Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

September 12th
Dear Diary,

Wow, do I feel stupid for writing in this thing. It feels kind of kiddish to be writing “Dear Diary” at the top of a page. Anyways, I felt I had to start this thing. I feel like something big is going to happen soon. I’m not really sure what, but I want to introduce myself in this little book before it does.

Let me tell you who I am, little book. I’m Anne von Blyssen. I’m just your sweet little above-average fifteen-year-old girl. I’ve lived in uptown Jorvik City my whole life. Jorvik is an odd little place, and I couldn’t be certain why my parents decided to stay here. My mom, Eva, has lived here since she was a kid. She’s a lot like me, but I like to think I can let loose a little more. She and my father run some banking company in the city, I think. My little brother steals most of the attention now, but my mom still pushes me around about modeling and riding. My mom used to ride, and wanted to share the passion with me so badly, so that's why I started riding. She has high expectations and always wants me to work hard even though I go to the stable almost every day. I was only 9 when she got me Concorde.

I will be honest, shopping for a horse at such a young age was quite the challenge, even though I had been riding since I could walk. You’d figure I’d know what I was looking for, but I really didn’t. Every horse seemed like a bust, but something with Concorde clicked. It was my stable owner, Herman, who introduced him to me. I had never seen him at the stable before, but Herman claimed that he was his. No offense to Herman, as he does own the nicest stables on Jorvik, but Concorde had the looks to be the most expensive horse in all of Europe. He has a beautiful, shiny coat, a color I've never seen, a gray that almost looked purple. His mane and tail are white, such a brilliant white, accompanied by four white socks and a marking on his chest. I'd never seen such a horse before. Sometimes I think he’s just magic.

My first ride on him was a breeze, he listened to every command I gave like I’d ridden him a million times in a past life. He had a perfect lead change, shoulder-in, haunches-out, you name it, I knew he would be my little dressage star. So far, we’ve shown not only in Jorvik, but overseas, too, in France, Norway, and Britain. I can’t wait to go somewhere next with him.

As far as school goes, I hate it and love it. Thankfully I’m almost done with my sophomore year. The only problem is I can't seem to keep a friend. I feel like anytime I even ask for their cellphone number, they seem ashamed they don’t have the same model phone as me. Or even just asking to go shopping with me, they seem ashamed because they wouldn’t have the same fashion sense as me. Of course, I find mine to be the best, but that’s only because it represents me! Don’t they know that fashion is the best form of art? You can represent yourself the best this way!

There are plenty of people who I hang out with here and there, but they just don’t seem genuine when they’re with me. It's like they just want to hang out with me to say they know a Von Blyssen. Lots of them are actually really sweet, or at least from what I can tell depending on the face they put on for me. Like Loretta. Loretta is a great girl and I’ve been to school with her since I was young. She seems nice for the most part, but all she cares about is boys and her club at Moorland stable. You’d be surprised how much her and her Bobcat girls choose to gossip over training and caring for their horses.

Then there are plenty of girls who seem like they’d be great friends, but for some reason are quiet around me. I can’t tell if they resent me, or are just shy. Either way, I am far too shy to find out myself. Linda is a great example of one of these shy girls. We sat next to each other all through junior high, but it was only here and there we spoke a word or two. We went to a private academy together. She definitely got in with her smart brain. I study hard, but I will never be naturally keen on schoolwork as she is. I'm jealous of the fact; she's a really talented girl.

I don’t know what else to write. I feel lonely. I wish I had the courage to ask people to hang out, but I just can’t do it. Hanging out with Concorde is a lot easier and more productive, anyways.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

September 27th
Dear Diary,

You could never guess what happened on my ride today.

I was tacking up Concorde tonight after what seemed like the longest day at school. Of course, when I take a night ride with him I always go on the same path. We always take it because nobody walks, rides, or drives on this road! The last thing I was expecting was a car! Perhaps some little animal, or another rider, but it’s never a car, they’re mostly only driven in the city.

Anyways, I took Concorde out on our usual path. We left Jorvik stables at around 8 pm or so, I don’t remember. We took our usual path, going right down the hill. Past Jarlaheim and past the fields by the shore. We go back up a hill into Greendale.

Greendale is perhaps the quietest forest in Jorvik. Well, maybe the Hollow Woods beats Greendale, but I’m far too scared of those woods to go and check. But in Greendale, there are hardly any sounds, some quiet squirrels rustling around and maybe a bird flying to her nest. There’s a weird door by the hill overlooking the Forgotten Fields, I think it’s cursed so I never go there. And in the woods is the Goldspur twins’ “secret” treehouse. I don’t think it’s much of a secret, Angus built it many summers ago for them and they hardly use it. I know of some random teenagers who go there to kiss or something.

Anyways, Concorde and I always plod along the grass and the hills in these woods. It’s good for him to work his haunches. Sometimes we stop at one of the cliffs to eat, but not tonight.
No, tonight I just had to cross the road to go explore deeper into the woods. I couldn't believe it when I trotted across the road and was met with bright headlights. Part of me swore I was getting hit. I was initially way too close to the car to not be. It’s almost like Concorde teleported backward to save us. Crazy, right? Maybe he’s just that agile.

Well, when I trotted across, I saw the headlights and closed my eyes. I buried my hands in his mane. That’s when it felt like I was getting hit. My body ached terribly, only for a split second. When I opened my eyes and that pain disappeared, I thought I was dead. But I was quite alive, I could feel my heartbeat in my throat.

I called out to the stupid driver, calling him an idiot and making sure of it. He had some silly punk rock girl with hair that reminded me of a hedgehog. Maybe her fashion sense was telling her to channel her inner hedgehog. Kinda weird, but however you want to express yourself, girl.

After our little altercation, I walked him forward, across the road, and let the idiot driver and his hedgehog daughter drive away.

I didn’t keep riding much after that. I tried to keep my composure in front of them but that whole experience made me want to cry. What if we got hit? What if Concorde got hurt or even died? What I can’t stop thinking of, though, is that split second of pain. Did I get hit? Am I actually dead? Is this heaven or hell? Well, I’m on Concorde still so I think I know the answer.

I just feel weird after it. Not just because of the fact we could’ve gotten seriously hurt. Concorde saved my life, and I’m not sure how. This surely isn’t the “big thing” that I am anticipating to happen, but I feel like it's connected, and it's getting closer.

XO Anne

Chapter Text

September 28th
Dear Diary,

I saw that hedgehog girl today at school. I asked her about her hair, what kind of vibe she was giving off, you know? I meant it to be friendly, kind of like, questioning if she was trying to give off a punk rock or emo look. I know there’s a difference, so I wanted to suggest both in order not to offend her. The look on her face made me feel terrible. I must’ve sounded rude. But in all honesty, she’s cute. She’s so different, but that’s what we need! Some more weird personalities from big city girls like her. The girls in class just don’t get it. I overheard them gossiping about her look. Like, I know it’s different, but why hate? I was scared for her, in all honesty. I figured if most of the girls were talking about her this way, she would find it hard to make friends.

But then, later this morning, after I asked about her hair, she went upstairs and talked to this girl, Alex. I figured she was asking her for help to try and get past Mrs. Graham to get to class. She’s not an easy nut to crack. But Alex can do anything. That’s what I kind of admire about her, in some crazy way I’d never admit outside of this diary. Alex is from the city, like me, but from a completely different part. Where I live, Millionaire’s Row, kids grow up beng handed things. Where Alex lives, deep in the city streets, you have to make things come your way, if you know what I mean. I couldn’t imagine doing such things, but I’m lucky to lead a privileged life. But Alex does it, to protect her family, especially her little brother, James. He’s always getting in trouble with bullies, and I’ve heard stories of Alex really beating them up just to protect him. I don’t know her well, so Aideen knows if it’s true about her, but that’s rumor’s word around this school. So, Alex would definitely be capable of helping Lisa in the way she needed. Even if it was just stealing a stack of books to sneak past Mrs. Graham.

I just stood in the hall and watched the two chat and run around the halls. It was sweet, like they were friends at first sight. Lisa still looked nervous, but I think that was just first-day-of-school things. I wish I was more loose like Alex was, able to chat so freely with the new girl and become friends right away. I felt ashamed about how I made Lisa feel for the entire school day. Empathy just eats away at a girl.

Anyways, later I went to the stable as usual. I was getting Concorde ready to ride, but then I heard some loud chattering outside the stable doors. Concorde lives at the very last stall, all the way at the end, right near the entrance to the rider’s lounge. So I stepped inside and peered out the window. Sure enough, I see Alex and her little hedgehog friend laughing around the stupid hay machine. I knew it was broken, so Herman probably called in Alex to fix it. She was the only one around here that could do those kinds of things.

I couldn’t figure out why they were laughing, until I saw that the machine’s electrical panel was covered in chicken egg. The little farm nearby the stable, owned by the Sunfield family, has these crazy chickens. Aideen knows how chicken egg got smeared around our farm supplies. Probably a bird or squirrel stealing their eggs and trying to store them somewhere secure. Or those stupid chickens themselves trying to lay their eggs in the weirdest places.

Regardless, the only feeling I had, and still have while laying in bed tonight, is just pure jealousy. It doesn’t make sense, because neither of them are really my “friends,” so what am I to get jealous over? I think I’m just jealous of the situation. I’m just jealous because I wish I had someone like they have each other.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

October 10th
Dear Diary,

It can’t get any weirder than this. I nearly skipped school today.

I went on my morning ride, which I take every so often with Concorde. We had gone pretty far, since I had the time to go up the mountains. To be fair, it isn’t too long of a ride, but navigating the terrain with him isn’t fun. He’s really picky about where he steps. I think he doesn’t want to scuff a shoe. Me too buddy, me too.

Northlink is always an interesting ride. There’s construction near the Baroness’s manor, and what I believe to be an oil digging site (which you don’t see often on the mainland). So, unless you’re riding at 2 AM, you will usually hear the workers before the crack of dawn till after sunset. But this morning was different. The sun had just fully risen above the mountain. It made Concorde’s white, roached mane look yellow. His coat was so shiny. And we walked along the trail, and all was silent even though the sun was beaming. It was eerie how quiet it was given the light in the sky. We kept along the trail for a while, took a new path, a left turn to go higher and get a good view of the sunrise. But when we went further north up the mountain, the sky seemed to be darker, cloudier. It became really cold. It almost looked like the sky was purple. It felt like dusk forever. I just assumed it was the altitude.

I heard something running around that broke the eerie silence. I felt my heart leap and Concorde’s heartbeat between my legs. He looked at a bush, then relaxed immediately. He even let out a nicker.

I was so confused. Usually, he can be a scaredy-cat, especially on trail rides. He’s great in the arena, but the wilderness is a little much for this posh pony. This place, wherever we were, it just felt like he had been here before, however, we’ve never taken this trail… ever.

Then a little squirrel came out of the bushes. Well, not so little. He was big, like cat-sized. And blue. Very blue. With little patches of white and pink markings. And his eyes were almost alien; huge, black, and beady. What in Aideen had I stumbled upon!!

I was even more shocked that before he spoke a word to me (and yes, he spoke!!!), he walked up to my steed, who lowered his big grey head, for a nice gentle pat on the nose. Concorde was so calm!! Like they knew each other!

His first words were this, “Ah, the sun.”

There was literally no sun to be seen. It had risen, and now the sky was cloudy as ever, and dark like it was dusk. Was he referring to me or Concorde? Like some cute pet name, perhaps?

Then, he dared to speak this, “Your constant need for attention… it is your weakness.”

That, first of all, was so rude. Second of all, not super true. I’m just fine on my own. In fact, I’m strong on my own. All I need is my Concorde and I feel like I can take on the world. He’s my best friend, and we can do anything! But of course, he could be right… we work so hard to go to shows, and people praise us for our excellence in dressage… Now I’m conflicted. Do I just live off of meaningless compliments…? They make me happy, but only for a moment. I feel like I have to always prove myself, to people at shows, my parents, and people at school, but it’s gotten me nothing besides some little ingenuine comments here and there. Wow, I really do need to focus on myself. These rides with Concorde make me the happiest I’ve ever been, maybe because he’s the only one I really love, and I don’t need to prove anything to him.

I looked at the blue chipmunk thing. I couldn’t speak. He said one more thing before he told me to go back and get ready for school (how did he know I have school??).

He said, “You and Concorde can really work together to get yourself to other places, isn’t that right, Anne?”

When he said my name that’s when I was sure I was losing my mind. I must’ve been low on sleep. Or maybe it was a dream? I don’t know. Since the near-death experience with Lisa and her dad, I feel like I’ve been losing my mind, I can’t remember things here and there. Oh my god, the car! The little squirrel was talking about the car!! But how did he know Concorde moved to get us to safety… I was sure he scooted a few feet to the side. But when I remember it, it felt like we were in place. It was like we teleported. I just felt so achy, and then free, all in a moment.

I feel like perhaps Linda would be the girl to talk about all of this with. I should talk to her tomorrow, she’s always at the library after school. She studies so many random things about history, even myths and legends of this island. Some people even say it’s magic, but Linda is the type to keep digging for a scientific explanation. But the “magic” bonds between horse and rider are thanks to Aideen, not science, according to all Jorvegians. And oh, Concorde, the bond with me and him is so strong. Maybe it is Aideen’s Bond. He takes good care of me, and for some reason his comfort around that little squirrel makes me think that whatever big thing is happening will be okay. Maybe even make things better. I hope so. I feel like there are so many things we have to tell each other. If only we could talk to each other, my life would feel much less lonely. It’d be a lot better than writing in a silly diary (no offense, diary).

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

October 11th
Dear Diary,

Well today was a failed mission. I was going to talk to Linda about what I saw on my ride yesterday morning, but I didn’t. In fact, I was out so late that I didn’t even ride at all today, so I hope Concorde isn’t upset.

So after my last class ended, I grabbed all my stuff from my locker. I made sure to take a little, terrible drawing, that I made of that blue thing when I was bored in trigonometry. Then I wandered downstairs into the library. I know the janitor doesn’t like any students there too late after hours, so I planned to be there no longer than an hour. And somehow, even though I didn’t tell Linda anything, we ended up staying there much longer. I’m really grateful it happened, honestly.

So when I first went in, I wasn’t really expecting Linda to be there already. But she was, along with Lisa! I was so shy that I felt my cheeks redden. But Lisa recognized me immediately and told me to come over. It was too late for me to turn back and leave, so I went over to them. I didn’t really say much, and they didn’t either. They said their hellos to me but had their nose deep in old newspapers and books.

All of these little articles and records Linda and Lisa had scraped up dated all the way back to around the mid-1800s. But in each article, there was this gruesome looking old man, and he looked exactly the same for all of this time!

Linda was too sucked into this content, scribbling notes in a beaten, green notebook, so Lisa explained what was going on.

She told me that she was on her way to Jorvik Stables a few weeks ago for the first time. It was right after her first day at school, the time when I spotted them and felt jealous. She heard from Linda that Alex was there, and she wanted to give Alex the books back that she used that day. She added, humorously, that Alex said she didn’t use the books anyways and could keep them for extra notes.

I’ll be honest that it made me giggle a little, and I felt bad, like they might think I’m so high and mighty above Alex or something. Instead they giggled too, even Linda. Linda just said “she’s like that,” and carried on snooping around.

Lisa continued with her story. On her way to the stable, she ran into a strange man when she got off the bus station. He talked to her briefly before Alex spotted her at the station and led her away. He said something along the lines of, “It’s good you’re here, star girl.” Lisa and Alex didn’t get the name of this guy, but only a good description of what he looked like, and how he reeked of oil. They told Linda soon after, just because it was some crazy interesting thing that happened, and sure enough her curious mind led her to the library to see if she could find out who the guy was. And sure enough, she found him. And in these books and articles he went by different names, but always with the last name “Sands.” And the most recent article about him referred to him as “John Sands,” owner of the oil rig that Lisa’s dad works on. And no, there’s no way it was relatives, he looked exactly the same in every picture.

Crazy, right? That’s a lot of info to get out, so thank Aideen I have a diary to record everything.

We three stayed in the library for a while, much later than an hour. Around five or six we got hungry and bored, so we all left to get a quick dinner. My suggestion was Leonardo’s because they have the best fries and shakes. Personally, my favorite is the strawberry shake. Leo always makes mine extra thick. Lisa, of course, hadn’t eaten in many restaurants around Jorvik City, since she was so new. I also learned that she didn’t live in the city, so even less of a chance she heard of Leo’s. Instead, she lived close to Jarlaheim, where Linda lived, which was so close to the stable. Lucky ducks, I wish I could walk five minutes to see Concorde. Linda, being on Jorvik forever like me, backed my idea of Leo’s and begged for Lisa to come with us. It would be her first city outing!

We snuck out of the dark school, which was both scary and cool. I’d never been at school this late. I felt rebellious. It was great to hang out with the two of them like this. It was like Nancy Drew. Little detectives, searching around the library late at night to find secrets about a creepy, 200-year-old man. Jorvik was really weird, and boy did I feel sorry to wrap Lisa into all of this. But as we sat and ate, and got more comfortable around each other, joking and laughing, I felt like it was destiny that Lisa settled here. She’s part of this big thing happening, so is Linda, and Alex, somehow, all of us are connected. They’re like long-lost sisters to me… for the first time, effortless friendship.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

October 12th
Dear Diary,

Today was a little crazy. And apparently Lisa’s first time on a horse in a long time. And surprisingly, that horse was Starshine of all the horses at Jorvik Stables.

My after-school plans usually consist of going to the stables - so I was already counting on it. But during my last class, Linda sends a text to a group, including Alex, Lisa, and me. She texted that we all have to make it to the stables, she didn’t know why, but just had a feeling. She texted again a few minutes later saying that she think she took some sort of micro nap in class because she had a huge headache all day, and she had this weird, split-second dream, about Starshine getting tacked up. Then I texted back, “How??” Because Starshine has been sick for a while already, and for some reason, Herman won’t give up on him. Maybe today was the day he would finally get ridden? And of course, it was. But it was a lot more dramatic than your usual ride.

So the four of us met up after school. We all took the bus, I joined them even though I was offered a car ride to the stable by our driver. I guess I just wanted to be part of the fun with the girls again, just like last night. They chatted, but I sat next to them quietly. I pretended to be listening to music or something, but really I was listening to them, wishing I wasn’t so shy to jump into the conversation. I know Alex doesn’t take too kindly to me, so I didn’t want to bother her, especially.

Anyways, we all made it to the stable and I was first to talk to Herman. I was surprised to see Sabine at the stable, talking with him. Sabine was wealthier than my family, although I had no clue who her family was, or if she had any. She hardly rode here, she came every so often for a lesson from Herman, but from what I hear she has some private stable to house and train her horse, Khaan. Khaan is massive, with a similar build to Concorde’s. His coat is so dark that it makes it almost look like his eyes are glowing. He gives me the creeps, sometimes.

Well, I interrupted their little chat, and Sabine looked terribly angry. I think she called me some name and stormed off, but I forget what she said to me. I talked to Herman sweetly and he looked relieved to hear a friendly voice for once. I asked if we could see Starshine, and he looked behind me at Lisa, and then looked back at me, saying something like, “I knew you’d be looking for him.” It was creepy. The way he talked reminded me of the squirrel but I shook it off.

So then the five of us went inside to meet him in his stall. That poor, dying albino just looked like he wanted to give up everything. But then Lisa approached him, and he just looked alive again. Herman was just smiling and asked if Lisa wanted to ride him.

Then this is where things got really crazy. Lisa just stood like a little deer in headlights. She was so nervous and I could just feel it radiating off of her. She just said she hadn’t ridden since she was little but then Herman struck back with the, “then you must be a natural.”

So of course, here’s scared little hedgehog fitted into Linda’s old riding gear, gripping his reins like a little kid, and we’re all waiting for her to mount him in the small paddock outside. Linda, Alex, and I are leaned up against the fence and Sabine is standing nearby. We kept hearing her mutter some comments and eventually yell out to Lisa to just get on. I just felt so angry and protective so I told Lisa to take it at her own pace.

Lisa just pats Starshine’s nose for a while and I noticed the creepy man from the pictures walk up to Sabine. I nudged Linda with my elbow so she would take a look too. She just gave me a look that said “keep calm, carry on,” and we watched Lisa ride around in silence.

I couldn’t even pay attention to Lisa. All I could think about was Sands and Sabine. Was he her grandpa or something? They looked so casual together, like they’ve known each other for years. It made me feel disgusted to think that Sabine was some weird immortal freak like him, too.

Eventually, Lisa got off, but Starshine just collapsed. Initially, I thought he was exhausted from the ride, but I felt like it had something to do with Sands and Sabine. Their presence made me feel tired too, weak or something. I couldn’t imagine how poor, sick, Starshine was after a workout too. Of course, all of us but those two evil-looking slugs jumped the fence to get to Starshine and help him in his stall to rest.

I stayed there late in the night with Lisa and Herman. I wanted to be by her and Starshine’s side until he got better. Eventually, he advised us both to go home and rest, he would be nearby in the stable house in case his condition worsened. Lisa was devastated to leave him, which I thought was so odd since it was her first time meeting him, plus she was so scared to ride earlier. It reminded me of when I first met Concorde. It was like we were meant to be. So I asked Lisa if she felt that way about Starshine before I got in the car to go home. She simply said this, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget these words, “It’s like he is my soul mate, like, my soul steed.” It just reminded me so much of how I felt with Concorde. Must be Aideen’s bond…

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

October 13th
Dear Diary,

I’ve had such a long day and nearly no sleep last night that I am writing now at six in the evening and plan on sleeping by eight.

After I went home from the stables last night, I headed straight to bed after writing for a bit. My parents didn’t greet me, I think they were out with my little brother. I found it quite rude because wherever they went, they didn’t invite me. Anyways, I slept for only a few hours until I was rudely awakened around four in the morning because my phone was blaring. It was Alex. I missed three calls from her, and the fourth one finally woke me up. In a panic, I picked up. I thought Starshine had passed overnight or something. Honestly, what she said felt even worse, somehow. She told me that Lisa went to the oil rig site offshore near the north part of the stables. I couldn’t imagine how she got there, what she thought she was doing there… then Alex explained she was after Starshine. I couldn’t even ask how he got there, she just hung up!

So of course, our driver is asleep, there’s nobody in the house awake, so I don’t even bother to throw on clothes, because the bus will leave the station soon and there isn’t another one to come for another hour or so, since it was so late at night. I ran out the door with hardly anything, literally in leggings and a massive sweater (my lazy sleepwear fashion), and thankfully made it on the bus.

When I got to the stable, there was no Starshine to be found. I was met with Alex, who had tacked up Concorde and was tightening the girth on Tin-Can’s saddle. That horse of hers always looked so cute to me. He has a big scraggly mane that covered his eyes. Both of us hopped on, neither of us with a helmet, which I know Herman would disapprove of. But we didn’t have the time! Where were Lisa and Starshine?!

We galloped through the stable gates and toward the north shore. Alex quickly explained to me that Linda got this horrible feeling and couldn’t fall asleep, or, kind of did? She had told Alex she had visions, just like dreams, but she swore she was awake. She saw Starshine, in a little cage labeled DC, for Dark Core, which was the oil rig facility, that that creepy old Mr. Sands owned! Alex said Linda told us to meet her and Meteor by the shore because she had the feeling Lisa ran off to get him. And sure enough, Lisa answered nobody’s texts, she was missing just like Starshine.

I told Alex on the way there that Lisa, Linda, and I had done some research on Sands, and she immediately pieced together that the guy was definitely the one to steal Starshine, and probably make him sick. She told me that when he walked up to the paddock yesterday, she felt tired, too. I was kind of surprised about how witty she was. She could catch on to things quickly. I felt I shouldn’t be too surprised, after all, regardless of her performance in school, she was always smart enough to fix things like the hay machine. Just a different kind of smart than school smarts, I guess. Kind of like how I have more of a mind for fashion rather than mathematics.

Once we got to the shore, we were relieved to find both Lisa and Linda there, along with their horses. Starshine looked perfectly healthy, just wet from the long swim back, but even with all of that physical exertion, he was breathing and standing like a fit, healthy steed. Concorde himself was tired from the gallop straight toward the beach.

Everyone was so glad to see each other and we all… hugged. I never hugged a group of friends before. It felt awkward. But so good at the same time.

Once Tin-Can and Concorde caught their breaths, we all rode back to the stable. But I asked Lisa how Starshine was looking so healthy… I found it particularly odd how he was looking ready to leave the world and looking ready to take it on now.

She just said that she sang to him on the little swim home. She thought he was nervous, and she definitely was too. It wasn’t easy to break an entire horse out of a high-security facility. She said it was like she was connected with him, that her singing and her hands in his mane created something like magic…

I can’t help but think of when she and her dad nearly hit me with their car. When I buried my hands in Concorde’s mane… he saved us, he moved to safety. Now I can’t stop thinking about that little blue squirrel… does he know about Lisa and the others, too?

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

November 3rd
Dear Diary,

Today was my sixteenth birthday. I don’t think any of the girls know. Should I call them my friends now? I think after what we’ve been through together we can say that. I feel like some force is bringing us together. But I think friends know each others’ birthdays.

I’ve always spent my birthday with family, though, and I’ve been content with that. For the most part. They can be overwhelming at times. It does sound nice to be a normal teenager and get a milkshake at Leo’s with real, new friends. It sounds so casual and fun compared to a more stressful life at home. Everything must be perfect, the cake (which I always have red velvet with white cream cheese frosting), the candles, the presents, all must be in perfect order, according to my mom. This is how my family always celebrated my birthday, my brother’s, my father’s, and my mother’s. It is just how it works. But it is always the same thing every year. Whoever is the special birthday boy or girl is woken up by a delightful breakfast in bed. This is my favourite part because, typically, you are left alone. You will eat in silence and then go to be greeted by a smiling family. It is nice to see them smile, because you do not see it often. At the end of the day, you are pleased with a cake after whatever dinner you choose, then you may open carefully wrapped presents. My mother hates ripped paper even though it gets thrown away anyways. She never let me rip it open like a wild beast, only take off the tape and cautiously unwrap it. I don’t know why she lets my brother get away with being a beast, but I believe it’s because he’s young, and a boy. And to their stubborn minds, boys are naturally messy and girls must always be prim and proper. It's a very traditional viewpoint. So I’ve grown jealous at every nasty habit my brother is allowed to pick up.

But today after presents, and oh, the presents I got. I got a beautiful new white sweater with our family’s initials on a crest, some nice soft socks, and some new hair accessories. My brother gifted me a little elastic band with white wings attached to them. At first, I thought it was some obscure hairtie. My mother was smiling and later mentioned that it was her idea and let him pick out the fabric for the wings (he picked a sparkling white, because he knows I like sparkles), and she helped him construct the piece. She explained that it was a little band I could put around my plush version of Concorde which I’d received for Christmas when I was nine, shortly after getting my real Concorde earlier that winter. I was so puzzled why she had the idea of wings, but perhaps it suited him. Sometimes his pirouettes feel like he is gliding on beautiful wings.

I need to stop rambling and mention the actual important part of my day. After the presents, my mother let me go to the stable, even though it was late. She just said to come back by midnight and I delightfully accepted this bit of freedom she gave me. I was kind of nervous to be asking so much of our driver to take me out so late, but he seemed quite happy to take a trip to the countryside and spend some time in Jarlaheim. He even got me some flowers from the Jarlasson’s floral shop there. Jeremy is a really sweet person. He’s taken me all around Jorvik at all hours of the day, even 4 AM to the airport, ever since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I appreciate him a lot.

Anyways, my little meeting with Concorde made my birthday. I brought my plush Concorde so I could show real Concorde his new plushie’s wings. He seemed extremely interested in it, sniffing it then nudging me, like he was trying to tell me something about it. What a little weirdo. I just sat in his stall and talked with him for a long time. We talked about what was going on with me and my new friends. Like Lisa somehow randomly making Starshine feel better, how she had mentioned he feels like her “soul steed,” how Mr. Sands creeps us all out and makes us feel sick… how that blue squirrel somehow knew who we were.

Concorde was laying down like he usually does. The first time he did this, I panicked and thought he was colicking, so I called the vets, it turns out he just gets the best beauty sleep this way. I like to lean back on his shoulder when he lays down, sometimes he curls his head around and rests his chin on my lap. It’s sweet. He did that tonight and I pet his soft nose for a long time. I kept speaking to him like he was listening to me, it always felt like he could hear me. With everything going on so weirdly in our lives, I wouldn’t be surprised if he could. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he would be able to speak. Ever since meeting that blue chipmunk, I feel like anything is possible. I told Concorde all of this. He kept sighing like he thinks I have so much more to learn. I wonder if he is right. Oh, he’s always right, he always knows what’s best for us.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

November 10th
Dear Diary,

Today was nice. A hefty day of studying, and it wasn’t even schoolwork.

Linda texted me during the day to tell me to come to the Silverglade Manor’s library. It’s a private library but I know Linda used to ride at the Manor’s stables when she was young. I assume she became quite friendly with the Baroness before moving to Jorvik Stables in junior high, considering she lets her use the library. I figure the Baroness admires Linda’s desire to study and learn for someone her age who could be partying or missing classes to ride all day (ahem, like me).

I was kind of excited to go and I packed a small bag with some pretzel snacks because I figured she may be hungry. If she’s texting me to come, she’s probably found something interesting. And if she’s found something interesting, she’s probably been looking for it for a while. You can’t focus well if you’re on an empty stomach. Herman tells me this often because my attitude all day during a dressage competition is almost always because I forgot to eat earlier in the day. It can get quite busy at a competition when everyone there wants to talk to you, you know.

Anyways, when I got there, I was surprised at how small the actual library was. I found Linda sitting at a table around the corner, surrounded by beautiful windows stretching from floor to ceiling, peering out over the vineyards on the west side near the garden. It was beautiful. What a place to study.

I sat with her and said hello with a smile. Linda smiled back, said hi, and shoved a book to my side of the table. I pulled out the pretzels and gave a bag to her. She took off her purple glasses and rubbed her eyes to relieve the strain from reading all morning. She looked delighted to have a small break and a yummy snack, and she even told me, “thanks, Anne, you’re a great friend.” Wow, to say how much that warmed my heart! So Linda considers me a friend! I think this is the beginning of something magical.

And, I guess, it’s surely magic considering the topic for today’s study session. Linda explained the book to me, which was titled, “Witchcraft and Wizardry of Jorvik,” and she claimed it to be written by some terrible, hyperbolic author that just wanted neat reviews. But some of the snippets in this book seemed to relate to some of the phenomena we were experiencing. She described that in one chapter, which was what was opened in front of me, the author described the magic of “healing powers” that could only be learned by these people in hooded cloaks called “druids,” who resided in the small, riverside village of Valedale. What a lovely place to live, is the only thing I could think of. Almost every house is settled on the Silversong riverbed. And right up by a huge waterfall too. A great fishing town, if only I knew how to fish. I know that the trail I use on the northern mountain range led eventually to the village. Maybe one day I’ll go and see for myself.

While I was distracted by these thoughts, Linda wouldn’t quit bickering about how everything in this book was gibberish; and although Lisa’s experience making Starshine randomly feel better was eerily similar to the way the book had described the healing powers used by Jorvik’s druids, Linda was convinced that there was a scientific explanation. She had flipped through stacks of books reading about ancient languages, the druids (there was little record of them), Aideen and the sacred bond between horse and rider, and even runestones with cryptid language and symbols written on them, scattered across the island.

As Linda read she found it hard to believe some of these “fairytales,” as she had called them. Myths and legends about this island. It looked like she was fighting with herself. She revealed to me how much she loved reading fiction in her free time, and although she wished some series like “Knights of Unistria” were real, it just couldn’t possibly happen in real life. Especially in Jorvik, of all places.

For some reason I found myself believing these books. Maybe it’s because I feel so close with Concorde that I believe a bond like Aideen’s Bond is real. Or because I’ve seen some of the runestones during my rides out with Concorde. I feel that it’s mostly the unlikely bond between us odd group of girls, like some force on the island is awakening, and it’s bringing us together. Weird things have been happening with myself and Concorde, with Starshine and Lisa. And how could I forget that little blue squirrel with whom I’d spoken on my ride a month before? Something like him does not exist in nature. A talking squirrel? Something magic is happening on Jorvik and we four girls are the center of it all.

Maybe Linda will come to terms with reality, even though reality doesn’t seem real.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

November 23rd
Dear Diary,

Okay, so, I guess today at first things seemed to go back to normal for a moment. But it quickly turned into chaos. It may not sound out of the ordinary, but I’m writing tonight in the apartment in Herman’s house on the stable grounds. The reason for staying here will be explained.

So first of all, the infamous annual Glamour shoot was happening today. The photographer typically visits each school for a day, for a few weeks. Before he comes to Jorvik High, he is touring all of Denmark, and afterward, he moves onto Norway. You can tell it’s a big deal when he’s shooting beautiful girls all over northern and eastern Europe. The Glamour shoot is always kind of a big deal, and I’m waiting for the day I get on the cover.

I’ve modeled before, here and there, but mostly for local boutiques or magazines on Jorvik, like the Gazette magazine. I am definitely popular in Jorvik. Mostly because many Jorvegians know my family’s name and I am the pretty, young, femme face of the Von Blyssens, but I like to believe that the people on Jorvik are proud of my achievements in dressage when I represent the whole island overseas in competitions. I wish they knew that I am more than an “angel face” as many photographers describe me as. When I have cameras in my face and reporters shouting at me, I think I trick myself into thinking they really care about more than the money that comes with my name. I wish there was a way to show who you truly are but there’s only so much you can say when you’re just a pretty face in a photograph.

I showed up to school this morning thinking I was early enough to be first to shoot, but unfortunately, this girl, Jessica, had bested me.

I don’t like Jessica. She also modeled in Jorvik, and I know realistically she was no competition to me, but I always felt insecure around her. I found her so beautiful, she had long black hair and green eyes. And super slim and tall too.

Well, I came up to the camera guy, and oh my, was he cute. I learned his name was Derek and my conversation with him was quite flirty, I think. It definitely made Jessica jealous, she kept glaring at me and yelling at poor Derek to keep shooting. I found out that he’s a grade above me here at Jorvik High, and he had just been hired as a sort of intern to do the photography to scout the covergirl from now and the rest of the tour. I told him to bring me back some sweets from Norway as a joke but he agreed with a little blush. I thought it was so cute even if I was only teasing.

He told me to get ready since Jessica was finished, and while I checked my makeup on my phone camera I noticed Jessica being a little too snuggly with Derek to look at how her photos came out. Derek looked unbothered. I wondered if he didn’t mind her being so close? Oh Aideen, I think I was jealous!

I felt awkward and shy in my photos. Usually, I had the confidence to have a great pose. Jessica wouldn’t stop chatting him up and bumping him around a few times, like playful nudging when she made a joke. I don’t think Derek could’ve kept still enough for my photos to turn out fine. And on top of that, I was not on my best game.

Once Jessica left my shoot time was far from over. I awkwardly approached Derek and he mentioned that he could put in a little extra time to shoot some more photos later at the stable, if I was planning to ride. I was shocked, how did he know I rode?! When I asked, he just said he knew that I was Jorvik’s best dressage rider. Wow, did he really see me that way?! Not just a pretty face, I may be some bimbo but at least I'm a talented one!

So this is where chaos started happening. At the stables later that day, things seemed fine. I was in my best riding clothes, boots cleaned and polished, and Concorde’s coat groomed to gleam. Jessica came to watch, I think just to chat up Derek some more and try to throw me off. I don’t even know how she knew I would be riding this afternoon. I hope Derek didn’t tell her.

That was the least of my worries when that creepy Mr. Sands showed up.

Jessica then seemed detached from Derek and went to greet Sands, then stand with him further away by the fence. Again, just like Sabine and Sands, I couldn’t figure out how the two knew each other. Regardless, as soon as Sands showed up, Concorde started getting restless, almost like how Starshine suddenly felt weak and tired. Each camera flash made him hop on his front hooves, paw, or toss his big head. It was getting hard to stay on him, so I dismounted and decided to take a few pictures on the ground. He wouldn’t stop; rearing, whinnying, his restlessness got worse. I told Derek I think he was done for the day, maybe just tired. I knew it had something to do with Sands, but how could I tell Derek that? There was no excuse I could give for Concorde’s strange behavior, he had always been perfect for photos, never spooked from a flash of a camera. In fact, I felt like he even liked to pose.

Derek was understanding and kind, and brushed a little spot of dirt that Concorde had kicked up on my jacket during his fit. It made me blush.

Everyone had left the stables soon after, including Mr. Sands and Jessica. It was just me and Concorde, and Herman was in the house making dinner.

When I led Concorde to his stall, I noticed he was looking pale. Maybe he was finally greying out! But the closer I looked, I realized I could almost see right through him. It was like he was fading away! I untacked him in a rush and tried to brush him but the weight I put on the brush felt effortless against his coat, kind of like he was a thick fog. If I pressed hard enough on the brush, I felt like my hand would go right through him!

I let him in the stall, and immediately he lay down. Usually, it took him some time to get comfortable before laying down to rest, like he would have a snack or a drink beforehand. I gave him some sweet grain and he didn’t get up to touch it. Instead he curled his head around by his legs. He looked sick and scared. I talked to him and shook his bucket, I even splashed some water on him, but it was like he wasn’t even here to react. Was he dying? I just started to cry and I ran to the house to tell Herman. He was shocked to see me in full riding dress, mascara running down my cheeks, and dirt and water soiling my outfit from my attempts to gain Concorde’s attention. I couldn’t bear to tell Herman about what Concorde looked like, I just told him he looked sick and tired. He calmed me down and told me we could take a look at him tomorrow, and I was allowed to stay the night so I could check on him whenever I wanted. I’m sure if I had told him he looked like he was fading away, he would think I was crazy and send me home or to a hospital. Concorde needed me more than anything right now, so I had to stay the night. I didn’t even bother to call my parents, I doubt they would even realize I was gone.

I ate with Herman. He made some really nice pasta. I thanked him for the meal and got clothes on for bed (which was my spare hoodie and the skirt I wore for my shoot, it was the most comfortable thing I could muster up). I checked on Concorde once more before bed, and I could see the bedding right through where he lay. Oh, what is wrong with him? He is like a ghost.

I don’t know what to do. The only solution I can think of is to talk to that little blue squirrel again. He seemed to know that Concorde and I were able to save ourselves from danger once, maybe he could help us once more. I think in the morning I will go back to that trail and try to find him. I feel like he is my only hope.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

November 24th
Dear Diary,

Okay, magic is real.

The big thing has surely happened, and what I have to write today will all seem like a fairytale book. But it’s all real, just hard for a normal person to believe.

Let me start from the beginning of this morning.

Concorde had faded even more than the condition I last saw him in last night. In fact, when I first went to his stall, I was sure he was missing. Nope, still there, just barely, like he was glass. His grey-purple coat was lighter than the purple tint on Linda’s glasses. Something was horribly wrong.

It was about four-thirty in the morning when I saw him like this, and I knew my journey to find the squirrel had to start before his state would worsen. I ran back to the house and left a little note for Herman (it was horrible, I wrote something like "I went for breakfast in Jarlaheim - c u soon!" Who goes to breakfast that early?). Then I grabbed one of the bicycles in the stable storage and headed on my way. I wasn’t used to biking, boy was it a lot of work to get up the mountain range paths. I took the path that led me to the squirrel. The sky was still dark because of the early hour of the morning, but approaching where I had met the squirrel before it felt darker, and colder, just like last time Concorde and I rode here. I stopped at the place we had met. I looked around but to no avail. I had to keep following the path.

So I did, for nearly a quarter mile more, and I was met with more and more of those runestones I had seen in fields before. They had the same language and symbols as I’d seen them before. Just more frequent. I got off the bike and started walking along the path to get a closer look at some of the runes and rocks embedded along the path. Little symbols, pictures, and letterings. Then I found what must be Jorvik’s biggest secret.

I looked up and was met with huge, steel gates, which opened to a stone circle. Tall, skinny, rune stones nestled in staircases arched over the center of the circle. The floor was well-kept stone tiles and in the middle of the floor was glowing between the cracks of the tiles, an image of a harp divided into four sections. I walked over and kneeled to get a closer look. Each section depicted an image of a horse and rider, and each pair had its own symbol of a star, sun, moon, or lightning. The harp seemed to point off to the opposite side of the stone ring from where I had entered through the gates, and on this side was a long, pointy cliff, hundreds of feet above the northern mountain range below. Clouds were so thick you could not see where the cliff overlooked. When I approached the edge of the cliff, I was startled by a rustling noise. I was certain I'd fall.

When I turned, it was the squirrel. He called my name. He asked where my “soul steed” was. Isn’t that what Lisa called Startshine?! Her “soul steed.”

I replied that he was like a ghost.

To which he replied that he must be in… “Pandoria.”

I asked what “Pandoria” was.

He said it is a dimension “sacred” to Concorde and me. I had to go immediately, he said. He told me to walk off the cliff.

So of course I question that. Does he want me to die? You’d be a fool to nonchalantly walk off a cliff to fall to your death in the mountains below.

He said I could walk in the air, and waste no time. Concorde was waiting for me. He finally introduced himself, he called himself “Fripp,” and told me that he would help Concorde and I fully harness our potential when I returned to Jorvik. But for now, I had to go alone to this new dimension, for Concorde.

He scampered up to where the steps opened up to the cliff. He watched as I walked. I wanted to hold my breath but I kept breathing, trying to stay calm and natural when I took my first step off. And sure enough, when my first foot landed on the air, my body sunk into the winds and clouds that surrounded me and I felt a wave of relaxation. I walked in the air, every step made the air seem brighter, lighter, and somehow pinker. I couldn’t see well, but it was like I could feel every particle of air surrounding my body, shifting, pressing, until eventually, I made it to the new dimension.

I walked into Pandoria.

The sky was dark purple. It was scattered with stars which made it like a bright night sky. Creatures resembling stingrays flew through the sky like flocks of birds. I was on what seemed like an island, floating in the sky. Every other bit of land were massive or tiny bits of islands in the sky as well. The ground was entirely pink, with grass and plants of various shades of purples, pinks, oranges. Little animals that looked similar to bunnies and foxes ran through the plants. There was a cave in front of me with bluish-purple walls. It felt like a dream, but it felt like it was home, too. I used to dream of a place like this as a child.

I walked through the cave and was met with four ginormous statues of four horses. One of them resembled Concorde down to every single detail, like the way his chin drooped when he was stood still. But this statue had one big difference. This stone Concorde had massive wings which stretched up to the sky, nearly touching the pink clouds that floated through the eternal night sky. He stood proudly on a stone base with a plaque that had a little saying. I’ve memorized it. I feel like I’ve heard it before.

It read, “The sun sinks in the southeast. She rides with golden hair and marble wings and defies time and space.”

Just like Fripp had called Concorde and me before, “the sun,” during our first meeting. It seemed to line up with this poem on the plaque. Was my blonde hair the golden hair? But Concorde didn’t have wings, so how could this be him? But he looked too similar. I was confused, I still am. Deep down, I know it’s us, it’s too real to not be.

The other three horse statues looked like Tin-Can, Starshine, and Meteor. On Starshine’s plaque, it read something about a “star,” just like that old Mr. Sands had called Lisa before. It mentioned something about healing, it reminded me of Starshine’s seemingly magical recovery when Lisa saved him.

But Starshine’s statue had a horn, just like a unicorn, but he surely wasn’t one in real life, so how could all of these be us? Whatever was going on was really creepy. Each of these statues looked identical to our horses back home in Jorvik.

I walked through the cave the statues guarded, it had a tiled stone floor, and on the walls were more plaques with pictures of horse-people, like half-horse half-human. They seemed to be on a ship containing this octopus-like creature. The ship crash landed on our planet, in the ocean, near Jorvik. Then pictures of war, chaos, girls on horseback, peace, suns, moons, stars, lightning. I wish I knew what all of it meant. But if it’s true that Concorde and I represent the sun steed and rider, are the other girls and their horses the other few symbols? Like Lisa and Starshine representing the star? But how? Aren’t we just ordinary girls? I start to think we’re a lot more than ordinary now…

I kept walking through and calling for Concorde. The cave led me to a new chunk of island, and I called out for him. I heard a distant whinny from an island far from me.

I found a way to get to that island, by climbing over slim bridges that connected tiny, mini-islands, which led to the large island where he was, which was mostly a complex cave system. I continued yelling and his whinnies echoed through the cave walls until I eventually found him, laying down like a little donut, just as he had been in his stall. He looked completely flesh, I could not see through him, so I took it as a good sign. I encouraged him to stand and he listened to me. We’re really together in this world, we’re connected again. This somewhat eases my anxieties about what’s real and what’s not.

I mounted him when he stood and let him lead our way out. It was like he knew every nook and cranny of this strange dimension.

To something of my surprise, just like his stone statue, he sprouted beautiful glistening wings which spread yards away from either side of us. He lept off the side of one of the islands, letting his wings float us through the air. At this moment I knew this all was true. The big thing my intuition had warned me of was happening. The statues had to represent us, us four girls who share a bond with each of our horses. I’m sure all of us can do incredible things. Lisa and Starshine definitely have some healing ability, considering how well Starshine has been doing ever since Lisa sang to him. Concorde and I could teleport, even cross through time and space to new dimensions to save ourselves from harm. I wonder what Linda and Alex could do with Meteor and Tin-Can.

Concorde’s wings brought every one of my worries to rest. He looked like the plush of mine he was so interested in once its wings were applied, his flight was similar to how it felt to get lost in a dressage routine with him, his real wings were a light gray, they glistened, and were gentle, like his stone statue. In this moment I felt like, together, we were like the sun high in the sky.

The sky grew bright until I could see, just like when I left for Pandoria, and the dark sky of the northern mountain range welcomed us. We returned on the trail a little past the stone ring, near the spot where I first met Fripp. He closed his wings, they disappeared as his body had before, and he led the way home.

It’s funny, I felt like I spent a whole day looking for Concorde in Pandoria, but when I checked my phone when we were near the stable, it was only six in the morning. Only an hour had passed. I guess time moves slowly there.

When I got back to the stable, Herman was still asleep. I crumpled up my letter, threw it in the trash, and got an extra hour of sleep before I woke up to help Herman feed. We got to Concorde’s stall and he was happy to see us both, on his feet and ready to eat. Herman was puzzled and asked if his gluttony is what was wrong with him.

I just said no, he must just be hungry from not eating last night. I brushed it off like he just had a bad day and I may have overreacted. It was a good excuse. I am known to overreact sometimes.

I spent all day at the stables, I exercised some of Herman’s horses and let Concorde rest. I fed at night and cleaned every stall and got so tired that I lay to rest with Concorde in his stall. He was laying down too, but not in a way that frightened me. He seemed really here with me now, almost like he could hear every word I said to him. We were together in reality. Then before I left for the stable, one of the last interactions we had solidified my theory that nothing will go back to normal again.

I told him, “I love you, Concorde.”

And he replied to me, “I love you too.”

I thought I imagined his voice. But no, I really heard it. Kind of in my head. Not like it came out of him, his mouth stayed closed. His voice was so soft, and kind. Masculine and caring; fatherly, in a way. It’s exactly how I would expect it to be. I wasn’t surprised in this moment, everything felt natural, like we had been speaking to each other for years. So I just hugged his neck, said goodnight, and left for the house apartment.

I’ve always felt close to Concorde, today we’ve just learned more about who we are together. A pegasus and a girl who can walk in thin air. Together, we are the sun.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

November 25th
Dear Diary,

Today I woke up in the apartment, went to feed the horses, and took a quick minute to properly clean all of Concorde’s tack. When I was cleaning, Linda, Lisa, Alex, and Derek came bursting through the tack room doors. Derek had his camera and a handful of photos.

They all came to my table, slammed everything down, and started interrogating me. It was first questions of “Where have you been?” “Why haven’t you answered your phone?” “Where is Sands and Jessica?” and “Is Concorde alright?” Given that they were quite literally flooding me with questions, I had no time to answer any one of them. Derek pulled a photo out and pushed it to my side of the table. This is when all of the useless questions stopped and Derek asked the big one.

“Do you know if Concorde has wings?”

Ok yeah, I do, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. Even if there’s photo proof, how are they going to believe it if they don’t see Concorde’s wings in person? So I just blew it off like the lighting was strange in the photo.

The photo was when I was still mounted on him during the shoot Derek did this past Friday. He looked beautiful, and his wings looked vaguely familiar to the wings I saw when he took us back to Jorvik. In the photo, they were more transparent, thin, a simple outline, kind of like how Concorde’s body was when he was disappearing in his stall. Like his wings weren’t fully there. Maybe he didn’t want to show them all the way. I wondered if he always had them out, just barely visible. I talked to him later today before I left the stable to go home, I mentioned that I wondered how he managed his wings. He said that he could use them whenever he pleased, and yes, technically they are always there. Not visible to the human eye, though, unless he wanted them to be, which was practically never. Sometimes visible in a camera lens, but behind a specific kind of camera, one constructed by “druids,” he said. Like the druids from Valedale in the book Linda and I read? I wonder. He told me that there are lots of things we will learn about life, and we will keep learning through experiences. I’m really happy I can talk to Concorde now, he’s very wise. I appreciate his guidance. I’ll need it if I’m gonna have to try to piece together what’s going on with us.

Anyway, that was the last part of the day. I got distracted. I am really excited about the fact Concorde and I can talk to each other now.

Back to this interrogation of a friend group meet-up - I couldn’t bring myself to say anything about the photo. Especially not with Derek there. Surely, if my theory is true that we girls and our horses are some sort of soldiers or guardians, they’ll know eventually. But I don’t know how secret we should be, and if I should trust Derek. I mean, I only met him a few days ago.

I calmed everyone down with the questions they originally asked me, simply stating I’ve been at the stables helping Herman over the weekend and keeping an eye on Concorde because he looked a little sick. He sat and talked for a while, just about life, school, photography. Alex wouldn’t stop pestering Derek about if junior year was hard or not. Linda claimed it wasn’t because she’d already taken a few of the classes he currently is in. Alex snaps at Linda claiming her “Einstien” brain doesn’t count. Like, the normal conversation stuff.

When everyone got tired of yapping and left to get lunch in Jarlaheim, Lisa stayed behind with me. She had a little backpack on and inside it was a helmet and gloves. She told me her dad was excited she wanted to pick up riding again, so he bought her some new gear. I helped her find her own spot in the tack room, right next to Linda’s, which was next to mine. She seemed really giddy, it was cute.

But after she got all set up, she turned to me and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that little hedgehog face so serious before. She asked me if I could talk to Concorde.

I stood and looked at her for a while, I guess we just traded blank stares. Then I finally said, “Yes.” She was gonna find out anyways, so I figured I’d tell her.

Then she asked if Concorde could teleport. “You know, like the night we met,” she said.

I said, “Something like that.”

She said, “So, his wings are real.”

And I replied, “Yes.”

I walked with her out of the stable and continued to tell her a little bit of my theory. I told her that Concorde and I could go… “many places.” I told her that I knew she could heal things. I told her that I don’t believe it was only us… there’s more to come. She just kept nodding and walked close to me. I hope she wasn’t nervous. I grabbed her hand when I noticed how close she was to me. I told her that we’re in this together, and we’ll even go for a ride when we’re done with lunch. If we were gonna have to learn how to manage intense, magical power with our horses, I think it would be best if we brushed up on Miss Hedgehog’s riding skills first.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

December 19th
Dear Diary,

Today was the last day of school before winter vacation. Thank Aideen, because I surely need a break from school.

I don’t really have much to say besides what happened at school today with me and Derek. He’s becoming a great friend, and it's nice to hang out with him from time to time. He’s hung out with the girls and me a bit too.

Anyways, after our last class today he came up to me at my locker. I was surprised that he actually brought back these sweet caramels from his travels in Norway for the Glamour shoot. I couldn’t believe he remembered, even if I was just joking around. He told me that I was a very pretty girl, and I should consider modeling more, or letting him shoot me at least. I just felt shy and awkward. I couldn’t tell if he was flirting or just being friendly. I wasn’t sure whether to take it as a compliment or not. I always had this problem, I’m always terrible at reading people.

But there was more to it than that. I felt hesitant to set up an exact date and time. I shrugged off his question as something like “Okay, yeah, sometime.” I think it’s because I’m scared that Derek’s camera could capture Concorde’s wings again. I thought about what Concorde told me about only the druids’ special cameras being able to capture his wings.

So I asked Derek where he got his camera, and his response was that he got it from his grandmother, who had passed a few years ago. He said that I reminded him a lot of her; beautiful long hair and somber, yet inviting eyes. He said that I was kind like she was, always thinking of others even if she only showed it in little ways. Her loyalty to her friends and family, especially Derek himself, was unmatched among anyone he had ever met, except me. Little old me, who only knew him for a few weeks at this point. Yet, somehow, he still thought I was as loyal and caring as his own family member who he’d known his whole life. I wonder if one day I will disappoint him. In some way, I feel now that I have to keep up with this impression. I’m very tired of keeping up with impressions. It pains me that Derek thinks of me this highly. I wish I could be myself around someone, like Concorde. Tell someone what I’m going through without being embarrassed or scared of what they will think of me. If Derek ever knows I can walk in thin air and find myself in a pink universe, he’ll think I’m crazy. I better keep to myself.

During this conversation, I had a moment of realization. Where did his grandmother get the camera, and if she made it herself, she had to be a druid. So I asked him where his grandmother lived. He looked super confused, like the question came out of nowhere, and hesitantly replied,

“Valedale, why?”

Of course, my eyes widened like a deer in headlights so I hurriedly responded with, “No reason, have a good break!” and ran off. Wow, now he really must think I’m a freak. So much for being like his grandmother.

I knew I had to get to the bottom of this mystery camera, and one day I’m going to solve it. I tried going to the library once I ran down the stairs away from Derek, but the doors were already locked up for the break. I giggled to myself imagining that Linda accidentally got herself locked in there and would be stuck for the entirety of the break.

That’s when it struck me that Linda was definitely the one to ask for help about the camera. Perhaps she would know just what books to look through or where to find them. I’m going to get ready for bed after this, but before I started writing tonight I texted her to ask if we could meet at the Manor library tomorrow morning, around 10 AM. I wanted to give her some time to have a little beauty sleep on the first day of break. Hopefully, that’s enough, because I am itching to know how this camera was made.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

December 20th
Dear Diary,

I took the 9 AM bus to Silverglade this morning. Linda was going to meet me around 10 to dig around the Manor library for anything about those darn druid cameras. Though, she didn’t know exactly what we were going to study today, she was in for quite the surprise.

This morning, the Manor was beautiful. Another snow had fallen overnight on Jorvik. Seeing the vineyards covered in a blanket of snow was a sight everyone should have the blessing to have. The Baroness gave me a kind welcome when I arrived and allowed me inside, I guess she remembered me from last time and recognized me as a friend since I previously tagged along with Linda.
I was skimming through shelves when she arrived, panting from the heat of her down jacket. I think it was Jor Couture. From last year’s fall-winter collection. Good taste. I wonder when and where she bought it. She probably didn’t even know.

The first thing she asked me was if I brought along any riding clothes. I was confused. She said, “Anne, it’s winter break,” as if she figured the first thing I would do would be to mount a horse and have fun with no schoolwork to worry about. Honestly, yes, I would love to ride, but first I needed to know about these stupid cameras. I told her the study session today was urgent, but I had some spare clothes in my trunk at the stable in case we finished in time to go for a ride. Linda was laughing. I started to giggle too. It’s like we swapped personalities, and now I’m the bookworm.
Anyways, Linda’s nerd brain awakened when I told her about what exactly I invited her in to study. I said that I think Derek’s camera is special and can detect things that you can’t see with the naked eye. I related it to something like ghost hunting. She seemed intrigued by what material could be used and pulled books from the shelves like she’d read them before and knew the author and title by heart. One was called “Jorviegan Technology: A History,” another named, “Handcrafted Works from the Heart of Jorvik,” and, “Paranormalities of Jorvik,” and the like. But the second book was where we found most information to confirm my theories that Derek’s grandmother was involved with those druids, someway, somehow. In the book, it said that the “heart of Jorvik” included many villages, such as Firgrove, Dundull, and even Ashland, but most importantly, Valedale.

See, in Valedale, it seems the most unique and puzzling items are handcrafted. As the book states, druids are responsible for the crafting and preservation of recipes and antique items. There’s even an old house there dedicated to preserving their creations. Kind of like a museum. And there are tons of weird items. Everything they make is from materials they find or use near or around their village. For example, from what we read in a section about their glassmaking, they make glass out of sand from their own riverbed; which leads me to think the lens on Derek’s camera is much more special than an average camera. What struck Linda and me most from the book, is that the druids are said to put a “spell” on every item they make, like witchcraft. Their spells, however, are written in the language Linda and I have agreed to see on runes. The language I saw in the stone ring, the language I saw in Pandoria.

I sat back in my chair while she continued to read past this point. My head felt flooded. Then Linda spoke something, like a language I’ve felt I’ve heard before, yet so foreign.

I asked, “What did you just say?”

She literally replied, “I don’t know, I just read these symbols.”

I jolted up and looked at the book. Out loud, she had just spoken the rune symbols. We looked at each other in shock. We both thought the same thing: how the hell did she know how they sound? Neither of us had heard them, only seen them. No book either of us had read mentioned the pronunciation of this alphabet. To both of us, it was foreign, but at the same time, so real.
At this point, we figured we’d scared ourselves enough with endless Jorvegian legends and decided to go for a ride.

We let Concorde and Meteor stretch their legs in the indoor arena at Jorvik Stables, located right in the courtyard next to the main paddock. It was a lovely arena, but nobody seemed to like to use it. Except for Linda and I, often we’d find ourselves throughout the winter tearing down the other’s setup, from dressage to showjumping, showjumping to dressage. It was kind of funny. It made me kind of sad that Linda and I have had all these little random interactions in the past, and never grew a friendship from it until now. We’ve known each other for a long time, and just now are we getting to know each other.

Today, the arena was set for Linda’s showjumping. I rode around her, working Concorde on basic dressage movements that wouldn’t intersect her course. Then Linda invited me to jump. Of course, I was sitting on Concorde in full dressage gear, and I only use my jump saddle for trail riding. And I hardly jump on trails. Wow, I’m kind of realizing what I loser I am missing out on the joys of jumping. Oh well, my pony can fly. Close enough.

So, I jacked up my stirrups, took a deep breath, and decided to give it a try. My first few jumps on Concorde were iffy. I started with a low single jump and Concorde hesitated before giving a deer-like frolic over it. Linda and I laughed, but soon we had gathered ourselves up enough to have a proper, balanced approach, and Concorde remembered his tricks. He started to show off a bit, bringing his knees to his nose. I tried speaking to him, this time in my head. My stream of thoughts was formatted as speech and I directed it to him. It was difficult, but eventually, I was able to ask him if he enjoyed jumping. He gave me a clear answer as he had before, so loud and clear, that he did, that it was good to try something new every now and then. I smiled during this course not only because I had discovered how good we were at jumping, but because I had discovered talking to Concorde in a new, significantly more advanced, and secretive way.

XO, Anne

Chapter Text

January 11th
Dear Diary,

Today I went back to the stonering.

I went, at first, because I wanted to fly Concorde off the edge to go back to Pandoria. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I feel the need to go back there. It’s like an addiction. I have dreams about it almost every night, more and more since I went to rescue Concorde. At this point, the dreams feel so real, to the point where I feel like I’m there, somehow, like I’ve changed realities in my sleep!

Concorde and I went midday because it was the warmest with the sun high in this frigid winter. I still made sure to dress him in a fleece blanket to keep his body warm, as well as matching fleece-lined leg wraps. He looked quite fashionable today. When we got there, we were met with Fripp. Immediately I dismounted and approached him. Maybe he could help me figure out why I felt like Pandoria is a home to me.

I dropped to my knees in the snow so we were level. Whatever kind of being he was, I felt like he deserved some respect. He greeted me, again calling me the “sun,” and asked me what bothered me.

I told him that I couldn’t wrap my head around Pandoria. It felt horrid, but it felt comforting. I asked how and why Concorde got there. Why did it feel so eerie? Why did it feel like a home? I admitted that I felt the need to back like it was a drug.

He then explained to me in a complicated way to rephrase, that Concorde transported himself there to be safe. It was true, that Pandoria is a sacred place, especially to “the sun.” But I am human, Concorde is a horse, even together it is a threat to our health. Just because the land worships us, and we worship the land, doesn’t mean it can’t kill us if we aren’t careful. He told me to use my skills when necessary.

I don’t think I can obey his wish but I will surely try. I don’t want to hurt myself, and even more, I don’t want to hurt Concorde. But it feels too nice there, how could it hurt us? Besides, Concorde shifted himself there to be safe from something. From Sands, I’m sure. But it was his safe place, it feels like mine too. Admittedly, he used it when he felt necessary, Sands was making him sick! I couldn’t help to imagine that Concorde wouldn’t like to visit on his own sometimes to escape the drama of our world…

I went to sit on the steps and Fripp joined me. He asked what else I’d like to know, since I looked so troubled. Honestly, I was thinking mostly about Pandoria, but I decided to ask about Lisa. I asked how exactly did she heal Starshine, and did it have anything to do with how alike they were to the statue in Pandoria?

His answer was full of nonsense. At least from my point of view. I’m starting to learn that Fripp is just the kind of character who will speak as if everyone else knows what they’re talking about. He went on about the “star” and the “sun” aligning, the “moon” so close yet so far, and the “lightning” too ignorant to come to terms with herself. I didn’t catch much else, because I was so focused on his use of sun and star. That was me and Lisa. She was the star, and I was the sun. I can’t remember which statues represented the moon and the lightning, I think because I didn’t read their plaques. But surely Linda and Alex were involved, those other two statues looked just like Meteor and Tin-Can.

For a while I sat with Fripp and Concorde. Concorde dozed off next to a fire that Fripp had started. They seemed like old friends. I wonder what else I don’t know about Concorde.

Fripp told me one more thing before I went home today. Actually, it was more like a question.

He asked, “Are you and Concorde a rider and horse?”

To which I replied, “No, we are one. We are the sun.”

I’m not sure how the answer came to me. I know Concorde and I have always felt connected. I feel like our bond is much stronger than anything. More than Aideen’s Bond. Something about us made me feel like if I lost him, I would lose myself. He is a part of me, I guess is what I’m saying.

Fripp looked satisfied with my answer. It was kind of cute; he leaned back on the step he sat on, his eyes relaxed, and the corners of his mouth curled up around his muzzle. He was such a peaceful being, someone so wise, but not burdened by their knowledge.

Maybe one day he will teach me more and I will understand.

XO, Anne