Undead Waltz

I walked into the kitchen as Paige was making food for us. We had woken up not too long ago, and she had volunteered to make us food since she knew where everything was. She looked over with a smile and set down the small frying pan she was holding. “Hey Michael. What’s up?”

“Well I was wondering if you wanted me to cook. I mean I don’t really enjoy the prospect of making you do so much.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be fine cooking for all of us. It’s not the first time I’ve had people over.” She smirked, and grabbed a few peppers before cutting them up. “But if you want, help me grate the cheese.”

        Grabbing the grater from where she told me it was I began shredding the cheese into a small bowl. After I filled it up a decent ways I handed it to her, and she began spreading it over some eggs. So she’s making omelets....

        Someone knocked on the door quietly. Excusing myself from the kitchen I opened up the door, and blinked at who was standing there. “Oh, hi Kate. What brings you here?”

        She smiled a little. “Is Paige here?”

        “Of course,” I turned back to the kitchen. “Hey Paige, your sister’s here!”

        I heard a small clatter followed by footsteps. “Michael you cook!” She came out of the kitchen and hugged Kate. “Hey sis.”

        I walked into the kitchen and quietly left them to their own devices. As I finished up, and placed the food onto plates I carried it over to the table. “Foods ready!” I went back and grabbed the rest before sitting down at the table. Kondraki was silently eating his food as he stole glances at Beth, glaring slightly before eating again.

        Speaking of Beth, she was having a nice little conversation with Gwen about the different types of supernatural creatures. And Paige was sharing her food with Kate, binding and catching up with one another after what I can only assume was a very, very long time.

        I ate mostly in silence. Grinning at the taste of the eggs. It was rather peaceful, until an old thought came up to my mind. “Oh god...” I set down my fork. “I forgot about Flare.”

        Beth looked at me. “The pegasus guard?”

        I nodded slowly. “We left her in Hollow Shades.”

        Kondraki raised an eyebrow. “And what is so important about this Flare?”

        “She was tasked with watching us... Well me.” I stood up from the table, and grabbed my black cloak from the back of my chair. “I’m gonna head out, and grab her. Anyone want to go with me?”

        Kondraki stood up. “I’ll come along. Just to make it easier for you.”

        Smiling I made my way to the front door. “We’ll be back once we get her!”

        “Have fun!” Paige called out from behind us.

        Once we left the house I hopped down from the small ledge at the top of the door. “So. Beautiful day isn’t it?”

        “It could be worse.” I stumbled and righted myself as Death appeared in front of us. “Kondraki. I’m afraid I’m going to have to use your... Talents somewhere else. I’ll give you until you both reach Hollow Shades before taking you.” Death frowned a little. “I hope this does not pose a problem.”

        Kondraki paused for a second before shaking his head. “Not at all. I’ll be waiting.”

        Death nodded, and vanished.

        I frowned, and looked at Kondraki. “So... I guess that we have a while before you have to go.”

        “It appears so....” He walked over to the edge near the rope. “Let’s get a move on.”

        I followed him in silence.

        We had reached Hollow Shades after a day of waiting. The train had to undergo some “Light” maintenance because one of the pistons was cracked. I personally don’t see how a cracked piston is light, but whatever. Unicorn magic is unfair.

        Kondraki and I stepped off of the train station, and walked down the road in silence. He had been quiet since Death had told him he was leaving. Before we reached the town center he turned to me. “Michael. It was an honor being with you, for the short time I was with you.”

        I smiled a little. “Same here Kondraki.”

        “Its Donovan.” He held out a hand. “I hope we’ll meet again sooner or later.”

        Grabbing, and shaking his hand I nodded. “Same here.”

        “Are you ready?” Death walked out from a small corner. “If so, simply speak.”

        Kondraki nodded before stepping closer. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Death smirked, and they both vanished from existence.

        Frowning I began looking around town for the missing pony. I mean how hard could it be?

        OH JESUS WHERE THE HELL IS SHE!?

        I have looked over every goddamn motherfuking inch of this town, and I still haven’t found her! Is she part wizard? Could she have become a goddamn fly!? WHERE IS SHE!?

        I yawned, and popped my back. “I’m too tired to deal with this....” Shrugging a bit I moved up to a small outcropping of flat top rocks, and laid down on top of a fairly decent sized one. I’m just gonna lay here and... Fall... Asleep.

        I faded into my dreams, hoping to find something good, but instead I got the fucking hallway. Shit. Not good. I looked around rapidly, and saw that there were some chairs set up near a table.

        “Sit down please.”

I whipped around to look at who, or what, had spoken. What I saw shocked me. It was... Well... Me. But... He was different. Instead of the black and red suit I was wearing he was in a white and blue suit. His eyes were also bright blue.... At least the hair was the same.

He motioned towards the table. “We have a limited amount of time to spend talking, so I advise we hurry.” He walked past me leaving a distortion behind his path. “Come along.”

        Moving carefully I sat down at the edge of my seat. I declined the cup he tried passing me, and spoke slowly. “What are you?”

        “Puffs of hot air, from the lips of a ghost, and the shadow of a unicorn's dream.” He grinned wildly, and waved a hand. “I kid, I kid. I’m... You. In a sense.”

        “No. You’re not me. I’m me.” I deadpanned. “Tell me what you actually are.”

        Shifting in his seat he frowned. “Well... That’s it... I really don’t know myself.... Alright. I can tell you some things.” He stood up, and began drawing... In the air.... Leaving light.... “Right. Now... You know how a soul works right?” Noting my dumbfounded stare he continued. “Well... Think of a soul as DNA.” He held up his fingers and summoned two small green glowing balls. “When two people come together to have a child a part of each soul breaks away from the parents, and converges into a smaller, new soul.”

        The glowing balls lost a bit of their glow, before the missing glowing bits converged into a smaller green glowing ball. He pointed to the smaller ball. “The new soul contains both bits from the parents, but overtime it also gains some new bits from the newly created person.” The small ‘Soul’ started to gain a yellow glow, getting brighter and brighter until the original bits were hardly visible.

        “In a normal human the process of gaining your own soul ends as soon as the person becomes twenty two.” He flicked his wrist, and the soul went back to it’s partial state. Where there was some green barely visible. “You died before the process could finish, and I was... “Born” when you did your first attacks.” He made it so that the yellow glow faded a bit, and the green became more powerful.

        “So....” I raised my hands, and began massaging my temples. “You’re a bit of my soul that happened to gain sentience because my soul didn’t completely cover you up. That in turn with me doing my first attacks allowed you to come alive.”

He smiled. “Well done. And um... Sorry about the nightmare a while ago. I hadn’t gotten used to my own state of being.”

“That... Thing was you?”

“Like I said, I had not gotten used to my own state of being. It’s hard to tell if you’re real, fake, or a memory.” He grabbed a small cup on the table, and took a sip. “I belive that covers what I am.” He shook his head. “But that leaves many more questions, trust me I would know.” Looking around a bit he frowned. “And thus the sun doth rise, goodbye Michael.”

I blinked in shock as the area around me faded into nothingness, and a bright light took it’s place.

Groaning I sat up from the rock. “What the hell...?” Stupid dreams... Or... Was it?

“Michael!” I turned to the left, and saw Flare fly up towards me with a small scowl. “Finally found you. I flew all the way to Celestia, who sent me to Ponyville, and they sent me back here!” She landed on the rock next to me, and shook her head. “Oh by the way.” She handed me a small letter with my name on it. “This is for you.”

Grabbing the letter I opened it, and began reading.

Michael Fritz,

This is Ardiente, your friend Sarah’s lover. She asked me to write this letter, and three others, on account of her being unable to write.

“Michael, I don’t know if you care or not, hell given the way I act I doubt you do, but please listen. The day we left the ruins, I had a breakdown, a big one. Those four personalities of mine you met? I don’t know how they came back, or took control of my body and changed my appearance the way they did, but for whatever reason, they disappeared completely. They’re gone, and my mind can’t take it right now, I’m stressing the hell out.

I know you’ve said before that I tend to yell about how bad my life is, but you have to understand, that’s all I know how to do. That’s all I’ve ever done, is yell and scream, the only difference is that now, it’s not in fear or in pain, it’s in anger and confusion. I don’t expect you to understand, but please just listen. I’m not screaming or yelling to try and get sympathy, or get attention, I’m just acting the way I have always been acting, acting the way I know how to act.

Just know that right now, I’m not yelling to try and get sympathy or attention from you, I’m yelling for help. Please, I just need some fucking help....”

This was the last letter I wrote from her, she just sort of... stopped speaking after that. As soon as you can, Michael, please talk to her. I don’t know how much help you can offer, or if she’ll even need it (as this could just be an “episode”), but at least talk to her. She’s been going on in the other letters about how she wants to set things straight with others, and get on better terms with them, that’s probably what she wants from you as well.

I’d imagine the “yelling for help” part was on account of something you’ve said to her in the past, and she was just getting it out. I don’t know for sure, though, so either way, just talk to her. Please.

Sincerely,

Sarah Akinson & Ardiente Fragua

I stared at the letter for a few seconds before folding it up and looked at Flare. “I’m heading back to Ponyville. Head to the house floating above the lake, and I’ll meet you there.” I hopped down from the rock.

Walking past the wondering ponies I made my way towards the train station. This isn’t good, this is so not fucking good. God damn it why did I act so fucking carefree about the shit she’s said anyways!? I sighed and finally got to the station, buying a one way ticket and stepping onto the train. I need to calm down.... I can’t beat myself up over this....

The train started moving and I closed my eyes, it’s gonna take a while anyways.

        I stood in the room with the other me again, he seemed to be frowning deeply. “This is unfortunate.”

        “Unfortunate doesn’t begin to describe it.” I snapped. “I don’t even know what to do... So, any advice you can give me besides don’t piss her off?”

        “Try not to say anything too negative. Her state of mind is incredibly turbulent, so expect hostility and mood swings.” He shook his head. “I was hoping to talk to you some more, but I’ll end you’re dream right now. Also.... I’d tell her about your father Michael.” He snapped his fingers.

        I woke up with a small gasp and looked around, the train had stopped moving and was sitting in the station. I quickly stood up and walked out of the car... Now where to go.... I paused and saw a white haired woman standing near the station. “Mary?” I walked over and nodded a little. “Hi.”

        She looked at me and sighed. “Good, you’re here. Follow me, quickly please,” she walked away before pausing. “and hello to you, as well.” She started walking away even faster than before.

        I followed behind her and kept quiet. Oh dear... She doesn’t sound too happy. “How’s Sarah right now?”

        “Not happy, I can tell you that much. She was pretty frantic the other day, and most of today as well, but when Death dropped by and mentioned you were on the way here...” She shrugged. “she just sort of stopped talking, and seemed really irritated by something.”

Not good.... So not good. “Oh... T-that doesn’t bode too well then...” I sighed. She might know already.... “Hopefully I don’t make it worse...”

        “I don’t know either,” We turned a corner and she spoke again. “just try to avoid saying anything... harsh, I guess.”

Oh great, that’s what my inner self said! “Yeah I’m gonna keep from saying anything harsh. She’s not really in a stable mindframe right now, so the less anger the better.....”

        She didn’t say anything in response as we got too a mansion on the outskirts of town. Walking up to the door she opened it and walked in, beckoning me. I entered and saw Jav laying in a heap at the bottom of some stairs.

        “Uh... Jav? She asked slowly, “What happened?”

        “I saw you two coming from the window,” he said in a muffled, strained voice, “and I told Sarah. As soon as I mentioned Michael, she somehow managed to throw me from her bed, out the door, down the hall, and down two flights of stairs, with a single punch. I’m guessing shadows were involved.”

        “Ah....”

Oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god....

“And Michael?” Jav spoke, looking at me.

        “Yes..?”

        “You’re possibly very fucked.” Jav then slammed his head back to the ground, and didn’t move afterwards.

        “Oh dear....” I sighed and took a deep breath, walking up the stairs. “Alright....” As I walked up I felt myself grow afraid. What’s she gonna do to me? I really, really hope that she doesn’t kill me.... I-I have to tell her, I’m going to tell her.... I’m going to die.

        I walked up to the door and knocked lightly. “Um.... Sarah?”

        I heard something slam against a wooden headboard before Ardiente spoke up. “Come in.”

        I slowly opened the door and stepped into the room, taking note of Ardiente sitting on the bed and.... Holy shit. All of Sarah’s scars are gone... And her arm’s back! What the hell happened? I nodded to both of them. “Hi Ardiente, Sarah.”

        “Goodbye Michael, Sarah.” Ardiente said, getting up from her spot on the bed and leaving.

        I stood there waiting for her to talk as she... Started beating up a comforter.... What? She kept at this for a little before stopping and speaking. “Fuck.”

        Why’d she say that!? “Um... Okay?”

        “Wait, no, not what I meant to say.” She grabbed her head and looked like she was thinking. “What I mean to say was... uh.... Oh!” She perked up and smiled widely. “Yeah that’s it. Michael, I very much fucking dislike you.”

Uhhhhhh.... “Uh.... You really don’t fucking like me?” I shifted a little. “Um... That what you meant?”

        “Yep!” Why is she so.... Happy?

        I made a small hand motion. “Can I know why? Or if you don’t want to say why the message still conveys.”

        “Uh....” She paused for a second and lost the smile before looking back at me. “It’s because you’ve pretty much just disregarded any actual mental problems I have, like that time you said I just shout at people for what happened to me. Nice one by the way, it’s not like I had a reason to anyway.”

        “I wasn’t disregarding them.... I-I was simply a bit overwhelmed.... You normally don’t hear about the sort of things you went through...” I trailed off slowly.

        She stared at me blankly for a while before speaking again. “Want to know my earliest... well one of my only memories?”

        I blinked and nodded a little. “I... Sure. I wouldn’t mind...”

        “You will, trust me.” She coughed a little, “Anyway, my earliest memory actually starts with me just sitting in my nice, clean room back at the facility, with not a single thought of anything bad going on. Next thing I know, Jeriah walks in- do you know Jeriah?”

        Who? “No... I don’t.”

        She shook her head, “Not really important. He was the head of the facility, and the man I grew up with for three years. I saw him as my father pretty much. But then, when he comes in the room, I run up to him expecting a hug that I got every day beforehand. Then he just sticks a needle in my neck, and the next thing I know five years have passed, my right arm is torn off and scarred over, my left shoulder is covered in burn scars, and that same man is raping me on a lab table.”

        “I-Oh god.” I looked away towards the wall and felt sick. “I- Oh my god....”

        “I only have two other memories besides those.” She said lowly, “Aside from the month leading up to me dying, and the four I have from my time in the facility, everything else is just blank. Except for one thing, that is, and it kind of goes into why I dislike you so much right now.” She looked me in the eye. “Want to know what it is?”

Oh god oh god oh god oh god. I nodded a little. “O-okay...”

        “Just two things.” She held up a finger, “One is the definite thought, ‘this is the reason all of this happened to me.’” She held up another finger, “Two... two is just a memory of a nametag I saw only once, on one of the workers there. Want to know what it said?”

Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod. I nodded shakily.

        “Nathan Fritz.” She spat out.

        OHGODOHGODOHGODOHGOD! “.... Oh god.”

“Tell me,” She said calmly, “do you know anything about it?”

.... I have to tell her now. “I-I... I know that name. Yeah.”

She blinked in shock and leaned back. “Really?” She wasn’t expecting the answer? I... I could possibly lessen the blow. “How do you know it?”

“We’re.... We’re related.”

“Did you ever know about what he did to me?”

I sighed a little. “No.... He never spoke of anything relating to A.N.G.E.L.”

        She sighed heavily and leaned back further into the headboard, her facial expression suddenly turned from annoyance to exhaustion. “Leave.” She said tiredly, “Please.”

“I-” I slumped a little and nodded. “Fine. Goodbye Sarah.” I opened the door and looked back at her. “I’m sorry....” I left and closed the door. Walking past Jav and the others and outside.

I walked along the path a little and started heading towards Paige’s house. I can’t deal with anything right now.... I need to be alone for a while. Then... Then I’ll head back and check on the others and see if they found anything else. But for now... I need to just... Think on everything.... And... I really need a good, long, and quiet moment where I can just reflect on everything... I said that twice didn’t I? Yeah.... Fuck. I’m not in the mood to do shit right now.

        I sat with my legs over the edge of Paige’s floating house, staring at the setting sun with a small frown, and Sarah’s letter in my hand. I heard the grass behind me rustle a little and felt some wind brush over me, telling me someone was sitting next to me. I stayed silent for a few minutes before I felt the person place a hand on my shoulder. “Are you feeling okay Michael?”

        I kept staring at the sunset and shook my head. “Not really.... I-I feel horrible Death.” I held up the letter. “What did my father do to her, and why?” I lowered the letter. “No one would legitimately force someone into that kind of life.”

        “He didn’t mean for that to happen. He simply wished to help her...” He trailed off and fell silent.

        “Death. Tell me what he did.” He kept silent and I looked at him. “Please. I need to know what role I play in this.”

        “Sarah was brought to the A.N.G.E.L. facility when she was younger in order to replace a missing foot. Your father suggested to her parents that she would be safe growing up there.... He said that he planned to have her apprenticed there.” He smiled sadly. “But the real reason he brought her there was to find a person who was immune to the effects of the Croatoan Virus. One day he infected her and waited for a month, but she showed no signs of infection.”

        He shook his head and continued. “Somehow... Something happened that led to the virus being released all over the facility. He escaped and managed to get over the infection.” Death looked at the ground. “He told her parents that she died... And that they had to hide, getting the German mafia to help hide them. He stayed behind.... Raising you and allowing you to grow up normally.”

        I stayed silent for a minute before looking up at the now visible stars. “.... How did he know her parents?”

        He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small polaroid picture. Placing it in my hand he spoke. “That will tell you all you’ll need to know.”

        Looking down I stared at the picture. It depicted a couple standing next to my father, who was standing next to... Me. The couple was holding a small child in their arms. Flipping the picture around I read the words on the back. “Christmas with the Fritz and Akinson family....” I felt my hand shake unsteadily as the picture fell from my grasp, and landed on my lap. “I knew them?” He stayed silent. “I knew her? Before she was taken to A.N.G.E.L.”

        “She’s your first cousin. Her mother was your father’s sister.”

        I gasped a little as a memory came back to me.

I sat at a small table with my father and some other people.  There was a small cake on the table with three candles sitting in front of a white haired little girl. She blew the candles out as multiple people started clapping. I heard my father say something to her. “What did you wish for Sarah?”

I didn’t hear the reply, but I could make out that she didn’t want to say.

My father smiled a little and nodded. “Alright.” He looked at me. “Want to say anything to your cousin Michael?”

I grinned and nodded. “Happy birthday Sarah!”

        I felt myself tear up before hanging my head and crying softly. “I remember her.... I was at her birthday....”

“Michael....”

        “Go.” I tightened my hand into a fist. “Go away Death. Now.” I glared at him. “I need to be alone.”

        “Very well.” He stood up and looked down at me. “If you want to talk then simply call me.” He fell forward over the edge and disappeared from the area, leaving no trace of his presence.

        I grabbed the picture and put it in my inner coat pocket, standing up and walking towards the house, crying the whole way. “Why... Why didn’t I remember? Why? Why why why why!?” I punched the door frame and pressing my head into the door. “God damn it why...?” I backed away from the door and sat down on the grass, laying down and closing my eyes. “God damn it why.” I fell asleep on the grass, crying to myself.

        I appeared in the hallway of doors with other me. He was standing across the room with a small frown. I started moving towards him. “Michael... I-”

        I grabbed his throat and slammed him against the wall. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me!? What the fuck made you think that knowing she was my cousin wasn’t important!?”

        “Because I knew you would have reacted this way.... It doesn’t matter anymore Michael. What’s done is done.” He pushed me away and cracked his neck, straightening his tie. “The past can not be changed. It’s one of the unshakable laws of existence.”

        “I still could have known! It would have been better to know that Sarah was family!”

        “It doesn’t matter.” He walked towards the table. “She wouldn’t have believed you without the picture, and even still you cannot suddenly appear and say that you’re family. She must get over her issues before you can tell her, or she will suffer even more stress.” Sitting down he grabbed a cup of tea and took a sip. “So you should calm down.”

        “I.... Fine.” I stormed off down the hallway.

“Where are you going!?” I heard him stand up and follow me. “I thought you’d want to sit down?”

        “You told me this was my soul right?” I glanced at the different doors, some of them cracked and rotting, slowly stitching themselves together, while others were pristine and spotless. “Well... You said it houses my memories, so that means that each of these clean ones are mine, or the ones you fixed....” I stopped in front of a small white door that seemed out of place from the black and brown doors. “But that means that I can browse through them.”

        He stopped next to me and stared at the door. “You can yes.... But I warn you that the past shouldn’t be lingered on...”

        I grabbed the door handle and twisted it open. “I know... But I’m not lingering...” The area around us flashed white and I found myself falling.

I landed suddenly on my feet in front of a hospital door. The smell of antibacterials filled my nose, along with what sounded like screaming. Blinking I turned and saw my father sitting in a chair holding.... “Oh god it’s me.”

“I know it’s you.” Other me was sitting next to them. “This was one of your.... Earliest memories. You were almost a year old if I recall.”

Another scream rang out as I turned back to the door. “.... Is this... Is this their birth?”

“Yes. Your father was brought here by your mother.”

“I barely remember her....”

“She died-”

“In a car crash less than three months after this. Yes I know.” I backed away from the door and sighed. “So this is when Sarah and Mary were born....” I stepped back even more as a doctor stepped out of the room and quickly walked down the hall, turning off into the distance. A nurse in the room called out something, my father stood up, and the memory faded away as a bright light filled my vision.

        I appeared back in the hallway with my hand on the door handle. Letting go I turned and started walking down the hallway again. Other me followed. “I take it you’re searching for old memories involving her?”

        “I simply want to see them.... Nothing more.”

        “Why?”

        I turned towards him. “I want to know why he sold her out. I need to know.”

        He shook his head. “I’m afraid that you’re judgement is clouded. What’s done is done, so you shouldn’t worry about it.” The area around us cracked a little and he sighed. “And you’re being forced awake, so remember what I told you.” The area cracked and shattered before I  began falling backwards.

        I woke up blinking as raindrops fell on my head, and something poked me in the side. “Come on dude get up!” I rolled over and saw a rainbow maned pony staring at me. “Finally! You’ve been laying here in the rain for like, an hour now.”

        I groaned and slowly leaned forward into a sitting up position. “Ugh... Why’d you wake me up?”

        She, by the sound of voice, hovered a bit above me and crossed her forelegs. “I just wanna make sure you don’t catch a cold or something. We’re gonna be having a pretty nasty storm coming along later, so I’m warning everyone I can.”

        I waved a hand and slowly pushed myself into a standing position. “Okay. Thank you...” I looked up at the sky and sighed. “I’m leaving anyways, so I don't have to worry about the storm.”

        “Oh? Where ya headed?” I looked at her tiredly and she raised her hooves. “Not to pry or anything, just wondering.”

        I shook my head. “I don’t mind... I was just wondering who you are, and why you want to know.”

        She blinked in shock and looked surprised before smiling. “The name’s Rainbow Dash, Fastest flyer in Ponyville!” She held out a hoof. “And you are?”

        I grabbed it and shook. “Name’s Michael. Michael Fritz.”

        She pulled her hoof back and landed on the ground, looking up at me. “Cool name. Say, you know Dean?”

        I rolled my eyes a little. “Yeah... Why?”

        She shrugged. “Just wondering.... You are acting much better than he did when I first met him.”

        “What’d he do? Wait, no. Don’t tell me.” I held up a hand. “He did something... extemporaneous.”

        She chuckled and nodded. “Yeah. He charged at Twi’s door and kicked it in... You know Twi?” I nodded. “Oh okay. Well he kicked her door in and decided to grab her, carry her through town, and kick me and AJ! I mean who does that!?”

        I shrugged and tilted my head a little. “I don’t know. I mean he is fatuous, and random most of the time.” Also a very, very renowned criminal.

        She raised an eyebrow. “He’s what?”

        “He’s just silly.”

        “Oh. That doesn't excuse kidnapping, and assault. But hey, he might be alright." She spread her wings and started hovering. “Well. I gotta warn everyone else about the storm, so see ya later!” She took off like a bullet, leaving me standing alone in the rain.

        I walked inside with a small frown, and saw Paige and Kate talking on the couch. They didn’t take notice of me, so I walked over to the fireplace and sat down in a chair. Letting the water on me dry. I paused a bit when I saw some letters on the coffee table.

        Grabbing them, I began reading.

Dear Michael Fritz,

You and your friends are hereby invited to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor. The wedding will take place on December 1st, and you are asked to wear your finest clothing.

Hope to see you soon.

I set down the letter. "Oh this is gonna be fun."