Royal Journal Chapter Five

>Another day brings the erratic rising of an artificial dawn.
>The sun is violently pulled into place by a white goddess, as it is every morning in this backwards world.
>Today the princess shines brightly on your darkest day as you crack a single eye open.
>You kiss the final parts of blissful sleep away as you welcome lucidity.
>Well, sort of lucid, you still got that nasty bump on the head that makes thing hazy from time to time.
>Getting out of bed reminds you that you have injuries other than the skull splitting headache.
>Large patches cover your sides from where you gained deep claw marks.
>With mild struggle you make it out of your bed and begin light limping to the bathroom.
>About six feet away from your bed you start to feel something tickling at the back of your mind.
>No, it’s not another migraine, it feels like you’re forgetting something.
>You sit down while in your thoughts, it’s like remembering this is top importance right now and you don’t know why.
>Thinking back on the moments of yesterday nothing other than getting home and sleeping, comes to mind.
>And you haven’t done much today. Other than get up.
>You search memories to figure out what is catching your interest.
>Thinking back on your dreams gives you a small sense that something is wrong.
>Like some bad nightmare it comes back to you in a flash.
>The night’s dream- no, nightmare was of you and the pink witch.
>In your memories she was simply ‘cuddling’ with you while repeating “I love you” softly.
>No one else was there. It was only the two of you. In a dark room.
>What used to be a terror that you have to live through in the day now follows you in the night.
>Right down to the last place you think you’re safe. Your dreams.
>Only the dead can know peace from this evil.

>You continue your limps over to the bathroom.
>In the mirror stares back a mere shadow of what used to be a carefree man.
>Today is the beginning of many that will harbor this same effect.
>After a quick SSS you begin walking out of your room.
>Shining said he’d have something good for breakfast as his own get-well-soon gift.
>Sure smells like a gift.
>You open the door to your room.
>On the other side is the Pink Bruha.
>It’s hard, but you manage to keep a straight face.
>”Hey Anon, how are you?”
>Her words are making your cringe.
“Yeah, I’m fine...”
>”Did you check if your opened any wounds in your sleep?”
>She has a point there. You did forgo that effort this morning.
“No, can’t say I have.”
>”Do you need me to? I’ll help if you want!”
>Damn, you can’t give her any reason to play nurse with you.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll do it after breakfast.”
>”Are you sure? It could be bad!”
“I can do it after lunch!”
>She backs down at your sharper tone.
>That was a bit much. She may start harboring suspicions if you don’t say something.
“Sorry, I’m just in a sour mood from the injuries.”
>Not that! Dammit now she thinks your friendly!
>Her mood brightens as yours tanks.
>”Okay see you at breakfast!”
>You shudder to think that you were friends with her.

>You wheel yourself into the the kitchen with your handy dandy chair that the hospital gave you.
>Opening the door first then getting in was a good idea. The Pink Bruha would be all over you with wheelchair pushes.
>If you make good precautions like that again you may make your stay tolerable.
>You’re rolling down the hallways like it was a race or somthing.
>You make hard turns that screech loudly in the hall.
>Who would have thought that being impaired would be so fun?
>The kitchen is just a sharp turn away, you can smell victory! It smells sort of familiar...
>You take the turn with ease and you see Shining in your path down a long hall.
>He sees you, and gives you a deep glare. You know it’s a game of chicken now.
>You begin to build speed, he sees this and puts on a brave face.
>The gap between you two is slowly closing.
>Damn, he’s good.
>Really good.
>Oh shit, he’s close!
>You pull on your breaks and twist your chair to the right.
>The chair screeches on the crystal floor while sliding forward.
>Armor seems to have chickened out to. He’s got his force field surrounding him while he winces.
>Looks like a tie to you.
>Shining looks at you but just shrugs. Eh, neither of you are up for a “I chickened first” fight.
>”Hey, Anon! You ready for breakfast?”
“Hell yeah I am!”
>You start wheeling yourself next to Armor while you walk.
>He takes you into the dining hall.
>”Okay man take a seat anywhere, oh, I see you’ve brought your own.”
“...”
>”Too far?”
“Just a tad.”
>You roll over to one end of the table and Shining goes into the kitchen to signal that you’re ready to eat.
>While he’s inside talking to the chefs the room feels kinda lonely.
>Then suddenly to doors to the dining hall open up.
>The Pink Menace walks in and waves at you.
>Okay, you take back what you said about it feeling lonely, you’d rather be alone right now.

>She walks over to you.
>Lucky you took the table’s end, there's only room for one per-uh, pony.
>Doesn’t matter to her, she just wants to sit close.
>After a bit of awkward silence the room to the kitchen flies open.
>Shining is leading a group of the waiters into the dining hall.
>He takes his seat as the waiters put plates with silver domes on top.
>”Okay Anon, I know how much you love meat. Well the doc told me you need some protein to heal faster. So I thought, ‘why not put them together?’”
>The waiter pull off the silver dome.
>Under it is a -huge- pile of steak and eggs.
>The steam rises to your nose and makes your mouth water.
>It reminds you of why you’ve missed meat so much.
>You don’t say anything, you just start eating.
>”I’ll take that as a thanks.” Said Shining.
>You keep chowing down in a food filled bliss, ignorant to the Pink Devil staring right at you.
>Despite the incredibly delicious meat, a thought strikes you.
“Hey Shining? What’s this meat made from?”
>”Manticore.”