Amethyst arrives behind the Intergalactic Resources’ old base, the celebration area opens up before her; a large level meadow of red grass by the forest’s edge.
It had once been empty, but now the various wildflowers were trampled, and the ground already muddying up at spots.
Cameras, large speakers, and other equipment are propped up on the slightly higher, and firmer, landing pads of asphalt, pointing towards the main party site.
Some of the film crew are operating them and other parts of the set, but most seemed to have been put up as actors, partygoers in fancy dresses and suits, already mingling in the area.
Though the personnel seemed a lot more numerous now than ever before.
On the right side are various tables decked with drinks and closer to the landing pads is the food area, equally massive.
The tables themselves also have small steel lanterns, which shine their electric but warm light. Some people even carry around these vintage lighting pieces.
Colorful flags, advertisement banners, and other decorations litter the area high and low.
The general area is lit up and decorated with bright paper-lantern-like lights hanging from lines, permeating the darkening night sky with light.
They are hung from tree to tree, some supporting poles laid in between that are finally connected to the Intergalactic building’s wall.
In the middle of it all a bonfire of wood, surrounded by large stones which seem unnecessary given the features of Midnight Iris’ forests.
Benches are spread around the vicinity of the fire, and further along are wooden tables with more traditional chairs, though a large circular area is left vacant all around the bonfire.
The sight of it all is impressive and unique to Amethyst’s eyes. She had never seen such festivities or so many people crowded together like this.
It was a strange feeling, to witness all these humans, so many living beings, each doing their own things, each being their own person.
A conflict of belonging and alienation; a part of her head felt at home, that she should go into the crowd and lose herself, these were her people.
To meet them and chatter, shake their hands, do things becoming of human nature.
But, Amethyst knew it wasn’t true, this feeling was a fabrication—a leftover that was now always a part of her. A churning dissonance stirred deep within, in her head, in her very limbs.
She wasn’t like them.
She could never be human.
If she’d ever be surrounded by a crowd so tightly packed in against her, there would be casualties. If she ever moved without careful consideration, of clear intent, these fragile beings would break.
She couldn't grab somebody from their shoulders, pull them close, or even push them away.
Take another’s hand into hers or touch their face, she was more likely to blind somebody, than to successfully wipe their tears.
She wondered what it would be like, to caress another’s cheek just like a couple in the sea of people before her do.
Even in the shower, she was afraid of hugging Frank back, and in the end, she hadn’t done it. He didn’t even have his clothes on, nothing to protect him from her.
She simply couldn't take that risk, it was too dangerous.
The many humans before her...
All of them… they are so...
Close.
Intimate.
Connected.
I’m so jealous...
From her vigil of solitude on the landing area, she spots a familiar face emerge from the forest.
Why’s Frank coming from there?
And… what is he wearing?
Frank notices her and waves while keeping his other hand behind his back.
He hurries towards her, a creaseless black jacket, a white shirt with a stiff collar, and straight black trousers replacing his usual attire.
“Hey! Do you like my outfit?” Frank poses and adjusts his tie pleased, only to realize, he had forgotten to wear one.
Oh, it’s what some of the other humans are wearing in the crowd too.
“I almost forgot you could change your clothes.”
“Really? I guess I should change my style more often.” Frank laughs awkwardly, his hand stops from touching his neatly combed and cascading long hair.
Despite Grent lending him his wedding tuxedo, and even helping with his hair, he couldn't find his finer shoes anywhere. So Frank was stomping around in his wilderness boots, again.
Their size and rigidity could make it a little tricky to dance, but it didn't matter much, after all, he didn’t have to worry about stepping on his damsel’s toes.
“I mean… for a second I forgot it isn’t like my armor…” Amethyst pauses. “But you don’t have to do that. I like your normal clothes. And well… these ones too.”
“O-oh, thanks.” Frank looks away and brings the hand he kept holding behind his back in front.
“I couldn't find any orange ones, so I hope these will do.”
He holds two immaculate white flowers, which have seven petals in a tight star-like formation that gently curve and suddenly extend into sharp long ends.
These ends have a gradient of violet that runs all the way into the middle. A deep red stigma and filaments with slight black anthers at their ends crown the elegant flowers.
“Ah... Thank you.” Everything Amethyst was thinking of before, all that seemed secondary, distant, and unimportant now.
Happy and cozy thoughts flood into her mind, and she quickly blinks her eyes to remove the building-up mist from them.
Frank snaps the stem shorter and reaches up, perching it on her hair, at the same spot as back then. The second flower, he plants into his suit’s pocket.
They are now a matching flower pair.
“Of course, it's my pleasure.”
“Ah, what a romantic scene!” Pioneer shows up with a hover camera hot on his tail to interrupt their moment.
“How’s the evening, what are your thoughts before we start the celebrations?”
Pioneer holds his folded sunglasses in his hand, extending them towards Frank like a microphone.
Frank’s lips become sharp like a line. “Fine… Um, we’re eager to start, aren’t we?”
Pioneer moves the glasses-mic to Amethyst.
“Yes. Can we dance now?” She says quickly and excitedly.
“Yes, of course, just one thing first. We can’t have you dance without the traditional Tyrchid Bonfire.” Pioneer winks at them. “Won’t our couple of the night set it alight together?”
“Huh? Me too?” Frank looks at Pioneer and then at Amethyst.
Amethyst grins and offers her hand to Frank.
“Won’t you light this fire with me?”
Frank takes her wrist into a gentle grip, “With pleasure,” but turns to Pioneer, there was something he needed to confirm.
“You have the song, right?” He whispers as inconspicuously as it is possible in front of a live camera feed.
“Yes, you sent it via gweb-mail, or has there been a change?”
I sent it…?
But wasn’t Grent supposed to do that…?
Hold on…
Did Grent do something to my communicator when I gave it to him earlier?
“No, that’s good, just making sure.”
“Excellent, then let’s get started!” Pioneer says boisterous and slaps Frank on the shoulder in a comradely manner.
“Sorry, Amethyst, let’s go.” Frank turns back to Amethyst and leads her towards the far right side stairs that bridge the otherwise meter-long drop to the grassy ground.
Hand on wrist, they stride down the short steps and begin to approach the crowd and the bonfire.
“What was that about?” Amethyst asks, her head’s movement causing the flower to flutter.
“I think Grent hijacked my gweb-mail account or something.”
Frank waves a dismissing hand to avail Amethyst’s confused gaze. “I’m sure it's… nothing.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know, to make it look like I sent it and not him? I’ll definitely ask him about it later though…”
Frank shakes his head. “But let’s not worry about it now. We can’t let Grent ruin our evening.”
“Agreed.” Amethyst’s eyes sparkle in the lantern light as she smirks.
Above the site, Pioneer talks to the camera.
“Right after its ceremonial flames pay respects to this day, to all that has transpired on our short adventure together, we’ll begin.” Pioneer holds a hand next to his mouth and whispers.
“Don't worry, I’ll let you all know if any developments happen after the cameras stop rolling, via my various gweb accounts.”
He looks down upon his communicator.
“Pioneer, what about the Tyrchid's lyrical song performance? I hear you ask.
If any of you viewers at home are confused, don’t you still remember that touching display in the village, Amethyst, and all of the village singing wordlessly?
I don’t think we could top that so, just the dance is in the program today. Or if you missed the last show, I suggest watching it immediately!”
Amethyst and Frank enter amidst the party people clad in sparkling evening dresses and dapper suits. They all part from their way.
Some bow and curtsy, others applaud lightly or express their support with congratulatory words.
The crowd keeps their distance from the bonfire, two circles of stones surrounding it, one right at the wood, and another one, probably serving as a safety boundary.
They step inside the outer rock circle, and soon reach the bonfire, it’s slightly taller than Amethyst.
The pile’s wood is earthy brown and has tough-looking bark and light brown insides.
“They really got us wood from off-world for you to light?”
“That was nice of Pioneer.”
Amethyst lights up her left hand, purple flames take over her blade, few drops of fire drop down to the ground and smoulder among the red grass.
She sinks it among the firewood, which whooshes alight in an instant, after pulling her hand out, she lightly throws a few burning droplets, starting a fire higher up too.
The crowd whistles and claps like an overly excited fanbase of an artist.
Amethyst and Frank back away from the growing heat of the fire, its blaze lightly warming even Amethyst’s face.
Frank looks around for Pioneer for a sign of what to do next, but can’t spot him.
“Do we just start...?” He looks at Amethyst, but before she can answer him, a song begins to play.
“Alright then, may I have this dance?”
“Of course. We’re already holding hands after all…” Amethyst coyly looks at Frank.
“Okay…” Frank takes a breath. “Just like we practiced.”
“Yes!” Amethyst places her left hand blade on Frank’s shoulder.
Gentle slow drums play, with a rhythmic accordion keeping pace, Soon, acoustic guitar strings accompany the composition too, as they get into form.
Frank’s left hand holds her back below her armpit, their right hands held together, extended, and bent slightly.
They look each other in the eyes, Frank nods and takes a step forward. Stepping into their dance at an opportune part of the music.
It seemed like a rather simplistic piece, a few unique parts strung together by a chorus, completely lacking vocals.
That didn’t matter though, as it was definitely made for Tango; perfectly capturing the ‘quick quick, slow slow’ steps, keeping a rather constant 4/4 time that was easy to follow.
As the guests notice the dance being a rather familiar one, many form pairs and begin to dance along with them.
Men, women, and some of the non-humans of the crew begin circulating the bonfire in a clockwise fashion.
The glow of the lanterns and the fire is magical, it flares in Amethyst’s eyes, reflects, and lights up her perfectly clean skin.
To Frank’s bold gaze, Amethyst responds in kind with unwavering, unabashed eye contact.
Amethyst admires his hair, so straight and orderly, and he's so sharply dressed, too.
It almost looked off-putting at first, but she was getting used to seeing him in fancy clothes like these.
Though she would have felt rather under-dressed in comparison if it wasn’t for the flower. She feels its presence, bobbing on her hair, its bent stalk prodding at her head gently at times.
The music and other people blur into the background, as they sink deeper into each other's eyes.
Their training and muscle memory carried them effortlessly across their grassy parquet, and their peripheral vision was enough to keep them on track, as they spun and glided over the grass, the faint bonfire’s heat guiding their distance too.
“You know, despite everything, I’ve had the time of my life. I didn’t know… how fun it could be to live.” Amethyst speaks with serious sincerity.
Frank’s mouth gapes like a fish on dry land, over and over starting to say something but deciding otherwise. Struggling to find the words, to formulate his thoughts.
“At first I was afraid… of sapience and the world, but once I met you that changed. I'm so glad we met.”
Finally, Frank closes his eyes momentarily and says with a warm smile: “Me too. And we're only getting started.”
Amethyst grins, but her face turns bittersweet nearly instantly.
“I truly am fortunate it all didn’t end so soon. Back then, my condition was getting so bad, I was even ready to…”
“Ready to what…?” Frank asks with concern.
“No, never mind. That should remain in the past.”
Suddenly, the music seems to get a little faster.
“Ready to take it up a notch?”
“I’ve never been more ready.” Amethyst smirks a sly smile, and almost starts leading herself, Frank has to step up to the challenge, to stay one step ahead of her.
They gracefully bend their way in a faster spin, Amethyst’s feet strike the ground one after the other, a most impressive display, expertly keeping them from tangling together.
They bob and weave through the slower dancers, they see them coming from far, and manage to get out of the way. Behind them, on this fast lane, a group of skilled dancers followed.
Three circles were forming, the fastest one, closest to the fire, the pace slowing down between each circle, the middle one going in the other direction.
Despite the cool night air, Frank’s brow starts to grow some sweat-berries.
Amethyst giggles, “Getting tired, Frank?”
“Just a little bit.” Though, his heavy boots still slide across the grass, gracefully enough. The greenery itself takes the punishment rather well, the ground was hard, and the grass resilient, but the area was still starting to dirt up slowly.
Suddenly confused shouts and remarks of people fill the air, a faint sound of wings mixed in the clamoring. Frank and Amethyst stop to look around as does almost everyone.
“What- our… students?”
Imilald lands on the ground, the crowd seems to be rather surprised, but as they see who arrives, they manage to calm down.
The crowd makes room for the rest of the Tyrchid students to land as well.
“Did you invite them, Amethyst?”
“No. Maybe they found us by sound?”
The music continues to play, and Imilald starts to sway and move in a hilarious manner, her antennae brushing back and forth, her head bobbing.
“She’s dancing! Come on, Frank!”
Amethyst takes the lead and spins Frank into motion too.
“H-hold on!”
The crowd accepts the new arrivals as a part of their celebration and begins to dance anew, the speed circles were broken however, as the other Tyrchids' disorganized manner of dancing, took up most of the available stage.
Ghoxh and Gnox dance together, both of them frequently looking at Amethyst and Frank to imitate their steps.
Sfhipoz and Siflin dance close by with humans as their partners with some sort of free-form style without contact.
They eye each other jealously, always changing partners, to the one the other used last.
Imilald continues to dance alone in a wild manner, while Zigon has a refined form, sticking to one partner, one lucky gal in a sparkling white dress.
Amethyst and Frank decide to retreat from the dance floor, for now, it was getting a bit too crowded.
They sit together on a bench, resting.
“I can’t believe how good you’re at dancing, Amethyst.”
“I had a great teacher.”
Frank laughs. “Thanks. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it so much, but I really forgot we were even being filmed immediately when the music started.”
“A-are they still filming?” Amethyst asks, and slides to sit closer to Frank, her arm carefully, and cautiously, like testing the waters, hovering over Frank’s back.
“I think so…” Frank says and watches the partygoers dance, celebrate, and engage with their Tyrchid guests, but it looks like he isn’t focusing on them, his gaze strangely vigilant and alert.
“Good...”
A feeling of trepidation rooted deep in Amethyst's mind, she fights against this fear, trying to untangle her sense of uncertainty.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Her antennae perk up in anxiety, as she considers her feelings and desires, and Frank’s too.
Finally, she touches his back with her arm.
Immediately Frank flinches and looks around like startled, he realizes just how close Amethyst is, and looks slightly tense.
Amethyst’s arm retreated as soon as Frank shifted, she looks at him and her bladed hand.
“D-did I hurt you?”
“No, not at all. I was just- surprised, that’s all.”
Frank scratches his cheek. “F-feel free to… continue.”
“Okay…”
The feeling of Amethyst’s touch returns, and this time spreads all across Frank’s back, her arm gently wrapping around him, she pulls Frank against herself.
Amethyst’s rigid embrace is like a mountain, tough, unyielding, and reliable.
A sanctuary.
A feeling of safety and warmth is the most prominent, despite the cold armor against his suit.
Frank answers in turn, he lays a hand on her arm that comes from his right side and hugs her back with his left arm, leaning on her.
Squeezed together, in each other's arms, they continue to sit silently, enjoying the moment.
Appreciating the beautiful bright lights of this festival made just for them and the amount of work it must have taken to arrange.
Watching the celebrating people and non-people, all having fun without a care in the world filled them with a wholesome warmth.
The crisp and fresh night blessing them with its pure, clean air, a faint gust plays with their hair, before going on its way, to grace somebody else with its mischief.
Right in this moment, there are no worries, no hurry to go anywhere, or to do anything. They were truly glad, and satisfied to be able to be like this, side-to-side with a loved one, sharing this moment.
The future truly looked radiant.
Driven by this dreamy atmosphere, Amethyst tilts her head, seeking to lay hers on Frank’s head, but instead, she bonks him with her head-wings which are unavoidably in the way.
“Ah! S-sorry! Are you okay?!”
Frank rubs the top of his head with an aching smile with his right hand.
“It’s fine… just a bump.”
Amethyst’s grip loosens and her face looks panicked and lost. She looks away and seems to be preparing for a retreat.
“Amethyst. Why don’t you bring your head lower, but bring your face directly towards mine, akin to nodding.”
She stops for a moment but eventually turns back to Frank.
“Like... this?”
Amethyst crouches down slightly, and her face comes down to meet Frank’s, forehead first.
Frank swipes her hair out from the way of her forehead and touches his own against hers. Their cheeks catch slight color and they both look at each other’s eyes from so very close.
Frank’s forehead is toasty hot, the sensation was the same, as on the skin underneath her armor, when her fire burned. A comforting and safe warmth, she’d never felt on her face before.
With close proximity to Amethyst, Frank smells the strong scent of raspberry fragrance, a delightful feminine smell.
He doubted himself for a moment, for having chosen it himself earlier, too, but dismissed the silly thought.
It was becoming clear what his feelings were towards her. He was finally allowing himself to realize; that she may be a Tyrchid, but she’s so much more too.
Her own person, a lady.
Frank’s free hand caresses the side of Amethyst’s head, and plays with her hair, suddenly finding himself being short of breath.
They close their eyes, as their faces start to tilt upward in unison. Towards each other, turning to the side, Frank's hot breath starts to puff on her face.
Suddenly the loud blaring Tango song, which had been looped over and over, stops.
The sudden change makes their faces separate, as they look around to what’s going on.
Then the music just begins again, from the start, at normal speed, but something strange happens.
“We were together,
All our life,
Dug in the sand,
played in the mud.“
Somebody, a man, starts to sing along with the music. Both his voice and the music play from the speakers, is he singing this live?
“Though thick and thin,
tragedy and sin.
No matter the grieve,
our home is but a dream.”
“Traveled the stars,
followed our hearts,
together in our ship,
or even in a ditch.”
“What’s going on?” Amethyst tries to find this mystery singer, but cannot spot him.
Frank follows the crowd’s gazes and notices a person standing atop the landing pads.
Pioneer and his cameras are focused on this figure in a long white jacket, buttoned all the way up, a yellow umbrella blocking out his face, which they spin around.
“Over there!”
“But now,
I'm just your Tango King...
The lonesome kin,
with hopeless sin.”
Frank catches a glimpse of his face underneath, but a bandanna on his face conceals his features.
His eyes are hidden underneath mirrored sunglasses like Pioneer’s, just reflecting blue light back to the viewers, he sings with feeling, and a strong and clear baritone voice.
“Where's my Queen?
To set us free,
myself and this world,
save us, please.”
“I'd give my all,
for a drop of her blood,
a glimpse of her skin,
a warmth on my lips.”
“A maiden most fair,
how could such golden hair,
leave behind a deep,
aching scar?”
“But now,
I'm just your Tango King...
The lonesome kin,
with hopeless sin.”
The singer closes up the umbrella, his concealed face for all to see, even his hair is completely engulfed by a black beanie.
He sings into a microphone head attachment directly plugged into their communicator. The loose fabric on his face, billows from his words, but it seemingly doesn’t distort the lyrics.
“Why is it so cruel?
Can it be wrong?
Get her back for any price.
You’ll see.”
“The whole universe forsake?”
He points across the crowd with the umbrella.
“Hah! It is done.
Our destiny,
we will fulfill!”
“But now,
I'm just your Tango King...
The lonesome kin,
with hopeless sin.”
He strikes the umbrella’s metal end on the asphalt ground.
“If hear this you can,
hope is here,
with my plan.
Together again…
Yes, we can!”
“Your Tango King,
My Dancing Queen,
waiting forever,
for your re-turn~!”
He holds the note like a trained opera singer, but unlike one, he has to stop it earlier than expected, as his voice seems to be unable to carry it through.
The mysterious singer bows briefly and scoots off the landing pad stage, hopping into the forest, as quickly and unexpectedly, as he had arrived.
The crowd is left stunned after the exit of this unscheduled performance.
“Oh, what a mysterious charmer! A most elusive singer, but what voice! Everyone, give it up to the Tango King!” Pioneer announces without missing a beat and starts to clap.
Everyone in the crowd joins in, whistling after him and chanting: ‘Tan-go King!’
“That was Grent… right?” Amethyst asks thoroughly bamboozled by this twist.
“Yeah. What was he thinking? I thought he was keeping a low profile or something.”
“Maybe he just really likes to sing?”
“Somehow, I sincerely doubt that.” Frank taps his fingers on the wooden bench. “But… what do I know?”
Amethyst and Frank continue to sit around, the moment is gone, even if they are still right next to each other.
The silence getting slightly awkward, but not uncomfortable, it was just hard to recover from such a surprise.
Frank is the first one to speak up.
“Anyway, what do you want to do now? Looks like Pioneer is giving the final speech and ending the broadcast. Should we dance some more, or...?”
“I’m pretty hungry, shall we eat first?”
“Sure, I’m pretty thirsty myself, actually.” Amethyst and Frank stand up.
“How about you get us something to eat and I’ll handle the drinks?”
“Sure, but try not to be too late, if I get back before you, there might not be much left.” Amethyst grins.
“What I saw of the food and drink areas from above, they almost looked like a maze made of tables, are you sure you won’t get lost instead?”
“I can see over the crowd, I’ll be fine.” Amethyst briefly laughs.
“Oh, right... I can see over the crowd too, just… only you tall ones.”
Amethyst snickers. “See you soon.”
They both go their separate ways.
Frank heads for the long drink tables somewhere behind their bench’s location, a swarm of guests in the way blocking it out.
Meanwhile Amethyst heads to the left, for the food, with crowds of people holding plates around it.
As Amethyst enters the crowd, she doesn’t have to say anything to be given way, most guests, while seemingly actually enjoying themselves, seem to be filled with awareness of their role.
As she gets to the food table, a trio of women is crowding the spot.
”Are you really going to eat all that? Leave some for the other guests.” A blond-haired lady with a lone side ponytail, in a soft cream-white dress, is glued to the side of her colleague.
”I’ll take as many cookies as I want, have you seen how much Pioneer still has left in stock?”
Her brunette-bunned friend responds, a cool black dress with a thin see-through stocking-like fabric covering her shoulders and arms with a black subtle ruffle around her neck.
She bumps her hip against the first woman’s.
A deep sigh as the third woman behind them gives Amethyst way.
“You know, there was only one thing Pioneer told us to do, and yet you both are failing at it already.”
She stands further away and taps her fingers against her tall and wide glass filled with red liquid.
Wearing a pure white dress tied from the waist with a ribbon, with intricate lace decorations around her chest and neck.
She dons short gray-white hair, with one long lock emerging from the middle at the back.
”Oh! Sorry.” The brunette turns around and gives Amethyst space.
”My apologies.” The blonde follows her lead, giving Amethyst access to the snack table.
”Aren’t you the nurse that helped Frank?”
”M-me? Y-yeah…” The brunette one responds and looks away.
”Thank you,” Amethyst bows her head slightly. “For making up for my failure...”
”Aww, geez…” She waves her arms around. “It was no problem, just doing my job. All I did was give him an ice pack.”
”Come on now, Friday, treat this as a patient encounter if you must, if that’s what it takes for you to look her in the eyes.”
The blond one says and moves back next to Friday, shutting off Amethyst’s table access again.
”Hopeless…” The gray-haired scoffs in the background and frowns, holding her head like suffering from a headache. She proceeds to sip deeply from the crimson-filled glass.
”I- I’m looking at her eyes, Carol!” Friday stares sternly at Amethyst. “S-see! I’m definitely looking at her… many… many eyes…”
”Are you okay?” Amethyst looks back at the slightly trembling Friday and tilts her head, who still stares without blinking.
”Well done!” Carol pats Friday on the shoulder, who finally looks away and seems to heave a deep sigh of relief.
The gray lady of slightly older age than Carol, possibly nearing her forties, taps her foot and clears her throat. “I bet Amethyst has better things to do than entertain your shenanigans.”
”Lyra, you’re such a-”
”Now, now. She’s correct.” Carol gives her space, and Amethyst steps forward, all sorts of desserts and pastries that Amethyst had never seen open up before her.
A heaven of treats, but… how was she supposed to eat them?
“Um, do you need… help? Should I take a plate and you can tell me which ones you want to try?” Carol asks respectfully.
”Thanks, that would be a big help.”
“I can recommend the cookies, the muffins, and the pudding!” Friday starts pointing all around the table.
“The chocolate cake’s okay too…” Lyra comments and spins the red liquid in her glass around without looking at any of her friends.
“We will let Amethyst choose, now won’t we?” Carol chimes with a lecturing tone.
“It’s fine. This is all quite new to me...”
Friday smirks and she and Carol help Amethyst, by stacking up all the treats she wants to try, and then some, they even change the plate to a bigger one midway through.
“Okay… I’ll just lay it… here.” Carol places the plate onto Amethyst’s held-out arms, on top of her wrists.
“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” Friday asks.
Amethyst lifts her arms and the plate a bit higher, “Yeah.”
“Have fun Amethyst, maybe we’ll see you around,” Lyra says and turns around quickly.
Amethyst walks away before she can hear Friday pester Lyra, who clings to her friend’s back.
“Why didn’t you ask her? She was right there.”
“Come on, lay off… and get off my back…”
“I’m sure she would have said yes,” Carol says.
“I can… just record some from the streams…”
“You already said it won’t be the same-!” Friday doesn’t let up on Lyra, as they walk deeper into the crowd and disappear amongst them.
Amethyst arrives back at their bench, Frank is nowhere to be seen yet. She sits down and manages to keep all the delicious treats on her plate.
The pudding wobbles curiously, and the chocolate muffin drops some colorful sprinkles on the plate.
I’ve never seen anything so… delicious!
Are any of these the foods that Amande mentioned back then…?
What was it… Pizza…? And something else… I can’t remember...
Amethyst lifts up the plate and lowers her head towards it, her mandibles nab the muffin, wrapper, and all, and swallow it whole.
Hmm… that really didn’t taste of much…
She picks up the next dessert, a pastry ball with chocolate chips on it, which apparently has a ‘yummy inside’, as Friday said. This time Amethyst decides to chop it up with her mandibles inside her mouth, before swallowing. As the eviscerated mush flows down, she tastes a soft liquid chocolate.
Ah! Wow...
Next, she sinks her mandibles in the pudding, but it breaks into two, the bottom half remaining wobbling on her plate.
Then, the top half falls off her mandibles too, squishing between her loose grasp, plopping on top of some cookies.
She makes a thorough solid net from her mandibles and lifts the two halves, then quickly slurps them down her throat.
This one she could taste just fine, even more than the last one, and she chopped it up only a little…
Why’s tasting so complicated...?
The logic, rhyme, and reason of her throat taste buds were completely lost to her.
Before long, a full plate of desserts had disappeared inside Amethyst’s gluttonous stomach. She felt energized, but not full at all.
Feeling full? What’s that?
A human… emotion?
I don’t think I’ve ever felt full… no matter how much I eat.
Is that normal...?
Amethyst sets down the plate on the bench and looks around, what wasn’t normal, was Frank taking so long.
Where is he?
Oh... I was supposed to save some for him...
Maybe I still have time to go get more...?
A tap on Amethyst's back, however, behind her, it's not Frank, but a slender vixen in a sparkling purple cocktail dress.
The outfit hugs her curves and locks her legs tightly together, somehow she still manages to vault over the bench to sit next to her.
“Hey, Darling.”
“Oh, hi, Luna.”
“How’s your evening? Had fun?” She accentuates her face with her hand and jingles her red and blue metallic hanging earring.
Her outfit is completely different, although the same necklace still adorns her neck.
“Yeah!” Amethyst beams. “Dancing was great, and the food-”
“Great, remember what I promised? It’s time for my surprise now.”
Luna stands up and offers her hand to Amethyst, a satchel hangs from her shoulder on the other side.
“Really?” Amethyst offers her wrist, and Luna pulls her up.
“But, what about Frank? I’m supposed to wait for him.”
“Oh, don’t worry, this will only take a moment, you’ll be back before he returns, I promise.”
“Are you sure? I…”
“He won’t even notice you were gone, we’ll have you back in a jiffy.” Luna smiles irresistibly, her entire being radiating truth.
“Okay...”
“Fantastic, come, over here.”
She pulls Amethyst along, swipes an electric lantern off a table, and guides her into the dark forest.
“Where are you taking me?” Amethyst looks around to the sky and into the forest.
Luna glances back and flutters her extra-long lashes, her eyes decorated with professional-grade makeup.
“Just a little bit further. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.”
“O-okay.”
“In fact, you can share this surprise with Frank afterward, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled and forgive you, even if he gets back first.”
“Really? Great!” Amethyst quickens her pace, to match Luna’s.
“What’s the secret? Can you tell me about the surprise?”
“Not yet! Please have patience. Just a little bit further.”
The faraway stars shine in the emptiness of the night sky, some nearer planets look brighter, but there are no moons or other celestial objects to light up the night.
As they come up to a clearing, Luna lays the lantern on the ground, its radiance more than enough to light up the whole area.
“Before we get to my surprise…” Luna rustles through her satchel, “can we take a group photograph in this lovely night forest?”
“Oh, sure.”
Luna gets up close, presses herself onto Amethyst's side, and holds a camera before them.
“Say: Pango!”
“Pango!” They both say simultaneously and grin big, as Luna snaps the picture.
“Fantastic!” Luna puts the camera in her bag, and as she’s already armor-tight on Amethyst, she turns around to her front side.
“Now then… for the surprise...”
Luna’s hands wander, along Amethyst’s armor, to her neck.
“I bet Frank’s… never done anything like this.”
Her other hand goes down her armor and to her thighs, onto her exposed skin.
“Touched you… like this.”
“Um... Actually, just earlier today…” Amethyst looks away embarrassed.
“W-what?” A cold shock is audible in her voice.
“While he was washing me…” Amethyst blushes and trails off.
“W-w-washing you? How? How could I lose to him?”
“Oh, and after we danced, she touched my…”
She smiles even bigger and absently taps her dagger hands together.
“It’s too embarrassing to say, but I enjoyed that very much.”
“N-no, don't tell me!”
Luna stutters and at the same time, Amethyst feels a small sting, on her thigh, and neck, like a scratch of a nail.
It brings her attention back to Luna, but the sensation is so ephemeral, she doubts if it even happened.
“Oh, well,” Luna says in a sudden tonal shift, from exaggerated shock, to complete apathy towards the situation.
“Regardless, he doesn’t… love you, not like I do.”
Luna’s lips reach towards Amethyst’s face, her arms already chained around her neck, preventing her from escaping.
“U-uhh…” Amethyst retreats her head as her lips approach. Her bladed hands flail confused, what could she do?
The situation is unbearable, but any direct interference on her part would only lead to worse things.
There was only one thing she could do.
“Please, stop, Luna.”
“I’ll never forget how you saved my life from that lizard beast… but, it’s not enough to alter your fate.” Luna continues like she didn’t even hear her objecting words.
“This is your reward.”
“N-no…!” Suddenly Amethyst's world starts to spin, her words tangle together, and her thoughts and hearing become muddled.
“Oh, feeling faint in the head? But I didn’t even kiss you yet. Oh well, such is the love of the inexperienced…” Luna retreats away from the teetering Amethyst.
“Don’t worry though, I’ll take it from here… Leave it all… To. Me.”
Luna’s hand is planted on her chest, posing like she’s receiving the greatest honor, the highest medal, whilst grinning at Amethyst sadistically, with mad triumphant eyes.
W-what? I can’t…
So... tired...
Amethyst’s legs seek balance, but her form starts to fall backward, barely able to keep her eyes open.
Frank…
I’m…
…
Sorry…