stupid expression

"You know... I've really hate being angry... never solves anything... never brought me anything but grief, but you... you're special you little runt..." I held in my temper, but cracks had formed subconsciously, and there wasn't much I could do.

Twilight barely formed a sentence. My eyes widened in mocked surprise. "What? Surprised the 'Animal' has something to say, well listen up, wretch," I glowered. "Do you have any idea what I've been through up 'till now? Any guesses?" No reply. "No, you don't."

I stood up, moving in slow strides due to my injured body. "Ever since I came to this damn world I have been surviving in complete isolation for months without any real direction or way out of a forest that was intent on keeping me trapped. I've have suffered countless injuries, A Barroth nearly crushed me. A Nargacuga near sliced me to ribbons. A Tobi-Kadachi had me reeling from static shocks. And now an Acidic Glavenus came so close to melting my face off. But you know what hurts more?"

My paws clenched. "I didn't know if I'd ever see my best friends again... my own big sister's smile..." I grit my teeth. "I couldn't even so much as tell them I was okay... and that... hurt me so much that I wanted to scream...!"

Now, I towered over Twilight seeing her aura tremble at my own. "And I was so happy to hold them again, and now I realize... while I've been getting by on my own, helping out this world and its people... you made them your little experiments... you, dared to take my best friend's kid from her without her consent! You, stupid, little, rat!" My throat gargled the words I forced into her mind, and in turn, all of theirs. Bloodlust seeped into my next line, "Don't you look away from me...!"

My claw pointed to her. "You dare come near them again, Taka's egg, or Yui, and so help me," I leaned closer with repulse in my eyes. "No Elements, no Princess will save you. Pluck even a hair and I'll kill you."

Now utterly terrified of me, I turned and made a B-line for the door, ignoring my body's protest.

With a fake smile and wave kept my eyes to her. "It was not nice meeting you, I pray we never see each other again." I flung the door open, then paused, feeling tired and a need to get away. "For someone who's trying to learn about 'Friendship', you are by far the furthest from it."

"Zen--!" I shut the door and made my way into town. Sorry, Yui... I... don't feel great right now...

Today I found what I lost. But I too late to stop the damage. Just like always.


[Yui's POV]

Fantastic. Great. Superb, things just went from bad to ugly... I rubbed my muzzle at the distasteful air

It had only been fifteen minutes since Zen left, and in that time I hadn't said a word, and from the words exchanged between the Pokemon I could assume they weren't too sure how to handle this themselves. Twilight was, for lack of a better word, distraught, and while I could see that Zen had maybe gone too far, I didn't know him or what could have triggered such an outburst, all I felt was grief in every word he projected.

"I have to ask, how's that guy even related to you?" Rainbow raised a brow to the Eevee, and she shook her head, clearly lost herself. "Still, guess this explains how you guys are so smart."

"I didn't believe myself," Fluttershy worked on keeping Twilight calm again, with Spike handing over a cup of tea for the shaken mare. "I thought you were from the Everfree?"

Taka started speaking, pointing a paw to the door. "She said 'we didn't have a choice, it was either we kept quiet or run the risk of being locked up somewhere for experimentation, this was the safer option'," Fluttershy frowned softly. "Lying isn't any better, but I guess I understand."

"But I would -- No pony would do that!" Twilight snapped, still trying to regain her composure. "I... the five of you have driven me up the wall and back for months, you shouldn't even exist!" Her eyes met Summer's. "Why didn't you just try and communicate before, we could have worked something out instead of all of... this!"

All five yelled their names bitterly. With Taka speaking to Fluttershy. "i..."

"What did she say, Flutters?" Rainbow insisted, rubbing the top of Asher's head gently

With apprehension, she translated. "She said, 'We've tried countless times, you've been so strung up on gathering data on us that we grew fearful of far worse tests, I'm sorry, but the hard truth is that Zen was right, and you should try and find a way to fix this before he grows to completely disregard your life entirely' -- He wouldn't really do that?" Sadly, all of them received a solemn shake from the Glaceon

With a sniff, Twilight turned to me. "Yui, what exactly have you two been through?"

My head craned to Spike, gently lowering my voice. "Spike, do you mind getting me a drink, this might take a while?"

"Of course, honestly I just rather stay out of it." I smiled, good call on his part

I replied. "It's actually quite the adventure, believe it or not, think of it as something from a Daring Doo book."

~---~

"And that's how it is," I concluded

Expressions of all kinds were shared. I recalled our meeting after the Barroth, to his hut in the Everfree, the tower and the battle with the Nargacuga, of course, I left out the Goddess as that was for another time. The rest was pretty easy to recount, eventually meeting Merry and the fillies before Zen ran off to aid the town in the fight against the Wyvern, Acidic Glavenus. There were questions, many counts of speculation on what else Zen as a Lucario could do, as well as what their world was like.

"That's. Awesome!" Rainbow was clearly enraptured by the tale. "You two sound like you were ripped straight out of a Daring Do novel! Kinda lame you only found books down there, but the rest is super cool!"

Fluttershy looked a little worried. "I wish Zen would be more careful, that venom was very dangerous that I had to ask Summer for help in curing him,"

"I share that sentiment, Fluttershy, he's a dummy..."

"Ee~ve~ee!" Summer hopped up on the table, nuzzling my muzzle with a smile

"She said, 'I can't really express my gratitude, even if I could speak, so thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for taking care of my brother." Fluttershy shared the same soft look as Summer, and I tucked my hood down a little to hide my bashful face

"Hey, it's fine, we've been looking out for each other this whole time, so I should be thanking him," I laughed, the Eevee doing the same with Kazu resting a paw on my hoof, bowing his head once. I reached over and scratched behind his ear, seeing him sigh. "Your welcome."

"Yui," All attention rose to Twilight, looking far less obstructed from the world. "I-I'm sorry for what I've said, and... to all of you... I never meant to hurt any of you..." She bit her lip, shame plastered her face. "I was tasked by Princess Celestia in learning the value of Friendship, and I realize now... that this extends beyond Ponies, Dragons, Therstrals, Griffons and others... I should value its worth in all living creatures, based not on their background or species, but on who they are... there's nothing more valuable than that."

Her friends shared in her words, Fluttershy nuzzled Merry, while Rainbow bumped a hoof with Asher's leafy hand. While I was surrounded by the three Eevees. This feeling again, it was pressed against my chest, just like when Zen became my partner, I had a companion in over two years, and now... I had more. "Friendship is not magic, nor is it easy to dispute as such. Friendship is a boundless quality that I could never put a price on, it's simply a feeling of never needing to be alone anymore." It was something Zen needed most of all

"Everypony," I sat up, moving past the Eevees while tugging my hood closer to my forehead. "I'll be back soon. I still have a deal to fulfill"


[Zen's POV]

I was alone on a hilltop that faced the Everfree, even had a nice tree planted perfectly at the top. After a little expiration of the town, I decided it best to meditate on everything, having learned that, surprise, this entire world's calendar is utterly screwed up. Turns out four months is a month in this world, four months in a year, and now I realize how the show's events lined up so... inconsistently. "What a messed up world I find myself in. Thanks, Discord."


Trinity's veil rose with her frown toward Discord.

โ€œEh, hehehe... Sorry,โ€ The chaos spirit said, defensively. โ€œDon't look at me, I'm just doing my duty as a vestige of chaos!โ€


I pulled my scarf up, revealing the scarlet face of the ruby again, did it grow since I last looked at it? Holding it to eye-level, I sighed and closed my paw around its cool frame, shutting my eyes. "Trinity... I... I could really use some advice."

"Your friends are here, I suppose that's on your mind?" I blinked and nearly fell back from the lack of tree behind me... or anything for that matter. I was just staring into a white void, with Trinity sat down in her human form.

A white waistcoat with gold cuffs, a leather thread of some kind wrapped around her waist, hanging strands off to her left. Her crystal vortex hung around her neck against her collarbone. Her trousers were poofy and reached her shins before strange, brown boots wrapped in black thread guarded her lower legs and feet.

I took a quick look at myself, smiling widely at the sight of familiar digits wiggling as another set ran through my white locks. "Oh, how I've missed having real hands!" My smile eventually faltered. "It'd be better if the circumstances were different, but I appreciate the effort." I stared down at the abyss. "So, about them being here? How?"

Trinity looked to the white world thoughtfully. "It's an event that can trigger when a person is sent to another world when that rift is forced open, there's a chance those tied closely to that person can be dragged along, of course, the bond can be as close or as distant, and it can also be a sense of kindred ideals, I've heard of an entire classroom being sent to another world, while another summoned four heroes to theirs, the results vary depending on the circumstances," Trinity smiled sadly. "I never intended on them ending up here."

My head shook. "No, you had no idea what the criteria were and you were against the clock, plus, they seem happy, Taka and Kazu are together so I won my bet with Asher, only now the British shut-in can't pay up." He was from across the seas, so that explains how he got here

I realized it, she wasn't smiling either. "So you found out what happened to them." Of course, she knew already

"Yeah." I drawled, feeling pain in my chest

"And you regret it? Not being able to save them?" Again, my head bowed. "Just as you feel you were unable to save Rika?"

That brought my attention back, Trinity then waved her hand, displaying a new setting, a black void, and broken shards of glass that enveloped us like a hallway, all of the reflections... were memories, my memories. "I told you, I refuse to alter one's fate, but my powers can peer into another life, both their past, present, and future without any control, such is why I wear my veil, for if I revealed my eyes, what I've seen will be projected onto you."

I saw the memory of Rika, all of them, her smile, laugh, her stubborn refusal to cry, even... her smile at the very end. Trinity huffed happily. "She looks so peaceful, not many can experience death without a single regret or fear."

My smile was heavy. "She was always better than me in every way, wonder how she'd have faired in my boots?" I kept my eyes to the memories. "I... saw that memory when fighting Glavenus, was that you?"

"You were beginning to lose yourself in that lingering guilt, all I did was visualize it for you, again, my apologies," My fist balled up. "You can hit me if you want, I am here to listen to you, that includes taking in your frustrations,"

My hands fell apart. "S-Sorry... I... I wasn't always so cheery, every day I had to force a smile for her, I... I bet it was obvious when we met,"

Wiping a few tears, a toothy grin shook on my lips. "I just can't smile for real anymore."

Trinity was suddenly a lot closer. "You should know something, here," Her hand gently cupped my cheek, and a golden hue spread across my face, and one of the reflections took a new form. Now, it looked up at me, my tears streaming down my face in a dimly lit hospital room

My eyes widened. "Is this...!"

"Zen... I hope you won't be mad at me... guess I should have listened, huh? The first time you called me your friend I... was really happy, because I got to see your smile. You were always so blunt, giving me lectures on my stupid behavior, but you always smiled through it with me, even when I wanted to cry,"

"Don't you see? The reason I could smile, that I could smile now... despite... all of this pain... is because of you... because I loved seeing you smile when I was down, it made me stronger, so... I know..."

The image faded, and I muttered out the words for her. "...You'll be okay..."

"Hmm, I'm proud of your growth, many rifts remain but I'm sure you'll prevail with a smile, and don't forget you have others to lean on." I blinked and Trinity was gone, and I was sat against the tree, facing Yui who looked out of breath

"Zen... you're crying," Her hoof wiped them away for me. With my back to the tree, I sighed

"Rika... she was the closest friend I had," My mouth ran without thought or consideration, and it was painful. "If not for her I'd never know Taka, Kazu, Asher, my relationship with my sister wouldn't be as strong as it is now... she made me better."

My voice started to tremble, "I-I-I thought that if I just smiled like she did, kept to the promise we made t-then maybe, maybe she wouldn't be gone, that... that I don't have to let her go..." I couldn't hold my head high anymore. "But she's gone... she's gone and I'm afraid... afraid that I'll forget her."

A hoof brushed against my shoulder. "I'm sorry, I never knew her but... I think she'd be happy with how you turned out." That smile again...

I immediately buried my face in her chest, breaking down with a shiver. Rika, I was scared to move on, to trust someone with the same level of kindness between us, it scared me that I wouldn't be able to save someone again, my failure haunted me, manipulated me into thinking I had moved on. It hurts because I won't ever see your smile again, so I'll just have to smile twice as much for both of us, for real this time.

Yui held me close, not needing to say a word as nearly two years of anguish was finally let go.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note:

Just when things were starting to look up, this was two chapters but I made it one long, sorrowful chapter. May I also say thank you as we reached over 1000 views, not much to some but to me its a milestone and a half. As always, I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support, and seeya in the next chapter!

Chp. 11 - Egg Hunt
Rock. Rock deflects attacks. Rock hurts. Do not let birb have Rock. Encase of Rock you smaller Rock.