Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

[spiderhellian]

In Which The Names Have Come to Play.

It's an event Equestria has not seen an at least an era. And even before that, it was a rarity. Perhaps an impossibility -- all the different practitioners so jealously guarded their secrets, and any true cooperation was fraught.

Tonight four Names walk the wake, united behind a single Mare's purpose.

---

Some might find their foe with a detailed stake-out and meticulous research. Others would kidnap a few subordinates, and make them talk, if y'know what's good for ya. But the Name of Secret Histories? She simply walks the streets, and her hooves lead her unerringly to the correct door.

Some might open that well-warded entranceway with a stolen key. Others might subvert someone inside to open up the gates. But the Name of Knock? She picks up her axe, swings it, and both the lock and door surrounding it shatter, and never could this passage again be barred.

Some might lead troops to slaughter those residing inside. Others might toss a few explosives in, and hope the resulting carnage is sufficient. But the Monster of Grail? She reminds you that you should never ask a Lady her age, or watch how she eats.

Some might take their foe down with a flurry of blade-strokes, launched in reckless abandon but at least keeping the enemy a few feet away. Others choose, prefer in fact, to get their hands dirty, and take the life in front of them with their own hooves. The Name of Edge? He launches a single dart, which cannot be opposed, by wall or body or eye or brain.

Mercilessly, unstoppably, deliciously, brutally -- one Pony's will is done.

Spoiler: AN

First, you can't really destroy an entire cult in a single attack, that takes place in a single night. Even if you focus on one or two of those points, the other points might scatter and flee. It is disingenuous to expect a perfect and absolute victory.

(Or maybe it is. You are sending quite a few Names, after all. What do I know?)

Click to shrink...

I know this isn't likely to be the case, but, well, a Mare can dream. And Velvet will be spending so much time in bed, and have so much time to dream...

 

[AuthorTransient]

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

In Which (S) Collide - Part 5

Velvet: Struggle

Lantern. Forge. Edge. Winter. Heart. Grail. Moth. Knock. And Secret Histories.

Long ago, two lands lived in harmony.

Then, everything changed when the -

...

After Glory-knows how many eons have passed, an estate now serves as a... bridge of sorts, between the two lands.

It is very exclusive and secretive. Very few know of it. Invitation only.

Even fewer know that the estate also has a restaurant.

Or perhaps, it might be said that only one views 'it' as a restaurant.


One night, a starving guest of this estate who had been left out in the cold could no longer stave off her hunger.

Her hostess had been marinating a meal for a while now, and the smell drifting out of the window was making her ravenous.


An Outsider who transformed into a part of this New World, who poured itself into mending the cracks like iridiscent rainbow gold, changing both itself and part of the core of the world.

Who had underwent and survived the Rot of the Worms.

Who had transformed again, and then while in this transformed state mixed and stewed in a broth of Lores, until another state of transformation was reached.

Something never seen before – something never tasted before. Born and reborn and reborn again.


An exotic ingredient thrice alchemized. Lead to gold to crystal mithril.


The smell tunneling into her nostrils ensnares her heart.

And oh, how that causes her to THIRST.


Hence she politely knocked on the door of the owner and, when it opened, asked if she could share the a meal.

She got kicked out.

Like the fillies say nowadays, 'okay'.


She gathered herself together and knocked on the door again. Politely.

This time, the hostess, her meal, and the bellhop all came out to confront her.

So she apologized, gave some compliments to the hostess, and said that she did not mean any offense. She merely -

Spoiler: Combat Rolls

[Multi-combatant fight. Mareinette will only "compete" to wound Luna, but may be wounded by all other combatants]

Ally Buffs:
ILLUMINATION: +30
(Velvet only) ULTIMATE FATE WORKS
Reading the Record: 39 + 26 = 65, 3rd​ Breakpoint Reached

Ally Debuffs:
FOR THE OLD BLOOD x 2 - 20

[Current Mareinette overflow (damage occurs on 50): 0]

[Current Allies overflow (damage occurs on 100): 84]

Mareinette's Turn. Multiattack.
First Roll: 92 + 40 (Old and Terrible) + 20 ('Wire Mother') + 5 ('Blood Meridian') +40 ('An Incandescence')- 5 ('Outnumbered: 1') = 192
Second Roll: 19 + 100 = 119
Third Roll: 14 + 100 = 114
Fourth Roll: 14 + 100 = 114
Fifth Roll: 8 + 100 = 108

Allies Turn:
Frontend:
Comet Feet: 92 + 39 (Personal Combat) + 30 – 20 ('Wire Mother') - 20 = 121
Velvet Covers: 48 + 29 + 30 + 30 (Reading the Record) – 20 - 20 = 67
Luna: 37 + 33 (Velvet Support) + 90 (Alicorn Combat: Luna) + 30 + 10 ('A Sister's Promise) – 20 - 20 = 160

Overflow: Mareinette – 32, Allies - 84

Backend:
Jade Whistle: Dispel FOR THE OLD BLOOD x 1: 64 + 21 + 30 - 20 = 95! 1st​ breakpoint reached!
Baldomare: Dispels FOR THE OLD BLOOD x 1.

Comet Feet shuts down one head.

The others smash into yours and Selene's hasty shield and you pour your magic and grief and regret into maintaining it -


-- and the shield breaks.


Mareinette's head chomps down and you must have blacked out for a moment, because when your consciousness returns you're with Selene on another part of the battlefield, checking her over with your hooves.

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" Selene is yelling. "She didn't get me, she didn't get me."

Her coat has been shorn in several places but there's no blood. There's no blood. Your heart seizes in fear and anger regardless.

"Velvet! Focus!"

Comet Feet is circling in the air again, trying to find a weak spot to target, but it's difficult, it's really difficult.


Mareinette doesn't move like a pony made out of flesh and blood. Sometimes she just outright ignores gashes and some of her wounds aren't bleeding anything. Her turns are so sharp that they would break an ordinary pony's spine in half, and when she reaches for something – it's difficult to gauge a 'safe' engagement distance, for she moves without heed to gravity or inertia – sometimes its like the world slopes directly into her jaws and the terrible void behind it, no matter which road you take to avoid it.

As if it's like gravity, or as if she's at the bottom of a cup and everypony is just circling and being attracted to and draining towards the center. For all of you and your allies' skill or experience, there's just not enough time to react to a monster of that size abruptly blinking next to you and lashing out.

Not to mention all of Mareinette's newly grown... add-ons. Tendrils, you mean tendrils. What has been saving Selene has been knowing where your enemy is at all times, your desperate positioning, and your shoring up her gaps – but clearly that's not enough.


Each sweep of Mareinette's hooves sends wild gusts across the battlefield. You blink your sweat and mane out of your eyes -

- the humble guest makes a thoughtful offer about paying for it with her own personal services. Wasn't the hostess satisfied before? With the service provided by her mouth?

The hostess pinks.

The other residents of the currently cramped residence look askance at her.

Spoiler: Combat Rolls

[Multi-combatant fight. Mareinette will only "compete" to wound Luna, but may be wounded by all other combatants]

Ally Buffs:
ILLUMINATION: +30
(Velvet only) ULTIMATE FATE WORKS
Reading the Record: 87 + 26 = 113, 5th​ Breakpoint Reached

Ally Debuffs:
Currently none.

[Current Mareinette overflow (damage occurs on 50): 32]

[Current Allies overflow (damage occurs on 100): 84]

Mareinette's Turn. Multiattack.
First Roll: 94 + 40 (Old and Terrible) + 20 ('Wire Mother') + 5 ('Blood Meridian') +40 ('An Incandescence')- 5 ('Outnumbered: 1') = 194
Second Roll: 79 + 100 = 179
Third Roll: 70 + 100 = 170
Fourth Roll: 41 + 100 = 141
Fifth Roll: 32 + 100 = 132

Allies Turn:
Frontend:
Comet Feet: 46 + 39 (Personal Combat) + 30 – 20 ('Wire Mother') = 95
Velvet Covers: 19 + 29 + 30 + 50 (Reading the Record) – 20 ('Wire Mother') = 118
Luna: 8 + 59 (Velvet Support) + 90 (Alicorn Combat: Luna) + 30 + 10 ('A Sister's Promise) – 20 ('Wire Mother') = 177


Overflow: - INTERRUPT!

Despite that, she still refuses. As if she had never sought guidance and help from her! Why, this guest had given enough help to entitle her to at least a bite, surely!

No matter.

Words are her weapon, after all. And with all of them distracted, the guest is now close enough to - !!!


A life given freely – not through an act of death, but through a sacrifice of time – e'er the more powerful.

Now.

Swiftly traversing a thread of the tapestry, a storm unfolding like a bright rose, chasing to place a hoof on that different history -

Maybe in a world that hasn't already been warped – maybe in a history where Mareinette's presence had not already warped the world – this could not happen.


But there are no such things as coincidences.

Spoiler: Combat Rolls Cont.

Alt!Stormchaser: 65 + 10 (Martial) – 20 (Wire) + 30 (lantern) = 85
Luna's Final Combat Roll: 177 + 42 (Supporting Storm) = 219

Overflow: Mareinette – 32, Allies - 109
Mareinette suffers one damage! -100 to Allies' overflow.
FOR THE OLD BLOOD activates x 1!

Backend:
Jade Whistle: Dispel FOR THE OLD BLOOD x 1: 67 + 21 + 30 - 10 = 108! Success!
Baldomare: Dispels An Incandescence!

Standing in front of you, as Mareinette charges full-tilt into a hole in the world and is violently expelled into the background somewhere, is Stormchaser. A Stormchaser that is branded.


"Hey, my little horseshoe," he says. "Sorry it took so long."

You give out a strangled wheeze and then immediately hone in on the scent on his breath, "are you drunk?!"

Alt!Stormchaser coughs. "Maybe don't focus on that."


The fucking husband??????????

Then the light turns on behind her.


In the distance, Mareinette is rising again, like a titan in the darkness.

But before she can do anything else, she freezes.

She freezes, because her shadow has been abruptly thrown in front of her by the glare at her rear. By what you had been waiting for, all this time. Like dawn after the night.


"Are you the one who's been hurting my sister out there?" Celestia's voice is a terrible, terrible calm that belies the immense burning fury threatening to explode out of her grasp.

"[MOTH]..."

Spoiler: Contest!

Mareinette: 31+60 = 91

Reroll used! 28 + 60 = 88!

Reroll used! 61 + 60 = 121!

Velvet: 33 + 12 + 20 + 60 ('Beyond All Suspicion') = 125!

"I'm going to fucking kill you now."


The Horse of the Sun has arrived.

Spoiler: THE WIRE MOTHER (Unofficial, as of Part 5)

Health: 25/50 (highballed)

Temporary Health: 0/5

[ONE WHO IS VERY GREAT]: Mareinette is willing to offer you Sacraments in the Lores of Grail and Heart, should you fulfill her requirements.

[OUR LADY OF WIRES]: Mareinette is immune to the effects of "Monstrous Appearance".

[HONORED GUEST]: Mareinette can "step in" on Velvet's horseshoes, and perform social actions in her stead even if only Velvet should have been able to perform them. (HOWEVER, see "Old Intelligence")

[WEIGHT OF PRESENCE]: Mareinette grants a full level up to the Secret Library for her preferred Lores.

[OLD INTELLIGENCE]: If Mareinette is alone while performing a social action, and a vote is offered, she will instead pick the vote based on what she thinks is best. (This will be based on her personal knowledge of you, as well as her loyalty. This trait can be either positive or negative, depending on interpretation.)

[MONSTROUS APPEARANCE]: Cannot be used for Social Actions. (Immune)

[PROUD]: Will refuse to cast any rituals that do not involve Grail or Heart.

[THE SECOND BIRTH]: Mareinette may choose to sacrifice a tremendous amount of health to immediately break her summoner's bindings. (Used.)

[NEVER ASK A LADY HER AGE]: Mareinette may elect to hide some of her characteristics from you. (She certainly is hiding her health, and she may be hiding other negative traits or skills.)

[THE SUBTLE KISS]: Mareinette may hide attacks as completely harmless kisses, pats, smiles, or intimate glances, though they still require combat rolls. Targets may make an intrigue check to realize that damage was done after each successful attack. This compounds with OUR LADY OF WIRES.

[BLOOD MERIDIAN]: Mareinette may spend a combat action to consume the last traces of life and experience from a victim who has been brought to zero hit points to recover 5 hitpoints. This also gives her a temporary bonus of +5 to rolls per life consumed this way until the Turn ends. This action can be interrupted, upon which She loses the action. This action cannot be used while She already has more than Her maximum hit points.

[GRAIL OVERFLOW]: Mareinette may gain temporary hit points above Her hit point total, up to 5.

[SAPPING FLESH]: Combat rolls targeting Mareinette must reach an overflow of 100 or higher to harm Her.

[PUPPET OF THE RED SANDS]: Mareinette does not suffer from any status of being 'Wounded'.

[WIRE MOTHER]: Mareinette gains +20 in combat against any entity that can be considered to have a mother and they have a -20 malus when targeting her.

[UNQUENCHABLE THIRST]: For every turn in the Wake, Mareinette will seek out a Grail sacrifice and consume it.

[FOR THE OLD BLOOD]: Whenever Mareinette loses hit points, all targets in the vicinity suffer a cumulative -10 to rolls as the blood spilled intoxicates and causes hallucinations.

[ALL-CONSUMING NAME]: When Mareinette consumes a living being, their existence disappears from memories. Characters may figure out something is wrong (strange clothes that they would never wear, an empty room with paraphernalia) but it is more likely that they would simply fill in any discpreancies by themselves.

[Other traits negative, unknown]

Spoiler: Author's Notes

Made a small edit to the Reproach interlude. Will be editing links in later. I hope this update and all of its cheeky little references help.

You are not alone.

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name
-[X][BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Biedde (as planner). Daughter of Axes, Mareinette, Baldomare, Selene
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Edge 3 artifact, SH 3 artifact, Heart 3 artifact, Winter 1 artifact, 1 Wrong Key (due to expire at end of turn)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Neutralize Copper.
---[X] Neutralize Neighnia.
---[X] Remove any evidence tying us to the cult.
---[X] Loot their library, artifacts, bits, and so forth, should time allow.
--[X] Anything else? (WRITE IN any other orders or specifications you have)
---[X] Minimize non-Cult casualties.
---[X] Leave as little trace or tracks as possible.
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Rarity (as planner)
---[X] Daughter of Axes
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Heart 3 artifact
---[X] SH 3 artifact
---[X] Winter 1 artifact
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X][STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
-[X][SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
--[X] Cheerilee
--[X] Applejack

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.

You have gained the mundane trait "Security Detail".

Jade Whistle has successfully performed a scrying ritual. The information she gained will be sued by your imminent assault expedition. 30 bits have been removed from your inventory.

The Daughter-of-Axes has given you three Wrong Keys, they have been included in your inventory.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Selene, and right now you are in a dream.

It is a very simple dream. You are standing on a grassy plain, under the shade of a large tree. And everywhere you look there are flowers blooming, swaying with the wind and filling the air with perfume.

This is the picture of a calm and peaceful place. A dream that, in truth, you are intentionally making as serene as possible. Because the dreamer herself is in no condition to be exposed to anything else.

This is your mother's dream. And you can do nothing but watch as, even in this incorporeal place, she looks at you with a tired smile. You can tell that she is happy, of course. You can tell that she is happy to be here with you.

But still, you can't push away the pain you feel inside your chest, as you realize how sorry she looks even inside her own dream.

You can't push it away. So, you do the second best thing. You keep it hidden.

"Thank you for meeting me here, Selene," she says. And for all that her voice sounds healthy and strong, given how this is a dream, you can tell there is still something shaky about it. "This isn't something we could discuss while I am awake."

She sits down at the base of the tree, and you follow suit. And for a moment, you consider asking her why she asked to meet you here. But you reconsider.

Instead, you just stay quiet, sitting by her side. You stay quiet, simply because your mother looks content right now. After all, her dream-body is strong and healthy, to the point that even her flank is unblemished, and she can feel the soft breeze without being constrained by a dress. And you can tell, or maybe you can feel, that she is just savoring the sensation of a body that isn't about to shut down at any moment.

Granted, her expression is still tired, but… well, you are a firm believer that dreams are meant to be pleasant. So, you will just wait here with her, until she tells you what this is about.

"I… part of me doesn't want to tell you this, Selene. Part of me wants to stop here and now," she continues, after maybe a full minute. Her voice full of hesitation and doubt. "Because I… there is a favor I want to ask you, Selene. There is something that just needs to be done. And for all that I wish I could do it myself, I just can't."

She lets out a small sigh as she says that, and you… you just stay quiet.

You lean towards her, resting your face on her shoulder, but other than that you just stay quiet.

After all, you know what she is talking about. You know why she just can't do… whatever it is that she needs to do.

And that is because, just a few days ago, your mother's health took a turn to the worse.

Her complexion, that was slowly getting healthier, suddenly became pale again. What little energy she was regaining, which was enough for her to eat and talk and even move a little on her own, was gone.

You understand what happened of course. You realize that, deep down, that decline of her health was a good sign. Because this whole time, your mother's heart didn't even have enough strength to beat on its own, and she had been using… other methods, to make up for it. And now, she is finally strong enough to survive under her own strength.

She has, effectively, "stopped" using the other methods that were keeping her alive. And now, she can heal under her own power without getting addicted or dependent on those methods.

However, this is still being a ghastly period to live through, for you and your father… and especially for Silky.

So, of course your mother can't do anything on her own right now. Of course that, whatever this favor is, she would need somepony else to do it for her.

You are only glad that you can be here for her right now.

"But I suppose I lost the right to hesitate. No, more than just that, I just can't afford to wait. Not when I know what is on the line. Not when…"

She trails off, and you can feel the light tug of something, poking at the edge of her dream. For a moment, you feel the pressure of memories, filled with anger and fear, trying to creep into this dream. You feel the weight of your mother's emotions pressing down on the scenery around you, trying to cover the sun and turn the breeze into a chilling wind.

But you push back against that. With a thought, and without any effort, you keep the peaceful scenery around you as it is.

This is your domain, and you will not allow this dream to be sullied while you are here.

"Whatever it is, mom, you can tell me," you say, gently rubbing head against her. "You can trust me. I'm here for you."

You hear her let out a small, short laugh. But you can tell that your words had some effect. The pressure of her fears lessens, at the edges of the dream. And she sounds slightly less despondent, as she continues to speak.

"Thank you dear, I… well, I suppose you already know," you feel her plant a light kiss on the top of your forehead.

Although, once again, she lets out a small sigh, as if resigning herself to what comes next.

"The thing I want to ask you to do is… I know who tried to kill me, Selene. I know who it was, that sent all those ponies and that monster, who tried to get rid of me."

She says that, and her words are so sudden and direct that you can't help but freeze for a moment.

Because this entire time, you mother… well, she did not tell you who had hurt you. At times, you think she did not know who had done that, and other times you were sure she was hiding it. But still, she was just too frail and weak for you, or your father, to try to pressure her about it.

And as the days went by, with no other incidents happening, and the "official" story about a lonely attacker being repeated over and over again, you just… well, you didn't believe it, and you definitely did not forget about this. But still, you had basically resigned yourself to the idea that you would never learn anything more about the attempt on your mother's life. Not until she was fully healed, at least. Or not until you were able to act on your own.

But now that she is telling you this, you don't really know how to react. You are still sitting next to her, and your head is still resting against her side. But your eyes are wide open and alert. In fact, you can even feel your heart beating more quickly, as you realize the implications of why she is telling you this.

"I know who she is Selene. I know who she is, and I know that she hates me, and I… and I know she won't stop until one of us is dead. But if it was that alone, I wouldn't mind keeping this vendetta of hers between the two of us. However…"

Her voice trails off, and the aching pressure of her fears return, pushing against the edges of this dream so strongly that it almost takes you by surprise.

The sky almost darkens. And for a moment, the sun almost dims. But you hold those weights back, although it requires a little more of your attention than before.

Although, much more importantly, you keep listening to your mother, as she reveals to you the reason why she is so afraid.

"… however, I also know she is not above doing whatever it takes to get to me. I know she is willing to hurt one of you, instead. In fact, I think she might be considering that alternative right now, given how she must know that her attempt failed."

The wind picks up speed, and the calm breeze suddenly turns into a harsh gale. One that rustles the leaves of the tree above you, and that bends the flowers with its strength. A gale that is fueled by anger, a rage that was as sudden to appear as it is fierce.

You focus your thoughts, and you calm the wind down in less than a second. But still, it is telling that this stray feeling was able to sneak past you.

Because this whole time, you have been doing your best to compensate for your mother's emotions. You have been trying your hardest to keep this dream calm and serene. So, the fact that this stray feeling was able to evade your notice is indicative of how strong it must be.

For all that you can't tell from her tone of voice, you realize your mother must be very, very angry right now.

But that doesn't stop her from asking you what needs to be done.



"Her name is Copper Secateur, Selene. And I need you to kill her."



There is something uniquely chilling about hearing those words coming out of your mother's mouth. Your whole life, ever since you woke up as Selene, you have heard nothing but kind and soothing words from her. Of course, she can be harsh and demanding at times. And like any other foal, you have already been scolded and reprimanded by her. But no matter what happened, you could always feel in her undertone that she still loved and cared about you.

So, there is something somber about hearing this gentle and loving mare asking you to… kill somepony.

However, you are even more surprised by the fact that-

"I will do it, mother."

-that you not only agree with her, but that you also want to do this.

The wind picks up again, blowing through the grasslands like a galloping herd. And as you once again focus your thoughts to smother it, you finally realize that… you finally realize that this wind is not being caused by your mother's emotions.

It is being caused by yours. This is your own anger, influencing this dream.

This is your anger, because your mother is telling you about the pony who hurt her. This is your anger, that you are finally being able to direct towards something useful. This is your anger, that you can now focus on the pony who is willing to hurt your family.

And you feel no inclination to put it under control, right now.

So, you allow the gale wind to blow, even if it plucks the petals out of the nearby flowers, and even if it causes both of your manes to sway with the wind.

"Thank you, Selene, but that is not everything I had to tell you," she says.

And the wind dies down, even if only a fraction, as you raise your head from her side.

Because you have a lot in your mind right now. You have several thoughts, some of them even conflicting with each other, that you still need to parse through. You still need to come to terms with the fact that you just agreed to kill a pony. You still need to process the fact that it is your own mother who is asking you to do this. You need a few moments to accept that you want to get this done anyways. And finally, there is the very practical matter that you still need to figure out how to do this. After all, your mother only gave you a name, so far. You will need more than that, maybe a cutie mark or perhaps an idea of where that pony is, before you can do anything.

However, there is something about her words, just now, that made you curious. So curious that you were able to push all those other thoughts to the side, for now.

"Selene, I… I want to apologize to you," she says, looking towards the grassy horizon even as she speaks with a tired voice. "I don't think I am a very good pony. I don't think a good pony should do this."

You shake your head as you turn towards her, looking her in the eye. Because you want to tell her that she is wrong. No, you will tell her that she is wrong.

Your mother is not a bad pony. Protecting the ponies you love does not make her a bad mare. And you will be sure to tell this, no matter how downtrodden she is!

But when you turn to look at her, you are immediately surprised by the fact that she is meeting your gaze. You had expected her to be looking downwards, or perhaps towards the horizon, or at least that she would be avoiding your gaze.

Instead, she is looking straight into your eyes, with an expression you can only describe as determined.

Ah, you misunderstood…

She isn't apologizing to you for what she just asked you to do. Because she knows you too well. Hay, she raised you. She knows that you two are of the same mind, when it comes to this Copper mare who tried to hurt your family.

Instead, she is apologizing for…

"There is nopony else I can trust with this, Selene. But still… I am sorry."

She says that.



And you almost shout as your mind is suddenly split in two by PAIN.



Something is happening. Something is gripping into your mind. Encircling your skull, or maybe even your brain, with shackles made out of light.

You can't see them. Even in a place like this, even in a dream, you can't really see these chains. But you can feel them all the same. You can feel them, because they are gripping at your very soul.

These things, these chains, they are heavy. They are heavy, and they are bright, and they are devoid of any mercy. Locking themselves to the corners of your minds, and gripping at the flaws of your soul. Shining a cruel light on all the fears you wish you could forget about.



[You have received the bindings of Baldomare, the Name of Lantern]



The pain is sharp. It is sharp, and it is BRIGHT. Like a headache you can feel on your entire body. Like a parade of bad memories and regrets given physical form, and that somehow became capable of eating you from inside your own body. The pain is horrible, but you…. You push back the shout that is forming in your throat, you quite literally grit your teeth, and you force yourself to endure it.

Because the moment these shackles finish tying themselves to you, you immediately understand what your mother just did.

You immediately understand who she is binding to you. And you…

…

… this ache, this damn LIGHT, you thought it would stop hurting, but it doesn't.

Still, you can take this… or at least, you think you can.

"Baldomare knows her. And she will find her for you."

You hear your mother say that, and the only thing you can really do is nod with your head.

It takes you a few moments to realize your eyes are closed. At some point, while you were fighting back the pain, you must have shut them.

And when you open your eyes, you… you realize that…

Everything around you seems brighter. This dream, the air, the sunlight that is peeking in through the leaves of the tree over the two of you.

You open your mouth, to try and say something. You open your mouth, to tell your mother that you understand, and that you are alright, and that she is not a bad pony for doing this.

But the moment you meet her gaze once again-



-your veins begin to burn with POISON.



Your body is melting. Or at least, that is the only way you can describe it. Your insides are being corroded, and this is painful, and you can't even scream because something is coiling around your lungs.

The world seems to shift around you, and for some reason the ground is right next to your face. But it hurts. It hurts too much for you to understand that your legs buckled under you, and that you simply fell.

You almost don't have any strength left in you. You certainly don't have the willpower to stop yourself from yelling in pain.

But still, the constricting pressure around your chest doesn't allow you to scream. You can't even breathe anymore.

You have the distinct impression that there is a line of droll falling out of your mouth, but you don't care. You don't care, and your jaws are locked open in a muted scream.

You can only wait. You can only wait, and suffer.



[You have received the bindings of the Daughter-of-Axes, the Name of Knock]



"Axe knows of her. She can take you to her, once Baldomare finds her."

You hear those words, but you can barely understand them. You think those words are laced with regret. You think your mother is about to go back on this decision.

But she can't. You know she can't. Your mind is too numb to understand why this needs to happen, but you know deep down that this needs to happen.

Somepony needs to hold the reins. Somepony needs to make sure that these ponies… that these assets that she has are not lost, or that they do not slip away at a critical moment. Especially if she is sending you against a mare who had no scruples in sending a monster to try to kill your mother.

So, you force your jaw to close, and you nod with your head. The movement is painful, even though this is a dream. But still, you nod to her.

Still, it takes you several seconds before you can even breathe again. And it takes you even longer before you dare to open your eyes.

"I-I… am fine, mom…" you say to her, or perhaps to yourself, as you force yourself to stand up.

It doesn't even occur to you that this is still a dream. It doesn't even occur to you that you shouldn't possibly be having these sorts of difficulties in a place that, in truth, is under your domain.

And even if that thought did occur to you, you would also realize that… well, what is happening right now runs a lot deeper than mere dreams.

"I… no, this was a bad idea. You are not ready for this, Selene. I am sorry. Let me t-"

"No," you interrupt her, raising a painful, snake-constricted hoof as you do. "We… we need them. I… I am going to need them to…"

Your thoughts are still confused, but you still see the reason behind this.

Because even though you do not have the formal knowledge about this, you still know that your mother's… guests, are not really ponies. You already had enough strange interactions with them, and you have already been told enough secrets, to know that for sure.

They are not ponies. Not in the usual sense of the word. They are creatures, old and large and dangerous, that are somehow connected to those deep dreams that your mother has. The ones that don't allow you to open her dream-door, when she is asleep.

You know they are not ponies. You know they are like colors, or like lenses, that are filtering some vast light.

And most important of all, you know that they are not your mother's friends. You know that, behind the façade of pleasantry and etiquette they maintain, that they are actually bound to her. Through something that is older than magic, but that still bears some resemblance to it.

So, given your mother's state… somepony has to hold these bindings. Because your mother's grip is so weak right now, that they might just slip out of her grasp if they were to give their chains the smallest tug.

And since you are about to have them follow you to kill a pony, one who is also knowledgeable in these arts, it only makes sense that you…

"Do it," you say.

And you take one last breath before you look her in the eye again.



[You have received the bindings of Biedde, the Name of Edge]

[You have received the bindings of Mareinette, the monster of Grail]



How does your mother live with these things inside of her?

They are hot and they are cold and they are silent and they are screeching obscenities and temptations at the top of their incorporeal lungs.

One was painful. Two was too much. But four?

You know, for some reason that you can't explain, that they are the ones bound to you. You know, although you have no idea why, that these bindings only go one way. And that if you pull at them, they can either follow, or be ripped apart and banished to the place they came from.

You know that.

So why…

… why does it feel like you are the one being pulled? Why does it feel like these four burning, crushing, clasping and grasping chains are about to tear you apart? As if they are pulling at the edges of your soul like a group of ponies might try to pull your legs until they are ripped out of your body?

It hurts. It really hurts. IT. HURTS.

It hurts so much that the dream begins to crumble around you. It hurts to much that you can't even feel your mother, as she hugs you, and you can't even hear her, as she apologizes again and again to your ear.

It hurts so much that you lose your grip on everything else, and the dream just ends.

And when you wake up, drenched in sweat and with a red stain on your pillow where your mouth was, you can't even believe that the pain was only imaginary.

But most shocking of all is the question that comes to your mind, when you finally get your bearings once again.

Because how…

"…how can she live like that?!" you whisper to yourself, still shivering as the bindings settle around your soul.

It takes you more than an hour to finally calm down. It takes you a long time to finally come to your senses, and realize that everything that happened was real, but also that it was all imaginary. Thankfully, you woke up in the middle of the night, and you had plenty of time for yourself before the sun finally rose again.

However, the answer to your question comes a lot earlier than you expected.

Because on that same day, as soon as the sun rises, you understand… you understand how your mother manages to live with this eldritch bondage around her soul. You understand why she not only puts up with it, but also goes out of her way to keep them.

Because on that same day, as soon as you are done having your breakfast, you are surprised by the fact that the elusive Baldomare calls you to her room.



"Now, Velvet Covers asked me to do a few things this month. But it appears I no longer answer to her. So, as per our present agreement, is there anything you would like me to do?"



You understand why your mother does this. All of this.

After all, on that same day, you were accosted by a mare who knows everything. And she very politely asked you what you wanted from her. A mare who is older than you could possibly imagine, who remembers more than you will ever know, and who has absolutely no qualms with performing any sort of action.

Yes, that was the answer to your question.

The reason why your mother not only accepts these creatures, but relishes their presence, is…

Power.

And right now, you have four of the most terrifyingly powerful creatures in Equestria at your disposal. As well as a single order, to seek retribution against the pony who nearly killed your mother.

…

Yes… yes. This will do.

You realize this is a test. You realize your mother is giving you a chance to prove yourself. To show that you are a Princess who will not overstep her authority. To show that you are an alicorn who will not abuse her power.

However, you also realize your mother is at least as angry as you are with her enemy. If not angrier.

And you also realize that as much as she wishes she did not have to send you, her daughter, to do this… she also wishes to visit a very great vengeance upon her foe.

"No, I… no," you answer Baldomare, although the slightest tug you feel on the chains around your soul tells you she plucked the answer from your mind before you even spoke it. "Please, I… please, do whatever my mom asked you to do."

You say that, and the mare answers you with a slow nod, going back to reading from a book as if nothing had just happened.

"Very well then. The old soldier was put in charge of preparations. Just tell me when you would like me to leave, yes?" she asks.

And for all that, to the whole world, this is just a strange conversation between a bespectacled mare and a filly, in truth…

In truth, you know that…





Selene has taken control of the assault team that will be sent after Copper Secateur.

Like the good daughter that she is, she will return to you all the bindings as soon as your health improves.

But for now, there are only two things on her mind. The first is the stunned wonder that she is feeling, thanks to the powers you have allowed her to experience. In truth, she was neither trained nor prepared to bear this burden. But somepony has to, and her nature as an alicorn was barely enough to make the cut. And the second is the fact that this power, she knows, was given to her for a single purpose.

And she has no intention of failing you.

More to follow.

 

[Sveta08]

So, this is a thing, or an idea rather, that's been sitting in my brain as I've read back over some of the chapters. And given this is both the start of a turn, so one of the more impactful moments, but after actions can be readily made, it would be a good time for it.

And, given that for the first time, Selene called Velvet Mother, it refused to leave me. Rattling the cage of my mind, demanding it make itself heard. Mom and Mother are not used interchangeably in this quest. So, have this thought, and a realization I've had reading through



In which a teacher thinks of Mothers and Mares

---

In every good teachers' life, there comes a moment. Well, many moments really.

Moments that sift those who are willing to do their duty, and those who go above and beyond. When the student you are working with needs an extra push, or a touch of encouragement. Or when they might need be pulled aside and spoken to privately. Honestly, with how things have been going you are thankful that some of those seem to have passed you by with this class.

Moments too that would tug at your heart. Reaffirm your belief. Seeing the frustration on somepony's brow melt away into understanding. Seeing somepony looking up and realizing they are following you, honestly and earnestly listening to you. Moments of excitement and elation, sharing in on the joy as a little foal finally attains their cutie mark and finds part of their place in the world. And a lucky few who when they look to you and thank you, you see the truth of it in their eyes. In their youthful directness.

Plenty of moments. Good and bad.



You are Cheerilee. And you are doing your best to pretend one of those moments didn't happen.
But, your students are certainly making that difficult for you.

"Snaaaaails! Why'd you have to say that?!"
"... Wha'dja mean?"
"Oh, you know what I mean!"
"... no? I was just thanking Miss Cheerilee."

You are at least thankful your students can't see you roll your eyes when looking at the blackboard. Snips whisper would be more at home on a stage than in the middle of fractions. Though, given his cutie mark, maybe he comes by it honest? Could certainly see about that come this fall's theater production. Miss Rarity has been too busy dealing with her own business to help you out with costuming after all. All the more pity.

Refraining from shaking your head, the next few minutes will be a careful game of a teacher's selective hearing and corralling fillies and colts to pay attention to math. A few more numbers hashed out on the board, a firm tap of your hindhoof when Tiara's giggling grew too loud. Some blissful ignorance as Snips chides his friend. But, to you, it is simply another day.

After all, it's not the first time one of your students has called you Mom. With any hope, when you hand out the worksheets, it will be all forgotten by everyone.
Save you, of course.



It's no wonder, really.
With how many hours they spend with you here. With how young they are, and how rarely they tend to see other adult mares treat them like little ponies. It just slips out before they even realize it. Maybe in Snails's case, if they do at all.

But really, it's a mark of honor you think. A badge you wear, silently, proudly. That your little ponies feel safe here. At home under your guidance. Willing and able and ready to learn and grow from you. That they feel... comforted? No, maybe that's the wrong word.
But that they feel that way, here? With you?
It's a mark that they don't even realize they give. One that says to you, they feel at ease here. That they will listen. Because...
Because that's not always the case. Not just with you.

There are many moments in a teacher's career that stick with them.
Yes, the good to be certain. The looks of realization, the moments of wonder, the questionsns with earnest curiosity, the joy of finding ones' destiny, yes. And you do well to hold onto them. To remember them.
Because those are not the only moments that stick with you.



... You remember the one time Diamond Tiara called you mom. Not only because it was any different than any other. Goodness, how much you wish it could have been during a class teaching history of the far east or during a lesson about the pegasais' role in the cycle of seasons. Maybe during long division, or a lesson on geography and it would have been forgotten. Just another memento of your good stewardship of them, held onto and forgotten over the months to follow.

But you do remember what day it was. The day teachers fear more than the parents involved. And that students of all walks dread.
Parent Teacher Confrence.

If it had been any other time, you are certain Silver Spoon would have giggled. Snips would shoot some sort of joke back. It would fall flat and Tiara would retort. Apple Bloom would try to mend the difference, and life would move on.
You wouldn't have had to see the soft look on Filthy Richs' face as he closed his eyes. Bracing. Or had to see little look in Tiara's eyes as she realized just what she said.
Or had to see the glassy sharp smile Spoiled Rich gave.
You wouldn't have had to continue on like nothing had changed. Wouldn't have had to pretend to miss the tension that ran through all of them.

You can still hear her. Hadn't even closed the door for long enough to let out your breath when she spoke. The words were bad enough, but the tone...
'That mare is not your family. I am. I am your mother.'
More words were shared. And for a blessed mercy, you did not hear them. But Diamond...

Well. It was the one, and only time Diamond Tiara called you mom.



Maybe if you paid attention, you would see how you stopped writting mother on your letters home. If you had reason to, maybe you would look and see the divide between the two words that had spawned because of it. One of comfort and trust. One of responsibility and obligation. Certainly if you put your time into it, you could say why in words that were clear and sharp and clever ways to hide the simple truth of it.

But... you never noticed it. Too busy with the rest of the facts of life.
Lessons needed to be planned. Children needed to be cared for. Rivalries needed to be headed off. Competition needed to be encouraged.
And above all else... even as the rest of Equestria seems beset by monsters and the unknown...

As long as this little schoolhouse is your schoolhouse?
It will be safe for them. Even when nowhere else will be.


Hopefully...
Hopefully.

 

[AuthorTransient]

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

In Which (S) Collide - Interlude: Spark

Spoiler: Author's Notes

This one is a bit long, so I've hidden it under a spoiler. Also, I've ran out of buffer. Next update may only come out on December. Also, Pinkie's speech is in FF4DA6.

---

Spoiler

Meet​	Fine and Dandy​
"Will you help her?"
	"Yes, I will."
"Just like that?"
	"I would help her in any universe. Because I'm her friend."
In her stories, everything turns out alright in the end. Reality is not as kind. It is messy and complicated. Isn't that right, --- ? A unicorn without a horn opens her eyes to an empty ceiling awash in merciless light. To be so bright already... she had overslept again. Some bits of her felt guilty about that, as if she was dishonoring the memory of Spike. Most of her didn't care. It was difficult to care about anything nowadays. ...the bed was cold. She felt both listless and exhausted. Empty, or perhaps hollow. As if everything that made her 'her' had been emptied and scooped out, and everything that remained was just a hollow shell. The world felt the same, as if all of its colors had been bled out of it. Like another hollow shell. ...words weren't working. She just wanted to sleep and never wake up. Sleeping isn't the problem. The dreams are. In her restless dreams she sees -- Firmly and carefully, she pulls her mind away from that line of thought. Whatever happened, has happened. There's no point thinking about what-ifs. Too many times she had indulged herself and fell into an even worse slump. She is still alive. She has to eat, she has to drink, she has to sleep. Her throat hurts. She'll take care of that later. Let her lie here for a little while more. Just a bit longer. She turns her head to the side instead, but finds only an empty table and empty chairs. A huff of breath escapes her nostrils. Whoever impersonated her didn't do a very good job. Dust was already gathering upon it, but she still couldn't bring herself to get up. Later. Just... maybe later. The rest of her room is, objectively, a mess. The shelves haven't been dusted. Books sit in dusty piles, unused and unmoved. Her floor is filled with dust, and the curtains have been drawn since she can remember. But she still can't bring herself to clean it. She just feels tired, all the time. There's nobody around to clean it up and nobody around to badger her into cleaning it up. Sometimes it feels like she's an island on a sea, and everything was just going on without her. She no longer broke out into song. She just tried hard not to cry. Sleep beckoned out to her again (a world without hurt) but if its this bright already, she shouldn't. She needs to eat something and drink something, at least. Keep her body healthy. Although she didn't really care, Spike would be sad. Princess Celestia would be... Princess Celestia might just not care. But Spike... Her nose sours. Abruptly her temper erupts. Why did Luna have to die? Why did the changelings have to destroy everything? Why did Celestia leave her alone to waste away? Most of all, why is she still so useless?!! She reaches out to smash something, anything, into the floor. But nothing happens. Ah. That's right. Twilight Sparkle doesn't have a horn. What use is a Unicorn without a horn? Can Twilight Sparkle really call herself Twilight Sparkle without her magic? Just as suddenly as it arrived, the anger drains out of her. She gets up instead and then nearly falls off the bed when the ground shudders. The alarm clock jumps and falls at her hooves, coincidentally at an angle for her to read. ...what? For a moment, she can only stare in incomprehension, because the clock states it's in the middle of the night. She looks up to where even the drawn curtains can hardly block out the light. Huh? Did Princess Celestia - ? No, that's impossible. But her current condition - ? For a moment, her brain kicks back into gear. It's familiar how quickly she gets back into the groove, like a river finding its way back into the sea, spilling into familiar canyons. It makes her nauseated. It makes her want to puke. And some of the canyons aren't familiar. Not since - She presses her back against the wall, closing her eyes for a temporary relieve of oblivion, trying to stem the tide of thoughts. But the light. It spills. It spreads. It illuminates. The ground shakes again. If this was one of her adventure books, this would be a call to adventure. But... but she can't. Not anymore. Not without her horn, not without anyone to call upon (can she even call them her friends?), not without... But she will never see or hear Spike again. And no missive from Princess Celestia comes. Yet, the light... it is still so bright. It reminds her of... it reminds her of before everything started to go wrong. When everything started to go wrong. Her mind goes numb. It goes foggy. Isn't it better to stare in silence than think about that again? Better to just not think... to just drift away? To just run away from all of her problems? Do you really want to hurt again? ... But some part of her refuses. Slowly, she pulls herself together and heads for the door. Each movement, each step, feels like an ordeal. At once, part of her wants to break out into a sprint and another part of her wants to go back to bed. But more importantly, most of her wants to open the door. Which she does, coming up face-to-face with Fluttershy, of all ponies, her hoof raised and about to knock. She blinks. "Fluttershy? What's going on?" "You need to come with us, Twilight," Fluttershy says. "There's a monster at the Velvet Estate and I think... I think only Harmony can defeat it." Velvet. Velvet again. She can still remember seeing her face in that dark room, telling her that she was sorry, and that her friends would come for her. But in the end, that didn't happen, did it? It was Velvet again. Always Velvet. But even that thought can't really spark any embers in her chest. She just feels even more wrung out. "I'm not going to help, Fluttershy." In response, Fluttershy simply looks at her. Softly. Gently. Kindly. It feels a bit like burning, but even that can't really overcome the exhaustion she feels. Instead, she tries to communicate her feelings, her doubts, and that relentless exhaustion to Fluttershy without saying a word. Suddenly, it feels like there's a lump in her throat. "I can't." She forces out. "Look at me!" Fluttershy does. "How am I supposed to do anything? How am I supposed to be a bearer of Harmony if I can't even use magic! How am I to - " - to her horror, she can feel her eyes burning - " - to believe in friendship? When I don't even have any friends?!" And Fluttershy... Fluttershy doesn't say anything. Fluttershy doesn't even say anything. She continues, "I don't have Spike, Princess Celestia doesn't care about me, and, and...! And none of you ever come to visit!" She takes a step forward and yells hoarsely, "tell me! How am I supposed to believe in Friendship and Harmony???!!!!!" The silence that follows is deafening. "Whatever is happening, I don't care." She lies. "I'm too sick and tired to deal with anything. Esquestria can rot and burn to death for all I care. Just... leave me alone." She retreats backwards and closes the door. Then, shuddering, she collapses to the floor and cries. Dear Celestia, I'm such a mess, aren't I? But no... even Celestia doesn't care about me anymore. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, if you're out there... Spike... "Oh, Harmony. What am I supposed to do?" As her prayer softly dispersed, a solemn silence settled over her surroundings like a blanket of snow. For a moment that could have been anywhen between a second and forever, she was left with the bliss of being alone, even from her own thoughts. As if punctuating that question, there's a knock on the door. She raises her head to look at it, slowly. Just as she was wondering if she had misheard, there's a second knock. Then a third. Hurriedly, she wipes away her tears and slams open the door. "I told you – " On the other side was Pinkie Pie. "Hiiii!!!!!!!" She waved. "Can we come in? I brought a friend." "You're not here to convince me to go and help?" "No? Why would I do that?" Befuddled, she let them in. "Nice place!" Pinkie remarked, unfolding a large rug on the floor. "We'll just give him some time to set up." "Some time to set up what?" She coughed, trying to clear her throat. "Why, to let you see Spike again, of course!" Her motions slowed, disbelieving, as Pinkie rattled on. "Took me a few favors, and I had to part with some of my shiny things, but..." "Hold on, Pinkie. Let me see if I'm hearing you right," she said, stepping a bit closer. "You're letting me see Spike again? How?" The 'he's dead' sat unspoken like a, well, like a giant purple dragon in the middle of the room. "Why, through the power of friendship, of course! And umm..." Pinkie began, tapping her hoof on her chin. "I don't really get it myself, but I can tell you a story about it!" She side-eyed the other pony in the room, who was doing something to the windows that was somehow preventing the light from coming in. "Please." "Okay! So, imagine that there's a cat in a box." She nodded. "And we put a little bottle of manticore poison in there." "Pinkie, this isn't helping my concerns." "I'm getting there! Ok, so that poison bottle has a fifty-fifty chance of tipping over. Like a coin flip. So..." She drew the question out. "What happens to the cat when you close the box?" "It dies?" "Nope! It's either dead or alive!" The voice that chimes in sounds deeply eccentric, exceptionally so, as if the words zig-zag and zip around in the air. "No, that's wrong again." The other pony comes up alongside them, casting another cursory glance around the house. "It's - " " - both," Twilight Sparkle finished, straightening up a little as her worldview shifted to fit this new enlightenment. "It is both dead and alive until the box is opened. An uncertainty principle, a paradox space, a coin flipping infinitely in a vacuum." "Exactly," said the friend of Pinkie Pie. "And what we, or rather I, have just done, is close every entrance in your house, except for the front door. And when I've done that, your house will be - ?" "A closed box." "That's right. Wow, you got that Wasn't quickly! You have a knack for this. In fact, Pinkie, I think I may like your friend even more than I do you." "WHAT?!" Pinkie gasped in faux outrage. "How dare you! Why, I oughta - " "Why are you doing this?" At her blink of confusion, she clarified, "why are you... helping me, Pinkie?" Pinkie Pie smiled at her. "Why, because I'm your friend, of course!" "Really?" "Really, really. It's alright, Twilight. I just noticed that you haven't really been laughing a lot, lately. Which is kind of sad! So I took it upon myself to fix that!" "I guess you would know." Pinkie Pie reached out and took her hoof and said, softer, "it's going to be fine. I can promise you that." "Promise?" "Cross my heart." "Ok. Thank you... friend." Pinkie Pie smiled and closed the door, which was then sealed. She breathed, then breathed a little more. When she turned around, she saw a pattern of three concentric circles placed on an eye-searingly pink rug in the middle of her living room (or perhaps, it was the pattern itself that was eye-watering). Her furniture and books and shelves had already been moved to one side. "Okay," she breathed again, "so what do I do now?"
"Are you ready?"
	"Ready."
"Okay then, here goes!"
As if in answer, a rose-tinted light washes over the room.	The clock face freezes in motion and begins to glow a golden light until it can't be read.

Then a glimmering circular portal resolves in the middle of the room. Its insides are somewhat blurry, as if being viewed through a foggy translucent mirror. But she doesn't really care for that, does she? "Hey, Twilight." Spike says. "I came to see you." He's larger than she remembers. "Hi," she said, not really knowing how to answer. Instead, she reached out… and felt her hooves press against a blank barrier. Her face fell. "Sorry," Spike apologised. "Neither of us can cross over. We can only talk, and even then, not for a lot of time because the air will run out." What was the point of even doing this, then? Some of her thoughts must have shown on her face, because Spike apologized again. "Don't do that. Don't apologize. This was my fault, from the beginning," she said. "I don't think it is." Spike denied. "It was just… bad luck, that's all. You wanted to believe in Princess Celestia, didn't you?" "Not if the cost was you! Not if the cost was so much. If it was just me that suffered, maybe – but not you! Why did I have to lose you?" To her horror, she can feel tears spilling out over her face, but it feels so very distant, like a puppeteer observing their puppet yet still has to speak around the lump in her throat. "I couldn't save you; I brought you there but I couldn't save you. I really fucked it up this time." She dissolved into messy sobbing. "Sorry, I just – I just. I couldn't save you, Spike! I'm so sorry!" "Hey, hey, it's okay," he said. "I'm sorry too." "I told you to stop apologizing (hic). It's not your fault." "But it's not your fault too, remember? It was an accident. We didn't know what was going to happen. We were all just trying to do the right thing." "But the right thing cost you! And I – " She started sobbing even harder. "And I pushed away all my friends, because it hurt so much, and I - ! I don't know! I just feel like a very bad pony! And a very bad friend to you!" Something in Spike's voice firms. "If you were a bad friend for taking me with you, then I was a bad friend for not stopping you." "What – no, Spike! I brought you there!" "And? I should have stopped you, right?" Sharply, he gestured. "If you bringing me there made you a bad friend, then I also am a bad friend to you, for not stopping you there, for not raising my suspicions about that letter… for not wanting to break your heart." "But Spike, you didn't know!" "And you didn't know either! So we're both bad friends!" She didn't know how to answer that. Finally, Spike said, "but we're still friends. Twilight Sparkle, you're still my friend. I would help you in every universe." "Even after I hurt you?" "Even then. Despite everything that has happened, I'm still your friend." She looked down for a while. Laying on the barrier like this, she could almost imagine his warmth permeating through the cold. "I've missed you." "I miss you too." Outside, a song is starting. Spoiler: Music View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C8QmvcK0RA&pp=ygUbc2lsZW50IHJ1bm5pbmcgYnJlYWtpbmcgb3V0 'Take the children and yourself, and hide out in the cellar.' The Cutie Mark Crusaders huddle closely together, hiding under several blankets. Sweetie Belle closes her eyes and presses her hooves together, praying. 'By now, the fighting will be close at hand.' At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack lifts her hoof, feeling the way the earth shakes, the trees quiver, and her barrels of apples jump. Her eyes narrow. 'Don't believe the church and state, and everything they tell you.' Beyond Reproach is yelling and directing the evacuation, holding his Luna Bureau badge tightly in the air. 'Believe in me! I'm with the high command!' 'Can you hear me?' In a flash of rainbow light, Rainbow Dash alights to meet with Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie outside the library. 'Can you hear me running, can you hear my calling you?' 'Can you help me?' And finally, a unicorn without a horn is looking at her friend, even as the ground shudders once more. 'Can you hear me? Can you hear me running! Can you hear me running – can you hear my calling you?' For a moment, silence descended again, so heavy that she could hear her own heart pounding. Spike begins, "the city doesn't know what's coming, she doesn't feel the heat." She raises her head. "The city won't know what hit her, what knocks her out into the streets." Her voice joins in, "the city is thinking that it's over, and she's already fast asleep. So I'm breaking out of here tonight." A wordless yell of defiance. "I have to be ready!" "Can I really do this?" She asks. "Twilight Sparkle, if you put your brilliant mind to it, you can do anything." He offers. "Plus or minus the power of friendship." She begins again, "we're given what we need, only the chance to survive." Spike joins in: "Even then it's a coin toss, a roll of the dice." She yells back, "there's got to be something better! Something that feels more alive." "So you're breaking out of here tonight?" "I'm breaking out of here!" "You've got to feel it girl! Feel the wind pick up!" Spike yells. As if on cue, a gust of wind rustles through the pages. "It feels like something's got to change!" She returns, "there's no use putting wings to a job if all the wills are stuck!" The wind picks up even further in her cottage, as if in howling. "But there's something wrong here!" The song echoes. "Like this whole city wants to scream, but no one makes a sound! You've got to feel it breaking!" Her teeth grits. "So I'm going to find out what it is! And I'm going to tear it down!" A lull. Spike solemnly nods at her, then smiles. "The ending's running heavy, we don't have time for goodbyes." At her step forward, he shakes his head and professes, "you know you can't come with me, though I see that look in your eyes." "..." He smirks. "So just kiss me fast, 'cause we don't have time to lose." "Oh my Sun, Spike - " "If you leave the light on, I'll come back for you." She nods back. "When everything is said and done, I swear I'm going to make it right." "So I'm breaking out of here tonight!" She reaffirms to herself, looking down at her hooves. "So I'm breaking out of here tonight!" The 'echoes' join in, "so I'm breaking out of here tonight!" The door slams open and Twilight Sparkle steps out, singing, "I'm breaking out of here tonight!" "I'm so tired of giving up, I'm so tired of giving in." She says to her friends. "You wake up knowing things should change, not knowing where to begin. This city won't say where she's going and she won't speak of where she's been. So I'm breaking out of here tonight." They chorus: "Break out." And all around them, they can hear the ponies of Ponyville, and maybe even all of the ponies of Esquestria, coming together to chorus: "don't turn your back on the city!" Their voices rising, they sing again, "oooooh - ! Don't turn your back on the city!" Silky Stream and Soft Sweeps, running in the darkness, collide into the light and into the Cutie Crusaders. 'Say a prayer for all the children still sleeping!" Stormchaser ducks under a blow. 'Say a prayer for all the fathers who still remember.' Selene and Velvet Covers and Celestia tag team Her Lady of Wires. 'Say a prayer for all the girls who learned to stand up!' And in an open box, Spike closes his eyes, smiling, as the portal fades away. 'Say a prayer for all the boys who won't surrender!' Now, as the entirety of the Mane 6 run together with Twilight Sparkle at the head, she admits, "sometimes I just want to strive until the streets run out, wanted to burn until there's nothing left to burn and burn." Then, she turns her head to the side, to her friends, and tacks on, "but this city's waiting for a better day. When I get back there'll be hell to pay! BUT IF I'M THE ONLY ONE STANDING, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL!!" "I'm breaking out of here tonight!" They yell together. "I feel a fever coming on – leaving me out of control!" "And I have nothing but this steady – for reals there's been nothing of the city, or the rodeo!" The song thunders on before them and around them as they harmonize. "If you can hear my voice outside these walls!" 'If you can hear me!' "If you can hear me singing out – this message tonight!" 'Wooah!' "Then break the silence, send a signal back!" 'If you can hear me!' "I'm coming, all I need is a little guiding light!" Then, dawn breaks on the horizon, the golden glow of Princess Celestia now unmistakably there with the yellow light. "If you can hear me! Don't turn your back on the city!" And as their voices reach her, she disengages to look back in all of her winged glory. They call out, "break the silence send a signal back!" When she doesn't, they call out again, "don't turn your back on the city! Break the silence, send a signal back!" And this time, Princess Celestia of Esquestria flares. It's like coming home. Twilight Sparkle grins. "I'm coming, all I need is a little guiding light!" "Don't turn your back on the city!" They echo and she yells triumphantly. "Don't turn your back on the city!" She calls out with all her might: "I'm coming! All I need is a little guiding light!" 'If you can hear me! If you can hear me! If you can HEAR ME!" Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of Magic, with her friends and Harmony, exults: "Don't turn your back on the city!" Sometimes, all it takes is a spark to get a fire going.

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

 

[Shaper47]

For Harmony and Love! – A Princess Cadance Quest​

Spoiler: Music

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfvyM37hZ9s&list=OLAK5uy_nyGJM9Zngrx_wjS_Qv-rWcfpyEobqS1iM&index=6&ab_channel=Aurelleah-Topic

You are Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

The Moonlight shines down through the window reflecting off the crystals to bathe the dark room in a silver glow.

And tonight you are in your room alone.

"Auntie Luna, you told me not to cry"

For Shinning is busy and your dear friend Velvet…

"But it's so hard;"

Your gaze returns to the letter…

"Ev'ry day that passes by"

The letter letting you know that her condition has worsened.

"Tears more at my heart"

Your tears flow down your face glittering with sliver light as they fall

"Velvet Covers, I know you meant your best"

You think of the warmth she gave to you

"When you stood your ground;"

The warmth of love that radiated from her like a burning fire. The warmth of her sweet embrace.

"Without your heartfelt sacrifice"

Yet you can't help but remember how cold she was.

"Your family might no longer stand"

Ashes of a once mighty fire

You turn your face from the letter and trot over to the painting.

The painting you have of her beautiful face.

And as you see the image of her so like your memories something within you lurches.

"But it still hurts, waking up without you here"

She is so worried that it hurts.

"Even spells can't quell the fear;"

That the one she loves might be taken from her like so many others have.

"That I might not get to see your face"

That the image on the painting or her memories might be the only way to see her loves face.

"Or fall asleep held in your embrace, ever again"

That she might not feel the warm hooves of her beloved holding her close. Two heartbeats beating united side by side.

"Or hear you listen to me"

To have her by your side, somepony you love that will listen and give advice without judging you for your weaknesses.

"About my hopes, my fears, my dreams;"

A friend that gives you strength when you find yourself with none of your own.

"But although it's been so long my hope still runs strong"

A love more steady then the ground beneath your hooves.

"So I'll keep going on…"

Because how can you ever truly fall if she is there to catch you.

…

For an instant your mind turns to the duties you have.

The crushing weight of your responsibilities as a Princess.

"My Wings will carry the weight"

That which keeps you from your love.

"No matter how much they ache;"

But no matter how your heart aches you place your trust in Luna.

"And I will never stop waiting for word"

In the flickering candle of hope that burns within you.

"For signs of your return"

Because you can't let it go. Can't let her go.

Because if there's any hope even just a glimmer you'll be holding on.

Because you believe in the two of you together.

You believe in her promise

"And if, the darkness would come"

For if your fears of something taking her away were to be.

"And claim the hope that spurs me on;"

For if she was to leave you.

"How am I to spend all of my days, without you."

What would you do?

"The one who made my life…

Without your love?

"A life worth fighting for."

Without Velvet Covers?




The tears continue to fall down your cheeks.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name
-[X][BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Biedde (as planner). Daughter of Axes, Mareinette, Baldomare, Selene
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Edge 3 artifact, SH 3 artifact, Heart 3 artifact, Winter 1 artifact, 1 Wrong Key (due to expire at end of turn)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Neutralize Copper.
---[X] Neutralize Neighnia.
---[X] Remove any evidence tying us to the cult.
---[X] Loot their library, artifacts, bits, and so forth, should time allow.
--[X] Anything else? (WRITE IN any other orders or specifications you have)
---[X] Minimize non-Cult casualties.
---[X] Leave as little trace or tracks as possible.
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Rarity (as planner)
---[X] Daughter of Axes
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Heart 3 artifact
---[X] SH 3 artifact
---[X] Winter 1 artifact
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X][STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
-[X][SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
--[X] Cheerilee
--[X] Applejack

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.

You are Selene.

And right now, you are in your little sister's room.

"Promise you will come back?" she asks.

You can tell from her voice that she is still scared. You can tell that, even now, she is still hoping you will change your mind, and that you will just cancel the "trip" you told her you need to go on.

And then, of course, there is her choice of words. Silky Stream herself is probably too young to realize what she said. But the way she asked that question… it doesn't feel like she is asking if you will be back soon. It feels like she is asking if you will be back at all.

But of course, there is only one answer to that question.

"I'll be back before you know it," you say, giving her one last hug.

She doesn't really have her heart on it, as she hugs you back. And that does cause yet another pang of guilt to flare inside your chest. But there is nothing you can do but add it to the pile, as you tell her to sleep well.

And before you let go of her, you light up your horn. Moments later, the weak hug of the filly becomes entirely limp, and she is deep in her sleep as you cover her with her blankets.

"I promise," you whisper to her, before you turn to leave her room.

And by the time you close the door behind you, you are not Selene anymore.



- - -



You are not Selene anymore.

Your name doesn't really matter. If anypony asks, you will call yourself Midnight Breeze, or something along those lines.

But there is no reason for anypony to approach you. There is no reason for anypony to even look at you. After all, you are just a unicorn mare, with a short mane and dull-grey coat the color of cement. You look like a perfectly ordinary and boring pony, and you have a perfectly ordinary and boring cutie mark on your flank.

There is no reason for anypony to talk to you. There is no reason for anypony to look at you for more than a few seconds. You don't have the "formal" training to make other ponies' gazes pass right over you, but you have more than enough skill (and a healthy understanding of how ponies think) to know how to hide in plain sight like this.

However, the most important change, you dare say, is the one that took place inside your mind. More than just the mere illusion you have around your body, you have done something far more impactful to prepare yourself for this. And that thing is…

That you are not Selene anymore.

Is this a true and deep change? Is this just a mask? Could it be that this is just a state of focus and concentration, that you talked yourself into believing is more complicated than it really is? You don't know.

But it doesn't really matter.

All that matters is that, right now, you are not the adopted filly who was taken into a loving home.

And you are not that ancient Princess who fell while defending her ponies.

You are something else. A bit of both, and a bit of neither. Because Selene, the filly, would be too young and innocent to want to do this. And Luna, the Princess, would have the requisite self-control to hold these thoughts back.

But you are neither of those two ponies.

You are mature enough to know… to want to do this, and you have the discipline to see it through.

You are going to answer violence with violence.

And you are going to kill a pony who gained not only your enmity, but also your contempt.



"Ah, quite the curious expression you have on your face."



Those are the first words you hear, the moment you arrive at Ponyville's train station.

The place is nearly empty. And the midnight train that will take you to Canterlot, and then to your final destination, has not yet arrived at the platform. But still, to nopony's surprise, there is somepony waiting for you there.

It is, of course, one of the "guests" of your house.

It is Biedde, the old-looking stallion who, for some mind-boggling reason, looks completely harmless.

"From that expression alone, one would think that you have already done something like this before," he says, tipping his cap to you as you make your way towards him.

And his words finally make you realize that, this whole time, you had a scowl on your face.

Still, the old stallion continues to speak, as if his previous comment had just been an idle thought.

"Well, our train should be arriving shortly. This town is still too small to have a direct line to anywhere other than the capital, but making a detour through a central hub is barely an inconvenience," he says, taking a pair of train tickets and passing one of them to you. "And the other preparations are already complete."

You accept the train ticket with a short nod.

Under normal circumstances, you would have asked him several more questions. After all, his words just now were at best vague, and at worst misleading. Furthermore, you have not heard anything about your other… well, you will call them "companions" for now. So, of course you would like to know where they are, and when they will be joining you.

But for some reason, the old stallion's words are more than enough for you.

Biedde told you the preparations are complete, so they can only be complete. And you will not need to worry about anything until the time comes for you to make a decision.

"Thank you," you say, more out of habit than anything else. Because for all that the old stallion gives you a grateful nod, you know that he…

Well, you thank him anyways.

And minutes later, you hear the whistle of an approaching train coming from the distance.



- - -



[Expedition: Assault an opponent – Copper Secateur]

[Day 1]



It has been a few days since your mother did… something, that gave you authority over the "guests" of your house.

Of course, you know the words. You know what you should really call this. For some reason, the explanation for this mystery comes as naturally to you as breathing. As if the information had been fed to your mind, through whatever actions your mother did.

So, you know what really happened. You know that you were given the "bindings" of these four pony-like creatures. You know that, the same way you learned several other things besides, such as the fact that they are not ponies to begin with.

However, you are still resisting the idea of taking this knowledge as an absolute truth. Or rather, you are being very careful not to fall into the trap of believing these ideas in your mind are everything there is to know about this.

After all, you don't rightly know where this knowledge came from. Which means you don't know if the knowledge you have is complete, or if there are crucial details you were not given.

Still, it has been a few days since you gained these "bindings". You only departed to your mission last night, but you have spent the last few days trying your best to understand your newfound… connection, with these four pony-like creatures.

Because that is what you have with them now. A connection. A link. One that is made of magic, but not the kind of magic that resonates with your horn. A thread that runs through a dream that, maddeningly, you have no access to or authority over.

You can't wait for your mother to finally sit down with you and give you a proper lesson about these things. But you understand that isn't possible right now, and that it won't be for the foreseeable future. So, you only have your observations to go from.

And the things you have learned are… very interesting, to say the least.



"A bit of a waste to climb all the way up this mountain. But given how this is the beating heart of your country, I suppose it is inevitable."



Biedde says that as the train finally leaves the Canterlot central station. The two of you are sharing a cabin, and the old stallion has been voicing some idle remarks every now and then throughout this trip.

However, the two of you did not really have a full conversation this entire time. Ever since you left Ponyville and took the train to Canterlot at midnight, up until now as the sun begins to rise while your train departs to Manehattan, you have not truly spoken to the stallion. And that is because…

… well, there is no other way to say it.

The more time you spend with the old stallion, the more cautious you feel about him.

The "bindings" that you have over Biedde are… well, they are all unique in their own way, but his seem to be the coldest. Or maybe the hardest? The most solid? It is hard to describe that ethereal feeling with words.

But still, the best way you can describe your "grip" over Biedde is to call it a chain. Having him bound to you feels like having a chain tied to one of your legs. It is something that you are acutely aware of, at all times, and it is also something that you feel will make you trip and fall if you are not careful about it.

Because sure, on one hoof you realize that they are bound to you. And that if you pull on the bindings, they will either follow or be forced to leave.

However, despite that, you can't shake the feeling that his relationship with you is different. It is a subtle thing. One that is based more on instinct than anything else. But still, you can't stop thinking that, if you are not very careful, the day might come when this chain tied to your leg will simply stop moving. And you will realize too late that you are now bound to him.

You know he looks old, and mindful, and even harmless. You know he might be willing to play the part of the "employee", as he calls himself.

But the same way nopony can bring themselves to be rude to him… the same way you realize that you won't really be able to force him to obey you, if he refuses to follow one of your orders… you also realize that…

… you also realize that this old stallion is very, very dangerous.

But he isn't dangerous just because he is deadly.

He is dangerous because, despite all this, you don't know what he is hiding. You don't know why he is doing any of this.

Your mother told you, warned you, that he is a very deliberate and methodical stallion. So, the fact that you don't even know what kind of game he is playing means you are already behind.

"Why… are you traveling with me?" you finally ask, not being able to keep your questions inside your head anymore.

You ask that as the train gathers speed, leveraging gravity and the downward spiral of Mount Canterlot to race towards Manehattan.

And in response, the stallion just looks towards you, the faintest smile appearing on his lips as he stares as you.

You can't really see his eyes, given how thick his eyebrows are.

And as the train rushes into one of the tunnels of the mountain, blocking off the sun and plunging your cabin into darkness, you aren't even sure if he is still there.

"For what other reason would I be here?" he asks. His voice piercing through the darkness of the cabin, cutting through the surrounding noise of the moving train with ease. "I am here to keep my employer safe."

He says that.

And you immediately know he is lying.

He did not keep your mother safe. He could have, but he did not.

What he just told you is a lie. You are sure of it.

However, the most worrying part is that…

"You aren't even trying to hide it," you say out loud, towards the darkness of the train cabin.

You say it, because you are sure of it. He is lying. You know he is lying. And he knows that you know he is lying.

This old stallion who lives in the dark probably would have been able to fool you, if he really wanted to. The same way he somehow manages to appear harmless, you know he could have told you a believable lie, if he really wanted to.

But he didn't. More than just that, he chose to answer your question with a blatant, direct lie.

You still don't know what game he is playing, but his latest move was to confirm to you that he is indeed hiding something.

But why?

Why?

The darkness of the cabin is so thick that you almost can't breathe. Because you know for a fact that this darkness is not entirely real, and that the old stallion who was sitting opposite to you a moment ago is not looking at you from the shadows with the kindly eyes of a grandfather. And for a moment, the atmosphere around you is so oppressive that you can't even hear the train moving around you.

However, even that only lasts for a moment. And on the next second, the lights of the cabin flicker into life, and you find yourself sitting in that same cabin, sharing the room with the same old stallion who is looking at you with a small smile.

"It is the thing that you don't know that kills you," he says.

You don't speak to him anymore, until the two of you reach Manehattan.



…



You have never been to Manehattan before. And when your train arrived at the terminal, you were almost shocked by what you saw out through the window.

The large, square towers are almost oppressive in their brutalism. The entire city, even, has all of the intimidating factors of Canterlot's architecture, but with none of its virtues. This is not a city built to celebrate the grandiose things ponies can build, when they put their minds to it. Instead, it is a gigantic jungle of stony trees and artificial shadows.

Of course, you know why this city is like this. Your recent education as a filly has made you well adjusted to the realities of these modern times. However, the clash that your older memories felt when you first looked at this place was so strong that you couldn't help but take notice.

Still, you came to this city for a purpose, not to sightsee.

So, you followed Biedde as he took you to a particularly mundane neighborhood of the city, where he had booked a room in a place where the innkeeper did not bother to look up when you entered.

And when you entered said room, a small crowd was already waiting for you.



"Took ye fuckin' long enoof."



Those were the first words you heard, as soon as you opened the door.

But ironically, that was the only (and consequently, the warmest) greeting you had received that day.

You spent the rest of the day going over all the information you had received, and planning what steps you should take next.



At your mother's behest, Jade Whistle performed a ritual to scry the mare who attacked your family. She reduced the information she learned into writing, in the form of a letter she gave you a few hours before you departed.

Spoiler: Jade Whistle

[Reflection of the Tapestry]


[Secret Histories, CD 60]

[Roll: 43 + 14 (Jade Whistle) + 30 (Artifact) = 87]

[Success]


[Lantern, CD variable]

[Jade Whistle will invoke a re-roll]

[Roll: 94 32 + 14 (Jade Whistle) + 40 (Lantern 3) – 10 (Wards) = 138]


[6 success thresholds reached]


Information acquired:
1 – Copper Secateur's location has been confirmed to be in Manehattan. (Scouting the city for whereabouts of her presence is no longer necessary)
2 – Copper Secateur's precise location has been discovered. (Searching the city for her location is no longer necessary)
3 – The precise location of her moveable assets has been discovered. (Searching her stronghold for said assets, during the assault, is no longer necessary)
4 – The general layout of her defenses has been scouted. (General information acquired)
5 – The finer details of her defenses have been scouted. (Useful information acquired, plus situational bonuses)
6 – The precise location of an important item (Velvet Covers' original Manuscripts) has been discovered. (Additional options available during the assault)
7 onwards – [THRESHOLD NOT REACHED]

[This being an assault, the entirety of the first day has been used for transportation and preliminary planning]

[Rolling enemy detection – results unknown]



- - -



[Day 2]



These four creatures are frighteningly competent.

At first, you thought they were behaving as a normal pony would. However, as the hours went by and you tempered the anger you have in you, you realized that is not the case. You realized you thought they were acting normally because they were cutting to the chase, and not beating around any bushes.

However, now that you think about it, they… well, it wasn't just that.

Yesterday, when you all first gathered in this cramped inn room, you discussed what you should do next.

Your own plan was to spend some time double-checking the report you were given. Because sure, your mother trusts Jade Whistle, but it was still a good idea to ensure the results of the ritual were accurate. After all, if a pony's eyes can be deceived, then a magic ritual ought to be even less reliable. Jade Whistle's report could be a first step, sure, but you were of the mind to build upon that step, rather than blindly trust it.

However, the other four immediately disagreed with you. In their own way. And ultimately, Aunt B… Baldomare, that is, told you "that is not how it works". And that the weakest link in that report would have been Jade's ability, or perhaps her loyalty, to report everything she saw accurately.

Following that, you asked for suggestions, and they… well, they delivered.

They gave their suggestions, and that was the moment you realized they absolutely did not think like normal ponies.

Biedde asked you to confirm what your priorities were. And once you told him that, he very succinctly explained to you how you could all carry out a… an assassination.

Baldomare pointed out what you didn't know, and how the creatures that Copper has under her control are still unaccounted for.

Axe herself, to your surprise, seemed to have focused her foul temper into purpose. And despite her scowl, she still dissected the maps that Jade gave you like a doctor would have dissected a body.

And Mareinette… well, she also chimed in.

Although you rather not think about it.

In the end, you did not say much. Nopony really said much. Their words carried so much authority that there was nothing to be added. And compared to them, you were so out of depth that you could only agree with them.

In the end, they only asked for your approval. And you very quickly gave it to them.

And earlier today, you all set out to fulfill your given objectives.



[Due to the nature and competency of your team, you have decided to "multitask", and attempt several preparatory actions at the same time]



Your relationship with Axe is… well, you don't really know how to describe it.

Back when you were only a filly, things were tense between the two of you for a while. You were wary of her, she was wary of everypony, and her actions had already put your sister and your friends in real danger at least once.

However, you could never really bring yourself to hate her. Maybe it was because you were just a filly, and you don't think you could really hate anypony like that. There is something about being young that just makes you more innocent and forgiving. Or perhaps, it was because Silky warmed up to the mare for some reason, and shockingly (but not surprisingly) managed to make the mare warm up to her in return.

And more recently, the mare even helped you. She helped you back when you were just a filly, and she helped you recently when you were still trying to figure out this new body of yours. Of course, she also confirmed the suspicions you had this whole time. Especially given how you now understand her true nature a little more.

So, again, you are not really sure where the two of you stand.

Which means you are more than a little surprised by how much the two of you have talked, throughout this day.

"Eet's full o' holes," the mare, or rather the snakemare, says. "Full o' ponies as well, aye. Bu' we can get in well enof. No promises on gettin' out tho."

Axe says that as the two of you study the map you received from Jade Whistle. The gloomy mare had given you a rough sketch of where Copper Secateur appears to be staying. A tall building that is still under construction, on one of the corners of the city, where Jade's letter assured you the mare has been spending most of her time.

Which means, naturally, that was the place you, Axe and Biedde spent the entire day studying.



[Cut-off party: Selene, Axe, Biedde]

[Preparatory scouting, breakpoints 50/80/100/120]

[Roll: 77 + 50 (Axe, leader) + 30 (Moth total 6) = 157]

[Final threshold reached]



From what you gathered, the tall building is a "skyscraper". A watered down and less fancy version of a castle, that can be built for a fraction of the cost for public use. However, even that fraction of the cost is still quite expensive, and it seems the construction of this particular building has been on hold for months now.

You cannot say for sure if Copper herself had a hoof on pausing the construction efforts. However, the fact remains that she got herself quite the conveniently placed stronghold.

The building is tall, it is sufficiently built to be entirely walled and mostly habitable, and it is located on a well-developed part of the city. And thanks to its nature as a skyscraper-under-construction, it is not at all out of place in that part of the city, and everypony seems to take its presence as part of the scenery.

Furthermore, nobody suspects a thing when they see groups of ponies coming in and out of the place, dragging carts full of boxes. And why would they? After all, the ponies themselves are dressed like construction workers, and the crates are unassuming enough to look like regular building supplies.

The perfect coverup for a cult. The ideal way to hide in plain sight, and to have a warehouse-slash-headquarters in a place that is far more convenient than the outskirts of the city.

However, and much more importantly, there are several ways to get in without drawing attention.

"The guards seemed to know what they were doing, and they all know each other's faces," you say, "I don't think we should do something fancy like trying to smuggle ourselves in through a crate."

The three of you spent the entire day observing that building. Taking turns as you stealthily counted how many ponies went in and out, what methods they used to identify each other, and basically get used to the surrounding streets of that place.

You saw no signs of Copper Secateur herself. Although you can't be entirely sure, since you only know what her cutie mark looks like. But still, and more importantly, you all confirmed that everypony in that building seemed to know each other's faces. So, you would either have to prepare a very convincing lie, or you would have to enter that place entirely unnoticed.

And as you said, you are leaning towards the second option.

"Aye. Eet's still a bit weird tha' they were moving more stuff out than' in. Bu' ae figure our bes' chacne ees stil tha' place we found."

Axe says that as she pulls in another map. A larger and official map of Manehattan that, much like Jade's sketch, is now completely covered with your own notes and scribbles.

Because earlier this afternoon, while Biedde was keeping an eye on the building, you and Axe left to look for another approach.

And sure enough, the two of you eventually discovered…

"Yeah. The sewers are the farthest thing from a dignified entrance."

You say, as you look at the map of the city. Gazing at the long red line that starts on a sewer hole several blocks away and leads, through twists and turns, all the way to the structure itself.

"And I wasn't able to fit through some of those… pipes," you say, a particularly unpleasant and recent memory coming to your mind. "But you could, and you did confirm you reached the underside of the structure, so…"

You trail off, thinking of what other alternatives you have. Focusing on the maps and sketches that are on the room's sole table while Axe mumbles to herself.

After all, like you told them yesterday, your priorities are very clear. They are so clear that you still feel that same wave of anger inside your chest, whenever you run through them. You are here first and foremost to kill Copper Secateur. So, whether you accomplish that by breaking down the front door, or by sneaking in through the literal guts of the city, makes little difference.

Well, it only makes a difference to the extent that you meet more or less resistance, and leave more or less evidence of your actions. Your mother did ask you to keep that in mind, and you will do your best not to fail her.

But still… if there is another way for you to do this, then you have to consider it and…

"-ye fokken ignorin' me?"

Axe's voice snaps you out of your thoughts, as the snakemare follows her words by banging a hoof on the table.

"Oh, sorry, what?" you ask, looking up to see a particularly angry Axe looking at you.

Damn, did you mess something up? She has been so unusually… well, not amicable, but no-unpleasant today, that you would rather not accidentally set her off.

Although, judging by her expression, you might already have done that.

"Ae asked ye a question," she says, letting out a huff of air through her nose as she does.

And you…

"I… didn't quite catch that," you say. "And I am sorry. But could you repeat that?"

The snakemare rolls her eyes at her words, and she seems to mull over her thoughts for a few more seconds, as if weighting her options.

But eventually, she does speak again.

"Ae asked…" she says, but her next words are so low they are barely a grunted mumble. "Asked how yer sisser is doing an' such…"

She says that and you can't help but feel stunned for a few seconds.

Because now that you think about it, now that you are really looking at the mare, her usual grumpiness actually looks like… frustration?

And the fact she is asking about Silky of all things, also, catches you completely by surprise.

To the point that the words, and the truth, come out of your mouth before you can even think about them.

"She's… not doing well. It has been rough for her," you say, although putting that into words is a bit painful to you as well. "But she will get better. Mom will get better, Silky will get better, and hopefully she won't think about this at all a few weeks from now."

You watch as the mare purses her lips. She is looking down towards the maps, but you can tell from her unfocused eyes that she isn't really paying attention to them. Instead, she seems to be deep in thought.

And what is more, you also feel that…

The bindings, or maybe the link, that you have with Axe are quite curious. They are all unique, in their own way. But while Biedde's bindings make you feel cautious and nervous (to the point you have avoided even speaking to him at all), Axe's bindings feel different.

They feel like snakes coiling around your lungs, or maybe around something else you have inside of you. But not in a threatening way. Instead, it feels like she is holding onto you, as if afraid she might get pulled away at any second.

Which doesn't make any sense. Because Axe, you know, is very old. She is old, and she is large, and she isn't even a pony to begin with. She is a dangerous creature, that could easily take you on in a fight, even though fighting is not her specialty to begin with.

So why is it that, every now and then, she almost looks… afraid? How could she ever be afraid of anything? What could she ever be afraid of?

As you think about all of that, and look at her conflicted expression, you think you finally understand something. You think you finally understand what your sister saw in her, and why she goes to so much effort to be friendly with the snakemare.

And you can't help but try to take a page off Silky's book, as you continue to talk to her.

"If you are worried about her… maybe you should talk to her as well?" you say, trying to sound as conciliatory as possible. "Silky likes you, you know. So why don't you try to cheer her up yours-?"

"Fakoff," but the mare interrupts you almost instantly. And whatever you saw in her expression disappears just as quickly, as if she had pulled a hood over her head.

Her answer leaves you just as confused. And before you can say anything, the mare shakes her head and just storms out of the room, grumbling complaints as she does.

Leaving you alone.

Biedde isn't here. The old stallion, thankfully, agreed to stay behind and continue to observe Copper's building into the evening.

Baldomare and the other one are still out on their own errands.

But Axe? You have actually been thankful for Axe's company today. And you had hoped the mare at least shared the sentiment.

However, as she slams the door behind her as she leaves, you are once again reminded that you have no idea where the two of you stand.



…



Eventually, the five of you reconvene in the cramped inn room.

The sun has already set, and it is late at night. You have eaten a light meal, so you know the weight you feel in your stomach is being caused by something else.

And the four other creatures who are in the room with you… well, you are pretty sure they don't need to eat. Just like how they don't need to sleep, and the single-bed room that Biedde rented has been used exclusively by yourself.

Still, the four other creatures who are in the room with you are currently sharing what they learned, as you all make your final decisions on how to proceed.

Currently, you are all listening to Baldomare as she reports on her own efforts.

"I looked around the city and…"



[They have a Winter Name?, breakpoints 100/150]

[Roll: 21 9 + 50 (Baldomare, leader) + 30 (Secret Histories total 6) = 101]

[First threshold reached]



"… and I can confirm the Winter creature, that we suspect is under our enemy's control, is not in this city."

You consider asking her for more details. Because how can she be so sure? After all, this is a very large city, and you haven't heard anything about this monster that Copper controls other than that she is incredibly dangerous. As dangerous as the four pony-creatures sharing the room with you, at least.

But other than that, you don't really know anything? Your mother told you it visited her in her dreams once, in the form of an old mare who was carrying a painting or something. But still, you have your own concerns.

However, you know better now than to question Baldomare. And the three other creatures, also, take her word as a certainty. So, if Baldomare says the mysterious monster is not in Manehattan, you will believe her.

If nothing else, this is something for you to be thankful for. Even if the unknown location of this monster becomes a concern for the future.

"Other than that," Baldomare continues, "I couldn't find any of her other pet monsters. I am pretty sure she still has at least three windigoes on her hoofs. But I have no idea if they are inside this central building, or if she has them stashed somewhere else."

You feel another pang of concern inside your chest, as she says that.

But more than that, it strikes you how you seem to be the only pony in this room who is feeling any trepidation over these matters.

You suppose it makes sense, given their nature. Especially Baldomare's. After all, the link you have with her feels more like the distant light of a lighthouse, that is vaguely interested in aiming its light at you. But still, you would do well to remember that they are not…

"[Lantern]!"

The large, intimidating, and maddeningly normal mare who is standing on the corner of the room speaks up. And you all listen as…



[Context, breakpoints 50/80/100/120]

[Roll: 56 87 + 60 (Mareinette, leader) + 30 (Grail total 6) = 177]

[Last threshold reached]



… as she explains to you what she learned about Copper's cult.

She tells you all that the cult had been succeeding in entrenching itself in this city, over the last few months. First doing petty crimes, then offering seedy services. Until finally, for some reason, they started working on a few more legitimate avenues. Such as the art gallery they started funding, for some reason, as well as efforts to enter the maintenance industry, mostly for the city itself.

But more importantly, she tells you that the cult is scrambling right now. Tensions have been high for several weeks, following some "burning" incident that you didn't quite understand, given the strange words Mareinette used. And not long ago, right after their attack against your mother failed, Copper herself basically ordered the cult to go to ground. And for several days now they have been packing, moving, and erasing every trace of their existence that they can, in their efforts to vanish into the shadows.

Another month or two, you think, and Copper's cult would have completely disappeared. Together with the mare herself, no doubt. But thankfully, your retribution is coming so early that Mareinette's source didn't even know where they were going, or what their plans were after they vanished.

And, just like always, the link you share with her feels like tongues. And you will not think about that for a second more.



[You have confirmed that the "Name" your mother suspects to be in Copper's service is not in this city. You will alter your plans accordingly.]

[You have discovered more contextual information about the cult's activities. More options will be available to you once you begin your assault.]



You listen to all of that, and ultimately you decide to…

"Every day we spend preparing is another day we risk being discovered. Or worse, it's another day we risk that mare disappearing," you say to the room at large. And after you take one final, deep breath, you declare that "we strike tonight."

And the four pony-creatures, the four Names, nod back at you with varying degrees of amusement.



[You have decided not to make any more preparations, and stage the assault as soon as possible]

[Rolling enemy detection – results unknown]



- - -



[Day 3]



[You have decided to stage your assault]

[Item distribution]

Spoiler: Item distribution

Selene: SH 3, Heart 3, 1 Wrong Key.

Baldomare: Edge 3.

Daughter-of-Axes: Winter 1.

No other items left to be distributed.

The five of you finish what little preparations need to be made. The items your mother gifted you are distributed among everypony, and you all stalk out into the night.

Although the nights in this city are not as quiet and dark as those in Ponyville. Instead, tall poles of metal shine light down on the streets. And a crowd of ponies accustomed to the nightlife, almost completely different of the ones you saw during the day, fill the streets instead.

But you pay them little attention. Instead, you just stick closer to the shadow, you make a point of avoiding anypony's gaze, and you make your way to the building where your enemy lies.



[Infiltrating the outer sanctum, CD --]

[Auto-success, due to thorough scouting]



Or rather, you make your way to a sewer hole a few streets down the building. You and Biedde ensure no prying eyes are upon you as the three other mares file into the hole, before you follow and the old stallion closes it behind himself.

At first, you thought somepony would complain about this path. But Baldomare seems to be entirely untouched by the things, and the smells, that you find down in that place. And Mareinette, somehow, seems to fold into herself, traversing the tight holes and pipes like a spider out of a nightmare.

It is an undignified place, but your anger easily trumps your disgust. And soon enough, you are, according to Baldomare's own certainty, right underneath the building.

Axe asks you to stop using your horn for light, and you comply. And a few moments later, the very air around you seems to LURCH.

It happens without any sound, and you don't rightly understand what she did. But soon enough, you begin to feel a breeze of fresh (if stale) air coming from above you. And when you relight your horn, you see a perfectly circular hole leading up.

You allow yourself to reveal your wings for a few moments, just so you can climb your way up more easily.

And just like that…

… your heart is beating loudly inside your chest…

… your throat is dry…

… and even the farthest corners of your mind finally accept that this really is happening…

… but just like that, you are in.



[Infiltrating the inner sanctum, CD 120]

[Roll: 28 + 50 (Axe, leader) + 30 (Moth total 6) + 20 (Jade's scrying - fifth threshold) = 128]

[Success]

[No alarms will happen on time, no additional guard reinforcements for Copper]



The five of you sneak your way through the many levels of the building. The structure itself is largely finished, and it looks more than just the skeletal husk of a tower under construction. However, most of its rooms and corridors are, and its interior in general, is not yet polished. Walls and floors are made out of exposed concrete, rough on your horseshoes. Windows lie without any glass or shutters on them, allowing the night breeze in.

But still, you find more than enough evidence that this place is constantly being used for unreputable activities. More than just that, you find evidence that some ponies live here.

Jade's ritual, and Baldomare's educated guesses, point to your foe being at the very top of the building. Fitting, you suppose, especially if she has a pegasus to carry her away if she ever gets cornered. So, given how the exterior of the building is guarded and watched, you have no option but to take the long stairways that lead up.

You avoid the large and continuous stairs that snake through the side of the building, the one that is probably meant for an emergency of sorts, because you all agreed that it is either guarded, booby trapped, or both. Instead, you go up on a floor-by-floor basis, sneaking through that level of the building until you find a staircase connecting it to the next level, or making a path when the building blueprints did not order the connection of those floors.

The place is quiet, although not completely so. You do not hear loud noises or music, given the lengths they go to pretend this place is abandoned and still under construction. However, you do hear the voice of ponies every now and then.

More than once you pass by a passage that, uncharacteristically, is blocked by a wooden door. And the briefest investigation would reveal an entirely furnished and finished room behind it, probably serving as a dormitory or the likes for the cult.

More than once you pass by a passage that is blocked by a metal door, bolted to the wall and locked with thick chains. And without fail, Axe would let out a light scoff, muttering something about "amateur adept work", before you walked away.

And precisely once, you pass by something that sounds like a patrol. A trio of ponies, carrying flashlights, who were having a bored conversation as they walked down a corridor. But you were ready for something like that, thanks to Jade's report, and you retreat to a more inconspicuous part of the building until you are all satisfied the patrol had moved on to another floor.

Until finally, you reach the second-to-last floor. You climb up through an Axe-made hole into an empty room, but you immediately realize that the floor is carpeted and the walls are painted. This floor, you realize, was finished to the point that it was pleasant.

This, you know, is your enemy's nest.

The tugs of the bindings inside of you are now a familiar sensation, and they all shake with agreement as you order everypony to their agreed-upon duties.

No going back now.



[Inner sanctum reached]

[As per your previous plan, Mareinette and Baldomare have separated from you, to perform other functions]



Yourself, Axe and Biedde make your way out of the room. Walking through the long corridor, and scanning every door you pass by for something. Be it a sign that your foe is behind it, or the unwelcome face of a surprised guard.

But none of you are worried about being too quiet. You are all still being subtle and silent, but this is no longer the time to be careful.

Because no matter how many guards you avoid, or how silently you creep into a place. Inevitably, there always comes a point when you will have to get your hoofs dirty. The idea of a perfect assault, where you reach your opponent while he is still asleep and defenseless, is one that is almost impossible to achieve. And there will always be at least one guard by the door, or one surprised gasp to raise some sort of alarm.

So, the three of you make your way forward boldly, keeping your hoofsteps quiet enough just to make a listener question what they are hearing for a few more seconds.

After all, at this stage, a few seconds is more than enough to separate life from death.



[Ambush?]

[Attacker's roll: 31 + 50 (Biedde, combat-related leader) + 60 (Edge total 12) = 141]

[Defender's roll: 26 + 12 (Guard, leader) + 10 (Edge total 2) = 48]

[Attackers win, Defenders will receive a slowly-degrading "Surprised!" -10 malus during combat]



You carefully peek in through a half-open door, finding what looks like a kitchen mixed with a dining area. The number of chairs around a table makes you think this is meant for whatever followers your enemy trusts to be in this floor of the building.

A few paces to your side, Axe peeks into the keyhole of a wooden door. A forked tongue flickers out of her closed mouth, as if she is sniffing the air, and she quickly moves on to the next. This entire building, you think, was either going to be an apartment or an office building. But still, the fact remains that these long corridors have rows upon rows of doors for you three to work through. And any one of them could either have the stairs that lead to the final level, or maybe even the entrance to your target's living quarters.

At the far end of the corridor, Biedde is pressing his body against the wall, inching his face towards the corner as he spies what awaits after the curve. And suddenly, with a fluid motion, he sends you and Axe the signal that makes you both freeze for a second.

The old stallion raises his hoof, indicating that he sees somepony, and then he taps his flank a few times.



[Rolling for minimum number of guards: "1d4 – 1"]

[Roll: 3 – 1 = 2]



Two taps. Two ponies. Two guards.

…

A small part of you almost feels bad for what is about to happen next.

Almost.

But then, you remember your nearly-dead mother, your crying sister, your grieving father, and everything else that happened back at your home. And that feeling very quickly disappears.

You and Axe stalk towards Biedde, standing right behind the corner at the end of the corridor.

And then, you nod for the old stallion to proceed.



[Biedde has engaged a guard in combat]

[The Daughter-of-Axes has engaged a guard in combat]

Spoiler: Biedde combat rolls

[Biedde's health: 5/5]

[Guard-1 current health: 4/4]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Biedde – 0, Guard-1 – 0]

[?????: Biedde rolls twice, on the first of every two dice]



[Biedde: 21 64 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 144]

[Guard-1: 73 + 17 (total combat bonus) – 10 (Surprised!) = 80]



[Overflow: Biedde – 64, Guard-1 – 0]

[Guard-1 suffers one wound (-50 to Biedde's overflow)]



[Biedde: 62 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 142]

[Guard-1: 97 + 17 (total combat bonus) – 10 (Surprised!) = 104]



[Overflow: Biedde – 52, Guard-1 – 0]

[Guard-1 suffers one wound (-50 to Biedde's overflow)]



[Guard-1 is unable to attempt to escape due to the suddenness of the attack]

[Combat will continue as normal]

Spoiler: Axe combat rolls

[Axe's health: 5/5]

[Guard-2 current health: 3/3]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Axe – 0, Guard-2 – 0]



[Axe: 19 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 64]

[Guard-2: 11 + 16 (total combat bonus) – 10 (Surprised!) = 17]



[Overflow: Axe – 47, Guard-2 – 0]



[Axe: 27 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 72]

[Guard-1: 67 + 16 (total combat bonus) – 10 (Surprised!) = 73]



[Overflow: Axe – 47, Guard-2 – 1]



[Guard-2 is unable to attempt to escape due to the suddenness of the attack]

[Combat will continue as normal]

The three of you turn around the corner, with you following after the two Name-ponies. And sure enough, down the long and carpeted corridor you spot a pair of ponies sitting in front of a particularly fancy door.

The two ponies, bulky and strong-looking, seem to be entirely focused on a game of cards they are playing.

Or at least, you think they are holding cards on their hoofs. One of them has his back turned to you three, and the other seems to be looking intently at something that is on the ground between the two of them.

But you don't pay attention to any of those little details. In fact, you can't pay attention to anything else.

The only thing you can look at is the white in the eyes of one of the ponies, as he finally realizes the three of you are almost trotting towards them.

The three of you might as well have been ghosts, making your way as quickly and quietly as possible towards the two ponies. Like a violent breeze, or a silent nightmare on the corner of the eye.

However, the moment one of them looks at you, his eyes going wide in surprise-



"What the FU-?!"



-all Tartarus breaks loose.

There are still twenty paces between you and the two ponies. But the moment he realizes this is no longer the time for subtlety, Biedde leaps. The carpet under his hoofs tear wide open, as his hindlegs simply kick him into a horizontal jump.

He is right behind the larger pony, the one who is sitting with his back to you three, before your next heartbeat.

!!!

And with a loud, hammer-like kick of his foreleg, he slams the large stallion towards the wall.

You hear something break, and you don't think it was just the wall of the corridor. Followed by the dry gasp of a stallion who is in pain.

But that all happens so quickly you can barely process what is going on.

Axe, on the other hoof, is five paces behind Biedde. And the moment Biedde's target hits the wall, Axe is charging through the space where the large stallion was sitting.

You hear a hiss, and maybe a cry of fear from the other pony. But before you can blink, Axe has barreled into the second guard. A pile of cards is thrown into the air, and you swear the snakemare is now having her jaws held open by a terrified stallion.

However, you don't stop for neither of them. You don't spare the two ponies, or the two pony-like creatures, another second of your time.

There are two guards, for the three of you. You could help one of them, probably Axe, and this scuffle will be over in less than a minute.

But you are not here for the guards. And you will not reward your enemy for the mistake of placing so few of them by giving her more time.

Oh no, you are here to avenge your family. And you know exactly what that means.

You kick down the door that the two ponies were guarding, just as their surprised cries grow louder, and the sound of panic quickly transforms into the sound of fighting. But still, you kick down the door, and you leave that fight behind.

You fight lies ahead.



[No combatants available to block you. You will proceed to your target.]



[Ambush?]

[Selene's roll: 52 + 20 (Selene) + 15 (Edge total 3) = 87]

[Copper Secateur's roll: 98 + 10 (Martial) + 10 (Edge total 2) = 118]

[Defender wins, Copper Secateur will not receive any malus, or be subjected to any special restrictions]



You have less than a second to process what you are looking at.

A few seconds ago, you had thought that this might have been an important storage room. Because who knows, this is the second-to-last floor of the building, so maybe your target was one floor above you.

If that thought was still in your mind, you would probably be pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Because for a split second, you are greeted by the sight of a fully furbished apartment. You spot a nice, crimson-colored sofa, a few bookshelves with scrolls and books, and nearby table with crystal glasses. All of that lit by faint candles, carrying a pleasant scent.

If that thought was still in your mind, you would probably be happy that, instead, you found the right place.

But that thought is no longer in your mind. In fact, there is nothing in your mind right now.

The only thing you can think about is the adrenaline rushing through your veins.

"I KNEW THAT BITCH WOULD SEND SOMEPONY!"

And the fact that there is an earth pony mare, with nothing but rage in her eyes, rushing towards you.



[Copper Secateur has engaged you in combat]

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Selene's health: 6/6]

[Copper's current health: 3/3]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Selene – 0, Copper – 0]



[Selene: 78 + 35 (total combat bonus) = 113]

[Copper: 47 + 20 (total combat bonus) = 67]



[Overflow: Selene – 46, Copper – 0]



[Selene: 33 + 35 (total combat bonus) = 68]

[Copper: 82 + 20 (total combat bonus) = 102]



[Overflow: Selene – 46, Copper – 34]



[Copper Secateur attempts to escape]

[Copper's roll: 43 + 10 (Martial) = 53]

[Selene's roll: 17 + 20 {Selene) = 37]

[Success, Copper has successfully disengaged, Selene will give chase]

One moment, your hoofs were kicking down a door. And on the next, there in a mare lunging at you.

But you don't react with shock. Perhaps your mind, or your logical side, freezes. But your body, or your instincts, still take over.

And you lunge back at her.

Because did she just call your mother a bitch?!

You jump at the mare and, inevitably, your bodies slam against each other. There is no finesse, no elegance, and no skill involved in this. Because for a moment, all that happens is that a rage-filled earth pony mare is grappling you with her forelegs, trying to grab hold of you at the same time she tries to kick you away, and you are doing the same.

You manage to land a blow on her chest. She backhoofs you on the face, and for a moment you see stars.

But a fraction of a second later, when you regain your senses, you turn to her and…

… and you realize she is making a break for the door!

"I will not let you-!" you yell after her, kicking your legs under her just as you see her tail disappear from sight.



[Giving chase]

[Copper's roll: 14 + 10 (Martial) = 24]

[Selene's roll: 15 + 20 (Selene) = 35]

[You have re-engaged Copper in combat]

[Biedde's and Axe's combat rolls omitted]



You gallop after her, running so quickly the side of your body clips against the open door. But your body barely registers the pain.

The rush out of the living space, being greeted by the sight of Axe constricting herself around one of the guards, with a knife lodged on the side of her somehow-elongated body. And you hear Biedde calmly saying something as he walks after a trail of blood, which has a large stallion lying at its end.

But you care for neither of those. Your mind is in such a frenzy you can't even register how strongly your heart is beating. And you are so focused that your vision is almost tunneled.

You only care about one thing.

Your eyes lock in on the flank of a fleeing mare, the sign on her side a replica of the one your mother drew to you.

You give chase.

And you think you yell something as you once again barrel towards her, before she ever has the chance to reach the corner of the corridor.

Spoiler: Combat rolls

[Selene's health: 6/6]

[Copper's current health: 3/3]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Selene – 46, Copper – 34]



[Selene: 95 + 35 (total combat bonus) = 130]

[Copper: 54 + 20 (total combat bonus) = 74]



[Overflow: Selene – 102, Copper – 34]

[Copper suffers two wounds (-100 to Selene's overflow)]



[Selene: 92 + 35 (total combat bonus) = 127]

[Copper: 13 + 20 (total combat bonus) = 33]



[Overflow: Selene – 96, Copper – 34]

[Copper Secateur has been defeated]

You don't gallop down the corridor as much as you throw yourself towards the mare.

You don't think, you don't stop, you just act.

When you are ten paces from her, you forget almost everything. You don't even remember the sorry state your family is in, just the anger you associated to all of that. To your failure to protect then, and how this is a chance to right that wrong.

When you are five paces from her, your mind is so focused that you don't even register the expression she has on her face is fear.

When your hoofs are a hairs breadth away from touching her coat, you don't even realize that you are seeing red.

If she had been a little quicker, or if she had just been able to dodge you, you might as well have made a hole in the wall.

But you do not hit the wall. Instead, you hit Copper Secateur. You hit Copper Secateur on the chest, with the two hoofs of your forelegs, together with all the momentum you could muster.

You hit Copper Secateur, and she hits the wall. In the fraction of a second, the other side of her chest hits the wall, and the momentum of your body just keeps pushing her. Pitting the strength of her thorax against that of the walls of the building itself.

Needless to say that solid cement is a little harder than a pony's bones.

And her ribs crack, break and crumble like a twig.



"-ack!"



…

And it takes you… several… several seconds… to realize that you are heaving.

Your mind… it actually takes more than just a few moments for you to reorient yourself.

But the first thing you notice is the smell of blood.

"H-ow… w-he-re did she…?"

You shake your head. Once. Twice. You shake your head, and the metallic smell of blood helps you come back to your senses.

You are currently standing over a mare, or the broken corpse of a mare, as she struggles to keep breathing.

There is blood on your hoofs. A lot of blood. And you think you can see the mark of your hoofs on the mare's coat, where the strength of your blows dug into her skin, surrounded by the white-painted-red signs of exposed bones.

You stare down at the ruined form of Copper Secateur, as she looks up to you in horror.

"Wh-ere did she… find a thing l-ike you?!"

She is looking up to you in horror, yes, but you can also see anger in her eyes.

And you… for a split second, you don't know what to do. The rational side of your mind, which had been buried under a river of adrenaline, finally dragged itself out of its stupor. But there are so many things going on right now that you can barely think straight.

Because you finally realized how tired you are. And you are beginning to feel the several little pains that are spread all over your body. And your face hurts where she hit you. And the smell coming from the mare is so bad.

There are so many thoughts in your mind right now, that you… well, you decide to ignore all of them.

Behind you, you can feel Biedde and Axe looking at you. The former with the curious glint of judgment in his eyes, and the latter waiting for something to happen You have no doubt they have already finished their own opponents, and that they are…

"Go take care of any evidence," you say to the two of them.

You say that more out of rote than anything else. Because doing that, covering your traces, was a part of your original plan. And following a plan means you don't have to do something as complicated as making a decision right now.

You say that, and Axe moves to obey. She hesitates for a moment, but a few seconds later she finally gives you a half-nod before going away.

Biedde, on the other hoof… stays.

"S-he is going to use you. She a-lready is," the mare croaks through her broken ribs.

And despite all the pain she is feeling, you can also hear the conviction behind her words.

"Shut up," you say, as you try your best to just think.

Because why are you hesitating? What is the problem with you?!

You won. You won! It is as simple as that. Just do it. Finish the job, and you can go back home.

It doesn't matter that you haven't killed her yet, your hoofs are already covered in blood! The deed is already done! There is no difference between doing it now, and just leaving her to bleed to her death.

This mare attacked your family. This mare almost killed your mother. You didn't come here to talk to her. You didn't receive instructions to capture here. You are here to kill her.

So why… are you… hesitating?!

"Sh-e is going to use y-ou like she use-d me. L-ike she u-sed EVERYPONY. Just look int-o her eye-s and you wi-ll see," she coughs for a few moments, and several lines of blood fall down her mouth. "All that matters to her is the climb. She is blinded by Glory, and the bitch w-"

"I said SHUT UP!" you snap back at her. Something inside of you breaking as she once again insults your mother.

The mare lets out another pained gasp, and it takes you a moment to realize you have a hoof pressing against the broken remains of her chest.

But you don't care. Your anger is winning out once again, and you just don't care.

You feel her struggle under your hoof, trying to form words that she can't really push out of her mouth. But you already know what she is going to say, and you won't have any more of that.

"My mother is not like that," you say, almost hissing the words as you do. "And you will become a lesson to anypony else who tries to hurt my family."

You say that, and then you light up your horn.

And the mare's eyes go wide as she watches the light at the tip of your horn spread through the rest of your body. Copper Secateur's expression twists into something, when she finally realizes that…

… when she finally realizes there is an alicorn, a Princess, stepping down on her ruined body.

However, to your absolute surprise, the thing on her face is not fear. Instead…

"-ah, -ah, -ah…"

… instead, the mare is… laughing?

"… y-ou sai-d mo-ther…?"

Yes, you are sure of it. The mare has an insane smile on her face. This is not an expression that any pony should have on their faces, ever. But Copper Secateur is looking at you with an almost psychotic smile.

As if the final piece of a great puzzle had just clicked.

As if she had just realized the punchline of a joke.

And she is laughing, now. Even if the image on the puzzle is that of her death, and even if she just realized she is the butt of the joke.

She takes one last, pained breath, and her lips begin to move. She tries to say something, about how she knew it all along, or how this all makes sense, or how your mother is somehow manipulating you or some other nonsense.

She tries to do something like that.

But her expression is just so insane, so unnaturally unnerving that-



[Evidence coverup: Selene]

[Roll: 64 + 20 (Selene) + 30 (Selene: no holds barred) + 15 (Selene's Edge, level 3) + 30 (Expedition's Moth total 6) = 159]

[The CD to investigate the aftermath of this assault has been set to "159"]



-you light up your horn.

More.

And more.

And more.

Until the glare of the moon itself is shining out of the center of your forehead.

The last thing Copper Secateur sees is a blinding flash of moonlight.

And the mare herself, the nearby walls, and all the top floors of that building are completely vaporized from the ensuing explosion.



[Main objective completed]

Spoiler: Additional objectives

[Additional objectives: Baldomare]

[As per your plan, Baldomare separated from your main group to locate and destroy critical evidence]



[Finding critical evidence]

[Auto-success due to Jade's scrying - sixth threshold]

[Destroying critical evidence, cd 60]

[Roll: 26 + 30 (Baldomare) + 0 (Forge total 0) = 56]

[Failure]



[Additional objectives: Mareinette]

[As per your plan, Mareinette separated from your main group to find and loot as many items as possible]



[Finding moveable assets]

[Auto-success due to Jade's scrying - third threshold]

[From chaos, opportunities, breakpoints 60/80/100/120/150]

[Roll: 85 75 + 40 (Old and Terrible) + 30 (Grail total 6) + 20 ("Context" final breakpoint) = 175]

[Last breakpoint reached]

Maybe you shouldn't have done that.

Maybe you didn't think straight, or you just didn't think at all.

But if you are ever going to regret doing this, then this regret will have to hit you later, because you certainly can't feel it right now.

Still, you only realize what you have done after the deed is done, and after there is nothing between you and the night sky. The top of the building is gone, although you don't think you damaged any fo the neighboring structures. The top of the building is gone, the mare's corpse is obviously gone, and you hear Biedde letting out a faint chuckle from right behind you.

That is, until you realize it is impossible for Biedde to be right behind you. Because there is no floor under your hoofs, and you are currently flying.

The Name is gone, because of course it is. They are all gone. And as per your plan, you are all supposed to meet back in Ponyville now.

So, you quickly hide on the smoldering ruins of the skyscraper, before anypony realizes there is an alicorn flying above it. And you quietly escape during the ensuing chaos.

There were more than just a few cultists in that building, but none of them realize they don't know you as they all rush to escape.

And you reach the ground floor of the building, and rush into the gathering crowd, before the first firefighter or constable even hears about what just happened.



[You have completed your main objective, and decided to retreat without pursuing any other opportunities]

[Expedition completed]





- - -

- - -

- - -





Much, much later, you would report your success to your tired mother.

You would tell her that you killed a pony with your own bare hoofs, and that your family is safer for it. You hold back the question, of whether you should feel proud or regretful, because you realize you shouldn't burden her with that.

And what is more, the relieved sigh you hear from her is all the answer you need.

You report to her that Baldomare located the manuscripts she talked about, but that they were locked inside a safe. The Name-mare could not crack the safe open before the chaos began, and you had no time to look for it after the building began to crumble. So, for all that you know Copper had them, you have no idea about their current fate.

You also report to her that Mareinette… performed well. You do not like that creature, and you do not want to be thankful for her. But still, according to the monster, she "rallied" the panicked cultists and "organized" them into collecting several of the cult's precious items before fleeing, so they could be "evacuated". The mare-thing then hauled the cart back here herself, and stored it in the cellar she calls her home. You are conflicted about the idea of storing stolen or ill-gained goods, but your mother said she will take stock of that later.

You are sure she will make the right decision, whatever that is.

And finally, you tell her that…



[You had the opportunity to PLANT EVIDENCE, during this expedition, for your investigators to discover]



Note that:
-You cannot predict what evidence your investigators will find out about the cult itself. They might be able to piece together several things about the cult, Lore related or mundane, or nothing at all.
-You CAN guarantee that whatever evidence you "plant" will be discovered by your investigators.
-However, for every evidence you plant, there is the chance your investigators will be able to trace things back to your faction. Or, in the alternative, there is a chance they will realize the evidence was planted to begin with.



What evidence did you plant, before escaping the cult's headquarters?

(You may assume whatever you pick was prepared ahead of time, for the purpose they are intended for)
(You may assume none of these options have any "glaring flaws" that might link back to you, such as hoofwriting or other things. However, there is no guarantee your investigators won't link them to your faction)



[] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

-[] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)

-[] A "journal" explaining that some members of this cult acted in Ponyville, before moving to Manehattan. (Attempt to point your investigators towards Ponyville, although this might be a bad idea)

-[] A "letter" sent from Windy Flakes. (Attempt to tell your investigators about Windy Flakes as a pony of interest)

-[] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)

-[] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (You will leave pre-prepared copies of Lore manuscripts. WRITE IN how many Lore levels, capped at your own Library levels)

-[] WRITE IN

(If writing-in, suggest the "effect" that you want rather than the narrative description behind it. You may suggest anything, pending QM approval, as long as it is something that can be left behind in the form of a letter, a scroll, or a very small item)





Out of nowhere, the bustling city of Manehattan was deafened by a roaring explosion. A sudden, but thankfully "small", disaster rocking the night sky of the metropolis without warning. The midnight-clad investigators of the Lunar Bureau had the entire city block sealed off before midday of the following day. Their swift (and almost providentially quick) response managing to offset the panic that could have spread due to such a gruesome accident.

The newspapers will have quite a lot to write about, for the next few days.

In more important news, you have successfully completed an expedition.

No ponies in your assault team were wounded. No items were lost. The "haul" Mareinette returned with will be revealed and counted later.

For now, decide what Selene left behind for the investigators to find, if she left anything at all. For the sake of interpretation, assume you had instructed her to leave any evidence you vote on before she departed, and that this was part of the expedition plan all along.

Vote in PLANS, in case you want to leave more than one thing. And simply vote for "Nothing" if you don't want to leave anything. Whatever you decide to plant will be found by your investigators, for good or ill.

Twelve hours moratorium.

Copper Secateur, the mare who, in truth, helped you climb out of the rut that was your life several years ago, has been killed. She died, laughing, as she realized the depth of your betrayal to her.

 

[Sveta08]

Howdy!
I've been thinking. And as is my want, I made that thought into a thing. A history that likely won't, but may yet pass. Mostly because the idea gripped me and refused to let me go long enough to play my games. So, enjoy!


In which A Detective Sees

---

The summons was short.

When you are in Canterlot next, see me.​

Not a word spared and hardly embellished. Not delivered by the royal mailpony, so it wasn't something of the utmost urgency. But it was delivered by one of the small league of professionals under her employ, so it didn't reach the mail itself. The poor mare who handed it off to you seemed as confused to hand it over as you were to receive it even. But, professional record keeper or no, when Velvet Covers asks you to deliver a letter...

Well, the writing may have been polite, but a summons was a summons. It's brevity spoke to it as that. But the manner, the delivery, the phrasing, and that it didn't quite come through the normal channels...
The why of it kept you company on the train.




As you stand before the door, you pray hope you know the reason why.
A knock to the door frame. An offering made from inside, and you enter The Commissioner's Office.

One day, the regality of it all will no longer register at the edges of your mind. Not the gleam of marble, nor the ancient, preciously crafted wooden furniture. Maybe the fact you work mere steps from where a Princess is meant to dwell will stop weighing in on you as you cross these doors.
Maybe if that room wasn't so empty, you might convince yourself that this is just a normal job. That these are just normal times. And that you are just asked to hunt down the crimes that no one else would find.

Maybe one day.
But not one soon.


"Please. Take a seat."
Velvet Covers raised a hoof from her desk, offering the seat across from her. Her desk, near immaculate, save for the baskets of work done, and yet to be done. Nothing out of place. Somehow, it was always like that save when she was working. Almost like she knew you were coming. But, the office itself is quiet. Most of your fellow detectives now out in the furthest reaches of Tall Tale, finding what they can of the Changelings there, the constables that you work with prying every hair from the hide of the few criminals you caught wind of. The ones who came after Velvet.

No one to announce, but always prepared.
The same expression crossed your face. The one you always had when seeing her, but you simply filed it away with the rest of the quiet oddities of your employer, moving to take the offered seat.

"Thank you. And, what can I help you with ma'am?"
A calm, collected tone. Voice measured as you were careful to not let your eyes search her. For the wounds that were now gone. For the marks on her fur that even now, weeks after, the bandages had still left. The pallor beneath her pelt, nor the look in her eyes.
She had made it known on no uncertain terms she would not hear of taking more time off. That there was work yet to do, and she would not fail Equestria by waiting for, as she put it, "Her color to even out." Were it another mare, you would worry for her. Were it another employee, you would tell them to not push themselves, as exhaustion and worry and recovery is more important. Were it another, you could claim even the job could wait another day.

Not so for Velvet.



"Tell me, Beyond Reproach" she began. "Do you know why I wanted to see you?"

And in all honesty, you do. Or at least, you fear you do.
"The attack."

She shifts.
Tilting her head just so.
Narrowing her eyes the faintest amount.
A single word answered.
"No."

Because you were right. Not for the first time, you wish you weren't, but you knew the answer.
Shuffling your hooves, you manage to keep your professional calm before her scrutiny. Before answering her in truth.
"You want to know if you can trust me."

And she... softens?
No, that's not quite right. Soft is not the direction, but her gaze does loose some of its weight. Her shoulders roll back, her focus wanes. You can all but see her seem to relax at your answer, the touch of a smile at the edge of her lips.
"No, but close. Or yes, but reversed. Both really. I wanted to talk to you. To ask you. If you trust me."

"... Commissioner?"

"Velvet." Her voice a correction. Firm, and insistent. "I need to know if you trust me. Simple as that."



That look crosses your face again. That same still confused curiosity. Concentration most would call it if they saw it. Because... can you?
The answer is obvious. This is the mare who has perhaps done the most for Equestria in... you don't even know how long. From coordination of the Hunt for Luna, to recovery after the Calamity, to being appointed to Commissioner of this very bureau by Celestia herself after loosing all faith in her ponies, to being the Alicorn of Love's own bridesmade! She is... well, beyond reproach.

But.
You wouldn't be a detective worthy of your own name if you hadn't looked her up. The Velvet name, how it carried with it a weight of sorts. One she rose up from, distinguishing herself from them... and in doing so being exiled to her home in Ponyville. How she rose up too was nothing short of meteoric! From the quiet lone noble of Ponyville to... entrusted as the right hoof of the absent Alicorn. In the grand scheme of things, she simply appeared.

And what's more, she... carries herself. Withstands under the scrutiny of Celestia, even in her wrothful ire. Holds fast to the reigns of this, an organization aimed at rooting out the worst and unknown secrets of the world, just as though it were her croplands back in Ponyville. It's said when Fair Trial struggles under the weight of her burden as the only head of the Solar Court, Velvet...
Velvet nearly died last month, and is back in her office now, asking you if you trust her. To say nothing of how beforehand she seemed to... to know even. How she carried that impossible sharpness and cutting regard just two months prior.



"Of course I trust you."



And she just taps the table. Speaking one word.
"Velvet." Her voice a correction. Firm. Insistent at the one word unspoken.
Commissioner.

Because, she knew.
She always knew.

You trust Velvet, the Commissioner of the Lunar Bureau.
But she is more than just the Commissioner. And that... That, you want to trust. But only want to.
Because the mare behind that title is... Impossible. Like a legend from a story come to life, rising up when the world needed ponies like her the most. Impossible in the best of ways, yes. But impossible all the same.



Left uncertain in how to answer, she finds her voice before you can. A faint touch of something in it. Weary, or maybe wistful as she talks.
"I think, I'm almost glad of it." She smiles, like remembering something she had long forgotten. A strange, almost sad smile. "That you don't know how to answer. That you hold in doubt, even if you can't place why, or maybe even how."

Her words were slow. Gentle and revealing. And yet steady. "Cadence told me, and I never really took a moment to realize how right she was. How... crushing it can be when people look to you for answers. When you are expected to hold everything together. How if you do it wrong, everything falls apart, so you aren't allowed to. But if you do it right?"

"Cadence became Princess Cadence. I... am becoming Comissioner Velvet Covers. We stop being... ponies. We are just what's left."

"So thank you. For doubting me."



Left to your own as she looks back up to you, you see...



(You saw something there. What did you see? Pick 1)


-[] A smile. Hidden, deep and quiet in her eyes. Only there for a moment before vanishing. Because she knew. She led you here, you and you alone. She saw your doubt, knew you, and manuvered you here. To make herself seem... normal. To lure you in like... who knows who else. She is impossible. She is. You can't trust her, and that... that something about her! You can't, you won't. Ever. But why then? Why does it feel like... Like she wanted you to see that smile?


-[] A mare. One with the world on her shoulders, and reins in her hooves. Impossibly stubborn and stuck in her position, but not faltering from it. Almost wishing she would falter from it. That she could be... just mortal again. Just Velvet Covers. But for the good of Equestria, refuses that comfort. Admirable. But you still don't know her. If you can trust her. She struggles, yes, but how is she still... here? How does she manage?


-[] Honesty. The crumbling edges of a mare who somehow was holding herself together. One that near died just a few short weeks ago, and now is... impossibly worried for you. Not worried about your commitment to the cause, but to you, personally. Because she saw that demanding you hold your questions weighed heavy, she wanted to speak with you. Despite... everything. You knew she was trying more than her hardest for Equestria, but... How? How could you not trust her now?

 

[Shaper47]

For Harmony and Love! – A Princess Cadance Quest​

You are Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

You are Cadence.

And right now you are barely able to drink the hot tea your dear friend has placed in front of you.

Even now your eyes keep glancing to Velvet's revealed body.

Her flank flawlessly there in front of your eyes.

Besides you Auntie Luna seems to be doing much the same.

Then the mare you are watching so closely places down her cup.

"Now let's talk about what comes next."

At her word you focus forcing yourself to move past the shock at what you have so recently witnessed and the desperate hopes ignited in you for the future.


[Your dear friend Velvet Covers has revealed skills you have had no knowledge of, what should she aim for next with her abilities]

Due to knowing very little about what exactly Velvet can do you can not suggest write-ins. You can try and suggest a course but technically Velvet is under Princess Luna's authority. This is thus mainly a heads up only what Velvet will be focusing on rather then an opportunity to give orders. That does not however mean you are without influence.

[The winning option has already been picked. What you can do is pick a secondary goal for Velvet to potentially work towards.]

What is it you desire for Velvet to do?

[X] Victory is found in Strength
-"If my foundations are weak then I shall crumble."
-Velvet shall focus on growing in power in the lores
-This will grant more time till Celestia can piece her mask due to her mask being stronger (Celestia realizing Velvet's knowledge before Luna acts will result in Velvet's death)
-This will benefit in all future actions and goals by Velvet Covers due to her improved abilities

Luna heavily supports this

[] Smother the Eclipse
-"It's not about overpowering an enemy. It's about taking away what power they have. And we will, in time."
-Velvet shall focus on sabotaging the Eclipse the most heavily guarded ponies in all of Equestria
-Nightmares will shatter their minds
-They will die alone frozen from the end she brings
-An Agonising End will stalk their desperate efforts
-As this is done by rituals safely far away Velvet will come under no suspicion
-They have no shield, no wards that can stop what is coming for them
-What little they might see will not be enough to save them
-Celestia will not have any researchers into the lores
-This will grant more time till Celestia can piece her mask due to it being harder for Celestia to increase her own lore abilities (Celestia realizing Velvet's knowledge before Luna acts will result in Velvet's death)
- Velvet and thus the Luna Bureau will be and take the authority of the Lore experts in Equestria

[] Kindle the Flames
-"They shall be my finest ponies, those who give of themselves to me."
-Velvet shall focus on training the Luna Bureau in the lores and ensuring their loyalty
-The competency of the Bureau will increase
-The Bureau will be better able to deal with events regarding the lores
-Velvet will be able to use Luna Bureau resources to a steadily increasing degree in regards to lore preparations
-Speed makes suspicions, even with Velvet's skills going fast with this will arise suspensions especially given the skills of the Bureau members
-Potential shaky grounds for loyalty. Loyalty is like a seed, it takes time and care to grow. Time of which is lacking.
-The Bureau will sooner be able to use rituals like Forge's Redemption officially such as for the Secretariat Shinning Armor
-The Eclipse is likely to gather some of the lore knowledge Velvet would be sharing
-This will mean less time till Celestia can piece her mask due to it being easier for Celestia to increase her own lore abilities (Celestia realizing Velvet's knowledge before Luna acts will result in Velvet's death)

Luna heavily opposes this

[] Decisiveness is Crucial
-"We can't just cling to fillyish things as evil just grows closer."
-Velvet shall focus preparing for attacks on Equestria by enemy forces
-Wendigos shall be bound to be released immediately as necessary
-Preparations for future summoning of Wendigos and Ash Ghouls shall be undertaken
– Artifacts shall be gathered
– Reagents shall be made
– Pony sacrifices shall be found
– Materials (corpses) shall be prepared
-This is a potential force of much higher quality though less quantity then the royal guard
-A very strong contingency in the case of an attack
-Likelihood of an attack is greatly increased in the case of Celestia being temporarily unavailable



Alright, so things to remember. The primary option has already been picked and it's "Victory is found in Strength", mainly because Luna would much prefer for Velvet to both be safer and to be better able to teach her. Whatever you pick is mostly the secondary option, i.e. what you want Velvet to do. She may or may not get around to doing it, she is a very busy mare afterall!

Also just because it's not Velvet's Primary concern doesn't mean she'll stop acting towards these goals. She'll still be gaining the loyalty and introducing the lores to the Luna Bureau even if you don't urge her to do that. It will just be slower and more carefully done.

As you can probably gather from the options Velvet is running under different rules. Older rules. But that's what happens when you have a ruthless mare who basically comes from part of an eldritch horror setting. Trust me when I say you are lucky she's both on your side and not a whole lot worse.

Still Velvet is just a mare for now. A mare who is very busy with her day and partial nightlong job running the Luna Bureau. She's also having to fund all this by herself. So there's limits on just how much she can do.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name
-[X][BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Biedde (as planner). Daughter of Axes, Mareinette, Baldomare, Selene
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Edge 3 artifact, SH 3 artifact, Heart 3 artifact, Winter 1 artifact, 1 Wrong Key (due to expire at end of turn)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Neutralize Copper.
---[X] Neutralize Neighnia.
---[X] Remove any evidence tying us to the cult.
---[X] Loot their library, artifacts, bits, and so forth, should time allow.
--[X] Anything else? (WRITE IN any other orders or specifications you have)
---[X] Minimize non-Cult casualties.
---[X] Leave as little trace or tracks as possible.
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Rarity (as planner)
---[X] Daughter of Axes
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Heart 3 artifact
---[X] SH 3 artifact
---[X] Winter 1 artifact
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X][STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
-[X][SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
--[X] Cheerilee
--[X] Applejack

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.

Spoiler: Winning Vote

Tally

[X] Plan: Primer and Warning
-[X] You decided to start laundering some Lore-knowledge... (Lores will be picked at Velvet's discretion)
--[X][LORE-ZERO] You only planted some very vague, but educative, information about the Lores. (No specific Lores shared, counts as "one" evidence)
-[X][WINDIGOS] You made it convincing. You made it look secret. You even simulated a burn mark, to pretend they tried to destroy this "document". But in the end, you warned them about the ticking bombs. (Share knowledge about the sealed Windigo's existence. Counts as "one" evidence)

Drummer Clap never really like foals.

It certainly didn't help that she had been born in a farming community, at the tail-end of Equestria, where everypony was solely expected to put more food on the table and more foals on the world.

It also did not help that she was the oldest of six siblings, and that her mother didn't just expect her to help raise her five younger siblings, but practically pushed those obligations on to her.

But most of all, it certainly didn't help that her parent's still nagged her about getting married and "giving them grandchildren", even after she moved away. Because sure, the one blessing she had in her life was that she was born with wings. So, she left for Canterlot and joined the Guard as soon as she was old enough to do so. However, she did not cut her family off completely. Which meant that every month, and sometimes every week, she still got letters asking if she had already met a stallion.

She doesn't really hate her family, nor does she resent her upbringing. She still cares about them, and writes them back every now and then. But still, when will it ever get through their thick heads that she just doesn't want that kind of thing in her life?!

Probably never, she thinks.

Still, the fact remains that Drummer Clap is a very focused mare, and that she has dedicated her entire life to her career.

And thankfully, her dedication has been bearing fruit. She might not have any crying foal to speak of, biting at her tail, but she certainly has her fair (and growing) share of achievements.

After all, being admitted into the Royal Guard is no small feat. Even when a pony started off as a part of the regular Guard. But more than just that, her constant efforts finally crystallized into a promotion of sorts, just a few months ago, when she became one of the few hoof-picked ponies who were brought into the Lunar Bureau itself.

So, to put it in very few words, Drummer Clap has been a very busy mare, and she has no time for foals.



"Which makes it ironic…" she whispers to herself, as she tries to fight back her annoyance, "… that I was the one picked to be on foal duty."



Drummer Clap says that to herself, or maybe she grumbles to herself, as she looks down from the cloud she is perched on.

It is still early in the morning, and today is a weekday. All around (and under) her, Ponyville is slowly becoming a small nexus of activity. Which also means, like everypony in the security detail knows, that the Commissioner's daughters are at school.

And since Drummer Clap is on "foal duty", that means she is currently perched on a cloud that is floating over Ponyville's schoolhouse. Despite her… well, despite her opinions about that assignment.

Of course, Drummer is not taking her duties lightly. She remains a soldier and a guard, even if her current title is that of a "constable". And keeping ponies safe is something she takes very seriously. So serious, in fact, that it is the theme of her cutie mark.

Furthermore, being one of the teams that is in charge of the Commissioner's security is a point of pride for her, given the mare's station. She had only been a part of the Royal Castle's garrison, while she was in the Royal Guard, and she never managed to be slotted into any of the Princesses' personal details. So, for all that the Commissioner is not an alicorn, everypony in the Bureau realizes she is one of the central gears of Equestria right now.

But still…

Foal duty?

Really?

"Couldn't have been any other pegasus… oh no, of course not," she continues to say to herself, "the other pegasus are all stallions, and Celestia forbids any stallion gets within ten paces of her precious fillies."

Dummer didn't think her abilities were being wasted or anything. And she didn't think her assignment was any less important. After all, the Commissioner's is a VIP, so it is only natural that classification extends to her family as well.

However, she did think having her in particular do this job was a nasty joke of sorts. Although she wasn't sure if this was a joke from her team-leader, or from the world itself.

And as she floats above the skies of Ponyville, keeping guard over the small schoolhouse of the growing town, quite literally being forced to keep an eye on a crowd of fillies and colts while they play during recess… well, she can't help but think her parents are laughing at her, back at home.

"It's all part of the job, Drummer… just go with it," she lets out a sigh, as she extends the telescope she has on her hoofs, "and who knows. Battering said there's talk about the Commissioner having bodyguards, no? Keep doing a good job, and maybe you'll get picked for that…"

She finishes extending her telescope, part of the standard gear for all the flying constables, and she digs herself into the cloud so she can more subtly check on the school. After all, it doesn't matter that she is a mare rather than a stallion, looking at a school with a telescope from a cloud is still a terrible look for anypony.

"But does she even need bodyguards? Sure, she looks so thin and delicate…" she whispers to herself, as she adjusts the telescope with a practiced motion. "But all that talk that's been going around, that there were four attackers… that has to be just a rumor, right?"

The telescope finally comes into focus, and Drummer is greeted by the familiar sight of fillies and colts playing on the school's playground.

Being here five days a week means that, inevitably, she is more than used to the faces and coat colors of the foals playing down on the ground. So, she quickly scans the recess crowd for her charges.

Well, for her charge, singular. Usually, she would be worrying about two fillies. However, the Commissioner's earth pony daughter got sick yesterday, and nopony has seen her out of her room since then.

Nothing to be worried about, from what she was told. But still, that means she only has to worry about little Silky for the next few days.

"There's the assistant teacher… there's the slow one… Oh, nice to see he's finally making some friends… aaaand…"

Drummer's heartbeat quickens slightly, as it the seconds stretch by and she is unable to find her charge.

Because sure, on one hoof nopony looks distressed. She doubted that the assistant teacher would be so calm if something bad had happened. Or that there would even be a regular recess to begin with. Furthermore, she is absolutely sure nopony strange approached the school while she was on duty. But on the other hoof…

"Where are you Silky…? Wait, the shiny tiara is right there… and there's the red bow on the yellow one's mane… But you always hang out with them, so where…?"

One minute passes, then two, and she still sees no sign of the one pony she is supposed to be guarding.

And before the third minute ends, Drummer has finally had enough. She puts away her telescope, digs herself further down the cloud until she punches right through it, and keeps her wings closed as she freefalls towards the ground.

A mere second before she hits the ground, she opens her wings for a smooth landing, right outside the school fence, and she makes her way towards the schoolhouse.

The haggle of foals is on the playground that is behind the school, which is why she chose to enter through the front. And sure enough, a few seconds later she is making her way down the short corridor of the schoolhouse and towards the classroom where her charge has her classes.

However, her heart sinks as she hears what is going on, before she enters the classroom to see it with her own eyes.


"… is alright, Silky. You said it yourself, didn't you? Your mom is getting a bit better every day."
"N-no it's not… mom i-is not alright a-and…"


Because sure enough, Drummer Clap can hear the familiar voice of Silky Stream, and the school's teacher Cheerilee.

But her heart almost immediately sinks because she can hear that the former is crying, and that the latter is currently trying to console her while that happens. Using the usual tone that a teacher, or an older sister, would try to use on a foal that is simply inconsolable.

"Ah, your name was Miss Drummer, wasn't it?" the teacher recognizes her the moment she opens the classroom door. The Commissioner's husband introduced her to the teacher, a few weeks ago, as the filly's bodyguard. "I was hoping somepony could find you, but I'm glad you came here on your own. Silky here is… well, she can be dismissed for the rest of the morning. Could you please take her back home?"

The dark-pink mare says that as the pegasus filly cries between her forelegs.

And, unfortunately, Drummer Clap immediately understands what is going on.

The filly's mother is very sick, her other sister is now also sick, and something probably happened that just tipped her over the edge. This isn't really anything to be worried about, but it's still something that should be handled with care. And ultimately, as she learned by raising her own siblings, there is nothing to do but give the filly some time so she can cry it all out.

Drummer can tell from the teacher's expression that she knows it, and Cheerilee can tell from the pegasus' expression that Drummer understands that as well. And since Drummer is, quite literally, a mare who is allowed to whisk the Commissioner's daughters away at a moment's notice, it is only natural to ask her to take the young filly back home.

But as she awkwardly nods to the teacher that she agrees, she can't help but think that…

… well, that she did not sign up for this, for starters.

And also, that this has to be a cruel joke.

Because she doesn't like foals. She just doesn't! She never did, and no matter how much her parents nag her, she never will.

So why is it that the world keeps putting her in situations like this?!





- - -

- - -

- - -





Velvet Steppes had always considered himself to be a healthy pony.

Sure, he was already reaching the later portion of his life. He wasn't in his galloping years anymore. But he always thought he managed to keep a nice trotting phase, throughout the years, while other stallions his age were already huffing and puffing from the effort.

However, he definitely does not feel like that today.

Today, he definitely feels… tired. Stretched thin. Maybe even old. Today was a day that it didn't feel weird to realize his brother was already a grandfather, and that he could feel the grey hairs of his mane growing.

And that was all because…

"I bring word from your niece, my employer. She invites you to visit her home… And I invite you to leave this city before sunset."

​

That stallion "visited" him, again. Two days ago, while he was in Manehattan, that old, cold, and ice-hard stallion came to him, to relay that "message".

And for all that he knew the first half of his message was true, that his niece was probably calling him to her quaint home in Ponyville, he also understood the true meaning of the second half of his message.

After all, it was the kind of message he had already given to several other ponies, over the course of his life. It was the warning that he would give to passersby, that they probably should go about their business. It was the suggestion that he would give to onlookers, that they should probably look the other way.

It was the reminder that being ignorant is better than being a witness to something, and that the best way to avoid any "collateral damage" was to leave and don't look back.

That was the warning that old stallion came to give him, just two days ago, and that he heeded immediately. He had hoped he would never see that stallion again, after their first encounter, but he couldn't help but feel hesitantly thankful after his second visit.

After all, on the very night of that same day, after he hurriedly left for Canterlot…

Large explosion rocks the Manehattan skyline. Lunar Bureau agents combing the city for evidence.

​

He once again reads that headline on the newspaper he has on his hoofs. Looking at the black and white pictures of uniformed ponies cordoning off what looks like a half-destroyed building.

And as he reads that short news article again, as he once again thinks about the implications that might carry, he can't help but feel…

… old.

Was this his niece tipping him off that Manehattan was about to get hot? Was this some independent action from that old, terrifying stallion who claims to work for her? Was this some kind of veiled threat from his own niece, given her current job?

He did not know. And that part of his brain that would usually tackle those issues feels too tired to bother, right now. He hoped he would be able to get back to business in a few days. But still, just like in the first time that old stallion visited him, Velvet Steppes just feels so… so mortal right now.

He had nightmares, after the first time that old pony visited him. Nightmares about how he wasted his life, doing what he did, and how close he was to a very forgettable death. And now he…

"The sun is galloping through the skies too quickly," he says to himself, as he flips through the newspaper.

Just last week he read about how the Blueblood trials were finally over, and how the punishment for their crimes was exile for the most important member of the family. Something completely unheard of in recent history. And right after that, there was the shocking news that the Commissioner, his own niece, almost died due to an attempt against her life.

And now this.

Every week seems to bring something new, and entirely unexpected. Every day seems to bring some new concern to the table. And every hour seemed to bring one more gray hair to his mane.

"I can barely recognize Equestria… maybe it's time I retire," he says to himself, "pass the reins on to Vellum, or maybe…"

He trails off, lighting up his horn and floating the newspaper towards the nearby table.

And even that small bit of magic seems to take more energy than he was used to.

"But whatever it is, I definitely can't decide right now," he says, clinging to the tried and true wisdom that one should not make decisions while they are indisposed.

But still, the fact remains that he should take some time out. His brother is certainly being more cautious, and the "business opportunities" that Steppes handled have been slowed down ever since the high and mighty Bluebloods were used as an example of how disappointed the Crown currently is. Which means, in turn, that Steppes hasn't really been that busy as of late.

"And hay, even this place seems a bit overbearing," he says to himself, as he looks around towards the great living room of the Canterlot mansion. "I think… yes, I think I could use some fresh air. Fresh air, greenery, and maybe a few younger ponies to remind me how I should be acting."

Yes, that is what he needs. That is what he should do next.

And besides, he has been worried about his niece ever since he heard the news.

So yes, he should accept her invitation and go to Ponyville.

He just hopes he won't have any more run-ins with that told stallion anymore.





- - -

- - -

- - -





Shining Armor wasn't sure how he felt about these visits.

"Thank you, Shining. And I'm sorry you had to come all the way here for this."

"Not at all, Velvet. And I hope you get well soon."

He did not mind visiting a friend. And he did not mind having to come all the way to Ponyville for something work related.

However, every time he finished speaking to Velvet Covers, he did feel a bit worn out. Not physically, mind you. But he felt emotionally spent, if that makes sense.

He felt like he was leaving a funeral, even though he had just spoken to a living pony. He felt like he would have to lie to Cadance, his wife and best friend, about how their mutual friend was doing, later tonight when he returned home.

Still, the unicorn mare did look a bit better. Not much, and definitely not enough. But she looked better than when he saw her last week.

And if nothing else, he definitely felt that she was a little more alert, as he walked her through his report on the Lunar Bureau's activities.

"Well, she still told me to decide what to do next," he said to himself, in a slightly lamenting tone. Not because he was afraid of taking command, of course. But still, Princess Celestia chose her for the job. Not him. "But hopefully, she will be well enough to point us the way."

Still, now that he was done with his report, there was nothing left to do but head back to Canterlot.

Although, there is something that has been on his mind, as of late. Something that he wasn't able to do, the last time he was here for his report, but that hopefully he might be able to…

"Ah, excuse me. Can I bother you for a moment?" he asks, as he spots a nearby maid. A somewhat familiar earth pony mare who, he believed, was one of Velvet's senior maids.

"Good afternoon, sir. Is there anything you need?" the mare asks, after giving him a small curtsy.

"Yes, please. By any chance, is Velvet's husband home right now?" he asks, trying to hide the hopefulness in his tone.

"Mr. Stormchaser? As a matter of fact, yes. You just finished your visit with the Lady, right? Did she ask you to call for him?" the maid says, her expression growing slightly more attentive at that.

The maid -he thinks her name is Ponpon?- asks that, which only makes sense. But he quickly shakes his head as she completely misunderstands what he is asking her for.

"Oh, no. Lady Velvet didn't ask for anything, so don't worry. Instead, I was hoping I could speak to her husband instead? Is there any chance that you could see if he is available?"

If the maid finds anything strange about his request, then she doesn't show it in her expression. Instead, she just gives him a small nod and excuses herself, asking him to wait for her there.

But he doesn't have to wait for long. And a few minutes later, a familiar voice calls for him from nearby.

"Shining Armor! The handsome groom. How have you been?"

His ears perk up as Stormchaser, the slightly older pegasus stallion, makes his way towards him. The pegasus has an easy smile on his face, and soon enough Shining's own expression is mirroring that. And moments later, at the pegasus' beckoning, the two of them are making their way back up to the second floor where the Velvet family lives.

"It's great to see you. We haven't been able to speak properly ever since your wedding!" The older pegasus says. Of course, both of them know that Shining Armor had been here more recently. But given the circumstances surrounding his "stay", the two stallions truly were not available for a social visit. "So, how's the married life treating you? How's the Princess wife?"

A sudden, familiar wave of nervousness snags at Shining's throat, as Stormchaser so casually talks about that particular subject. But more importantly, he also can't help but feel relieved at the fact that he has somepony to talk about that, right now. So, he lets out a small chuckle as the pegasus leads him to a particular door on the second floor.

"That's exactly what I was hoping to tell you about, sir," he says. "I was hoping we could, well, continue the conversation we had during my wedding?"

"Oh, by Celestia, please don't sir me," Stormchaser says, waving at the unicorn as he does. "It's bad enough when the weather grunts do it, but please don't make me feel older than I am."

The two of them share a short laugh at that. And a few paces later, they are finally reach the place Stormchaser had been guiding him to.

"But still, that would be great. But tell you what, you were here to visit Velvet, right? I want to go check on her, now that your meeting with her is done, so," Stormchaser says that, and then he opens the door, ushering Shining Armor in. "Why don't you wait for me in here? Also, and this is quite lucky for me, I also have a friend over who I hoped I could introduce to you. The two of you have a lot in common, actually. So why don't you get acquainted with him, and I'll come back to join you in a few minutes?"

Stormchaser says that, and he points with his head for Shining Armor to get in.

And sure enough, Shining Armor obliges. In fact, he feels thankful that Stormchaser seems to be so at ease with all of this. These last few weeks have certainly been eventful… if not overwhelming, for him. So, he is only glad to have found somepony who might be able to guide him through all of this.

With that in mind, he goes through the door, which Stormchaser closes behind him, and he looks around at his new surroundings.

The room he is currently in is certainly spacious. Its size and configuration remind him of a small armory, and the plethora of tools and curious mechanisms on display certainly make him think that he is in a workshop of sorts.

Now that he thinks about it, he doesn't really know Stormchaser that well? He has plenty of second-hoof knowledge from what Cadance told him, but he realizes that what he heard is also third-hoof knowledge that Cadance heard from Velvet herself.

Still, this… this knick-knack room is quite an interesting look into the older stallion's mind, he thinks. He seems to have a lot of interest, or perhaps even love, for weather-related instruments. And what is more, unless this place is kept tidy by the maids themselves, it also looks like Stormchaser is a very organized and methodical stallion.

Yes, everything in this room seems to be in a specific place, and for a specific reason.

The hoof-held anemometers are all on display on one side, ordered by size and weight.

A pedestal-held device, with a cloud contained within a sphere of glass, is standing by the open window.

A turbine-like object is partially disassembled on a work bench.



And sitting on the opposite side of the room, with his eyes wide open in surprise, is the edge-sharp pegasus who tried to kill him.



Shining Armor freezes.

No. He did not freeze. It's just that he stopped thinking.

He stopped thinking because there is no need to think. And there is no need to think because, currently, all the blood in his body is being pumped into the muscles of his legs. Together with an unhealthy dose of adrenaline.

He doesn't move. He doesn't even blink. Because his eyes aren't deceiving him.

Right there, sitting on a chair by one of the closed windows, is the stallion who fought him to near-death. More than just that, that's the stallion who defeated him, and who should have been the last pony he ever saw before everything went black forever.

He is looking at the pegasus stallion, and the pegasus is looking right back at him. And the two of them are only vaguely aware that the glass of wine the pegasus had been holding is now shattered on the floor, as he accidentally dropped him due to his own surprise.

Shining Armor does not know what to do next. Because on the one hoof, that stallion is a criminal, and an absurdly dangerous pony on top of that. But on the other hoof… didn't Stormchaser tell him he had a friend in here? One that… one that Shining had a lot in common with?

What… what the hay is going on?

The seconds stretch by, one after the other, as the friction between the two stallions grow. It grows so much that it is almost unbearable. And the two of them watch, with growing tension, as they both get ready for the inevitable. The pegasus' wings begin to reach out, ever so slightly, as they get ready to flap at a moment's notice. The base of the unicorn's horn, useless and broken as it might be, begins to flicker with magical energy.

And just like that, the two stallions are back on the outskirts of Ponyville, where they met for the first time. Just like that, the two of them are mentally preparing themselves to try to kill each other, and close the duel that began all those months ago.

Because who could possibly avert the finality of their battle?

"Have we… met before?" the pegasus asks, his voice half-growling, as he cautiously try to make sure this isn't a misunderstanding.

"Yes… for the longest time, I couldn't remember what happened. But not long ago, something happened," the unicorn answers. Thinking back about that night, right before his wedding, when he just woke up with his mind clear. "Something happened, that made me remember."

The pegasus gives him a slow, cautious nod. Visibly swallowing down something dry, as he very slowly gets up from his chair.

Shining Armor, also, wastes no time as he carefully maneuvers around the room. Making sure there are enough, but not too many, obstacles between him and the pegasus.

This room being a closed environment was to his advantage. But that was probably not enough to make up for his inability to use magic.

Still, both of their hearts are beating so strongly that they could almost hear it.

And the moment the tension reaches its peak, and their hindlegs strain as they prepare to pounce on each other-



"Sorry I kept you two waiting, I… I was just…"



-the door swings open, and Stormchaser walks in.

Although, to the two other stallions' surprise, Stormchaser looks visibly shaken. So shaken, in fact, that he doesn't even notice the lethal atmosphere between the two ponies.

However, to Shining Armor's honest surprise, the gruff pegasus almost immediately turns his attention to Stormchaser.

"Wait, did something happen, Stormchaser?" Comet Feet asks. And for all that he gives a wide berth to Shining Armor, he still tries to make his way to the older pegasus. "You look shook… what's going on?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just…" Stormchaser trails off, but a few moments later he lets out a tired sigh. "Actually, no. Something did happen, Comet. It's just that… I just feel like a part of me gets torn out, whenever I see Velvet like that."

"Ah. Yeah… that really sucks. And again, I'm sorry about that. You wanna talk about it?" the gruff pegasus says.

And to be honest, Shining Armor is taken aback by the fac that the pony who tried to kill him is… well, is being quite sympathetic to Stormchaser. For all that he seems to be out of his element, it really looks like he is trying to be helpful.

On top of that, he is surprised by how Stormchaser is treating him back. As if the two of them have already known each other for a while now.

"Nah, I don't want to bother you two about this," Stormchaser says as she shakes his head.

And Shining Armor realizes almost immediately that his would-be killer, this "Comet" stallion, has no idea of what to do next, after being pushed away like that.

"What? No, don't give us that," so, Shining Armor immediately steps in. "You wouldn't be bothering us at all. Besides, remember what you told me at my wedding? Well, that also applies to you here. So come on, give us a shot."

Shining Armor says that, and Comet Feet watches as Stormchaser's initial resistance slowly begins to break.

The two younger stallions share another short, grudging glance with each other. However, during that half-second when their eyes met, they also reached a small understanding of sorts.

And before they realized it, the two of them were banding together for the most unlikely of reasons.

The two stallions who had every reason to hate each other, and who had already tried to kill each other, were joining forces… to help a friend.

And by the end of the day, before they all went their separate ways, there were no longer any enemies in that room.




And the world continues to spin.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name
-[X][BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Biedde (as planner). Daughter of Axes, Mareinette, Baldomare, Selene
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Edge 3 artifact, SH 3 artifact, Heart 3 artifact, Winter 1 artifact, 1 Wrong Key (due to expire at end of turn)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Neutralize Copper.
---[X] Neutralize Neighnia.
---[X] Remove any evidence tying us to the cult.
---[X] Loot their library, artifacts, bits, and so forth, should time allow.
--[X] Anything else? (WRITE IN any other orders or specifications you have)
---[X] Minimize non-Cult casualties.
---[X] Leave as little trace or tracks as possible.
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Rarity (as planner)
---[X] Daughter of Axes
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Heart 3 artifact
---[X] SH 3 artifact
---[X] Winter 1 artifact
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X][STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
-[X][SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
--[X] Cheerilee
--[X] Applejack

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.

You are Velvet Covers.

Although, you don't feel like you have thought about that for a while now.

Sixteen days, to be exact. For the last sixteen days, your life has been nothing but a confusing blur of consciousness and darkness, sprinkled with long bouts of discomfort and pain. Of half-remembered conversations and familiar smells that you couldn't really recognize no matter how hard you tried.

You wonder if that number means anything. Probably not, you figure.

But more importantly, today you woke up feeling… better. Not great, not well enough to stay up and about for too long, but better. Better than you were yesterday, better than you were before that. And most importantly, you feel good enough to get out of this damn bed.

Because it doesn't matter how vigorously your maids clean your bedroom, during the short periods of time you were being showered or otherwise somewhere else, or how many time they changed your bedsheets. You still swear that the smell of this place is somehow infecting your fur.

"Alrighty Velvet, you can do this… one leg at a time," you say to yourself, as you tentatively light up your horn to push away your sheets, and gingerly try to climb out of your bed.

Your body feels heavy. That is the first thing that comes to your mind as you begin to settle your weight on your legs. First by putting your two forelegs on the ground, then by cautiously bringing down your left hindleg to the floor.

And finally, you-

"Just one more, and we c- ouch, ouch, OUCH!"

-you nearly spasm as your right hindleg touches the floor. The weak muscles of your crippled member screaming with pain when you try to put the slightest strain on them.

By the heavens, you had forgotten how much this hurts. You had forgotten what it meant to walk around with a limp, and not be able to do something as simple as trot.

But you… manage. You still manage to stand up, and get out of your bed, without any help.

You can still do this.

"I can… still… do this," you say to yourself, trying to ignore the fact you are already breathing heavily just by doing this much.

You try to tell yourself that the wounds you suffered to your legs were only imaginary. And you also remind yourself that the only thing that really happened to you was that, well, you got struck in your head so strongly that it probably cracked your skull.

But more importantly, you tell yourself that your body already had plenty of time to at least stitch those wounds. In fact, just yesterday, you spitted out a clot that you were sure was lodged inside your head for the longest time. And for all that you are sure that having a blood clot in your brain is not the kind of thing a pony should survive, you still spit it out eventually, and you are still alive.

So, you try your best to stop dwelling on those little things, and you focus on what needs to be done next.

"Right, now to… get out…"

One step at a time, you slowly make your way towards the door.

The corridor outside is dark. Which makes sense, you suppose, since it is still probably early in the morning. But still, you begin to make your way down the long corridor of the second floor.

You shoo away the rather alarmed guard that comes up to you, asking if everything is alright, and you don't much care for what he says right before he leaves.

You walk pass Silky's room, and then Selene's room.

And finally, you arrive at a particular door, that leads to the closest guest room. You light up your horn, and make your way in, without breaking your slow stride.

"Wha… did anything happ-… Velvet?! Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"

And there he is!

Stormchaser, whose face you can barely see through the darkness, seems to be looking at you wide-eyed and surprised. You didn't really want to wake him up, but you are still glad that he did.

There are several things that you want to tell him, and to be honest you just want to have a nice conversation with him so you two can spend some time together. After all, ever since you got hurt, he has been sleeping in this guest room so you could have the whole bedroom for yourself.

But right now, after you walked all the way here, you are just so tired that…

"Velvet, is anything the matter? Please, just t-" he begins to say, concern apparent in his voice.

"Wake me up for breakfast," but you interrupt him, as you weakly crawl up to his bed.

And before you realize it, you are already asleep once again.

But this time, and for the first time in too long, you are asleep in the warm and familiar embrace of your dear husband.



- - -



You join your family for breakfast.

Granted, you have your husband carry you downstairs before your daughters wake up, so they don't have to see you limping down the staircase. But still, you try your best to reclaim the normalcy of your life, one step at a time.

Of course, the breakfast is unusually quiet, and everypony is looking at you with a concerned expression. But still, you are there rather than cooped up in your room.

It is more than just a little bit sad, that Silky almost didn't speak a word and leaned on to you during the whole morning after she sat down to eat. But… well, you have to start somewhere. And starting today is better than starting tomorrow.

Still, you have breakfast with your family, your suggestion that your daughters don't need to go to school today is quickly approved by your husband, and after yet another short nap, you once again feel like you can get one more thing done.

"I think this will be my life, for a little while. Do something, nap, do something else, nap," you say, letting out a short laugh. "But to be honest? Now that sleeping is actually pleasant again? I don't really mind this routine."

You say that, but Selene doesn't seem to share your humor. Instead, she answers you with a worried expression.

"Please don't push yourself, mom. Nopony will think badly of you if you take a break."

The two of you are currently on your room's balcony, looking down at the estate's central garden. Behind you, every window of your room is open, and you can't help but smile as a fresh breeze washes over you and flows into your home.

"Selene, dear, I have been doing nothing but taking a break for the last two weeks. At this point, I think that staying inside my room will do me more harm than good," you tell her with a calm smile.

To which she responds by pursing her lips. An expression that is completely out of place on a filly as young as her. At least according to her current appearance, that is.

"Well… just promise us you won't do something you shouldn't? Better yet, at least promise you won't leave the estate?"

You make a show of rolling your eyes, before giving her another smile. Because you definitely understand where she is coming from, and how she is trying to get a "promise" out of you without being too pushy about it.

Even though, in all honesty, she didn't even need to ask you any of that to begin with. You don't think you have enough energy to make it out of the garden even if you wanted to.

"Fiiine, fiiine, I promise. If I need to do anything crazy or illegal, I'll ask you to do it instead," you say.

Although, for all that you meant it as a joke, you can't help but notice that Selene lets out a small sigh of relief, before giving you a thankful nod.

"Thank you, mom. And yes, please. Let me know if you need anything like that to be done."

Dear heavens, what have you been teaching this filly?

"Speaking of which, the other stuff that I wanted to tell you about," she continues, cautiously breaching a certain subject that has been on her mind. "Do you think you can talk about it? It's fine if you're feeling too tired, or…"

"Oh, no, I'm fine. By all means, dear, go ahead," you say.

For the last hour or so, you two have been here sitting on the balcony mostly keeping each other company. And for the most part, Selene would just tell you about this and that whenever the fancy struck her.

Stormchaser told you about the "incident" Silky had at school. But Selene did not mention it to you. So, you suppose Selene herself either did not hear about it, or that she is just avoiding topics that she thinks might upset you.

However, it seems she is finally willing to steer in a particular direction, from what she just told you.

"Well, I wanted to tell you about what happened," she says, pausing for a moment to look behind her, just to make sure nopony is overhearing your conversation. "In detail, that is. As well as…"



- - -



Selene had already told you, in general, about how her "trip" to Manehattan went.

But still, she only told you the broadest of facts. She told you that she succeeded in her most important objective, that your family is a little safer now, and that she did her best to minimize whatever evidence they might have left behind.

Shining Armor has not yet given you a full report on the Bureau's investigation on Manehattan, given how it is still underway. So, it will be a while before you learn how well, or how badly, Selene succeeded in being subtle about it.

However, there is one thing that you can address right now. One part of her tale that the two of you can… verify, so to speak, and decide what to do about.

It is still early in the afternoon. Silky is out in Ponyville with Stormchaser and Soft Sweeps, the two of them taking the filly somewhere to try and cheer her up.

And right now, you and Selene are slowly crossing the central garden of the estate. Making your way towards one of the annex buildings.

Specifically, the two of you are making your way to the estate's wine cellar.

Or, as your servants have come to call it, the fair abode of Lady Mareinette.

"Mom, before we go in can I ask you something?" your daughter asks you, as the two of you enter the building and make your way to the trapdoor-like entrance that leads underground.

You try your best to hide how tired you already are, just from walking here. But still, you answer her with a nod.

"Why… why do you…" she says, but her youthful expression once again shifts into a kind of hesitation no filly should rightfully have on their face. "No, forget about it," she finishes.

And unfortunately, you are already too tired to force the issue, or to try and coax her concerns out of her. For now, you can only trust her judgment, that whatever she meant to ask you isn't really important right now.

With that in mind, the two of you reach the wide trapdoors that lead to the cellar.

Neither of you are surprised by the fact that it is already wide open, and that a pleasant aroma is wafting from that gaping maw.

Still, the smell invigorates you, even if only slightly.

And for all that Selene hesitates for a few moments, to the point that she is a few paces behind you when she begins to follow you, the two of you eventually make your way down to the underground cellar.

Within the confines of the cellar, lounging over a pile of precious items like a dragon sleeping over a hoard, you find the mare you are looking for.

And between your own exhaustion, and the strange energy that is filling your lungs from her perfumed censers, you can only partially remember what happened after you entered that place with Selene.



"[Heart]?"

"I am doing fine, Mareinette. Thank you for asking. And… and thank you for your help."

"[Grail]."

"Indeed… And Selene here told me about your endeavors… but she didn't know the details herself. Are you available to talk about it?"

"[Lantern]!"



You partially remember how uncomfortable Selene felt, as you two went over what Mareinette brought back to your estate.

But most importantly, in the end, she agreed with your decision on how to handle it.

...

It is hard to imagine a lady as dignified as fair Mareinette hauling a cart from Manehattan all the way to Ponyville. It is even harder to imagine how she did it so quickly.

But still, she claims these items are yours to claim. And you will oblige her:
[The following items have been added to your inventory]
-5x artifacts, UNSTUDIED, of the following levels:
--Heart 1
--Secret Histories 1
--Moth 1
--Moth 3
--Winter 4
-A book, with no Lore levels. "A pile of reports, letters and maps. No doubt containing a wealth of information about the less reputable places of Manehattan. And perhaps of the treasures they hide."

...

However, the greatest volume of items that Mareinette brought back were… books. Ledger-sized tomes, stolen letters, and even photo albums. A cart-load of disparate pieces of information that, after sifted through, reveal a story. Or rather, three stories, about three particular ponies.

Copper was proficient in two things. She was good at figuring out what ponies desired, and she was even better at giving it to them. She was a mare who traded in favors, and in other types of coins that are much more precious than mere bits. This is a hoard of such currency."

You have found BLACKMAIL MATERIAL on a number of rich, influential and powerful ponies. Part of you wants to burn all of this, and then cut it away from your memory. But you realize this is just too good of an opportunity to simply waste.

But still, you should strike while the iron is hot. These ponies will catch wind of Coppers disappearance, so it is best to "cash in" these favors before they grow wary, desperate, or bold.

Have Mareinette deal with it. Give her instruction on how to proceed. Reap the rewards, and think of it no longer.


[You must pick ONE option from each category. None of these options will have any cost, be it in actions or otherwise. Mareinette will "collect" on them throughout the rest of the month, and deliver the results by the beginning of turn 21.]


-[] What of the merchant, who engaged in bribery?
--[] Ask for a small "donation" (gain 100 bits)
--[] Ask for a few favors (gain TWO "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
--[] Just give this low hanging fruit to the Bureau (gain a small amount of respect from the Bureau)
--[] Have Mareinette deal with it (unpredictable result, that will still benefit you)


-[] What of the public servant, who needed a pony to "disappear"?
--[] Remind him that nothing is free (gain 200 bits)
--[] Have him work for his misdeeds (gain FIVE "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
--[] Equestria will be better off without him in power (gain a reasonable amount of respect from the Bureau)
--[] Have Mareinette deal with it (unpredictable result, that will still benefit you)


-[] What of the great noble, who conspired against the Crown?
--[] Wring him (gain 400 bits)
--[] Give him a list of tasks, and a short time to get them done (gain NINE "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
--[] Put him behind bars, where he belongs (gain a great deal of respect from the Bureau)
--[] Have Mareinette deal with it (unpredictable result, that will still benefit you)



The next memory you have is waking up on Stormchaser's guest room, after yet another "short nap". And Selene tells you that, despite her misgivings with the Grail-mare, nothing out of the ordinary happened during your conversation.

… or at least, you privately think, nothing she could sense.





Since this vote is being offered on a Monday, and not the usual weekend, we will have TWENTY-FOUR hours of moratorium. So everyone can catch up, realize we are playing ball, and jump in if they wish to.

Vote in plans. You must pick one option of each blackmail target.

Gaining a "servant action" is exactly that. You will gain one action point for turn 21 that is generally unreliable, and will not apply Velvet's bonus. But that can still be used for some actions, or to "cover your bases".

Yes, it is intentional that you are being offered the opportunity to gain "servant actions" without knowing what awaits you on the next turn. Cashing in on these favors will take some time, so you need to decide now.

75 bits were removed from your inventory, after you got your ledgers in order following Selene's expedition in Manehattan.

More to follow. Other updates will probably be posted, before the voting period is over, as the turn moves along.

 

[jelloloaf]

The Effects of Social Isolation on Grail Expression: a Comparative Analysis

Abstract
The paper analyzes two studies which explored the key differences in methodology and ideology between opposed Grail practitioners, Copper Secateur and Velvet Covers. Data were gathered by means of semi-fictionalized biographies collected by Sunuli (2024) and Bodhisattva (2021). The collected data were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. The results of the studies demonstrated that, despite both practitioners having been exposed to a variety of situations which cut them off from their peers and encouraged unhealthy attachment patterns, their solutions developed in significantly different directions, indicating that other aspects of relational psychology beyond the simple lack of interpersonal emotional connections contribute to personal conceptions of Grail.

Keywords: Sacrament, Hour Symbolism, Apollonian/Dionysian Divide, Enneagram Model.

1. Introduction

Grail and its connection to interpersonal relations have generated significant interest among social researchers in recent years. This is because while the Apollonian principles – Lantern, Forge, and Edge – can all be characterized through solitary, ascendant practices, the Dionysian – Heart, Grail, and Moth – are descending and encourage or even require the participation of multiple subjects. While neither Apollonian or Dionysian, Winter is especially focused on the absence of social connection, and as such is not touched upon in this paper.

As described by Kennedy et al. (2018), Grail is the principle of hunger, lust, and the drowning waters, honoring both the birth and the feast. It should be noted, however, that not all of its aspects are equally applicable to the concept of companionship and family – hunger especially is considered among scholars to be the most withdrawn aspect of Grail, except for its secondary participation in rituals such as the Crime of the Sky, which already utilize other aspects primarily. Neither of the study participants engaged significantly with the more physical aspects of Grail, preferring instead to primarily increase their perceived status amongst their social circles, further justifying the decision to focus only the drawing out and the cutting away, the umbilical strings of affection, instead of a broader image of Grail as a whole.

Taking the above into consideration, the studies reported in this paper investigated the social circles of Velvet Covers and Copper Secateur in order to determine how they connected to the aspects of Grail which the two participants chose to embody. The paper commences with a short review of relevant literature. Next, designs of the studies are described, followed by the presentation of their results. The paper closes with discussion and conclusions.

2. Literature Review

Little research has been conducted into Grail in recent years, largely as a result of the interference of various regulatory bodies. However, according to Fludd (1601), "the Great Mother remembers," a rejoinder which this paper takes as an identification of the Red Grail as the first of the Gods-from-Blood. While the Apollonian Principles are generally considered to be more deserving of serious academic inquiry, the Dionysian constitute an older and more fundamental aspect of pony nature, which can reveal important insights into both antediluvian ethnography and more modern psychological inquiries.

Fludd's seminal work, The Orchid Transfigurations (1598), served to first establish the mystic connection between birth and consumption, as well as to give an account of the formation of alukites. "This devouring is the natural course of history," he argued. "We must devour and be devoured, and we cannot be undevoured, just as we cannot be unborn. Any time before the inevitable [ascension] is nothing more than a transitional state; the formless mass still floating in the womb." However, later scholars such as Malskær (1866) rejected the idea that the Grail reveled in the birthing-bed, describing the contrast between its Enticements and its Torments. Further research of the Red Grail focused primarily on close examinations of particular enticements or torments, such as The Thirsting Tantra (Burial, 1821) and The Devoured Tantra (Schaller & Ivory, 1844). Though this paper does not share their naming scheme, its goal is similar; to closely examine a single aspect of Grail and how it fits into broader patterns of pony behavior.

3. Methodology

3.1. Research Goals

Both studies set out with the objective of fully chronicling the participants' journey through the Mansus and the Wake as they learned of the Lores, the secret principles which turn the world. However, due to time and budgetary constraints, only significant events were able to be recorded, while 'non-essential' detail was often omitted.

3.2. Participants

The two participants of the studies were Velvet Covers and Copper Secateur, both mares, ponies residing within the town of Ponyville, and members of a cult dedicated towards stopping the Worms from devouring the world. Velvet Covers was a unicorn noblemare, while Copper Secateur was an earth pony gardener. At time of writing, both had conceptualized Grail to at least the fourth degree and were capable of performing Grail rituals. Copper Secateur held a Grail sacrament.

3.3. Data Collection and Analysis

The two studies examined in this paper both followed similar formats; the data were gathered via a novelization of the life events of the participant from their own perspective, with occasional asides to show outside perspectives in a supporting role. While analyzing the accounts, researchers noted the self-reported quality of interpersonal relationships, as well as information about their quantity and length. This format was chosen intentionally to allow for greater depth of the subjects' personal philosophy and Lore insights to shine through, which more formalized methods such as structured interviews or surveys would have blocked.

In the account, each participant was encouraged to use whatever style of narration they felt most comfortable with. Velvet Covers used second-person narration, while Copper Secateur used third-person limited. In both cases, permission was acquired to publish digital recordings of the account.

4. Findings

A thorough analysis of the gathered data yielded two different categories of close relationship; friends, and family. Note that a close relationship is defined in this paper as one from which both recipients draw emotional support and validation. If a relationship was one-sided or otherwise strained, it was not counted among the gathered data.

4.1. Close Friends

Figure 1 shows the number of self-reported close friends for both Copper Secateur and Velvet Covers, over a period of 20 months following their induction into the Lores. It demonstrates that Copper's psychological dependence on external validation to maintain her positive self-esteem resulted in both higher numbers of friends and a more rapid acquisition of those friends than Velvet Covers. This paper notes that the sharp decline in Copper's number of friends near the end of the studied period correlates to a deteriorating mental condition.

Meanwhile, Velvet Covers maintained a smaller number of friends, which remained very stable compared to Copper's relationships. This reflects both how Velvet's driving motivation to acquire friends was tempered by her much larger number of close family members when compared to Copper, as can be seen in the next section, and how her fundamental desire was less able to be satisfied with large numbers of weaker relationships.

4.2. Close Family Members

Figure 2 shows the number of self-reported close family members for Copper Secateur and Velvet Covers, over a period of 20 months following their induction into the Lores. Here, the pattern has reversed, with Velvet Covers being the subject displaying continual growth in her social circle. However, due to greater social stability within her peer hierarchy, she does not demonstrate a decline in her relationships near the end of the studied period.

Copper's lack of close family relations can be connected to her differing perspective on socialization than Velvet; she believes that social connections are inherently temporary and must be taken advantage of while they last, while Velvet creates long-term relationships which she intends to maintain indefinitely.


5. Discussion and Conclusions

The picture that emerges from the analysis of the collected data indicates that the desire for a particular type of social connection which a Grail practitioner wishes to fulfill can greatly influence the manifestation of their expressed abilities. Velvet Covers' worry over being abandoned by her family led her expression to develop into a rope or leash, a binding thread that would not come loose without her express permission, allowing her to regain control over the relationship on her own terms and keep that way for as long as she wanted.

To contrast, Copper Secateur's transient view of relationships and resentment over being treated as lesser by many different ponies drove her to interpret her Grail expression through the lens of cultivation, planting seeds within other ponies and nurturing them into new emotions on a large scale, allowing her the opportunity to maintain a much larger social web at the expense of increased upkeep costs and a lesser degree of power over each individual relationship.

Delving further into the personal factors which motivated the Grail expressions of the participants, this paper turns towards the deeper mysteries as analyzed by Dusk in The Skeleton Songs (1907); the Mountain-Mother has not only fruits and chastisements, but also gardens and regrets. There are nine gardens, which this paper takes as corresponding to the nine enneatypes described by Ichazo in Protoanalytical Theory, System, and Method (1958).

From her intense desire for perfection and susceptibility towards hypocrisy and hypercriticism, it is easy to characterize Velvet Covers as type 1, disintegrating into 4 and integrating into 7. This paper connects her childhood trauma of being emotionally neglected by her parental figures in favor of her brother to her activated type 4 stress response of feeling as though she has no distinct identity or significance, as well a hyperactive imagination, both of which carry strong associations with Moth.

Likewise, when safe and content, Velvet takes on aspects of the type 7, developing far-reaching and extensively detailed plans for herself, though still occasionally falling into the trap of searching for a nonexistent 'perfect solution' which could have been reached by following a different path. Placing her onto the Wheel, this paper finds Velvet to be Lantern-primary, descending into Moth and ascending into Forge. She is torn between the Black-Flax and the Meniscate; the first embodies her love of keeping secrets and Moth connection, while the Knock of the Meniscate attempts to draw her into the Apollonian virtue of Lantern and Forge. This paper also notes the association of the Meniscate and the moon, and the close personal relationship between Velvet and Selene.

Taking a similar approach, this paper places Copper Secateur as a type 2, disintegrating into 8 and integrating into 4. Her base state is that of the provider, whose greatest fear is being considered unworthy of love on her own merits and frequently relies on social manipulation and denial of her own needs in order to fulfill her desire for emotional connection. When her connections are forcefully severed and she is obligated to rely on herself for validation, she descends into type 8, responding violently towards any perceived external control and attempting to deceive herself with the idea that she is fully self-sufficient. This disintegration often comes with a heavy focus on self-defined 'justice', which acts as a foundational personality value until emotional connections can be restored.

In the other direction, when Copper feels secure in her social circle, she integrates into the positive aspects of type 4, developing a unique identity and pursuing self-fulfillment without worrying about how others will perceive it. On the Wheel, this paper describes Copper as Grail primary, descending into Heart and ascending into Moth. From this, it follows naturally to place Copper within the domain of the Ring-Yew, whose aspects are Grail, Heart, and Moth. This also serves to characterize her close connection to Starry Dancer, as the Ring-Yew once loved the Thunderskin before its death.

From these two Hour-connections, the conflict between Velvet and Copper can be synthesized into the conflict between the Black-Flax and the Ring-Yew, and later between the House of the Moon and the House of the Sun. Near the inciting incident, both Copper and Velvet were sworn to Moth as members of a cult, each embodying aspects of their connected Hours. Velvet spoke little with other members of the cult and was widely considered to be a myth, echoing the ideas of the Black-Flax's namelessness and love of hidden secrets. Likewise, Copper enacted the Ring-Yew through the encompassing of lower-status cultists and cultivation of new growth. However, when their guiding figure vanished, only Copper remained true to her prior allegiance, Velvet instead taking the Knock-Wound as an opportunity to dedicate herself to the Meniscate and fully align herself with the return of Luna as a primary goal.

Furthermore, this paper draws a connection between the guiding principle of the cult, Moth, and each participant's relationship towards it. Velvet enacted Lantern, descending into Moth, while Copper enacted Grail, ascending into Moth. This paper notes that Velvet deserted the cult at her first opportunity – less than halfway through the studied period – while Copper remained loyal to its ideals until the end of the studied period, indicating that approaching a Lore from different directions can contribute to a vastly different interpretation and personal significance of the Lore.

This paper concludes that Grail expressions, unlike previously thought, are not standardized between different practitioners, instead being based on a wide variety of unique personality traits which vary between different ponies. However, the limited sample size of the examined studies contributed to the paper's focus on only very particular aspects of Grail, and the author encourages further study in this field once additional data have been gathered.

References:

Sunuli, J. (2024) Chthonic Paean

Bodhisattva, B. (2021) Esquestria: the House of the Sun

Kennedy, A., et al. (2018) Cultist Simulator

Fludd, R. (1598) The Orchid Transfigurations, Vol. 1: a Feast

Fludd, R. (1601) The Orchid Transfigurations, Vol. 2: a Birth

Malskær, N. F. (1813) Twenty-Six Enticements, Seven Torments

Burial, G. C. (1821) The Thirsting Tantra

Schaller, S. J. & Ivory, F. (1844) The Devoured Tantra

Dusk, A. (1907) The Skeleton Songs

Ichazo, O. (1968) Protoanalytical Theory, System, and Method

---

Fun fact, this was all just an overly-elaborate way to tell you that I'm writing a recursive fic. (I am physically incapable of not committing to the bit.)

@OurLadyOfWires, if you're looking for an "In which" title, I'm quite partial to "In which we call upon the Malachite."

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name
-[X][BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Biedde (as planner). Daughter of Axes, Mareinette, Baldomare, Selene
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Edge 3 artifact, SH 3 artifact, Heart 3 artifact, Winter 1 artifact, 1 Wrong Key (due to expire at end of turn)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Neutralize Copper.
---[X] Neutralize Neighnia.
---[X] Remove any evidence tying us to the cult.
---[X] Loot their library, artifacts, bits, and so forth, should time allow.
--[X] Anything else? (WRITE IN any other orders or specifications you have)
---[X] Minimize non-Cult casualties.
---[X] Leave as little trace or tracks as possible.
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Rarity (as planner)
---[X] Daughter of Axes
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Heart 3 artifact
---[X] SH 3 artifact
---[X] Winter 1 artifact
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X][STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
-[X][SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
--[X] Cheerilee
--[X] Applejack

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan: Balanced Rewards
-[X] What of the merchant, who engaged in bribery?
--[X] Ask for a small "donation" (gain 100 bits)
-[X] What of the public servant, who needed a pony to "disappear"?
--[X] Have him work for his misdeeds (gain FIVE "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
-[X] What of the great noble, who conspired against the Crown?
--[X] Put him behind bars, where he belongs (gain a great deal of respect from the Bureau)

To Cheerilee, being a teacher is like being a gardener. This might be her earth pony side speaking, but whenever she stops to think about it, she can't help but see the parallels.

Because part of it follows a routine of sorts. Preparing classes, giving classes, answering questions, grading homework. Wake, repeat, sleep. The same daily routine of care and work that she supposes a gardener has to do, except that instead of watering plants every day she is teaching foals.

However, despite the routine, every day seems to bring something new. Every day is unique, and completely different from the last one. Because just like plants, foals never stop growing. So, every single day, she can spot a new, tiny difference when compared to her students of the previous day. Every day her students are a little taller, a little smarter, and they bloom a little bit more.

So, again, she really thinks being a teacher is like being a gardener. And the fact that her cutie mark is a trio of smiling flowers definitely helps.

Every day feels similar to the last, and every day is also completely new and different. There are easy days, there are hard days, there are exciting days, and there are days she is as bored as her students are, even though she is the one doing the lecture.

…

And then there are days when something completely unexpected happens.



"Ma'am, you need to come with me."



The pegasus mare, Drummer Clap, tells her that with a serious expression.

And for a moment, there is nothing Cheerilee can do but look at her with a surprised expression.

Cheerilee knows this mare. Of course she does. This is one of the ponies who can pick up one of her students. So, this mare is lodged in her memory together with other important pieces of information about her charges.

However, looking at that mare right now is triggering an entirely different part of Cheerilee's mind.

Because unlike every other time she saw Drummer Clap, the pegasus mare is now in her uniform. She is wearing the midnight-black uniform of a guard, of an officer of the law, and she has a very intimidating badge hanging from a chain around her neck.

Cheerilee knows she didn't do anything wrong. She probably never committed a single crime in her entire life! However, there is something primal about looking a serious constable in the eyes that just makes you wonder what exactly you are in trouble for.

"I-I'm sorry, what?" Cheerilee asks, still partially stunned.

To which the mare responds, much to Cheerilee's concern, by expressing her irritation.

The two mares are currently inside the schoolhouse. Cheerilee had dismissed her class maybe half an hour ago, and she was in the middle of cleaning up the classroom before going back home. So, it was more than just a little surprising for her to see Drummer Clap here.

But again, what is even more surprising is that-

"Like I said, I need you to come with me. Now."

-that the mare is practically ordering her to do something. Drummer Clap wants her to follow the mare? Is she taking her somewhere? Is she going to jail?

Why? How? What did she do wrong?!

"I-I, but I didn't do anything wrong!" she says, suddenly realizing how cold something inside her feels, "d-did I?"

She says that, half-stammering as she tries her best to stay calm. She is failing, of course, and with every passing second her thoughts grow into a hurricane of fears and concerns.

Is she really going to jail? Just like that? But what did she do? And more importantly, who is going to take care of her students?

Or perhaps… is this happening because of one of her students? Did Diamond Tiara's mother do something? No, wait, Drummer is in charge of taking care of Silky, and Cheerilee heard that her mother is important now. Is this because Silky cried a few days ago during class?!

"I don't have time for this," Drummer Clap says, shaking her head in annoyance.

And then, the constable mare moves towards Cheerilee, raising a hoof as she-



"ACK!"



-as she… falls on the ground?

Cheerilee's mind is still spinning, and it takes her several seconds to understand what happened. But sure enough, Drummer Clap just fell to the ground, and she is rubbing the side of her flank as if nursing something painful.

Wait, what?

Cheerilee rubs her eyes as she tries to understand what happened. Her near-panicked mind still reeling from the notion that she was (or still is?) about to be arrested.

But after a few deep breaths, she finally realizes what just happened.

Yes, Drummer Clap is still on the ground, moaning in pain as she slowly gets back up.

And standing right next to her, scolding her, is another mare. Who is also wearing the same uniform as her.

Thankfully, Cheerilee finally regains her composure just as the second constable finishes admonishing Drummer Clap.

"-specifically to not make a scene, Drummer!" the second mare, an earth pony constable, says to Drummer Clap.

And only when she is satisfied that her scolding is done does she turn around to face Cheerilee.

"I am so sorry for that, ma'am. Miss Cheerilee, right?" the earth pony constable says, her kind face entirely at odds with Drummer's own expression. "My name is Battering Ram, I am one of the constables under C-, I mean, under Mrs. Velvet Covers. Do you have a moment to chat?"

Cheerilee is so taken aback that she can't even answer with words. But still, she manages to give her a nod.

"Thank you so much. First of all, I am very sorry that my friend here was so rude," the mare says, throwing yet another quick glare at Drummer Clap as the pegasus finally manages to stand up. Even if she is still nursing a small limp. "But our boss is the mother of one of your students, little Silky Stream, and she wanted us to ask if you could come over to chat with her."

The earth pony constable, Battering Ram, says that. But her tone is so kind that, despite the vagueness of the term "chat", Cheerilee can't help but feel more confident about this whole situation.

"I… I suppose I can? I mean, Silky's father came over for the parent-teacher conference last week. But I don't mind speaking to parents in general?" Cheerilee answers, still slightly hesitant. But making it very obvious that she hopes the mare will give her a little more context of what this is about.

"Oh, no. I'm sorry, I wasn't entirely clear. Mrs. Velvet Covers asked us to invite you over just to chat. She… well, I'll just be entirely honest. She just wants to have a friend over. That is, if you are not busy with something else?"

Battering Ram's words take Cheerilee… well, they take her by surprise. Because Silky's mother? Lady Velvet Covers? The mare who recently became a public figure and who, according to the papers, was attacked not long ago? She is calling Cheerilee over?

As a friend?

Well, she did speak to Lady Velvet every now and then, whenever she brought her daughter to school. And she was pretty sure the last time they met was… during her adopted daughter's cute-ceñeara? Yes, that felt about right.

But she always considered their relationship to be more professional than anything else. With herself as Silky's teacher, and Lady Velvet as her student's mother.

So, to think that she is being invited over is more than just a little surprising and…

"To be clear, this is really just an invitation," the constable mare says, taking Cheerilee's silence as a soft answer that she doesn't really want to go. "We can schedule something for another day, or we can just return the message that you aren't available at all."

"Oh, no! I mean, not at all," Cheerilee quickly answers, realizing too late that she almost yelled out in surprise. "I'd love to. Well, I can't go right now. But is it alright if I pass by her house later today?"

She says that, but for some reason calling that mansion a "house" felt slightly strange coming out of her mouth.

"Absolutely! We'll let Mrs. Velvet know," Battering says, with a happy nod of her head.

"And… and just to be sure, I'm not in any trouble, am I?" Cheerilee tentatively asks. Looking first at Battering Ram, then at Drummer Clap who still seems to have a sore flank on the place she was kicked. "And is your friend going to be alright?"

"No need to worry, Miss Cheerilee. You are not in any trouble. As for my friend over here… I may be a professional kicker, but she is a professional punching bag," she says, giving a despondent Drummer Clap one last glare.

And the fact that Drummer Clap whimpers slightly at that, whispering something about the mare not needing to kick so hard, makes Cheerilee think that, somehow, this kind of exchange is habitual to both mares.

"So please, don't worry. And have a great day, Miss Cheerilee!" Battering Ram finishes, before ushering Drummer Clap away as the pegasus mumbles something under her breath.

With that, the three mares go their separate ways.





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Velvet Covers.

And right now, you are entertaining a guest.

Although, given your current health, it might be better to say you are being entertained by your guest.

"Are you sure you don't need anything else, Lady Velvet? I might not know my way around here, but I can call somepony if you'd like," Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher, says once again. Her expression a mixture of concern and helpfulness.

"No, please. There's no need for that. And like I said, please just call me Velvet," you answer back, trying your best to sound as warm and placating as possible.

However, the fact that you need to take a few breaths, even though you barely spoke two sentences, definitely does not make Cheerilee feel any more comfortable about your situation.

Is this what it feels like to be mothered, you wonder? To have a kind mare like this just care about you, and go out of her way to worry about you, even though you are the one who invited her here?

Well, whatever you might call this, this definitely feels… nice.

"And besides, I called you over so we could just catch up and have a nice chat. You know, to try and take my mind off…" you trail off, before waving a hoof in front of your tired-looking face, "well, to take my mind off all this."

And even though you can tell the mare is still hesitant, you watch as Cheerilee gives you a slow, and perhaps overly careful nod.

You can't shake the feeling that she is looking at you as if you were one of her students. A student who came to class sick, and who she thinks she should just dismiss from class and escort back home.

But still, you think you managed to thread this particular needle well enough for her to push those concerns to the side. At least for now.

"I see… but Lad-, I mean, Mrs. Velvet. When you say you want to catch up, what do you mean exactly?"

Cheerilee asks that, her voice still a bit defensive, as she carefully (and finally, for the first time) picks up her teacup and takes a small sip from it.

The two of you are currently in your garden, sitting around a small table under the shade of a parasol. And you were beginning to fear that, if the mare did not start working on her tea, she would end up with a cold teacup on her saucer.

"Why, I thought it would be obvious, no? It has been such a long time since we last sat down and chatted that I am hard pressed to think about what we couldn't talk about," you say, letting out a short but pitifully tired laugh.

Still, for all that your body keeps failing you, and your energy reserves are terribly low, your mind is still sharp enough to know what to say.

After all, you do realize how this must look like for Cheerilee herself.

The two of you spoke, on and off, every now and then. You exchanged pleasantries whenever you saw each other, and you truly think you two are on amicable terms.

However, every time you saw her, your daughter was present one way or the other. Every time you two met, it was in the "professional" setting of a parent meeting her daughter's teacher. So, the two of you weren't really acting as friends, you two were a pair of grown-up figures in your daughter's life who happened to meet while she was watching.

The last time you spoke to Cheerilee like this, one on one, was… well, several months ago. When Silky was still new at her school, even.

So, it makes sense for Cheerilee to think you were just "testing the waters" with her. Checking with her own eyes if you could really trust your precious filly to this unknown stranger.

It makes perfect sense for Cheerilee to think the first time you two spoke was more of a job interview than anything else. So, for you to invite her to your home after so long, must be more than a little strange.

"I mean, Silky talks about you all the time. And even Selene, quiet as she is, chimes in every now and then," you say, picking your words and your tone very carefully, as you try to sound as nonchalant as possible.

You even make a point of looking down at your teacup, as you speak. Lighting up your horn to mix another spoonful of sugar. Trying your best to make this sound natural, and that the several times you met were a cherished bump-in with a friend, rather than just an exchange of waves with your foals' teacher.

"As does Soft Sweeps. She also always comments on you after she drops the girls off at school." You say that, and then you finally look up at Cheerilee, trying to look as innocent as possible as you do. "But recently, I realized that I was keeping up with you only through them. So I thought, why not just call you over?

You watch, almost holding your breath, as the mare narrows her eyes. And the seconds tick by as the mare slowly, but surely, reinterprets her opinion of you, and the several times you two met, under this new lens you are offering her.

And you can only hope that she finds it in her to agree with you. Or, better yet, to believe what you are telling her.

Eventually, the mare's expression…



[Rolling]



… softens. A small smile appearing on her face as if she had just realized something.

You hold off from letting out a sigh of relief, given how awkward this entire conversation would have been if she had brushed off your words.

But more importantly, Cheerilee's tone is a lot less guarded when she opens her mouth to speak.

In fact, she even leans forward a little bit, with a tone that is almost conspiratorial.

"Speaking of which, if you don't mind me asking… Soft Sweeps, the mare who… well, the maid? The pony who brings your fillies to school. What's up with her?" she asks, with a tone that is as well-meaning as it is curious. "I mean, Silky adores her, and even Selene seems comfortable around her. But every now and then when we speak, I get this impression that she… well, that she isn't just a maid, or a nanny, or anything like that?"

She asks that, and your eyes light up as you realize that she just gave you the opportunity to talk about one of your favorite subjects.

That is, one of your daughters.

"Oh? Quite the sharp eyes you have, Cheerilee," you say, also bringing your voice down to a conspiratorial whisper as you lean towards her. "And you see, at first Softy was just very close to Silky. But as time went on she…"

And with that, the two of you start a proper, and properly friendly, conversation. You tell her about your family. She tells you about her work. And eventually, the two of you share your concerns with each other, with you explaining about your new job, and the attempt against your life, while she tells you about her worries of how quickly the town seems to be growing.

Much later, when the sun is close to the horizon and the mare prepares to leave, she does so with an open invitation that she can return whenever she feels like.



[The gardener of foals, breakpoints 50/80]

[88 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 5 (Beautiful) + 10 (Battering Ram) -10 (Drummer Clap) = 104]

[Final breakpoint reached]



You are now Close Friends with Cheerilee.

After a few days, when your head is clearer, you look back at your conversation, and realize Cheerilee probably has a lot of affinity for the persistence of Heart, which she applies to her work. And maybe a connection to some aspects of Moth, as she encourages her charges to change and grow.



- - -



A few days later, you find yourself in your tearoom, with a pair of familiar faces.

You are currently with Rarity and Fluttershy, as the three of you share a pleasant afternoon in your home. You would have preferred to be in the garden, with the warm breeze on your mane and the sunlight on your fur, but your health did make a slight turn for the worse earlier this morning. So, you have grudgingly accepted your maids' insistence that you stay within the confines of your house.

However, something far more important is happening than just a mere conversation.

Because while the untrained eye might think you three are just talking, and while a maid would just see a trio of mares drinking tea if they were to enter through the door… something far more interesting is taking place in your tearoom.

It is not that you three are just chatting.

Oh, no. Far from that.

You and Rarity… are watching a spectacle.



"It's just that… when I wake up, and he isn't there, I just feel…"



To everypony's surprise, Fluttershy is the one who is doing most of the talking, this afternoon. To both yours and Rarity's surprise, Fluttershy asked if she could "talk about something" the moment you three settled down in the tearoom.

And to your and Rarity's absolute astonishment, Fluttershy has been speaking ever since then.

No, she isn't "just" speaking. The beautiful, innocent and quiet pegasus mare isn't doing something as base as "merely" putting her thoughts into words.

She is bleeding. Fluttershy is suffering. The poor mare is, in her own way, bearing her heart out for the two of you.



"… and every time I think about telling him that, I… something inside my chest just feels strange…"



You and Rarity have already read romantic novels. You have already read romances, and tragedies, and gripping stories about love and all its drama.

But never before have either of you seen something like this, with your own eyes.

In fact, you exchange yet another glance with Rarity, and the mare answers you with the most minute of nods. But still, you two share a silent message, and you both agree.

You both agree that Fluttershy is completely in love, and that she has no idea of how to navigate this. In fact, she has no idea that she's even this deep to begin with.

And oh, you and Rarity are thrilled at the opportunity to guide her through this. In fact, as you look at Rarity, you can see the mare is almost salivating from all the juicy, innocent, maidenly drama that this journey will take you all through.

"… so, uhm… I just don't know…" Fluttershy says, her expression slightly lost, and maybe even downtrodden, in the way that only a lovesick maiden can be.

Yes, Fluttershy is asking you two for help. She is begging for it, even, although she doesn't realize it yet. But she wants, she needs, to know what to do next, in order to advance in this romantic journey she has unwittingly embarked upon.

And of course, you two will only be happy to comply.

"Fluttershy, darling, I think me and Velvet know exactly what you are going through," Rarity says, expertly lacing her words with just the right tone to rope Fluttershy in.

And sure enough, Fluttershy's eyes almost immediately light up at that.

"You… you do?" she asks.

"Why of course, darling. Velvet knows it from personal experience, even. And I, too, have met more than enough ponies who are… similarly situated," your unicorn friend says, giving you a sidelong glance.

And you immediately give her a matronly nod, confirming Rarity's words. To which Fluttershy immediately calms down, with eyes full of hope, as she all but throws herself towards the lifeline you are throwing her.

"Now, darling, the thing you need to understand is that you and Comet Feet…" Rarity continues. "You two are currently in a situation that we would call-"

-but she is suddenly interrupted by a very unwelcome knock coming from the door. And you can almost feel yourself sag as the crescendo of drama that was gathering in the room is so suddenly pierced by the loud noise.

"Pardon me, my Lady," Ponpon says, as she pokes her head into the tearoom, "but you have another visitor. Shall I bring her up?"

You move to wave at Ponpon, to tell her to let in whoever is at the door, when you suddenly freeze.

Because, your tired mind slowly pieces together, why would Ponpon need to declare a new visitor? If it was Jade or somepony else she would know to let them in unannounced. And if it was somepony completely unknown, she would have told you who it is. Or better yet, let Stormchaser decide, since you are not seeing anypony in an official capacity while you are recovering.

But for Ponpon to come here and ask… well, it means it's somepony you know, but also that…

"Oh, that's actually somepony I called, Velvet," Rarity says, looking up towards Ponpon. "If you don't mind, could you please let her in?"

Rarity says that towards Ponpon, but she is really looking at you as she asks that question. Still, you trust Rarity, so you quickly nod your approval to Ponpon. And then you take another sip from the energizing tea, as even that much movement drains a good chunk of the reserves you have in your body.

Less than a minute later, another knock comes to the door, but this time you don't see the familiar face of Ponpon walking into the tearoom.

"Ah am terribly sorry for being late, Rarity, and my deepest condolences fer… oh, Fluttershy's also here?"

You are more than a little surprised as you watch an orange earth pony mare, Apple Bloom's older sister, walk into the tearoom.

However, you are admittedly even more surprised by… well, by what she is wearing?

Applejack, you are pretty sure that's her name, is a strong-looking and healthy mare. Every time you saw her, you felt that she was a dependable and straightforward pony, with the quintessential expression of a pony who is eager to help, and capable of doing so.

But that's the thing, as you look up towards Applejack, you don't see any of that. Instead, the mare is…

"Applejack, what in Equestria are you wearing?" Rarity says, her voice quite literally shocked.

Because Applejack looks like she just left a funeral. Her expression is downtrodden, she is wearing a dark and modest saddle-dress, and her mane is tied back in a very conservative way. It takes you more than a few seconds to realize what is missing, but once you realize you always saw her with a cowboy hat on her head, which is currently absent, her present look becomes even more jarring.

"Ah… well, ah thought you said the Lady here was close to, uh, kicking the can?" Applejack answers.

And her blunt honesty is so shocking that Rarity can only look at her aghast, as if Applejack had just said something she definitely should not have shared.

"I did NOT say anything like that, Applejack," Rarity says, in a tone that makes it abundantly clear that she did say exactly that.

"But you did? Two days ago, when you told me to come over? You told me t-"

"Shu-shu-shu-shush, you apples-for-brains!" Rarity says, as the mare practically rushes over to the earth pony mare and covers her mouth with a hoof. Alternating between looking at you and Applejack with an embarrassed expression. "I said Velvet looked dashing, and that she could use our company."

"But you told me her house looked like a funer-" Applejack tries to say, which only makes Rarity shove another hoof on her mouth.

"I-I did not! T-this is slander, slander I say!" Rarity says, or perhaps pleads. Looking at you as if she was watching a sandcastle that she painstakingly build fall to the ground.

However, as you watch the two mares talk over each other, you can't help but laugh.

"Ah… ahahahahah, oh Rarity… did you really say that?" you say, feeling your ribs ache a little bit as you let out an honest laugher.

And the two mares (but mostly just Rarity) look at you with intrigued expressions.

Because sure enough, Applejack can see with her own two eyes that you are not, in fact, dying. And Rarity, you think, lets out a sigh of relief as she sees you are not offended by any of this.

But how could you be offended? This little exchange of them was hilarious to you!

"Pfff, dear heavens. It was very kind of you to bring her over, Rarity. And please, join us Applejack. Can I interest you in some tea?" you say, as you tiredly wave for the two mares to settle down.

Poor Rarity still looks like she is walking on eggshells, but you do your best to smooth that over. Because really, why would she think you'd be offended by something as small as that? She couldn't possibly deify you that much to the point that she thought you'd get angry if she told somepony you looked sickly… right?

"Now, I won't take a no for answer. I don't know what kind of tea you like, but finding out is half the fun! And also, please, lose the black clothes. They don't look comfortable, and they definitely don't go well with your coat. Don't you think so, Rarity?" you say, trying to steer the conversation towards something they would be more willing to talk about.

Thankfully, Rarity realizes your intention. And a few minutes later, Applejack has a teacup on her hoofs, no black clothes on her body, and is leg-deep in a conversation about what kinds of clothes would suit her best.

Which is to say that Applejack is very much outside of her element.

But still, watching her talk to Rarity and Fluttershy so peacefully does put you in a good mood. You only have enough energy to chime in every now and then, but there is something about Applejack that just makes you feel a little more… motivated? Invigorated? Healthy?

You don't know the exact word, but you do appreciate Rarity for bringing her friend over.

And who knows, this might be an opportunity for you to get to know her better! Well, better than just as "the older sister of your daughter's friend". You definitely wouldn't mind having less ponies forming the link between the two of you.

So, you take another sip of your tea, slowly put it down on the saucer, and look up at the three mares as you…



[Rolling]



… as you… what?

Wait, where did they go?

This isn't the tearoom, what they hay just…?

"W-ha…?" you say, your voice coming out in a droning moan.

Everything around you feels soft, and it takes you several seconds to realize you are lying on your side.

Are you on Stormchaser's bed?

"Oh, I am terribly sorry my Lady," a maid, you can't remember her name, says as she gives you a deep bow. "I didn't mean to wake you up."

You look around you as you try to get your bearings, because…

How did you get here? When did you leave the tearoom? And where in Equestria is Rarity? Or Fluttershy and Applejack?

"Whazzut… happen…?" you try to voice your questions, but the only thing you manage to say is a sorry and slurred mixture of words.

Still, the maid, you think her name is Tip Top, somehow manages to understand what you mean by that.

"You fell asleep, my Lady. Don't you remember? One of your guests called for us, a few hours ago, because you nodded off on your chair. They left shortly after we brought you here. Shall I call your husband?" she helpfully says.

And you… you can only… curse, because…

Hay damnit!

Spoiler: Roll and breakpoints

[Friendly fraternization with a fellow farmer, breakpoints 50/80/100]

[Roll: 26 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 5 (Beautiful) = 42]

[Hilarious]


Breakpoints:
50 – "Applejack, can I ask you for a small favor?"
80 – "Applejack, can I ask you for a big favor?"
100 – "Did you hear about Fluttershy's BOYFRIEND?"

You have furthered your friendship with Applejack, after a social visit from her. And you think the two of you are just a chat away from becoming closer. But alas, that chat will have to happen another time. Preferably while you are awake.



- - -



Several days later, just as the month is about to end, one of your maids brings to your attention a rather unusual request.

Under normal circumstances, they would have taken this for your husband to decide. After all, your family has decided, and you quietly conceded, that you were not supposed to do anything "serious" until you were better. And between Stormchaser's insistence, Selene's frown, Softy's concern, and Silky's frightened expression, there was nothing you could do. Meaning that, with the exception of Shining Armor's weekly reports, you weren't entertaining any official or "important" guests.

However, the request that came to you was from nopony other than Mayor Mare herself. And for all that, on one hoof, she is the mayor of Ponyville… she is also somepony who you have met in the past, for more innocent reasons.

So, your maids brought to you a request for her to visit you, you accepted, and here you are now.

"Thank you for seeing me, Lady Velvet. And of course, I hope you are making a speedy recovery following that dreadful incident."

You nod to her, as you light up your horn to close the door behind her.

You have read the newspapers, and you kept tabs on how the Bureau carefully reported your "incident", as Mayor Mare called it. And true to her wording, the whole story was practically downgraded to a burglary gone wrong. Some newspapers barely reported that you got hurt, and instead claimed you reclused yourself to your home out of concern for yourself or your family.

You are sure that ponies who are savvy enough about these deals, be them cutthroats or politicians, will be able to read between the lines, and know what really happened. But as far as Mayor Mare, the leader of a small and peaceful community, is concerned, you "only" had a brush with a terrible crime.

And to be honest, that story suits you just fine. Your youngest daughter was already scared enough about this whole affair, as things stand, so you don't want to fan these flames any more than they already were.

You definitely do not want your family to live in a town gripped by sensationalist panic, and you are more than glad to learn that this entire affair is bleeding to death in a ditch where it belongs.

You take a deep, calming breath as you sit down, forcing yourself to control your anger at this whole affair. Now is not the time to be angry at Copper Secateur. Instead, now is the time to speak to Mayor Mare, and se whatever this is about.

"Not at all, Mayor. And thank you for your well-wishes. So, what can I help you with?" you ask.

It would be delightful if this was just a social call, and you would love for her to tell you that she just wants to touch base. See how you are doing, chat about this and that.

But alas, you know that Mayor Mare is a busy pony. And you can already tell from her expression that, agreeable and pleasant as she might be, she did not come here to exercise her social skills.

Instead, you watch as she purses her lips for a second, before she…



[Rolling]



"I still remember the last time we talked about… well, about Ponyville. And just like you suggested, and a lot of ponies agreed, we have kept our gates open for newcomers," she says that, and you can see a few complicated things flash through her eyes.

You don't see any regret on her face, thankfully. But you can tell that she is giving you a very short summary, of what must have been some very long months, filled with novel and complicated problems.

"I don't have the exact numbers. But I don't think it would be wrong to say that at least one family has moved to Ponyville every day, on average. And we… well, Ponyville is growing, there is no way around that."

You give her a slow, thoughtful nod. Because sure enough, you can tell that there are more ponies around. Every time you made your way to and from the train station, or every time your daughters told you about some new foal in their classroom, you could see the signs that something like that was happening.

However, you also realize you have not been intimately involved with Ponyville as a town. So, you are sure that there is a lot of information you are missing here.

"Of course, on one hoof, they are ponies just like all of us. We won't turn them away, and we definitely won't treat them any different than we would our own. However… well, a few ponies came to me, these last few weeks, and they said we should discuss what direction Ponyville should. That is, before the newcomers begin to outnumber the locals."

She says that very carefully. Trying her best to sound as neutral and cordial as possible.

But ultimately, you understand what she means.

"We will have a big town hall meeting, in a few days. In fact, we renovated the town hall precisely for this. And we will gather as many ponies as we can, so we can have a very open and important discussion," she says. "I would love it if you could be there, of course. But if you can't… well, more than one pony asked me what you think about all this."

Mayor Mare, the de-facto leader of Ponyville, says that.

And then she asks you what direction you think Ponyville should take, as it grows towards the future.

Spoiler: Roll and breakpoints

As a reminder, Mayor Mare already asked for your council before, given your high standing with Ponyville due to your actions following the "changeling" kidnapping.

And on that occasion, you told her that:
[X] Earth ponies built Equestria. They invented the farming communities that colonized the land. And then they invented concrete when they decided they needed the proper soil in which they could plant buildings. Ponyville will always be an earth pony town, but it is time for it to embrace its future form. (Ponyville will begin to grow quickly, and many more ponies will benefit from it.)

So, now:

[Let's talk about the future, breakpoints 60/100]

[Roll: 44 +11 (Stewardship) + 10 (Mare Administrator) = 65]

[First breakpoint reached]

Breakpoints:
-60: Your thoughts on Ponyville's future?
-100: "It was delightful to meet you, Velvet! I hope we can speak again."

[What vision will the denizens of Ponyville agree upon, for their future as a community?]



[] Break the ground, plant the foundations, call the merchants. It is time for Ponyville to feel the kiss of commerce.
-Mayor Mare will endeavor for Ponyville to grow into a "large city".
-It might take years, but the end goal will be for Ponyville to rival Manehattan in size, commerce and (inevitably) corruption.


[] Equestria is changing. Evolving. Growing, even. Why not make Ponyville the poster foal of this change?
-Mayor Mare will endeavor to "revolutionize" Ponyville. Education, progress, science. You know, better than most, that ponykind's innovators have been whipped into a frenzy, and this is where they will gather.
-It might take years, but the end goal will be for Ponyville to become the "brain" of Equestria. The fertile soil from which the genius of Eclipse might pick their successors.


[] There will always be more ponies. The earth pony city of Ponyville will be the beating heart that will keep Equestria moving.
-Mayor Mare will endeavor to make Ponyville the "breadbasket" of Equestria.
-Ponyville is uniquely situated in Equestria, occupying the great central plains of the country, while also being a stone throw away from Canterlot. Time to expand the as-of-yet tame farmlands of Ponyville into their full potential.


[] Ponyville has more than its fair share of diamonds, forests, and metals. It is past time ponykind starts to benefit from them.
-Mayor Mare will work hard to reap the bounties of Ponyville for the benefit of ponykind. Cut the forests, dig into the mines, and drink from the rivers.
-Ponyville is uniquely situated in Equestria, occupying the great central plains of the country, while also being a stone throw away from Canterlot. Time to tap these lush resources, even if it costs the land itself dearly.


[] Equestria must grow to satisfy the needs of a growing Equestria, and Ponyville will provide.
-Mayor Mare will endeavor to "industrialize" Ponyville. Factories, train tracks, smoke. Ponyville will offer its vast tracts of unspoiled land to anypony who is willing to work for the betterment of ponykind.
-It might take years, but the end goal will be for Ponyville to become the first (and maybe even the larges) industrial pole of Equestria.


You did not reach the second breakpoint, so you were not able to fully advance your relationship with Mayor Mare. But still, you two grew a little closer. Even if that bond is based more on respect than proper pony friendship.


Voting is open. This is something that is so long-term, the planting of seeds and steering of a ship, that you should basically vote for what you want. No mechanical changes will arise from this for a while, if at all. And to be very clear, there is no "right" option, and there is no option that won't bring good and bad things with it. This is a broad stroke on the canvas, not a mane-pulling decision about an ongoing crisis.

From here to the end of the turn is just the several reports from your followers. And those are usually a lot shorter than a proper Velvet point-of-view update.

I intend to reach the end of this turn, and the beginning of the Follower's Phase voting, before the end of the weekend, but it will truly depend on how quickly I can make it.

So, again, no moratorium. Approval voting, so vote for as many options as you want, and the single most picked option will win.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

On the night sky above the Velvet estate, two ponies are lying on a soft cloud.

The sea of thunderclouds that was covering the estate is now gone. Poofed away by the order of the pony it was created to protect, much to the stress of her guards. But still, on this calm and slightly-warm night, there is nothing between the ground and the starry sky, save for that one fluffy cloud.

And on that cloud, the two ponies are sharing the quiet comfort that exists between ponies who deeply care for each other.

Although, every now and then, they still share their thoughts with each other. If only because they know they can voice them without any judgment.

"I'm still mad mom had the thunderclouds removed," Selene says.

The only answer she receives is the slightest chuckle, a mixture of an agreement and a consolation. But still, that is the only answer her father gives her.

"I'm serious, dad," she says, although she doesn't really mean it. "I can't even be sure the guards are doing their job, and now I also have to worry about the whole sky?"

Selene says that. And then, not for the first time, she rolls to her side until she is on the edge of the cloud. Looking down towards the estate, and searching for the hard-to-spot armored guards that are supposed to be on patrol.

"Careful not to fall down, dear," Stormchaser says, reaching with a hoof to hold the filly so she doesn't accidentally trip from the cloud.

Of course, that movement is completely unnecessary. After all, Selene might have the appearance of a wingless filly, but she doesn't need her enchanted horseshoes to stand on a cloud. In truth, the cloud under her hoofs is as good as solid ground for her, given her nature, and she isn't a young filly who might trip forward if a strong wind was to batter them.

But still, Stormchaser can't help but care. In fact, he doesn't even notice he reached out to steady her and keep her safe. And for the filly herself, the movement was so familiar that she didn't notice it either.

Just another one of the invisible links that tie them together.

"Hmpf," the filly says, walking back towards her father and once again lying down on his side.

The two of them are currently lying down belly-up, looking at the starry sky as if the cloud was a great and soft bed. Although, even though an untrained eye might not notice it, the sky is a little more brilliant than usual.

The difference is not what one might call lavish. It is not as if somepony had slipped and fallen, while carrying a jewel box, causing the night sky to be filled with gems. But still, for what might be the first time in oh so long, the stars appear to have a few new sisters in their midst.

"So, how is it going?" the father asks, as a puff of wind slightly pushes the cloud this and that way. Making it sway, ever so gently, like a boat on a calm lake.

"I think… I think I am getting the hang of it," Selene answers.

She says that, and then she takes a deep breath. Although this time, her expression doesn't become one of focus.

Instead, she looks abundantly calm.

"I think the trick is not to force it," she says to her father, or maybe to herself. "Because this whole time I… it was like I was trying to drag them out? As if they were stuck, and I would get it done if I pushed a little harder?"

She narrows her eyes. No, she closes them. Taking another deep breath as she does. She doesn't have a horn upon her head, to light up with magic, and she looks like nothing but a filly. But still, moments later, another faint star appears on the firmament.

And when Selene opens her eyes to see the result of her work, she has a satisfied smile on her face.

"Ah, great job," Stormchaser says, his voice filled with honest pride.

"It's actually very easy, dad," she answers, "I could teach you how to do it, if you want."

The two of them share a few moments of quiet laughter.

And for a while, all is at peace as they look up to the night sky.

That is, until a thought occurs to the filly, and she begins to talk about something.

This is not something worrying. This is not a confession, although it might sound like one. And this is not something she needs to share with anypony.

But still, as she lies on the soft cloud next to her father, she can't help but feel like she can talk about this. Not because it will take a weight off her chest, but precisely because she is in a place, and with a pony, with whom she can share something as personal as this.

So, as she looks up towards her night sky, she can't help but share that little secret that she keeps in her heart.

"Dad, can I tell you a story? Something that happened a while ago?"

"Sure."

"I… I was with Silky, in my room. It was already late at night, and I could see she was about to fall asleep. She does this thing where she likes to rest on my flank while I'm larger. She says she likes my cutie mark and… and are you laughing?"

"I'm not laughing, I'm smiling. Because the image you are describing is adorable. But go on."

"Fine… but the thing is, she was almost asleep, but I was telling her about… well, about something that I couldn't get out of my mind. Something… not good. Something bad, even."

"…"

"Because I still can't quite remember my life, the one I had before I was locked away. I can't remember the details, no matter how hard I try. But I can still see how that… affected ponies. How it affected ponykind, even. To be without another Princess for a thousand years."

"Selene, dear, I… can't really imagine what your thoughts are, on this. But I think we turned out fine?"

"Yes, of course you did. But the thing is… or rather, this is what I couldn't get out of my head. I couldn't stop thinking about how things could be better, if I didn't screw up back then. Because for a thousand years, ponykind only had my sister. For a thousand years, there were monsters and dangers left unchecked. For… for a thousand years, you couldn't even sleep well, because I wasn't there to stop your nightmares and…"

"Nightmares aren't that common, dear…" the father says, only to regret it as he sees his daughter frown at him. "But I get what you are saying."

"So, I was telling Silky about that. About my fears… and regrets. Or maybe, I was just talking to myself. I mean, she was already half-asleep. And for all that Silky is very bright, I wasn't really expecting her to be a conversational partner about something that deep."

"You would be surprised," Stormchaser replies.

To which Selene can't help but laugh.

"But that's where I was getting, dad. I was surprised. Because you know what happened? You know what happened while I poured my heart out, to my little sister who was barely awake and lying on my flank? She… she said something. Three words. Barely louder than a mumble or a whisper."

She says that, and she can't help but smile as she recalls that night.

"She just said three words. I forgive you."

And Stormchaser can't help but raise an eyebrow at that.

"And you know what? I… I believed her. Then and there. Because the more I thought about it, the more I thought ponykind resented me. I know you and mom care about me and all, but I really thought ponykind as a whole hated me, for going away. But for some reason…"

She says that as she raises one of her forelegs, as if she could reach out and touch the night sky.

"For some reason, hearing a sleepy foal say those three words… Not because it was Silky, and not because I know she cares about me. But to hear a pony so young, say something so simple… while she was nearly asleep, to the point that she couldn't help but be honest? She wasn't an old judge, with a whole life of experiences and resentments on her back. She wasn't even awake. At that moment she was, down to her core, the purest and most honest expression of what a pony honestly thought… And she chose to forgive me."

Selene says that, and then she lightly taps her hoof against the air, as if she is softly knocking at a door.

And as she does that, a new star appears on the night sky.

"It felt like ponykind had forgiven me. It felt like they had chosen Silky as their representative, and she gave me their collective message. And I…"

She trails off for a few moments, and Stormchaser puts a foreleg around her, pulling her slightly towards him, as yet another breeze rocks the floating cloud.

"I was thinking about doing something stupid, before that night. I couldn't stop thinking that maybe… maybe I should be punished. Maybe I should punish myself. Because ponykind had to put up with nightmares for so long, while I was away. So wouldn't it be right for me to have nightmares as well? Didn't I… didn't I deserve to suffer?" she says.

And as he hears that, Stormchaser gives her daughter a sidelong glance, concern written on his face.

But his concern quickly fades away, as he looks at Selene's own peaceful expression. That alone tells him everything he needs to know.

"Well, I'm glad your sister got through to you," he says. "She does have a way with words, doesn't she?"

"Yeah… yes she does. And more than just that, I think she… I think she taught me something. The way I felt, after Silky told me that, it's still with me. I think I can share it with other ponies, even. I think I…"

Her words trail off. But in truth, her father understands what she is trying to say, so no further words are needed.

After that, the two of them stay there for a while. Until the moon finally reaches the top of the sky, and begins its descent towards the west horizon.

And not a single bad thing happens on that night.





Selene has completed her training, to the extent that she can train on her own. Her character sheet has been updated.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name
-[X][BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Biedde (as planner). Daughter of Axes, Mareinette, Baldomare, Selene
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Edge 3 artifact, SH 3 artifact, Heart 3 artifact, Winter 1 artifact, 1 Wrong Key (due to expire at end of turn)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Neutralize Copper.
---[X] Neutralize Neighnia.
---[X] Remove any evidence tying us to the cult.
---[X] Loot their library, artifacts, bits, and so forth, should time allow.
--[X] Anything else? (WRITE IN any other orders or specifications you have)
---[X] Minimize non-Cult casualties.
---[X] Leave as little trace or tracks as possible.
--[X] Who is going? (WRITE IN which followers will go)
---[X] Rarity (as planner)
---[X] Daughter of Axes
--[X] What are they taking? (WRITE IN what artifacts, if any, to take)
---[X] Heart 3 artifact
---[X] SH 3 artifact
---[X] Winter 1 artifact
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X][STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
-[X][SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
--[X] Cheerilee
--[X] Applejack

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.

Mareinette has left a bag at the base of your bed, for you to find when you woke up. That bag had a small pile of bits in it, as well as a splotch of blood. A note, tied to the bag, had the words "Willingly Given" written on it. You are not sure what the note was referring to. You are not sure which alternative is the worst.

100 bits have been added to your inventory.

During the follower's phase of Turn 21, you will have five additional "servant actions" at your disposal.

60 bits have been removed from your inventory.

You have recovered two points of health, and are no longer Dancing With Death.



- - -



You are Velvet Covers.

And for the first time in a very, very long time, you feel fine.

More than just that, you feel great!

For the last several days, you were able to walk around more, you were able to see more ponies, and you even managed to go through a whole day with only one nap, right after lunch.

Tomorrow, you will walk your daughters to school. Which is both a great way to convince your family to let you leave the house, as well as an opportunity to take a look around Ponyville together with Softy and Stormchaser, after having a pre-class chat with Cheerilee.

But for now, you will accept your existence in this "limbo" of sorts. Because you are well enough to have a normal day within the controlled environment that is your home, but you still agree with your husband that you don't have enough energy to go back to your usual routine.

Still, if everything goes well, you will be able to go back to the Bureau next week, and return to work. Hopefully, this week will be the last one poor Shining has to come all the way here just to give you a report. Although you did hear he has been staying for a few hours more, after speaking to you. You wonder what he has been doing during that time…

"Well, I'm sure it's either something important, or none of my business," you say to yourself. "Or maybe it's both. Shining is already a grown stallion, after all."

With that in mind, you sit down in your "hobby room", which is still a sorry work in progress, and you try to catch up to a few things you have understandably neglected these last few weeks.

Although, as you look at the intimidating pile of letters you will have to read through, you can't help but diverge your attention to other matters.

Yes, you will definitely go through your mail later. And you certainly won't push it off for Softy to read for you.

Definitely.

Certainly.

…

Hopefully.

Well, time to see what everypony else has been up to.



- - -

Spoiler: The Grave on the Hill

[Expedition: The Grave on the Hill]

[Participants: Rarity, Daughter-of-Axes]

[Artifacts taken: Heart 3, SH 3, Winter 1]



"My fair Lady Velvet Covers, here I shall inscribe the memoirs of this great adventure I have undertaken in your behalf. Do not be alarmed, my beloved! I have no intention of failing you, and you will find me more than sufficiently equipped for whatever dangers might lie ahead."


[Day 1 – Finding the grave, cd 80]

[Roll: 68 45 + 50 (Expedition bonus) + 30 (Knock total 6) = 148]

[Success]


"Reaching this place was dreadful. And the company only made it worse. That unsightly Axe mare just up and said that 'We should get off about now' during our train ride… WHILE THE TRAIN WAS STILL MOVING. And then we had to walk for more than half a day to reach this uninhabitable place. How I longed to have your company here, instead of hers, where not a pony can be seen all the way to the horizon. But ultimately, she confidently declared that a certain hill was the one we had been looking for. So this is where our work will happen."


[Day 2 – Reaching the grave, cd 90]

[Roll: 36 + 50 (Expedition bonus) + 15 (Heart total 3) = 101]

[Success]


"The work was thankless, and almost backbreaking. Never before had I ever felt the difference between an earth pony and my own unicorn self. We toiled for hours with the digging tools we had. But again and again, my magic failed me out of exhaustion, then my body, then my magic again. How I wish you were here, so we could both sweat under the sun together. So I could watch your coat glistening with the heat, as not even the dirt managed to sully your beauty. So that we could, once we reached the cool and covered destination that we had been looking for, finally-"
"We reached the place."
"And by Celestia, how did I write ten PAGES of this? I will never pick up a pen again."


[Expedition successfully completed]

Spoiler: Results

[The Grave on the Hill, results]

"Darling, you wouldn't believe how HORRID my work conditions were. That snakemare wouldn't stop cursing at me, and all I asked was why she couldn't open a path for us! I mean, isn't she good at opening things? Still, the grave itself was… old. Ancient, even. I don't know much about architecture, but even I could tell that… You know that feeling you have, that you just know a certain kind of fashion is old just by looking at it? Well, we found what were looking for, carved on the walls… Axe said she recognized it, and that it was a story of sorts. We copied the writings on the walls with clay tablets, and we brought them back. We broke the originals, mind you. Axe said that… the dead wouldn't mind. And that it would be safer, that way."


-Gained one book (Edge, Level 6. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/160. From Two Eras Ago, "-40" to deciphering rolls.)

When you asked her for more details, she sounded unusually evasive. You think she mentioned having written something, perhaps a diary of sorts, while on the expedition. But she almost immediately said she shredded it into pieces, and then burned it, after re-reading what she had penned.

A pity, you think. But ultimately, you are sure she would have told you if something truly relevant had happened.

Twenty bits have been removed from your inventory for this expedition.



- - -



There is a house, in Ponyville, that is larger than the others. In fact, it is the largest house that exists within the confines of the growing town. A house so big that it could even be described as a mansion.

However, nopony in Ponyville really thinks of that place as a mansion. For two reasons.

The first reason is that, by this point, most ponies in Ponyville have already seen what a "true" mansion looks like. Several ponies have already, at one point or the other, visited the Velvet estate, outside of town and to the east. And that, they all agree, must be what a real mansion looks like.

And second, because everypony knows that house isn't a "true" noble household. It is a very large house, yes, but it was built and maintained by bits rather than birthrights. And for all that the nobility of Equestria is a fading breed of sorts, everypony alive was still born and raised in a world where that difference matters.

But still, even though that manor-like house does not belong to a noble, today it is entertaining a noble visitor, of sorts.

She may not be noble in blood. Or at least, not a noble by Princess Celestia's grace. But she is still noble in bearing, and noble in breeding, and perhaps even noble in older and greater ways.

Still regardless of what one might think about that visitor, it would be impossible to treat her as anything but an honored guest.

"Oh, my Lady, it is so delightful to have you here today. You truly honor us!"

Spoiled Rich says that, her words coated with adoration and interest, as she entertains the latest (and perhaps most important) guest of her household.

Because truly, this is the opportunity she had been waiting for. The opportunity she always knew that she deserved. Ever since her daughter became best friends with Lady Velvet's filly, she had been trying to ingratiate herself with the noblemare. But time and again, for reasons none of which were her fault, she was frustrated again and again.

But to think that the Lady would come here? Right after she suffered the most dreadful of accidents against her health? Just to speak to Spoiled herself?

On one hoof, this was the most pleasant of surprises. But on the other hoof, this is only natural!

After all, Spoiled knows this well, precious things are attracted to precious things. And the same way a diamond necklace would become uglier if a lesser gem was added to it, so to does it make sense for high-society ponies to prefer each other's company.

It is the reason why her daughter became friends with such high-pedigree fillies. And it is obviously the reason why the Lady, who has gained the favor of alicorns, is now bringing Spoiled into her own grace.

"Still, is there anything else you want? My house, humble as it is, is your house, my Lady."

Still, despite her correct view of the world, Spoiled herself also understands her own position. She realizes that, the same way the Lady is beneath the alicorns who elevated her, that the Lady herself is above her.

So, it is only natural for her to make her dear visitor as comfortable as possible.

"M-mom… I d-don't like… please…" Diamond Tiara, her foolish daughter, speaks out of turn.

"Hush, Diamond. Our visitor asked for you to be here, so you will be a good little filly and you will stay quiet."

Still, by the life of her, Spoiled Rich cannot understand why her daughter is so uncomfortable.

Because just a few minutes into her visit, the Lady asked if she could see Spoiled Rich's daughter. So, of course she complied. And in her matronly kindness, the Lady is currently sitting in the best seat of the house, with her little Diamond Tiara neatly within the embrace of her forelegs.

And that, Spoiled knows, is a show of favor even greater than the one the Lady is extending to her!

So, no matter how hard she tries to understand, she cannot comprehend why her daughter is shivering. And she better not start crying again!

"I am so sorry for my daughter, my Lady. But as you were saying, how are things going in fair Canterlot?" she asks the Lady.

And, magnanimous as ever, her visitor gives her a regal nod, saying that all is well.



"[GRAIL]!"



Truly, Spoiled Rich is being blessed by this visit.

Although, she can't help but suppress a frown as her fool of a husband finally comes back into the living room.

And what is more, Spoiled Rich almost bristles as Filthy Rich makes to approach their guest.

"Excuse me, I am… very sorry, my Lady. But please, could I at least, you know…" he says, motioning towards the towel he is carrying on his hoof.

And sure enough, the magnanimous lady allows him to nearly touch her, as he moves to cover their daughter with the towel.

But why… how dare he do that, even?

If the Lady has chosen to drool over their daughter, as she keeps her between her forelegs, isn't that yet another show of favor towards their little Diamond?

This is just yet another thing her husband simply doesn't understand. But still, it makes her so… so…!

"[GRAIL]."

Still, just like always, the Lady deftly moves the conversation in another direction, and Spoiled Rich finds herself smiling once again.

And what is more, she is so enchanted by the ideas inside her head, that she doesn't even realize what is really happening.

In fact, nopony realizes it. Not herself, not her husband, and not even her quivering daughter.

Because yes, they are being visited by their fair Lady, but… what was her name again? Who is it again that is visiting them? What pony will they think about, whenever they remember this impossibly pleasant afternoon?

Lady…

Lady.

Lady!

Yes, of course.

Whenever they think back to this day, they will only remember what was good about it. They will only remember what was pleasant. And as the fair Lady inflates their hopes, and string them along in their dreams, they will only be able to think back to the visit itself, and will barely remember the visitor at all.

Whatever good things that happen, they will attribute it to that Lady. Of course, that being "Lady" Velvet Covers. Because what other Lady have they ever met in their lives?

And whatever bad things happen that day, they… won't really think about it. In fact, they might not even remember it at all!

Because this was such a pleasant visit that it feels more like a dream than a waking day. It is the pleasant memory of an evening spent drinking, with no following hangover to mar it. It is a blur of laughs, and mirth, and pleasant sensations that are easy to feel, but hard to truly recollect.

It is, in the end, just a visit, from an Honored Guest.

And by the end of that day, everypony feels a little better about themselves.


"What… dear Celestia, Diamond. What did you do? Go take a shower at once! No daughter of mine is going to look like… like THAT!"


Well, almost everypony.



During your visit to the Rich household, you noticed something. You realized there is a noticeable tension between the husband and the wife. You saw there is a crack between the mother and the father.

And more importantly, you had a few moments alone with Spoiled Rich herself. A small window of opportunity, where you had her full and adoring attention, during which you could say a few choice words that would impact her deeply.

What did you tell her?


[-] You told her that relationships are a commitment. And that even if she is going through a rough spot right now, that she should double down and make amends with he pony she swore to love.
-You will become Acquaintances with Spoiled Rich.
-You will encourage her to fix whatever problems she has with her husband. And she will listen to you, even if she needs a few nudges (or maybe some help) here and there.
-You would like her to become her best self. And perhaps, the two of you will grow closer as she reaches for that.
-This is, without a doubt, the healthiest option for everypony involved, in the long term.


[-] You told her that relationships are a pleasure… and an investment. And that she should not squander all the years she invested in her marriage over whatever growing problems they are currently going through.
-You will become Friends with Spoiled rich.
-You will encourage her to maintain her relationship with her husband. She might not love him anymore, but they need not hate each other. And besides, she has a daughter to raise.
-You will slowly, but surely, carve her into a sycophant. She will listen to your every word, eventually, but reaching that point will require a certain degree of care. (Spoiled Rich will more easily become a "Confidante", but will not provide any action points unless she becomes a Minion).
-This is, without a doubt, the most manipulative option.


[-] You told her that her relationships are holding her back. She can't expect to climb the social ladder with weights dragging her down, can she?
-You will become Close Friends with Spoiled Rich.
-You will encourage her to look after herself, first and foremost. And your words will be more than enough to turn whatever ideas she has in her mind into actions.
-Her relationship with her husband will deteriorate, very quickly, and you can predict you will be asked to pick a side when it inevitably falls apart. You will "play both sides" until that happens, but you should act on whatever plans you have for them before you are asked which pony you will stand with.
-This is, without a doubt, the worst option for everypony involved. Everypony, except yourself.


[Mareinette invokes "OLD INTELLIGENCE"]


Option picked:
[X] You told her that relationships are a pleasure… and an investment. And that she should not squander all the years she invested in her marriage over whatever growing problems they are currently going through.





You are now Friends with Spoiled Rich. She will be treated, narratively and mechanically, like any other regular contact. But she will not provide you with any action points unless she becomes a Minion.

You were so pleasant, and so smooth, that even your divided attention was more than enough to fill the cup of their needs. You are now Close Friends with Filthy Rich.



- - -



It is very rare for Baldomare to come to you.

Usually, you are the one hounding her. Asking her questions that she refuses to answer, or looking for the Lantern-mare for some rare non-eldritch reason. So, given your recent predicament, it is fair to say you haven't seen her much this past month. You didn't really have the energy to hound other ponies, while you were nearly dead, and the Name did not have any reason to look for you either.

However, every now and then, she reaches out to you. This kind of thing happens infrequently. Often enough for you to say it is not "rare", but not often enough for you to say it is something you are used to.

Still, as Baldomare sits opposite to you on the garden, under the shade of a parasol, you can't help but perk up your ears in interest as the she prepares herself a cup of tea.

"I just came back from Canterlot," she says without looking up from her cup, "and I think I found what we… what you are looking for."

She says that, with words that are vague enough for the nearby servants to disregard, but with a level of confidence that immediately grabs your full attention.

In fact, you can even feel your back hurt a little bit, as your body unconsciously straightens itself on your seat.

However, for all that you would like her to tell you everything as quickly as possible, you are also acutely aware of the gardener who is tending the nearby flowers. And of the nearby maid who is waiting on you. So, you bite down your tongue and hold back the several questions that are boiling inside your mind.

And if the Name of Lantern can have a subtle conversation about an important topic, you are sure that you can also keep your excitement in check.

"That is great news, Baldomare," you say, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Did you have a pleasant trip?"

Baldomare answers you with a nod, but it is the dismissive nod of a noblemare who thinks her trip was only pleasant "enough". Not great, not terrible, but pleasant enough to not call it a waste.

"The train was terribly shaky," she says. "I hope they make some improvements on the Ponyville-Canterlot line, if this town really starts growing. But the capital itself was nice enough. There were a few issues here and there, though."

You let out a low hum, for her to continue, and you patiently wait as she sips from her tea.

"For starters, the place was dreadfully crowded. But thankfully, the entourage you lent me managed to do more than just carry my luggage. So thank you for that, Lady Velvet."

She mentions a few names, of the two maids you sent with her, as well as the several ponyservants you put at her disposal. And she even tells you how she encouraged them to "take some time off" and "visit some museums" while she didn't have need for them. As long as they promised to bring her back pictures of the current displays.

"I was planning to visit several places, you see. But the pictures and the stories from your servants helped me cross a few places off my list."

"I am glad you agreed with their company, Baldomare. But you mentioned there were some… issues?"

"Yes, yes. The colt you asked to come with me? As a bodyguard?" she says, idly mentioning Comet Feet. "Well, we happened to be visiting the Royal Zoo, one day, and… let's just say that manticores seem to have a particular dislike of him. One of them even managed to break free out of its cage, mind you."

Your breath gets stuck in your throat as she so casually tells you… well, that. But the mare herself seems entirely undisturbed as she continues.

"But he's a strong colt. He will live. And he could have been quite the hero, even, given how he managed to wrestle the thing down. But unfortunately, he made his leave before anypony could talk to him, let alone before any reporters arrived at the scene. The problems of having a dark past, I suppose. He isn't the kind of colt who would like to have his picture on the papers."

You have several questions. Most of them involve the details she seems to be glossing over. And quite a few of them are queries of how angry Fluttershy will be at you.

But ultimately, Baldomare is so nonchalant about all this that you assume no permanent issues will arise from this.

Eh, what the hay. Given how lovestruck Fluttershy is, the idea of Comet getting hurt will only make her situation more dramatic and…

… and what kind of friend are you, if the first thing you think is that? Good heavens, you must be spending too much time with Rarity, and not enough time with Jade.

"But ultimately, I noticed something very… peculiar," Baldomare continues, and you immediately push away your stray thoughts as you once again focus on her words. "A place that is nearby, but also far away. A place that is old, but that has been touched by something younger. A place… that a very important pony took great pains to erase from a lot of maps."

She tells you that.

And then, she explains to you where you can find a bound and chained Outsider.

Spoiler: Rolls

[The Search, progress 0/200]

[Baldomare's Roll: 51 73 + 50 (Baldomare, searching) + 30 (Secret Histories 6) = 153]

[Comet's Roll: 1 + 10 (Intrigue) = 11]

[CRITICAL FAILURE, rolling malus… Comet Feet suffers 2 wounds]

[Servant's Roll: 79 + 10 (Velvet's unmodified intrigue) = 89]

[Total progress: 153 + 11 + 89 = 253]

[Success]

When she is done speaking, you can barely hold your teacup anymore. Even when you try to pick it up with your horn, the cup seems to shake and tremble in your grasp.

You can barely contain your excitement.

Because this… this is it.

This is the next step, for you to reach the very top of the Mansus.

This is the way towards GL-



"Mooooooom!!!"



-but suddenly, the entirety of your Glory-seeking and ambition-driven flame is snuffed out, like a candle on the wind, as you hear Silky Stream's voice coming from nearby.

"Mom! Mom! Mom! Mommy! Mooom!!!"

You blink once, twice, and you shake your head in confusion as you hear something you haven't heard in a very long time.

Because you are currently in the garden, and it is almost midday, so your daughters should be returning from school just about now. Well, given that you can hear Silky, you figure they quite literally just returned from school.

But more importantly, a smile comes to your face as you realize that Silky is… excited. She sounds happy.

And that is something you haven't heard in several weeks. A period of time that, as far as you are concerned, is way too long.

So, you immediately look towards the front gate, and sure enough there they are.

You can see Silky Stream, hopping in place as she walks towards you. Next to her is Selene, who also seems to have a complicated smile on her face. Right behind them is Soft Sweeps, who went to pick them up. And next to Softy is…

"Wha-… uncle Steppes?" you say out loud, as you get up from your seat.

"It's uncle Steppes! Uncle Steppes is here! He came to pick us up at school!!!" Silky says, speaking so quickly that she almost trips on her own words.

And you can't help but mirror your daughter's expression as you make your way towards them.

"Uncle Steppes! I am so glad you are here!"

"Of course I am, kiddo. I got your letter, and how could I say no to an invitation like that?" he says, moving to give you a heartfelt hug. "And what's this happy business about Selene calling you mom? She let that slip out, while we were on our way here. You gotta tell me your secret, kiddo," your uncle whispers in your ear during his hug.

However, he definitely "whispered" that loud enough for everypony else to hear, and you can only watch as Selene's complicated smile turns into a full blush.

"Ah, and is that Baldomare? Good Sun, it has been so long! How have you been?" your uncle says, looking at the mare who followed after you as soon as he lets go of your hug. And moments later, he is planting a kiss on Baldomare's hoof, mentioning how she looks so beautiful that she is almost dazzling to look at.

However, you can't help but feel a little confused, because the two ponies seem to be treating each other so casually that… no, it's not just that. How did your uncle already know her name to begin with?

"Hold on, have you two met before?" you ask, watching as the two ponies clearly treat each other like ponies who need not be introduced to each other.

Because it would make sense for your uncle to know her name if, say, Silky mentioned it while they were coming back home. And sure, you realize how suave your uncle usually is. But still, the way he is treating her right now feels like…

"Why, don't you remember?" Steppes answers, "Baldomare was there on your wedding ceremony! That's where we met. And I was glad to meet one of the friends you made in college. But I must say, you look even younger than on that day. It's almost as if you are made out of magic!"

"Oh, Steppes, you old charmer. You are going to make me blush," Baldomare says, holding back her laugher as your uncle continues to woo her.

But you…

… you…

How did she… she couldn't possibly…

Luckily for you, there are so many excited ponies around you that nopony really notices how stunned you are. And for several seconds, you can only look at Baldomare, wide-eyed in surprise, as your uncle casually recounts the first time he met her, all those years ago.

Well, nopony notices your shock, except for Baldamare herself.

And the Name answers your unspoken question not with words, but with a rare and knowing smile.





Your uncle Velvet Steppes will be staying at your home, during this coming month. He will not be available to "help you" as usual. And despite his pleasant demeanor, after the initial joy of his arrival passes you can see that he looks shaken. You might want to talk to him, if you have the time.

Thanks to Baldomare's efforts, you have discovered the expedition "All in."

Spoiler: Author's Note

The next update should come out today. It will include any actions remaining, including the Bureau's report, so you can have all the information that is available for you to decide your Follower's actions.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are…

By the heavens, can't you stay home for one more week? You really, really would like to stay with your family for a little more. Now that you are actually well, that is.

Because this last month wasn't really a vacation. It was more like a localized trip to Tartarus, or perhaps the less savory parts of the Mansus. But now that you are finally feeling a little better, do you really have to go back?

…

Fiiiine…

You are Commissioner Velvet Covers.

And right now, you are receiving your last report from your Deputy, before you return to Canterlot in person.

"… other than that, I am glad to see you looking this healthy, Velvet," Shining Armor says, as he puts down the report he has been reading from.

You give him a thankful nod. And to be honest, there isn't really much you can say other than just an agreement. You are just glad to be feeling better.

"Thank you, Shining. Now, regarding my return to the Bureau," you say, and the stallion immediately raises the writing pen he has on his hoof.

Because the first thing you told him, during his report, is that you will be going back to Canterlot, come next week. So, it is only natural for you two to discuss the details about that.

"First of all, I… appreciate your concern, and the care that everypony had towards me. But last week, when I finally managed to go for a walk, I realized there are way more constables here than I expected." You say that as you narrow your eyes.

And just for a moment, the stallion cringes. As if he had finally been caught in the act. But a heartbeat later, you can see him straightening his back as he prepares to stand by his decision.

"Like I said, I appreciate the Bureau's commitment to my and my family's protection. But that was a bit of an overcommitment. Have them return to their posts, in Canterlot. Or better yet, find something for all of that horsepower to do, rather than just escort a single mare around."

A glint of surprise flickers through Shining's eyes. Because, you can tell, he was expecting you to scold him a lot more than just that.

After all, you were telling the truth. And now that you can count up to ten without having a headache, you can see that the Bureau's constabulary was almost entirely dedicated to your safety. Which means, in turn, that they didn't do anything that was actually useful this month.

But still, what is done is done, and you will not be making a big deal out of it.

"So, have them return to Canterlot next week, with me. And bring me recommendations of things they can be assigned for that are actually useful."

Shining Armor begins to take notes, as you tell him that. But to be honest, the two of you already know what should be in your sights right now. You have the changelings on Tall Tale, and whatever comes out of the Manehattan investigation, to look into.

"We discussed assigning you a permanent retinue, Commissioner. Is that still on the table?" he asks, with a tone that is more than a little hopeful.

And you can't help but groan at that.

Because yes, having actual bodyguards will mean that you won't have as much privacy… but still, you know this will make several ponies feel safer. Your family included.

So, you give him a reluctant nod, and you ignore the small sigh of relief he lets out as he writes a few more notes.

"Yes, yes. Sure. Treat a noblemare like a noblemare. But I don't want too many ponies. And I don't want any unknown faces either. I have a few names in mind for who I'd like in that detail, and you can pick the rest. There were two mares, Drummer-something and her friend, that were vetted to pick up my daughters. Put them on the list. And also…"

You give him three more names that come to your mind, and then you tell him to pick the other candidates.

You also tacitly accept the fact that you will not be taking the train anymore, and that he can arrange for a flying carriage to pick you up a few days from now.

"But other than that," you finish, "I want an all-hoofs meeting first thing in the morning. I want to see everypony, I want everypony to see me, and I want us all to start this month with the right hoof."

And after a few more words exchanged between the two of you, the stallion leaves. His trot way more confident than it was when he first entered.



- - -



You had forgotten how quiet it is inside a flying chariot.

Of course, the interior is insulated by all kinds of magic. But still, having nopony to speak with for the hours-long trip is… well, it is very quiet.

It doesn't really bother you. And if it did, you know you could stretch your mental hoofs in certain directions, that you have been avoiding for now. But still, being alone for so long after spending several days with your family is rather unfamiliar.

Although you realize this won't last much longer. In fact, as you look out through the window, you can see the rooftops of Canterlot far below.

You have already reached the mountain, it seems. And the carriage should land in a few minutes on the Royal Castle.

Or at least, that is what you think will happen. But much to your surprise, you hear a knock coming from the door on the chariot's ceiling.

Which is… extremely unusual? Well, there is a door on the top of the chariot, for ponies to climb up. But to be honest, you have never seen that door be used for anything.

Still, before you can figure out what is happening, the door opens from the outside. The knock, you can tell, was more out of courtesy than anything. Because nopony on the outside would be able to hear you telling them to come in, given how windy it must be out there.

Regardless, the door opens, and you watch as the familiar figure of one of your secretaries falls into the chariot. The pegasus stallion, Night Spark, is clearly out of breath. And what is even more unusual, he seems to be carrying a suitcase in his mouth.

"Commissioner!" he says, almost yells, as he tries to put his breath under control. And in truth, you can barely hear him thanks to the howling wind coming from the door.

But the stallion looks at you, his eyes wide-open almost in a panic, and he continues to speak before you can do anything else. In fact, he doesn't even seem to notice that you just lit up your horn to close the roof-door.

"Commissioner, I just spoke to the pilots!" he says, as he frantically opens the suitcase, revealing your full uniform inside of it. Badge and all. "You are going to land directly on the Bureau. Not on the Royal Castle."

"What? Why? I… I scheduled a full meeting, but it should be a bit closer to midday? What's the rush?" you ask, feeling a pang of concern at the stallion's own frantic mood.

"It's the Princess! Princess Celestia, that is. She came unannounced. She's in the underground right now!"

Your eyes go wide. And you almost feel the chariot lurching, even though the dampening magic, as the chariot screeches to a landing halt in the Bureau's hangar.

And you are almost galloping out of the chariot, in full uniform, the moment your constables open the door for you.



- - -



Princess Celestia is here.

In the Bureau.

On an unannounced visit.

And from what you heard, she went straight to the underground section.

Everypony who works at the Bureau knows what that means.

After all, she also probably keeps a tight hoof on Eclipse. She knows, or has ways to know, about any communication between the Bureau and them. Consequently, she is one of the few ponies who would know about whatever requests you make to the mysterious researchers.

Including… including any "freak-checks" you ask from them.

In hindsight, the only surprise you have is that something like this did not happen earlier.

"Down there, Commissioner," a constable says, as he stands guard on the entrance to the high-security prison.

You can tell from the constable's expression that he is… nervous. And you do not blame him.

You too would be nervous if you were here.

Especially given how…

"The… uh, the smell, Commissioner, we started feeling it some thirty minutes ago… And the Princess has not come up this entire time."

… especially given how there is a horrible stench, coming from the entrance to the prison-section.

"Thank you. I will go see the Princess. And… don't let anypony follow," you say.

The constable gives you a quick, hard nod.

And then, you begin to make your way down.

The high-security prison of the Bureau is, like all of its important facilities, deep underground. It is a section that was carved out of the mountain itself, and reinforced by means and methods that you only understand from an academic perspective.

Still, as you make your way down the solid-stone steps, you can't help but feel…

Disgusted.

There is a stench, coming from the depths. A horrid smell that reminds you of sulfur, or maybe charred meat, or perhaps something worse that you only ever felt in your dreams.

However, there is nothing you can do but soldier on. And when you finally reach the bottom of the stairs, and pass the heavy metal doors, you find the pony you are looking for.

You find the pony who is responsible for this.

"My Princess."

You find Princess Celestia.

…

The alicorn looks as regal as ever. Her coat is a spotless white, and her jewels are polished to a golden shine. Like always, she seems to be more than twice your height, and the added height of her horn makes her taller than even Mareinette.

She is the guiding sun of ponykind. The eternal leader of Equestria. The wise ruler holding the reins of your species.

Or rather, that is what you would normally think… until you looked at her face.

Princess Celestia is sitting down on the ground. Her posture is straight and proper, yes. But still, she is sitting on the ground, and she is not looking at you.

She is currently sitting down and facing a particular cell. She is facing a particular cell which, you know, has the most important prisoner that the Bureau ever captured. She is looking at the cell where you are keeping the first changeling you ever imprisoned.

And her face is… her expression is…

She is looking at that cell with an expression you can only describe as manic.

Princess Celestia's eyes, you can see from the sideways perspective you have, are wide open. Her mouth is shut tight, and her lips are a tight line, but you can still tell she is clenching down with her teeth.

You also swear that the mare isn't breathing. Or at least, you can't see her chest moving, even as the seconds stretch by.

And most worrying of all, her entire face bears the complexion of a pony who seems to be inches away from snapping.
"… you are right… does make me feel better and…"
You also think, you think she is mumbling something to herself. But by the life of you, you can't be sure.

After all, for all that there is a dangerously unstable alicorn in front of you, you also have the rest of the room calling your attention to it.

Because the cell that Princess Celestia is facing, the cell that is holding the imprisoned changeling… well, it is better to say that it was holding your changeling prisoner.

After all, the cell is currently in shambles.

The metal door on its front is completely melted, and is currently a half-formed pile of slag on the floor. The very stone of its walls look cracked, as if it was flash-heated by something and it crumbled under the speed of its own expansion. And finally the magical wards that should like the wall are completely gone. As if a spell of great intensity was used inside the jail cell, which overpowered the wards until they burned away.

Put all those things together, and you can understand why… why the changeling itself is nowhere to be seen. You don't even see a pile of ashes.

All that is left of it is the smell.
"… what they deserve… what they all deserve… yes… we should…"
"My… my Princess?" you try again, this time a little more loud.

You realize you are walking on very thin ice, and that the sun above this ice is very hot indeed. But still, you can't think of a better alternative.

Letting the Princess stay her by herself, alone with whatever is in her thoughts, feels like a horrible idea. And given how you are in charge of the Bureau, by her own orders, you are the one and only pony who she could possibly accept to meet right now.

Although you can feel your sweat dampening your fur, as the seconds stretch long.

Until finally, the Princess blinks, and her expression softens ever so slightly.

After that, she takes a long, deep breath, and turns to face you after standing up.

"Commissioner Velvet Covers," she says, her voice heavy and forceful, as if she is only half-paying attention to you. "I trust you did not need your prisoner anymore."

You suppress the urge to gulp. You don't think she would notice it, even if you did, given how unfocused her eyes seem. But still, you dare not risk it.

Still, you are not sure if she asked you a question or not. Because her tone definitely sounded more like a statement.

So, you can only nod your head at her. And hope that, whatever she interprets from it, will be to her liking.

"I also heard of your findings in Tall Tale. As well as the attempt against your life," she says.

And for a moment, you wait. You wait because you can see that she is thinking. You can tell that her focus, as fractured as it may be, is centering itself as she speaks those words.

You wait, because you hope she will say something else. You hope she will say something more. Some expression of what she would like the Bureau to do next. Some mention of what she thinks you should prioritize.

Because given how frayed she looks, you definitely would like to know what she thinks is more important. Anything to give you another month of productivity. Another month where she isn't more disappointed at yourself, or ponykind.

But unfortunately…

"… it seems you have quite a lot on your hoofs," she finishes.

And you are not sure if this means she just does not care, or if this is yet another test to see what you will do next.

She says that and, without another word, she moves to leave. You nearly jump to the side, to give her a wide berth, and you swear you can feel the air heating up, as she walks past you.

You do not dare to go after her. You do not dare to speak. Because you are sure that a single misstep could be… bad. Very bad.

Perhaps as bad as it was to your former prisoner.
"… ah… yes, you are right… we should…"
But the Princess mumbles something, under her breath, and then she turns to face you once again.

And on the next moment, you FREEZE.

Because when Princess Celestia turns towards you, she doesn't just look at you. She stares at you. The alicorn of the sun turns her eyes towards you, and in them you can see the unmistakable light of Lantern.

It is a small light. Candle-strong and maybe not even that. But still, it is there, present and unmistakable.

And in that single, horror-filled moment, you can see that she is searching. You cannot tell what she is looking for, but you can feel the attempt.

But thankfully, thankfully, the overlapping folds you have over your soul means that she doesn't find anything.

The only thing Princess Celestia's gaze can see is… a mare. One who is loyal to her family, and to ponykind, and to everything else that is good and proper.

"… nothing there…" you hear her mumble, this time a little louder than before.

And after that, she is gone. Leaving you alone, with the charred smell of carbonized bug-flesh, and the painful pounding of your own heart.

Because you can tell that, had she seen something inside of you… anything that shouldn't be there, anything at all… the last thing you would see would have been the burning glare of the sun.





Princess Celestia is right now, at the beginning of turn 21, Lantern 1.

Velvet Covers is now aware that she must not allow Celestia's Lantern to reach her own Moth level.



- - -



You… delayed your meeting, with the Bureau. You considered pushing it off to the next day. But ultimately, you had everypony gather in the meeting room in the afternoon.

Because you needed a few… minutes, after that.

But ultimately, you were able to catch up to speed with the Bureau.

Specifically, your investigators were able to brief you on everything they have discovered to far, in Manehattan, as they followed the trail of your attackers.

First of all, they discovered that your attackers were hired by a criminal organization known as the "Gardeners". A gang-slash-crime-syndicate that started flourishing in the Manehattan underworld a few months ago.

The dossier your detective give you, a summarized copy of what Iron Button had on display during his presentation, was impressive, to say the least. And they already had the name and cutie mark of several ponies-of-interest, including some pictures.

Furthermore, they even confirmed who the gang's leader was. And they presented you with a preliminary profile of one Copper Secateur, as well as a written description of what her cutie mark should look like.

All of that was frighteningly accurate. And not for the first time you remember the pedigree of the ponies who work for the Bureau.

However, their investigation made an interesting turn when they located the gang's headaquarters. Which turned out to be the building that suffered a magical explosion one day before the detectives tracked your assailants to Manehattan.

"We suspect this was the result of infighting, Commissioner," Iron Buton said, both to you and to the other team-leaders gathered there. "Once they realized their hit against you failed, and that we would come for them, we suspect they staged a coup against this Copper mare. Although we haven't yet discarded other reasons, such as an attempt to cover their tracks."

Following that, they run you through everything they have found. Lists of items, addresses, and trails they could try to follow. A detailed inventory of all the relevant that was gathered.

You make a show of reading through all the lists, but you already knew what was on it the moment you touched it.

You notice that they did not find anything that resembles a Windigo jar. However, you also see an item that reads "a safe, now unlocked, with documents", as well as the writings Selene had planted. It's all there.

A few questions reveal to you that those items are currently being analyzed by the Bureau's forensics department. And your mention that you will want a report on any of their findings is met with a quick set of nods, and a few notes being taken.

Whatever might come from these items, or however you decide to dispose of some of them, will have to be decided… later, over the course of this month.

"And finally, we have compiled a list of all perps, suspects, and collaterals that were involved with the Gardeners, or the attempt against you. The constables should be able to round them up at your discretion, Commissioner, although we advise that you do it sooner rather than later," Iron Button finishes his presentation.

"An investigation can only be too subtle, before we need to start flashing badges," Beyond Reproach chimes in, driving Button's point home. "The cockroaches know we were sifting around Manehattan, and they will start running if we don't come for them soon."

You give them all a long, slow nod, as you think about all your options.

"Thank you all," you say, "I will take that under advisement."

The moment you stand up, everypony else follows suit. The entire room waiting in silence as yourself, and then Shining Armor and your secretary, file out of the room.

And your orders begin to trickle down to the Bureau at large before the end of the day.



- - -

FOLLOWERS PHASE​

Velvet Covers currently has 4 personal actions to use on her own phase. (4 base, none previously used).

The following options must be included in your plan, and they are "preliminary" to this turn:

Would you like to Leash somepony? (This option will also be available on Velvet's Phase)
-[] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[] Do not leash anypony.


Would you like to keep Baldomare's summons?
-[] Gift Baldomare your Level 6 book.
-[] Gift Baldomare a Level 5 book (write-in which)
-[] Do not gift Baldomare any books, and allow her to leave. (This is the wrong option)


You currently have FIFTEEN/SIXTEEN (depending on your decision to Leash Filthy Rich) Follower actions.

Spoiler: Follower breakdown

Rarity: 1
Jade Whistle: 1
Fluttershy: 1
Filthy Rich: 1 (UNCERTAIN)
Baldomare: 1
Mareinette: 1
Velvet Axe: 1
Biedde: 1
Selene: 2
Household servants: 1
One-time use servants: 5

Spoiler: Things to keep in mind

Additional notes:
-It is important to understand that you are still "under the weather" this turn. Mechanically, you are at maximum health with no debuffs. But narratively, you will still be a bit beaten, and slowly improving, to the point that you will be perfectly healthy at the end of this month.
-Which is another reason of why your Fleeting Opportunities are so "personal", and more ambitious Fleeting Opportunities are not being offered.
-Certain Bureau-specific actions (such as the result of your blackmail option, and a chance to address your lost Manuscripts) will take place during the turn. No actions need to be invested in them. For now, plan this turn with the information you currently have.
-The following Fleeting Opportunities will be available this turn:
--Your family is still rattled. Address that. (May be done with your "free" social action. May NOT be done by Mareinette, as Velvet herself would not allow it) (Not picking this action will risk NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES)
--Your friends are still worried about you. Reach out to them. (May be done with your "free" social action. May be performed by Mareinette. May ALSO be performed by your "Commissioner" action, but if so it will ONLY address Cadance)
--Your uncle appears to be shaken. Talk to him. (May be done with your "free" social action. May be done by Mareinette)
-Finally, a reminder that "Training Selene" costs NO actions for Selene herself (her "Diligent" trait will cover it), and can be done with Velvet's own "free" social action.

Current bits: 409 (196 from previous turn, 160 from monthly salary, 53 from Rarity's dividends)


The Lunar Bureau

Spoiler: Orders, Commissioner?

General notes:
-Velvet Covers may NOT "tamper with evidence" of anything the Lunar Bureau captures.
-The Lunar Bureau has no knowledge of the Lores. They might miss Lore-related things, or might not know how to react to them, if Velvet Covers is not personally involved.
-Velvet Covers MAY "plant evidence" in advance, in an already-explored expedition site or somewhere you direct the Bureau to go. Consult with QM for details, to write-in a Velvet action aimed at that.


Pick ONE of each.


You don't have many detectives, but the ones you do are the best of the best. What should they focus on this month?
-[] [DETECTIVES] Despite their friendly nature, ponies are capable of crimes just like any other intelligent creature. Have them investigate crimes at large, in the several cities of Equestria. (Less impactful in the grand scheme of things. But helps the Bureau keep a good image, and decreases the "tension" of the population at large, as the world becomes a worse place)
-[] [DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[] [DETECTIVES] Nudge them in the… "correct" direction. Put them on the trail of one of your Opponents. (WRITE IN which Opponent. Sets the Bureau to investigate a pony you have a personal problem with)


Former constables, ex-Guards, defenders, one and all. They are not perfectly suited for investigations, but the Bureau needs muscles. And these ponies provide.
-[] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN one VELVET action for the next phase)
-[] [CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[] [CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[] [CONSTABLES] Plan and execute a raid. Within Equestria, or anywhere else that is needed. (WRITE IN an Expedition, OR an Opponent the Bureau has investigated. The Bureau will attempt to perform the Expedition, or will assault an Opponent)
-[] [CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Adds four additional ponies as bodyguards to your retinue, for this turn only)


Of course, now that you have a better handle of this, you can find the time to pursue other endeavors while in Canterlot.
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Some of the ponies in the Bureau are more important than the others. Get to know them better.
--[] Shining Armor, your Deputy.
--[] Beyond Reproach, your finest detective.
--[] Spend time with somepony else. (Discover, and talk to, another key figure)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[] The Solar Court, and Fair Trial.
--[] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Get your hoofs dirty. (Participate in the "Investigators" actions. And join the "Constables" in a raid/Expedition, if they are ordered to do a raid/Expedition)

Exclusive actions

Spoiler: You are the only one I can trust with this

Picking an action from any of these lists will "ensure/lock" that pony to that action, and that follower will not be available for the pool of "general actions".


Rarity (3 health, GRAIL 3, FORGE 1)
-[] [RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[] [RARITY] Take a commission. (Gain at least 100 bits immediately, will "fail" her career roll)
-[] [RARITY] Focus on her studies, and learn more of the Lores. (SECRET LIBRARY INSUFFICIENTLY LEVELED)
-[] [RARITY] Something else? (WRITE IN)


Jade Whistle (3 health, LANTERN 4, HEART 2)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." (Let her do what she wants, and hopefully rest)
-[] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[] [JADE] Something else? (WRITE IN)


Fluttershy (3 health, WINTER 1, UNKNOWN nonexistent)
Comet Feet (2/4 health, EDGE 4)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask Comet to Guard your home.
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Focus on her studies, and learn more of the Lores. (No longer allowed, as per your deal with Comet)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Something else? (WRITE IN)
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Something else from your… mutual frient? (WRITE IN to ask Comet Feet for something)


Baldomare (2 health, LANTERN 6, SECRET HISTORIES 6)
(Baldomare will expire at the end of turn 23)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Ask for a lesson on the Lores. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [BALDOMARE] "Go have fun." (WRITE IN how many bits, at least 100, that she is allowed to spend to find something interesting)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Prolong her stay. (WRITE IN an unread book, of level 5 or higher, to gift her. This is a FREE ACTION and will "reset" her summoning period to the beginning of next turn.)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Something else? (WRITE IN)


Mareinette (??? Health, GRAIL 6, HEART 6)
(Mareinette's bindings will expire at the end of turn 22)
-[] [MAREINETTE] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Have her speak with your friends, in your stead.
-[] [MAREINETTE] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Have her meet your uncle, in your stead.
-[] [MAREINETTE] Ask for a lesson on the Lores. (WRITE IN Lores)
-[] [MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to… (WRITE IN a pony for her to speak with in, "stepping into" your horseshoes).
-[] [MAREINETTE] Something else? (WRITE IN)


The Daughter-of-Axes (5 health, KNOCK 6, EDGE 3)
(The Daughter-of-Axes' bindings will expire at the end of turn 21)
-[] [AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[] [AXE] Ask for a Knock Influence.
-[] [AXE] Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire after five turns. Only once per summoning.)
-[] [AXE] Something else? (WRITE IN)


Biedde (5 health, EDGE 6, MOTH 3)
(Biedde's bindings will expire at the end of turn 21)
(Biedde will automatically "Guard" you as a free action)
-[] [BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge lesson.
-[] [BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[] [BIEDDE] Something else? (WRITE IN)


Selene (6 health, MOTH 3, EDGE 3, WINTER 3, KNOCK 3)
(As an alicorn, Selene has TWO actions per turn)
(Choosing to further train Selene will not cost any actions from Selene herself, only from Velvet Covers)
-[] [SELENE] You need her to talk to somepony about… (WRITE IN whose dreams she will enter)
-[] [SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[] [SELENE] Something else? (WRITE IN)

General actions

Spoiler: Could anypony please…?

Do NOT specify what follower will perform which actions. Followers who are not busy performing "exclusive actions" will perform whatever you choose here, based on who is best suited for it.
Any action may be picked several times. Write in a note specifying if you want that to happen.


-[] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)


-[] You need somepony to search for a more "peculiar" artifact. (Search for a random artifact to buy)


-[] You have contacts in Ponyville, that can find you exactly what you need. Reach out to them. (Write in LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. A suitable matching artifact will be available for purchase, but will be more expensive than normal)


-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
--[] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.


-[] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
--[] Search for a place that is old in its History. Where the influence of the Mansus is but an echo, but that can still be heard in the wind. (Search for an intermediary expedition)
--[] Search for a place that should be better left forgotten. According to the powers of this Era, at least. Finding it will be hard, though, and uncovering its secrets even harder. (Search for a very hard expedition)


-[] You need to learn more about this. Send a pony to better scout a known expedition site. (WRITE IN which expedition to scout)


-[] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition. (Will cause an "Expedition planning" vote to occur, later this turn. If the expedition is not a "short" one, you must pick this action as many times as you want followers to participate in it.)


-[] Needs must. Ask somepony to procure you a dead body from the local cemetery.


-[] There really is no other way. Ask somepony to get you a live prisoner. (You have no place to keep live prisoners)


-[] You need somepony to perform this ritual… (WRITE IN ritual, and its target)
--[] To be performed in Jade's house (up to two-circle rituals)
--[] To be performed... somewhere, where you hope nopony will catch wind of it.


-[] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual (WRITE IN what Lore, VELVET gains one Attention of the Laws in the Lore. May be picked multiple times.)

-[] Attack your foe, or defend yourself. In war, there is no other option.

Spoiler: Opponents

"They might not be your enemies, but they are definitely not your friends."
(Knowing, or at least suspecting, an opponent's location is vital for a non-ritual action to succeed. Otherwise, the pony sent will spend their action investigating an opponent's whereabouts)


Defend your home. Because you can't keep fighting if you are dead.
--[] [GUARD] You would very much like to keep this safe.
(Followers ordered to GUARD will always participate in combat if a foe, or some other faction, tries to attack you during this turn)
(Followers ordered to GUARD will NOT magically teleport to Velvet if she decides to start a combat of her own accord, in another narrative/mechanic situation, and they will not be present during combats that occur during expeditions.)
(If you are not attacked during this turn, any GUARD action taken will have no effect.)


Windy Flakes (possible location unknown)
--[] [WINDY] Send somepony to attack this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Send somepony to locate, or spy on, this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN what ritual)
--[] [WINDY] Attempt to contact this opponent (WRITE IN what to discuss if successful)

"Cover your bases"
(You may only pick ONE of the following options)
-[] One extra Velvet action! (Costs 2 follower actions)
-[] Two extra Velvet actions! (Costs 5 follower actions)
-[] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[] Four extra Velvet actions! (Costs 14 follower actions)


-[] Something else? (WRITE IN)





It is very unlikely this post is perfect. Kindly point out any mistakes you notice.

And as always, ask whatever you wish to ask, and suggest whatever needs suggesting.

Twenty-four hours of moratorium. Extendable, if requested.

I hope you are all doing well!

 

[spiderhellian]

A Guest is Honoured

It was a lovely evening in Ponyville. The sun's last rays still kissed the horizon. The air hung like a warm shawl, with but the occasional sweet breeze to disturb it. It was the kind of evening where friends and family gather after a day spent apart.

In one part of Ponyville, that was exactly what was happening. Two stallions were sitting down -- well, one was laying down, his ribs were still bruised -- the room lit sunset-orange as they passed a bottle of wine between them. The maids clustered as the day shift swapped over to the night shift, sharing jokes and the day's gossip. In a small courtyard, a hoofful of fillies played, not even imagining that bedtime creeps ever nearer.

Or that one creature did -- ah, no. This evening, she does not.

Tonight, in a small out-building, a Monster lays the table.

---

The world is askew. She could feel it the very first time she tread its soil with her -- let's call them hooves. She can sense all the earth's beats, the rhythms that shape it from morning to night, and they reverberate differently now.

She knows this bothers one of her fellow guests, reminds another to adjust his aim, and has caused a third no small amount of consternation.

She, on the other hand, doesn't mind it one bit. Perhaps she steps a little more truly, sees the sights more faithfully, than those who merely deign to lend the Wake a fragment of their attention.

After an era spent thirsting, why would she not give this land her full attention?

She is not some dainty Noblemare, treading lightly as if she walked with porcelain horseshoes, ever afraid of expressing an opinion or desire for fear of what the gossip rags might say the next day, or what unspoken rule of etiquette might be smudged with an ounce's dirt, or that it wouldn't be proper.

The plates on the table rattle as she laughs, CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK-CLACK.

For it seems -- surprisingly! -- tonight's guest is not either.

She had long thought otherwise. That first evening set the tone, when the whips of etiquette and the bindings of summoning had been wielded so harshly against one who solely meant to admire. The next few months were not much better, as her ostensible host invited over guest after guest she deemed sufficiently refined, while leaving Her out in the cold. She had to beg and plead merely to offer her host a gift that none of those snooty stayers-on even dreamed of providing!

Then there had been a visit, not one fortnight prior. A gift, and a promise. While any haughty Noble would consider groceries a paltry gift, to Mareinette they weighed more than gold. Precious metals could never produce that intoxicating aroma drifting in from the kitchen.

That visit had left her oh-so-busy, there's always a rush when you're having people over. It left her thinking, as well.

Perhaps her host, too, esteemed desire, more than she esteemed the cage that so often surrounds it. Perhaps she respected it, as a lion-tamer respects a lion, or a tornado-chaser respects a storm. Perhaps she knows the oenophile always at least samples a vintage, trying a drop and a sniff, before rejecting it out of turn.

Perhaps not. Perhaps, instead, it was merely out of respect for Her. Thankfully, there is little difference between the two.

With the last of the table decorations laid out, Mareinette is complete. She is tempted to check on the food, but all this work has left her simply ravenous, and it wouldn't do to pick at the meal ahead of time. That, at least, is a rule of etiquette she will obey.

She steps back, and surveys what she has prepared. She is proud of what she has accomplished. Perhaps this, too, leaves the world a little less askew. The knives are well-honed, the crystal goblets are full, and the table merely awaits its centerpiece.

And the guest of honour, of course, who does her honour in turn. But look, there she comes now!

Spoiler

I don't think Mareinette's sacrament is going to indelibly corrupt Velvet. It's not going to make her into a filly-hungry monster. It's not going to be a stain on our hooves that bleeds into the Glory. It's not going to turn the Pony we know into a monster, or take decisions out of our hands.

It's about respect. For Mareinette and for desire. For Grail. The kind of lesson a Sacrament is made of.

It takes a degree of honour, to make our Honoured Guest a friend. We have forced her to obey our desires, and disrespected hers. To have her truly honour those desires, and respect them in turn, we need to at least give her a shred of doing the same.

 

[Artemis_Fowl_2nd]

For Harmony and Love! – A Princess Cadance Quest​

Spoiler: current objective

Enjoy the wedding!

"I do."

And you truly mean it. Today is the happiest day of your life, and this moment is pure magic. You are officially married! Everything feels flawless—your husband, your dress, your day, and the celebration. Could it all be too perfect? Surely not. What a silly thought. As your beloved leans in for the "kiss the bride," you lose yourself in sheer joy.

The cheers and warm wishes pour in, and soon, you're at the heart of your perfect party. How is it going?


[Love!, breakpoints 50/100/150/250/400/500]

[Roll: 100 (banked crit spent) + 10 (stewardship) + 15 (Alicornae Level 3) + 100 [COLOR=ff4da6]Chosen of Love[/COLOR]+ 10 (Courtly Experience) + 30 Generosity's aid + 50 (maid of honor) + 25 (random event roll) + 100 (The... proper sacrifices) + 25 (P E R F E C T) + 25 (city prepared) +5 (prepared your whole life) +5 (weather factory) +50 (points to Gryffindor!)= 500]

[total roll 500, final breakpoint reached! oh dear]

Its perfect, obviously. Why would you even bother to check? Rarity was so wonderful with the dress, and Velvet rallied the staff so well, the coordination and preparations have gone so well. Has there ever been a party half as perfect? It's kind of going beyond a party. Indeed, its gone beyond being just a party a while ago. The entire nation must be celebrating at once, all across Equestria, celebrating your perfect day.

All throughout Equestria, trumpets blare, drums beat, and whatever refreshments can be found are passed around. For almost all of ponykind, celebration beats loud, almost loud enough to wake the dead. And why not? If any dead ponies where to join up, who cares? Hand em a flask, join the fun! In truth, it hasn't ever been so loud with joy, so bright with extravagance, not since beyond recorded memory, when the lord sun traveled the sky on his own power.

Certain things remember those times, and isn't it perfectly natural that their attention be drawn to the party of the millennium? They cannot attend, being dead and gone ages ago. But their echos, the habits and peculiarities left on the world? Those seem to be in attendance, winding their nonexistent way through the actions of the guests, giving just the slightest edge meaning and weight to anything they approve of. Such attention has not been seen amongst the waking world for such a terribly long time. It is attention that the learned of old would have killed for. So, it would be best not to waste it.

But enough about waking and attention, it's time to enjoy the party! What activities will you partake in?
Pick 3
Would have prepared the circle, 7 ponies arranged around the last, all skilled and with their ritual implements prepared. They would know what was coming.
[Z] Dance with your beloved!
-Enjoy the music, and have some quality time with Shining Armor (Gives marriage xp)
-It feels like you would never need to stop~
-(???)
Would have started the ritual, the first pony on the drums, beating them to the song in his heart. Would have silenced the heart, your dagger through it, but the beat of the drums does not stop
[Z] Head to the refreshments table
-Is that Rarity, the bearer of generosity?
-She will share with you certain tips that she surely never used herself, but that she knows would be of use to a married mare.
-(???)
Would bleed the neck of the next pony, into a golden goblet, and they would drink it, as if to replenish what was lost. Would have torn herself apart, desperate for more of that precious crimson liquid.
[] Leave the party
- Caring naught where you go, for isn't the entire world your party now?
- Will lead to unexpected opportunities.
-(???)
Would shear first the mane, then the fur, then the skin, then the bone, stopping only when the jerking stops. You make sure to not let any fragments escape the circle. and they will try.
[Z] Say hello to Celestia
- You can see her atop her tower, why not fly up and greet her?
- Everyone could see you
- Will not reduce Celestia's ire, but could have other positive results
- (??????)
Would draw the intensity of the sun's glare, through thousands of carefully placed mirrors and lenses. Would not, you could not look away until naught but ash remains.
[] Watch the fireworks
- Sit with your beloved for the show.
- Perhaps you could try adding some of your own? (will give magic xp)
- (???)
Would reforge the knife, originally this sacrifice's work, and this time, to be quenched in its creator's blood. Would take multiple blows, they were a hardy pony
[] Join the games
- There are plenty of ponies setting up games of strength and skill, they would be overjoyed to have you.
- They gladly let you join further games, later. (physical xp now, with the contacts for further opportunities)
- (???)
Would stab, and stab and stab and stab, wearing down your knife on this monster of a pony whos body resists such things
[] Stay till the end
- There is a certain beauty in the end of things. But this one may not come for a long time.
- Will lead to additional, lesser, opportunities.
-(??????)
Would finally shatter the blade on this, the final? Sacrifice, leaving you cold and unarmed into the final pieces
[] Throw open the gates
- Will let in anyone from the city to your party
- Will improve your standing with the populace (is that even possible? they love you)
-(???)
Would drag the handle across the center pony, perfectly harmless, yet the wounds appear all the same, openings like the skin becoming unzipped
Something else?
-You may not choose this option, you haven't chosen it.
-Have you?
-If you have some spare time in the future, why not spend it here?
Would stand there, chest heaving, in the circle of dead ponies. You know theres one more sacrifice, but where is it? You have to complete the set, you know the circle isn't finished, you need the one on top. You know you had enough ponies when you started, but for the life of you, you cant recall. As the corpses stand up, and descend upon you, their own knives ready, you realize. The last sacrifice, is the only living pony remaining.
(The room would now have the Attention of the Laws)
(Or, you could throw a really nice party)

Spoiler

I am so late on this lmao. Intended to get this out even before the wedding finished.
technically a continuation of my omake here.

Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience Crossover - Mature - Users' Choice!

You are part of a cult. In Equestria. What started out as a very interesting book club meeting finally crossed "that" threshold when you realized the ceremonial knife on the wall wasn't just ornamental. But by then, you had already started agreeing with their point of view. The only thing you DO...

forums.sufficientvelocity.com

I swear I spend a normal amount of time fantasizing about how to murder pastel ponies. and relating that to a wedding.
This is leading up to something i think is clever, been meaning to do this since the quest was on SV. I am cooking.
tried really hard to get the vibes going right.

 

[Maer]

Edit: Might help if I specified.

Omake

1. Background

You are Velvet Covers.

It's a harrowing thought, one that inspires fear in those around you who know of your reputation, your name, your accomplishments and your deeds. The trail of improbable and downright impossible acts that had rendered you a hardened, impossible Mare of fire, determination, and Spite. At least, the public persona you had crafted so painstakingly carefully followed such. None knew who you were on the inside, nor should they- that was a cold, lonely place with space reserved for but a few people- your beloved Stormy, your sweet Silky, and dear Cadence. You had begun carving out another pair of sacrosanct alcoves for one 'Twilight Sparkle' and Cadence's beloved Shining, but this... as things stood, that had more time before they could truly be considered to have a place wholly in your heart.

It started in a Bar, when a single Mare spoke to you, and offered you a secret. Not just any secret either... a Secret. A thing of whimsy and foals-tales. And yet... Moth. No... not Moth... Moth. It was a frightful, worrying and devastating thing, and it had seemed so innocent. A few meetings, a few acquaintances, a 'book club'. But then... well, Stormy asked a question one morning, and you realized you lied to him. It was so easy, so startlingly, frighteningly easy... and it rankled something within. To know that you could so easily mislead your beloved after everything he'd done for you... some echo of Love seemed to tickle at you and tell you that this was NOT the right thing to do. So you'd stepped back, told him everything including the Lores... and left the cult. You'd maintained your connection with Copper, though. After all, you'd had so few friends, and it was so comforting to have Copper as a friend.

For her part, Copper kept you abreast of the Cult's growth and general goals- the Worms... they worried you. You offered bits and aided in expeditions where you could, but your main focus remained on Silky and Stormy. Lantern to do your duty a bit better, Moth because it held a... special place in your heart... Secret histories because it was needed on the expeditions and searching for books and Artifacts. And just a hint of Winter as you offered Windy's establishment patronage and had somewhat befriended him.

Then Luna fell, and the world slipped into Chaos. You tried to help, and when no one could manage things, you delved DEEP into your Lantern and Moth, Sneaking past the guards in your way, Stepping sideways through places that should have been blocked off, but weren't for you, and once you reached the tent where your skills were needed, you considered Lantern, but decided that your daughter's friend demanded a purely Pony effort for this. At least where others could see... so you grabbed your knowledge and experience as a Mother and you bent the stallions in that into shape. It was your first scraps of Edge and Forge at once.

Winter grew with practice as you delved into it to resist fatigue and remain calm and clear-headed. You slowly fell more and more into the Lores that bound you like chains, your Sacraments untested as of yet- but you finished that trial of your Moth during the search, in the worst possible way, after so closely befriending a secretary you would never meet again... You had your regrets, but it gave you that extra fluttering insight to guide your whimsy in ways that led to fewer deaths, some connection to the darkness allowing you to guide the other ponies away from the tripwires and pitfalls within it. Still, it was a struggle every single day, and you ended up begging Copper for lessons in Grail to help you manage things better. You rapidly grew to nearly the third tier, your own realization growing as she sent you manuscripts and you sent them back with your own version of the relevant level scrap written down. You refused to leave debts unpaid, after all.

Then Celestia appeared. The pain in her eyes, the loss, the exhaustion... you knew that feeling. It was one you had worn yourself in the past, when Silky had gotten lost in the market on a day out and had stayed missing for hours thinking it was a game of hide and seek. You refused any repayment. You couldn't... not with that. Not with... that. Even you weren't so horrible a being as to demand payment for something like this. And Celestia... she... she saw you. That shook you to your core. She saw you, broke past your weak Winter and shallow grail, the sincerity in it bypassing the Moth you wore as a mask. It was too honest, too pure. Too... too horribly relatable. It burned the shriveled wretch you knew you were inside with the warmth of compassion and gratitude you didn't deserve.

She thanked you, and left. It hadn't been long ago, and now you had managed to find the time and place to personally scry the location of the lost princess, your Lantern and SH enough that you could easily slip there ahead of time. You brought Stormy with you, his awareness having only grown as he'd delved deep into the Lore of SH, and dabbled in Grail for... more intimate reasons. But together, it was enough. It was expensive and difficult, but you found... her. And together, you had met the parents who asked you to help her, save her... be gentle with her. You had promised. You knew how Celestia would be if she found Luna like this, so you hid her, and brought the girl home... and began to fall for her. Another trembling space carved and etched into the cold embrace of your heart without you even noticing. Until it was far, far too late to be concerned about it.

You had begun studying the Lores more proactively, fixating on previously uncared for avenues of growth and power in earnest; determined to aid your new daughter in her recovery, though it was slow-going thanks to the simple need to collect the manuscripts and then study them, and then return them with repayment on the investment. You had asked Copper if she knew what had caused Luna's disappearance, and she'd been... sick. A few words of comfort, and she explained. Your horror mingled with her own doubts, and together, you set up something of a separate Cult. A place where she could work on righting her wrongs. But it wouldn't be enough alone, and you trusted her to build relations between her, and yourself, and the other Inner Circle members.

For a time, that had been enough. Comet was softening as he gave lessons of Sharpness to your daughters, Windy was feeling more and more present as he gave lessons of Calm Acceptance to them, and Starry was like the sister you never had while she doted on your girls and played lessons of Hide and Seek, though you had to spin the second Cult as a surprise gift for her Master. The dance was difficult and unsettling, and that was before Copper asked to introduce you to someone, shortly after you completed your Lantern sacrament, having had the time and... available targets, now you had others from the Cult in your life and helping to teach Silky and Selene. As Baldomare stepped into your tea-party, your eyes met, Light recognized light, and... your Histories sang together.

It was that moment that left you playing in a dance with another Velvet, one who was further ahead than you, for now, and who needed your help. How could you possibly say no? Which... well. Which led you here. To this place. This time. This History. A History where Copper was dead, having tried to murder your family. 'Uncle Windy' was missing, 'Auntie Starry' was dead, Comet hated you and was dating some Mare named Fluttershy- maybe that was a bit of good you could bring back?- and The Master... well... you were glad you had never met them outside of occasional lessons in Moth. Never spoken to them enough to care that they were dead... Yet.

----------
The meat of the matter:
----------

You were Velvet Covers. That thought... it resonated with you this time like it rarely had before. After all, now you were Velvet Covers... but you weren't YOU. That was a stunning feeling, a realization that was... shocking. You could be yourself, without being what you thought you were, without being that wretched creature you saw within yourself. The liar, trickster, recalcitrant daughter, Vile and unworthy friend. Yet here... with the outside perspective on this Velvet's life... you were simply Velvet Covers. A Mare trying her best under impossible weights and with impossible strain on her self. Clawing against death and Regret to drag what happiness and Light she could from the Nowhere that felt so all-encompassing.

It was the most roundabout, impossibly convoluted form of self-acceptance you had ever conceived of, but it soothed you. It resonated with you, with what Moth you had gained Insight under. Still... there had been a note for you. Simple. Begging you not to worry her family even more. And if her silky was anything like yours, and the ache in her body told the stories your Lantern said it did... well. You may not have the depth you normally did, but you could recall the nuance of Light and Shadow as they danced through your veins, Moth desperately chasing after the light while Heart beat a weak drumbeat in the silent, still portions of time where you stopped and just... breathed. She had nearly died, you could feel it, and it ached within as she shook without.

You had a small accounting of details, a journal she had kept to catch you up to speed- apparently she felt that her visitors being wholly lost was worse than having some idea of the circumstances. She'd saved Jade, here... Oh Celestia, she'd saved Jade... and killed Copper and Starry. Had plans to kill Windy if he was too dangerous, or tainted by... a dark thing that was avoided in the text, but reeked of Regret and agony. This Velvet was far from a happy Mare. So, to avoid setting off too many concerns... you called Pon Pon, and informed her that you would be taking a nap. After all, maybe you could collect the Heart-aligned Drum that Copper had mentioned finding? If this frighteningly competent Velvet hadn't done so already...

You weren't one to visit the Mansus often. It was frightening, intriguing, but... it did not feel safe or welcoming. Copper and Starry spoke of how they felt welcomed in its branches, but though you yearned to climb, you found the Wood rarely accepted you in any way but begrudgingly, curious like some sickly predator slowly limping around you while waiting for the moment to pounce... and as you clipped the lock from your mane and slipped under the covers, you closed your eyes thinking it would all be the same. Another night of suffocating weight and mild fear of what might be hiding from you in that darkness that whispered so seductively of the great and terrible Unknown... But no.

It was worse.

You opened your eyes and found yourself standing in ash. Slowly looking up from the faint traces of ashen refuse dusting the crossroads under your hooves, you saw... Tartarus. You found yourself walking closer, unable to stop yourself. Eyes wide, you looked around, approaching and arriving in the ashy wastes quickly. You trembled, looking straight up at Glory. It was so bright, and shone so ruthlessly down on this sea of horror. Every step sent echoes of pain and agony through you, countless deaths, secrets lost, Histories erased... step after step, more and more of the ash clung to your hooves, until you found the pawprints of a wolf. You shook, realizing the suffocation was still there, but... distant. Sharper. And it welcomed you, with bloody arms of broken glass and thorns. Loving licks of sandpaper and salt, and playful nips of biting teeth and serrated obsidian. Every step burned, but... you were not who it thought you were. The Mask of HIS Velvet Covers was enough to let you hide under the terrible gaze of that creature, that... that SON.

Velvet Covers son.

Velvet Covers had done... this.

This devastation, this unholy Sin... this desecration of The Mansus, that House of Glory... Stripped it of dignity and stealth, rendered the light visible with nothing to blind or distract, save the pain of burning ash. A dangerous expanse, but an exposed one that hid nothing of Glory. Those who traveled here would not search to find the light, it was there in the open. They would not find desperation to Climb for the sake of escaping shadow, of escaping the dark to enter the light... they would climb in desperate fear, fleeing from danger and chasing that distant hope while exhaustion and Agony laced their limbs. This was no seeking of the light... it was escaping from the Ash. You yourself wanted to flee, to run away or run through, reach that door you had never quite reached before, and escape this horrendous, Agonizing place that stank of Regret and Loss.

You trembled, but noticed your hooves carrying you in another direction. Following old pawprints, ones that had faded from sight, but not from History. At the end, you found a body... Starry... your sister in so many ways... Clutched close, a dead seed. Familiar to you. There was... this was horror. Dread and Ruin, and all hope lost. Sucking in a breath, you felt the wisps of that Seed... the paths that could yet be, and had not been yet unmade in fullness. Not while this seed yet lingered... What once was dead could be reborn. Grail and Forge were secrets you did not specialize in, but Lantern colored through their perspective mingled with the Histories of those that HAD specialized in them, and sang secrets of what may yet be made of that frail hope. To plant the Wood again. But not now, not with ash to suffocate any forest that attempted to grow. There needed to be a place for it. It needed some... Element you did not know of. Heart maybe? So that it would Refuse to Die once planted. Against this Ashen nightmare, it may or may not be enough. You shivered, feeling tears on your face.

Your sister... holding that seed... you slowly lay next to her, hoof touching her face, as closing your eyes. You wished to comfort her... give her one last hope... even if it was not truly YOUR Starry. You Opened Your Eyes and Stepped To The Side. Blood and Fire surrounded you, Starry screamed and cried- she swam in Acrid Blood that eagerly chased itself down her throat, into her veins, through her body... a fluid that stripped flesh from her bones and unmade her organs. Her eyes were unfocused and gushing tears from pain, but mostly from the hopelessness that filled her. She was near death already. You were far, far too late to unmake this tragedy. But... you stood like a ghost on the sea, and knelt down, her eyes catching sight of you, hope lighting in the dying gaze. Her lungs were gone already, her pleas breathless and silent in this nightmare, but you heard them.

So you took the seed from her, the tears on your face clear. Her own tears turned joyous, and she smiled at you, thanking you one last time with everything she had... and closed her eyes. She finally gave in, her Heart Ceasing to Beat as she sank and was lost in the current. You held the seed close, watching as every drop of blood turned ash, and the Wood died. Standing vigil to the dying of that last, great defense of Glory, being replaced with barbed wire, venom, hate, and Evil. You... could not plant the seed here. No History where Ash claimed the Wood could support this seed, without effort that you did not have the knowledge or ability to offer. But... you could plant the seed back home. Give it to YOUR Starry... a final farewell, and a plea for forgiveness to a sister you had not wronged. So you wandered the Waste, growing to know your son a touch better and Regretting the action that led to his birth, even if you had not truly had any part in it. Then you left that place behind.

And when Velvet Covers came back to her home, you had left her a simple note, reminding her of Starry... that the Seed she tried so hard to save may be dead, but so were the Risen that grew new groves for the Wood. A ritual could bring it back, if she found the right one. It would be hard, it would take ages, and the effort would be immense, but... if she truly tried... maybe this Regret didn't have to be unfixable. Maybe- just maybe... she could soothe the fears of the Wake with the comforting darkness of the unknown once more, if she found some way to hide the terribly sharp teeth with new growth. Then again, what did you know, compared to her?

You were merely Velvet Covers... though maybe you could bear to try and climb now.

Now that you knew what you COULD have been climbing through, the darkness was downright welcoming upon your return home... or would have been, if you hadn't found that ashen waste there as well. Starry distraught and clinging to the Seed you had saved... The Master nowhere to be found. Maybe you could bring back the Wood. You would certainly try, given you knew how it had been affecting HER world... but, worst of all...

The Wolf welcomed you home. You were not his Mother, but you reflected her, and he 'loved' you just the same...
[/SPOILER]

These... don't feel terribly good? But the thought of that Seed has been tingling my brain for a while, and this felt... like a decent way to explore it. Nothing impressive or special, but I hope you guys enjoy it. None of it is terribly likely, and I didn't put a lot of though into that first part for how she gets where she is, but... still. Even though this will almost certainly not happen to us, I figured it could be interesting.

Tell me what you think, I guess?

Edit: minor corrections: There is only one Mansus, despite there being many Histories.
Edit 2: I have been informed by WOG of Our Lady, that these are both good Omakes, AND that they are, in fact, close to what she envisioned at the beginning of the Quest. So... that it a VERY big sense of pride right there.

 

[Maer]

Ashen Weaver


You are Ashen Weaver, a simple Stallion, and somepony who recently found himself walking home after a late shift in a factory. It was hard work, but you knew it was good work. It was also ending soon- the way your boss looked at you, you could tell that your time there would soon be over. You had already been looking for a new place to work when the explosion hit, and you screamed and looked up along with most of the city, watching the building begin to collapse. It had been so fast, and you were so close... Papers flew out, chaos reigned, and a paper got caught on your face as you ran, screaming and wildly racing around to try and escape. You were several blocks away before you had the presence of mind to pull the paper from your face and look back.

The building had sent dust into the sky, darkening the streets and blinding you. You shivered, mentally praying that nopony had been hurt. Though the paper in your hoof caught your attention again, and you read the words. Something about Moths and craving Lanterns... and a trick to getting into a place called 'The Mansus'. It sounded like a legend, some silly childhood myth like saying Nightmare Moons name into a reflection of the moon three times. Great fun, but ultimately harmless. You tucked it into your bag, focusing on the building again. What... what had CAUSED that? It couldn't have been an error in the structure, could it? Most construction ponies had something of a sixth sense for things like that...

It didn't really matter. It wasn't your business... so why were you walking back? No, not walking... running. You got there along with a dozen other ponies, more and more gathering as you all started working together. You didn't need to speak, didn't need to ask what was going on. You KNEW why you were here. The unicorns worked on trying to lift the rocks, helping the earth ponies even if their magic wasn't strong enough for the larger rocks. You had managed to get some short way into things when the Lunar Bureau people showed up, and efforts stopped, fear and paranoia gripping you all. The efforts to see if anyone was inside that rubble were... well, old habits were hard to forget. Especially after the last tragedy... after so much death and pain... people knew the pain. They didn't want that for others if they could help it. But... that memory was instinct, and once that instinct broke, it was hard to summon the will to see the ponies around you as PONIES again, instead of possible monsters disguising themselves.

You'd nearly felt that weave between ponies you'd felt all your life, up until just before that wonderful wedding... The world felt so much darker, but it made moments like these stand out as so much brighter. Despite the vile cruelty of the world, suffocating hopes, dreams, and love, ponies refused. To be a pony was to dream of the future, to hope and dream and love. To shine brightly with all you had. The so-called Elements of Harmony were merely a reflection of that. The efforts Ponies had made, the dream of a brighter future... this world may have had no light of its own, but ponies had been bringing light to it for thousands of years, or more! And you were determined not to stop.

You turned, beginning to stubbornly struggle against the rubble, ignoring the Lunies as they did their jobs and tried to figure out what had happened. They went from pony to pony, gathering more and more, but at the same time, you worked and slowly... slowly... the ponies around you made their choices and began to work again as well. Either you'd save some ponies, or you'd help the bureau, you didn't care. What mattered was... this. This connection, to the ponies around you, burning inside you like a flame, a blazing light of connection, loyalty, and generosity. You would NOT give up on those values, those sparks of dreams and hope for the future to become better than it was right now. You were a PONY. That meant something!

Piece by piece, pony by pony, the tattered wed of connection, unity, and purpose began to weave back together between ponies. You could feel it... you were no Unicorn, and while an earthpony you may be... you had a connection to living things. You could feel this tapestry as easily as you could the life in the earth, the plants, the weave and pattern of the fabrics you wore... you were whole. And you were not going to give in and give up. You could do this, and you WOULD do this.

By the end of the night, you were bloody from scrapes and scratches, exhausted, and had been questioned extensively. You'd given them the scrap of paper you'd had, and described the experience... but you never stopped working. When they asked why, after it was done... you just looked at them. After all, did you really have to explain? This was who you were. You were Ashen Weaver. You remembered what was forgotten in your woven patterns, and you brought peace and community where you could. You were an earth pony. It was in your blood to build and care for those fragile things... the delicate life that so weakly grew in the fertile soils of Equestrian soil. This weave, this bond between ponies, it was delicate, fragile, and oh-so broken... but it was vital. It was important. It was a light that would never dim or go out, and it was so wonderful and frighteningly weak.

You didn't know anyone else who could feel it, not like you could. How could you not take up the duty? Who else WAS there? No. No you had work to do supporting your community, building the weave thread by thread as you always had before, and carefully guiding the growth of those wonderful strands. You knew the world was dark and you may not have the power of Celestia to burn away and shelter ponies from the darkness, or Luna's gift to soothe those lost in it's embrace and destroy it's monsters, but you had this. The weave, pattern, connection... you had something. So you would use what you could to save this world. Every last light mattered, every last hope and dream was vital. When they asked why, all you could wonder, as you answered them, was... how no one else could see that.

Finally, you were sent home, the city's own construction ponies arriving to take over with a far more professional and efficient setup than you ragtag bunch of barely-held-together volunteers. So you left, exhausted and wondering how the world had grown so very dark... and as you slipped into your home, you remembered that cute little ritual. So you tried it, smiling to yourself and remembering your foalhood as you carefully snipped your own mane in the mirror... but you had noticed secrets in the paper, enough to recognize and remember the ritual, and some lingering feeling of something more... so, as you lay down and fell asleep, you did not dream of fabric and thread and weaving as you normally did... no. You dreamt of Ash, of pain, and of the sharp teeth in the darkness. And when you awoke, you felt... dimmer than before, and you had forgotten that odd secret, and the ritual attached. By choice, not by force- not that it would stop those teeth from biting you in your sleep again, now they had your scent... Sucking in a breath, you refused that path, the dim brilliance and Glory of it, dragging yourself out of bed through sheer determination. Your light would recover, and you would help heal those lights that belonged to every other pony around you.

You had too...
--------

I need to work on making these longer next time. Not even 2,000 words... I'm just failing at my own standards... Regardless. Tada!
Another Omake.
I'm done for a while.

Again. I have been told that this is actually a good one! So hooray!

 

[spiderhellian]

A Snake Suffers

You are the Daughter of Axes, and you're done. Not forever, but definitely for today. It was a long day, spent slithering through some of the nearby forest's least-trod spots. You had not expected to taste even a shred of hope there, let alone the blood-smell of a clue, but it was another place off your list. You had been right.

Now the night has come, and a chill wind had you return to your room before you grew sluggish, and before that hatchling grew too tired to focus on anything but her planned cookie retrieval.

After she bugged ten -- then twenty -- minutes of stories out of you, you settled into your room, and curled up on your bed with Pasharka at your side. But you weren't going to sleep. Not yet.

Instead, you counted your keys, the keyring you keep so close now splayed in front of you.

You still know the feel of each. The substance. The way they felt in the lock-that-is-not-a-lock. The way they failed.

You have thousands on your keyring -- the best of the best of the best -- and millions more discarded in the desert your summoner might call your den (though you never would).

And you know every. Single. One.

...

You also know, or could know, the passageway that is conveying that blasted muttering to your ears. But you don't care why it's happening. You just want it to shut up!

You let your tongue flicker into the air, and you can almost taste the words it carries. It's your summoner? Your blasted summoner? Did that wound leave her truly daft? It's enough to wish she was still focused on nothing but her dance! Though then the hatchling would be all damp again, and sadder than a snake in snow. Maybe not.

What is she even saying? You strain your ears for a moment.

"If I was going to a foreign country to find a well-secured secret, I would want Secret Histories on my hooves. Or maybe a good knife, in case there are guards. She didn't know about her objective (did she?), she might not know of them either. Or I could see why she of all ponies would need someone to do the talking for her. But what about all the books I wanted to read with a light by my side? And what if I need to destroy those chains myself?"

By the Axe, you'll make her stop if she gets any louder. Thankfully, she trails off there... before punctuating it all with one last exclamation.

"I just wish she'd tell me anything!"

...

Whoever she's talking about sounds like a right pain. But then again, so is your summoner. Maybe they're meant for each other. Either way, it's not your problem. Given that she's shut up now, finally.

C'mere Pasharka, it's time to sleep.

Spoiler: AN

A thought on how all the friendly plan-based bickering in Velvet's subconscious plays out in character. And knowing of at least one other character who couldn't care less. Snakes causing their own problems? Surely not!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Beyond Reproach.

And right now, you are just about done with this week.

Being on the beat in Manehattan for the last few weeks was all well and good. And like everypony else, you filed more than a few tips to the local law enforcement. Things that, while unrelated to the attempt against the Commissioner, could be useful to whatever cases they have on their hoofs.

But still, you have to admit that… well, you still feel a bit torn about this. But a part of you is glad that you are all done with Manehattan.

Because investigating the Commissioner's attackers was good work, sure. And by all means, the attempt against her life felt like a stain on everypony's cutie mark, yours included.

However, this is still the Lunar Bureau. And, as much as you hesitate to admit, you can tell that the spirit of the institution is getting to you as well. Because you see, the Bureau is meant to find the real monsters. You are all meant to go after the real threats. You do not regret helping in the investigation on the Gardeners, and you hope they get thrown behind the bars where they belong.

But now that you are done, and now that the next set of orders finally came from the Commissioner's office, you can't help but feel a little more motivated.

After all, there are plenty of good ponies working on keeping the streets clean. There are plenty of good ponies out there, in every city, working their flanks off to catch the crooks and keep the innocent safe.

But the Lunar Bureau is the only organization that is focused on, and prepared to go after, the real monsters. The ones that caused the Catastrophe. The ones who, to this day, still keep your sister locked inside her room, afraid to even look at you.

So, you are ready to leave Manehattan behind, and focus on what really matters. Even if it means tackling the hardest and most complicated cases you have ever seen in your life.

"Hey, Reproach! Can you come here for a second?"

The familiar voice of Iron Button, your assigned partner, comes from the dormitory's door. So, you finish packing your uniform, locking your suitcase after making sure you got everything, and then you make your way towards him.

"Yeah? What is it?" you ask, as you enter the recreational area of the dormitory.

Iron Button is a passable detective. He sticks a bit too close to the books, and you think that slows him down. But still, the two of you found a nice balance for your working relationship, and you are more than happy to let him be the face that speaks to the chiefs.

And as you approach him, you realize he is… working on something?

"What the hay?" you say, as you make your way towards him. "I though you said you were done for the day as well. What's that you're reading?"

You ask that because Iron Button seems to be looking at a report.

You thought that, like every other time, he was going to offer you to sleep at his house, instead of having you catch the night train. Iron is part of the majority of ponies who moved to Canterlot for the job, so he never misses an opportunity to try and drag you into a dinner with his family, whenever you two are in Canterlot.

And you, on the other hoof, are part of the minority of ponies who use the Bureau's dormitory.

You don't mind how your fellow detectives turned the recreational area into a giant office-slash-case-room. But still, you didn't expect him to be working right now.

"This is… well, that's exactly what I called you for, Reproach," he says, picking a report and sliding it on the desk towards you. "Remember the runner that was looking for me? Well, he called me upstairs for this."

Yes, you remember it. Today was mostly dedicated to paperwork, so when Button was called upstairs earlier today you thought it was just for the usual. Maybe somepony in Operations wanted to double-check what he meant by something he wrote on one of his reports. Or maybe the Deputy wanted to speak directly to him. Stuff like that already happened enough times for a call from upstairs to not really raise any eyebrows.

But for Button to come back carrying something with him?

"What the… this isn't something we made. What the hay is this case?" you ask.

Because the document you are reading, the one Button just gave you, is… well, it is definitely an investigation report.

However, this isn't the hoofwritten mess that you detectives submit to the office. This isn't, so to speak, the product that leaves you groundstompers' hoofs and makes its way to Operations to get filtered and analyzed. On the contrary, this is one of the fancy and finished reports that the Commissioner usually has with her during an all-hoofs meetings. The kind of fancy document proofread by the Secretariat, hardcover and all.

But fancy document or not, you are more intrigued by the contents of the report than anything else.

"Was this… did we catch wind of this last week? In Manehattan?" you say, as you flip through page after page. And even though you only meant to quickly glance through it, you can already feel your hoofs slowing down as you begin to read more intently. "What team was in charge of it? And… no, when was this done to begin with? This isn't a three-week job…"

Your words trail off as you begin to piece together the puzzle that is in front of you. And before you realize it, you have already turned the report back to its first page, as you carefully read every word on every line.

And the information in front of your eyes is… mind-boggling.

This report is on a noble house. One of the big ones. The Greenhoofs, who have been Celestia's go-to earth ponies for several generations now. A noble family that has at least one hoof in almost everything food-related, from owning vast swathes of fertile land to developing the latest techniques in food processing.

However, if this report is to be believed, some of their members have been involved in…

"… all of Equestria? Really?" you say to yourself, or perhaps to Button, as you page through the report's summary.

"Well, not all of Equestria. Just everywhere that matters. But yeah, they were plotting to bribe, threaten or replace every governor in every major city, except for Canterlot," Iron Button says, as he pours over his own report. "Get all of Equestria under their hoofs, in practice, while having them pay the Princesses lip service that they were following the Crown's orders."

He says that, basically confirming what you can see with your own two eyes.

But the problem isn't just what the report claims. The biggest problem you have, and the greatest reason why this is so mind-boggling, is the sheer amount of evidence attached to it.

"They had their ambitions for several years now," Iron Button continues. "But they started working towards it in earnest when Princess Luna disappeared. But back then, they were still fighting the Bluebloods, since they are… well, were, the Princesses' Stewards. But now that the over-governor family has been exiled…"

This isn't something the Bureau worked on. This can't be. Because the evidence attached dates back several months. You can see copies of letters, proofs of transactions that paint a larger picture when put together… hay, there are even pictures here of certain ponies meeting in less-than-likely circumstances. No doubt to plot or reach an agreement based on the rest of the evidence.

"Now that the Bluebloods are gone, the Greenhoofs were getting ready to spring their own plan," you mutter, watching Iron Button nod on the corner of your vision. "Would have taken them a few more months, maybe even years. But these families always played the long game and…"

"And the report I have here isn't a copy," Iron Button says, as he slides the document he was reading towards you. "This one is the second part. The one you have there is part one."

"What the hay….?" you once again scratch your head.

Because the information on these reports is… well, staggering. Not only because of how flagrant and dangerous this whole conspiracy is, but also because of how detailed the evidence is.

The entirety of the Bureau worked together for several weeks to create the Blueblood dossier. It was everything that everypony was focused on doing for the longest time, and even then, it was a challenge.

So how in Celestia's name does something like this just… up and appears on Iron Button's hoofs?

"Some of these pictures… predate the Bureau's creation," you say to your partner, as you flip through an attached album, "cut to the chase, Iron. Where the hay is this coming from?"

Iron Button doesn't answer you with words. Instead, he gives you a complicated expression, and pushes towards you one last piece of paper. A regular circular, which is usually attached to the front of all Bureau documents so the paper-pushers know where it came from and where it's supposed to go.

And by the looks of it, this circular was attached to these files when Iron Button received them.

LUNAR BUREAU
Clearance: Reserved​

From: Commissioner V.C.
To: Secretariat
Subject: Report prep

Inkwell,

Since I will not be taking the train anymore, and since you all refuse to let me have any semblance of privacy, I will be passing this on to our ponies.

Everything in this pile of documents: Run it through Operations, filter it, and turn it into a report. Then, have Deputy S.A. assign it to somepony.

To be very clear, I do not want this to be a Blueblood. Making a show of our first case was well and good, but I want these kinds of busts to be seen as routine from now on. No grand raids, and no operations that are larger than they need to be. Just send a warrant to my desk when the constables are ready to go, and drag them back for questioning and processing.

Yes, even if this involves the second daughter of one of the great families.

See to it, report when done.

V.C.



You read that circular, your eyes pausing on the Commissioner's own stamp for several seconds, and then you…

"You gotta be freaking kidding me…" you say, as the final piece of this puzzle falls into place.

"Yeap. I had the same questions you have, and I asked everypony I could," Iron Button says as he shakes his head. "And apparently, the Commissioner just… threw a pile of books, ledgers and film rolls at them, and told them to sort it out."

"But what she wrote here… that she is passing this down to us because she doesn't have privacy anymore? This means that…"

"Yeap. The Commissioner was moonlighting as a detective. That whole thing she had about taking the train? About leaving early and arriving late because of her family? Nonsense. Or well, at least half-nonsense," Iron Button shrugs. "The Commissioner was working on this herself this entire time. And by the looks of it, she has been working on this for a long time now."

He says that, and you can only… agree. You can only nod in agreement, as Iron Button says the same thing that is in your mind right now.

However, and perhaps more importantly, this puts everything else you thought you knew under a new light.

Because the time frames, the decisions that were taken, the implications of this…

This plot from the Greenhoofs began, in earnest, when Princess Luna went missing. And from what you heard, the Commissioner herself was leg-deep in that whole mess, when it happened. Although she was one of the few nobles who stuck with the Crown, while the other noble houses began to bicker and kick each other for power.

So, she worked for the Crown, perhaps became a little closer to the Princesses… and then she caught wind of this conspiracy? Yes, that would make sense. Maybe she noticed some strange movements in the political sphere, while the Crown was too busy searching for the Princess of the Moon. But regardless, she noticed something, and then she began to dig.

Fast-forward a few months, and she had collected enough evidence to bury the Greenhoofs two times over. But she was still just a lonely noblemare from a lesser house. So, what did she do next? Why of course, she took this to the Princesses.

And then, they decided to…

"This whole time, we thought the Princesses had made her Commissioner just because," you say. "We thought they decided on her because they trusted her, but that other than that she was just a noblemare civilian."

You say that, and Iron Button answers you with a slow nod.

"Never heard of a Princess making a wrong decision," Iron Button leans back on his chair, "and this seems to be no different. Because it seems that the Commissioner did more than any of us, alone and without a badge, before the Bureau was even a thing."

You need… several seconds, to process all of this. Maybe even a few minutes.

But when you manage to get the shock out of your system… or at least most of it, you take in a deep breath and you turn to your partner.

"Well then, what the hay comes next?" you ask.

"You read what she wants to happen," he says. "And the Deputy told me to follow it to the letter. Treat it like any other crime by any other perp. So, he wants me to double-check the critical stuff, prepare a warrant, grab a squad of constables and bring them in."

"You're gonna need more than just a few constables for this one," you chuckle.

Which he answers with a tired nod.

"And what the hay… I was gonna take three-off, but this seems to be too much for a single pony to double-check. You want some help with this?" you ask. Because sure, you planned on going back to Ponyville, see if you could get your sister to leave her room, but… well, you think you'll be able to do more here. Just for a few more days.

"Pff, just admit you want some of the credit for this. I mean, second highest-profile bust in history! Of course Beyond Reproach wants his name on the headlines."

You can't help but laugh as he says that, and soon enough your partner joins you.

But still, your mirth cools down after just a few seconds. Because the more you think about… well, about everything, you can't shake a question out of your mind.

"… who in Equestria's name are we working for?" you mutter under your breath.

Because now that you think about it… well, he wasn't entirely joking. This is still the second highest-profile bust in recent history. It'll look great for the Bureau itself, sure, but something tells you the Commissioner herself won't want to take any credit for this.

But more importantly, how the hay did she get this done?

The more you wonder that, the more your mind drags you to… well everything else. Everything else that you know, and the much-larger number of things that you don't know, about the Commissioner.

Where did she find the time to do this? How did she find the means, and even the courage, to investigate something like this so quietly, and for so long?

Hay, the more you think about it, the more you remember the smaller details, the smaller inconsistencies that never got answered.

Because to this day, you never even found out what her cutie mark looks like.

"Reproach, you good?" Iron Button asks, and you smoothly drag yourself out of your thoughts.

Those questions… those concerns you have. You will address them… later.

Not here, not now.

Not when you have a job to do.

"Yeah, no, I'm fine. More importantly, and jokes aside, you want help with any of this?" you ask.

To which the stallion nods, with an expression that is more than just a little thankful.

"Hay yeah. The paperwork is already done, seeing how it literally came from upstairs. But I still have to go through everything, and see who gets taken in for what. I'll definitely appreciate your help with this."

"Gotcha. Let's get to work then."

"Oh, no, no, we can start tomorrow. And since you aren't going back to Ponyville… wanna head to my place for dinner? My wife said she cooked up something great for the weekend, and you're more than welcome."

You roll your eyes at that, but this time… well, you don't really have an excuse not to go.

So, it seems that, at long last, you will be meeting your partner's family.

"I suppose it beats whatever they are serving the garrison tonight…" you say.

Iron Button lets out a victorious hum, as he picks up the two reports and staches them away.

And with that, the two of you make your way out of the Lunar Bureau.





Your blackmail material on the Greenhoof family, one of the great houses of Canterlot, has been doctored, properly filtered, and then fed to the Lunar Bureau. They will be arrested for conspiracy against the Crown shortly.

As knowledge of your nonchalant "contribution" to the Bureau spreads, over the course of this month, your reputation will increase greatly.

News about this, together with the unspoken "secret" details about how many attackers you fought off (as well as about how they died), has completely changed the vision your subordinates have of you.

Not that you have noticed it, for the most part. Except for that one day where the constables invited you to come with them, to personally hoffcuff the conspirators that "you caught". However, the only response you gave them was an annoyed wave of your hoof, as you shooed them away. You just had too much paperwork to do that day!

A few days later, as you read the news and connected the dots, you wondered if that invitation was part of the constables' culture.

Oh well.

Your reputation within the Lunar Bureau, and their respect towards you, has greatly increased.

More importantly, you feel that you finally will be able to…





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Velvet Covers. And right now, you are on your way to do something very important.

Not for the first time, you are thankful for being a unicorn. Sure, earth ponies are stronger, and pegasi can fly.

But by the heavens, you have no idea of where you would be without your magic.

It is night. You are already back home after a long (and tiring) week of work at the Bureau, and this is the first night of the Weekend.

You will be going to bed with your husband soon enough, and you can sense that two of your daughters are already asleep.

However, before you join the sleepy atmosphere of your home, you must first attend to certain… obligations.

"Ah, there you are Velvet," Baldomare says as you enter her room.

The door was open, and her room looks organized… but inhabited, with all the little hints that a pony has been living in this guest room, and none of the sterilized appearance of an empty guest room that had been cleaned by the maids.

Which tells you two things. First, that she had been expecting you. And second, that she already knows why you are here.

And more importantly, that she seems to concur with the reason behind your visit.

"Good evening, Baldomare. I am glad to see you here," you say, as you put down the items you had been floating behind you.

The carpeted floor groans, slightly, as you put down the several slabs of clay that you had been carrying with you. And thank the heavens for levitation magic, because you are not sure how you would have brought these over without your horn.

The earth pony mare raises an eyebrow, and soon enough her horn lights up, as she floats the clay tablets to inspect them one by one.

"Ah, how delightful. The prose looks familiar, as does the style, but I can't tell you how long it was since I last read this particular tale," she says, as she parses through the tablets.

Still, she eventually puts them down where they were. In the exact same order that you initially left them, even. And then, she once again looks at you.

"But I don't think you came here just to hear me reminisce about old stories," she says. And then, she fixes her posture slightly, looking you in the eye as if she was about to perform a small ritual, or uphold a tradition. "So… is there anything you want to tell me, that I don't already know?"

She asks that, and you don't answer her with words.

Instead, you just wave a hoof at the pile of clay tablets. At that pile of forgotten knowledge, unknown even to you, that you are offering to her. For her services, and her presence, and perhaps something else besides.

The mare looks at you, and then the stack of clay tablets, and answers you with a gracious nod.

She then moves towards the clay tablets. And once she is right in front of them, she raises a hoof and gently tap the topmost tablet-

Part of you feels like you are looking at something large. Something ravenous, and perhaps even unsightly, that looks like the cursed fusion between a lighthouse and a half-empty dam. And these senses that you cannot name, which are both and neither sight or touch, can only watch as the true content of the clay slabs are devoured and hungrily archived by this beast you can't even begin to comprehend.

-and just like that, the clay tablets are empty. Their surfaces smooth and clean, as if they had never been touched ever since they were initially cut.

The event is confusing, almost hard to grasp, but for some reason you do not feel dizzy. In fact, you can tell that you observed everything that just happened with perfect clarity.

It is just that… that you did not have the tools to comprehend it. What just happened could not be hidden. In fact, hiding something like that would have been anathema to a being like Baldomare. It would be like claiming a light did not shine, or that a lantern did no illuminate.

So yes, you saw… you felt all of that. But still, you have no idea of what just happened. It was like being in a classroom and watching a lecture that was being given in another language. You could understand that you were in a school, and that there was a class taking place, but your mind could not participate in it any more than you could speak with animals.

However… you did see something. As you witnessed that strange mixture of ravenous pillaging and mindful cataloguing, you noticed something that even your primitive and unprepared mind could comprehend.

Because the dam… the "dam" you saw, of light and knowledge and understanding… it was half-full. The dam was half-full, and the lighthouse was cracked.

And even the intake… "process". Even that felt wrong. It was as wrong as watching a librarian let the pages of a book fall down, as she placed them on the shelves. It was as stressful as watching a stream of water pour out through the cracks on a water reservoir.

Because… because…!

"Baldomare… you are bleed-!" you begin to say.

But you are surprised to find Baldomare right in front of you, placing a hoof on your lips, as the Name of Lantern herself moves to silence you.

"Velvet Covers," she says, her voice crystal clear, and her tone as calm as ever. "I want you to listen to me very carefully. I know what you are thinking. I know what you are doing. And I already know where your thoughts are going to take you. So, let me be very clear. I. Don't. Want. You. To. Do. This."

She says that, and only then does she take her hoof off from your lips.

And she looks at you with that piercing stare of hers, almost as if waiting for you to answer her. But before you ever have the chance to do so, whether to nod your head or shake it in refusal, she turns around and returns to her reading desk.

"Good night, Velvet Covers," she says, waving at you even as she keeps her back turned to you.

And you… leave. Not her gaze, and not her thoughts. But still, you leave her room. Well-aware that Baldomare might still be following you. That she might be picking your thoughts right now, or perhaps even before you think them.

But still, you can't help but think… you can't help but wonder.

Because Baldomare is… she is hurt. You could see it, plain as light. She is wounded. She is bleeding. And that is why she needs something, perhaps knowledge or perhaps something that she can create with knowledge, to remain in the Wake.

And what is more. She… she knows that. She always knew that. Even before she came to the Wake. Even before the first time she met you. And now, she knows that you know that.

But there are so many things you are still missing. So many things you do not understand, and that you cannot even check!

Is she also hurt in the Mansus? Could it be that your blank-fogged mind was incapable of noticing that, when you visited her on that level of the Mansus. Could it be that she remains within the Blank Plains because she is hurt?

Or is this something that happened in the Wake? Or maybe even more recently? Perhaps a disagreement with your former Master, or the wounds she accrued while wandering through the Wake, checking whatever forgotten places she knows about.

And does that wound affect her? She is… she is a creature of light and knowledge, so wouldn't a wound like that mean she is bleeding knowledge itself? Could she be forgetting things? Or perhaps even losing sight of who she is?

You think all of that, your mind suddenly sprinting into a gallop despite how late it is.

However, you also can't forget that… well, that she knows everything. And that she just told you very clearly that she does not want you poking around this issue of hers.

But still…

Still.

You also know that, for all that Baldomare never told you a lie, you are also acutely aware that she has mastered the art of omission.

So, for all that she told you she doesn't want you to do this…

There is a very big difference between what a pony wants… and what they need.

Your friend is hurting. And she is your friend, even if she never said it with words. Because you have already seen her kinder side, and you have already heard from her that this Wake can't help but make ponies care. So, she is your friend, even if she has not yet learned what that word means in this Era.

She is your friend, and she is hurting. She is bleeding out light and thought through a wound she seems unable to staunch.

And what kind of friend would you be if you did not try to help her?

…

Still, you realize this is… way beyond your means. At least for now. She is a Name, after all, and you are barely a half-cooked mortal. So, given how adamant she seems to be in avoiding this issue, you will need… more. More knowledge, more fuel, more blood to help her. To fill the reserves she has been steadily losing, even if only to make her existence here less unpleasant.

You will need an older book. One that had forbidden secrets from even her own Era.

Something to show her you want to help.

Who knows, perhaps if you give her enough knowledge…. You might be able to get a better look at her wound, as the light bleeds out of it. You might be able to better understand what hurt her.

And that could be the next step in helping her, you think…

You hope.

You dearly, dearly hope.





You have gifted Baldomare a Level 6 book. Her summoning period has been reset.

You think you will be able to solve this enigma, and help her for good, if you gift her a Level 7 book.

Spoiler: Author's Note

A small problem occurred during this last voting period.

Specifically, I realized I did not give you all of the information that you needed to make an educated vote. I take information quarantine very seriously in this quest, but not giving you all the information you should have is just as bad as letting you guys know something you shouldn't.

To writ:

-Gifting Baldomare a Level 6 book happened, narratively, at the end of turn 20. Before the voting for Turn 21 should have begun.

-And you would have learned that a Level 7 Book is a REQUIREMENT, to advance Baldomare's quest, during said book-gifting.

-So: You should have entered this Follower's Phase with this knowledge in hand, in case you would have wanted to scout/scry/search for said book. Especially given how the "All in" expedition may only be joined by befriended names.

It could have been that, even if you knew that, you would have decided to ignore that completely for this turn. But it also could have been that a completely different plan would have been concocted in order to include a Book-searching related action. And since I only realized that (literally) yesterday, I was not willing to throw that additional wrench into the discussion and delay the voting period for another few days.



Regardless of "could have beens," it is not my place to decide that as the QM. The fact remains this small issue needs to be fixed.



Consequently, this is what is going to happen: Since this was a QM blunder, it will be fixed with QM privileges. I will allow for some time-warping shenanigans, and you all will be able to "credit" a follower action from Turn 22.

Specifically, later during this turn (as in, not right now) you will be offered these options:



[Would you like to search for a Unique Book for Baldomare?]

[-] Have Baldomare scry for a Level 7 book (costs one Baldomare action from Turn 22)

[-] Have Jade scry for a Level 7 book (costs one Jade Whistle action from turn 22)

[-] Have somepony search for a Level 7 book (WRITE IN who, and how)

[-] No, I wouldn't have done it this turn anyways. (Nothing will happen)



Just so you all understand, no true "time-warping" shenanigans will happen. That was a figure of expression. But, mechanically, I will allow you all to tap into next turn's resources. I "stole" from you the chance to do it this turn, so if you feel strongly enough about it you will be given the option to do it this turn, at the expense of a follower action from the next turn.

But for now, no voting needs to occur. This is just an informational for your benefit.

That is all.

More to follow.

 

[Sveta08]

It's short. It's imperfect. But it's...
Well, I deeply hope I'm wrong.


The Wounds we Won't Heal

---

You are...

You... are...?

You aren't supposed to be here.

Yes, I know what you saw. And I know why you are here, but I told her. I don't want her to do this. I don't.
I know where this leads. She doesn't. And of everything that poor mare has to handle, I don't want this to be another burden.

She doesn't know and she shouldn't.







But you aren't going to let that be will you?

No... No I don't think you will. Too eager. Too helpful. Too earnest to just stop now. I can see it already.
Planning. Scheming. Best of intentions as they say!

But I know Velvet. Better than I want to, had to hold her in my hooves for a time.
Unless you decide not to, she will push. And unless you steer her away, she's going to find... truths.
Truths better left forgotten. This is a new age, a new era. A new people to cover the world. These bitter truths won't serve her any good.



But you want to anyway.



Maybe I can't stop you. And goodness knows it would break more than a few things if I stopped Velvet!

So listen close. Because this is something she can't know and the only way to do that, is if you know.





Tell me. You know the names of the Hours. As they were, the way they were once. Maybe in a different reflection than here, but you know them. Know of them. Not just the power they wielded, but of their nature, their names as they were, and how they came to be. How alone they were. You know of the Alukite. Their sisterhood of sorts, the fact they were cursed and spurned and monsters in the age of the Manus. You know of the afterlife, of the Blank Plains and the Door that leads to them. The light like stars amidst dew made of memories. The place where all goes to rest and retire at the end that always comes.

You know all this, and you know things that don't match. But you've never thought to question it. Something I've been... grateful for.
But for my sake, for Velvet's, I have to tell you something you already know.


The Blank Plains provide rest and succor. It's the end of the line for every soul that knew of them. And when I was once flesh, I knew of them. They were to be my end. My rest everlasting. The final adventure.
So too did Illopony, my beloved.



Now, the cleverer among you already know what I'm going to say now. But such is the nature of what I am and have become, a story half finished would be better not begun.

You see, marriage back then was different. Or, not so different, as heavier. Vows meant something in the same way a brand doesn't mean what a cutie mark does. Vows bind in a way that's more than just words and contract. There was more heart in it. I wonder if Velvet might have invoked some of that for her friend Cadence even. But, what you understand is that, it meant something in a way that's hard to compare now.

I swore to Illopony. To hold, to cherish, to love and keep them till death take us.
And it did.



But I promised. I vowed. To take care of them. Love them and keep them company.
So there, in the Blank Plains I made my home. Full of memories and secrets and the whole world.
The Manus could rattle, the Wake could crumble, and the worms could threaten. But there?
I would stay with them.

My better half.



Even as they forever fade, as long as I can give to them, we won't go out. Of course then, I am bleeding. If I staunch the flow, Illopony would be...





If not for me. For Velvet, don't let her know. Don't ask. Don't hunt.

Velvet and Stormchaser... I don't want their life to be caught up in this. Because even if Velvet succeeds and reaches GLORY.
She will face this same problem in time.

I don't want that hurt for them.
Let them live and love as they are.
So please.
Don't.

 

[DelightedOne]

This is a thing I had in mind for a while now sooo... Here it is.




You are Velvet Covers and you have been given a Gift.

Something you wanted but never thought you would be given, something that almost seems impossible had you not received it personally.

The Gift itself is of course nothing physical, but it still shines in a way you can't help but think there is some kind of lantern illuminating the room. No, not that Lantern, because this light is Kind and shows mercy for those that need it.


As is the nature of such a Generous gift it is not meant for you or rather it's not just for you. The rest of the World should be allowed to benefit from what will happen when you open it.

And you will open it tonight. But you can't help but feel there is a certain... spark, missing from it.




- - -



There are many things you still don't know about Harmony, but you do know it is not malicious, that it protected the World for as long as ponykind remembers in its History and if properly assisted will continue to make the World a better place. So you can work with it.

When the night comes and your daughters and your husband are sleeping, you carry the Gift with you to the bed you will be using for the night, because you don't want to risk anything going wrong and harming(or even worrying) your family.

When you pull the covers over your coat and place your head on the pillows the Gift is right in front of you, ready for the short journey through the Crossroads that is needed to reach the Mansus.


When you can start to see what remains of the Woods in the horizon, the Gift seems to answer your guilt and revulsion with a comforting warmth. It doesn't help much but it is a good feeling, like being surrounded by your friends and family with no great worries about the end of the World.

The moment your hooves touch the ashes the meaning of what you're about to do becomes so much clearer, daunting even. Failure is not an option when the future of Equestria is at stake.

Now it's time to work.


[Unleashing the Light, breakpoints 60/80/100/120/150]

[Roll: 82 + 13 (Magic) + 10 (Love's Chosen, Friendship) + 10 (Mother of the Moon) + 10 (The trust of Generosity) + 10 (The trust of Kindness) - 10 (The loss of Magic) - 15 (Stained Soul, Level 3) = 110]
[Third breakpoint reached]

You did what you wanted, you did what you needed. But how much was that?


[] (Roll 60) "The bare minimum." (Your actions were reversed as much as you could or were willing to spend effort in)
-You will clean the remains of what you broke of the taint of the Wolf... and that shall be enough.
-Evil, Paranoia and Ash will cease to exist. The World will still bear the scars of their births, but at least the wounds are healed.
-Equestria will return to how it was before your first meeting with the Wolf.
-But is that enough to make up for what you did?



[] (Roll 80) "This is a good start." (You did a little more than what was needed and built the foundations of a future great work)
-The consequences listed previously will happen.
-After the powers of the Wolf were gone you noticed something glowing next to you, it was... a Seed and a Stone?
--The Seed will be planted in the ashes of the Woods. What will grow there? Only time will tell.
--The Stone will be placed in the place where the Tribal Door used to stand. What is it for? To build a Door, of course, what else would it be for?
-As long as Harmony exists what you started will grow and change and when it is time the Mansus will have the ??????? ????? and the ?????????? ????.
-The Dreamlands will start reaching for the Mansus in earnest, in such a way some observant ponies might take notice. Anything that strengthens Harmony's power will accelerate the subversion of the Mansus and the progress of the Seed and the Stone.
-You will not feel tired or receive any malus from this action.
-But will this suffice?



[] (Roll 100) "That is just enough" (You did not wish to leave before the work was really done, so you did more and more until you could barely believe what you had accomplished).
-The consequences listed previously will happen, in a much greater way.
-After the powers of the Wolf were gone you noticed something glowing, it was... you?
-The Seed and the Stone won't be needed, because you managed to harness their power by your own means.
--You will instead walk all across the Ashen Wastes, not even a single spot left untouched by the light emanating from you. And as you walk you notice the ashes are shifting like they are trying to form the base of a new landscape and after you are done you notice there is something growing, tiny blades of grass that seem like crystal and when you leave they will still be growing.
--The next step is obvious, but still important. You must climb until you reach the wound you made in the higher parts of the Mansus... and walk past it with your friends in mind. When you do, a new Door will appear, it's requirement for passage the existence of a deep bond with two other ponies from different tribes.
-The Crystal Woods and the Friendship Door will be grown and built, immediately.
-The Dreamlands will expand rapidly, reaching the edge of the Crystal Woods in a very short time. All creatures that visit/reside in the Mansus will notice, but no one will know who did this or how it happened.
-You will not feel tired or receive any malus from this action.
-What you created is wonderful...but how long will it last?



[] (Roll 120) You did not roll high enough to do this.
-Maybe it's better this way.


[] (Roll 150) You did not roll high enough to do this.
-Do you really think they could have changed?




You did all you could and maybe that was enough, but there is always more work to do. For now, rest knowing that no matter what you choose, the World will be glad for your help.


Regardless of the choice that was made the following will happen:
-The Sons will not haunt the World anymore.
--For Evil, that means Equestria will return to how it was before Velvet Covers had her first audience with the Wolf-Divided.
--For Paranoia, that means his "-5 (Paranoia)" malus won't be active anymore and ponies will instead become more individualistic.
--For Ash, that means ponies will once again be able to enter the Mansus without being threatened by him and the influence of the Wolf will be removed from the Ashen Wastes. Additionally, nopony will ever be afraid of the dark again.
-Soft Sweeps will live, but the Seed in her heart shall remain unless you find a way to remove it without causing her death... or maybe change it somehow?
-Velvet Covers will lose the ability to perform Regrettable Actions, consequently "The Mother of Wolves" ending will be LOCKED for the rest of the story(because He won't tolerate your betrayal to His End).
-Those may not be the only consequences of your actions, only the most obvious.

Spoiler: Notes

Phew, that was a lot. I shouldn't be surprised by that considering it's been years since I wrote anything and I never did it in english.

The roll was real by the way, I was very surprised when it was such a high number.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

Tally

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
-[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X][DETECTIVES] Follow Up: Changelings
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Grail)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X][RARITY] Take a Commission.
-[X] Needs must. Ask somepony to procure you a dead body from the local cemetery.
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something Else (lend Heartifact to Comet)

Baldomare did… something, once again. You remember sitting down to have tea with her, and you vaguely remember the conversation that followed. But by the life of you, you can't remember when it happened. And even when you sat down with a calendar, to retrace your steps and solve that mystery, you could not find a suitable date where that could have happened.

Except for… tomorrow.



You are now under the effect of "I Have Been Here Before", until the end of the turn.



- - -



Mareinette came to you, with her wiles and her whispers and her marinations. That could not have been a dream, for you do not dream anymore. And yet, you woke up right after. And she came to you… with a gift.

Upon your awakening, you found around your neck the most perfect of necklaces, made out of gold and encrusted with red gems. Nopony who speaks to you can take their eyes out of it, and yet nopony acknowledges its existence. And you, yourself, cannot… take it off.

It is leashed to your neck, you see. Or you just cannot muster the will to remove it. Or perhaps, it does not make a difference what explanation is truer.

However, whenever you think about the necklace or remember that it exists, one particular memory comes to your mind. Of the night she gifted it to you. Because you think you saw something, when Mareinette came to you.

You think you saw something, under her cloak, and under her bones, and under the sins that she covers herself with. Some… thing, that may have been a pony long, long ago.

You think that thing was smiling.

You think this "gift" of hers has a deeper meaning, to her or perhaps to the world, that you cannot quite grasp.



You are now under the effect of "An Incarnadescence", until the end of the turn.



- - -



At old Biedde's instruction, you take a short walk to the nearby hill, that overlooks your family's estate. The one that is close enough to be part of the scenery, but just far enough for nopony to really bother with it.

There, you find a body, freshly desecrated from Ponyville's own cemetery. Somepony who was once loved and who, by the freshness of their coat, is still remembered.

You hope their family never finds out about this. You hope you can be forgiven for this.



Biedde has dug up a dead body for you.

Due to the nature of your Follower's Phase plan, you will be FORCED to turn it into a Shattered Risen.



- - -



You are Velvet Covers.

And you feel like you have… a lot to do. And precious little time to do it.

Granted, you have been able to solve several major problems. You can now sleep peacefully, knowing that Copper cannot harm your family anymore. And despite the continuing existence of the changelings, you feel that you will get this under control if you have just a little more time.

But that the thing, isn't it? Time.

You can't push away this sensation that you just won't have the luxury of time for much longer.

Not after your… encounter, with Princess Celestia.

Because the candle-glow in her eyes tells you that she is learning about the Lores. And no matter how hard you think about it, you can't envision a situation where that ends well for you. Because what if one day she manages to shine a light through your defenses? Or what if one day Midday Dew looks at you, and you both realize that you are both Branded? What then?

You do not know. And for all that you don't think that will happen today or tomorrow, you can't help but feel that this future you dread is just beyond the horizon, and that its appearance in the sky is as inevitable as the morning sun.

Still, you will not be found wanting.

Yes, you will not sit idly while the world spins around you.

You will try to learn a little more about Midday Dew. You will ensure the Lunar Bureau finds anypony who could possibly leak the existence of the Lores without your direction. And most importantly… Baldomare told you, just last week, about the place that holds the key, your key, to Glory.

Fate might be closing its invisible jaws around you, but you are not defenseless. And you might have just enough time to see this through.

You will reach Glory. And you will not die trying.

…

Time to get things done.



- - -

VELVET'S PHASE​

This turn's available bits: 516 (196 from previous turn, 160 from monthly salary, 53 from Rarity, 107 from this turn's Rarity's commission)


You have SEVEN personal actions, ONE (free) social action, and ONE free Mansus Exploration action. (Four personal actions, plus three from "Cover your bases").

Spoiler: Things to keep in mind

Additional notes:
-All your Fleeting Opportunities this turn may be performed with your free social action.
-Training Selene may be done with your free social action.
-Uncle Steppes is not available to help you this turn, since he is staying at your home.
-During this turn, you will have the opportunity to address the evidence you planted with the Lunar Bureau, as well as the evidence they found that could be traced to you. You do not need to plan actions directed at those things.
-IF (and only if) there are "unused" actions left from DoA's Sacrament attempt, they will be open for a "re-assignment" vote later this turn. (But said unused actions are in no way guaranteed)
-The Daughter-of-Axes will give you a lesson imminently. You may attempt her Sacrament this turn even if your character sheet currently claims you have 3/4 Knock scraps.

-[] Do something about your opponents

Spoiler: Opponents

"They might not be your enemies, but they are definitely not your friends."
(Knowing, or at least suspecting, an opponent's location is vital for a non-ritual action to succeed. Otherwise, the pony sent will spend their action investigating an opponent's whereabouts)

Windy Flakes (possible location unknown)
--[] [WINDY] Participate in an assault against this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Try to locate or spy on this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [WINDY] Attempt to contact or parlay with this opponent this opponent (WRITE IN what to talk about, if you locate them and they are willing to talk)

-[] There is no use in finding an Outsider if you do not have the means to extract its blood. But you suspect there is a place, at the summit of the Mansus, where things that should not perish have already died. (Costs one Mansus exploration action)


You also have the free time to…

Spoiler: This won't take long

These personal, non-Mansus actions are free.

-[] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SPECIFY LORE] (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")

-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)

-[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: NO TARGET)
--[] Change Leash to another target. (Write-in who)
--[] Un-Leash the current target.

Pick ONE social/teaching action, for your free time at home.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Mayor Mare, the de-factor ruler of Ponyville.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Spoiled Rich, who seems awfully interested in spending time with you.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend.
-[] [SOCIAL] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Jade. (Already a Seeker)
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple. (Forbidden)
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Selene, and make her something more.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

No more running, no more hesitation. If you don't do this, somepony else will, and that thought sometimes terrifies you.

Spoiler: The Dreams come, whether you like it or not

You must pick a single action. You will suffer a malus if there are no new locations to explore.
Using this action to change Ash's focus risks aforementioned malus.

-[] [KNOCK] Focus your hatred. Give Ash new instructions.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ashen Wastes
--[] [KNOCK] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds.

--[] The Blank Plains (Blank Plains fully explored)

-[] [KNOCK] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [KNOCK] A labyrinth of stairs. A monument of a gone age. A sprawling ruin. See where the many paths might lead you.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ruined Church
--[] [KNOCK] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)

-[] [KNOCK] The Summit
--[] [KNOCK] The place where the Mansus was struck. You must explore it.

-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus. (Actions towards your possible Sacraments)

Spoiler: Sacramentum means a Solemn Oath

--[] Towards that cold Winter that awaits us all
---[] Investigating the End (Costs 30 bits. May be done multiple times per turn. Somepony, somewhere, will die.)
---[] Beg for knowledge of the End, so that you may learn of its necessity. (Will also provide you with an Edge Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Invitation? No Winter Names summoned

--[] Knock, and ye shall open
---[] Offer to go beyond the foggy mirror, to perform an errant for the Daughter-of-Axes

--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 1/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
---[] Follow Baldomare, towards a place Beyond the Map's Edge (This is an Expedition action) (this requires Baldomare to be set "to participate in an expedition", ONE Velvet action, and 40 bits)

--[] Take that terrifying leap, into the abyss we call change
---[] Don the mask, shear your mane, pick the only pony who will notice it. Snip snip snip (WRITE IN a CONFIDANT to be permanently lost) Requires Moth 4/4
---[] Invitation? No Moth Names available

--[] But what might we learn, when we fulfill out desires?
---[] "The Act" (WRITE IN three minion-equivalent ponies) Requires Grail 4/4
---[] "An invitation to dinner" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed)

--[] You must learn more. Always, always more. The higher you rise, the more you see!
---[] "The Conversation" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed) Requires Lantern 4/4
---[] Pay Baldomare her fee. (WRITE IN FOUR followers, or equivalents, for Baldomare's expedition) Requires Lantern 4/4

--[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
---[] "I see you my enemy" (WRITE IN who you will challenge)
---[] Be blessed by that Wound, which never ceases to grow. (Will also provide you with a Winter Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Challenge Biedde to a spar… this will surely hurt.

--[] Reach for the skills that permits one to enact change
---[] Experiment, Craft, Create (Costs 50 bits per action, current progress 0/300) (WRITE IN if any reagents or sacrifices will be used) Requires Forge 2/4
---[] Invitation? No Forge Names available

-[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)

Spoiler: Another moment, and they will be gone

-[] They are the ponies who are most precious to you, and they were shaken by what happened to you. You should spend more time with them than usual. (Not taking this action risks negative consequences)

-[] Your friends were probably… affected, by your recent problems. Maybe you should make sure they are alright?

-[] Uncle Steppes has come to visit! But every time you speak to him, you get the impression he is… unwell. Even though he hides it well from the fillies. Spend some more time with him, and see if you can help him.

-[] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)

Spoiler: Bits and Buyings

--[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
---[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
---[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
---[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)
(Due to SECRET HISTORIES 3, now you have a better idea of what you are more likely to find in each city)

--[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? (Search for an artifact to buy)

--[] You have ingratiated yourself with the merchants of Ponyville. Tap into your sources and procure an artifact. (Specify LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal)

--[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)
---[] NO ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE

On furthering your interests

Spoiler: In Ponyville

-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
--[] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.

On planning an Expedition.

Spoiler: Out into the World

(All options involve a test, and can fail, Secret-Histories aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is old in its History. Where the influence of the Mansus is but an echo, but that can still be heard in the wind. (Search for an intermediary expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that should be better left forgotten. According to the powers of this Era, at least. Finding it will be hard, though, and uncovering its secrets even harder. (Search for a very hard expedition)

-[] [EXPEDITION] Sally out and lead an expedition (will open an "Expedition planning" vote later this turn, with you as the leader)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Scout out a known expedition yourself. (Write in which)

On furthering knowledge. Yours, or somepony else's.

Spoiler: The allures of Power

-[] [TEACH] Write a Manifest. It will not benefit you directly, but it will certainly benefit anypony else with whoever you allow into your library. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [TEACH] Teach Jade. (Already a Seeker)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple. (Forbidden)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Selene, and make her something more.
-[] [TEACH] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

(You may study three books, OR two artifacts, OR one book and one artifact. Studying/developing a ritual costs an entire action.)

-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[](Write in which Artifacts

-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] Write in which books

-[] [LEARN] It all fits together, somehow… or so you hope.
--[] [LEARN] "Unknown Ritual – A Memory of Light" Step one (Progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)

On scaling the Mansus (Pick TWO options for every action spent)

Spoiler: The House without walls

-[] [MANSUS] The Wastes

--[] [MANSUS] You hate him, and he loves you so. Visit Ash, and tell him who else you wish to suffer. (Give Ash new orders)

--[] [MANSUS] Stalk the Ashen Wastes. The alternative is to be stalked.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Hunting Grounds, and pray that tonight you are the huntress rather than the hunted.
--[] [MANSUS] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] The Blank Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Garden of Mirrors, where the Mares attend the glassy flowers.
--[] [MANSUS] Explore what lies beyond the Garden of Mirrors, behind that pale veil of fog Requires a Winter Sacrament
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for The Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and meditate on what you are lacking. (Gain one scrap of Secret Histories Lore) This option will not net you any gain.

-[] [MANSUS] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [MANSUS] Wander through the maze of broken stairs. Perhaps you will stumble upon something.
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for the Valley of Keys, where the snakemare of the Mansus toils for her freedom.
--[] [MANSUS] Seek audience with the Wolf-Divided (you will be given a useful gift. Gifts will always be increasingly more precious and useful. There is no risk of receiving any maluses or wounds) [This is a Regrettable Action]
--[] [MANSUS] There are other markings to be followed within this maddening labyrinth of stairs. Follow them. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] Beyond the Tribal Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)
--[] [MANSUS] Visit Biedde on his post, and gaze upon the Worm Museum
--[] [MANSUS] What remains of the heart of the Mansus is but a tortured maze of glass and dead ends. Wander through its corridors.

-[] [MANSUS] The Summit
--[] [MANSUS] The place where the Mansus was struck. You must explore it.

On more personal matters

Spoiler: Home and heart

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with…
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony.
--[] Spoiled Rich, who is so very glad you are here today.
--[] Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)

Spoiler: The old ways

Write-in any sacrifices you plan to use.

-[] [FORGE] It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, now that you know what you are doing (produce a reagent, write in which Lore/combination of Lores.
(You cannot produce a reagent with a Lore level superior to your own.) (Producing a single reagent is a FREE ACTION, producing 3 costs 1 action, 5 costs 2 actions, so on.)
--[] [FORGE] Level 1 reagent (5 bits)
--[] [FORGE Level 2 reagent (20 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 3 reagent (45 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 4 reagent (80 bits)

-[] It's grim work, but needs must.
--[] Acquire a dead body from the local cemetery.
--[] Acquire a live pony. (You have no place to keep live prisoners)

-[] "The proper things, in the proper manner, in the proper order. God help us all." (Perform a Ritual)
--[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Forge's Redemption"
--[] "The Incision of the Heart"
--[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
--[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
--[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)
--[] Invoke a Risen (SPECIFY dead body used as source. ONE Risen is a FREE ACTION)
--[] Create an Ash-Ghoul (Write in how many sacrifices)
--[] Invoke a Windigo
--[] Invoke a Mare-in-the-Light
--[] Invoke Baldomare Already summoned
--[] Invoke the Daugher-of-Axes Already summoned
--[] Invoke Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires
--[] Invoke Biedde Already summoned

--[] To be performed at your own home, where you will... hopefully not leave many trails
--[] To be performed in Jade's old house (only up to Two-Circle rituals)
--[] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)

-[] Something else? (WRITE IN. Anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





Remember that write-ins for anything may be suggested. I'll do my best to answer if they are reasonable in a timely manner.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting, and TWELVE hours of moratorium.

And kindly point out any mistakes you see.

 

[spiderhellian]

The Detective is On the Case

You are Beyond Reproach. And you are on the case.

It's a role you've taken up so many times before, ever since those days as a colt traipsing around with a magnifying glass in your saddlebag. Some might have lost count of all the mysteries they've solved and investigations they've handled by this point, but not you. No, you remember each one. Each time you poked and prodded at the lies the world tried to tell you, and unravelled a crystal-clear truth.

You also remember all the questions that were left unanswered. The cases that went fallow after a shift in priorities, the investigations that ran into a dead end, the trails that went cold despite all your fervent efforts at lighting a fire under them. You know that type of thing bothers some of your colleagues, and that frustration is part of what pushes them to the caliber of the Lunar Bureau. But it doesn't bother you, not exactly.

Sure, they stick in your muzzle like a pesky fern. But where some people collect records, and other people collect recipes, you collect inconsistencies. You keep them warm, keep yourself sharp with them. Because the thing about reality is that it is always true. The world is true, it cannot be otherwise.

What people see, or think they see, or how they feel about what they see -- there they can shade the truth like coloured filters placed in the light. But the light is always out there. It shines true, however weak its glow may be. If you keep it whole, keep it safe, keep it unshaded, you know it'll eventually lead you where you need to go.

That rock-hard belief is what has let you solve cold cases others had long given up on. It's what has you keep in mind even those earliest cases, in the hope that one day the few missing holes that remain are filled in. And it's what has led you to what you're doing right now.

So yeah, you've done this before. That's what you keep telling yourself. It helps with the quiet screaming in your mind -- because in every other way, this case is like none other.

---

That part of you screaming? It's the part of you that knows you should not be doing this.

This is a pony who the Princesses trust without reservation. This is the detective who just single-handedly crushed a conspiracy against the crown. This is your Commissioner.

You should go home and sleep, right now, and forget about it. Or you should go drinking with Iron Button, and make yourself forget about it. Anyone you asked would say exactly that, and that's why you haven't mentioned this to anyone.

You should. You really should.

But if you could, you wouldn't be you. You wouldn't have that cutie mark on your flank. You wouldn't be Beyond Reproach.

And so you're on the case. The Commissioner's case.

You're checking the train timetables, and chatting with one of her maids who's visiting family in Canterlot. When did she get home, that day? Just before sunset? That's okay, I can check the weather-ponies' tables.

You're visiting some of the archives the Greenhoof's case file pulled records from, bugging an archivist who's bored at their desk. Have you seen a pony of roughly this stature and appearance? Can you check the last person to access this ledger? Oh, it hasn't been used in a decade? But it might just have gone unrecorded, sure, I can see that.

You're asking questions at one of Canterlot's best camera shops, and you haven't exactly said you'll be buying one, you've just let them assume. So what kind of lens would cause this distortion? Which models could boost the brightness like this? And where could you buy a camera like that?

You can still hear that screaming. But Celestia's smile, you love this.

The light may be refracted. Obscured. Cloaked in shadow. But you can see it shining through, and you'll follow it if it's the last thing you do.

You think about that for a second. Think of Velvet Covers. Think of those records you dug up on Velvet Dagger…

It very well might be.

---

There's one moment, in every case, that you always think of. It haunts your dreams, sometimes. It's the moment that the buried light you've so patiently nurtured shines through, sprouting like a seed to illuminate the world. When you deliver your report, denounce the culprit and outline every step that revealed their scheme.

You've seen the perpetrator break down in tears. You've seen them try to flee. In one memorable instance, you saw them pull a knife on you, and quickly add "Attempted Assault on a Watchpony" to their list of crimes.

As you come to the end of your report, in front of Commissioner Velvet Covers and Deputy Shining Armor (present at your request), the voice that only recently stopped screaming in your head is remarking that you've never seen a perpetrator behave like this. Occasionally, your suspect frowned, or narrowed her eyes. She's smiled three times, and chuckled twice. However, right now she's stony-faced, even as you punctuate your final line by thudding a hoof on her desk.

"You did not do this, any of this, yourself. Tell me I'm wrong, Commissioner!"

She opens her mouth, and your blood goes cold as she begins her reply.

...

With a giggle? And now she's chuckling? And now she's laughing, her full body shaking, pounding the desk with her hooves just like you did?

A moment later, you hear Shining Armor join in behind you with a few low chuckles.

You've really never seen a suspect behave like this.

Is she-- you thought-- does she not know anything of what it means to be a detective? You frown, and open your mouth to continue, but she cuts you off with a gestured hoof.

Between the guffaws, you can make out a few words -- "No", "It's -- it's alright", "just-- just a moment."

After a few more seconds of laughter, she composes herself. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath (letting one final laugh escapes her lips), before looking over your shoulder to her Deputy.

"Well, Shining, he's figured me out," she says.

The musclebound stallion replies in a warm voice, "He has, Velvet. He really has."

Velvet Covers looks you in the eyes, and gives you a solemn smile. "Your work is exemplary as always, Beyond Reproach. Your conclusions are undeniable. Would you like to meet my accomplice?"

What? You expected an explanation or excuses. Not, what even is that, a full-blown confession?

She rises from her chair, and makes her way out of the office, gesturing for you to follow. What is she doing? Where is she going? You're not sure you can let her leave the base, not until you know the truth. But can you stop her?

These thoughts fill your head as you make your way out behind her, followed in turn by Shining Armor. They're discarded entirely as you realize her destination is just next door.

You step into the cavernous office, intended for only one pony. One pony who isn't. Here. That's why you have the job you do, and that's why you all work so hard at it.

You meet the Commissioner's eyes, and she gives you a nod, before beginning in a light tone.

"You're right, Beyond Reproach. No one pony could have done all that. Especially not a married mare with -- how did you put it -- 'no relevant experience prior to this year'."

She frowns.

"Though I think you're underestimating how crafty a foal can be in planning raids on the cookie jar. But no matter," Velvet says.

She gives Shining a look, and then continues on, "No. One. Pony. We were planning on telling the Bureau about this soon, but you've earned yourself something of a spoiler."

Slowly, the chair before you begins to turn...

And like when the full moon comes out from behind a cloud to light up the night like day, the truth of the world is illuminated, and you know it will never be the same.

Spoiler: Alt Ending

"No. One. Pony. But what about if that pony was taught by the most ancient and most evil creature to walk Equestria in millennia, sabotaged and then stole a demigod, betrayed the crown then betrayed the cult that had betrayed the crown, and all-but-touched the power that shines through every corner of this world? What then, Roach, what then? Tell me these lore-drenched hooves couldn't do it all, oh wait you can't, you don't even know what the lores are! "

---

Spoiler: AN

Just a thought on how all those inconsistencies and peculiarities Beyond Reproach is noticing could get resolved.

I find Beyond Reproach a great character, and the more I see of him the more I like him. The idea of putting the Luna in Lunar Bureau also appeals to me, even though I'm not sure how it works out logistically/Daybreaker-wise. What if she could do Commissioner actions...

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Prudent KISSing
-[X] (AotL) Lantern
-[X] (Forge) Forge 3 reagent
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Summit
-[X] (Winter) Invoke a Risen
-[X] (Social) Teach Selene
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Family
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Friends
-[X] Perform the Forge's Redemption
--[X] Sacrifice Forge 3 reagent
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] Sacrament: Through the Foggy Mirror (4x)

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
-[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X][DETECTIVES] Follow Up: Changelings
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Grail)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X][RARITY] Take a Commission.
-[X] Needs must. Ask somepony to procure you a dead body from the local cemetery.
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something Else (lend Heartifact to Comet)

You are Velvet Covers.

And you are, first and foremost, a mare of priorities.

"You two can go ahead without me. I should be back home in maybe half an hour," you say to the two mares. Moving a hoof in a calm and casual wave as you dismiss the two mares who, in truth, are your bodyguards.

The reason you are dismissing them is obvious. After all, you have just landed in Ponyville, and you are about to go somewhere you clearly don't want them to follow you. However, true to their trade and their cutie marks, you can see how several different thoughts are running through their eyes as you say that.



"Excuse me, Commissioner, but that's not how this is supposed t-"

"Absolutely, Commissioner! You won't see a hind or tail from us this afternoon!"



But thankfully, at least one of your bodyguards seems to have a good head on her shoulders. And for all that Drummer Clap started saying something sensible, but stupid, Battering Ram almost immediately jumped on her friend and covered her mouth with a hoof. Giving you the answer that you were expecting, and that she will have to teach the rest of your bodyguards if they want to continue taking care of you.

"Thank you, Ram. I will see you two later," you say, turning your back to the two mares and walking away.

You can vaguely hear them whispering to each other, as Drummer asks her something and Ram hurriedly answers under her breath. And after making a show of going away and towards your estate, you eventually feel that the two mares are still tailing you, albeit with a reasonable degree of subtlety.

Good, good. You think you will be able to live with this, as long as they learn what boundaries they are not supposed to cross.

Regardless, you have more important things to do. Because again, you are first and foremost a mare of priorities.

Which means there is a reason, a very obvious reason, to why you are here. Today might be the last day of the week, but there is a reason why you came back to Ponyville early in the morning, rather than late at night like you usually would.

Granted, being your own boss and making your own schedule means you don't really have to explain yourself to anypony. But your secretaries have already learned that even you won't break your own routine without a good reason.

And the reason why you left the Lunar Bureau so early, and why you cleared an entire day's worth of work so you could come back to Ponyville is…



… because today you are picking up your daughters from school!



"Heavens, it feels like I haven't been here in a while," you say to yourself, as you approach the not-so-familiar sight of Ponyville's schoolhouse.

You say it is not familiar because, although not unrecognizable, you can see that the building itself has been somewhat enlarged. It still looks like the schoolhouse you saw the last time you were here, but you can see that an entire classroom-sized section has been added to it.

Which only makes sense, you suppose, given how Cheerilee told you that the number of pupils in her school has more than doubled since the beginning of the year. And given how cramped the school feels, even from this distance, you assume they will need to expand this place again very soon.

You wonder if they will just demolish the school and rebuild it from the ground up, maybe during the vacation period. You wonder how well the Ponyville students are getting along with the newcomers. You wonder…

By the stars, you have been really out of the loop when it comes to this aspect of your daughters' life. You really should catch up to speed with this.

Still, there is nothing you can do about that right now. Instead, you just make your way to the small crowd of parents who are waiting by the school's entrance. Classes are about to be done for the day, and the bell should ring any minute now, so you just blend in with the several ponies who are here to pick up their foals.

Although, to your surprise, you very quickly recognize a face you were not expecting to see here.

"Uncle Steppes?" you say out loud, as surprised as you are delighted, as you make your way towards a particular circle of parents.

"Ah, Covers! How great it is to see you here," he says, waving for you to join him and the several other ponies he is speaking to. "Although by Celestia, I could have gone without you calling me uncle. I almost had everypony here believing me when I said I was one of the fillies' parents!"

He says that with an easy smile on his face, and you can hear a few ponies around him chuckling at his words. And all of them, you can tell, have the at-ease expression of ponies who are already accustomed to your uncle's pleasantness.

Because how could they not? After all, you are well aware that your uncle is a nice pony to be around, to begin with, and that he has a way with words. Plus, given how your uncle is… well, without his suit, or any of his more expensive apparels, he is blending in with his surroundings almost perfectly.

He looks, without a doubt, like a visiting grandparent who is picking up a grandchild from school. And the small crowd of parents around him all seem to be perfectly content with his company.

"Now, everypony, I know you all heard little Silky call me uncle, but I'm afraid the true honor of being my niece falls to this delightful pony," he says, putting a foreleg around you as he introduces you to the surrounding parents. That is, until he gives you a dubious look, as he looks at you up and down. "Although… young filly, shouldn't you be in school with your classmates? What are you doing out here before the bell rings?"

You can't help but laugh a little bit as you shake your head. But with that, your uncle begins introducing you to the other parents in earnest. Which suits you just fine, given how most of them seem to be the parents of the newcomer foals, and you did not know most of them. And just a few minutes later, you are all idly chatting as you wait for the minutes to pass.

"It really is great to see you here. But I was expecting to find Soft Sweeps here. Did you happen to come with her, or…?" you eventually ask as you chat with your uncle.

"Oh, no. She's back at the estate. I spoke to your maid earlier this week, and I've been the one bring the fillies to school and picking them up. Which, I must admit, has been doing me a lot of good."

You give him a slow, thoughtful nod. Because despite your uncle's usual demeanor, you can tell that he looks… rather tired. In a way that is entirely unrelated to how late he went to sleep, or how early he woke up.

However, and unfortunately, this would be the kind of thing you would need more time to investigate. The kind of thing you can't investigate without time, alcohol, and maybe some luck.

And as the bell finally rings, and the last reminders of a teacher about homework are drowned out by the cheering of foals, you come to terms with the fact that you have none of those resources at your disposal right now.

Plus, you came here today for an entirely different reason.

"Well then," you say to Steppes, "shall we head back home? Or have you been taking the girls on a little detour this last week?"

"I will never admit to you that I now know everything about Sugarcube Corner," he answers with a joking smile.

Moments later the two of you, and the surrounding parents, can only dig in with your legs and brace yourselves, as the wave of rushing foals finally crashes against you all.



- - -



"Moooom, you shouldn't be doing this," Selene tries to complain, her voice an embarrassed whisper. "You are still… I mean, you just can't…!"

But alas, your magic already has her in your grip. And moments later, you finish settling her on your back as you continue to walk through Ponyville.

"You are telling me that I shouldn't be carrying my own daughter? Absurd!" you say, as dramatically as possible. And you are sure that, to Selene's ears, your voice is being a lot louder than it really is. "One day you will be as tall as I am, and how in heaven am I supposed to carry you then? No no no, I will make sure to enjoy this while it lasts!"

You can feel her body heating up as, for some reason, she feels embarrassed by what is happening. And you think you can hear her muttering some kind of nonsense under her breath. Something about her already being taller than you, or that you should still be resting at home rather than being here.

Pff, silly Princess. Hasn't she figured out she will always be a filly in your eyes? And why is she so flustered? She also looks like a filly to everypony around you, so it's not like you are parading an alicorn on your back as you walk down the street.

Your uncle is a few paces in front of you, with Silky Stream quite literally flying circles around him as she tells him about her day. And even though you aren't really going towards your home, you can tell that this is a route they are all used to by now. So, you just go with the flow and follow after your uncle as he takes your daughters… somewhere.

Still, for all that a part of your mind is listening to Silky's voice, you are mostly focused on the filly you are carrying on your back.

After all, for all that she is tamely holding on to your neck, you can still tell that she is acting like she is stepping on a porcelain plate. In fact, you even think that, if she could, she would be flapping her wings to make herself a little lighter.

Which is the kind of concern that a filly her age definitely shouldn't have in her mind.

"So, how was your day Selene?" you ask.

And you can almost hear the gears spinning in her head as she thinks about that question. Usually, Silky Stream would have already jumped in to answer that by now. But alas, her usual helper is currently busy with your uncle, right in front of you.

"It was… fine? We didn't have any history or geography today, but grammar is also useful and…" she starts to answer, but eventually trails off with an awkward tone. But you don't really push that issue.

You have already seen Selene act in a dead-serious and mature way, and you have already seen her give in to Silky's youth and enjoy playing around like a filly. All of that after she woke up. So, you can only imagine how school must be like for her.

Still, she is the one who decided to do this, so you will keep supporting her.

"I see, I see. And how have you been?" you ask.

And this time, she doesn't even try to hide the frown on her face.

"Well, Silky has been… better, I think. Or at least she has been sleeping better, and she's finally acting normal around our friends again. But I'm still worried about dad. He hasn't been having any nightmares, but I don't like checking his dreams?" she says with a conflicted tone. "It feels like I'm snooping around where I shouldn't, so I avoid doing that. But the problem is that… well, he refuses to tell me what he's thinking! So what else am I supposed to do?"

You give her a slow nod as she speaks, to show that you understand. And you also make a point of idly checking your surroundings, to make sure nopony is listening in on this conversation. Granted, you don't think anypony would think too much about the make-believe ramblings of a filly, but it pays to be careful.

And when Selene finally finishes ranting about how worried she is about her family, making sure to once again insist that you should still be recovering, you give her another patient nod as she settles down on your back.

"That was quite amazing, Selene," you say, feeling her tilt her head in confusion against your mane. "You said all that, but you completely avoided the question that I asked. So, again, how have you been sweetheart?"

You can't really look at her face as you walk, given how she is on your back. But you can quite clearly visualize how she is slowly narrowing her eyes as she reassesses her situation.

And you try not to laugh as she lets out a small, almost betrayed gasp, when she finally understands what is happening.

Yes, dear daughter, this has been an ambush all along. We are here today to talk about you, not everypony you are trying to take care of.

"I am… fine," she says, although you can almost feel the cautiousness in her voice.

But oh, the poor filly. Doesn't she know that even that hesitation is already a treasure trove of information?

She knows that, of course she does. She is a smart filly. Which means she also realizes how out of her depth she is.

So, whatever it is that she is hiding (and you both know she is hiding something) is now at risk of being exposed.

You can feel her tiny heartbeat quickening against your back, as all those thoughts come crashing into her mind. And you think she is looking around as she fruitlessly tries to think about how to escape this situation

Still, you only let out a low and satisfied hum as you nod your head, simply encouraging her to continue.

"I'm fine, mom. Everything is fine," she tries once again.

And you just… wait.

You just wait, as you carry her on your back. Calmly enjoying the scenery as you follow after Steppes and Silky. Watching your pegasus daughter zip up and down as she tells your uncle about this and that, as the streets of Ponyville stroll by you.

You just wait, and you let the silence stretch itself, because… well, you don't really have to do anything, do you?

Or rather, there is nothing to be done about this, is there?

After all, you are carrying your daughter on your back, and she just told you that she is alright. She is alright, so all is right in the world.

She couldn't possibly be lying to you, could she? Of course not. Why would Selene lie?

She is not lying. That is the only possibility that exists. And if she is saying that she is fine, then she is fine.

After all, you are sure Selene wouldn't try to hide something from you, even if it was eating her from the inside. You are sure Selene wouldn't try to put up a strong front, as she faces some unseen and secret problem that, deep down, she knows she could use some help with.

You are sure that she isn't the kind of pony who tries to do everything on her own.

And most importantly, you are absolutely sure that something like this hasn't already happened before, maybe… one thousand years ago, give or take? Yes, nothing like this ever happened before in Selene's life, and you are sure that she carries no regrets about refusing her loved ones' help whatsoever.

Oh no, your Selene is a big, strong Princess, and she can carry the weight of the entire world on her b-!

"I'm actually really, really stressed about all this," she says, almost sagging on your back. Her tone low, but urgent, as if those words had almost pushed each other on the way out of her mouth.

If your mental counting is correct, then she caved in… less than three minutes. And over that entire time, you could feel her tensing on your back as if she was a spring that was going taut. But thankfully, she finally gave up on holding in whatever she has inside her chest.

And all you had to do was wait.

"Would you like to talk about it," you ask, with a calm and entirely judgment-free tone. In fact, you even make a point of not looking back towards her. You don't want her to clamp up whatever expression she has on her face right now.

"No… not really? I mean… I don't know. I don't know what to say about this. I don't know what to do," she says, and you can feel her moving her legs on your sides, almost as if standing still was somehow painful.

You give her another slow, understanding nod. But this time, you don't leave any room for silence to grow.

Because yes, you could already tell that she was stressed. And more importantly, she has finally admitted it to you, and to herself.

So now, you need to help her work her way out of it.

"Well, I don't know what to say about this either, but I have been thinking about it quite a bit," you say, and you can feel her leaning her head towards you and against your neck. At least for now, you think you have her full attention. "And you see, we might now know what to do… but it's important to keep in mind what we shouldn't do."

She lets out a low, inquisitive hum. And you can practically see the question mark floating above her head.

"You see, there's this saying about apples and trees that comes to my mind, every now and then. So, I have been trying to think about what I would have done, if I were in your situation," you say, and you think you can feel her forelegs clutching your neck a bit more tightly, as she gets closer to you so she can hear you better.

Which makes sense, you suppose. You two haven't exactly been whispering to each other, but this isn't something to talk about in a street like this.

"But here's the thing, Selene. I can't really read your mind," you lie, "but ever idea I had, about what I would do in your horseshoes, was either silly, reckless, or downright stupid."

And the filly almost immediately opens her mouth in protest. Because what do you mean by that?!

She isn't reckless or silly, and her ideas are not stupid! She is a Princess, for Moon's sake. She is a Princess, and every plan or idea that crossed her head was meant to protect her family!

Even if those plans were… well…

Even if that one night she thought about how she should… uh…

Well, she already killed one pony, that cursed Copper mare, so would it really be that bad if she considered…?

"Yes, exactly," you say, as you read your daughter's thoughts like an open book. You also gently close her mouth, that is still hanging open and waiting for a protest that will never come.

Still, even though it takes her several seconds to process it, the fact remains that you are right. You know it, and now (hopefully) she knows it as well.

Because yes, Selene is an alicorn. She is the Princess of the Moon, and there is almost nothing that she can't do. So, you have no doubt that she has been entertaining several flights of fancy of what she could do, to keep her family safe. Especially given what just happened to you.

However, just because she can do something, it doesn't mean she should.

She could reveal herself to the Lunar Bureau, and either take your job or fire you, to decrease your workload.

She could start moonlighting as a detective, or maybe as a hero from one of those books, to keep Ponyville and beyond safe.

She could take another page from that very grizzly book (although you dearly wish she won't) and just kill whoever she thinks is a threat.

She could do all of that, any many things besides.

But that's the thing. She shouldn't do any of that. She doesn't need to carry all of this weight on her back, but she shouldn't try to fix everything on her own either.

That's what you are here for. To remind her that, despite what just happened, you are still in this together.

"We are still on the same team, Selene. And I know… trust me, I know how nerve-wracking it is, to think that you aren't making any progress. But we can't let that nervousness turn into recklessness."

You say that, and you try not to think too hard about the heavy sigh your foal daughter just let out.

"Now, I'm not going to follow you around, Selene. I'm not really going to stop you, if you really want to try doing something without telling me. I trust you. But I want you to know that you can trust me as well, and that you don't need to go out on your own," you say.

Because yes, you know you just got hurt. You know that… you nearly died.

You know that you nearly died, and that Selene hated that. And the stab of powerlessness she felt these last several weeks have not hurt you nearly as much as it hurt her.

But still, that doesn't mean you should all start making plans of your own. That doesn't mean you should all tell yourselves that I know better and work behind each other's back.

That would just be the recipe for another new disaster.

"So… I know you are here for me, Selene. I know that, and I'm thankful for that. But I want you to know that I am also here for you," you say, moving your head to the side and rubbing your cheek against hers. "We don't need to act like we are alone," you finish.

And then, once again, you wait.

But this time, there are no second intentions behind your patience. You aren't waiting for a filly to awkwardly pull her hoof out of a cookie jar, after being caught. You aren't waiting for Selene's own nervousness to grow so much that she can't take it anymore. In fact, you honestly hope that your words didn't make her nervous at all to begin with.

You are just… waiting. Waiting for her answer. If she even wants to give you an answer at all.

Because ultimately, you aren't going to force her to do anything. You can't force her to trust you. Although you dearly wish that she does.

Eventually, and finally, she lets out a low grumble. But that is all the answer you need.

"Fiiine… fine. I promise I won't do anything silly," she says to you, or perhaps to herself. But still, she almost hugs your neck as she brings her mouth towards your ear to whisper something. "As long as you promise not to get hurt again," she finishes. Her words slightly admonishing, but more worried than anything else.

And you don't even try to hide the relief that you have as she tells you that.

"That's a promise," you say.

And a few moments later, you finally arrive at your destination. The local candy shop that, to Silky's delight, has been receiving a lot of patronage from your uncle.

"Sugarcube Corner! YAY!" Silky says -yells, really- as the four of you make your way inside.

The filly practically zips to the end of the small line in front of the counter, and you let Selene down from your back as she makes her way to join her sister. Idly listening to the shop owner as she tries to take the several orders from her customers.

"Just on the day we are understaffed. Where's Pinkie when you need her?" she says towards the back, and you think you hear a stallion's voice answering her. "Well, it is what it is. Come on in everypony! And what will you be having today?"

And the rest of your early afternoon is entirely peaceful.



- - -



You are, again, a mare of priorities.

That doesn't mean you love anypony in your family more or less than the others. Quite on the contrary. You have four legs, and you would happily chop off one of them for each of them.

However, you also understand that different ponies have… different needs.

Selene is a Princess, even if at times she also acts as a filly. So, you know you can have certain conversations with her that you wouldn't be able to have with most ponies.

Stormchaser is your very best friend, and you realize that he knows you better than you know yourself. So, with him, there is nothing you can do but be honest. And thankfully, despite your honesty, he decided to go with your plan.

As long as you are fine, he said. Although you understand that his definition of fine follows his own criteria.

Silky Stream is… a filly. And in truth no filly should have to go through what she went through. No foal should grow up as an orphan, and no foal should live through the fear they might lose a parent the next day. But still, thanks to everypony around her, and a conversation you had very recently, you can see that her smile is finally back on her face.

I still need you to take care of me, she said. And those words cut… a lot deeper than you expected.

And then, there is your last daughter.

The one that you… haven't seen in a while, now that you think about it.

The one whose parents you helped kill, even if you only had the most indirect of involvements in that chain of events.

The one who, deep down, you can't help but think that you have stolen away. From her family, and then from her old life and then from death itself.

The one that…

"… Softy? Are you in there?" you ask, as you gently knock a hoof against her door.

Her door, you can tell, is locked. And the young mare herself, you can feel, is currently inside her room.

Alone.

All by herself.

It is night. You arrived yesterday, early in the morning, and you went straight to your daughters' school. And after that, throughout yesterday and today, you spent your entire time with your family. With Stormchaser, and then Silky, and then the two of them together with Selene.

And this entire time, you have not yet seen Soft Sweeps. This entire time, as far as you know, she has not left her room.

Are you worried about her? Of course you are. You are worried, but for some reason you are not afraid.

You don't want Soft Sweeps to suffer. You love her, and the mere thought of her being in any kind of pain goes against everything you stand for. So, you are worried for her right now.

But again, you are not afraid.

Because you know you will help her.

You know you are here for her.

And you know you will save her no matter what.

You have already done it before.

"Softy dear, it's me," you say towards the door. "I'm coming in."

You tap a hoof against her door, and then you make your way in.

And the first thing you notice is how dark it is.

This is the head maid's room, the room Ponpon gave to your daughter after she refused to move to the second floor. So, it is larger and more comfortable than the servant's quarters. However, it is still relatively small, and the only window of the room is currently closed shut.

Still, you don't even bother lighting up your horn. You just close your eyes, and the door behind you, and then you make your way towards Soft herself.

The young mare, your daughter, is… on her bed. She is on her bed, curled up and hugging herself, and she…

"Softy, dear… what's the matter?" you ask, gently laying a hoof on her body.

Your hoof brushes against her clothes, the maid dress that you know she wears whenever she feels nervous. Like a talisman, or a personal superstition, that she keeps hanging on to. But still, you will not deny your daughter something that makes her feel better.

You lay your hoof against her maid dress, and you can't help but feel how damp it is.

Her maid uniform is damp because of the tears. Of course those are tears.

Why would that be blood?

"It's alright dear, I'm here now…" you say, slowly climbing up to her bed and bringing her head towards your chest. "I'm back home… everything is fine… so what's wrong? Why haven't you come out of your room?"

You affectionately stroke her mane as you say that. And slowly, very slowly, the young mare begins to move again.

She lurches sobs against your chest, and she spasms shakes ever so slightly.

But still, eventually, she brings her forelegs around you as well. And soon enough, your poor Softy is crying against the fur of your chest.

The stench is unbearable. But more than that, it is as disgusting as it is familiar.

The two of you stay like that for a while, in the darkness of her room, as the young mare tries to process her emotions.

Clinging on to you like a puppet, the smell of the thing inside of her escaping through the cracks of her broken body.

Until finally, her broken sobs croak a few words out of her chest.

"I… d-don't wanna… go through t-that… again…" she half-cries into you.

The volume of her words is weak, but the grip of her forelegs only grows stronger as she says that.

And you understand what she is saying. Of course you do.

Because Soft Sweeps already lost… everything, once. She already lost her family, and her siblings, and… well, and other things besides.

She might not remember it. She might not think about it. She might even not understand it. But the fear she felt these last few weeks, as she saw you on the edge of life and death, was a familiar fear. Even she couldn't name it. And for all that she tried to fight it, by focusing on her work, and staying with her sisters, and wearing her maid uniform every moment of her waking day, she still couldn't push those fears away.

And once you went away for work, earlier this week, she must have lost what little strength she had to hide those emotions. Which is why she has been… here.

Like this.

You think the last pony she ever spoke to was probably your uncle, as she arranged for him to take care of her sisters in her stead.

A part of you feels slightly proud, that she tried her best to arrange something for them before locking herself up here. But that isn't exactly at the forefront of your mind right now.

Instead, you focus on what really matters.

You help her restart calm her breathing down.

And then you wipe the wet tears off her face.

And then you encourage her to talk. Just talk. Until she lets out all her fears and her pains and the agony that has been keeping her company this last week.

…

And just like that, your daughter is fine! She apologizes for causing you problems. You tell her, with a kiss on her forehead, that she is never a problem. And then the two of you go to the kitchen for an early morning snack.

Although you weren't able to leave without making her a promise, just a small promise, for her to hang on to.





What did you promise Soft Sweeps?





[] You promised her that you will be safe.
-The best way to calm her down is to prove that this will not happen again. Through words, and then through actions.
-You will promise not to reach one health point for the next six turns. (Although you will not be mechanically prohibited from taking risky or life-threatening actions.)
-Successfully keeping your promise will placate Soft Sweeps.
-Failing to keep your promise will have dire consequences.


[] You promised to spend more time with her.
-The best way to calm her down is to be around her more often.
-Over the next three turns, you will have to take the action "Hang out with Soft Sweeps" a total of two times. (Although you will not be mechanically forced to do so.)
-Successfully keeping your promise will placate Soft Sweeps.
-Failing to keep your promise will have dire consequences.


[] You promise to let her help you.
-The best way to calm her down is to help her develop.
-You will promise to do… something for her. On turn 22 you will have the Fleeting Opportunity of "Soft Sweeps' Request". You cannot predict what she will ask of you, but if you perform that action you will accept whatever request she has. (Although you will not be mechanically forced to take this action.)
-Successfully keeping your promise will placate Soft Sweeps.
-Failing to keep your promise will have dire consequences.


[] You did not make any promises.
-The best way to calm her down is to let her be. You have faith in her, that she is stronger than this, and she already got a lot better with words alone.
-You cannot predict how this will affect Soft Sweeps. But you have already mostly calmed her down, so she will not do anything regretful.

Spoiler: Roll and breakpoints

[That which is most precious, breakpoints 60/80/120/150]

[Roll: 56 55 + 13 (Diplomacy) + 20 (Grail level 4) + 40 (An Incarnadescence) = 129]

[Velvet Covers has invoked a re-roll]

[Third breakpoint reached]



That which is most precious, breakpoints:



60: Selene is many things. She is loyal, she is smart, but she can also be hardheaded and reckless. But she trusts you, and the two of you remain in lockstep. (Selene will not start acting behind your back.)

80: Stormchaser is, without a doubt, the pony who most deeply loves you, and he is the pony who has done so for the longest. It would have been easy for that love to turn into concern. But for now, at least, you have convinced him that you are fine. (You will not have to make a great compromise to placate your family.)

120: Silky Stream may be a bright and observant filly, but she is still just a filly. However, you were able to help her navigate this storm she has just lived through. (You will not have to give reassurances to placate your younger daughters.)

150: How do you convince a young mare, who already lost everything, that it won't happen again? Especially after what just happened? It should not be possible. And yet, here you are… (You will not have to make a promise to placate Soft Sweeps.) [BREAKPOINT NOT REACHED]

Approval voting. Vote for as many options as you want, and the single most voted option will win.

You have successfully addressed your family's concerns, and the fears they felt following the attempt against your life. And apart from the specific vote for Soft Sweeps, no other consequences will arise from that occurrence.

Regarding Soft Sweeps herself, your daughter is almost entirely fine. But a small promise is still needed to put one last nail on this coffin. However, as stated, you don't think she will do anything stupid even if you decide to leave it at that, and not promise her anything at all.

Unreliable narrator? What's that?

Twelve hours moratorium.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Pride.

And right now, you are having a very important conversation.

It is the weekend, and the clock is less than an hour away from striking noon. However, in a departure from the routine you had when you first moved here, you are still in Ponyville. In fact, you have been returning to your home in Canterlot less and less, these past few weeks. And for all that your father clearly instructed you to do so, you think your excuses to refuse his command have been… sufficiently adequate.

Still, your mind is as far away from Canterlot as your body is right now. And again, you are having a very important conversation, which is consuming the entirety of your attention and then some.

This is an important subject. A nerve-wracking subject. Something that keeps you awake at night, and that you are as hesitant to talk about as you are desperate for proper guidance.

And that subject is…



"So, tell me about this mare we have been hearing about back in Canterlot."



As always, your dear uncle is as caring as he is ruthless, and he asks you that question the moment he sits down on one of the chairs of your office.

He has a smile on his face, yes. But then again, he always has a smile on his face. And for all that he is family, and your elder, you can't help but worry if his smile is hiding any judgment.

You can feel your heart thumping inside your chest, and a chill running down your spine.

But still, you invited him here today. You want to have this conversation.

So, you can only hope that you won't mess this up spectacularly.

"Her name is Axe, uncle. Velvet Axe. And she is a…" you brace yourself to deliver the first, and perhaps most egregious piece of information that you have. "… she is an earth pony mare."

You watch as your uncle gives you a sagely nod, his smile not faltering for a second.

Is he surprised? You are absolutely sure that talk about her race has already reached Canterlot. And you know for a fact that your father has more ways to keep track of this estate than just the reports you give him when you meet. But still, you have hoped that reports on your dear beloved had been sketchy at best. So, is your uncle surprised to be hearing this confirmation from your own mouth? That you are not interested in a unicorn, as you should?

Is he surprised? Shocked? Disappointed?

"B-but she is a foreigner! Or so I am told," you quickly continue, nearly tripping over your words as you do. Because he might still have a smile on his face, but you are keenly aware of how well ponies in your family can hide their real emotions. "And truly, you need to see her with your own eyes, uncle. The way she ties her mane, and that entrancing sheen she has on her coat and…"

Another chill runs through your body as you realize how close you are to swooning over your dear Axe, and you immediately clamp up.

You are having this conversation because you hope to win your uncle over! Not to fawn over your distant beloved.

"I mean," you say, getting a hold of yourself and letting out a dry cough. "She is a very interesting mare, uncle. And I was hoping you could advise me on how to proceed with this situation."

You say that, and you realize all too late that you have not been looking at your uncle this entire time. Instead, you have been so nervous that you have been pacing around your office. Quite literally walking circles around the chair your uncle is sitting on.

Still, you only admonish yourself for half a second before you turn to face your uncle again. Trying your best to remember all the lessons you were taught about negotiation.

But your mind goes entirely blank when you look at your uncle, and you realize he has a… very peculiar smile on his face.

"Ohohoh? Is that right, dear nephew?" he says, his eyes narrowed as if he could read something that is written on your horn. "This Axe mare must be quite the something, for you to be like this."

You feel a trickle of sweat forming on the base of your horn. But what in Celestia's name are you supposed to say?

You know that you won't be able to enter any serious relationships unless your father approves it. And you know that, unlike the circumstances that led to your sister marrying a pegasus, your father will probably never approve of you so much as courting an earth pony.

That is, unless you manage to bring your uncle to your side.

But… but how do you do that?

And what does that damn wry smile on his face means?!

"Well then, why don't you tell me a bit more about her?" he says, letting out a cough that couldn't possibly be a chuckle. "Because yes, certain bits and gossips do reach the main house. But some of it is so fragmented or… well, unbelievable, that I'd rather hear it from you, nephew."

You give him a hard nod, one that is perhaps too eager or mechanical. But you understand the subtext of what he is telling you.

This is it. Your battle has begun. And although the fact that your uncle has not immediately kicked you down, as soon as he heard your dear Axe is not a unicorn, is encouraging… well, the fact remains that he is right now probing for more information.

He is still withholding his judgment. Which means you still have a chance to succeed, but also to fail.

"Well, she has quite an adventurous spirit, for starters," you say, trying to paint her in the best light possible. "My Lady sister told me that she frequently sets out to explore parts unknown of Equestria. So she definitely has a wealth of knowledge on several subjects."

You say that, and other things besides. You leave out what your sister told you, about her being rather intractable. And you try to focus (and maybe even embellish) the good things you know about her. Painting her as a wondering foreigner who, naturally, would be a wonderful asset for the Velvet family.

You don't outright lie to your uncle. You don't think you have enough skill to do so. But still… well, you try.

However, your heart sinks more than a little when you finish your tale, and your dear uncle answers you with a dismissive wave of his hoof.

"Yes, yes, that all sounds very wonderful. A picture painted by Princess Cadance herself," he says, and you don't even have enough time to try and figure out what that expression means. "But more importantly, is it true that you fell for her at first sight? Is it true that you ran after her through the garden, and practically bowed down to her on the entrance hall?"

Your heart, that was beating so furiously until a second ago, almost freezes as your uncle so brazenly asks that. As he so quickly asks about that particular story, about that particular day.

And surely, the way he is leaning towards you, and the gleam you see in his eyes, can only be the harsh gaze of judgment, right? Your uncle's posture couldn't possibly mean that he is asking this just for the sake of interest and gossiping, no?

Of course not. Your uncle is one of the ruthless heads of the Velvet family. He would never be hooked in by something as base and simple as a stallion's first love.

Which means that… you are in deep, deep water. Because yes, the first day you met your dear Axe is a day you still hold fondly in your heart. But you also must admit that the way you handled that was the first and greatest mistake you made, when it comes to making your family accept her.

But what in Celestia's name are you supposed to do?! If that story reached the main house so accurately, what hope do you have of downplaying it?

"Well, I," you start to say, and then you stop, your thoughts trampling over each other as you try to figure out how to navigate this. "I would never say the heir of the Velvet family was struck by such a fairytale concept, uncle."

Your uncle coughs. Cantrip, who is standing by the door, also coughs. But your mind is so overwhelmed that you don't even register it.

And yes, they definitely coughed just now. It couldn't possibly be that they are chuckling.

"Instead, it as more that I… immediately saw her value. Yes, that is what happened!" you say, almost triumphantly.

Of course, that's how you will spin this. Make a point of how valuable and unique your beloved Axe is, and make yourself look good by being the first one to spot it!

You can only hope that the detail about her slapping your hoof away never reached the main house, and also that…

"Ah, of course, of course," your uncle says. "Yes, you always had a keen eye, so it makes sense that you would spot a diamond in the rough before anypony else."

You think his chest is trembling a little bit, and at the same time he is hiding his mouth with a hoof. He is probably just scratching his beard, you think.

Cantrip, also, seems to be having some trouble with her maid uniform. Because why else would she be so desperately inspecting her skirt? For what other reason would she have turned her face in another direction so suddenly?

Still, none of that matters. What matters is that it worked! It worked, your uncle bought your story, and you are that much closer to winning him over.

"Still, dear nephew, I am sure that the stories that reach the main house are more than just incomplete. So tell me, what else has been going on between you and this oh-so-interesting mare?"

"Of course! Well, I…" you begin to say, but you quickly trail off. Because what exactly should you tell him? Should you keep to your transactional and asset-oriented story? Should you try to pivot in another direction? "Well, I was able to secure some time with fair Axe. A few weeks ago, when my Lady Sister's daughter got her cutie mark, I managed to schedule with Axe fo-"

"Ohoh, so you asked her out on a date?" your uncle interrupts you, almost standing up from his chair with an inexplicably wide smile on his face.

And you are immediately taken aback. Is this a trap? Have you been lured into an ambush? After all, asking a mare out on a date, without your fathers approval, would be unthinkable. Especially when it comes to an earth pony.

So is this it? Are you done for?!

"I-I…" you stammer, almost taking a half-step back at your uncle's sudden burst of energy. "Of course not, uncle, don't be ridiculous. I merely… managed to schedule… for us to, uh… discuss business, yes. In Canterlot, at a later date."

"Yes, a later date," your uncle says, nodding to himself. "By the way, Cantrip dear could you bring me another glass of this? I think I'm getting quite parched."

He says that, but you are so concerned about his sudden "date" jab that you don't even notice that… well, that his glass of wine is still half full. And that Cantrip almost runs out of the room, as soon as he asks her that. And that a burst of laughter comes from behind the door as soon as your faithful maid leaves your office.

You don't notice any of that, because you are too worried about how easily your uncle has cornered you in this battle of yours.

"B-but unfortunately, well, we were not able to meet," you say, and for all that your voice is urgent, you are truly being sincere right now. "That… that dreadful business that happened with my sister. It left everypony scrambling. And our arrangement just slipped out of our mind, I think."

"Oh, right, that makes sense…" your uncle says, his smile turning into a frown as he thinks about the terrible occurrence that happened to your sister. "But come on, kiddo, you can't just leave her at that. Ask her out again!" he says, once again reigniting his smile.

But you-

"-couldn't possibly do that again, uncle. Asking her out even once was almost impossible to begin with!"

You answer him so quickly that you don't even realize how honest you were, just now. Or how horribly you just slipped.

But who cares? You are right! It can't be done. Asking the rare and radiant Axe out once already required a degree of courage you do not possess. And you couldn't possibly beseech Lady Mareinette's aid once again.

So it can't be done. It simply cannot!

"What you mean you can't do it again? So that's just it?" you uncle asks, "you are just going to let this once-in-a-lifetime mare that has you gobsmacked drift away because you didn't have the guts to ask her out?"

Your uncle says that, and his words cut you oh so deep. Not just because they are harsh, but also because they are true!

What are you doing? Why don't you just ask her out again?!

And not for the first time your mind is overwhelmed by the thought, by the possibilities, of what you could do to win fair Axe's favor. This is a familiar rush, for these thoughts batter against the walls of your mind more often than not. But still, you can't help but feel thrilled, and frightened, as if it was happening for the first time once again.

"Here you go, Lord Steppes. And… and thank you, I just couldn't hold it in any longer."
"No problem, Cantrip. By the way, everything is fine over here. If you would like to take a break for the next hour or so…"
"Oh, not at all. I wouldn't miss this conversation for the world. Speaking of which, did you manage to get him speaking while I was out?"
"Yes, yes, it happened just now. He finally let go of the façade he was trying to build. Things should go more smoothly from now on."​

"But uncle, it just isn't that simple!" you finally say, the more cautious (or perhaps cowardly) side of your brain once again winning out. "You haven't met fair Axe yet. You just don't understand!"

You say that, and your barely notice Cantrip walking back towards the door, to keep waiting on both you and your uncle.

Because how could you even spare her a glance? You have much more pressing concerns right now.

"Oh, that's nonsense and you know it, nephew. Just walk up to her and ask her out! You already did it once, so it wouldn't be strange to do it again. And besides, the two of you must talk all the time, for you to be this smitten. So you just need to drop the question during one of your chats."

Your uncle says that, and you…

… you…

… you freeze.

You freeze, because well… it seems one of the few things your uncle didn't quite know has just come to light.

You freeze… and he immediately notices it.

"Hold old," you uncle says, once again narrowing his eyes, as if he could read your thoughts right off from your mane. "You two do speak frequently, right…?"

You don't answer. You don't answer, and you don't open your mouth, and you don't even move.

But alas, such camouflage tactics only work when the predator doesn't already has his eyes on you.

"Nephew, do you mean to tell me…" your uncle says, finally standing up from his chair, walking towards you, and patiently putting a foreleg around your neck in a half hug. And then, he pulls your head towards his, looking you in the eye so closely your horns almost touch. "You mean to tell me you have been swooning over this mare this entire time, and you haven't even properly spoken to her?"

You don't answer. You dare not answer. You wouldn't be able to live with his disappointment if you ever answered.

But your throat… it's just so dry right now.

Your throat is so dry that you can't stop yourself from gulping something down.

And that, you know, is all the answer your uncle needs.

"Princesses' throne, Pride… I thought… wow, we have a lot of work to do," he says to himself, the humor in his face completely eclipsed by a sudden burst of disbelief. "But hay, no time like the present. So be honest, what DO you know about her? And don't give me half-answers or made up stories. Tell me the truth."

He says that and you immediately fold. Your reserves of willpower are all spent, and there is nothing else you can do but scrape and beg for your uncle's aid on this. And if he eventually decides to vouch against your beloved Axe, then so be it.

But right now, you are drowning. You are drowning, and your trusted uncle is the closest thing you have to a lifeline. So, there is nothing you can do but grasp at it.

"Well, I… I know bits and pieces about her schedule. I know there are a few ponies who seem to be on good terms with her. And I think I have a grasp on certain things that she likes."

You say that, and you can only watch as your uncle's expression slowly turns into one of… concern?

By the sun, what the hay did you do wrong now?!

"My dear nephew, I must admit that list is… quite peculiar. Pray tell, how exactly have you learned those things? Especially given how you refuse to talk to this mare?"

He asks that, and for the first time in a long while your eyes finally light up. Because yes, this is definitely something you have a good grasp on.

In fact, you are almost excited to explain him about this!

"Ah, this is one of the secrets I figured out, uncle! Here, let me show you," you say as you go towards the window of your office.

Because this being your office, this is also the place you spend most of your days in. So, you light up your horn to move your lavish office chair, and you reveal to your uncle the item that was hiding behind said chair.

"Nephew, why do you have a telescope hiding behind your chair? And why is it pointing towards your window?" your uncle asks. His voice completely curious, and not at all increasingly worried.

You also hear Cantrip do… something. Yes, of course, she just sighed in approval. Because why would she ever let out a tired "here we go again" sigh?

"As you know, uncle, the window behind my desk has a view of the mansion's garden," you explain. More than just that, you usher your uncle towards you. "And the secret I discovered is that… fair Axe seems to be on good terms with my Lady Sister's daughter! The pegasus one, that is."

"This Axe mare is friends with Silky Stream?" your uncle asks, although his expression is still conflicted as he approaches the telescope. "But what the hay does any of that has to do with this?"

Ah, so that is the pegasus' name? You should try to remember that for the future.

"Just take a look, dear uncle. And you will see the great strides I have made to gaining fair Axe's favor!"

You say that, and you watch as your uncle peers through the telescope.

The telescope is, of course, aimed at one of the corners of the garden. At a particular spot that is under the shade of one of the larger trees.

"Is that…?" he asks.

"Yes! That is a fully furbished tea party," you say, describing the image your uncle is seeing. "I have learned that the little pegasus is quite fond of those, so I have the servants keep that place ready during the afternoon."

You say that, beaming with your namesake pride. And you watch as your uncle takes a confused step away from the telescope, after gazing through it.

No doubt, he is at a loss for words because of how impressed he is!

"And without fail, almost every afternoon, the little pegasus sniffs the tea party out and goes to play with it. Following that, three out of four times fair Axe appears to join her. This is a genius way for me to be able to gaze at her… that is, without any risk of making a mistake!"

"There… there is a term for ponies who do this kind of thing, in the noble circles…"

"Pardon, uncle, what was that?"

"I… Pride, kiddo, let me get this absolutely straight. The way you have been learning about this Axe mare is… by spying her from a distance?" he asks.

To which you can only reply with confusion.

"Spying? Why, I would never! How could you possibly say th-"

"Pride, look at me. Just look at me. You have a telescope aimed at a tea-party shaped trap that you have set up for your niece. All in the hopes of… catching a sight of this Axe?"

"Well, when you put it that way…"

You trail off, because your uncle does have a point. At least when you look at this from a very specific perspective.

But still, what else could you possibly do? Every time you spoke with your beloved Axe was an utter disaster! She is so perfect that she is quite literally unreachable. So what hope do you have for joy in this life, if not to simply gaze at her from a distance?

"But still, uncle, well…" you say that as you peer from the telescope, more out of habit than anything else.

And despite your predicament, your heart soars as you realize what you see through the telescope.

"Wait, wait! Look, uncle. The little pegasus is there again!" you say, as you watch the sight of your pegasus niece poking her head out of a nearby bush, gazing at the tea party like a small animal might look at a morsel.

And soon enough, your niece disappears into the bush once again, only to reemerge seconds later with a fancy hat (that, given its size, probably belongs to your Lady Sister) and a rather expensive filly-sized dress.

By the life of you, you have no idea where she gets those things so quickly.

Still, more importantly, you watch as your niece sits down on one of the chairs, and begins pouring herself some tea.

"This is great! And you will see, uncle. I will show you. As soon as Axe appears, you will understand what I mean," you say, still looking through the telescope. "You will understand that… well, that I can't possibly bear to take any risks! Not when a mare like her is on the line."

You say that, and several things more, as you peer through the telescope.

Although, you can't help but realize that… well, that your uncle isn't exactly responding.

And as the seconds stretch long, you can't help but feel a pang of concern because… well, your uncle did seem a little hesitant about this, now that you think about this. The more you recall the expression he had on his face just now, the more you realize that he wasn't impressed as much as he was…

"Uncle… I know… I know this looks, well, rather unsightly. But I promise you, I just need to understand Axe a little better before I…"

You trail off. You trail off because, again, you would never be able to tell a believable lie to your uncle. But more than that, you don't want to lie to him.

You don't want to lie to yourself either.

"Oh, who am I kidding. I just don't know what to do, uncle. Please, please help me. Because every night before I sleep, I think about her. Every day when I wake up, her face is the first thing that comes to my mind. But given how I haven't even been able to converse with her yet, I… I don't… I just…!"

You say that as you let out a long and pained sigh. Shaking your head as you take your eye out of the telescope.

And in truth, you feel truly downtrodden, perhaps even ashamed, as you turn around to face your dear uncle. Because you realize how low you must look in his eyes, right now, and how pathetic and desperate y-…

… wait, what?

"Uncle? Uncle Steppes?" you say, looking around the room.

Because where the hay is your uncle?

You look at the chair he was sitting on, then the corners of your office, until your eyes finally settle on your trusted Cantrip, who is standing by the door with the most awkward and embarrassed of expressions.

"My Lord Pride, your Lord uncle has left… around four minute ago?" she says.

And your heart sinks as, somehow, the exact meaning of this dawns upon you.

It doesn't make any sense. You don't even know how you know this. But you just do. For some reason, you immediately understand exactly what is going on.

You turn your face back towards the telescope so quickly that you almost hurt your neck. And you almost poke your eye with the telescope as you peer into it.

But sure enough, you are immediately greeted by the sight of your pegasus niece sitting on the fancy garden chair, in front of a fully furbished tea table… having a delightful conversation with a noble unicorn wearing a full suit.

Your heart nearly jumps out of your mouth as you realize your uncle simply went there and did something you have never dared to do even in your wildest dreams.

Your hoofs almost scrape the wooden door, as your gallop out of your office and down the stairs, towards the garden.



- - -



How did you end up in this situation?

How could you, you, the youngest son of the Velvet family, be in a place like this? Doing something like this?

"But I must say, Lady River, I was hoping to see your sister here today. It has been too long since I last saw her."

"Ah, but haven't you heard, Lord Mountain? My dear sister has been crowned a Princess! So, she is so very busy now, I am afraid she doesn't have time even for myself."

"Is that quite right? I will make sure to pay Princess Selene my respects then. But do tell, when was the coronation?"

And how can your uncle possibly be so nonchalant about all this?!

You are… you are currently…

There is no way to sugarcoat it. You are at a foal's tea party.

Granted, it is a true tea party in every sense of the word. You did instruct your servants to prepare something like this, after all. So, you are sitting on a nice and comfortable garden chair, in front of a metal-and-glass table, with a teacup and a plate full of sweet treats in front of you. All of that on a nice corner of the central garden, under the shade of a tree, where the wind blows just enough to keep everything cool and comfortable.

But that's not the point.

The point is that, right next to you, is sitting a pegasus filly. You are at a tea party, with a pegasus filly. And to your right, sipping from his tea and engaging in make-belief talk as if nothing was wrong, is your uncle Velvet Steppes.

Or rather, "Lord Mountain", currently discussing crown politiks with "Lady River".

Curse your legs for galloping here. And curse your lack of courage for not turning around the moment your uncle introduced you to your niece.

The only bit of luck you have is that fair Axe herself is not here. After all, you are sure that all the servants are watching, and they must all be laughing their flanks off at the indignity you are going through right now. But still, at least your dear Axe is not here to see you like this.

However, you are suddenly snapped out of your thoughts as "Lord Mountain" magnanimously waves a hoof towards you.

"Now, I realize our good Baron Diamond is not one for words. He is from a distant land, you see, and our language is not yet his forte," your uncle says.

And the condescending nod the little pegasus gives you is… how will your pride ever recover?

"That is quite alright, my good Lord. I am well-acquainted with ponies from distant lands," the filly says, as she reaches for yet another treat from the nearby assortment of pastries.

"Is that right? But it is oh so rare for ponies to come from outside our Princesses' domain. Who is it that you already know, who shares this exotic honor?" your uncle asks.

And despite the turmoil of rebellion and indignities that is coursing through your mind, your thoughts immediately focus as you realize that…

It couldn't possibly, could it?

Is your uncle… did he really plan this far ahead? The way he was steering this make-believe conversation this entire time, could he possibly have been planning for the filly to…?!

"Why, I happen to know one Princess Axe of Snaketon," the filly says, and your ears immediately perk up in attention. "She is also from a distant land, from what I know. And also a mare of very few words."

Your eyes go wide in surprise, and your mouth nearly opens for you to ask something, anything, from the filly.

But before you have the chance to do any of that, your uncle continues to talk as if nothing miraculous had just happened.

"Princess Axe? You live in very good company indeed, Lady River. I am truly privileged to be here with you today."

"Well, I will have you know you are just as good of a company, Lord Mountain."

Their back and forth banter continues. And you need to hold yourself back not to just jump in.

Ask her something more, uncle. Ask her anything. Please!

"Now, good Baron Diamond here, he comes from a very rich region," your uncle says, putting a hoof on your shoulder, as the pegasus filly gives him a long nod with her all-too-large fancy hat. "As his name implies, he is the owner of several deep mines, from which his servants dig up trove upon trove of precious stones."

"That must be quite the impressive sight, my good Baron," the filly says, turning her attention to you for perhaps the second time since you sat down.

She was largely hesitant about your presence, ever since you arrived, until your uncle managed to convince her to rope you into her little play. But now, she is looking at you as if you were one of her own playmates.

And for some reason, despite her being a pegasus, you don't really… mind?

Well, not when she seems to know so much about your beloved.

"Yes… quite the sight…" you say, rather awkwardly. And the filly lets out a small giggle as she mistakes your hesitation for a feigned accent.

"However, he also told me he has been looking to form a business relationship with other foreign ponies. And we were hoping you could help us bridge the gap," your uncle says. And your heart begins to drum inside your chest as you realize where he is taking this. "And I was quite intrigued by this Princess of Snaketon. So, if you don't mind favoring us, how could we best approach her for this business relationship plan our Baron here is hoping for?"

He asks that, and you… you…!

You want to do several things at the same time.

You want to run away, for starters. And you want to shake your uncle for the sheer temerity he has. And you also want to bring out a scroll and pen to write down every last syllable the filly is about to speak.

Because part of you realize you don't deserve this. That whatever secret knowledge this filly has is not meant for a mere and lowly mortal such as yourself. But another part… oh another part of you can't help to yearn for it.

Still, as always, you don't do anything. You are frozen by your own indecision, and you can only watch as fate plays its own cards before you.

Which means you can do nothing but wait, with your mouth closed shut, as the pegasus filly speaks.

"Ah, Princess Axe, yes," she begins to say.

But for some reason, her expression begins to shift. It is hard to say that a filly as young and innocent as her looks serious, but you don't really know any other way to describe it.

She might not even realize it. But for a moment, your niece seems to drop her make-believe act, and her tone becomes strangely focused as she speaks.

"I think, um… promise you won't tell this to anypony, uncle Steppes?" she asks, and your uncle, also with a curious but serious expression, gives her an understanding nod. "Well, I think Axe… I think Axe has a hard time trusting other ponies."

"Trusting other ponies? Why? What made you realize that?" your uncle asks, his voice as smooth as it is encouraging.

"Well, she… I dunno. She never told me that? But there is something about the way she acts that… I think she trusted somepony, once, and she got hurt because of it. Or maybe somepony who she trusted didn't fulfill a promise? I'm not sure," she says, looking down at her teacup as she purses her lips. "But that's the thing, uncle. I think she's scared of trusting other ponies, so she has a hard time doing a lot of things."

"I see… that's very observant of you, Silky. But if you don't mind me asking, and you don't need to answer if you don't want to, what sorts of things does she have a hard time doing?"

"Asking for favors, for starters. Axe is really bad at asking for stuff. She also almost never says please and thank you," the filly says, and her concerned expression breaks a little bit as she laughs at something she just remembered. "I think she just doesn't understand that ponies can be nice to each other? No, it's not that. She just doesn't like the idea of ponies doing favors to each other out of the blue. But, uh, she's actually really nice! I promise you. She's really, really nice if you get to know her."

"Ah, she sounds like quite an interesting mare," your uncle says. And for a moment, he glances in your direction.

But to be honest, you are so busy paying attention to the filly's words you don't even notice your uncle looking at you.

"But if she is so hardheaded like that," your uncle continues, "then what's your secret? How did you become her friend?"

The world shakes around you, as your uncle asks that. And it takes a moment for you to realize that, rather than the world shaking, it was you who was nodding your head to his question.

Because yes, what is your secret? How did you do it?

"Oh, that's easy!" the filly says. And you need to hold your tongue not to call her out on her obvious lie. Because how could it ever be easy?! "Axe loves to make deals. She really, really doesn't like one-sided promises or favors. But you can convince her to do almost anything if you can make a deal with her!"

She says that with a smile, and you… you…

I'm sorry, what?

"And the real trick," the pegasus filly continues, lowering her voice as if she is whispering a secret, "is to pretend to make a deal, when you are actually just doing her a favor."

She says that, and then she gives your uncle a mischievous wink, as if she had just shared with him the most devious of plans.

"Ah, that sounds genius Lady Rivers," your uncle says, smoothly reverting into his haughty persona. Having the filly follow him back into her own game without her even realizing it. "Yes, this will be very helpful to our negotiations and-"



"Who tha fock are these?"



But your uncle Steppes, and the wheels that were spinning inside your head, are suddenly interrupted by a voice. A very familiar voice, coming from a nearby bush.

And sure enough, with the indignant shaking of leaves and the strange sound of something slithering, the most beautiful mare you have ever seen in your life just pokes her head out from the nearby greenery.

Your entire body freezes.

The sun seems to shine more brightly. Every last smell that you feel, from the surrounding nature, suddenly becomes more pleasant. And for all that her piercing, glaring eyes are enough to make you fear for your life, you feel more entranced than anything else.

To even be this close to such a beautiful mare is more than you deserve. To hear her voice, even though you can barely understand her words, is a privilege that is above your station.

But as she walks out of the bush, her braided mane flowing down through her neck like the most intricate maze of knots, you can only think that this has all been worth it. You no longer care about the whispering servants, or the weight of expectations on your back, or even your own father's judgment of you. Because this… this is the place where you want to be.

This is the mare you want to be with, for the rest of your life. Even if the closest you might ever get to her is the distance from your seat to the spot she is standing on.

Still, she looks at you, and then your uncle, and you think she just shrugs as if she barely recognized any of you. And then, she looks at your pegasus niece with her scowling equivalent of curiosity.

However, before she can ask anything else, your niece clears her throat.

"Here, let me show you," she whispers to your uncle.

And then she fixes her posture, and her overly large and fancy hat, like the caricature of a noblemare.

"Princess Axe, it is so lovely to see you here. I trust your travels have been fruity-full?" she says. You think she makes a gesture of sorts, but you have your back turned to the filly and your attention fully aimed at fair Axe, so you cannot be sure. "Still, I know you must be tired from your trip, and that you must be looking forward to an afternoon of rest. But I so much love hearing your stories, so could you possibly be willing to give us some of your time?"

The beautiful mare narrows her beautiful eyes. And you watch as… something slithers out of her mouth. It happened so quickly you couldn't really see what it was. But still, the mystery of that movement only increased her allure.

"Wots in it for me?" she asks.

And the little pegasus answers almost as if she had already been expecting that question.

"Well, I realize your storytelling doesn't come cheap. And we have more guests today. But I do have quite a treasure trove of sweets. So, I was thinking. You give us the pleasure of your company, in exchange for… four cupcakes?"

"Make it six an' we hav' a deal."

"Deal!" the filly answers so quickly she almost interrupts the older mare.

And just like that, the most beautiful mare you have ever seen in your life slinks towards the table, taking a seat right in front of you.

And the filly, who you now think is way too intelligent for a pegasus, gets everything she wants, in exchange for something she was always willing to give away to begin with.

For the next few minutes, she and your uncle seem to have fun as they "negotiate" which cupcakes the mare would get, embellishing their imaginary contract until they finally "concede" to giving the mare one more cupcake.

But still, the end result is all the same. You stay almost a full hour with her, and you listen to her stories, and you even manage to speak a few words for her after much prodding and encouragement from your uncle.

And when a maid comes to summon your niece for lunch, you realize too late that your uncle takes the opportunity to join her and leave you alone with the beautiful Axe.

It takes all the courage you have left to offer her a "deal", and you can only hope that you somehow did not end up putting your hoof in your mouth yet again.

Still, you end that day… thankful.

Thankful to your uncle, of course. But to your absolute surprise, also thankful to a pegasus.