Project Starfae

~ Chapter 10 ~

Third Person, Following Elora

"But I don't want to," she grumbled loudly, struggling to adjust the huge orange ears that hung on her head as part of her Opening Ceremonies costume. "It barely fits!"

"Well, I don't think any of the costume makers accounted for the fact that a short 12 year old would be in a Level Three costume," Wylie pointed out, showing off his gold cape with a swish.

Shaylie glared daggers at her brother as she moved her trunk down to see better, "Maybe they should have! I can barely walk without tripping over the folds!" She pointed at the gatherings of fabric that swam around her feet. "My legs are too short, and the feet are sewn in so now I can't walk around!"

"Hmm," Tiergan mumbled to himself, frowning at her in her too-big mastodon bodysuit. "Let me ask Sequoia if she could do any non-permanent adjustments to it."

"Or, you can just let me stay home and miss the ceremony, while also bringing me back some candy of course," she offered with the least amount of desperation she could manage.

"Or, you can do the same as everybody else your age and participate," Tiergan counter-offered. "Plus, you are definitely not missing your brother's elite dedication. No amount of excuses will ever let you miss that. Not even if you were on your deathbed."

Shaylie rolled her eyes dramatically as she crossed her arms—though the too long sleeves ended up smacking her trunk off her face, "Wylie's going to be in the elite levels next year too! I can afford to miss this one!"

Her father shot her a sharp look of disapproval, "No, you won't be missing it. When you're in his position, you'll be almighty happy to see Wylie come to give you support—not to forget, that he will likely be working a job by then and will be missing it to come see his sister. Plus, he's going to be living in the Silver tower now, you won't be able to see him as often."

"Fine, fine," Shaylie grumbled half-heartedly. "But if Sequoia can't fix this mess—"she gestured to her bodysuit that hung against her thin frame— "I'll go but I will not, be dancing."

Tiergan turned this idea over in his head, before eventually nodding. "Very well, take it off and I'll take it over to Sequoia."

...

"Hey, Sophie!" Shaylie called out to her friend.

Sophie whipped around, her clearly worried expression melting away as Shaylie ran over to her. "Hey, Shaylie. I missed you at the Opening Ceremonies."

Shaylie laughed in reply, "I didn't miss you though! Lovely stomping by the way."

Sophie frowned, "How? I didn't even see you that day."

"I got to skip the dancing because if I had, I would have been a tripping hazard to everyone," she replied in a matter-of-factly tone as she looped her arm around Sophie's and led her towards the cafeteria. "Sorry, by the way. I heard what happened."

"It's not your fault," her friend replied with a sombre sigh. "It wasn't anybody's fault."

"Well, I hope you know, I'm here for you, and I always will be. And no matter what you need, I'll do my best to be there."

Shaylie watched as a reassured smile lifted on Sophie's face.

"Thanks, Shaylie, I needed that right now."

"Of course! And, what do you think about me coming over to help you with the alicorn rehab today after school?"

Sophie gave her a confused look, "What? Why do you want to help?"