Chapter 31: And The Chase Is On! - Part 2

[...]

yawn! “Good morning, Nacreous. Sleep well, my love?”

chuckle “As per usual? Decently well, Sunspots.”

I rounded the long dining table and sat near Celestia as breakfast was served. I acknowledged the ponies delivering the food and sat comfortably in my chair, eyeing the treats before me.

“The waffles sure look fluffy this morning, don’t they?” I asked in surprise.

“Well, yes. They always do, Nacreous,” Celestia replied cheerfully. “I have the syrup if you will need it.”

“Please,” I asked, looking at the alicorn. Celestia’s smile warmed my chest as she levitated it toward me. I hungrily grabbed it and poured it onto the stack of waffles. We ate peacefully, watching the time go by before Commander Shifting and Luna arrived from their nightly shift.

“Commander,” I chimed. “Nice morning we’re having today, aren’t we?” The stallion unicorn nodded slowly, his tired expression acknowledging the meals being readied.

yawn! “Yes, quite the night we had, Emperor Nacreous,” Luna replied half-heartedly. “And what a night it was! Tia, you won’t believe this…but the nobles are at it again.”

groan “About whaaat, dear sister?” Celestia quipped irritably.

“Alex…again,” Luna moaned in frustration. “They just keep bringing it up. Haven’t they whined enough about it during Day Court?”

“Persistently,” Celestia huffed, staring at the table. “It’s beginning to become something more than a ‘Canterlot and her allies’ problem. This is becoming a ‘world of Equestria and her nations’ issue, and I am sick and tired of always having to give an update every single day.”

“Unfortunately so, dear,” I replied. “Whether you allow it to fester or put an end to it is up to yo-us. I meant ‘us.’ Oh, maybe you would like me to address the nobles again?”

“No, no. I think you’ve had your fair share of snobby and rude nobles who dare question my preferences,” Celestia replied before smiling. “Thank you for offering, my special hippogriff.” My heart beat twice as that lovely smile of hers pierced through. I could get lost in those eyes….

cough! “Well, for one thing…I haven’t heard any new information regarding his whereabouts,” the Commander said, causing my ears to perk up. “Where should we continue?”

“Well, Shifting. I will leave that for you all to decide,” I shrugged, quickly hopping off the chair and moving toward Celestia. “I have business to attend to today.”

“Oh? First time I’m hearing about it,” Celestia asked in surprise. “Whatever for?”

“Let’s say that when all is said and done. After your pupil ascends to the throne, and you and Luna finally retire,” I replied before winking. “We’ll have a secured place ready for us to call home.”

Celestia put a hoof over her mouth as her eyes widened. “You got a patch of land reserved for us in the town of Seaward Shoals?”

I nodded softly and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m finalizing all the details today, dear,” I replied softly. “But, if anything, I must hurry. That pony has a lot on his plate, and I wouldn’t want to be late. Reputation so be the end of me if I am!”

giggle “Eee! Okay, Nacreous. I guess I’ll handle Day Court alone again,” Celestia sighed. Her head briefly hung before I pulled her in for a long, tender kiss. Her eyes closed as she reciprocated the action, breaking away to look into her gaze.

“Don’t worry, Sunspots. I’ll try to hurry and be back before noon,” I whispered. “Promise me you’ll wait?”

“Heehee, I’ve waited a thousand years too long, Nacreous,” Celestia teased. “A few hours isn’t close to the time I was truly alone. And I’ll manage, especially if I know you’ll be there in the end.”

“Great. I’ll be back!” I approved, activating a rune. Waving to the trio, I walked through the portal and arrived on the outskirts of Seaward Shoals. Hearing the portal close behind me with a fwip! allowed me to breathe easy. Then, I unfurled my wings and took off into the sky.

After floating in the air, I scanned the horizon quickly. Knowing that the train must have left the trainyard more than five minutes ago, I saw a gray puff of smoke bounce over the treeline in the distance. My eyes narrowed in as my beak curved into a grin.

“Hmph. There you are,” I whispered under my breath. I began gliding toward the train that was speeding along the tracks. Smoke continuously billowed from the stack as I neared it, and then his silhouette appeared.

Alex was standing right next to the dome on the caboose car, adjusting his weight as the wind rushed by. My mind plotted every move he and I could possibly make, and the path I would need to choose accounted for every situation.

One thing was for certain.

“Alex…it’s time to come clean about everything. About you, Skystar, the others…and me.”

Why are you the way you are, Alex?

========================================<>========================================

“...”

“What’s happe-”

Ssh.

“...”

It was morning again. The peaceful dream I had turned into a waking nightmare, as I predicted. So, to save face, I woke myself up in time before it got out of control. Forcing the dream to shatter was risky and unideal, but my worries had just begun.

slam! The conductor entered the cabin of my train car and began to walk about. I silently breathed in and out, doing my best not to make a sound. I activated my sticky webbing across my palms to hang onto the ceiling, waiting for what felt like an eternity.

Come on, the left side of my mind impatiently thought. When will they leave?

Alex, the right side commented. We’re starting to lose our grip. Regrip and hold still.

The conductor below moved slowly. Their hoofsteps were heard as they creaked against the floorboards. I waited patiently, continuing to silently breathe while refocusing my grip. After another minute or so, the train car’s door abruptly opened and slammed shut.

slam!

“...”

“Whew!” I exhaled deeply as my grip loosened. I leaned back against the ceiling tiles underneath me and said nothing, desperately regaining composure over my breathing. My lungs expanded in rhythm with my heart as it slowed to a walking pace.

sigh “Good God,” I exhaled, grabbing my hair. “That was a clos-”

fwooo! The train’s whistle caught me off guard, sounding in the distance. Then, the train began to move, ever so ruggedly in its movements. It weaved left and right, seemingly navigating the large yard’s tracks and switch system. It finally straightened out, chugging along the tracks and speeding up.

I pushed my entire body backward and found the tiny space atop the caboose. The caboose’s cupola was situated just high enough for me to sit upright and see over the train before me. It was decently long for a passenger train, watching as it passed the last watchtower and left the yard.

I watched as it turned left slightly and began the journey along the coastline of the North Luna Ocean. I saw the water’s edge crash against the beachheads, the waves remaining evenly spaced. I took my time in my new position, stretching my arms and groaning from the stiffness.

“Fuck,” I quietly thought aloud, pushing my hands against my back in an attem-

crack!

“Ohhh…that felt good,” I commented with pleasure. Being tall meant I was prone to stiffness, especially if lying down or standing for a long time. Waking up in the morning, teaching my students all day, or playing pinball in the league didn’t matter. Proper stretching and wellness were essential, and this world was no exception.

“Can you get to the point, Alex? What did you do after all that?”

Bro, my mind thought. Uncool.

Well, I took some time to check my watch, seeing the energy bar full. Then, I gathered my belongings and left what I didn’t need behind. Finally, I took my leave from the train car.

“How’d you do that?”

I propped open a window atop the caboose and climbed out of it. My torso nearly got stuck before I tucked my stomach in, allowing me to clamber out and onto the top of the train car. I kept one hand on the window frame and held it tight, ensuring my legs adjusted accordingly on the roof.

The wind beat against my chest as my weight shifted and settled into place, making me let go of the window. My hair flowed in the wind as the train chugged along the railroad tracks, allowing me to peer into the distance at what was coming.

I watched as the train approached the long curve before Vanhoover, the whole train suddenly slowing down. The smoke billowed from the stack, traveling through the air as steam emitted from the wheels. It was…a comforting feeling for me.

“How so?”

I had always liked trains growing up, and riding one was always fun. Whether it was going to transportation museums or the times my school would make trips for our class and sports teams. I always liked the ones where we saw trains because I enjoyed the experience.

It was incredible to hear about the history of steam-powered locomotives, too. My brothers and I would play with the model trains in the basement during the fall, and how delicate yet detailed they were intrigued me. The modern-day titans brought tears to my eyes, seeing them back on the rails and in action. After all, we weren’t even born when they ruled the rails.

Legends, my mind echoed before laughing. Heh. Legends of the rails….

“Heh, I see what you did there. Good one. I am laughing so hard right now….”

Wow, who let the funny man in? my mind thought sarcastically.

fwooo! The engine’s call woke me up from my train of thought. Not like it mattered becau-

Kaww!

My eyes widened, making my head spin around at the sound. The faint cry of an eagle caught me by surprise, causing my head to fill with dread at the possible creature who made it. My eyes darted frantically around before feeling a much faster rush of air fly overhead.

Bam!

I looked in the direction of the noise as a creature landed on the caboose’s roof. It had dug its claws into the metal rooftop of the train car, which bent under its weight. The hippogriff’s beak curved into a snarl, and his wings spread as his head finally moved up. Two ocean-blue eyes opened and stared back into mine, with a noticeable fire lit behind them.

My shoulders remained up as my teeth clenched. Come on, leave us be! the left side of my mind thought in frustration. Every time we try to live in our feelings and memories, this guy always has to show up and ruin the moment!

“...”

It didn’t sound like he had said anything. Not only did his beak move but my hearing was still fine-tuned to hear what Nacreous said exactly. And it filled me with…fear.

“Told you.”

========================================<>========================================

Alex stood upright as I smirked. I knew he heard what I said under my breath, but his disdainful expression gave me reason to believe I shouldn’t play around and cut right to the chase.

“Alex! I have come not for a fight, but-”

“Bullshit!” Alex’s one-word answer stopped my sentence and made me blink twice. I knew how smart he really was, but it’s like he was prepared for me to say that.

“I got all the time in the world, Nacreous!” Alex yelled back, stamping his shoe on the caboose’s roof. “Why don’t you try something else?”

I took that as a challenge and decided to retract my wings. They relaxed to my sides nicely and allowed me to take a cautious step forward. “Alex, plea-”

“Don’t approach, Nacreous!” Alex warned. His right hand immediately hovered over his wrist where the super-watch was. “If you get close to me, I will summon the big ax. I am NOT afraid to defend myself, and I am NOT afraid to fight you!”

“Alex, spare…spare me some time, at least, to talk with you,” I replied calmly. “You know I won’t fight you.” I took another step forward and approached the center of the train car, which made Alex lean back and raise his arms higher.

“Stop getting closer, Nacreous!” Alex shouted back with more force. I stopped in my tracks as the wind around us continued to blow ferociously. Alex’s face expressed a level of anger that forced the veins across his neck and arms to bulge. “Last chance to back dow-”

“I am not backing down from talking with you!” I answered loudly. My mind shorted out momentarily as the outline of my planned conversation crumbled into dust. My emotions suddenly took over as I sighed heavily. “You…You’re my friend, and I am worri-”

“Pfft hahahaaa!” Alex began to laugh hysterically while both my eyebrows furrowed in disappointment. It did give me a chance to take another couple of steps forward, sidestepping the caboose’s cupola and coming within reach of Alex. Come on, Nacreous, I thought pensively. Get to him before something bad happens.

“Th-That’s gotta be the best joke you’ve ever told me, Nacreous! Holy shit!” the human replied jokingly, clutching his stomach. scoff! “Even you know you don’t mean tha-hahaha!”

“...”

As he continued to laugh at me, I noticed his eyes close as his head slowly dipped. Then, as if it were like magic…the air went quiet.

The train sped along the train tracks like normal, but Alex was the only other sound I heard. The wind wasn’t howling anymore, and neither were the clicks! and clacks! sounding from underneath the train. It was only Alex’s breathing and voice I heard within my ears.

I didn’t know why it was happening, but I only knew what happened afterward. Alex’s laughter started to wane and grow softer. His hands came up to his face and covered them. He began to tremble in place while dropping to his knees, his arms desperately coming up to hide his face.

sob! That’s when the human I had gotten to know over the past two years began to cry. He sat back on the edge of the caboose’s roof, not caring if he would fall off and tumble across the tracks. All he did was bury his head atop his knees and sob loudly, causing me to feel sympathy.

Why? my mind thought. Alex laughed at me for trying to be there for him over a minute ago. His cries continued to dance somberly through the wind, dying as they reached my ears. I no longer heard his voice….

It was only my mind I heard. Comfort the human, it suddenly instructed. Alex feels lost and vulnerable right now. It has been a long journey thus far for him, and he has nocreature else left to talk to.

“...But I can be there for him.” My brain reacted to my mind’s idea immediately. My claws pressed against the roof of the caboose and moved forward. I passed by the last part of the caboose’s dome, making my way to the crumpled human. Alex’s forearms covered his entire face as he sobbed viciously, making me decide to reach out and comfort him.

Almost there, my mind thought. I rested my right claw across Alex’s shoulder, with my talon slightly gripping onto the clot-

Smack! Alex slapped my arm away, taking me by surprise. He shook his head slowly before burying it back into his arms. I watched Alex try to regain his composure, but it seemed impossible. I said nothing as I sat before him, waiting for his next move.

“D-Don’t try and act l-like you’re my f…f-friend now, Nacreous,” Alex’s voice shakily cried. His head shook once as he exhaled loudly. “I-I know th-this feeling already….”

sigh “Alex….”

“What?”

========================================<>========================================

I watched Alex as his head came up, allowing me to see the sadness that coated his face. His cheeks burned red, his eyes were bloodshot, and the vibrance in his eyes died. They no longer appeared as those turquoise, cheerful eyes he once had.

They looked…gray.

shudder “Wh-What do you want with me?” Alex croaked. The overall vulnerability he must have been feeling was heartbreaking for me to watch.

“...” I opened my mouth before closing it, prompting silence to cover the area. For myself I didn’t even know how to answer that question. Whether I should tell Alexander why I was here or should I try to make him come ‘home’ to us.

No, that wouldn’t be good, I reminded myself. Bringing the guy back to Canterlot would only prolong the inevitable. But…then we can send him to his world. The world he ‘belongs’ in.

I shook my head and decided to go with the flow. “Listen…Alex,” I softly began with. “It’s difficult for me to answer that right now.”

“Pfft. Yeah, right….”

“But that is because there are so many avenues this conversation can go down,” I pointed out, watching Alex’s eyes close. “The way you’re feeling is not who ‘you’ are. But, the way I-uh, WE. Yeah…the way we feel in Canterlot may make you doubt me.”

“Heh...that’s for sure.”

“And you are completely allowed to feel that way, Alex,” I answered. “If that’s what you think, I have no problem agreeing. Your assessment of how you judge others is your ‘opinion’ for a reason. You’re entitled to have one.”

“Well, what is the point of having an entitled opinion and possibly sharing it if you aren’t even allowed to express it?” Alex bitterly growled as he looked at me.

“Did you?”

“...” For once in a blue moon, the question I had proposed to Alex caused him to stop and really think about it. I observed him as his eyes squinted, the gears in his mind churning. Every now and then, he would look like he was about to answer, but he just gave up and sat silently.

Entertain me for a moment, Alex. Please, my mind begged. Please, just…talk to me like a friend.

“Am I entitled to my own life right now?” Alex asked. “Or is it in the han-duah. Fuck…the ‘hooves’ of others? Is my life right now, as we speak, in your claws…or mine?” Alex looked at me and raised his head, watching me as my head tilted to the right.

“Hmm…fair question for you to ask, Alex,” I commented. “Well, are you being held back by somecreature? Does somepony have you coddled in a room? Or are you out in the open where you are ‘free’ to do whatever you want?”

“Like what?” Alex seethed. “Do whatever I want? Nacreous, I have had to constantly be in fear of you all ever sinc-”

“You just said it. And now you know how I felt for almost my entire life, Alexander.”

========================================<>========================================

The air went cold as Alex stopped in the middle of his sentence. I looked down and away from the human as my admittance had also stung me hard.

“Oh…right.”

“Is that all you can say, Alex?” I inquired. I turned to look him in the eyes, his gaze meeting mine. “To have to hide away in solitude while the world is chasing after you? To live in fear of what other creatures might think of you, once they realized who you were?...T-To not know i-if you’d ever be l-loved again?”

My breathing quickened as my remembrance of my entire life came full circle. I took a deep breath before continuing. “I have always felt ‘fear,’ Alex,” I firmly remarked. “Everycreature I had ever met and became friends with has died. All my close acquaintances and lovers…gone. And even so, I could never be…‘free.’”

I looked at Alex as he began to tear up. I shook my head and shrugged it off. “It’s tough. Real life is truly a tough world to live in.”

“...”

“But, you know what?” I asked, remembering the question I had thought about before. “Even through all that…what did I do with my life? Let it pass me by? Alex…I saved lives. I fought for others, and…and I made ‘friends.’ Friends I’ll share a lifetime of memories with. Even…”

“Celestia,” Alex whispered.

“Yes.” I nodded and smiled. “Alex, you finally answered my question.”

“Wai-What do you-”

Alex stopped mid-sentence, his jaw-dropping as I raised my eyebrows. He was so surprised that he didn’t even know how to respond. Alex just sat there and looked at me for a while. Then, slowly, I noticed a smile forming on his face, causing me to point it out to him.

“You’re starting to smile,” I teased. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I-I can’t believe it,” Alex exhaled. He was still at a loss for words as I concluded it for him.

“See? You feel the exact same way,” I replied kindly with a smile. “And that’s why I see you as a duplicate. A counterpart…to me. ‘You.’ You’re like a younger version of me, Alex.”

“..Eh…heh heh.” Alex began to laugh to himself as my head tilted. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Nothing, it’s…it’s just…” sigh “I-I get what you meant right there,” Alex admitted before looking at me. Suddenly, those turquoise eyes from before came back to life. “Nacreous, I don’t think you realize how much that sentence meant to me just now.”

“The ‘you are a younger version of me?’” I replied. Alex nodded before explaining.

“You know, back when I was young,” Alex began to retell, “everyone I knew would try and compare me to others. Not that it was a bad thing, no. Its…they always said, ‘His game is just like this player,’ and, ‘No! He definitely plays like this player!’ And it just went on and on….”

I listened as he continued. “I-I always felt like I was chasing something or someone. They never stopped to ask ME who I felt I was like because honestly…I didn’t care. I didn’t care about being called the ‘modern-day Bird’ or a ‘Pistol Pete reskin.’ Yes, those players WERE my role models in basketball, but…no one ever asked me who I thought I was.”

Alex stopped to smile as he looked away. “But, for me, if I could go down the line of the best memories and see who was responsible for them from the start?” He paused, taking a breath as I wondered where this was going. “Why do you think I have so few mentors and role models?”

Alex turned toward me and raised three fingers. “Three. Three saw me differently. And…they all said I was just like them when they were younger.”

My body shivered as it got goosebumps. After all this time, I thought. Is that the answer to who you are? There’s no way that’s true….

“And now, that’s a fourth perso-uh, creature. A fourth creature has said, ‘I see a younger version of me in you currently.’ Only four have said it, Nacreous. Do you want to guess who they are?”

sigh “Well, I know your deceased Grandpa is one,” I started with. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Alex shrugged it off as I rattled the next ones off. “You once said a guy named ‘Big Chuck’ was a second. He got you into competitive pinball and mentored you to be better. Then, your high school band director, who also became your mentor in college. He taught you everything and saw a bright future in you as a teacher. And, now…I’m the fourth.”

“Correct,” Alex said softly. A tear traced down his cheek as a shuddered breath overtook him. “I-I have them to thank for me b-being here right now. Th-They made me the person I a-am today. And I couldn’t be more thankful….”

The air went silent again as Alex stared off into the distance. I watched him as he looked at the city of Vanhoover, passing us by as we sat atop the train’s last car.

“Thank you, Nacreous,” Alex finally said. I looked toward him as he smiled. My chest thudded as something felt…‘different.’ Alex had that warm smile on his face. One that he always expressed ever since I met him. The human motioned me for a hug, to which I obliged.

Alex clung to my frame as he slowly began to breathe calmly. Then, I sighed heavily and reciprocated the hug, realizing that our friendship may have been resto-

gasp! “...” My eyes widened as the realization hit me. Alex did it. He renewed hope in himself, my mind victoriously thought. Yes! And we gained his trust back? Finally! I smiled as the human continued to hug me, a feeling of pride and happiness flooding my mind.

Alex is back! What a good step in the right direc-

“We’re both very well-aged adults, Nacreous. Such tricks…are below us.”

“Huh?”

Shove!

========================================<>========================================

Nacreous’s body got thrown backward across the caboose’s roof, skidding until he stopped. His head popped up immediately, staring at me in shock and disbelief. The hippogriff’s beak hung open, unable to comprehend the events I had started.

My mind had contemplated everything he was doing and saw right through the mask. “You think I can’t see right through your facade?!” I angrily shouted. “I know your game, Nacreous!”

“...A-Alex, h-h-hold on a second-”

“You had plenty of time to capture me and haul me off to Canterlot, and you blew it!” I yelled back. The hippogriff’s eyebrows popped up. “And believe me, it wasn’t going to work! I saw through it…RIGHT through it!” The air around us blew fiercely, the sounds of the train reverberating in my ears.

“A-Alex, I-I wasn’t-”

“Don’t think I’m stupid enough to realize what you were doing, Nacreous!” I accused. “You’re trying to, yet again, appeal to my sensitive side. Waiting to nab me at my most vulnerable moment and haul me back through a portal! And where would we be? Canterlot Castle!”

“W-W-Wait, A-Alex,” Nacreous stuttered out. “I-I’m not-”

“Why can’t you four understand these three words of mine?” I said before shouting forcefully. “LEAVE!! ME!! ALONE!!”

“...”

The air howled as those words echoed across the valley. The forest ahead was rapidly approaching, but that didn’t matter anymore. Not to me…‘this’ was the real matter.

“You want to hear how I feel? I despise this more than anything,” I sneered. “Every time I am asked by any of you, ‘How are you doing, Alex?’ ‘Oh, is everything okay, Alex?’ ‘How was your night, Alex?’ ‘Remember, I am here as a friend, Alex.’ ‘Trust us, Alex.’ Fuck your trust!”

The hippogriff said nothing, remaining motionless as I kept venting. “You realize how unjust and unfair this feels?!” I shouted. “You think I feel fine when the entirety of Equestria thinks I’m a ‘monster?’ That I just act on impulse? I make my decisions and plan all my moves thoughtfully. I know that sometimes my actions will have consequences, but when I do something I have no choice but to do, since the entirety of Equestria’s fate is at stake?!” sigh “I’m the monster….”

“...I-”

“And because none of you could understand back then!” I interrupted loudly. “God is and shall be my witness forever! Every fucking time I do something, He knows! And I’ll have Him be my witness since none of y’all can believe me!”

“Alex!” Nacreous chirped. “I’m not even talking about the trial!”

“You nearly did, Nacreous!” I said before realizing something. “You were about to bring it up and decided against it. Especially since this whole time, your goal was to get my trust and then grab me at the last second.”

Nacreous eyes widened in surprise as I planted my foot fiercely into the roof of the caboose. I clawed at my shirt’s neck opening before seeing Nacreous’s wings unfurl swiftly. I looked at him as both of my hands lay at my sides, my teeth gritting hard.

“You had one chance, Nacreous,” I replied, my voice cracking due to the screaming I had done and no water to wash out my throat. ahem! “God…you have once again proven to me why you all are untrustworthy, and you’ll never, EVER, get my trust back. You haven’t earned it yet!”

Nacreous continued to stare me down as we both felt something unexpected. The train suddenly began screeching to a halt, the brakes violently shattering the tension in the air. My hands came up to my ears and covered them, doing their best to drown out the unsettling noi-

“Alex! The train is stopping!” the voice of my watch said. I rolled my eyes and exhaled.

“No duh, Mike-”

“Somepony has appeared on the tracks up ahead! It’s Celestia!”

========================================<>========================================

gasp! “Oh shit,” I muttered, looking up quickly to see that the watch was correct. A train junction was straight ahead, and a lone alicorn with her mane flowing stood on the rails. The ground underneath her was melting, fire slowly disfiguring the railroad tracks and making my body tighten from the shock.

The train continued to grind to a halt, forcefully pushing Nacreous up and away from me. The hippogriff quickly caught himself before looking down at the figure as well. His head rolled back as his claw came up to his face, making me realize something.

Nacreous is distracted, the right side of my mind thought. Now’s the time to run!

But, where wil-

And that’s when my mind saw it. A new avenue for me to take. And it just opened up, too.

“On the fly?”

We always do things on the fly, yes.

“Alex!” the watch shouted loud enough for me to hear. “I found a new route we can take! It’ll save you time if you full-throttle it too!”

“Go ahead and trace it, Mikey!” I exclaimed, looking at the watch’s screen impatiently. Sure enough, a straight line going all the way up to Yakyakistan drew itself out, showing me the path we needed to take.

Strapping the bag onto my back, I readied myself and took two steps, leaping off the caboose’s roof. The air rushed past me as I flew through the air, bringing the watch back up to my mouth.

“Activate webs!”

“Request acknowledged!” Immediately, a line of sticky webs shot from my wrist, aimed toward the nearby Smokey Mountains.

“NO YOU DON’T!!”

“Activate Ax of-”

“Request acknowledged! Put your right hand up, Alex!” The watch knew what my order was going to be. It did so faster than my ability to process, not giving me enough time to react to the force I was about to feel.

I looked to my right and watched as a blast of magic rocketed toward me.

shimmer!

“Shit-”

Boom!

Author's Note

What a twist! Nacreous and Alex share this familiarity, and both of them DO understand it. However, that trust is still broken, so it forces Alex not to believe him. That's why Nacreous's reaction is so heartbreaking to write: his victory was shortlived!

In case you didn't know, I'm back. So we're chugging along with these uploads. Part 3 comes out (hopefully) later. In all likelihood, next weekend, which includes Friday, right?

Anyway, I'll see you guys then. Byeee!

-Harpy