“That was a great ride, Home Run.” Moonglade pulled the baseball player along after exiting the love ride attraction, so glad that she got to be alone with him.

It was actually a strange ride, with little chubby angels hanging around, shooting them with plastic arrows while on the walls as various displays of great historical romances played out. None hit them, of course, but it still felt like one would do so.

In the end, it wasn’t much of a exhilarating ride, but more of a relaxing one to spend with a special someone. Clearly she was not the only one who thought so, as she had been able to feed on the love of the other couples who were also on the ride. Tasty, but not as tasty as the love coming from Home Run.

“Soooo… your birthday is coming up, and I wanted to get you something special…” Moonglade continued as they walked.

“Oh, you’re right, it is!” Home Run looked at the date on his phone. “I can’t believe it. I’ve already been in Canterlot for six months. And you remember my birthday, Moonglade?”

“Well yeah, sure I do.” The young changeling twiddled her fingers on his. “Thirteenth June. It’s a special day. I won’t forget it.”

Moonglade’s mother had often told her that changelings had infallible memories, due to their innate copying ability. So remembering someone’s birthday was really no feat at all.

“Oh, but you know, you don’t have to get me anything,” Home Run told her. “It’s not like I really need anything right now.”

“Oh, but I should!” Moonglade skipped up happily. “Your birthday is a special day.”

“But really, you don’t need to.”

“I insist. Okay, okay, tell you what, pretend I’m not getting you anything, yeah?” Moonglade chuckled. “It’ll be a surprise, kinda like…”

Then she stopped him and turned him to face her. Moonglade leaned in and pressed her lips against Home Run’s, then separating with a slight hop in her step.

“Okay?” She grinned, a light blush spreading across her cheeks as some people turned to look.

“Yeah, okay…” Home Run couldn’t help but smile and send out more of his delicious taste.

They spent the rest of their time at the theme park together, going into a haunted house attraction, a merry go round, and two high speed roller coaster rides. Moonglade had almost lost her glasses on the last one, but she managed to catch them in time, before the rollercoaster could make its next turn.

As the sky began to turn orange, Moonglade walked out to the carpark with Home Run, still hand in hand. She had so much fun with him today, but sadly, all good things had to come to an end.

Moonglade had only just ended the call with Silver Platter when Home Run’s friends ambushed them, Rainbow Dash shouting loudly, making Moonglade jump.

“There you two are! We’ve been looking all over for you!” The rainbow haired girl slapped Home Run on the back.

“Were you?” Home Run asked, leading them over to a nearby vending machine. He threw some of his loose change inside and selected a drink. “I hope we didn’t worry you too much.”

“Nah, Sunset persuaded us to give you a little space,” Rainbow said with a laugh.

“I wish I could have been there…” Rarity sighed. “You two are quite photogenic together.”

“Oh, really?” Moonglade twiddled her fingers together. “And um, th-thanks again, Sunset. It’s… appreciated.”

“Don’t mention it, Moonglade.” Sunset gave her an almost half smile. “You and Home Run are good together. It’s the least I can do.”

Moonglade smiled back, inwardly wondering just what her aunt planned to do to Sunset. Just then, a long black car pulled into the carpark.

“Oh. Looks like my ride is here. So I guess this is goodbye?”

“Wait!” Rarity blurted out. “Can we take a group photo before you leave? Just for the memories, of course.”

“Ya want her to sign it too?” Applejack cracked with a wry smile.

“Oh, would you?” Rarity squeezed her hands together hopefully.

“I’m not sure you can sign a photo on a phone,” Rainbow said doubtfully.

Rarity fished around in her bag and pulled out a polaroid camera. “Not if I use one of these.”

“Ah guess one lil’ picture won’t hurt. Ya okay with this, Moonglade?” Applejack adjusted her hat. A small swarm of bats flapped overhead, enjoying the evening. Suddenly, there was a dark blur and an owl flew into view, snatching one of the bats up with its talons.

“Oh no!” Fluttershy trembled. The owl perched atop a streetlamp and began to eat.

“Now that’s what Ah’m talking about!” Applejack whistled. “Could do with a couple more o’ them owls on the farm, keep the fruit bats down.”

Moonglade looked at the owl for a second, but then got bored. “Umm… I gotta go, so do you want that picture or not, Rarity?”

“Oh, yes, sorry dear, come on, girls. Picture time!” She held up her polaroid.

Home Run sighed and put an arm around Moonglade’s shoulders. “Guy. There’s a guy here too.”

“Potato, tomato,” Rarity said. “Hmm, I suppose we need someone to hold the camera, don’t we?”

“Oh, I know,” Moonglade said, walking over to her car. She knocked on the driver’s side window, which buzzed down, and explained what she needed.

Silver Platter nodded and got out of the car, walking to where Rarity was. “Shall I take the picture for you, miss?”

“Yes, thank you so much!” Rarity handed him the camera and taught him how to use it while Moonglade and the others got into position.

“You don’t mind, do you, Moonglade?” Home Run asked her, deciding to hold her hand. “Taking a picture with my friends.”

“Well…” She tapped a finger on her chin and smiled. “I guess as long as you’re with me, it’s fine.”

When they were all assembled and ready, Silver Platter swiftly took two photos, with the faded images shooting out the front of the camera shortly after. Rarity accepted her camera back and shook the photos until the images finally popped up on them.

Moonglade didn’t know how they worked, but she didn’t understand why they needed to be shaken. Why couldn’t they just pop up instantly?

“Ah, these are lovely shots,” Rarity declared. Then she took a pen from her bag and pressed it into Moonglade’s hands. “Could I trouble you to sign them? Please please please please?”

“Right.” Moonglade smiled externally, but inside, she groaned with annoyance, though, she did it anyway. “Here. Umm, just don’t… don’t go waving them around, hmm?”

“Oh, no, of course not!”

“She’s going to frame them and hang them up, aren’t you, Rarity?” Rainbow Dash said drolly.

“Yes, I shall have them in my room, next to your sister’s autograph!” Rarity giggled giddily. “Now all I need is your mother’s autograph and my collection will be complete!”

Pinkie was suddenly next to Moonglade, shaking her hand. The young changeling didn’t know how she had done it so fast, but chose to leave it alone.

“Well, it was a pleasure to hang out today, Moonglade!” she said happily, her feet slowly lifting off the ground as she shook her hand. “Now that we know each other, we’re friends! If you ever need anything, you know where you can find us! I mean, maybe you won’t, but you can!”

“Likewise.” Applejack gave her a firm handshake after Pinkie was done trying to dislocate her shoulder.

“Uh huh.” Fluttershy, the quiet one, nodded. “I had fun.”

“Thank you ever so much for the autographs, darling. Come by my boutique sometime, I’m sure I can put something together for you.”

She owns a boutique? Wow.

“Or maybe come round to one of our band practices,” Rainbow Dash smirked. “We’ll treat you to one hay of a performance.”

“Umm, yeah, sure… We’ll see.” Moonglade didn’t mind music, but she didn’t know what kind they played. She hoped at least they weren’t the loud kind.

“Yeah, take care, Moonglade.” Twilight Sparkle smiled and shifted her glasses up her face. “And say hi to your sister for me. I used to sit behind her in class, if she remembers me.”

Oh, she does remember you, alright. Moonglade laughed internally. “Okay, I’ll do that.”

Sunset Shimmer stepped forward. “Look, we just met, but you seem, y’know, nice. And if Home Run trusts you, then I guess I can give you the benefit of the doubt…” The fiery haired girl looked conflicted for a second. “I’m rambling. Sorry. I had fun today, Moonglade. I hope you did too.”

The young changeling looked at Home Run and nodded. “Yeah, I had loads of fun. Thanks again, Sunset, you know, for giving us time to ourselves.”

Moonglade didn’t know what the suspicion was about, but it didn’t seem to be there anymore. Maybe she was just being wary of meeting someone for the first time.

“Well, time to go. So I will see you girls, I guess. And Home Run.” She stepped closer to him and gave him a hug. “Let me know, okay? When we can go out again. I’ll look forward to it.” She wanted to lean in and give him his goodbye kiss, but Sunset and the girls were watching them and Moonglade felt embarrassed to do it in front of them. “Ummm… well, uh, maybe w-we could skip the g-goodbye kiss this one time.”

“Ha, okay.” Home Run squeezed her back, then lightly kissed her on the cheek.

Moonglade blushed, but she liked it, along with the love coming from him.

“Aww… How sweet, Home Run.” Rarity looked like she was enjoying it too much.

“Umm, right. So I’ll see you around. Bye, Home Run. I’ll find a nickname for you.”

“Yeah. Take care, Moonglade.”

The young changeling nodded and followed Silver Platter back to the car, getting in behind him and buckling herself in. She waved to her boyfriend and his friends as the car left the amusement park, beginning the journey home.

“Did you have fun, princess?” her butler asked from the wheel. “It looks to me like you have made some new friends.”

“I had so much fun, Silver Platter,” the girl said excitedly. “I wish a day had more time. And… do you think so? That I made new friends?”

The butler looked up at her from the rearview mirror. “Yes, princess. You seem to be fairly comfortable around them.”

“Hmm…” Moonglade guessed she was alright with them. The only ones who bothered her were Rarity and Pinkie Pie. They were a bit too nosy in her personal space. Then there was Sunset Shimmer. Moonglade completely didn’t know what to think about her, with that air of suspicion around her. But then she did her a favor by giving her alone time with Home Run. Just what is she trying to pull here…?

And she also asked about the picnic that her aunt was planning for them. Thankfully, Moonglade didn’t know much about it, so she didn’t need to lie about most of it. Did she suspect something already?

“But it is nice, Princess Moonglade,” Silver Platter said, breaking her trail of thoughts. “It is nice to see you so happy.”

“Yeah…” Moonglade looked out the window at the clouds above. “I just wish I could lead a normal life, you know, Silver Platter? All this deceiving, I mean, it’s fine and all, but to have to pretend to love Home Run... It hurts, you know?”

There was an uncomfortable silence.

“With all due respect, princess, perhaps I’m not the best person you should be discussing this with. Perhaps your mother… or your aunt.”

“I know, but they just keep telling me I can’t.” Moonglade puffed her cheeks and looked back out the window. “I know what happened to their family, but I just know it. Home Run’s different.”

Silver Platter said, “If you say so, young mistress,” quietly, then stopped the car for the front gates to open.

In short order, Silver Platter dropped the princess off by the door before going off to park the car. Moonglade skipped off to her room with her new unicorn, placing it down beside Mishter Schniffs when she got to her bed.

“I got you a new friend,” Moonglade announced, smiling at the two of them. “I wonder what we should call her… What do you think, Mishter Schniffs?”

“Anything I say will be from your own mind anyway,” the doll answered. “How about Rainbow Hair?”

“No, I don’t like that.” Moonglade shook her head. “See? Not everything you say works out.”

“You’re just trying to prove your own point is false. Good job,” her doll replied flatly.

“Okay, okay. Let’s just get back to names. Hmm…” Moonglade kicked her shoes off and sat down beside her plushies. “How about… Stargaze Sunshine?”

“That name doesn’t even make sense, princess.”

Moonglade pouted at him. “Well, yours doesn’t either. So it’s settled then! Mishter Schniffs, meet Stargaze Sunshine.”

“Hi, Mishter Schniffs,” the doll answered in a more female voice. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Mishter Schniffs grumbled in his not so male voice. “Pleasure.”

“What lovely wings you have.” Stargaze Sunshine marched up to Schniffs.

“Yes…” the changeling plushie looked at Moonglade. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, I thought you could use some love too. You know, so you understand how I feel.” Moonglade smirked and pressed Stargaze against him.

“Hey, no, stop!”

The young changeling pressed the two plushies tightly against each other and began mimicking kissing noises. Suddenly, there was a loud slamming noise, like a car door being closed at terminal velocity. Moonglade paused, hearing footsteps go crunching up to the house from the driveway.

“I wonder who that could be…” She put both plushies down and glided to the window just in time to see Silver Platter drive one of her mother’s cars away towards the carpark. “Oh, did mother go out?”

The sound of footsteps faded as whoever it was entered the house. Moonglade could hear some faint shouting. It sounded like her mother, all right, and there was a quieter voice that could only have been Aunt Ivory.

“Oh, were they both together?” Moonglade walked over to her door to open it.

In the living room, Aria Blaze and Adagio Dazzle were playing on her Neighstation, using Aria’s save file on her Finest Fantasy game. It seems they already had a company of four, one of which was the White Sorceress, played by Ebony Wings in the film adaptation.

Moonglade hadn’t been on the Neighstation in a while and she figured since it was summer break, she’d make a point to play on it more.

The sound of voices got closer, coming from the stairs that led to the first floor.

“Now, sister, slowly, okay?” she heard her aunt say.

“I’ll say what I want. Don’t tell me what to do here.”

Moonglade knew they must be talking about her, so she ducked back into her room and went to her bed, scooting into a corner and holding her stuffed toys close to her face.

Did I do something wrong again? What am I thinking, of course I did…

In only eleven seconds, her room door was thrown open, revealing a very angry looking Ebony Wings.

“Daughter, you and I will have a talk. Right now.” She stomped over to the bed.

Moonglade hid further behind her plushies, feeling all that anger resonate from her mother. It made her tongue hot. “Ye-es, mother…?”

“Don’t you ‘yes mother’ me. I don’t know why I keep letting you go out and risking our discovery. And your attitude. Oh, your attitude. What happened to all my teachings in your youth? Really? You let one boy change you so much? Just like that?”

Moonglade was slightly lost with where her mother was going with this. “Wha-what do you m-mean, mother?”

“In this realm,” Ebony said, waving her hands around her face. “I know all.”

“No, you don’t,” an exasperated Ivory Wings said from the door.

“You. Can it.” Ebony pointed a finger at her sister, then turned back to Moonglade. “I’m going to get straight to the point. There’s no use beating around the bush here. You have been taught better, my daughter. I taught you better. Why, when I was your age, I did everything my mother expected of me. Everything. Not once did I think I know better than her, at least until I was of age.”

Moonglade still had no idea where her mother was going with this.

“Just get on with it, Ebony.” Ivory Wings put her hand on her forehead.

“Firstly.” Ebony leaned closer to her daughter. “Singing about being unable to fall in love. I don’t want you entertaining such thoughts. We must not fall in love and that is as direct as it gets. Humans. Are. Not. To. Be. Trusted.”

“Y-Yes, mother.” Moonglade shook, afraid of what her mother was going to do to her. How did she even know I sung about that?

“And secondly, I thought I raised you better than to go complaining to the staff about your love life, which, by the way, isn’t supposed to exist. What part of ‘changeling hunt’ don’t you understand? Am I going to have to teach you all over again? Am I going to have to get your aunt to give you lessons on basic changeling knowledge?!” Green flames danced in Ebony’s eyes and in her throat.

“Sister, calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to be calm!” Ebony bared her fangs and snarled. “You are not to love this boy! He is human, unlike you! Do you really think he will still stand by you if he knew what you were? Look at your aunt! She was instantly betrayed the moment her lover knew what she was!”

Ivory, who was still by the doorway, went silent and looked outside.

Moonglade wanted to know how her mother knew all this, but at this point, she was much too afraid to ask. A dark aura emanated out of Ebony Wings, tainting the air with a bitter and spicy taste.

Moonglade’s mother closed her eyes and breathed in, a stormy look on her face as she surveyed her child.

“You have a lot of thinking to do, young lady.”

“Umm… yes mother…” Moonglade cowered behind her plushies.

“Yes mother,” Ebony imitated her daughter’s voice with disgust. “You keep saying that, but change nothing! You will never learn if you are not punished. This time, there must be punishment. My favourite kind of punishment is physical punishment.” She smirked and licked her lips.

Moonglade gulped. Her mother had hit her before, but that wasn’t even as a punishment.

“Ebony, I really think you need to-”

“You stay right there!” Ebony shouted with so much force that Ivory stopped in her tracks and scooted back. “She needs to be punished so she can learn!”

Ebony Wings loomed over Moonglade, who trembled in the gaze of her mother. The changeling queen drew her black kris sword, the blade hissing as it made contact with the air.

“You. Skirt off, now.”

With shaking hands, the young changeling put her plushies aside and did as her mother asked, placing the black piece of clothing on the side of her bed. She didn’t know what her mother was planning, but it couldn’t be anything nice. She pulled at her shirt, trying to cover her white panties, but this shirt wasn’t big enough to do so.

“Your rear to me. Raise it up.”

Moonglade complied, keeping her eyes on her mother’s blade until she turned around. She leaned her knees and elbows on her bed and raised her rear up. It felt embarrassing, lying down like this, but she knew embarrassment was far from what her mother had planned for her.

“I-I’m so-sorry, mother…”

“You will be in a moment.”

Ebony Wings prowled around her daughter, seemingly waiting for something.

“Ebony, no.” Ivory took a step back into the room.

“She won’t learn otherwise,” Ebony Wings growled.

Moonglade didn’t dare turn around, in fear of what her mother was preparing. She’d been lying on her arms and knees for what felt like forever and still, nothing had happened. Perhaps nothing was going to ha-

*SMACK!*

And then pain seared across Moonglade’s right butt cheek and she squeaked from the sudden surprise. Her mother had hit her with something and if she didn’t know better, her mother had hit her with her black sword. Even if it had just been the flat of the blade, it still hurt very much.

And then it happened again, sending Moonglade down on one shoulder, this time, her voice louder as she cried out in pain. She already felt the poison begin to eat away at her panties, but thankfully, contact with the poison wouldn’t kill her like it would a normal human. If not, she’d be soon joining her father.

“This boy, Home Run, he is prey!” Ebony smacked her blade against her daughter’s butt again. By now, it was starting to turn a dark red. “He is food! You do not fall in love with food!” Then she whacked her again.

“I-I’m sorry, mo- aaaaah! Mother!” The pain made Moonglade’s arms and legs feel numb and she struggled to stay conscious. Her mother was hitting her with strength exceeding the normal human’s.

“Our kind has remained hidden all these years because we follow the rules! I will not have you break them and risk revealing us all to the humans again!” And she brought the blade down again.

“Ebony, stop!” Ivory Wings had enough and threw herself between both of them. “She’s had enough. Look at you, doing this to your own daughter!”

“You think I do this because I hate her?” Ebony roughly pushed her sister out of the way and hit Moonglade on the other cheek. “I do this because I care about her and the rest of our kind!”

Moonglade failed to remain up after the next two hits, falling to her side, breathing heavily. Tears welled in her eyes from the intense pain, blinding her vision. She felt herself slip off her bed and onto the floor, landing on her rear and flaring up the pain. It was just as well. She didn’t want the poison to eat away at her bed too.

“You’re done, sister!” Ivory grabbed her sister’s arm, the one holding the blade. “No more. Stop this. She’s had one too many. She’s learnt her lesson.”

“Has she?” Ebony glared at both of them, but then sheathed her weapon. “You left me no choice in doing this, Chrysidea. Next time won’t be so quick, so you better make sure as hay there won’t be a next time.”

She left the room in a blur, taking up Moonglade’s dissolving panties to avoid getting it everywhere.

Only when she was out of sight did Ivory Wings go to the aid of her niece, running a hand down her head soothingly.

“It’s okay, sweetie. It’s okay. It’s over. Come on, heal yourself, don’t wait for it to bruise over.”

“Nnngh…” Moonglade tried to concentrate, but the pain was far too intense for her to focus her channeling. “I-I can’t, Aunt… Ivory…”

“Well, at least let me clean you up,” Ivory drew out a handkerchief and wiped off the remaining traces of the poison. “You are aware that some of it probably got into your bloodstream?”

“Aaahh, aaahh… softer, Aunt Ivory…” Moonglade winced. “And wh-what… can I do… about that? Mother decided to… aaagh… use that knife.”

“I’m not sure we can do anything about it,” Ivory said gloomily. “I think it’s part of the punishment that you be out sick for a few days. I’ll see if I can beg clemency from your mother later.”

“I’m sorry, Aunt Ivory.” Moonglade turned to lie on her chest, keeping as still as she could in hopes to dull the pain. “Time and time again, you’ve… told me what to do… and I still failed. I… love him, Aunt Ivory. It’s hard… to stay distant from him like I’m supposed to.”

Ivory Wings folded up the linen square and threw it into the bin. “But you’re not supposed to be distant from him,” she pointed out. “A successful hunt requires you to get up close and personal. Did I tell you about the Assassin I hunted? Prime target there. He started out at the top, but after I was through with him, he saw just how far he had to fall. I wonder if he’s still out there?” Ivory ran her tongue over her upper teeth and grinned darkly.

“You did, Aunt Ivory. But… I messed up. I’m not like you. See what mother’s… done now. Nnngh, it hurts…”

“I know, sweetie. Just try your best, okay? Concentrate and heal.” Ivory looked down at her niece’s rear. The skin was of a dark purplish-red. “I think she went much too overboard on this one, even if you did fall in love with your prey.”

“And she says it’ll be worse if it happens again,” Moonglade shivered, then winced again when it hurt her backside. “How could it… possibly be worse?”

“With your mother, things can always get worse,” Ivory said sagely.

“That’s something… I really don’t want to find out.” The young changeling tried to keep her mind off the pain. This hurt even more than her aunt’s weapons impaling her. She didn’t know how hard her mother had to hit her for it to be like that. “But I will… try harder, Aunt Ivory. Owww…” she rubbed her hip.

“Good to know you don’t want another beating like that again.” Ivory sat against the bed beside her niece. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her. She shouldn’t do that, you know, as your mother.”

“Not your fault, Aunt Ivory, mmph…” Moonglade tried to push up to her feet, but it only hurt her more. “It hurts…”

“Okay, wait here, sweetie.” Ivory got up. “I’ll get some of my lotions. They should heal you enough to get your focus back on track. I’ll be right back, okay?”

Moonglade was left to herself for a while, with the girl trying to get into a more comfortable position and channel her love, but she just couldn’t focus through the pain. It was likely that the poison that had managed to get through her skin was adding on to the pain. She’d never felt her mother’s blade’s poison before, but from the stories, it would kill a human in three days, keeping them alive in excruciating pain until then. Perhaps this was merely a side effect of her half human status.

“Nngh.” Moonglade wiped at her eyes. “She didn’t have to… hit me so hard too.”

Moonglade’s back was starting to get sore from lying on her chest for so long and she really wanted to just get into a sitting position, but with her butt throbbing like this, sitting wasn’t an option.

“Ugh and I don’t have… any pants.” Moonglade tried to pull her shirt lower, but once again, it wasn’t long enough. “Aunt Ivory can see my… my place…” Moonglade blushed at that thought. Her aunt would be able to see it and there was no way she could cover it up right now. “Owww, it h-hurts…”

“I’m baaack.” Ivory Wings walked back into her room and sat down beside the young changeling, swinging a jar of paste in between in one hand. “This will help soothe your pain, sweetie. But…” She unscrewed the lid and dipped two fingers into the greenish paste inside. “While I apply it, it’s going to hurt. Um, hurt more.”

Moonglade whimpered, but nodded for her aunt to continue.

Ivory Wings was as gentle as she could have possibly been, but that didn’t stop Moonglade from emitting a few squeaks of discomfort and the occasional cry of pain as the ointment was applied to her backside. If her aunt took any notice of her state of undress, she didn’t mention it, simply applying the cream to where Ebony’s sword had struck the hardest.

“And that’s all done,” Ivory said, screwing the cap back onto the jar. “Change into your sleepwear and try to rest. Tomorrow will not be pleasant.”

“Nnnmgh.” Strength returned to Moonglade’s legs and she hoisted herself to her knees, though her butt was still radiating pain. “I won’t die. Right…?”

“Certainly not,” Ivory assured her. “Well, not from the poison, anyway.”

Moonglade took a few steady breaths and then closed her eyes. She willed herself to ignore the pain and think about healing instead. Her aunt’s ointment had really helped reduce the pain, but reduce was the keyword. Channeling her love, Moonglade focused them on her backside, feeling the pain from her mother’s blows begin to lighten until it faded enough for her to stand, though she avoided touching her rear or moving her legs too much.

“Thanks for the help, Aunt Ivory.” Moonglade exhaled, then remembered she didn’t have any pants on and covered her lower region with both hands. “Oh, umm… co-could you turn around?”

“I was on my way out anyway,” Ivory Wings sighed and made to leave. “I’m going to see if I can’t get your mother to give you the antidote or something. Otherwise the next three days will be a miserable experience.”

“Something tells me she won’t.” Moonglade slipped into her wardrobe to pick out her nightwear. “And Aunt Ivory, if you can help it? No, uh, intimate stuff to try and convince her to help me? I think I’d rather go through the pain than to, um… you know.”

“Fine, fine, I won’t,” Moonglade’s aunt rolled her eyes. “I have things to prepare for anyway. My long-awaited debut with Sunset Shimmer and Princess Twilight Sparkle is almost upon us, and I need to pick out clothes for it.”

“Clothes?”

“Yes, for my persona,” Ivory explained patiently. “I can’t go meeting them looking like this, can I? I have to look presentable. So sleep tight, Moonglade. I will be here to check on you in the morning.”