She hadn’t meant to have slept in so late. Having planned to get up early in hopes of seeing Tormod before the sun rose, the events of the previous day and her own worry for her brother, caused her to sleep in. Tourmaline grumbled as she remembered staying awake for most of the night before sleep forcefully took her away. Combing her worry, her physical exhaustion, and her spats with Wanderer, she hadn’t felt so drained in all her life.

Sprawled out on her bedroll, she didn’t respond to the hoof as it tried to wake her. She groaned and rolled over, pulling her blanket over her head.

The shaking came again. “Come on, Tourmaline, wake up,” she heard the voice of Wanderer say.

Groaning again, she gave half-hearted swats at the hoof. “Go away, Wanderer. Let me sleep.”

“Faithful is here to take us to see Tormod.”

A knot of dread clenched in her gut and her eyes shot open as she sat upright. “Is he okay!”

He held up his hooves to calm her. “He’s okay. He’s just asking for us.”

Her shoulders slumped as the knot slowly undid itself. Rubbing at her eyes, she stood, shaking the blanket from her withers. “All right, let’s go.”

A curious look crossed his face as he stared at her.

Frowning at the look, she asked, “What?”

His eyes narrowed after widening at her tone—one she admitted to being a bit curt. With a jerk of his head, he headed back for the tent flap. “Nothing.”

As he stepped out of her tent, she snorted quietly before following after him. Wanderer had apparently started cooking breakfast before he had tried to wake her—the clover leaves were still sizzling over the fire. Faithful Watcher stood nearby, her tail occasionally flicking as she waited for them, though her eyes drifted to the cooking greens. A buck stood on the fringe of the camp, his dark eyes watching the ponies.

The doe turned a pleasant smile Tourmaline’s way. “Good daylight to you, sky-rider. Did you sleep well?”

“Like a log,” she muttered. “And please, don’t call me sky-rider. My name is Tourmaline.”

The buck bristled at her tone, as Faith lowered her head. “I did not mean to offend. Please accept my apology.”

Tourmaline’s ears flicked as a breeze blew through. “It’s all right.” She turned her gaze to the buck as his eyes darted between the speakers—there was something about him that was familiar. “Who is this?”

A wide smile crossed Faith’s muzzle. “This is Risen Hart. He and I were born in the same spring. He is wanting to learn Equestrian, so he is going to be with me as I help you.” The doe turned an affectionate smile to the buck, before speaking in their native tongue.

“I… greet you, sky-rider and earth-tamer,” Risen said, dipping his head to them. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you.”

Wanderer lifted an eyebrow at him. “What do you mean?

Frowning faintly, Faith’s ears pinned back before speaking. “Risen was one of the warriors who helped capture you.

Tourmaline’s eyes narrowed. “That’s where I’ve seen you before! I didn’t appreciate you putting that blindfold and lead around me.”

Risen blinked and looked at Faith for a translation. The doe frowned before speaking. “Please, sky—Tourmaline, we did as we felt we must. We did not know if you were of the Bringers or not, so please accept our apology.”

Tourmaline blew a sigh through her nose. “Is my brother okay?”

A happy smile danced across Faith’s muzzle. “He is indeed. I spent most of the previous moonlight caring for him. I believe he will overcome his sickness.”

The news brought a relieved smile to Tourmaline’s face. “Can we go see him?”

“Yes, when you are all ready.”

Wanderer stirred the cooking greens before setting down the spoon. “Let me get Trixie up and eat first.” He looked at Faithful. “Would you and your friend like to eat with us, Faith?”

The doe bit at her lower lip, casting a worried glance at the fuming Tourmaline before speaking with her companion in their own tongue. The buck gave a nod when she finished. “We would... if your companions will allow it.”

Tourmaline huffed. “Wanderer, why do we need to wait for Trixie? Just leave her here.”

He glowered at her. “We can’t just leave her here alone. What would you think if you woke up and it was only you in a strange new village? Be fair, Tourmaline.”

As much as she wanted to argue with him, she knew he was right. “Fine,” she spat and turned away.

He turned without another look at her and walked into Trixie’s tent. Though Tourmaline kept it from her face, she wanted nothing more than to scream at him. Why did he go out of his way to look after that annoying showmare? What did he see in her? Why would he look after a stranger and not care about his marefriend?

Why did it hurt so much to see him looking after Trixie?

Again, she wanted to scream, but she refused to let her hurt show. She had her pride after all, and she was not about to let it go.

She turned back as she heard the tent flap lift and saw Trixie yawning broadly. “Trixie apologizes. She is ready to go.”

“After we eat,” Wanderer said, pulling the greens from the fire.

After the five shared a conversation-less breakfast, Tourmaline followed after Faithful through the labyrinth of conical tents of the deer village, with Risen Hart following closely. Where previously the deer viewed them with suspicion or disdain, they seemed to outright ignore the pony’s presence. Tourmaline was reminded once again of the buffalo tribes near Appleloosa, but the deer seemed less chaotic as they went about their daily tasks. Mothers and fathers looked after the fawns and took care of their day-to-day tasks. The bucks didn’t charge and head butt one another in a show of strength, or any other behaviors the buffalo had. It was all strangely comforting, yet alien at the same time.

The procession came to a halt, however, as a group of young fawns bounded towards Faithful—each of them talking excitedly and smiling wide.

The doe smiled before she spoke to the small group in their odd language. At one point the group looked at the ponies in unison and one youngling seemed to ask a question. Faith nodded and spoke more before another fawn tugged at her foreleg and pointed towards the small field they had come from. A small painted gourd lay forgotten in the grass.

Faith smiled warmly before shaking her head, and the youngling gave a synchronized ‘aww’ of disappointment.

Trixie tilted her head as the young deer ran back to the field and their colored gourd. “They wanted you to play with them?”

Faith nodded. “When I am not caring for the sick and injured, I try to spend time with the children of our tribe. With the adults busy, the young look for many to play with them.” She smiled wistfully. “I remember those days myself with the utmost fondness.”

Trixie smiled. “You don’t seem that old, Faithful. If Trixie could ask, how old are you?”

“I have seen my sixteenth winter this past year.”

She paused to look back as the ponies stared at her in shock. “Did I say something wrong?”

“N-No,” Trixie said, shaking her head. “It’s just Trixie thought you much older. You seem so mature to be that young.”

“In Equestria, you would still be considered a foal,” Wanderer added.

This time, it was Faithful’s turn to appear shocked. “This is true? But at what age do you prepare to become warriors? A White Tail undergoes the rite of adulthood after twelve winters. What do the ponies do for your rite of passage?”

“We really don’t—”

“Can we please save the questions for after we see my brother?” Tourmaline interjected. “We’ve waiting long enough, don’t you think?”

Faith lowered her head, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. “Yes, forgive me. I was curious.”

Tourmaline tried to smile at her, but it ultimately failed. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried.”

“With good reason, sky—Tourmaline.” She turned and motioned for them. “Come, let us not delay.”

As they walked, Tourmaline noticed that Wanderer kept looking at her. His lopsided grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

She furrowed her brow at him, for some reason, that grin annoyed her. “What? I’ve been patient.”

He shook his head, his grin not fading. “It’s not that.” His eyes darted to her mane. “I’m just not used to seeing you without your mane being combed. You kinda look like a wildmare.”

Her hoof darted to her unbrushed mane and her face took a redder hue. “Oh, shut up, Wanderer,” she said with more vehemence than she intended.

She saw his hurt expression and she looked away, trotting to catch up to Faithful.

“It looks good on you!” he called after her. Her ear swiveled back at him as she heard him whisper to himself. “What did I say wrong?”

They soon found themselves in front of another tent, though this one smelled of herbs and incense. A number of empty ceramic jars were set around outside, the jars smelling the most of the aromas.

Faithful barely managed the words, “We are here,” before Tourmaline dashed inside.

"Tormod?” she called out. Her eyes gazed over the dimly lit tent and the ceramic jars that stood next to many cots before settling on the cot where the unicorn in question was rubbing at his ears.

"And just as the ringing went away,” he muttered.

She tried to run over to him, intent on crushing him in a relieved hug when she felt a tug on her tail.Risen’s magic faded from the antlers of his head as Tourmaline looked back. “Please, be gentle,” Faithful said. “His injury is recent, and he is still weak from the sickness.”Tourmaline’s eyes widened and she nodded thankfully before trotting to Tormod’s side. “Tormod, are you all—” was all she managed before he used his unbandaged foreleg to pull her into a weak hug.

“I’m all right. I was just worried about all of you.” He released her and peered at Wanderer and Trixie as they watched. “Wanderer, glad to see you’re doing well.”

Wanderer smirked, tugging on the brim of his hat. “Not from lack of trying.” He sat on the other side of Tormod’s cot and patted his friend on the uninjured shoulder. “How’s that shoulder doing?”

Tormod huffed and looked at his foreleg that was bandaged and splinted. “It hurts worse than anything I can remember, but at least it doesn’t burn anymore.” He peered past them to Faithful and gave her an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Miss Watcher.”

She beamed at his compliment and lowered her head in gratitude. “I am most happy to see that my efforts have helped you.”

“They saved my life.” He looked at Trixie and he smiled again. “How are you doing?”

A slight smile played across Trixie’s face. “Trixie is doing fine, thanks to you.” She tried to approach but the look from Tourmaline stopped her.

Tormod caught the look and looked between them. “What’s going on?”

Before Tourmaline could reply, Wanderer spoke. “She blames Trixie for what happened to you.”

Tormod turned his incredulous look at her. “Seriously, Tourmaline?”

She shot an angry glare at Wanderer before pointing a hoof at Trixie. “If she hadn’t wandered off like she did, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt. If she had just listened to us, we wouldn’t be here right now.” Her face turned in a nasty glare. “It’s all her fault.”

Trixie bristled and a few angry tears collected around her eyes. “Trixie knows she shouldn’t have gone alone. She understands that, but she did everything she was asked to do and more to help.”

“Because it’s your fault!”

“And Trixie is sorry!” she screamed right back, the guilty tears running down her face.

As Tourmaline saw those tears, a wave of confusion washed over her. This self-centered mare was actually feeling guilty?

“Trixie is so sorry…” Trixie whispered.

“And I’ve forgiven you,” Tormod said, grunting as he shifted his weight on the cot.

“What?” Tourmaline and Trixie said in unison—the former incredulously and the latter in surprise.

He turned his glance to his sister. “It was an accident and they happen.” He grimaced a bit before speaking again, “Yes, Trixie shouldn’t have gone alone, but neither should I have let her go. In that way, it was my fault as well.”

Tourmaline sputtered. “B-But—”

“Look, Tourmaline, that manticore wasn’t normal. My barrier has held up to larger creatures before, albeit it for not very long, but there was something different about it.”

“It was touched by the Spirit of Disease,” they heard Faithful spat. “When our warriors followed your trail—” her eyes shifted to Risen before looking back,“—we came across the manticore. It’s eyes, the foam around its muzzle, and how it still tried to reach our warriors—even though paralyzed—spoke of her touch.” Her gaze lowered, a look of regret crossing her face. “We ended its misery. It is now beyond her reach.”

Wanderer looked at Tormod. “You know who the Spirit of Disease is, right?”

He nodded. “The Elder came to speak with me after the healers were able to get rid of the disease.” A shudder coursed up his spine. “I didn’t want to end up like the manticore.”

“Did the Elder tell you about what he wants us to do?”

Again, Tormod nodded. “He did, and I think we should help them.”

Tourmaline shook her head before he even finished. “We can’t, Tormod. You’re too injured to go with us.”

He hissed as he tried to shift his weight on the cot. “I know. That is why you should take Trixie with you.”

While Trixie looked surprised, Tourmaline seethed. “No! She is not going with us!”

Tormod’s lip downturned in a frown. “Tourmaline, stop being so stubborn.”

“I won’t!” she yelled and pointed an accusatory hoof Trixie’s way. “She got you hurt, she was useless with the timberwolves, and she doesn’t know the first thing about what we do! She’s gonna get one of us killed!”

Trixie moved to speak, but Wanderer placed a hoof on her withers. When she looked at him, he shook his head and nodded towards Tormod.

Said unicorn took in a breath before speaking. “Be reasonable. I am injured and won’t be able to help you. You will have Wanderer to handle the heavy jobs, and your eyesight will help spot danger. You need Trixie to help with anything that will require a magical touch.”

She shook her head again. “We’ll ask one of the deer to go with us. They can use magic too.”

“Actually…”

The four turned to Faith at her interjection. “Our own magic is not as strong as an aura-weavers.”

“But we’ve seen you use telekinesis, and make magical lights,” Trixie said.

Faith nodded. “It is nearly the limit of what we can do. Our magic is more focused in nature and illusion magic rather than directly bending the magical aura to our will.”

Tormod rubbed at his chin, a pensive frown crossing his face. “I would like—”

“Still!” Tourmaline shouted. “I would rather take a deer warrior than her! I’d sooner take him!” She pointed at Risen Hart who blinked in surprise as Faith translated.

“I think we are forgetting something important here,” Wanderer said, trying to head off further argument. “We haven’t even asked Trixie if she would help us or not.” He turned his gaze to her. “Trixie, do you want to help us? We’d understand if you didn’t.”

As Trixie looked between them, Tourmaline scowled all the fiercer. Why didn’t Tormod and Wanderer see?! This showmare was so self centered that she wouldn’t dare help anypony else out. Why would they think she would do anything else but look after herself?

After a moment, Trixie sighed and turned to Tormod. “Trixie will help.”

“What!”

Trixie turned a challenging glare her way. “Tormod and Wanderer have helped Trixie, it is time that the Great and Powerful Trixie returned the favor.”

When Tourmaline saw the other two smile, she finally snapped. “No! No! No! I will not do this!” She turned sharply for the exit, ignoring Wanderer calling after her.

As she stepped outside, she heard her brother speak, “Let her go, Wanderer. She needs to cool down.”

Hearing that, she spread her wings and took to the sky. Flying above the village, she ignored the surprised shouts of the villagers below and flew for the Mother Oak. While she couldn’t see a branch low enough for her to rest on, the exposed roots were massive enough to double as tall hills.

When she settled on one such root, she looked back at the village below—her gaze on the healer's tent in the distance. As she stared, she felt her anger and frustration begin to reach a boiling point. Like a river bursting its banks, she screamed at the top of her lungs—all of her pent up emotions bellowing out in her scream. Even after finishing, it just wasn’t enough. She screamed again and again until her lungs ached.

Finally, with nothing left to give, she flopped on her belly. The feelings of betrayal and grief threatening to overwhelm her as she covered her head with her forelegs.

“That was perhaps the saddest scream I have ever heard.”

Tourmaline dashed at her eyes and whirled to see the Elder not far away—his storm-grey eyes showing a faint concern.

She sniffed. “H-How did you catch up with me?” Wiping quickly at her nose so that she wouldn’t appear as disheveled as she felt.

“We deer are capable of covering a great distance, sky-rider, and the Great Mother told me where to find you.”

Her violent irises turned up to the massive tree a moment before she sat on her haunches. “Why won’t you leave me alone? I don’t want to talk to anyone.”

“Because I recognize when someone is hurting—be they deer or pony—and it is my place to lend aid to those in need of it.”

She snapped a glare at him, the corners of her mouth down turning. “What do you care? You hate us ponies anyway.”

A disapproving frown crossed his muzzle. “I do not hate ponies, sky-rider, I distrust them. But my distrust is born from the memories of my Elders.”

She purposefully turned away from him, her gaze settling on the village below. It was not long before she felt his presence beside her.

“May I sit?”

A snort blew through her nose and she turned away. “You wouldn’t go away even if I told you to. So I don’t care.”

He sat beside her and the two sat in silence for a long while. Her thoughts were on Wanderer and Tormod and how they so quickly forgot her for that annoying showmare. She and Wanderer had been friends since they were little, and only recently did that friendship became the start of a romance—a romance she still clung to. How could he be so easily discard her for another? It wasn’t—

“I don’t believe that.”

She turned a surprised look his way. “What?”

“What you said, ‘I don’t care,’ I don’t believe that.” He turned his gaze to her fully. “In truth, I believe you care very much.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“I have seen how much you truly care for your kin, sky-rider. Your love and concern for your brother runs deep, and the affection you feel for the earth-tamer is plain for all to see. Even though you are angered at him, the love is still there.”

She sniffed and looked away. “Not that he cares.”

“That is also a lie.”

A scowl erupted across her face and glared back at him. “What do you know? He’s thrown me away for that floozy! He doesn’t even care if I exist! All he cares about is her!”

He shook his head, not appearing fazed by her outburst. “You are wrong. I have seen the looks he gives you when you are not looking, and the expression he has when you fight. His feelings for you are no less than yours for him.”

She looked away again. “Then why won’t he listen to me? Why is he so interested in her?”

A pensive frown crossed his face a moment before answering, “Because it is who he is. I have only known you all for not even a day, but you are all so easy to read. You wear your emotions like a second coat of fur.” A faint smile tugged at his lips.. “And I have seen this played out so many times with my own clan, that I can spot it easily.”

She glowered at him. “So you’re saying it’s my fault?”

He shook his head before she ever finished her question. “No. As with all couples, it is the fault of two.” He looked at her, a serious glint in his eyes. “He needs to realize that he should think of your well being rather than assume you are fine. If there is one thing that I have learned of the earth-tamer is that he is honest to a fault. He tends to not think of the consequences of his actions before he acts on them.”

Turning her gaze back to the village, she grumbled, “You don’t know the half of it.”

Again, he smiled faintly. “I do not, no. But in this, you two share a similarity. You are both so openly spoken that you speak with your heart rather than your mind.” The grin faded from his face. “And that is something you should never lose, though perhaps learning time of place to speak is something you will have to learn on your own.”

She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Maybe…”

“Know this, sky-rider, it will always be you he seeks out when he needs help. That is all the proof you need to ease your worries about him and the female aura-weaver.”

Looking away, she tried to digest his words. As much as she wanted to scream he knew nothing about them, his words had a ring of truth to them. Was she really being so shallow about Trixie? After all she and Wanderer has been through together, would he really disregard her for another so easily? She wanted to say no but she couldn’t shake those feelings that continued to nag at her.

She growled softly to herself. Why wasn’t anything making sense anymore?

“Have you thought more of my request?”

Caught of guard, she turned a curious look to him. “What request?”

“Obtaining the key the Bringers are searching for and taking it to your princesses?”

A soft frown crossed her face and she looked down at her hooves. “No. I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve been thinking about other things.”

He nodded as his gaze settled on his village. “What is it that keeps you from considering it? Your friends and kin believe it to be a worthy venture, why not you?”

She looked away, a frown forming on her muzzle again. Her gaze looking over the tops of the other trees surrounding the great oak. “Because of the way your deer treated us. They put one of those claw blades to my neck, took me and my friends prisoner, turned us into pack mules, and put a lead around our muzzles.” Turning back to him, she scowled. “What makes you think I can even trust you? Do you have any idea how insulting it is to put a lead around a pony’s muzzle?”

Frowning faintly, he shook his head. “I do not, and for that, I apologize.” He shifted his weight, his joints giving a faint pop as he did so. “As for the rest, you must understand, my folk have been assaulted by the Bringers for weeks now and my kin acted as they should. The could not have known you were not of the Bringers of Plague.”

She stood, stamping a hoof into the rough bark of the root. “That still doesn’t excuse it! We said the saying, that should have been enough!”

He remained unperturbed. “The saying the tree guardian taught you was the only reason you still stand today, sky-rider.”

She felt the blood drain from her face. “W-Wha—?”

“My granddaughter told me everything of the encounter. She felt there was something different about the four of you, so she put it to a vote among her party on what to do with you. She and a few others voted to let you live, but the majority did not. Had you not spoken when you did, they would have mercifully ended you all.”

Stuttering, she couldn’t begin to form coherent thought.

“But now you are here, by the will of the Great Mother, and I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” she muttered.

“It is our way, sky-rider. I will not apologize for that.”

She huffed and settled back down on her haunches. “It still doesn’t make me want to help you or even trust you.”

He said nothing, only continuing to stare ahead at the village. The longer the silence grew, the more uncomfortable she felt. Even as a breeze blew through—sending her mane to swaying—she couldn’t help but feel he might had fallen asleep.

“...Can I show you something?” he asked, startling her.

She brought her wings back to her sides with a huff. “Show me what?”

He stood, standing well taller than she. “Something I hope will change your mind.” As he looked down at her, she felt her hackles start to stand.

His grey eyes shifted for a second before looking back at her. “I swear by my place as Elder of this village that no harm will come to you, sky-rider. As Elder, my word in my bond.”

Her brow still furrowed, but she nodded. “All right. If it means I can go talk to my brother afterwards.”

“It is my hope that you do,” he said and turned to start down the root.

She glared after him and muttered, taking wing to keep up with the descending buck. He leapt from one place to the other before landing softly back on the dirt. As she watched him, she privately admitted he moved far too easily for a deer his age.

“Where are we going?” she asked as he started away, old fallen leaves crunching under hoof as she landed.

“To show you what will happen if the Spirit of Disease gains her freedom.” He walked towards a natural opening in the tree trunk. She flapped after him until she saw an inscription above the opening.

“What does it say?” she asked as she pointed at the words.

“‘Qutt im cqa Qiwizal Laul.’ It translates to the Hall of the Honored Dead. This is where my kin are brought when we return to the Mother’s embrace.”

Her expression flattened. “Taking me to a crypt. That’s not creepy at all.”

A faint wry smirk crosses his muzzle. “Come.” He stepped into the archway, his antlers glowing to light the way.

Tourmaline muttered and flew after him, beginning to question her own sanity. As she followed after him, she noticed that the inside of the tree was lined with many carved hollows. Inside each hollow was the remains of long dead deer, covered in a burial shaw.

She couldn’t help but remember all of those zompony books she read when she was little, expecting the skeletons to rise and try to devour her flesh right then and there, but the further she followed after the Elder, the more the place didn’t feel like any crypt she imagined. The air felt calm, peaceful, serene even. Despite walking past so many graves she felt… comforted?

Her eyes darted around, eyeing the graves as she flew past. “This doesn’t feel like any crypt I’ve been to.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “How many have you seen?”

“None.” She shook her head. “I’ve never had reason to visit one before.”

He hummed and turned down a side passage. As she turned to follow him, her nose wrinkled up as a pungent smell assaulted her senses.

She covered her nose with a hoof. “Ugh… what is that?”

“The touch of disease,” he said with more than a little venom in his tone.

The came to another room where Tourmaline had to suppress her instinct to gag. All along the walls were the bodies of recently deceased deer. Many of them were younger bucks or does, all of them covered by burial shaws.

“These are my kin who have fallen to the Bringers and their mistress’s touch.” His antlers grew brighter and he lifted the shaw off of one unfortunate doe.

Tourmaline gasped and averted her eyes, her stomach threatening to empty right then and there on her. “Sweet Celestia…”

“Do not turn away, sky-rider,” the Elder said. “This is what will happen should the Spirit of Disease gain her freedom. Only this will be the fate of not only my kin, but of yours as well. Equestria will not be spared her touch.”

Unable to help herself, she took one more look at the doe. With a squeak, she fled back down the hallway. She felt along the walls for the exit, her hoof occasionally brushing against a grave—which only hastened her flight. Once she got outside, she slumped to her knees, trying so hard not to wretch.

“By the Sisters, that’s so horrible…”

“Now you know why we need your help, sky-rider,” the Elder said as he exited the tomb shortly after her. “I do not want to see more of my kin perish like this, and I would not wish that fate upon you or any in Equestria. The Spirit of Disease must never be allowed to roam free again.”

Tourmaline stared at the ground, her vision blurring as tears collected around her eyes again. She shut them tightly as she imagined Tormod stricken like she had seen the doe. The image caused her to shake her head in denial… not even Trixie deserved that.

Choking back another wave of bile, she asked, “...All we need to do is get the key to Princess Celestia?”

He nodded, his gray eyes watching her. “So that she can hide it or destroy it so that the Spirit will never see the light of day again.”

Her eyes clamped shut, images of Wanderer with the same wounds came to her. With it, she felt a new fire growing within.

“I’ll do it…”

The Elder tilted his head at her.

She turned back to look at him, her eyes showing with a new determination. “I’ll do it.”

A smile grew across his face and he lowered his head. “Come. We should speak with your kin.”

Author's Notes:

Whoo boy, it's been forever since I put an update on this story. For all of my readers, I apologize for the absurd delay on this story.

If it seems that the grammar slipped a bit this chapter, it's because my editor, Lab, was unable to get to it. Some RL issues has caused her some grief lately, so I've tried editing this as best I can with all she taught me. If you guys wouldn't mind, give Lab some love, I'm sure she would appreciate it.

As for the story itself, it is nearly completed. I have many chapters in the wings waiting to be published, but I will be going over them with a fine-toothed comb before I do so. Hopefully Lab can come back and kick me for the mistakes I've missed. hehe

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the chapter and I'll have the next one out much sooner than this one.

Cheers!