Umbral Travels

by pchn00

Chapter 7: Tak'thiss

Chapter 7: Tak’thiss

I take it back. Hive justice is definitely more merciful than the torture that is ‘Ditzy Doo’. See now, ya look at her and think ‘oh she’s a funny looking mare, goofy eyes and silly bubbles for her butt mark.’ But then ya spend time around her. Start bein’ the victim of a few of her ‘accidents’. Now I’m not sayin’ she does it on purpose, least I hope she don’t. But that don’t make them any less dangerous. If I were a lesser changeling I’da been dead five times over after the first week.

Collapsing ceilings, runaway apple carts, surprise lightning strikes. If it’s a disaster that a lone pegasus mare can cause she causes it. I didn’t know what t’think when I heard some’a the other ponies callin’ her Derpy. Don’t hear alotta grown pony’s teasin’ each other like that. But seein’ her in action is enough to inspire names a lot worse in my opinion.

Still, it could be worse. I’m out an’ about in the fresh air rather than rottin’ in the Canterlot dungeons where I belong. Sure I gotta keep up my pony disguise alla time but that ain’t anything I’m not used t’doin. Spent more’n my fair share of time livin’ among the technicolor citizens of Equestria in hidin’. Course I was doin that in Filly, best city inna world if ya ask me. Think I might be gettin’ a lil fat though.

If there’s one thing pony’s love it’s meetin’ a NEW pony. An I definitely fall inta that category. They got me runnin’ the mail from Canterlot t’Cloudsdale. Not door t’door stuff a’course but I run deliveries between the post offices in th’two cities. Never paid much attention t’the mail service myself but I’m learnin’ all about it now. Lucky me. Everypony I stop an’ have a quick chat with is friendly and excited t’make my acquaintance o’course. An I really don’t even gotta do nothin’, just be my usual charmin’ self an I get all the tasty love an friendship I could dream of eatin’.

Time’s like this make me wish more’a my kind would pull their heads outta their thorax an wake up t’the smart way t’collect love. Sure we can stuff a pony in a cocoon an suck ‘em til they’re a withered up husk but then whaddo we got t’show for it? Right, a withered up husk. An that ain’t much good t’nobody. Now my dear old ma had a brain rattlin’ around in her head. I’ll never forget the day she took me aside.

“Tak,” she first called me Tak. Dunno why, she didn’t have nicknames for none’a my siblings. “Tak, I have an important mission for you. I want you to leave the hive and go to a city called Fillydelphia.”

Now this was the first time I was allowed t’leave on my own so I was excited. What sorta mission would it be? Espionage? Assassination? Kidnapping? “Yes my queen! Go there and…?” I sounded like such a mook back then.

She had to ponder her response. “Go there and find a job.”

“A job.”

“Yes, a job. Find a job and preferably someplace to live that isn’t the streets or gutter or something.”

“Find employment, find a domicile. And then?”

“Work, go home. Eat pony food. Blend in perfectly with their society. Make friends around your home or place of business. This is a very important mission son, possible the most important a changeling has ever undertaken for his hive. Can I trust you to do this?”

Now at the time I had no idea what the old lady REALLY had in mind for me a’course, but I figured it had ta be big. I wasn’t about t’let her down. “Of course my queen. I will do as you order and blend perfectly into their city to await further instructions.”

“Good. And Tak, you’re not to harm any of the ponies. Feed only from the ambient emotion in the air, not from a pony directly. Am I understood? You are to never let slip your pony disguise.”

So my ma slapped a map in my hooves and shoved me outta the hive. Then I was off inta the big wide world on my own. Now I weren’t no hatchling or anything, I’d been out an about a few times but always with ma or with a buncha drones. I WAS a prince after all, an’ while that ain’t as important as bein’ a princESS it was still a big deal.

It didn’t take me long t’find Filly. Oh she was a beauty; I could feel somethin’ special about her the second I laid eyes on her. I was always more fond’a flyin’ than spell slingin’ so I went with this dashin’ shape y’see here before ya. An lemme tell ya the fillies couldn’t get enough of old Tak. Er, eventually. At first everypony thought I was a weirdo an’ I guess I can’t really blame em.

Things in a hive don’t exactly work th’same as things in a pony city as I’m sure y’managed t’riddle out. Course I didn’t have th’awe inspirin’ street smarts I’m gifted with now so I introduced myself as ‘Tak’ t’the ponies I met. Not exactly a normal name, most folk though I worked with tacks, them things pony’s use t’hang stuff on their walls? Eh mebbe ya haven’t seen one yet. I’ll show ya sometime I s’pose.

Anyway I was all fired up t’do ma proud so I found myself a job at one’a th’waterin’ holes. A bar like th’one we stopped at in Appleloosa? I’m not alicorn a’course but I was sure stronger’n any normal pony an they hired me on as a bouncer. Basically it was my job t’toss out any trouble makers. Worse it got was somepony havin’ a bit too much t’drink an gettin’ grabby with the bar filly. Not that I could blame em. I hadn’t been around too many ponies but old Tak knows a knock out when he sees one.

An’ Berry Punch…there was a filly with some zest in her. She had this pale purple coat an’ …I dunno magenta or somethin’? Some fancy word for dark red mane. Eyes matched th’mane an she was always smilin’. Always laughin’. Always had somethin’ nice t’say about me too. I didn’t know what it was at th’time but I never went hungry around Berry.

Th’owner of th’bar was a retired royal guard. Name’a Blitzwing. Tough old bastard, pegasus lost his wing in some fight or another, probly with a griffon; he never liked t’talk about it. Gave me a room above th’place. I had my job an my home. Mission accomplished. So then all I had t’do was wait. Keep up my masquerade an wait for orders.

Days turned inta weeks an eventually I stopped keepin’ track. I knew when ma wanted me t’report she’d get in contact. She’d lemme know. An b’tween you an me I wasn’t exactly in any hurry t’leave anyway. While we don’t need t’eat pony food it don’t mean we can’t enjoy it. An kid did I ever enjoy Blitz’ cookin’. Me an Berry started gettin’ cozier. I finally figured out what was always rollin’ offa her when we were around each other. Lust ain’t somethin’ changelings get t’experience directed at em very often but Berry had it bad for me. An I was startin’ t’realize I had it bad for her. Course this wasn’t somethin’ I had planned on. Pony’s are food for us, not companions, mates, or anythin’ else. Just food.

But I didn’t see Berry Punch like that. Or Blitzwing. Or any’a th’regulars who’d come in after their shifts workin’ th’factories. They were friends, an I didn’t want t’lose that. They liked me not cause I put a mind whammy on ‘em, just cause’a who I was. Course I was young an stupid at th’time an ruined everything.

I s’pose this was about…eh…ten years ago or so? Nowadays we changelings have quite the reputation on account’a that bitch Chrysalis up an ruinin’ everything any o’the other Queen’s had worked so hard t’do. Most of ‘em had been gettin’ t’gether for some time t’talk about this little scheme o’theirs. Sendin’ our some’a us t’see if we could live with yer kind. Be ponies in everythin’ that mattered. An it worked t’a degree.

Still even though we didn’t have th’high profile rep we got now, pony’s still heard’a us. We were a scary story mares’d tell their foals t’get em t’behave at night. “Be good or the changelings will get you!” Still I didn’t think any’a that would matter. Not t’Berry. So I did somethin’ I’ll regret my whole life. I showed her th’real me.

I didn’t want our relationship t’be built on a lie y’see? I s’pose it might be hard t’understand, ya ain’t exactly a social butterfly, but yer getting’ there. I can see ya tryin’ so hard an I like that. But Berry, she didn’t take it well. More like she screamed an ran for Blitz. Up came the old war vet, Berry shriekin’ about how a changeling went an took Tak. Replaced him.

Now Blitzwing weren’t no fool. Lookin’ back on it I’m pretty sure he had me pegged the minute I walked inta that bar. But he knew most pony’s weren’t quite as well travelled as he was, they wouldn’t understand. All they’d see is a monster. So he made a big show of chasin’ me outta town. Saved my life is what he did. Berry had rounded up herself a mob an they would done me in on the spot.

I wound up back in the hive. And my mother, sweet old lady was there waiting for me. She took me aside and we talked for a while. I don’t remember what about exactly but…it was a nice talk. I was pretty broken up and I couldn’t understand why she thought that was such a good thing. Then she explained it to me. Explained the idea she and the other queen’s had come up with, about how we could live WITH the pony’s instead of feeding off them. Told me how proud she was of the huge steps I’d made for our people. How this could be the start of something truly amazing.

Mother, and a few other queens were making preparations to go to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia. Those of us who’d participated in their big experiment had learned enough about the good and generous princess to know that if we approached her openly and honestly she’d be willing to listen to our request.

Of course not every queen was a fan of this plan. Some clung to the old ways stubbornly; felt that we were better than the pony’s we so heavily depended on to survive. What rubbish. But there was one who was even worse than that. She saw their dream for a better future, and twisted it in her mind. Why live beside pony’s? Why live in their shadows? Why don’t we rule them?

That’s what Chrysalis wanted. A kingdom of enslaved pony’s for us to feed on for all time. What an idiot. Make all the pony’s miserable and what do we have to feed on? Misery. And let me tell you, misery is not exactly any changeling’s idea of a tasty dinner. I sometimes wonder if things would have been different if I were with my mother when Chrysalis attacked. Would I have made a difference? Could I have saved her? You can’t spend too much time on questions like that or you’ll drive yourself nuts of course.

Chrysalis had been hoarding her power for months in preparation for her attack. While the queen’s looking for peace had been feeding on the trickles they could share from the scouts like myself who had been living with the pony’s. It was a massacre, they had no chance against an over fed monster like her. By the time we found our murdered queen’s Chrysalis was already in the process of absorbing as many hives as she could. The Crystal Mountains were the furthest and I managed to scatter as many of my hive as I could.

Well you know the rest. I wandered without a home, friend, or family. I probably could have gone back to Filly, taken a new identity. Probly even get my old job back. But it somehow felt wrong to me. I bummed around Equestria for a while never staying in one place for too long. Turns out Chrysalis had been hunting for me all along. She didn’t take kindly to my cleaning out the hive and depriving her of a huge source of drones. Some of her boys caught up with me outside Detrot and we had ourselves a bit of a tussle. I walked away, they didn’t.

I wasn’t in the best of shape. Really I think I crawled down into those tunnels expecting to die. I didn’t have much to live for, didn’t care about what happened to myself anymore. Imagine my surprise when I found you. A pony just happy as can be…well as happy as you ever get anyway, living with those giant spiders of yours.

“That’s why I need you to wake up Umbra. You gave me something I never thought I’d find again. You gave me your friendship. And while you’re not the cheeriest of friends, you’re the first pony who’s ever really accepted me for who I am and I…” With a sigh I gently rest my nose against hers, lying muzzle to muzzle on the bed. “I really don’t want to lose you.”
The room Luna gave my friend to recover in is dark as always. The heavy curtains drawn shut to keep the sun she hates so much out. I’m tempted to throw them open. Maybe if pleading doesn’t work I could try annoying her into waking up? It’s definitely not hard to get a rise out of the kid. She looks so peaceful lying on that bed there. It’s strange seeing her without a scowl on her face. Strange but nice. With a sigh I climb down and make my way from her room, carefully closing the door behind myself.

Five weeks tomorrow now we’ve been ‘guests’ of the princess. Though she has given us rooms in the castle so that’s not too bad. Trixie seems to enjoy her work in the library even if she spends most of her time fretting over Umbra. My deliveries for the day are done so I trot on down to check on my conscience pony friend. It wasn’t too long til the crazy mare practically took over in the library. M’sure she was quiet at first, had t’adjust o’course. Once she got comfy though…

“No no no! Honestly doesn’t anypony in this entire castle know their alphabet? Get those books straightened out. Magica cannot have somepony wandering into her library and not be able to find Magical Mysteries because one of you shelved it after Myths and Legends!”

Shaking my head I wander into the maelstrom. There’s Trixie directing the poor librarians who should by all rights be bossing HER around. She does have a very commanding presence though I’ll give her that. Th’kid can be pretty charismatic when she wants t’be. “Hey uh, Magica. Y’think maybe y’wanna tone it down? Don’t gotta remind ya of angry mobs an bein’ run outta every town in Equestria do I?”

Her smug look switched to chagrined in a blink. “A…ah. Magica supposes she may have gotten a trifle carried away. But honestly Tak these ponies must have forgotten how to shelve books without Twilight Sparkle breathing down their necks.”
“C’mon kid let’s go get somethin’ t’eat. My treat.” The poor ponies in the library look up eagerly as she reluctantly agrees, following me from the room. I can almost hear the cheers as I drag her off.

“I’ll apologize to them. I’m just getting a little stir crazy I think. I don’t like being in one place for so long. I like to be on the road.”

Poor kid. She does sound genuinely upset. “Eh buy ‘em some cupcakes or donuts or somethin’. They’re a buncha book nerds; they’ll go nuts over a pretty mare bringin’ ‘em treats.”

She eyes me with an arched brow. Uh oh. “Pretty” hm?”

I laugh weakly. “Y’got me. I can’t getcha outta my mind. Magica the Magnificent is all I think about all day every day.”
Her amusement fades a bit. “I know you’ve only got eyes for her. I’m not some school filly with stars in her eyes.”

I shrug casually holding the door for her. A quick glance around to make sure we’re alone before I talk again. “Remember where I’m from. I ain’t some pony who’s lookin for his ‘special SOMEpony’. I’m a changeling, males are used mostly for breedin’. Old Tak’s more than happy t’take on a couple’a mares at once. Plus I doubt Umbra’s really lookin’ t’start a relationship.”

“My my Tak, with such romantic words as that how are you not draped in mares at all times?”

“Hey I wanna woo me some cute piece’a tail I can pour on th’charm. But yet not just some bar room floozy t’me. We’re chums y’know? Just wanna be straight with ya.” An’ truth be told I ain’t exactly ready t’put my heart out there fer another pony t’stomp all over. Sure Trixie already knows the real me but that don’t exactly make the bad memories just disappear.
She’s eyeing me appraisingly. Probly tryin’ t’figure out how serious I am. Partly my own fault I s’pose, I may or may not make it a habit t’double talk an dodge questions as much as I can. She’s quiet th’rest a’the trip down town. It’s Friday night so the eateries are packed. We get in line behind a couple’a nervous lookin’ giggling fillies. Oh emotion is just oozing off’a them. By the hive but I love teenagers. I feel myself getting full just standin’ there behind ‘em. Kinda an unusual couple, one’a them night pony’s and a pegasus filly. Night pony looks a little familiar. Trixie’s starin’ hard at her too.

That’s when I see what the green filly has around one leg. Bleeding Heart’s sword. This couldn’t possibly be the same creature who knocked Umbra inta a coma could it? Trixie’s looking at me wide-eyed. It’s definitely the same night filly I thrashed; the other one has t’be the girl somehow changed inta a filly. Not too surprisin’ I guess since she pals around with Luna.

Trixie tugs me outta line an down the alley between the restaurant an’ the café next t’it. “What do we do?”

I shrug. “What about? They dunno who we are like this. That’s th’whole point’a th’disguise Trixie.”

She frowns and I gotta bad feelin’ I know exactly what she wants t’do. “We need to apologize to them Tak.”

“I don’t think that’s a great idea.”

Her eyes narrow a bit. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I’m going to. I might not have attacked them but I was the one who lured them to you and Umbra. I have to clear my conscience and I hope you feel the same.”

Before I could call her back she was already muscling her way through the line back to the fillies. Ugh, mares. If they weren’t so easy on th’eyes I might swear ‘em off forever. Trixie’s talkin’ em outta th’line. The night pony don’t look happy ‘bout losin' their spot but her friend talks her inta it. With a grimace I take off after the three of ‘em as Trixie walks ‘em out to one’a the like, dozen parks around this city. Seriously if they love parks so much why th’hay don’t they just live without alla walls an stuff?

“…can’t apologize enough for the trouble, and pain we caused. We’re here performing community service at Princess Luna’s behest while Umbra recovers. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I had to say something.” Trixie sees me comin’ and shoots me a look I read as ‘you better apologize too or I’m gonna make your life a living hell’. I’m a changeling prince, a pretty powerful creature in my own right but I’d rather not get on her bad side.

It’s hard t’tell just what th’fillies are thinkin’. The green pegasus looks conflicted. Maybe she’s the only one who’s hard t’read, the night filly looks pissed. “Erm. What she said. M’sorry about th’fightin’ an’ all. It was a big misunderstandin’.”

Oops. That wasn’t the right thing t’say. Now the junior guard pony or whatever looks a lot angrier. Her good wing is flaring at her side as she stares me down. What’s with me an runnin’ inta all these scary broads all’a sudden? I can’t look at this filly an’ not think’a that awful shriek she’s got goin for her.

“A misunderstanding? Your crazy friend shattered my wing and YOU nearly killed Jen!” The night pony tugged her friend’s tail. “C’mon Jen let’s get outta here. If Lady Luna’s already dealt with them then they’re not our business anymore.”

That was the name. Knew it was somethin’ weird but she’s normally an alien or somethin’ right so I guess that ain’t too surprisin’. She ain’t budgin’. She’s just sittin’ there starin’ at me now.

“Were you two getting dinner? Why don’t we eat together? You can explain to me and Echo what all that was about.”

Trixie looks relieved, me not so much. In my experience ponies do one’a two things when they get a known changeling inna big crowd a’their own. Start screamin’ that we’re there, or outright bucks us in th’face themselves. Course if that was the case she’d probly already be roundin’ up the posse. Or at least throwin’ that sword a’hers around. “Sure. Your treat?”

To my relief the green one, Jen smirks. “That’s not very gentlemanly of you.” Her friend just looks aghast. Can’t say I blame her. If someone broke my wing an nearly beat Trixie or Umbra t’death I’d probly not wanna be sittin’ with em either.
Echo’s grumblin’ in the alien pony’s ear the whole way. Gotta admit I’m curious how she swung that. Transformation ain’t exactly easy for folk who aren’t born with th’ability like me an mine. Plus she ain’t gotta horn now but wings, what’s all THAT about?

The pegasus trots up to the front of the line cool as a cucumber talking quietly with the maître dee whose eyes widened slightly as he took her in. Soon he’s rushin’ us through th’restaurant an up t’one’a the nice V.I.P. booths. Me an Trixie share a look before slidin’ in across from th’fillies. “What th’hell was all that about?”

Jen shrugs a little as she fumbles with her menu. Looks like somepony ain’t use t’her hooves yet. I know how that can go. “Around Canterlot I’m Jubilant Surprise, student of Princess Luna. Never tried using that to get favors around the city. I might have to name drop a little more.” She grinned with just th’right amount’a wickedness I like in a pony.

“S’pose there ain’t alotta green fillies with no cutie mark and a big magic sword on her leg runnin’ around huh? Not hard t’prove who y’say y’are.”

She’s starin’ again. “So what’s your deal? You’re some kinda shape changing bug pony right?”

I look around in a bit of a panic but I shouldn’t worry. The booths up here’re pretty far apart an’ unless the waiter’s lurkin’ around th’corner nothin’ we say’s gonna get heard. “Somethin’ like that. M’called a changeling. We eat emotion an such.”
The night pony doesn’t try to hide her scowl as she buries her muzzle in the menu; the other one though just looks more an’ more interested. “So d’you all run around jumping girls in the woods or what?”

“Nope!” I inject a bit of my trademark humor. “Just me. I think. I used t’run with a hive but m’a solo act now. Well cept for th’two lunatics I gotta keep an eye on.”

Trixie jabs me indelicately in the side with a hoof. “Tak and Umbra found me in the castle where we ah…last met. I’d taken up residence there. Umbra’s new to the surface world and was looking for a guide.”

That seems to’ve grabbed the night filly’s attention as she looks up curiously from the menu. “New to the surface? So where was she before?”

I take over now. Only pausing in my story when the waiter comes for our orders, and comes again to bring the food. I’m straight with the pair, I owe them that much at least. About Umbra that is. I don’t see any reason to go into my own life story with these two. I tell what I know. Meeting her and she believing she was one of those spiders of hers. Jen looks a little disturbed when I get to the part about Bleeding Heart and how she was Umbra’s only friend.

“No wonder she seemed so mad. I wish she’d just talked to me. I could have summoned Heart to chat with her.”

Even Echo seemed to’ve warmed up a bit. At least she wasn’t scowling at us the entire time. “Tak and I tried to talk her out of it but she was so…determined to demonize you. And now look where it’s gotten her. She hasn’t woken up in weeks. The princess says she’s recovering but…she just lays there.”

Trixie’s voice catches in her throat and I put a leg around her shoulders pulling her a little closer. She doesn’t resist. The alien filly is frowning now. “I didn’t mean to hurt her so badly. If there was anything I could do..”

I shake my head. “No. You were just defending yourself. You don’t have anything to apologize for. We don’t blame you for what happened I promise. This is all on us.”

Her wings ruffle in agitation. “Well if you need anything, just someone to talk to I’m here every weekend. Luna’s usually bashing me around in the training hall at night or I’m out with Echo, but during the day I’m just bumming around the city.” She brightened and nudged her fillyfriend. It was pretty obvious the two were an item. “And Echo’s here all the time! She’s always looking to meet new ponies.”

The sudden look of alarm on the young cadet’s face had me cracking a grin of my own. “Well we’ll keep that in mind. I think me and Trixie’ve taken up enough of your night though. Thanks for dinner girls.” They don’t seem in any hurry to be on their way so Trixie and I leave alone, heading back to the castle.

“There now, don’t you feel better?”

I grunt. “Not really. They’re good kid’s. Now I feel worse. So thanks for THAT oh great and powerful one.”

She trotted ahead of me with a slight spring in her step. “Well I feel better.” She paused and dragged her tail across my muzzle, finishing with a light slap to my cheek. “Maybe I can help YOU feel better too.” She slipped into her room casting me one last glance over her shoulder before the door closed.

I may be a little twisted up inside over those fillies but I’m not one to refuse a pretty mare a request like that. She’s hurting just as much as I am. I think a little escape will do us both good. Even if it’s just for one night. Mind made up I follow her into the dimly lit room, and with a girlish giggle she tosses that hideous hat of hers over my face. When I pull it away and see her waiting for me on the bed, I grin and join her.

***

I am not sore. This is the first of the evening’s pleasant surprises. The next is that I am actually opening my eyes. I hear light hoof steps stepping across a thickly carpeted room. With some effort I force my eyes open further in time to see the imposing shape of Princess Luna making her way from my bedside to the door.

“….h…” My voice is irritatingly difficult to find. Barely more than a hoarse whisper. “…how…” Though it is enough. She whirls at the sound of my torturous croaking’s, eyes wide the alicorn princess rushes back to my side. The concern in her eyes is clear as she stares down at me. Mercifully the only illumination in the room is her horn as it shines with a gentle azure aura drifting a glass of water to my lips. I swallow small sips without hesitation. It helps.

“…how long…have I slept?”

She is quiet for a few moments as she stares down at me. “Five weeks. Your recovery has been slow. We can recover from much but it is possible to slay us.” The ghost of a smile finds her lips. “You are a stubborn young mare Umbra. I had no doubt you would awaken in your own time.”

This is not what I wanted to hear. Five weeks? Five WEEKS? So long a time gone, slipped away from me while I languished here in a sickbed. “Tak? Trixie?”

“Your friends are well. They are paying for their crimes by performing work here in Canterlot. Tak is running deliveries for our mail service and Trixie is…helping in the library. Both seem to have few complaints. I can fetch them if you wish? I am sure they wish to see you.”

I struggle to rise to my hooves and to my horror find I am barely able to lift my legs, let alone rise fully. Luna watches my efforts with mixed emotions. I feel she wishes to assist me, but does not wish to over step her bounds. I do not encourage her to do the former. With a defeated sigh I slump back into the comfortable bed.

“It is late is it not? Let them rest. I will see them in the morning I expect.”

She nods slowly. “Do you…require anything? Anything I can fetch you?”

Luna is hesitant. Nervous. I have a feeling this is not her normal demeanor. Of course I imagine being reunited with the child you thought dead for two decades would be a jarring experience. Perhaps it is not so profound a moment for me because I had a mother who loved and cared for me my entire life. I think perhaps I should say something to put her at east, but what can I say? I could lie I suppose. Tell her I am no longer angry, that I have forgiven her. But I do not feel she wishes to hear empty words, nor do I think she will be fooled.

Instead I shake my head. “I am fine. I will see my friends in the morning. I am sure they will provide anything I wish.”

A slight twitch of an ear is her only outward tell that she is pained by my response. “Yes of course. I will make sure they are made aware you have awoken. Should you wish to speak with me I will post a guard at your door. Do not hesitate to call on me.” Another pause hangs heavily in the air. And then she is gone.

With a soft sigh I set my sights at a more reasonable goal. Lifting and holding my left forehoof aloft. Perhaps not the most impressive of tasks, but in the state of weakness I am in a reasonable goal for me to aim for. Am I being too hard on Luna? She certainly seems genuine in her desire to reconcile with me. Perhaps I will speak with her tomorrow. Or the day after.

…perhaps I will speak with her soon.

Comments

[damnaion]

hummmm a lovely slice of life chapter