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Rider stood looking down into a clear pond at her own face. With enough time and joy of being in Centaurworld, it had certainly changed.
She wasn’t complaining; it did help her fit in more. Though, it was different, something that still took a bit of getting used to when she passed a reflection.
She crouched down closer to the pond, rubbing the edges of her much smoother jawline. For some reason, she had always imagined herself to grow up with a rugged beard. Maybe as an ode to her once respected General.
She rolled her eyes, now regretting she ever admired that dirt-bag.
To the right of her reflection, she caught something in her eye. She glanced in the water’s reflection to see another face of a black and white mohawked man crouching down next to her.
She looked up with a sudden yelp, standing alert and reaching for the non-existent blade by her side with instinct. ‘Oh yeah..’ She reminded herself that she didn’t really need to carry it around anymore. Not that she’d ever truly part with it; she left it back on the boat.
“Hey, girl.” Zulius said casually, as if he hadn’t nearly given her a heart attack.
She slumped her tensed shoulders, “Oh. Hey Zulius.” She sighed, and sat back down on the grass, cross-legged.
“What’s up?” She asked, now avoiding eye contact as she plucked out a screaming and wriggling piece of grasstaur before flicking it away into the breeze.
Zulius joined her on the ground, “I don’t know.” He said honestly. “I could just, totally feel a strong negative vibe coming from this general direction. Wanted to snoop in on whatever was going down.” He admitted.
Her eyebrow twitched, and for now, she wouldn’t question why he even had the ability to pick up on ‘bad vibes’ from possibly miles away.
“Yeah, no, I’m totally cool.” She said flatly, before rubbing a hand down her face. “Ugh, no I’m not. I lied, sorry.”
Zulius shrugged with a smirk “It’s coo’.” He replied.
She glanced at him, then back to the water of her own reflection. “Well, I’m mostly fine. If I wasn’t, I would have talked to Horse or Waterbaby.”
Zulius giggled mischievously, “Not Wammawink~?” He couldn’t help but notice the missing name.
She smiled awkwardly, “Ah, no… She can sometimes be a bit… much.” She hesitated.
“Hard agree.” Zulius said. Then back to the topic at hand, he asked again; “What’s up?”
She hesitated, but looked at the zebrataur who held sincerity in his eyes. If anyone could understand problems of vanity, it would be him.
She gave another sigh before spilling the beansz.
“It’s cool that I’m changing, adapting to the land, I guess.” She locked eyes with her reflection once more, petting at the grass for comfort.
“But, it’s not exactly how I pictured myself.. in the future, I mean.” She subtly rubbed her hairless chin with the opposite hand.
Zulius gasped, “Makeover..???” He asked with stars lighting up his eyes.
She chuckled, “Thanks, but, no… that’s not really what I need.” She picked up a flat rock on the pond’s bed and silently skipped it across the water. Her own reflection dissipated as she finally tore her eyes off of it.
Zulius nodded subtly in agreement, trying his best to understand.
“What were you like..?” She began, as she turned to face him again. “Before you changed, if you did, I mean.”
Zulius looked to the sky, rubbing his own chin and thinking on it. “Well, don’t dish this to anyone else, but I used to have such a baby face.” He admitted. “You could say I matured quickly.” He struck a quick pose to show off his sparkling muscles. Then he looked back to Rider. “But, I think it’s just what I needed! Maybe the Gods- I mean Geese- could sense that, in a way.”
She hummed, looking him up and down. “Wow, I.. never would have guessed that actually. And don’t worry- your secret is safe with me.” She mimed zipping up her lips and throwing away the key.
“You shouldn’t litter.” He said, glancing in the direction of the imaginary key.
“Oh.. uh, sorry?” She quirked an eyebrow.
“I won’t tell.” He assured her. “But, anyway, you’re really not the first to feel that way.” He put a hand to his chest over his heart, “Why, hundred year old centaurs are still having changes to this day!”
“Really?” She lit up a bit at this. “That’s.. possible? You’re not just stuck with what you get?”
“Oh, yeah!” He assured her. “I mean sure, I’ll get a hangnail or two now and again.. but ultimately my body gets guided back to its true form of perfection!” He grinned smugly, then looked more solemn as he rested a hand on her shoulder.
“And, hey, I’m sure the same will eventually happen to you.” He wiggled his free arm about like a snake; “Just ride the waves of life, girl.”
“Hmm..” She scratched the back of her neck. “Ride the waves, huh?” She looked out upon the rippling water of the pond. “Yeah.. I guess I have all the time in the world for that now.”
Zulius stood up, his hand leaving her shoulder. “That’s the spirit!” He said, internally patting his own back for a job well done.
He turned to leave, but first looked back at her. “By the way.. love the hair.” He pointed to his own chin, leaving Rider at that as he trotted away to explore the next wave of negative vibes he picked up on.
“My.. huh?” She touched her own chin, feeling just a slight bit of hair. Hurringly, she looked into the edge of the pond. She sprouted a small magenta soul patch just below her lower lip.
She grinned, turning her face side to side as she admired it. “Hey..!” She felt full of sparks.
She sat back with a blissful sigh now, tossing another yelping rocktaur across the water as it rippled soothingly.
“Just ride the waves.” She smiled.