toujoursfluer | Log 13 [voice]

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Log 13 [voice]

[and then there were three. Robin will sound somber though faintly amused.]

Well, then. It seems that Zoro has gone home. Let's hope he actually gets there, ne? There are many terrible places between here and home. But...on the other hand, he might enjoy that.

[A soft barely audible sigh]

To those on the draft and those waiting for others to come home, good luck. To everyone else... [a brief silence and the sound cuts off with a faint click]

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Robin? [ The alicorn's voice sounds a little weary. ] Robin, where are you?

[ She doesn't want Robin to be alone while she's going through this. Not to mention she could use the presence of a friend herself. ]

[The pony sounds tired and Robin wonders what fresh tragedy has occurred now. It seems to be one thing after another these days.]

I'm in the library, Twilight-chan. In the horticulture section. You're welcome to join me.

Of course you are.

[ A few minutes later and she's at the horticulture section herself. She knocks on the open door at the threshold so as not to surprise her. ]

[You couldn't have surprised her. Few people do. You might, in fact , notice blue eyes peeking from shadowy corners and shelves as if the library is watching you.

Here, though, you will just see Robin amid a pile of books and two steaming mugs. She smiles at the violently purple pony]

Care for some hot cider, Twilight-chan?

[ how do you know exactly a pony's favorite thing, Robin ]

I'd love some! Thank you. [ She trots in and takes the mug in her hoof. The liquid burns her tongue but tastes extraordinarily refreshing. She swallows and looks up at her. ] Zoro was your nakama. [ It's not a question. ]

[she's known Pinkie-chan for a while now and she has learned a thing or two about ponies. She watches as Twilight holds the mug in her hoof, trying to figure out how it works but is polite enough not to ask outright. Not at the moment at least.]

Mm. He is. He's our swordsman. [and now he was home, with so much of the journey left to go. She wonders if he will return as she knows him now. She hopes not]

He wasn't ho-- at the house much but I will miss him.

[ Cartoon physics, Robin. Best not to ask too much about it. ]

Yeah. I'd miss Pinkie and Dash, too, if they left. Even though I'd be glad that they got home.

Mm. And they will. And you will. That's part of life here, ne? [she sips her cider]

That's true. Even if it's eventual, we must go home at some point. Hopefully.

[ She sips and looks out a nearby window. ] Who else is waiting for you there?

My captain. My nakama. Zoro, Nami-chan, Chopper, Usopp, Franky, [she smiles fondly at that name] Brook. The sea. My dream.

{it's good to remember it sometimes. How it used to be. How it should be. How it would be again one day]

For you?

Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack. And Spike. And Princess Celestia, and all of Ponyville and Canterlot.

[ She tries not to let her eyes water but it's hard. Oh, it's hard. Especially after the horrors of the draft. Concentrates on drinking instead. ]

[Robin shifts her hand closer, half wanting to touch the little pony but not sure if that would be a welcome gesture so she lets it go for now]

Mm. And they will be there for you when you return and this... [she waves a hand] won't even be a memory. Or a dream. It's bittersweet, ne?

[ She sniffs and tries to shake away the tears. ] I don't know if I want that, either! I've made friends here too. I don't want to forget you, or anypony else.

And what if I'm here for years, like Buffy? I might not see them for a really long time. Or what if I never go back? Spike will have to take over the library without me! He can't organize that whole tree by himself!

Well that's how it is, Twilight Sparkle. We can't have everything. Here we don't even have a choice whether to stay or go. So what can we do about it? [a question. She wonders if you can come up with your own answers]

As for the rest of it, you are outside the time of your own world. That is to say, when you return, it will be as if you never left. Nothing will have happened.

I don't know. [ She frowns. ] I want it both ways. What if... I could get the Elements of Harmony. Maybe they'd know what to do!

And what if that doesn't work? What if there is nothing you can do? You can't always have what you want. [she sips her own cider] But if you want to try, you're welcome to.

I have to try. For all of you! That's what a princess does, isn't it? It's got to be! To do whatever it takes.

I'll have to figure out how I can get them here, though. I know there's a procedure, and that it's difficult.

Have you considered some people don't wish to remember? People or tortured here, Twilight-chan. Just this year, one of my nakama was turned into a zombie and another was forced to kill him to protect a third. The one who killed held the guilt of that for a long time.

There are those who have had their memories stripped away, twisted, turned young, died of old age, watched the people they love suffer continuously with no end in sight.

How would you deal with that?

[ She bites her lip. ] I don't know. Is forgetting such a great thing, though? We learn from our experiences. However many weeks or months I spend here, I don't know if I want to totally erase their purpose from my mind. Although stuff like you said is pretty... huge.

It's difficult. Everyone has their own answers. Some want to remember, some to forget. Many want to leave and a few would do anything to stay. Some are even content with the way things are.

Not everything can be so easily saved. But...

[She smiles faintly]

I suppose that's why everyone has to make their own decision in the end.

[ She stares out the window. ] I guess I make my decisions based on what would help my friends the most. So I should ask them before I do something so drastic. [ Smiling wanly: ] I want to remember everypony, though.

Mm. And so you should. [Robin looks up at the stacks and volumes of books around them] But if you can't...why not chronicle them? Their lives here? So if you return and you've forgotten you can look at the book and say:

I'm Twilight Sparkle [Nico Robin]

And I've made friends here...

[she absently twists the ring on her finger]

Oh, do you think that would work? I hope it would. It would be fun to make, at least! The journal system would already give me a head start to help with my chronicling!

[ She notices the ring and glances down at it. ] Oh... is that for somepony here?

I don't see why not. I'll help you if you like. [and that way there will be someone else to keep the tabs on others.

Robin blinks and glances at the ring.]

Mmm. He's not a pony but yes. It's from him. I wouldn't be surprised if you've met him already.

I'd like that! I can make room in my schedule on the weekends, and we can meet in the library! We can even have slumber parties!

Did you have a wedding in Luceti? Who is he?

Log 13 [voice]

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