Luca had found herself bound to the Oasis for the second time this month. The fight with the General had mostly resulted in cuts and bruises (aside from that nasty gash on her leg) that healed quickly, but the beating she had received from the ambush and from General-Queen Sakuradite topped that by miles. She would not be getting out any time soon, and so she was left with plenty of time to mope around and to think. There was, however, something she had to do other than mope around. She had not forgotten her Chariklo-mandated apologies. Though gripping a pencil hurt her fingers where her nails had been ripped out, she had to write them out. It would be a pittance, but she had to do something to compensate for her grave errors. First, there were the people Chariklo had listed: the princess herself, Ida, and Hvergelmir. After that came two people that Megrez felt she owed apologies to even more than those three: Cybele and Mintaka.

Taking the pad of paper and the pencil she had asked for off the makeshift nightstand by her bed, she began Chariklo’s apology first.

Chariklo,

I’m writing to apologize for the wrongs I have committed against you and your people. I had completely failed to appraise the situation properly and acted under misguided intentions. Having been in the Oasis multiple times, I see how helpful your Dark Mirror Senshi truly are. During my current stay alone, I have seen them come to bring supplies many times. At least once, it has been in the nick of time to save a White Moon life. Along with apologizing, I should be thanking you for supporting us the way you do. As you said, your ability to get past the leave permits is invaluable.

So you have it official, and in writing, I will make a pledge here: I will harm no further Dark Mirror Senshi from this point onward, even if they attack me first. I will take care of your noncombatant, and if possible or necessary I will even work alongside a Dark Mirror Senshi on a mission.

Thank you,
Megrez

The letter might have come off as though Luca was trying to use flattery to deflect some of Chariklo’s rage, but she meant every word. She understood that she had legitimately wronged the Dark Mirror, and that they were not what she should be focusing on. The pledge was genuine; even if a Dark Mirror attacked her, it would not be worth breaking the non-aggression treaty to counter. With that one done, she tore the page off the pad and started on the next letter: Ida’s.

Ida,

I understand that you have worked together with Hvergelmir and Chariklo to engineer a non-aggression pact with the Dark Mirror. I wish to apologize for endangering that pact with my misguided actions, and to inform you that I will no longer attack any Dark Mirror Senshi to put the pact at risk. I see now how important the Dark Mirror have been to keeping the Oasis running, and so I will not get in in their way.

Most importantly, I want to thank you for all you have done for me and the other patients here in the Oasis. I have trusted you with some deep secrets, and you have not let me down. I know you work hard to keep this place running, and we are all deeply thankful for it. You have saved numerous lives, including my own. Please know that, if you need it, we will support you as well, or at least I will.

Thank you,
Megrez

That one was simple enough to write. Luca was well acquainted with Ida’s kindness, support, and healing, and she was genuinely thankful to know that she could rely on her whenever she felt troubled. Hvergelmir’s note was next, and that would be a bit trickier, since she had not spoken to the Knight in a while.

Hvergelmir,

I heard about the non-aggression pact with the Dark Mirror that you had been working on with Ida and Chariklo. I am writing to apologize for endangering that pact with foolish actions. Your work for the side of Order is famous, and even though you never fought, I have a great respect for what you have done. Maybe we should meet again soon. Please take care of yourself.

-Megrez

Luca felt bad about getting stuck there, and she considered taking out the invitation to meet again. Though she had tried to learn it for the Cosmos Knight, her sign language was absolutely lousy, and Hvergelmir would have to resort to written communication each time. Whenever she spoke with the Knight, she always felt a bit like she was being rude to her by speaking and not writing or signing.

The main three had been finished, and now it was time to address the remaining two. This one was going to be a biggie. Every word would be important.

Cybele,

I hope you are healing well. I wish to apologize for everything I said and did to you the day I attacked you and any time before that. I have come to understand just how helpful the Dark Mirror have been to the cause of Order, and how horribly misguided I was for attacking them and you just on the principle of a Chaos affiliation. Without Dark Mirror Senshi, the supply shortages would be even direr. Every pack of supplies that comes through the Oasis mirror improves our situation. I will no longer harm the Dark Mirror Senshi that seek to help us. I have pledged that in writing to Chariklo, so you may rest assured that I mean that.

There is one thing I would like you to remember: almost all my friends from before the Negaverse takeover have either been killed or corrupted. Gunn and Megiddo are dead, Penthesilea is a Negaverse monster with no trace of her former self remaining, and you are a Dark Mirror Senshi now. Losing so many friends in Order became a sore spot for me. To hear that you had promised yourself to the Dark Mirror even before the rise of the Negaverse hurt me somewhere deep down. It’s a bitter pain, losing everyone like that. I wouldn’t dare say any of this excuses my actions, but I hope that it helps you understand my motivations a bit more.

I don’t know if you’ll forgive me for turning on you. If you do, in exchange for you hearing me out, I will gladly allow you to explain just why you chose the Dark Mirror. I will try my best to understand. Another senshi told me that the world is not black and white, Chaos and Order, and I’m beginning to understand the truth of her words.

If you want to talk to me again, I’ll be ready.

-Megrez

With a heavy exhale, Luca set down her pen. That one was tough to write, and she still didn’t feel that it was adequate. She doubted that Cybele would actually want anything to do with her after what happened, and that trying to explain herself probably was just going to make matters worse. However, she was not in the mood to scrap this letter, so she decided she would wait and see if Cybele responded (or didn’t) and try again accordingly. There was one more letter left, and it would be something of a breather relative to Cybele, though she would still have to admit some painful things.

Mintaka,

Recent events have led me to reflect on what you said to me last time I saw you. After having some encounters with the Dark Mirror, I have come to realize that you were right: the world is not black and white, Chaos and Order. The Dark Mirror, despite being Chaotic, has done quite a bit to support Order, so I feel it’s one of the best examples of what you said I’ve seen. I am sorry to say that I don’t think I can stop fighting, but I will certainly be more discriminate in who I fight and how. It’s hard, facing the prospect of the flaws of your own methods. I guess that’s why I reacted like I did. I don’t know if I can change as much as I should. However, I will not stop you in doing whatever it is you have been doing unless any harm comes of it. Anything we can do to successfully make the world a better place is a welcome boon to Order.

I have more feelings on some of these matters, but I would prefer not to discuss them in this letter. If you would like to hear them, you may come looking for me. I’ll be in the Oasis a bit longer, but I’m sure I’ll be out again soon.

-Megrez

There, all done. Luca wanted to tell Mintaka about her dilemmas, about her crises of faith (so to speak), but an easily-read letter was not the place to do that. She meticulously folded and addressed the letters, setting them on the bedside table. It would probably be a bit till an aide came in to check on her injuries, but hopefully she would be able to ask him or her to deliver them. After that, there would be a waiting game, and she hoped that her apologies would be accepted despite a feeling that she didn’t deserve it.