Unity

Ch.38: Born to Errand

In all honesty, it was supposed to have been a lazy day. Igneous and Cloudy were enjoying a rare day with nothing to do, all of us were. I was sitting on the couch in the living room, going through a word search I got from the grocery store, before Maud walked in.

She wore a pair of white sweatpants and a red T- Shirt with a humorous verbiage: "Yes, there are words on this shirt." Noticeably, she was wearing her shoes. I looked up at her.

"Heading out for a bit?" I asked.

She nodded. "To do some errands. But... I was kind of hoping you would come with me. I could use the company."

I thought about it for a second, then nodded. Marble would walk in at this point, Pinkie in tow.

"Ready to get creamed in Mario Kart, sis?" Marble grinned, her timid nature washed away in the spirit of competition. Pinkie responded by zooming to her room and returning wearing a Mario shirt. She narrowed her eyes.

"Its' on!" she cheered, readying their remotes. Laughing, Maud and I left. In their room, Cloudy and Igneous smiled as they witnessed my leaving with Maud.

It was good to have alone time with family.

Maud would take the lead as we turned right and began walking. "We have three stops to make. First, the bank so my check can be cashed. Second, to the Verizon store so I can pay my phone bill. Then, to a secret place."

"How are you and Aria doing?" She asked as an afterthought.

I smiled. "It's going well. Me and her Hyped for awhile last night. Sonata was all excited. Said something about visiting their parents."

Maud raised an eyebrow. "They must be in the ocean" she joked in a deadpan manner. I was confused, until it hit me. They were sirens, and sirens resided in the ocean.

"Good one!" I complemented.

Soon enough, the golden sign that said "Manehatten Credit Union" was before us. Maud led me into the bank. As my account was controlled by Igneous and Cloudy until I was eighteen due to the UBI, I had not entered yet. The only really notable thing was that Adagio was there, doing some banking business herself.

Seeing that she was busy, I simply followed Maud over to the counter. Setting her purse on the counter, she pulled out her UBI check.

"Just a deposit today, Marenopoly" She said to the teller, a lady in her 30s with golden hair. We waited as she deposited the check, Adagio noticing us at this point. Her business done, she strided over, her mood amused.

Before she could say a word, however, she suddenly closed her eyes, her voice gasping. She promptly rushed out the door, her steps urgent. Maud shrugged.

"Just another day in Manehatten" she smiled.

Our next steps found us turning left, heading up the same road that the movie store Sunset Shimmer worked at was on. Maud filled the conversation by telling me about her studies. She was enjoying the work.

"Doesn't it screw your sleep schedule?" I asked. Maud shook her head.

"No. I always have been a late to rise person. But I get days like this where I feel like getting things done. So, David, just a question, and only a question. How do you feel about me? Like, in general? I only ask" she sighed, "Because we hardly see each other. And you don't say a lot to me when we do."

I quickly looked her in the eyes.

"Maud, I only do that because I get the feeling you like spending time to yourself. I just don't want to bother you, or get you mad at me."

Maud frowned.

"David, you can always talk to me. About anything. Hell, you have a funny joke, tell me. I mean it."

I nodded, Maud surprising me then by hugging me. It was a bit awkward, the action foreign to us both for the most part, then we nodded at each other. We understood each other better.

A few minutes later, we were in the air-conditioned Verizon store, Maud paying her phone bill. Oddly, she would have me stand outside for a time after, as she discussed something with the store clerk. I would not know this reason for a few months.

Anyways, Maud soon came out, smiling as she saw the video game store across the street. It was called Olden Glory. Maud grinned.

Minutes later, I walked out with a copy of Fable, a game I loved that had sadly not survived the fall into Pandestria. Our steps joyful, the entity in my head spoke.

"Perhaps we can play sometime, David."

This stunned me. What did this mean? He would be someone I would meet face to face?!

For now, I kept myself focused. When we returned to the driveway of our house, I stopped her shortly, by taking her hand. My words were concise and true.

"Maud, thanks for such a fun time. I'd love to do this again. Sister."

Maud had no words, but hugged me, tears falling from her eyes. It meant everything to her to hear that.

What we had no clue of is the events that were unfolding at Camp Everfree...