A Menagerie of Emotions, Chapter 2
The air in the square was a picture of jubilance, with flying thopters zooming over eager crowds. Gleaming banners cascaded don the spiraling buildings of Ghirapur, and the streets were packed with inventors, consulate officials, and visitors from the plane of Kaladesh, as the First annual Inventor's Fair under Kaladesh's new government.
Huatli stood at the side of the square, nestled comfortably against a pillar of marble, as she took in the sights and sounds of the first day of the fair. Saheeli had told her the battles that had taken place in Ghirapur, just years before Huatli had first arrived on the plane. She had reflexively been drawn to the similarities between the Consulate's power-hungry politics and the Sun Empire on Ixalan. War still raged on Ixalan between Torrezon and the Sun Empire. Thankfully, Kaladesh was at peace.
Ghirapur still was a new experience for Huatli. Everywhere she looked, there were people. Children running in the narrow corridors between buildings. Greenery was sparse inside the city, save for personal gardens and creeping vines that flourished in the aether reservoirs. But it wasn't a dead urban area. Life flowed through the very air, and the wilds outside the city were nothing less splendid than the deepest recesses of Ixalani forests.
What was different though, was the technology.
The first day she had arrived still hung heavily in her mind. The massive machines, both flying and grounded, which dominated the air of Ghirapur, were nothing like the ships of Ixalan that pirates used to prowl the seas. No, the machines here were in another realm of creation, which Huatli had found herself floundering in.
But, Saheeli had been very patient with her. Huatli glanced up at the noise of the crowd surged in cheers as the very same woman stepped onto the raised platform, a large golden shroud, covering a large object behind her. Huatli felt her face light up in a massive grin, and she flushed, seeing her partner up on stage. She yelled at her in excitement, her tones lost in the ambient noise of the throng of Kaladesh inventors and investors.
Saheeli found her though, and Huatli waved as Saheeli's eyes fell upon her, her face crinkling as she smiled. Huatli was struck like a deer in a beam of sunlight. It had only been a couple of weeks since they had first kissed and accepted what they had meant to each other, but every time she saw Saheeli, that same overwhelming feeling of joy and love bubbled up inside her core.
"Welcome everyone, to the First annual Inventor's Fair!" Saheeli's confident voice resounded over the crowd, which quickly quieted under the striking tones of the great inventor, "I am glad to be able to promote my newest invention on such a historic occasion! Especially with our own Chief of Security, Pia Nalaar in attendance!"
Huatli was staggered by the absolute roar of approval at that statement, as she studied Pia Nalaar. The woman was dressed in fine red cloth, with sturdy pants and scuffed up boots in the middle of the crowd. She was flanked by two uniformed guards, bearing the gleaming amber badges of the Kaladesh consulate. But most of all, Huatli noticed that she flinched slightly under the spotlight, even though she waved at the crowd around her.
Huatli could see the lines on her face and the fake smile. Saheeli had mentioned Pia's story, and her own actions as a part of the revolution on Kaladesh, including the tales of the other Planeswalkers she had been in league with. It was all so clear to her: meeting Saheeli for the first time, with her brilliant smile, and understanding eyes. They had just… fit together. Huatli had her demons- vampires—of her past, as did Saheeli. But the crowd continued roaring, and Huatli smiled at the enthusiasm of it all, glad to just be able to relax and soak in the atmosphere.
"But above all, I couldn't be here now if it wasn't for a… special friend of mine, who gave me the inspiration for this-!" Saheeli called out, as she flicked her brown eyes over to Huatli.
She didn't get the chance to do much of anything before Saheeli grabbed the golden shroud and yanked it. The crowd suddenly silenced as the shining sunlight struck the dazzling planes of the Servosaur. It had been astoundingly beautiful in the dark of the workshop, but out in the open…
"Here is the Servosaur!" Saheeli continued, "A cutting edge creation for the future of Ghirapur's fight against crime!"
Huatli smiled as the crowd surged forwards, with inventors and onlookers alike all clamoring for answers for their resident celebrity inventor. Unbidden tears blurred her eyes as she listened to the ongoing commentary that ran for what seemed like hours, as dozens and dozens of onlookers surrounded the platform. Saheeli flittering about them like one of the many zipping thopters that always raced across Ghirapur's skies. In the middle though, was the perfect image of the golden-silver Servosaur, an exact replica of the deadly Ripjaw raptor that stalked Ixalan's darkest jungles. For Huatli, there was no other creature she loved more dearly.
"Hmmm, I am guessing that you must be the "special friend?" A warm female voice sounded from Huatli's left side, and she hurriedly shook herself from watching the on-stage proceedings.
It was Pia Nalaar.
Huatli felt her face flush with the implied message, and she hurriedly tried to respond in a somewhat dignified way. "Chief Nalaar… it's an honor to meet you. I am Huatli… Saheeli's friend." She finished meekly, wincing at how hot her neck and cheeks burned under the inquisitive gaze of Pia Nalaar.
"Huatli?" Pia echoed, "That isn't a name I've ever heard of in Ghirapur."
"I-I it's not from Ghira- "
"-or Kaladesh." Pia cut across her quickly, giving her guards a meaningful look. They slipped away without a word, standing at the edge of the crowd.
Huatli was floored, "You know?" She had been careful… she and Saheeli both. Did that mean that Pia Nalaar had always known, that she had been watched? Certainly, Pia wasn't like the former Head of Compliance, who was still locked away in a cell below the Consulate.
"No one had to tell me. I've become quite good at just recognizing you all." Pia smiled, as she brushed some of her red-brown hair behind her ear, "My daughter is away currently, and Saheeli has always been a good friend. There have been others too. I'm sure that Saheeli has told you?"
"Yes… I just… am a bit new to it all, I suppose. Ka-Ghirapur was my first stop. I haven't had the time to go anywhere else." Huatli glanced over at Saheeli, a darting motion, but it didn't miss Pia's eyes.
"Hmmm, I see," Pia laughed, "It was a pleasure to meet you Huatli, I look forward to seeing you again in the near future. Come to my house sometime for dinner. You and Saheeli both." The older woman finished meaningfully, before melting away into the crowd with her guards in tow.