"Now arriving at: Greenhaven."

I followed Natasha out of the train car, and we made our way out of the mezzanine.

It wasn't the nicest station I'd been to in my short time in the city, and the air around was heavy and humid, with the smell of the nearby river lingering in the air.

Natasha looked around curiously, before taking the lead again. She quickly strutted up the steps and onto the street.

Greenhaven, I quickly realized, wasn't in the best condition. I felt a twinge of discomfort, as the atmosphere was eerily similar to some of the more rundown places I'd lived in on Earth right now.

"Natas—"

"Something feels off, right? This place doesn't have the same kind of 'lived in' feeling that other similar parts of Shoreline does. It's... dreary."

The buildings were all very utilitarian and cheap-looking. They were mostly low-rises that looked like they were built in the 90's in America and then neglected, and the concrete streets were visibly scorched and cracked from the chaos event this week.

I could see signs that some parts were actively being repaired, with construction workers in bright yellow vests milling around.

"Yeah... apparently some misfired projectiles from the battle out west landed here," I explained, pointing to some workers who were in the process of patching a broken roof.

Natasha nodded. She looked around again, taking it all in. There were two Terran men with bright green and pink hair respectively on the rooftops, and six other men from Earth with them. They had ladders and tools, and they were in the process of patching up the roofs, and fixing a couple of the street lights.

"One of the men I spoke to two days ago guessed it was collateral damage from a Magical Girl's projectiles missing a hit," I explained. "Thankfully nobody died here from what I could gather."

Natasha frowned. "That's... unfortunate. A Magical Girl's misfire would be the best case scenario though. I'm glad nobody got hurt."

I raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"The collateral damage is one of the worst things about a Magical Girl's abilities," Natasha explained, as we walked past a couple of workers working on the roads. "A misfired attack by a B-Rank girl can easily wipe out a building or more."

"Oof. That sounds really bad," I said.

"It can be," she replied, nodding her head. "However, attacks infused with lumina cannot inflict lethal injury on a human being unless intentionally guided to do so. They only destroy inorganic material like metal, wood and plastic for the most part."

I blinked in surprise. "That's a very specific limitation..."

"Magic is often quite particular in how it works," Natasha replied with a sad smile. "That doesn't stop people from getting injured or killed if a building collapses on them or they get caught in an explosion chain triggered by a Magical Girl's attack, though. Like, if the floor is destroyed by an explosion someone could easily fall into a pit and hurt themselves. It's still a big problem that people in charge have trouble handling."

"I guess that's a silver lining," I said, looking around the dilapidated area around the station.

"Yeah..." Natasha muttered, as she watched the workers patch up the buildings. "I don't really like it, but at least people are okay. But you can tell this area was neglected before this too."

I could see the pain in her eyes.

"You alright?"

"Yeah," she replied, nodding. "Let's get going."

Greenhaven had a tight-knit vibe, all things considered, but it also felt run-down. We made our way to a nearby park. The park itself wasn't very well kept, and there were some people gathered at the edge of a large clearing in the middle of it.

It looked like the gathering had a mix of people in the community. There were young and old alike, bright Terran hair colors like pink and purple, and some in Earth standard black, dirty blonde, ginger, and browns.

There was a large sign that read "Greenhaven Summer Community Meet" with a big midnight blue and silver logo underneath it. It was some sort of European style coat-of-arms with a Native American man on one side and an eagle on the other.

"Ah, Brahms. Makes sense. This must be some corporate charity event or something. They're probably the ones funding the repairs."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Wasn't a member of that family called out by Duchess Escathos at the opening ceremony?"

Natasha nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes. As were you, if I recall. It seems Laurel has gone public with her charity and philanthropic endeavors. It's an admirable endeavor."

"I see. Are you interested in philanthropy, Natasha?"

She shrugged. "I'm interested in a lot of things, but yes. It's something I think is important, but I'm not sure what I can do at this point in my life. I'm not a big shot, and well, my family left me some stuff when they disappeared that pales in comparison to what Laurel Brahms could have access to over a hundred times over."

"Your parents disappeared?" I asked.

"Yeah..." she muttered. "It happened when I was eight. It's a long story."

"Oh." I didn't know what else to say.

She looked away. "Yeah... it was tough. But I had a godmother. You know how it goes, right?"

"Right..." I trailed off, not really wanting to pry further. I had the feeling she was glossing over some things, and it wasn't something she was ready to talk about yet. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you remember your parents much?"

She smiled, a bit more genuinely this time. "I do, actually," she replied. "I was a bit young when they disappeared, but I still have some memories. They were very loving and caring. They always had a kind word to say. And my father... he was so strong and smart. He taught me a lot about the world, and I still miss them, and wish they could come back, but it is what it is."

"I see." I nodded, understanding her feelings. "I'm sorry to hear that, but it's good to know that you have those memories, and that your godmother took care of you."

"Thank you."

"Of course," I said.

Natasha looked ahead, and she seemed a little distracted. She was looking at something in the distance, but I couldn't quite see what it was.

She shook her head and we descended down a small slope towards the crowd. It wasn't huge or anything, but there were a lot of people in attendance.

The smell of burning charcoal, grilled meats, and the sounds of people laughing and talking filled the air as we walked into the clearing. It looked like the event had only just started. Event coordinators in bright blue vests with the same Brahms coat of arms from before milled about, handing out fliers and water bottles to people in need.

Some were also handing out pamphlets and flyers for various charities, or just talking with people about whatever. The whole place had a festival-like feel, and it felt like a real community gathering. It was nice.

We made our way towards the tables and chairs set up in the area. There were several large tents and pavilions, and people were already setting up the grill stations and bringing in the food.

I spotted a table in the shade of one of the bigger tents that was free, and we quickly grabbed it before someone else did.

I sat down on the bench and took in the sights, watching people go about their business, while Natasha did the same.

"Oi! Lad!"

I turned around and saw a familiar bald man wearing a tapered green shirt that exposed his bulging biceps, sunglasses, and tight jeans. His skin was bronze from working out in the sun and a few faded scars were visible along his arms, but his posture was friendly.

"Oh, hey Bishop. I didn't know you were here," I said.

"Yeah. Me and my mates have been helping out here and there with setting up the event," Bishop said, grinning. A tuft of golden hair peeked out from behind his pants, revealing a pair of curious eyes that peered out at me.

"Come on now, Emily. You've met Ikazuchi before, don't ya? Come and say hi!"

"O-Okay, dad!" a young, bright voice said, before Emily stepped out from behind him and stood in front of him, her hands clasped in front of her shyly.

"And who's this lovely lass?" he asked, nodding at Natasha, who suddenly looked nervous. I didn't know if she'd ever spoken to someone like him.

"Ah. Natasha, meet Bishop," I introduced.

"Pleased to meet you," she said, holding out her hand. "My name is Natasha. Nice to meet you."

He chuckled, and gave her a firm handshake.

"Pleasure's all mine, lassie. Like your boy there said. Everyone calls me Bishop, and I'm just one of the locals here in Greenhaven," he replied. He looked over her and grinned.

"You know, we don't really see your type of folks 'round these parts often," he remarked, his voice turning gruff.

"My type of folks?"

"You know. Bright hair and eyes and the like. Most Terrans like you don't bother to visit Greenhaven, much less the folks living here," Bishop said, gesturing to some of the Terran volunteers that had arrived with us. "You know, the ones with money."

"I'm sorry," she said, her expression growing somber.

"Don't apologize," he replied with a grin. "You're a nice lady and the folks here are glad to have the help. But I just find it a shame that more people don't bother to give a shit. The city's been ignoring this place for a long time and it takes a spoiled rich kid like Laurel Brahms to try and fix things."

"Oh, lay off, Bishop. It's the wrong day to be a crank," another voice chimed in, this one feminine and huskier than Bishop's.

It was so close to me that I nearly jumped out of my skin when she spoke. The person that had joined us was a tall woman, probably in her early 40's, with long dark hair tied in a messy braid. However, Natasha instantly tensed up before she even spotted the newcomer.

"Morgan! It's a wonder you showed up at all," Bishop said. He grinned at the woman, and then back at me and Natasha. "You've already met the boy, Morgan. This here's Ikazuchi. He's from Earth just like you and I. And his little lady friend here is..."

"Natasha," Natasha finished for him. "Nice to meet you... ma'am."

Morgan chuckled and nodded. I felt my breath hitch in my throat — this was the cashier at Greene's Grocery, for certain.

"Likewise, Natasha. I take it you're from here in Terra, then?" Morgan asked, looking at Natasha curiously.

Natasha nodded. "Yeah, I'm a local."

It was subtle, but her body language changed a little. She'd gone still as a board, her eyes had gone hard, and her voice had become clipped.

Morgan didn't seem to take offense, and she shrugged. She had a casual way about her, but the look in her eyes made me shiver, like there was a predator sizing us up.

"I see. I'll leave ya be, then. Bishop and Emily, you guys need a ride later on?"

"Sure," Bishop replied.

Morgan smiled and gave Bishop and Emily a wave before she walked off.

Bishop suddenly burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Natasha asked.

"I can tell, you two are the type of folks to have some sort of sixth sense for people, aren't ya?"

We both stared at him and he smiled.

"Don't worry, she's a good friend. Morgan's not dangerous or anything unless you really step on her toes, or mess with the people she cares about. You'll see that for yourselves if you stay 'round here these parts for a bit longer," Bishop replied. "Emily adores her and vice versa. You'll warm up to her, eventually."

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Emily suddenly came out from hiding behind her father's leg again. Somehow, there was now a pink flower tucked into her hair.

She looked up at Natasha with a smile, before looking back down at her shoes, and back up at Natasha again. She seemed to be a shy one, but I found it cute.

"Are you having fun today?" I asked, breaking the ice for her.

Emily nodded.

"That's nice to hear. I hope you're being a good helper for your dad, too."

"Yep!" she said, nodding.

Bishop ruffled her hair and smiled fondly. I smiled back. It was a tender moment. Bishop and Emily made for an unlikely father and daughter pair at a glance, but their affection was genuine and touching. It reminded me of my family back home on Earth.

Then, Emily blushed and looked up at Natasha, before slowly approaching her.

"I like your hair, ma'am. It's very pretty. Do you dye it?

"Thank you. But it's all-natural," Natasha replied with a giggle.

"Natural?"

"It grows like this, honey," Natasha replied. "It's a shade of brunette close to what some people from Earth have, but a little different."

"Really?"

"Yep! You see, on this world people are born with different colors, but some colors are more rare than others," she explained. "For example, raven black is the most common hair color on Earth, but on Terra, black is the rarest. And we have so many more natural hair colors here. So my slate gray brunette color is close to the black hair colors from Earth, but not quite."

"Ohhhhh!" Emily said, her eyes sparkling. "I couldn't tell you're from here! Your eyes are green too!"

Natasha giggled. "Well, I have the same eye color that you have. But your hair is blonde! Isn't it nice that we're both different from everyone else?"

Emily nodded vigorously.

Natasha reached over and gently poked her on the nose, and Emily squealed with joy and ran back to Bishop, clinging onto his leg tightly.

"Daddy! She touched me!"

"Ah, so I see," he chuckled. "I see she likes you, girl. Most of the other folks don't get that kind of treatment."

Natasha giggled. "She's a darling," she said. "I like her, too. How old is she?"

"Just about to be seven years old," Bishop replied.

"Ah, a little girl with a bright future ahead of her, then," she said.

"Yep," Bishop said, patting Emily's head affectionately. She giggled and smiled.

Natasha looked down at the ground and then back at Bishop.

"You're doing a wonderful job with your daughter," she said. "It must not be easy raising her, especially on a single income."

"How'd ya figure that?"

Natasha blushed a little. "Well, I mean, you don't wear a wedding ring and... you know what I mean."

"I suppose so," Bishop said, smiling wryly. He glanced over at Morgan and then back at Emily.

"It's not easy," he said. "But she's my baby. I'd do anything to protect her."

Natasha nodded. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small box. It was wrapped in a pastel purple wrapper with a yellow ribbon, and she held it out to Emily.

"Here. A little something for you," Natasha said. She gave Emily the box and she took it gingerly in her hands.

"What is it?" Emily asked.

"It's candy!" Natasha said. "It's all yours, Emily."

Emily squealed in joy.

I could see a faint glimmer in her eye as she spoke. There was a hint of sadness to it.

Natasha smiled.

"Thanks!" Emily replied.

Emily looked at her shyly and blushed before looking down and burying her face into Bishop's leg. Bishop smiled and patted her on the head, before pulling her in for a hug.

"Anyway, we'll be off to get some food then before she spoils her appetite. Enjoy your stay!" Bishop said.

"See ya, Bishop."

He turned and Emily waved at us as he led her to the food stations that had been set up. Natasha sighed.

"Innocence," she muttered. "It's cute to see. I wish the whole world were like that."

I looked at Natasha curiously. I couldn't help but wonder what had made her say that. It was an odd statement. And she seemed to be staring off at Emily as she disappeared into the crowd, and I could see a far-off look in her eyes. She was thinking of something.

Natasha looked back and caught my eye, and she shook her head and looked down at her hands.

"You ever get the feeling that there's just too much going on, that everything is too big to comprehend? That you're just too small to matter?"

"Sometimes, yeah. But you have to keep moving forward, even if you're the smallest person in the room."

Natasha smiled. "That's true. Even the smallest of us have our role to play. Erm... thanks, Ikki."

"Don't mention it. But... what's on your mind?" I asked. "I feel like there's something more here."

"Ah, nothing really," she replied, shrugging. "I'm just thinking about why people do what we do and aim for what we aim for sometimes. It's not always easy to understand."

"Elaborate?"

"Kids like her... they have it rough. She doesn't deserve it," Natasha said.

"How can you tell?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Look at them," she said. She gestured to the pair as they got in the line to grab a plate of barbecue. "Bishop seems like a decent dad. But Emily's bone thin and small for her age. It doesn't take much to put two and two together."

"Oh," I replied. "That makes sense. I'm sure it's hard for them, living here in this neighborhood."

"And Bishop himself... I get the feeling he's got some serious baggage that he's dealing with."

"I'd say so, he mentioned he used to be British military and fought in the Fourth Chaos War," I said.

"That would make sense. The man's built like a tank," Natasha said. "But what I meant before is, I really felt like I had to come out and see this neighborhood in person, even if I was just coming as a visitor. I had to see it to understand, and now that I've come here and seen it in person. It's like a puzzle piece has fallen into place."

I nodded. I think I could understand what she meant. She felt a sense of duty. I didn't really understand what she was trying to accomplish, or how this visit fit into it all, but it seemed important to her.

I wondered if it was something that was going to help the people in Greenhaven. Or maybe she was hoping to find some sort of inspiration from this place. Either way, it was clear she was motivated by something, and she was willing to take the time out of her day to come out here.

"I've kinda seen the same story play out again and again growing up," Natasha replied, a slight edge creeping into her voice. "Not always with refugees from Earth, but this has a sense of familiarity."

"Oh, really?"

"Really. In some ways, Terra isn't much better off than Earth is. We have our own issues. And the fact is that most people aren't aware of the full story, of how the world works and who controls it."

I looked over at the large sign, and the logo on it.

"Brahms. That's a major corporation here, isn't it?"

"Yep," Natasha replied, her tone a little more clipped. "The Brahms family has been around since the 17th century. They've made a lot of money in that time. A lot of power, a lot of influence. A lot of connections. And, a lot of money," Natasha said, shaking her head. "Terra has always been much more centralized than its counterpart. The northern tribes here adopted European style feudalism and married into the nobility and gentry as trade and diplomacy increased. The colonial powers, especially the United Kingdom, didn't genocide the local populations like they did on Earth. The local communities were more receptive to the European settlers and their technology, because they had their own advanced cultures already because they'd been trading with the Chinese for over a century at that point."

I nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty different from my home world in that respect."

Natasha nodded. She was looking at the logo on the sign again.

"It's funny how things turned out here. But, it's also not a good thing," she said. "Feudalism never died here, you know? It's just evolved. And the powerful families, like Brahms, have maintained their stranglehold. Families like them virtually control the parliament."

I blinked and looked at her in surprise.

"Are you always thinking about this stuff?"

She sighed. "A lot, yes," Natasha said. "But that's why I'm here today."

"Why? What do you mean?"

"I've always wanted to change things. But to do that, I have to know what I'm up against and what I'd be fighting for. And that means getting an education in a lot of subjects. I need to know how to navigate the landscape, and what kind of forces are in play. But I also understand we've established the systems we have because of the threat of the Aberrations and the existential risk that comes with even one Emperor."

She shook her head, then shrugged.

"I don't want to sound like a megalomaniac or debbie downer, but I feel like there's so much that needs to be fixed. And so many gray areas. But... we've also come up with solutions that have kept the world going. That's not a good excuse to stop trying to make it better, though. It's just that, the more I see of this, the more I think it's just too much. The world is too complex to change," she said.

"You've got time," I said. "And hey, it doesn't have to be you! One girl from a new-money family, or whatever you are, isn't gonna change the world overnight. That's not how it works. It takes people, and lots of them. Lots of time and lots of energy. It takes a community, and an effort to win hearts and minds."

She sighed and smiled.

"Yeah, you're right," she said, before turning to me. "But maybe I'm just being conceited thinking like that."

"You don't seem conceited to me, Natasha."

Natasha shrugged, and then chuckled. "You'd be surprised," she said, before giving me a playful wink. "I'm self-aware enough now to know I tend to think with my heart. As young and dumb as I am, it's gotten me into trouble and I've been humbled a couple of times in life."

I chuckled. "I can tell you're absurdly talented, but you're not a god or goddess or anything. You're still a high-school student like the rest of us, even if you are in a special school. Don't be afraid to rely on others and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it," I said, looking at her seriously. "I can help too, even if I don't fully understand your motivations."

"Thank you," she replied, giving me a grateful look. "You know, it's been a long time since I've had someone to confide in... It's nice. Thank you for being a good friend."

"Don't mention it."

I couldn't help but wonder what she was talking about, what was really going through her mind.

But it was clear there was a lot going on in there, and she was trying to figure it out for herself, which was admirable.

However...

"Thinking that we are obligated to change the world is the sort of thinking that can really get us in trouble, you know? When people like me and you start to think we can make the world a better place, we forget that we're just people," I said.

Elio had given me the same lectures over and over when I was growing up, and it was a sobering reminder. But, it was important to remember. He'd shown me examples in history of people making the same mistakes.

The road to hell was paved with good intentions.

Natasha looked at me, and I could see a bit of a glint in her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked.

I looked around at the park.

"I'm sure everyone who's in charge. Far away from here - especially the people overseeing this. Has thought that. Everyone wants to be a hero, and we're all the main characters of our own stories. I'm sure most of the people at the top, the Brahms family, started out with the same ideas that we're discussing. That we can change the world for the better. And, in a lot of ways, they did."

"Yeah..." Natasha muttered. "And they also created a lot of problems along the way."

I nodded. "So, it's not always as easy as just changing things and hoping they work out. We have to consider the unintended consequences of our actions. Take the woman who gave me shit back at the waterfront cafe this morning."

She nodded. "The one that was... a bit rude?"

I frowned, but decided to continue.

"Yeah, to be blunt, the one who was being racist. You've seen the state of this part of the city, but her prejudices aren't unfounded. I've seen a kid here starving to the point she resorted to shoplifting granola bars from the grocery store. Who's to say that woman didn't get burned by someone from Earth in the past? That's no excuse for what she did, and it's unfair to expand it to a whole group. But you know, people lash out when they feel hurt or vulnerable. And I've had some time to reflect and get past the initial shock."

She looked down, her eyes narrowing.

"And let's say we blame the person in charge. Whoever that is and how far up the chain you go. The Prime Minister here. King Richard. Empress Zhu. Lord Brahms and these giant conglomerates. Who knows? Whoever. But, by and large, they didn't personally decide to treat people in Greenhaven poorly, did they? We don't even know who that would be, or why they made the choices they did. If the people decide to get angry and decide to just kill the powerful and wealthy and take their place, what does that solve?" I said, gesturing around us. "Nothing. We've just shifted the burden onto someone else. Replaced the ruling classes with someone even less competent and more willing to enact overt violence to solve their problems."

Natasha sighed and nodded.

"I guess it's too easy to point fingers at someone like that woman and call her a racist bigot and attribute all kinds of other negative things to her. It's not that easy. It's not that simple. It never is."

"I think so too," I replied. "We can't just kill everyone we don't like. I'd say we shouldn't kill anyone at all. That's what a civilized society is. But... there are some real monsters out there."

Natasha shuddered at the last sentence and nodded.

"I get the feeling you have personal experience there," she muttered.

I frowned, remembering being locked in a cage by slavers.

"I do."

"I think we can agree that the monsters of this world need to be dealt with, then."

"I do, but I both agree and disagree with that. Call it a mental block, call it an irrationality. I've been kidnapped by awful people and nearly killed. I'm terrified of them. And I'm not saying they're good or all redeemable, but killing is... it's a permanent solution to a problem that isn't permanent," I replied.

She raised an eyebrow. "I don't follow."

I paused and thought for a moment, trying to find the words to express myself properly.

"Sometimes there are rabid dogs that you need to put down, or else they will spread their disease and kill the rest of us. But, what if there's a cure for the disease?"

She blinked.

"A metaphor?" she asked, looking confused.

"Maybe," I said. "But, there are monsters. And then there are people who do monstrous things. It's not always the same."

I looked out at the crowds of people. "People can be redeemed. They can learn from their mistakes and become better than they were. Monsters can't. They just keep doing what they're doing until someone stops them. And sometimes, taking the easy way just perpetuates the cycle. I'd rather not be a part of that cycle. I've been in a position where I could have ended someone, but I didn't. It's... hard to explain, but society is crumbling across Earth right now and the only way to fix things isn't through a gun or a sword. The only way is to find the root cause and tackle it at the source. Otherwise, it's not a long term solution. It's not a cure."

She nodded slowly, and then smiled. "You have some very interesting thoughts," she said.

I chuckled. "I'm rambling, sorry. But it's something I feel strongly about."

She smiled and nodded. "It's okay. I like your perspective."

I looked out at the crowd of people again and felt a sense of satisfaction, but it was tinged with worry.

This world wasn't as bad off as the Earth I knew, but there were parallels here. People were people at the end of the day, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it could get a lot worse if the right person decided to push for something irrational.

"My sister always disagreed with it. She's the type to bludgeon something with a hammer first and then think later. But... I don't want to live in a society that has to resort to that. My mentor back home taught me a lot about cycles of abuse, cycles of violence, and I'd really prefer to not be part of that. If we can find the root cause and address it, that's the best solution. But it's rarely an option when it comes to monsters."

She nodded, and she looked at me with a curious look in her eye.

"So when faced with a person that will absolutely kill your sister if you don't do it to them first, what then?" she asked. "You can't just stand there and do nothing, right? It's not like you can talk to them."

I sighed, before meeting her gaze with a sense of resolve.

"Exactly," I said. "There are times where the only option is to use force. To take a life. But it should be a last resort. It should never be easy to take a life. If we can't avoid killing, then it's important to be prepared to face the consequences. The scars of taking someone else's life will always stay with us. But if we're not ready to deal with those consequences, we're not ready to take a life in the first place. It's a big decision."

Natasha nodded and smiled sadly.

"It's not easy, though. In either case. To choose to abstain or to strike."

"As my mentor always says to me, the things that are worth doing are rarely easy," I said, looking at the ground and shaking my head. "But that's how we know it's worth doing. If it were easy, anyone could do it."

"That sounds like a wise mentor," Natasha said, smiling.

"He is!" I said, nodding. "He is a very wise man. I think you'd like him a lot, actually."

She giggled and looked out at the crowd again.

"It sounds like it," she replied. "Well, let's get some food. Shall we?"

"Let's," I replied. I got up and offered her a hand with a smile. "That talk really worked up an appetite for me, to say the least."

Natasha grinned and took my hand, before we made our way to the buffet tables.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.