The peace of all things is the tranquillity of order.
- St. Augustine
Luna took a deep breath, unsure of everything before her. She tied the curtain aside and stepped out, Kibou and the pink fairies following. She sighed, leaning against the entrance of her dwelling. Why am I even here?
"Feeling OK?" Kibou asked.
Luna shrugged. "Honestly, my tummy feels like it's trying to move up on its own. But I have to do this."
"I am proud of you for trying."
"I'll do it right the first time, just watch." Luna climbed down, fairies following.
Luna's little boots eventually touched the ground. She didn't notice someone sitting on the ground nearby, the fat boy, a loaf of bread on his lap. He snorted awake, watching Luna walk by. He grabbed the loaf and scurried after Luna.
"Hey, Luna!"
She made no reaction, the fairies turning.
The boy paused, eyebrows up. "Where ya going?"
She didn't reply.
"Hm? Yes?" Kibou said.
"Does she know him?" Arvo asked.
After confusion and hesitation, the boy went in front of Luna. They both gasped.
Luna needed a few seconds. "Uh…hi. Do you just sneak up on people like that?"
The blinked once, twice. "Umm, hi, Luna." His face reddened.
...
Kibou fluttered his wings. "This is the part where you talk about what you think."
"Oh, uh, well… I saw what happened yesterday and...when you dropped your bread. I felt really bad. No one would ever take the dropped bread, so I gave it to some Guays. Can't waste. So, um, well, when I woke up this morning, I made you my own loaf of bread. Just like the last one. It has nuts and fruits inside. I wanted to give this to you..." He extended his chubby arms.
The fairies tilt backwards with an in-sync, high-pitched sigh. Luna's eyes widen. She did not know how to react.
Yet another awkward pause came.
The Kokiri in the background work away...
"Oh? Umm, thank you Elmo, that is very sweet of you." Luna didn't even budge.
The fat boy smiled nervously.
Another odd pause. Elmo just stands, bread in his hands. "Yeah, I just wanted to be nice. We don't hate you, we want you to be happy like the rest of us!"
Luna slowly accepts the gift, face blank. "I haven't eaten for quite a while, thank you so much. Heh..."
Elmo nodded.
The albino stared at her bread.
You've never did anything to deserve anything.
Someone has to do something about this, this… this parasite.
You deserve to be put down, parasite.
She needs to be left alone. I hope she stays alone forever. Next time you run off to the Lost Woods, I hope you get lost and I hope you stay lost. You deserve to be gone, forgotten, lost forever!
Vera's harsh words drill in Luna's head.
Luna's chest heated up. What should a hero be? Exactly not what I am…
Elmo said, "There you go, always happy to help! And don't worry about what Vera says... She doesn't have many friends, she needs to work on her attitude. You've never done anything bad, but Vera gets mad and does stupid things all the time!"
"Well, I guess I need to work on my attitude, too, heh heh…" Luna pushed her hand through her hair. "But I want to get even with her, I just have to find a, uh… A nice way, or something..."
"Well, I still hope she doesn't do anything stupid, but I heard she's going to see Mido! Ha! So she won't do anything today, she doesn't want to get into any more trouble, that's for sure!"
Luna smiled impishly. "Oh, I dunno, maybe something will happen… But first, I really need a bath. I know I must smell really bad and—I mean, thanks again for the bread! See you later, bye!"
Elmo nodded, watching Luna head off.
"Thanks for helping. I think she's definitely feeling better!" Kibou said.
"Ya! Good job Elmo!" Patty squeaked.
"Still, I won't let my eyes off Luna for a while!" Kibou and the other fairies go after her.
Luna nibbled her bread, heading through the village. The nuts and fruits almost make it like cake, yum.
Some Kokiri occasionally greet her. Smiling, she nods but says nothing, munching like a squirrel.
Luna finished her loaf on the way to the pond, then got a brush and soap. Nearby was a clothesline with towels and dry clothes. She walked under, a towel slipping off and landing on her head.
"Ah! What the—" She yanked it off...but needed it.
Luna say at the waterline, putting her things down. Boots off and socks off, her feet are rather red, sore from so much walking. She dipped her raw feet into the clear, cool water, wiggling her toes.
The albino looked around. Several other Kokiri boys and girls also enjoyed the pond, those in the water in their undergarments. A few hopped from block to block playfully but don't finding any Blue Ruppees. One of the girls filled a bucket from the waterfall and walks off. The Kokiri took water from the waterfall, whilst the pond below was for washing and cleaning.
Luna noticed Vera at the other side of the pond, washing her hair with mixed egg white and ale in a large wooden bowl, massaging her scalp with the mixture, looking very pleased. Vera did not have her gloves, sleeves rolled up. She either did not notice Luna or ignored her.
Luna seethed. Shoulders and head low, her skin and insides tingle. She recalled that hot, cracking sensation from Vera's fist…
Kibou and his pink friends flew off to chat with Vera's blue guardian fairy, Nina.
Luna stared at the cluster of hovering fairies. "Hmm…" What's life like for them?
The pale girl looked into the water, holding her chin. Elmo said Vera's going to see Mido. She won't risk causing anymore trouble…
Hatred swirled.
Luna watched Vera rubbing her head. Scowling, Luna shook her head and sat into the water, wearing only her undergarments, long white hair floating around her. She just acted like a lazy lily, enjoying the refreshingly cool, crystal-clear water. Sometimes, she looked around, hoping that no one watches her, but nobody seems to care.
Vera shook her hair underwater, getting the mix off. She resurfaced, hair all shiny and beautiful. She reapplied her mixture, starting over.
Luna took her soap and brush, washing herself and her clothes. Ugghh… I hate scrubbing. Why can't clothes wash themselves? Maybe Kibou could do it for me…
"How's the water, Luna?" a boy asked as he leaves the water.
Luna made a grumpy face at him. He leaves.
She eventually finished cleaning. She squeezed water out her clothes, patted herself down, and put her clothes back on even though they're still damp.
"You're gonna wear them wet? Wet socks will rub your ankles really bad!" a girl warned.
"I'm not like you, I don't care." Luna's bluntness worked.
While drying off her hair with a towel, Luna looked across the pond, frowning. Vera knelt by the water edle, assaulting her scalp with her horrible, homemade shampoo. Vera's long hair was like endless strings of glowing, oaken fibers.
Could I ever make my hair that beautiful? Luna stared at her rippling reflection. Being an albino, there wasn't anything she can do to add color. Her eyes narrowed, then she sighed. Well, I could dye it…
Luna's eyes turn. Kibou and Nina hover beside the waterfall. Their pink friends said their goodbyes, flying off towards the Lost Woods up above.
Luna hung the towel, put away the brush and soap, and sadly pondered. I don't want to be home.
Vera splashed her long, beautiful hair. Luna turned to the almond girl and frowned.
I'll get even with that bitch…
She walked towards Vera, oblivious to the world. She liked her own hair so much she would out-Narcissus Narcissus in narcissism. Her feet matching the precision of Talaria, Luna swerved behind Vera and kicked her in the ass, hard.
Vera straightened up in surprise, loses balance, and flops into the water.
The splash startled Nina. She and Kibou swirl about momentarily. The fairies, Luna, and nearby Kokiri snickered and giggled.
"Look! Vera fell into the water!"
"Ha ha! Yeah! Face first, too!"
"How did the water taste, Vera?"
Vera's head popped out the water, eye twitching, teeth clenched as she snorted. She sat up, knees and shoulders now visible, and snarled at the giggling albino. Vera had never seen Luna happier.
Vera huffed, anger and embarrassment growing at the thought of kids gossiping about her misfortune. Vera got up and splashed Luna, ending the albino's giggling. It is Vera's turn to snicker.
The rivals looked over. Mido stood nearby, shaking his head. Everyone was quiet in the presence of their boss. He wore a sleeveless shirt, shorts, and a pointy cap with the tip bending forwards. His clothing and shoes are green. He is a lean lad with blue eyes, messy hair reddish. All that changed as his demeanor.
"Well, Vera, I'm still waiting for you. What's taking you so long?" Mido asked.
"Luna pushed me into the freakin' pond!" Vera angrily stepped out, writhing as water dripped off.
Kibou snickered. "Well, if you did your hair quicker, this wouldn't have happened."
Vera glared, stroking her wet hair. "Next time, I'm ramming you down Luna's throat."
Mido sighed. "When you're dry, come and see me at my house. Don't keep me waiting, I shouldn't have to walk around looking for you." Mido left.
Vera crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Wasn't even my fault..." She glared at Luna again, indigo-lined face nearly catching on fire. "You little brat! Yesterday, I actually felt sorry for hitting your fairy and you! I really regretted it. I was going to visit you after Mido spoke to me to make amends. I wanted to be your friend, but now you proved what kind of person you really are. I won't ever treat you as one of us, you aren't one of us!" Vera walked into Luna's shoulder.
"Ohh, come on," Luna teased, "it was funny."
Nearby Kokiri chuckle.
Vera spun around, leaning over Luna, who leaned back but held her ground. Vera feigned a punch; Luna flinched. Kibou and Nina look at each other then whiz between their children.
"Vera, please leave her alone!" Nina cried.
"Oh, I will, Nina." Vera gave Luna one last mean look before walking off, wrapping a towel around her head. "Dirty corpse."
Everything soon returned to normal. Luna snickered as Vera dried her hair. The tall lass sharply turned away, rubbing her head faster.
Luna noticed Kibou bobbing in the air.
"Luna! You hear me? Sometimes, you really don't pay attention! Anyways, what you did was pretty funny, but don't do that again. Two wrongs don't make a right. You should apologize to Vera."
Luna gave her guardian fairy a weird look. She rolled her eyes while crossing her arms. "Seriously?"
He nodded. "Seriously."
"I'm sorry, Vera," Luna called. Vera disapprovingly waved her arm while drying her hair.
"Get lost, dirty rat."
Luna yawned. "Speaking of which, your hair looks like a dead rat."
Vera paused, grip intensifying.
Kibou and Nina shivered.
Vera slowly pulled the towel off her head, glaring as Luna waddled off whistling to herself.
Kibou flew after Luna, Nina watching him go. "Was the really necessary?"
Luna shrugged. "Well, I'm not the one with a dead animal on my head." Her wet socks rubbed against her feet, risking painful blisters, though she didn't seem bothered.
Kibou turned, shrugging. "See ya, Nina."
Nina waved. "B-bye!" She hovered by Vera.
Vera held the towel so hard her knuckles whitened. "I really, really want to soak this towel and wrap it around Luna's mouth."
