A Tense Band Meeting

In the living room of their house, the members of Attack on Mango sit in a circle. For most people, this wouldn't be much different from a normal night, but when Attack on Mango was sitting in a circle, that could only mean one thing. It was a band meeting. For once, Nar was the one to call a band meeting. The others were thoroughly confused, as this was unheard of for the band. Nar usually didn't care enough about band stuff to call an official meeting. He usually just brought his concerns up at Shifty Sai's. If he was calling a meeting for something, it must be pretty serious. Juno begins the meeting with a question. "So Nar. What's up with you calling a meeting? Did Shifty Sai's close for renovations again or something?" Before he responds, Nar takes a deep breath, and heaves a sigh. "No. It's actually something serious." The others sit up in their seats. "I-." Nar pauses, trying to find the right words to address his bandmates. "I'm planning a... personal trip... and I'm going to be gone for a while. I can't tell exactly how long." Ruby, and Juno seem confused, but Asuka seems to have some sort of understanding. "Is it related to... your anniversary?" Asuka's question causes Juno to understand. Ruby remains confused. Nar's response is a nod. "So. What kind of personal trip is it? At least tell us where you're going." Asuka prods, but Nar doesn't answer. "C'mon man. We're at a really crucial time for the band, and you're just up and leaving us, and not telling us where you're going, or for how long. I love you dude, but you can't just ghost us like this for no reason." Asuka chimes in with "Nar, I know it's a sensitive time for you, but if you just need some time away from the band, all you have to do is say so. We understand." There's a few moments of silence. Nar's head lowers before he answers. "I'm going to look for Amy." The silence continues. "I'm going into the Astral Highway System, and I'm going to look for her." Ruby's face sparks with recognition. Juno is in shock. Asuka leans forward, clasping her hands together. "Nar. I know you don't like to talk about what happened, but it's been 5 years. Do you really think you'd be able to find her at this point?" Nar places a hand to his forehead. "I don't know, but I have to try. I can't live with myself anymore. Knowing I left her to what could be a fate worse than death." Asuka's voice begins to rise as she becomes visibly upset. "And what if what happened to her, happens to you? What if you go missing, and never come back?" Nar goes quiet. He knows he has no answer for that. "Dude. Seriously. I get that you're still beating yourself up over what happened, but please, use your fucking brain. If you haven't found her since it happened 5 years ago, what makes you think you'll find her now?" Nar shakes his head. "I don't know. I just... I have to try. It's my fault things happened the way they did. I owe it to her to at least try to find her." Asuka's face begins to turn red. "Nar, I don't know what happened 5 years ago, but whatever it is, I'm not willing to let it happen to you too." There's a pause before her voice lowers, and she begins to visibly shudder. "Do you want to put mom, and dad through that?" Nar's face turns into a grimace. "No, but I can't just leave Amy to suffer forever. This has eaten away at me for 5 years, Asuka. If I don't at least TRY to help her, I don't think I'd ever be able to look at myself in the mirror again." Asuka looks as though she's about to begin to scream, but Juno places his hands on her shoulders, and attempts to calm her, while answering in her stead. "You've gone to therapy for this, right? Why not go back?" "Because everything they taught me to do stopped working." Asuka opens her mouth, but she's interrupted by Ruby. "If you're dead set on doing this, I'm going with you." She's quickly shut down with a hard "No." Nar's fist clenches, and he continues. "I know I'm risking making a lot of people hurt by doing this, and  I don't want that to compound. For once in my life, I want to do something for me. I NEED to know what happened to Amy. I'll never be able to sleep soundly at night anymore if I don't." Ruby shoots up from her chair, clearly frustrated. "But if we go together, we have better chances! You can't do everything alone!" Now, frustration begins to build in Nar, but he manages to remain calm on the outside. "Ruby. I know what kind of danger I'm getting into by doing this. You don't." Before he can continue, Ruby slams her hand on the coffee table, and shouts. "Then tell me!" "Ruby." Nar begins, but Ruby shouts once more. "I don't want to hear bullshit excuses Nar! Tell me why you think I can't handle going with you!" At this, Nar's head jolts upward to glare at Ruby. For the first time in their entire, 7 year friendship, Nar begins to yell at her. "Because of the 50 people over the entire course of the Equestrian Society of Extraplanar Exploration's history that have gone there, I'm the only one who ever came back, and didn't go insane, or kill himself days after! I went in with 6 friends, and I'm the only one who made it out! If I let what happened to them happen to you, I'd hurl myself into the void, and pray to whatever gods exist that it rips me into nothing! Because it's what I FUCKING deserve!" Ruby goes silent. Asuka bursts into tears. Juno tries to console her. Nar stands resolute, but begins to take deep breaths, and calm himself.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to do this. You're not coming with me, and you're not stopping me."

The only response Nar gets is a question from Juno. "When are you leaving?"

"In two days. I'm going to gather supplies tomorrow, then I'll set out on Tuesday."

"Then you'd better make damn sure you get everything you need to come back sane, and in one piece."

Nar gives a nod. Asuka manages to calm herself just enough to issue one command to her brother.

"If you don't find her before your supplies run low. You better turn around, and come back."

"Yeah. I will." Nar approaches his sister, and leans down to embrace her in a hug. She returns his hug with a far tighter one of her own, where she quietly sobs into his shoulder while he strokes the back of her hair gently. He's disgusted with himself for making his sister cry like this, but in the end, this is something he has to do.