Chapter 14

Peewee balanced on Spike’s shoulder as they stood next to Dr. Ginger Root and watched the yellow pony carefully manipulate a pair of scalpels inside of a patient’s chest. The patient in question had been suffering from a mild case of indigestion. So Dr. Ginger Root had decided that this would be the perfect time to teach Spike more about the delicate art form that was surgery on a waking patient.

“So now you simply concentrate on making sure that they don’t remember the fact that their chest is split down the middle.” Dr. Ginger Root lectured as the patient nodded. “You see part of what the spell that I’m using (I can teach you don’t worry it’s not that hard and even an earth pony can utilize it with the natural magic inside of their bodies so a dragon like yourself should have no trouble once I open up the right channels) allows the patient to completely ignore both the pain and the mental trauma that a normal pony would undergo seeing his guts casually.”

“Alright but you’re talking about it doesn’t that make him want to investigate?” Spike asked the Dr.

“Not at all actually, you see ponies naturally ignore things that they don’t want to think about. There’s even a spell that uses this principle to hide entire armies called the Someone Else’s Problem Field, but that’s a completely different topic. Anyways our friend here hears us talking about this but in his mind he believes that we’re actually talking about performing it on someone else.” Dr. Ginger Root told Spike with a grin. “Isn’t that right?” He asked the patient.

“Yep, I feel bad for that guy it must be pretty traumatizing.” The pony replied with a grin.

“Wow, that’s awesome!” Spike said excitedly.

“Well I’ve always liked to think so.” Dr. Ginger Root replied with a grin. “Now back to the operation at hand.” Spike watched interestedly as Dr. Ginger Root pointed out each and every organ that could be easily observed without causing any permanent damage; he even let Spike remove a growth he saw growing on the side of the patient’s stomach with a scalpel. Dr. Ginger Root also did a few touch ups to the patient’s organs. When he was done Dr. Ginger Root allowed Spike to stitch the patient back up with magiflesh. Then a dove flew into the room and landed on the Dr.s’ shoulder.

“Ah hello there lovely got any news for me?” Dr. Ginger Root asked the dove who cooed something. “Excellent, come Spike the thing I ordered for you has come in!” The Dr. told Spike before leading him out of the room.

“Wait, did you just talk to a dove?” Spike asked and Ginger Root chuckled.

“Yes, the doves in the city act as messengers; or at least they do to Doctors. Sometimes they even help with surgery although they do occasionally get in the way. One time for instance I accidentally didn’t notice the fact that the bird was still inside a patient and had to cut him open before the dove died.” Ginger Root said with a chuckle.

The dove flew over to Peewee and cooed something which caused the phoenix to puff himself up a bit and set out a little puff of fire at the dove. The dove cooed something else and Peewee’s grip on Spike’s shoulder tightened as the phoenix’s claws wrapped more firmly into his scales. The dove seemed to laugh before it flew away; Peewee scowled after it and blew another puff of flame.

“Dr. did you understand any of that?” Spike asked.

“Actually yes, the dove insinuated that Peewee couldn’t kill it. Peewee told it that he could easily, and then the dove told him to prove it. They can be quite bitchy little birds.” Ginger Root answered with a shrug.

Spike stroked Peewee’s head gently as he followed the Dr. who kept up a steady pace through the busy clinic dodging incoming carts laden with patients with the practiced ease of someone who’d been doing it all their life. Spike had a bit more trouble including being thrown to the side by an impatient black minotaur dressed in a pair of blue scrubs. Before Spike could yell anything at the minotaur Dr. Ginger Root grabbed him and pulled him away.

“That’s Hooch, don’t mess with him, Hooch is crazy.” The Dr. whispered in Spike’s ear, Spike nodded noiselessly and they both set off again.

It took them ten minutes to get to the place that the Dr. was leading them, and in the end Spike wasn’t terribly impressed by the scenery. They’d ended up in a room filled with ponies and other species milling about each seeming to know exactly where they were going. Everywhere Spike looked there were boxes piled high with supplies and new boxes were arriving every second.

“This is the mailroom, follow me Spike and stay close it’s easy to get lost in here.” The Dr. told Spike with a small smile before they set off on a winding path through the boxes and shelves lined with all manner of items.

“So what did you order for me?” Spike asked but Ginger Root just chuckled.

“You’ll see.” The Dr. replied with a grin. They walked uneventfully through the mailroom for a few minutes, every few seconds the Dr. would look at a tiny piece of paper and nod to himself. When they got where they were going Ginger Root looked at the shelf in front of him and pulled down a long slim box. “Here Spike why don’t you open it?”

“Alright.” Spike replied with a smile as he tore the lid off of the wooden box with his claws. He gasped; lying inside the box was a long green trench coat and a matching green fedora. Spike fingered them both reverently as he withdrew them from the box and stared at them.

“Put them on, I’d like to see how they fit.” Ginger Root said with a chuckle as he looked at the expression on Spike’s face. Spike eagerly put the trench coat on and immediately felt it begin to conform to his body; originally it had looked like it would be too long for him but now it fit perfectly. The fedora somehow fit on his head despite the ridge running across it.

“Thank you so much Dr.!” Spike said excitedly. “But what’s the occasion?” Spike asked.

“Well I can’t have any apprentice of mine walking around naked can I?” Ginger Root asked with a grin. “Those clothes are made out of moon spider silk so they’re both fire and tear resistant, they’ll also grow with you so you’ll never have to worry about outgrowing them. Oh and the hat is enchanted to only come off of your head when you want it off so it’ll never get blown away in a breeze.”

“How did you afford to buy this for me, I mean I know that I’m your apprentice now, but still these must have cost a small fortune?” Spike asked but Ginger Root only shook his head.

“Not too bad all things considered, just a few thousand bits and my pay comes in as ten thousand bits a month so this really was no big deal for me.” Ginger Root said with a smile.

“Thank you anyway Dr. you don’t realize how long I’ve wanted a trench coat. I always asked Twilight for one but she just gave me books.” Spike said with a small scowl on his face. “I mean don’t get me wrong I love a good book, but after a few years it got old.”

“That mare’s got a good heart in her chest and a good head on her shoulders, but I have the oddest feeling that she’s not the best at gift ideas.” Ginger Root said with a smile as they began to walk out of the mail room. Peewee decided to test the strength of the coat and began to close his talons around the Spike’s shoulder. To the phoenix’s considerable surprise the fabric resisted his attempts entirely and her cooed in approval, it wouldn’t do for his dragon to be underdressed.

***

Chef Ramsee looked about his kitchen in disgust. He was the chef in charge of preparing the food for the upcoming wedding, but at the moment it looked as if it were some backwater bar’s kitchen.

“NO NO NO, this is not acceptable you great moron!” The chef shouted his mustache quivering with fury as he approached the souse chef in charge of the soup. “Are you trying to kill the Empress? Just look at this disgusting excuse of a mess that you call soup!” Ramsee said gesturing frantically at the soup, the rest of the kitchen paused only long enough to shoot their unfortunate friend a pitying glance before they got back to work.

“But, um, sir I was just following your recipe.” The souse chef said cowering next to the stove.

“Is that all, how silly of me.” Ramsee said quietly “I seem to have mistakenly thought I saw you adding hazel when you should’ve been adding rosemary!” Ramsee practically shouted into the stallion’s ear.

“I’m sorry sir!” The stallion said.

“You damn well better be you idiot! You could’ve caused the griffins to get indigestion, do you have any idea what fifty thousand griffins with indigestion are capable of?” Ramsee asked the poor stallion rhetorically.

“Well I ca-” The stallion began.

“That was a rhetorical question you idiotic moron!” Ramsee roared; he was quite good at roaring and standing on his hind legs allowed him to have greater control of the volume.

“I’ll never do it again sir!” The souse chef said pathetically.

“Damn right you won’t!” Ramsee roared again showing his canines. The stallion immediately began to remake the soup from scratch and Ramsee nodded satisfied with the work and began to patrol the kitchen again. To his hidden delight the kitchen was working in perfect order now that the soup was back on track. As he walked by the roast boar he sniffed appreciatively, he’d always liked a good roast boar, although he preferred salmon above all. Then a noise that he dreaded entered his ears.

“Ramsee I’m home!” A golden mare streaked towards him, and he may have just been imagining it but he swore that he saw a trail of sparkles following her. The unicorn jumped up and wrapped him in a hug, Ramsee still had no idea how she managed to get her forelegs all the way around him.

“Angeldust, what a pleasant surprise.” Ramsee said with a sigh.

“Oh don’t be so grouchy, did you just wake up?” Angeldust asked him with a grin.

“Winter isn’t for a few months and we both know that I can’t sleep then anyways.” Ramsee replied gruffly, he had an image to uphold and the golden mare was not helping him it.

“Angeldust who’s your big friend?” A pink earth pony mare asked bouncing up to them.

“This is Chef Ramsee.” Angeldust replied with a grin.

“Hi there Ramsee I’m Pinkie Pie and I’m here to help you cook!” Pinkie Pie told Ramsee with a large grin.

“And why should I let you two help, my staff is excellent as it is.” Ramsee said earning several surprised gasps from the kitchen staff; he shot several angry looks over his shoulder at them.

“Because I make the best cakes anywhere, try one.” Pinkie said before she stuffed a cupcake into Ramsee’s mouth. The chef chewed slowly appreciating the full flavor of the cupcake and nodding to himself with satisfaction.

“That was a good cupcake, but how do you fare with the more advanced? We’re serving a large verity of baked goods and none are allowed to be subpar.” Ramsee told her sternly but Pinkie managed to giggle.

“I can make anything you can throw at me.” She said proudly with a wide smile.

“We’ll see about that, Angeldust show her where her station will be.” Ramsee told the golden mare who nodded rapidly.

“Okay dokey lokey, come on Pinkie.” Angeldust told Pinkie with a grin. Ramsee rubbed his brown furred paw over his face and shuddered, there were two of them. Then the bear straightened and got back to business.

“BOBBY what in Cosmosmia’s glistening red tits are you doing to that burger?”

***

They’d spent the entire day sitting in the bar, which Dane had eventually identified as the Aegis Shield, eating, talking, and enjoying the feeling of the bar. But as the sun started to set on the city one of their number, Kate, had begun to grow antsy.

“I have to go!” she said suddenly before racing out of the restaurant. Dane looked at Twilight and Trixie before he said.

“Trixie could you teleport the two of you back to the palace; I want to check on a few things before I head back?” Dane asked Trixie.

“Um sure grab on Twilight.” Trixie said and they both vanished in a flash of light. Dane nodded to Buttercup and headed out the door after saying goodbyes to a few of his friends. He began to climb a nearbye building that had a great view of the sunset as it set over the ocean off to the west.

Using old muscles he lithely climbed to the top and as expected found Kate sitting on the side facing the ocean as the sun set. The shecat was crying as she held onto her brother’s whip device. Dane felt a pang in his heart; he’d seen too many young people cry in his life.

“Don’t.” He said gently as he came up behind her, she whirled a knife in her paw.

“Oh, it’s just you.” She said before she sat down again, this time she threw her legs over the edge of the building and slowly beat her legs against it. Dane sat down next to her and mimicked her movements. “So why’d you come after me?” Kate asked harshly.

“Because you need someone to talk to.” Dane replied easily.

“I’ve talked to plenty of people; I don’t know what makes you any different.” Kate replied acidly, her red fur glinted in the light of the setting sun but her face was shadowed with pain.

“Yes I’m sure you have, but none of them knew what to say, and the word is don’t.” Dane replied simply.

“Don’t what?” Kate asked harshely narrowing her feline eyes.

“Don’t seek revenge.” Dane told her.

“Why not, the monster responsible for my brother’s death deserves it?” Kate asked with a hiss.

“Because I know a guy, he spent twenty five years on a roaring rampage of revenge. By the end of it he’d killed those responsible for the killing of his father and brother, along with a bunch of other people, but he couldn’t stop there. Last I heard of him was when he decided to cross the ocean in search of more people worthy of death.” Dane said with a sigh.

“That doesn’t sound so bad.” Kate said with a frown trying to understand what the mastiff was trying to tell her. Dane sighed again.

“Death is a means to an end, sure I enjoy dealing it, but when death becomes the end instead of the mean it means that you’re no better than the one who wronged you in the first place.” Dane told her with a faraway look on his face as he looked at the setting sun.

“How can you say that? The one I’m out to kill is a giant crocodile who holds the very souls of the ones he’s killed chained to him and slowly tortures them as he their power out of them!” Kate exclaimed angrily.

“I’m not saying that you shouldn’t kill him, I’m saying don’t let it consume you. Don’t let it become the reason why you’re alive, I’m sure your brother wouldn’t have wanted that anyways.” Dane told her softly.

“Who’d you lose?” Kate asked Dane.

“Me, well, I guess you could say that I lost myself.” Dane replied with a dark chuckle.

“What?” Kate asked in confusion.

“I did some very stupid things, and I paid the price, but I’m here to talk about you. So don’t try and change the subject by making me get all sentimental.” Dane told her with a rueful grin. Kate sighed and hugged her knees to her chest.

“I just can’t stand the thought of him being alive while Jake’s dead.” Kate said sadly.

“I’ll tell you something that my father told me once. ‘Son, people are bastard coated bastards with a rich bastard filling coated in bastard nuts and sprinkled lightly with powdered bastard, if you spend your life worrying about them then you aren’t going to be living.’ I take it that none of the cats that you’re living with right now are bastards?” Dane asked her.

“Yeah, none of them, well maybe Enair when his brother gets on his nerves, but besides that I like the people I’m with.” Kate replied.

“Well then you can consider yourself blessed, trust me kid it could be a lot worse.” Dane told her with a chuckle.

“But my brother is dead.” Kate told him.

“Yes he is, but do you think he’d want you moaning and bitching about it like a kit?” Dane asked her. “Actually what do you think he’d say if he saw you talking about these feelings with a dog, of all things, that you met four hours ago?”

“He’d tell me to steal your wallet and then kick you off the roof!” Kate replied with a smile. “Then he’d tell me to stop being such a baby.” Kate said as the sun reached the water line.

“Exactly, now let’s get you back to your friends at the palace.” Dane said looking at the street below. Directly underneath him was a haystack. “Hop onto my back and I’ll get you back to the palace before the sun finishes setting.” Dane told her and seconds later he felt the shecat’s firm grip around his neck. He prepared for the dive.

“You aren’t going to dive into that haystack are you?” Kate asked worriedly. Dane neglected to answer before he leapt off of the side of the building.

Kate began to scream as the haystack drew closer but two stories away from the ground Dane stuck out his claws and snagged a thick chain that ran from the two buildings and propelled himself back into the air. He landed on the chain balanced perfectly and began to run along it towards the other end.

“You really thought I’d aim for that haystack, heh I’d have broken my neck.” Dane told her as he climbed up the side of the new building.

“How was that any better?” Kate asked, if Dane had looked behind him he would’ve noticed that her face was more green then red.

“Well, aside from not breaking my neck that was fun!”

***

“Well if it isn’t my favorite niece?” General Oneye said raising an eyebrow when Commander Star walked into the room. He was sitting next to Cosmosmia in a chair, they’d been telling stories about the late king of the cats to buy time till Commander Star arrived.

“Uncle Oneye! What are you doing here?” Commander Star asked before launching herself at him. Ordinarily she wasn’t quite that energetic, but she hadn’t seen her uncle in around twenty years.

“Well I couldn’t watch my favorite niece get married without me being here could I?” Oneye asked with a grin as he caught the mare in a hug. “And this must be the lucky griffin.” Oneye said turning to Commander Stormwing who stood halfway in and halfway out of the door.

“You can come in Stormy; this is my uncle General Oneye.” Commander Star said with a grin as she realsed the cat from her grip.

“It’s a pleasure ta meet ya sir.” Commander Stormwing said with a little bow and Oneye chuckled.

“You don’t have to bow to me boy, although I suggest you do for her.” Oneye said with a grin as he jerked his thumb at Empress Cosmosmia. Commander Stormwing did more than bow. He stepped forward and grabbed one of Cosmosmia’s front hooves before lowering to his beak and giving it a kiss.

“Your majesty I cannot in words describe how happy your daughter makes me, not only that but I am deeply touched that you would allow her to marry me a griffin. For this you have my eternal loyalty in anything unless it is directly at odds with my own king and country. I would offer you gifts but nothing I have could fully repay you for your kindess.” Commander Stormwing told Cosmosmia sincerely without a trace of his typical accent.

“Rise Commander Stormwing.” Cosmosmia said sternly, Commander Stormwing released her hoof and rose back up. “You fill my daughter with joy, among other things, so I could never fault you for something as inconsequential as your race. In fact I’d say that she hooked herself a keeper, and if I was twenty years younger…” Cosmosmia trailed off with a smile and Stormwing blushed deeply.

“Mom don’t tease my fiancée!” Commander Star told her mother exasperatedly. “Besides when did being old ever stop you?”

“Well I thought it was funny.” General Oneye said with a grin. Commander Star rolled her eyes and turned back to Cosmosmia.

“So mother you’re the one who’s been planning this thing for so long, what am I wearing?” Commander Star asked with a sigh.

“Oh just this little thing that I’ve had lying around.” Cosmosmia replied with a mischievous grin.

“It’s covered in lace and embroidery isn’t it.” Commander Star said flatly.

“No, no… well yes. How did you know?” Cosmosmia asked with a wide grin.

“I figured that this was going to be one of the last times you’d get to call me princess in public and you’d take full advantage of the opportunity.” Commander Star replied dryly with a sigh.

“You know me so well daughter.” Cosmosmia said with a wider grin. “Follow me and we’ll see how it fits you.” The two of them left leaving General Oneye alone with Commander Stormwing.

“So, why are ya really here?” Commander Stormwing asked the cat.

“We’re looking for an army of three.” General Oneye replied.

“In tha case ah may be able to help ya.”

***

Twilight and Trixie entered their new room after spending some time exploring the royal palace, in Twilight’s opinion the one in Canterlot was more beautiful, but the Imperial Palace was more impressive in terms of defense. Sitting on their bed was a stack of letters, affixed to the letter on top was the royal seal, of Princess Celestia. Twilight stopped talking to Trixie about the Palace the second that she saw the letters and grabbed them greedily in her magic.

To my faithful student Twilight Sparkle

I apologize for the lack of correspondence; this universe being what it is me getting you this letter at all was extremely taxing. Regardless I hope that you are coping well with the situation that you were rudely shoved into and I send my love and best wishes. I’ve also included several letters from your friends along with one from your brother and his wife, oh and also one from Luna.

Your loving mentor Princess Celestia

Twilight blinked, she’d thought that Princess Celestia would’ve said more, but she quickly shrugged and moved onto the next letter, it was from her brother.

To my favorite sister

Hey Twily I just wanted to let you know that I miss you and no matter where you are that I love you. So how is it in this other dimension? From what Celestia says it’s a pretty grim place but I know that you can overcome any obstacle in your way if you believe in yourself. Mom and dad send their love too just to let you know, they haven’t quite had a chance to really let it sink in that you won’t be home again. Anyways make me proud sis and if you ever get home come and see me at the palace!

Your loving brother Shining Armor

Ps. Cadance wanted to write you a letter too so I let her attach it on the back of this one

To my favorite sister in law

Hi Twilight this is Cadence I just wanted to let you know that I miss you and that I hope that your time in this new place isn’t too bad for you. On a related note do you remember that spell that we devised to allow me to see whether or not you’re okay from my foalsitting days? Well as it turns out that still works, it also has the unexpected ability to tell me your mood when I look. Way to go on finding a special somepony!

Your favorite foal sitter Princess Cadence

Twilight felt touched that both of them had thought to write to her, and then Cadence’s last line sunk in. A large red blush spread across Twilight’s face at the thought.

“Twilight why are you blushing?” Trixie asked.

“Read the last three sentences.” Twilight replied and passed the letter over to Trixie. Trixie scanned the letter in interest for a second before a blush spread over her face as well.

“Oh my…” Trixie said softly

“Yeah…” Twilight replied. Putting the thoughts behind her Twilight grabbed one of the other letters.

Dear Twi

I’m writing ta tell ya how much ah miss having ya around and how much ah miss you. Ponyville is to quiet without ya around and its only been two days since ya disappeared. Ah hope that yall’re okay where ya are and that ya can somehow find a way back ta us.

Your friend Applejack

Dear Twilight

Uh hello this is Fluttershy, I hope that you’re feeling okay and I just wanted to let you know that I miss you. Oh and Owlowiscious has been staying with me and I’m making sure that he stays healthy.

Your friend Fluttershy

Dear Twilight

How are you darling? This is Rarity, although I’m sure that you knew that already. Anyways I was just writing to make sure that everything that you’re wearing is appropriately fashionable for a mare of your color. I have asked Princess Celestia and she says that it is possible to send you things such as clothing with the letters so if you need anything don’t hesitate for a second to ask me for something. Besides that life here has been boring. I had almost forgotten what life was like before you moved to town and we had to deal with a disaster every week. I must say that I honestly preferred beating up changelings to the monotony of my work, for some reason the only thing that ponies are asking me to make for them are pairs of socks! Well I think I’ve used up enough of your time, stay safe darling.

Your friend Rarity

Ps. I also included a special letter for Spike; please make sure that it reaches him unopened.

Twilight smiled when she was done reading the letters from her friends and moved Rarity’s letter for Spike to another pile before moving onto the letter from Luna.

Dear Twilight Sparkle

You have my most sincere apologies for the situation that you find yourself; I hope that Cosmo is treating you well although I’m sure she is. Something has been unnerving me since you left, I feel an odd presence sometimes in the middle of the night. It’s as if somepony I know is in danger, or horrible pain, regardless this doesn’t refer to you directly but I think it has something to do with somepony that you know. Or it could be about somepony that somepony you know knows, I digress… Anyways I’m sorry for throwing a quilt of doubt and worry over your life and I hope that I am incorrect.

Your good friend Princess Luna

Ps. Tell my favorite apprentice that I miss her…

Twilight felt a chill go through her as she read about the warning, it wasn’t wise to ignore the wisdom of either princess and the fact that Luna was feeling an odd presence at night worried her. However the last line caught Twilight off guard.

“Trixie, do you know who Luna’s apprentice is?” Twilight asked her marefreind who blushed.

“I never told you did I?” Trixie asked.

“Wait, when did you become Luna’s apprentice?” Twilight asked in confusion.

“A few days after I left Ponyville, I was doing a show in Canterlot and she thought that I had a lot of talent.” Trixie said proudly. “She also enjoyed my habit of speaking in third person.” Trixie added as an afterthought and Twilight giggled.

“You know I kind of miss that too.” Twilight said as she leaned in for a kiss.

“You miss the Great and Powerful Trixie referring to herself as the Great and Powerful Trixie? This shall be corrected immediately!” Trixie replied jerking back from Twilight and standing on her hind legs. “The Great and Powerful Trixie demands you to get on the bed and prepare to be penetrated!” Trixie cried causing Twilight to giggle again and comply with a coy grin.

“Hey before you two start anything could you pass me my letter?” Spike asked from the doorway.

“Spike you’re such a mood killer.” Twilight said with a sigh before she magically passed him the letter. “How did you know that you had a letter anyways?” Twilight asked.

“Cosmosmia told me about it when she walked by me in the hallway earlier and I just finished my shift with Dr. Ginger Root.” Spike replied with a shrug as he opened the letter. He took out one piece of paper and nodded with a smile, then he took out another piece of paper in the envelop and blushed.

“Is everything okay Spike?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, sure, why wouldn’t it be?” Spike asked nervously.

“Wow that is one nice plot.” Dane said from behind Spike who jumped. “I guess that mare of yours wants to make sure that you don’t forget about her, and with an ass like that I can’t see why you would.” Dane continued. While Spike was distracted Twilight slipped the piece of paper out of his hand and brought it over to look at. It was indeed a very artful shot of Rarity’s rear.

“Hey give that back!” Spike cried.

“Sure, here you go.” Twilight replied with a smirk as she passed it back to Spike who tucked the picture back into the envelope.

“And that Spike is why you don’t open letters in the middle of the hallway where anyone could see them.” Dane told Spike.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie truly hates to interrupt this enjoyable gathering but would you two kindly take your vulgarity away. The two most beautiful unicorns in the land were about to begin and they don’t appreciate the interruption!” Trixie told them loudly before shutting the door forcefully and locking it. “That should prevent further intrusions, now where were we?”

***

General Archangel was enjoying his celebration for the victory over the diamond dogs in his usual way.

“I still say that this is unprofessional.” He said with a frown.

“That’s what you say with your lips, but your eyes are always on my hips.” Zanti told him with a grin as she walked closer with two mugs of beer.

“You’re the one seducing me here.” General Archangel told her and she smiled.

“But of course, it would be far too much work for any other horse.” Zanti replied with a grin while she passed him one of the mugs.

***

Empress Cosmosmia lay awake in her bed covered in beads of sweat. She’d had another dream, and although she couldn’t remember much of it the thing she did remember was the voice of her sister crying out for help. A storm had swept in over the water and outside thunder and lightning roared and flashed. She’d had enough; it was time to talk to mother.

“Where is she?” Cosmosmia asked

A clap of thunder answered her.

“Don’t tell me that, we both know that she’s not dead, I would’ve felt it.” Cosmosmia replied.

This time lightning flashed twice.

“What do you mean, come on mom you have to help me!” Cosmosmia yelled.

Thunder roared outside her window and she winced.

“I know, I know, I know, but you have to be able to tell me something!” She said in frustration.

A small almost sad sounding clap of thunder answered her.

“You would’ve helped Tia more than this.” Cosmosmia muttered more to herself then to her mother.

A dozen loud thunder claps boomed rattling her window frame and causing the glass to vibrate.

“How could I say that? How could I not you’ve always loved her more than the rest of us, and-!” Cosmosmia began

Whatever she was going to say was obscured by the absolutely deafening crash of thunder that made Cosmosmia’s jaw vibrate.

“I’m sorry mom, it’s just-” Cosmosmia began softly.

She was cut off by the gentle pitter patter of rain against the window.

“Good night.” Cosmosmia whispered. “I love you.”

***

“Is she still talking to herself?” Disk asked strings from their room a wall away.

“Disk can you focus on me please instead of our Empress; not that I’m not overjoyed that you’re taking our job seriously but there are better uses for your tongue then talking at the moment.” Strings asked in irritation.

“Yeah I’m coming I’m coming.” Disk replied sliding closer again.

“Yes and I’m not, which is the problem at hoof here.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 15 Estimated time remaining: 35 Minutes