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

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

Plan Outreach
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of MOTH (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] A measured commitment:
Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month.
(6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[X] You seek the Princess of the Night, and perhaps you are the only pony in Equestria who can access the Dreamlands, bar your compatriots (to whom you showed the way). She is bound to be there. And even if she is not, she is bound to sleep, and everypony has a door.
--[X] Invoke the power of the MOTH to Protect You From Nightmares.
-[X] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else.
-[X] Help Comet Feet
--[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company.
-[X] Help Starry Dancer
--[X] She seems somewhat rattled. You all are. Lend her an ear, or perhaps a shoulder.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] She might not be as quiet and disconnected as she seems. Get to know her better.
-[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[X] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
-[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] [Servant Action]

- - -

"A final turn to the left and… the fourth house after the tree carved with a heart?"

These certainly are curious instructions, especially since mentioning the street and the number of her address would have been more than enough, but you follow them anyways.

You have been thinking about meeting Jade Whistle to talk to her. Your official excuse would be that you wanted to know how her studies for the ritual are going, since heaven knows how much work it must be to devise a new ritual from scratch, but you are actually more interested in getting to know her better. Especially because of her curious reaction, even if it was only with a single phrase, after the last cult meeting.

Was she trying to console Starry Dancer? Was that simply her outlook in life? Was she as shaken as the pegasus, as shaken as you all were, but simply managed to hide it better? These were things you were planning to find out, or at least try to.

So how surprised you were when, before you even tried reaching out to her, you instead received a letter from the mare inviting you to her home.

"This certainly must be that tree…" you look at the large tree, one of the many that usually dots the streets in Ponyville, and see that it is indeed carved with a small heart, two cutie marks also scraped within it.

You wonder how long ago that was carved. You wonder if those two ponies are still together.

They probably are.

You continue walking, counting the houses you pass by until you reach the fourth and… wait, is this really the place?

You arrive before a… well, you first retrace your steps and make absolute sure that this is the fourth house. But after said checks are finished, you once again arrive before a particularly shabby house. You don't mean to be rude, and you most certainly don't think like that because you were raised a noble, but the place certainly is… unkept.

Houses in Ponyville are usually brightly painted, and even the least adorned among them will have dozens of small signs that tell this and that about their residents. You have been to a bakery that is shaped like an actual cake, and you have already passed by a house that you swear had chimneys shaped like the pipes of some musical instrument, perhaps an organ or something else.

But even the houses that aren't as personalized as those will have smaller details on them, even if it is just a simple garden and some potted plants, or perhaps a wooden workshop or the likes.

However, the house that you see in front of you does not even have that much… less so, in fact. Its once bright paint is clearly worn, you see a few signs of cracks here and there, although they are tiny, and even the grass around it is slightly overgrown and unkept. Jade Whistle is an earth pony, and the very plants around an earth pony's house tends to behave better than not, so that small detail also seems out of place.

The windows, also, seem spent, and you can see that the curtains behind them are closed shut. You look up, at the sun that is well on its way to the highest point of the sky, and let out a soft "Huh…" at that.

But this is most certainly the place where her letter told you to go, so you knock on the door and wait for an answer.

And you wait… for a considerably long time.

"Jade? Jade Whistle?" you knock again, this time more insistently, not in an annoyed or impatient manner, but you are quickly starting to wonder if you have taken a wrong turn somewhere. You hope not, because the letter wasn't exactly short when it came to the instructions.

You keep knocking on the door, wondering if you should put an ear against it to check if there is any sound coming from the inside.

Until finally the door opens, only a slight crack that is, but you can see somepony looking at you.

"Velvet Covers?" you hear a voice coming from the inside, its tone too closed to that of a tired droning, followed by a… a yawn?

The door finally opens, revealing the mare herself, her grey mane clearly unkept and the fur of her light blue coat slightly ruffled.

Did she just wake up?

"Did you just wake up?" you let your thoughts out almost involuntarily before you can stop them.

But the mare simply looks at you and nods as an answer, her expression almost the same as the one she usually wears, with the slight difference that her eyes are slightly more closed than usual.

The two of you stand there, staring at each other for a while, until she shakes her head an looks at you with a little more attention.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, although she sounds like she isn't really interested in the answer.

"You… invited me over?" you say, starting to feel somewhat awkward, but you float the letter she wrote you in her direction, which she grabs and slowly reads.

"Oh…" she says, as if she were talking to herself, "so sending this wasn't a dream…"

You suppress the urge tilt your head at that, and calmly wait as the mare looks behind her, probably looking at something inside her house, before she turns back in your direction.

"I wasn't really expecting you here for a few more days, so my house isn't exactly presentable, but…" she fully opens the door and turns her back to you, walking away from you with a yawn, "you can come in," she finishes, her voice still coming out somewhat drowsy.

The door leads to a small corridor, and Jade Whistle disappears after turning a corner that leads somewhere, leaving you alone in front of her open door.

Your self-control fails for a moment, and your face turns into a confused version of itself, your head tilting slightly as you try to understand what had just happened. But you quickly recompose yourself and take a deep breath.

You neither see nor hear any further signs of the mare, and the small corridor is still silently waiting for you, so you take that as an invitation for you to go in. She did say you could, after all.

You step into Jade Whistle's house, closing the door behind you, and turn in the direction that you saw she went to.

And once you turn around that corner, you must admit that you are somewhat… surprised at what you see.

Or rather, at what you don't see, after all her house is extremely dark.

Well, perhaps "dark" is not the correct term, but it is very badly illuminated and your eyes take a good few moment to adjust to it. You see no candles, and the ceiling-lanterns don't look like they have been used in ages. The only light you see is the one coming from the windows, and that is only because their curtains are old and worn to the point where they are thin, with a few small holes dotting them here and there. That much light, however, is only enough for somepony to be able to vaguely discern what colors everything was supposed to be, at best. Like how a place might be during the very end of the sunset, or perhaps under a slightly clouded moon.

This place is the kind of shady-dark that is enough for a pony to walk around just fine, and have a good guess of what and where everything is. But it is certainly not bright enough for somepony to live here, not comfortably at least.

You can see that you are in some kind of living room, with a few cushioned sofas and an old fireplace, but you still close your eyes every now and then as you walk through it, just to make sure that you don't stumble on anything.

"Over here" you hear Jade's voice coming from the other end of the room, followed by the sound of a match being struck.

Her voice came from beyond a slightly open door, and you see the light of a recently lit candle casting a shadow against the ground, so you head that way.

"You can sit there," she says as you enter the reasonably large (and unreasonably dark) study room, pointing towards a chair.

"Thank you," you answer her, heading towards the chair. Although the mare doesn't seem to acknowledge that you said anything.

You awkwardly look at her, wondering if you should say anything else, but she seems to be focused on making sure that the candle is properly sitting upright. She also has her back to you, so you are not sure if you should interrupt her either.

"Like I said," she finally speaks again, turning her head in your direction, "I wasn't expecting you for a few more days, so I don't really have anything ready right now." You dearly wonder what she means by "ready", but you keep a polite smile by your face, "I'll go get something for us to drink."

And with that she slowly walks out of the study room, leaving you alone. Again.

You take a deep breath, trying to focus yourself. You wish you could chide yourself for not saying anything, or for not attempting to start a conversation, or for not doing anything else other than simply following the mare here. But you honestly can't think of how you could have done anything else.

You saw no hints on Jade Whistle's body language, you aren't even sure if she is giving you any hints or social cues of any kind. You honestly can't even tell if there were any cues to begin with.

And on the topic of you starting a conversation yourself, what were you supposed to say? "Thanks for having me here, and wow your house is really old"? That surely is not how you hope things will go.

You let out a frustrated sigh, taking care that it is not loud enough for her to hear it from… wherever she is. But you think you hear a few clanking sounds in the distance, so she must be in her kitchen getting something for the two of you, as she said she would.

But what to do… what to do…? You look around while clopping your hoofs together, thinking of what your next step should be. You certainly have the impression that you ought to do something. You don't think the mare was gently telling you to leave when she told you she was not ready for you to visit her, but you certainly don't think she will take the first step at anything conversation-wise.

Or is she telling you to leave? Good heavens Velvet, you are supposed to be good at this sort of thing!

You look around you, trying to take in the study room where you are. Maybe something here will help you get a better read on the mare?



[A thousand shadows around the candle's flame, breakpoints 20/40/60/80/100]

[Roll: 71 + 12 (Intrigue) = 83]



And you notice several small things.

The study room is filled with all sorts of objects. Curios and souvenirs, small trinkets and tokens that seem to have come from all kinds of places and cultures. This study room reminds you somewhat of Baldomare's living room, with the number of little things and details everywhere you look. But where Baldomare's lodge seemed to display fond memories next to a roaring fireplace, and was heavy with loving reminiscences and history, this place you are in right now feels like it is… empty, despite the many small objects everywhere you look.

The sheer quantity of things seems to cast shadows everywhere, in fact, even with such a small candle illuminating all of it, and for some reason that makes you feel something heavy in your chest. But strange sensation or not, you close your eyes to take a better look.

And a few other things become immediately clear.

First of all, you see that her house is extremely unkept. And again, this is not your noble upbringing saying anything, this is your clear observation. Seeing the house from the outside, and its neglected structure, is one thing, but as you look around you can't help but notice that the same amount of care (or lack of thereof) is given to the inside of her home as well.

There are spiderwebs everywhere, on every corner of the ceiling, and even near some of the trinkets that are further away from a normal pony's reach. There are several cabinets near the walls and next to the wooden table on the other side of the room, but you can see a thin layer of dust over many of the books, especially those that are higher up on the cabinets. You wonder how long it has been since this place was used for its intended purpose.

However… you can also see the signs of a recent cleaning, or at least of a recent attempt at cleaning things. This time you are indeed drawing from your experience as a noble, as you can see the several small markings that somepony has done a very sloppy once-over on part of the room, or that you are in the middle of a very slow attempt at cleaning everything.

You can see that the dust on the floor has been mopped away, but with signs that those efforts were done starting from the door, and curiously stopped at the spot where you are sitting on your chair. You see that most of the small trinkets that dot the cabinets have been dusted off, especially those that can be more easily reached by somepony around Jade's height. That and several other little things tell you that some effort has been put into making the whole place more presentable.

Maybe she did mean it when she said she wasn't expecting you for a few more days… maybe this is what she meant by it? You are not sure if you are somewhat flattered that Jade Whistle actually made some sort of effort to have her place cleaned, or if you are worried over the fact that she… doesn't really seem to care much about her own house otherwise.

You hear the faint hiss of steam coming from a few rooms away. Jade Whistle must be doing tea, you think, and that sound probably means that it won't be long until she returns.

You look around, with more attention now, looking for more subtle hints, for more things that you might have missed with a quick glance.

You try to blink your eyes, but you remember that they are already closed to begin with. You wonder for a few seconds as to why you would have wanted to blink to begin with, until you realize that the candle's light is actually a bit too bright, almost to the point where it is slightly uncomfortable. You open your eyes, surprised at that, and take a better look at the candle itself.

And you recognize the candle. It is the same candle that was left behind by your Master after the end of the ritual into Princess Luna's dreams, the one with a slight tinge of Lantern to it. You see that the candle is not rightly burning or melting the wax of its body, and that confirms your suspicion.

Curious that Jade Whistle would have held on to it. Of course the thing is precious, or at least Mansus-touched, but after what you saw on the ritual it didn't even cross your mind to reach for the candle after everypony had left. By all rights, everypony was so shocked that this artifact should have been discovered by Windy Flakes, days later as he finished his business on his underground storage.

You look around at the study room once again, but what about the other trinkets? You doubt any of them are Mansus-touched, they all seem too common and mundane, but why then does she hold on to them? The more you look around, the more this study room seems like an old and forgotten museum, but why is it like this?

Maybe, you think, the idea striking you suddenly and without warning, these trinkets are not hers to begin with. Maybe this whole study room isn't hers.

You think back to the impression that you feel like you are in a museum. Maybe this whole house isn't hers to begin with. It might belong to her, but it might not actually be hers.

You click your tongue, realizing something that should have been obvious from the start. You passed by a living room with a fireplace and several sofas, you are in a study room and there are at least three chairs in it, yours, hers and the one covered in dust next to the desk on the opposite end.

The house itself is two-storied. The stairs to the second floor must be somewhere else you haven't passed by, but the more you think about it the more you realize how large the place is. Not unusually large by Ponyville standards, but definitely not a place a mare would be living alone either, and you are certain nopony else lives here with her.

The more you think about it, the more you realize how empty this place is. This place feels very lonely, you realize, and an idea of sorts slowly starts to piece itself together in your head.

A chill runs down your spine, and you think you feel a faint echo of Winter in the air.

You hear a few more clanks coming from where you believe is the kitchen, followed by the sound of Jade Whistle's hoofsteps. You shift your mind into a more frantic gear as you keep looking around you.

Something still feels wrong, you feel like you are missing something or that perhaps something is missing from this place, and you know that whatever it is, it's the piece that you are lacking for the puzzle.

The mare's hoofsteps are nearly on the door when you finally realize what that thing is.

You finally realize that you see no pictures. This is a study room, and perhaps a personal office of sorts, and although you know that it might not be a practice everypony has, the sheer quantity of souvenirs and small things around you suggests that the owner of this place liked to remember things. You have a few pictures of your family in your own office, and something in you tells that there should at least be a few dozens of them in here by the look of things.

And once you realize it, you notice them. You see several small gaps in the cabinets, between certain objects, where a picture might have fit. You notice the tiny holes in the walls, where a nail might have once stood and a photo frame might have been displayed from.

No, that isn't exactly right, if you are being honest. You only realized that there are pictures missing because so far you have only seen a single one. You see the small corner of its frame, high up on a cabinet by the door, forgotten behind several other trinkets almost as if it had been purposefully hidden there.

You almost missed it. In fact, you would have missed it if not for the reflected glint of the candlelight on its metallic frame. You spy at the picture, far as it may be, and something tells you that it must be the only picture that exists in this room. Or perhaps in the entirety of the house.

Although you have no idea, then, why it is hidden away in that spot.

"Here," Jade Whistle returns, carrying a set of tea with two cups, fresh steam coming out of it.

She leaves it on a less-occupied cabinet, near her own reach, and sits down on the other chair. You know it is good manners to put this sort of thing near your guests, so they can reach it with their hoofs, but you take the cue anyways and float one of the cups towards you.

You sip from it. It's not bad, but you have the impression that Jade Whistle doesn't know the first thing about brewing tea. You are struck by the sudden thought that perhaps this is the first time she has ever tried doing it, but you are not sure where that idea came from.

She calmly drinks from her tea, with her eyes closed, which reminds you to double check that yours are open.

But apart from that, she remains silent.

And you are honestly, for your part, not sure of what to say. You have thought about several things to discuss with Jade Whistle while on your way here, several ways that you could have started, guided or ended a conversation, but none of them really seem adequate right now.

This place… this room, this house, Jade Whistle herself, it all just feels too… heavy.

She opens her eyes after what must have been more than a minute, and looks at you with her usual uninterested expression.

"Maybe calling you here was a mistake," she says suddenly, although with a tone as neutral as one she might have used to talk about the weather.

"What?! Why?" you say, trying to control your surprise, but otherwise completely taken aback.

"Well, you haven't touched your tea for starters" she says nonchalantly, and you suddenly remember you have been floating the teacup next to you the whole time, "also you aren't really saying anything."

She calmly closes her eyes again and sips from her own teacup, in a way that could make you very well believe you are not there at all.

"But then…" you try, hesitantly, "why did you even call me here?"

You keep your eyes trained on her. Normally you would be doing that so you could be attentive to any slight movement, any small hint of body language that might occur if you were having a normal conversation.

But right now, you are looking at her because looking anywhere else just feels too uncomfortable, especially after noticing all the little details that you did.

"I called you here because I want to know you better, why else?" she answers simply, and although she doesn't shrug that sort of movement wouldn't have been out of place right now.

"Why?" you ask again. A part of you knows that you are fumbling, and that you must sound extremely uninteresting right now, seeing that you are doing all the things you would want to avoid in a normal conversation.

But nothing else comes to mind right now, and a part of you is really dreading that she might be thinking of simply asking you to leave.

"Because you seem nice. Well, not exactly nice…" she opens her eyes slightly, looking at nowhere in particular as if searching for a word, "but you seem to be… the kind of mare who can understand things, I guess. Not like the others, I mean."

"I don't look like the others…?" you narrow your eyes, seeing that you might just manage to go somewhere from this, "why exactly do you think that? What is the matter with the others?"

You are almost positive she means the rest of the inner circle, so you ask precisely that.

And you dearly hope she takes the bait, you really hope that she doesn't simply brush your question off and resume her silent demeanor.

She opens her mouth after a few long moments, but what comes out isn't exactly the answer you have been hoping for.

"Why did you join the cult, Velvet?" she asks, in her same usual impassive tone.

You suppress a reaction, a deep breath that your body is calling for you to do. At least, you think, the mare is still talking, so you go for that.

"Well, the cult seemed interesting, for starters… it was interesting enough for me to want to go to the first few common meetings with Copper, before I was introduced to the Master, and I also had the time," you answer, to which she nods.

She looks at you for a few more moments, and then she nods once again, this time more slowly.

"And why do you think then," she asks, seeming to take more care with her words now, "that everypony else joins the cult?"

Is she judging you? Is she hoping for a particular answer? Is there a trick to this question that you haven't noticed? You mull her words over in your head a few times, but you can't really see any of that.

So you decide to go with what you know.

"Well, I assume that for the same reasons?"

She tilts her head at you, the first reaction you have ever seen from her, as far as you can remember. Although you can't really say what exactly she means by that, whether if it means a polite show of surprise or if it is the equivalent of a facehoof.

"It's a cult Velvet," she says, still with that same dispassionate tone, "it garners for ponies who have problems. It is a micro-society, and the only reason anypony would join it would be because they don't think they have a place in the society they are currently a part of."

She says that, slowly, without breaking stride and on the same way she might be saying she thinks your dress looks nice. But you can't help but notice that your eyes are now wide open in surprise.

That was not, in a far shot, the sort of answer that you were expecting.

"What… whatever you mean by that, Jade?" you try to recompose yourself, but you stammer a little in your answer. You open your mouth to try and word it better but, again much to your surprise, the mare is already talking again.

"Well, it's clear enough, you can see just by looking at us. For example" she says, calmly sipping from her tea, "Starry Dancer is illiterate, or at least has a very big difficulty with it, and as much as she tries to hide it I think you have noticed how she acts evasively whenever she has to read something, be it a letter or whatnot. Comet Feet came from out of town and keeps to himself, but not in a healthy way."

The mare stops for a few moments, just to put a little more tea in her cup.

But by now, interrupting her does not even cross your mind.

"Copper Secateur needs to appear interesting to other ponies, and sometimes she won't bring in an initiate as much as she will seduce them, and Windy Flakes…" she stops for a few moments and simply stares at her teacup, "well, I just think it's clear that everypony there feels abandoned somehow, or that they don't fit. And the sense of being part of something bigger, or of having guidance, or of belonging to something that is personal and mysterious, is what attracts them."

You realize that you are sitting straight on your seat, that something in you is rigid with shock at the mare, although she is not even looking in your direction. You are not even sure of how to react, of even if you should react at all.

"But what about you?" she raises her eyes from her teacup, and look into yours, "Windy says you have a daughter, and Copper mentioned once you have a nice husband, so I was wondering why a mare like you would want to distance herself from that by joining a cult."

"I…" you hesitate.

Jade Whistle is right. She is frighteningly right, although that was not something you had consciously considered before. Of course, you had no idea about anything she just told you, about all the little details she mentioned in an almost off-hoof manner, but you can see the logic behind her reasoning.

And you can see it in yourself as well. You recall the way you felt years ago, as a mare who had been married off to an unknown stallion of some conveniently influential family, as a mother whose daughter was practically hated by her own grandfather by virtue of having been borne with wings instead of a horn. About all the little dissatisfactions that piled up in your life over the years, ever since the accident when you were younger, after which you slowly drifted apart from your father and was isolated from the rest of your family.

Until you met Copper Secateur, during one of the particularly long trips your husband was making, and she introduced you to your… pastime.

You swallow something dry, and a corner of your brain reminds you that your tea must be cold by now, but you don't care. You look at Jade Whistle's impassive eyes, and you think that mare might as well be looking straight into your soul.

"I… don't exactly have a perfect life either…" you finally answer, to which the mare gives a deep and understanding nod.

But in that nod you see something, you see a hint that isn't only of understanding, but of some deeper feeling that is crossing her mind. You recognize a glimpse that you think you saw when she tried to comfort Starry Dancer after the last reunion, although her use of words might have been as nonchalant as the one she has now.

You see… some sort of familiarity? As if she somehow understands what you mean too well?

You see all of that, and you can't help but to wonder…

"But what about you?" you ask, knowing that she understood your question before you even finished saying it.

Jade Whistle keeps her eyes trained on yours, in silence, but you can tell that she is thinking. She might even be thinking deeply, if you really are beginning to understand the mare.

Until she closes her eyes again, and takes another sip from her tea.

You fumble internally at that, did you perhaps completely misread her or-

"Could you bring down that picture? The one on top of the cabinet?", but she interrupts your train of thought, "I saw you looking at it when I came back, so I know you noticed it."

You feel slightly uncomfortable at that, something in your head is telling you that you shouldn't have noticed that photograph to begin with, although you have no idea of how noticing something could possibly be your fault.

But you reach out to it with your magic, regardless, and float it towards her.

To which she shakes her head, and gently pushes the floating picture in your direction.

"That's my family", she says, as soon as you reach it with your hoofs, although you have to swipe away a layer of dust.

And you can see that, although the way it is portrayed surprises you. In the center of the picture is Jade Whistle, a younger version of herself, and she has a beaming smile. Her coat looks like it is a lighter color, and she is… she is hugging a small colt, that seems to be the same age that Silky is right now.

You can see that the sides of the picture are torn out, but you can make out that to each side of the duo stands a mare and a stallion.

"That's me and my brother, together with mother and father," she confirms your suspicions before you even voice them.

Another chill runs down your spine, and you remember just how large and empty her house is.

"They used to travel a lot, and bring back all sorts of trinkets and objects with them. They would tell us all sorts of stories about their travels, too, and we would always listen to them with a shine in our eyes."

She continues to speak, although her voice sounds like the very opposite of somepony who even once in her life ever had a shine in her eyes, or that ever smiled the way you see that she did for the picture.

"It would rile our imagination, of course. I even got my cutie mark when I realized I like to collect things, like the ones they used to bring from their travels," she says, looking at her own flank in between her sips of teas, "and my brother… well, he thought he might earn his own by being an adventurer like our parents."

You take a second look at the picture, feeling a knot tie itself in your chest. The little colt, much like your daughter, doesn't have a cutie mark either. And being a mother, you are especially used to a small pony's antics when they try to figure out their cutie marks.

"So he tried doing just that. One morning he left for an adventure. Mother and father were away, and I was busy cleaning the house," she continues.

Her tone sounds like she is very bored, but you notice how she takes a deep breath before continuing.

"Only problem is, of course, Ponyville is right next to the Everfree Forest."

She stops, and takes a long sip from her teacup. You have no idea if she is just allowing the meaning of her words to sink in, or if she extremely distressed without letting it show. But you remain deathly quiet.

Of course you do, you wouldn't know what to say even if you wanted to say something.

You wouldn't be able to say anything even if you tried, not with the knot in your chest slowly squeezing you more and more.

And after what must have been almost a minute, Jade Whistle continues.

"The thing about timberwolves," she says with a slightly different tone, almost as if she was reading aloud form a book, "is that, being plants, they dislike things which can move. They do not need to eat, feeding themselves as a plant would, but they will hunt down anything that has even the slightest movement to it. Be that movement a regular trot, the ability to breathe or even a pulse."

Jade Whistle closes her eyes, and takes another deep breath, putting her teacup aside once she is done with that. She looks back at you, and you wonder if she can tell that your heart is practically hammering against your chest, that it feels like it is about to be squeezed out of you by the sheer weight that you are feeling.

"But timberwolves usually leave their mark alone once it stops moving," her tone is back to normal again, you have no idea how, "and his cutie mark was the image of a small adventuring kit. A little lantern, some rope and… some other things more… it was hard to tell. But a few days after that happened father left, saying he couldn't stand to live here anymore, and then mother gave up," she finishes, staring at you with her deadpan expression.

But you nearly stop breathing at that. You realized how she worded her parent's reactions very differently. You realized how her father left, and then her mother left.

An idle part of your head wonders how your expression must be right now, but you really don't have it in you to care anymore.

And you slowly start to ask a question, almost without conscious thought.

"Why…" there are several things you want to say, a lot of things you nearly want to shout, and quite a few things you want to do right now. But you can only properly form one question in your mouth, "why are you telling me this…?"

You almost whisper it, your voice would tremble far more than it just did if you tried to say it any louder. It is not that you are asking her why she just told you that, but instead why she wanted to tell you all of this to begin with.

Why did she think about inviting you over, having intended to send that letter or not, and simply sit you in… somepony's study room and tell you all of this? Why you, if you practically don't even know her at all?!

"Because you seem like a nice pony… and I thought you would understand."

"Understand what?"

She looks at you, and for the first time her expression turns into something resembling doubt, and she simply shrugs.

"I… I don't know," she concedes, "but that's how things are, isn't it? That's the way things go. Once you realize something, once you see something and notice that it is there, your whole world changes it. After that point you live in a world where the thing you noticed is there, and it exists for you now, and it demands space, and sometimes even your attention and…"

She lets out a sigh, a defeated sigh this time, although you can barely differentiate it from a normal one, coming from her.

"I'm sorry," she sure doesn't sound sorry, "this didn't go as I thought it would… You coming here was a mistake after all."

You look at the mare, your mind completely confused as to how it should react. How can Jade Whistle even be so neutrally calm like she is? What was crossing her mind when she thought about calling you over to just up and tell you all this?! What in the heavens is even going on through her mind for her to…?

And then it finally clicks.

She was answering your question of why she joined the cult. And she mentioned she called you because… what was it again, something about you understanding?

She was hoping, you realize, that you would understand her.

This is her problem. She did say that everypony has one, and she seems to be the kind of pony who words things like that. She understands that she has a problem, and that this is it.

Jade Whistle is, you realize, an extremely observant pony, and a very intelligent one as well. But you can't shake the feeling that despite all of that, or perhaps because of that, she has come to the conclusion that she has an almost alien view about life. She has a way of seeing things that causes her not to be able to connect with almost anypony else.

And once she realized it, well… the world she lives in "became a world where that fact exists" as she puts it.

But you realize that this conclusion made her an extremely lonely pony. The particular kind of lonely that is already so used to it, that they don't even notice themselves.

You see it now. There is too much Lantern in her. She can see things so clearly that she gets lost in them, and can't care enough to try and do anything about it, or maybe she simply has no idea of what to do to begin with.

So, she just… keeps looking at the world with those dead eyes of hers, with that neutral expression marred with indifference.

Although you can see that there is still somepony underneath all of that. In the very core, she still cares and feels very much.

"I will take you to the door," she gets up before you can react, and walks away from the study, towards the front door, "you can just forget about this whole morning and go on with your life."

You follow after her, but you still have no idea of what to say. Your words still stuck in your throat until you are standing out of her house, and she has her hoof on the door.

She looks at you one last time from inside her house, from within that cold and empty corridor, while you stand just outside of it. The two of you repeating the same scene from earlier this morning, with the tiny difference that she does not look as sleepy as she did back then.

Another difference, however, is that she didn't have as much… something in her eyes either, as she does right now, although despite your years of experience you have no idea of what that thing is.

"Look," she finally says, as if to say her goodbyes, "I know I'm not the best with words but… I'm sorry. Just pretend you didn't come here today, and I will do the same."

And with that she moves to close the door, but before she does that you-


[] nod at her. You asked, she answered. You searched, she let you in. Knowledge is never kind, and she seems to both know that well and have come to terms with it. What she has not done, however, is ask for your pity. Gain one scrap of LANTERN Lore. (Jade Whistle might understand if you do this)

[] go ahead and hug her. This is not unwarranted pity, this is basic kindness. She may have her own way at looking at the world, but you can see that her world is a dark place, and that she very much wants to be found. Gain one scrap of WINTER Lore. (Jade Whistle might not understand if you do this)

[] do nothing. She, much like her house, is too cold and too dark. You'd better keep your distance. (Jade Whistle will very much understand if you do this)





Velvet Covers is not certain of what to make of any of this…

Spoiler

20: the recent cleaning

40: the candle

60: the empty chairs

80: the framed picture

100: the marks around her neck

You have not rolled high enough for her to tell you a certain secret about the cult, but she has told you almost everything about herself.

Jade Whistle is a very curious mare.
Jade Whistle is not a pony against whom social rolls, of the usual kind, will be used often.
Jade Whistle is…

Interpret it as you wish.

Voting will remain open until the next update, which will happen no earlier than 48 hours from now.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

Plan Outreach
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of MOTH (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] A measured commitment:
Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month.
(6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[X] You seek the Princess of the Night, and perhaps you are the only pony in Equestria who can access the Dreamlands, bar your compatriots (to whom you showed the way). She is bound to be there. And even if she is not, she is bound to sleep, and everypony has a door.
--[X] Invoke the power of the MOTH to Protect You From Nightmares.
-[X] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else.
-[X] Help Comet Feet
--[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company.
-[X] Help Starry Dancer
--[X] She seems somewhat rattled. You all are. Lend her an ear, or perhaps a shoulder.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] She might not be as quiet and disconnected as she seems. Get to know her better.
-[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[X] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
-[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] [Servant Action]

- - -

[X] go ahead and hug her.



In the end you did not know what to say. Although Jade Whistle had just said that, she didn't sound apologetic or shook, she didn't even sound disappointed or surprised. If you had your eyes closed, you would think from her tone of voice that she really was being honest that the two of you should go your separate ways and pretend nothing of that ever happened.

But just like she said, your eyes are not closed to her anymore. You see her now, you know now, and from now on your world will be a world in which this morning has happened.

So you stopped her from closing the door with your own hoof.

You don't really remember what her expression looked like, if it even changed at all, but you do remember that right after that you closed on her.

And simply gave her a hug. No words seemed adequate even then, so you went with what you thought was best. Or rather, with what you felt was best.

However, you do remember that the two of you stayed like that for a while, and that right when you were about to step back from her, you think you felt her hoof on your back.

And Jade Whistle's eyes, of this you are sure, were wide in surprise when you finally let go of her.

You could see, or at least you hope you saw, that you gave her something to think about. Good, you thought, better than having nothing but her memories and empty house for company. No words were exchanged between the two of you, and you went home after that.

Of course, when you arrived home you also got hold of your daughter and made absolutely sure that she knew she is never supposed to go anywhere near the Everfree Forest. Ever.

Absolutely. Sure.





You gave Jade Whistle something to think about. You hope her thoughts are kind to her, at least in that.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You decide to call it a day, or rather to call it a night. You have been doing that more often, the semi all-nighters you used to pull while working slowly starting to become a distant memory, and you can't exactly say that you feel sorry for that. Part of you deciding that, maybe, dedicating yourself so much to it was a way of keeping your mind busy to begin with.

Well, you have plenty of other things to worry about now.

Ponpon noticed, of course, as have some of the other servants, but you feel that the general feeling is that this has been a turn for the better. Especially since you have been dedicating more of that free time to your family.

And that is an image you are taking great care to maintain, as much as it is mostly true. Your other businesses going completely unnoticed by anypony that matters.

The size of the paperwork is still the same though, and thus it is being the part of the equation that is paying the price. Well, you didn't neglect it either, but unlike how it has been these last few years you can now say for sure that you have not read every last page of every last report. Not even close to that.

You realize that you are rambling, mentally, and get off from your chair, allowing your eyes to close a bit and your body to slowly let go of its tension as you head to the door.

When you notice a particular scroll, on your "IN" box at your office desk, that you must have missed.

It is hidden behind a rather large stack of ledgers, so you can hardly blame yourself.

"And what might you be…?" you float the scroll towards you and unseal it in an almost careless manner, giving its rather short content a once over.



[Book hunt – servant action]

[Roll: 72 + 12 (Learning) = 84]

-FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function." Costing 15 bits.

-HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry." Costing 15 bits.

-HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…" Costing 30 bits.



"Oh," you say in surprise, "I had really forgotten all about this…"

You bring the scroll back with you to your room. This is something you should think over with a clear mind, so you will make sure to put it on your nightstand and check it again tomorrow.



- - -



You feel somewhat grateful that you do not feel tired while dreaming.

You try not to think too much about your day, since that is a quick road towards waking up, but you can't help but recall that you were rather tired when you went to sleep. And yet here you are, completely alert, gazing at the crossroads with your objective for this foray clear on your mind.

You wonder if you actually forget something, if maybe every time you shear a bit of your mane you leave something of you behind, or if there is some sort of permanent price that you must pay for your folly, every time you come into the Mansus, that you have yet to notice.

Well, even if you do forget about something, it surely is not something as important as the things you forget when you cross the Blank Door. And you have not yet noticed anything strange about your life in the Wake so you think, or at least you hope, that there is no great soul-sucking secret that you might be missing, or that might come to bite you up ahead.

Again. You hope.

You turn your back to the Woods and head towards the Dreamlands, aiming for the kaleidoscopic sort-of pollution that you see in the horizon. You idly recall that Princess Luna was tired when she got into her dreams, during those last moments you were still seeing her memories from inside her mind during the Ritual, and that a lot of things might have been avoided if she had felt as rested as you feel every time you go into the Mansus. But her method of entrance is far different from yours, and you don't think it can even be said that she is actively dreaming as much as it can be considered her doing her alicorn magic to get into the Dreamlands, so you figure there are different principles involved.

You finally reach the threshold to the Dreamlands, and today it has the form of a staircase, going down until its steps are covered in that white fog. You feel that same revulsion, again only for a split second, that you are instead looking at a festering wound, or perhaps at a crack on the roof that is slowly letting water drip into your house. But again that impression is gone before you can properly address it.

You take a deep breath, although you know it is not exactly of any use, and descend through the stairs.


Until the white mists envelop you, and you feel the sensation of wood under your hoofs.


You can feel tension and nervousness spread through your body. The mist has a shine to it, so the impression that you have is that you are being blinded by white light as you are completely enveloped by it, but you are not nervous because of the mists. Quite on the contrary, you can feel that you are already on the Dreamlands, you can feel that you are on the wooden bridge, and you know that if you take a few more hoofsteps forward the will exit the mists and see the Dreamlands themselves before you.

But that is the problem.

You did you very damned best to try and avoid thinking about it, you made sure you went to sleep sufficiently tired so you would fall unconscious as soon as possible so that you wouldn't have time to remember it.

However, you have finally reached the point of no return.

You know that it has always been like that, and it was you who was ignorant about it. You know that you need to be able to act normally, that you can't let yourself be crippled by fear or knowledge, and that you need to leverage every last bit of advantage that you have at your disposal, your access to the Dreamlands being the chiefest among them right now.

So, you think as you take a tentative step forwards, seeing the bright mists fade around you, you know that you have to…

Another deep breath, with a promise that this will be the very last one. You whisper a few words of Winter and calm, and walk out of the mists.

You expected everything to be totally different, after what you saw in Princess Luna's dream, you expected to have some terrible revelation that would cause you to freeze or want to run away. You half-thought that as soon as you exited the mist you would look up and see a great and terrible eye, the size of the moon at night, simply opening on the heavens, looking straight at you.

But you see nothing of that. You see only a great sea of glowing doors on streets of red carpet, the city-like configuration surrounded by the eternal black nothingness in all directions. Everything is calm and quiet, as if you were walking on the streets of Ponyville during the night, and almost think you can hear the city itself breathing softly on its sleep.



Except that this time you know.



You do not have the same sense of scale and distance as Princess Luna had, and you are more thankful for it than you thought you would be. Part of you thinks that her knowledge wasn't so much her ability to perceive the darkness, but rather some revelation implanted in her mind by the thing. You almost can't believe that when you look up you should be able to see anything other than nothing.

But you avoid looking up as much as possible, regardless.

You shake your head as you reach the end of the wooden bridge, the glowing mist behind you and the red carpet flanked by the cutie-marked doors before you. You have a goal in mind, and the short span of a night to look for it. You need to locate Princess Luna herself or some trace of her presence, whatever helps you get in contact with her, while avoiding the things that you know will be stalking in the Dreamlands.

You also need to be careful of the Princess herself, of course. It won't do if you find her in a distressed state, and she decides that a pony walking around the Dreamlands is just another cruel trap in her dream.


[Glitching the System, again, breakpoints 60/100]

[Roll: 75 + 12 (Magic) + 5 (Gifted) = 92]


You close your eyes and try to reinterpret the Dreamlands as you did on the first time you were here.

You can feel that you nearly arrive at the same result, you can feel yourself slowly easing into the mindset that this is all indeed a dream, and that it is natural for the Dreamlands to shift and flux as you need, for its landscape to run like wax and mold itself like clay. You can sense the familiarity of the idea that the scenery before you ought to change every time you blink, and that a corner might not reveal the same scene if you look around it twice.

But your thought process jams at the very last moment with the image that some titanic thing might also be stretching its claws towards the Dreamlands, and suddenly you feel like the Dreamlands must also be hard and stable and purposefully confusing, so that the cutie-marked doors that make it glow might be better defended. And that blissful ease with which you might traverse the place escapes from you like a breeze might escape through an open window.

Damned sleeping logic. Damn it especially because its your life that might be at risk here.

Seriously, what use is all your Moth Lore if you can't even boggle your brain when you need to?


[You have partially reinterpreted the Dreamlands, +10 on all rolls for the rest of the night.]


Still, you didn't come prepared with only this.

You reach into a corner of your soul, you reach for the memories of the paradoxical riddles you said aloud in a dark room, while your eyes were blindfolded. You recall the sensation of looking into the ritual circle, and of feeling the winds of the Mansus looking back at you, a faint whisper of Moth depositing itself in the lock of mane you had cut out this night.

And you set out into the Dreamlands, searching for the signs of Princess Luna.


[To avoid the things that crawl, "night" period]

[Roll: 24 + 13 (Intrigue) + 30 (MOTH bonus, doubled) + 10 (Dreamland shaping) = 77]

[Their roll: 39 + 15 (Worms, small and few in number) = 54]

[The search, "night" period, CD ???]

[Search roll: 38 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) + 10 (Dreamland shaping) = 66]


You know what they are, or at least you know where they come from and what they are called.

But that does not make this any less unpleasant.

You set out through the dream-avenues, the mockery of a city somewhat reminding you of Canterlot in its broad and grandiose presentation. Cutie-marked doors glow softly as you pass them by, and you look at them attentively as you trot. You have already seen the glow of Luna's attention, when she passes by a dream, and a part of you hope that you might see it again.

It would at least be a sign that she is active here, if nowhere else. There have been no news from the crown about her return, and you are sure that it will be the sort of news that travel faster than a pegasus, but you still foster some hope that she might at least be out of the sorry state in which you know she was.

Maybe she is already back to her senses, but the guilt of what she did in Canterlot might be stopping her from wanting to return. That might be the best-case scenario you can think of, and might be unlikely as optimistic things usually are, but at least you can hope for it.

It doesn't take long for you to see them, though, or rather for you to feel them.

The faint echo of a gurgling wrongness that causes your heart to beat just a little less vigorously, the smell of claws faintly scraping against a blackboard, the idea of something rotting at night. All of those things hit you, although you can't tell from where, but you know that they are here somewhere.

You know that there are Worms about, as they always are.

But you must go deeper into the dreamlands, so you focus on the path ahead of you and will it into a straight and narrow path, wishing for it to have as few curves and corners as possible, so that you might not be surprised by anything coming from more directions than you can be mindful of.

The Dreamlands respond in a janky way, your mind not as half-asleep as you wish it were for you to be able to mold the scenery around you as well as you did last time, but still you see some results. Some corners, the ones where you think those terrible sensations might be coming from, disappear the next time you blink your eyes, and you press onwards.

You cross great arching roads of carpet, paying close attention to the faint glow of the doors around you.

You work your way around a group of Worms as they mindlessly chew at a some of the cutie-marked doors, doing as much as you can to be wary of their position while paying the least amount of attention to them that you possibly can.

You nearly run into one of them, as you realize too late that the path behind you had become a dead end, but the creature is thankfully unaware of your presence. So although it strains your mind dearly to remain calm, you simply wait for the thing to fumble away. And then you wait some more, before deciding it is safe for you to press on.

Not your proudest moment, you must admit, but you are deep in the Dreamlands now, and the Worms are becoming more numerous as the sea of light stretches in every direction around you, the wooden bridge and the glowing mist far from where you are right now.

And you must go deeper still, and faster, for you know that time still passes while in here, and this night will not last forever.


[To avoid the things that crawl, "early morning" period]

[Roll: 38 + 13 (Intrigue) + 30 (MOTH bonus, doubled) + 10 (Dreamland shaping) = 91]

[Their roll: 65 + 25 (Worms, small yet numerous) = 90]


You are very deep in the Dreamlands.

The sea of light stretches on in every direction, an endless vista of cutie-marked doors, the individual glow in each of them compounding into what is now a clear brightness. Not oppressive or blinding, but a stark and noticeable contrast to how bright it is on the fringes of the Dreamlands, near the wooden bridge.

And because of that added brightness, you also know that you are in greater danger.

You had to compromise. You realized at some point that going in a specific direction wouldn't make you go any "deeper" into the Dreamlands, even if you thought you were heading towards such a place. This little detail, you think, must be something that you might not have realize the last time you have been here, by sheer virtue of having so much control over the landscape then. You realize now that you must "want" to go deeper into the dreamlands, and only then will the quantity of cutie-marked doors around you become greater and denser, and the wooden bridge will feel more far away.

And so you willed it. You gave up on the notion of walking on a carpeted avenue that "looked like" it would take you where you wanted to go, and you actually "decided" to go towards that concentration of lights.

You realized it had been the correct decision when the feeling in your chest became more alarming, and the sheer amount of Worms, both near and far, increased exponentially.

Well, "correct" decision. That is highly debatable from many points of view, all of them which involve your interest in staying safe. But you are resolute in finding Princess Luna, so you must take this risk.

Although you are now far more worried with sticking to the frames of the cutie-marked doors, which are now sufficiently numerous to form a veritable wall on the sides of the carpeted road, so as to hide yourself from what might be lurking beyond the next curve or the next street.

Although you had to run away and backtrack several times, and you are paying far more attention to the sound of your beating heart, and the noise of scraping against wood, and the trembling of animalistic laughter that just sounds wrong, and all the other things that could mean the difference between safety and danger, instead of looking at the cutie-marked doors for the signs that might point to Princess Luna's passing.

You very dearly want to get away from here, or hope that this is a particularly infested place. You look around in search for some place, any place, that might be just a little less infested with the presence of the Worms.

And there you see it, an avenue that seems to be free of the creatures. You nervously look around to see if there are any Worms nearby, or if you might cross the line of sight of any one which could be somewhere close enough, before you dash across the carpeted street and towards the passage that seems safe.


[The search, "early morning" period, CD ???]

[Search roll: 96 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) + 10 (Dreamland shaping) = 124]


And you immediately feel a change in the air.

Evading the Worms is a strange affair. You can identify which places they have been through because the light there seems dimmer, you know where their many eyes are looking at because it just feels wrong to even approach it. They seem to radiate their abominable presence in an inconstant and shapeless area around them, but as they grew more numerous as you progressed deeper into the Dreamlands, you had almost not noticed the growth of their auras.

You had definitely not gotten used to it, of course, there is no way that anypony could ever be "eased" into that sensation by slow exposure, no matter how long a period of time was involved. The Worms are the opposite, not just of life but of everything. So what happened was that you slowly found yourself sinking deeper and deeper in their presence, your very being becoming heavier and heavier as you progressed.

But suddenly, you find yourself in a clear avenue, the air around you feels fresh, and the dream-light shines brightly as if a curtain had been opened somewhere nearby.

You look behind you, at the carpeted avenue that you have just been to, and notice how dark and gloomy it is, the presence of the Worms overbearingly strong.

But right here where you are? Right now? The difference is as glaring as night is from day, almost as if you had crossed a barrier of sorts that…

Your eyes shoot wide as you realize it. You stand in a place that the Worms cannot approach, their presence stymied and undone like a shadow might be banished by the light of candle.

You gallop ahead, as silently as you can so you might not scare the one you hope to find, but as fast as you can so you might not lose their mark. You shudder at the thought that the center of this "bubble" of safety might simply walk away from you, and that suddenly you will be in the presence of the Worms once again.

You look around, searching for the cutie-marked doors that might have been touched, alert for the signs of one that might be half-opened, perhaps during an ongoing visit. The certainty of your success increases as you feel a soothing presence growing stronger, some sort of instinct deep within you saying that you are safe in here, telling you that one who watches over is nearby.

When you finally find her.

Or rather, when you finally find something you… were not quite hoping you would.



[You have located Princess Luna's dream door at the end of "early morning" period, you will have one attempt at opening it during this night]



You feel rather foolish, as you usually do when thinking back about certain things in hindsight.

You can feel where you are, and that makes the whole thing all the clearer. You have no way of measuring it, no way of being absolutely sure, but you are certain that right now you are in the very center of the Dreamlands.

You have arrived at the heart of the sea of light that floats in the endless darkness, you stand right now at the very core of the dreams of ponykind. So it stands to reason that this will be where the door to Princess Luna's own dreams must reside.

It is obvious, really. Like any proper constellation, it is obvious that the starlight of every last dream and every last door must orbit the greatest and most important of them. It should have been evident from the very beginning that you would find the cutie-marked door of the Princess of the Night on the very center of her own kingdom, like a throne room will be in the center of a castle, and a castle will be in the heart of its city.

In fact, something tells you that the dreams of the other Princesses would be here as well, if they were asleep. But as far as word goes, Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance haven't exactly had much time for that as of late.

However, you still have… something akin to a problem.

You know your way here now. The journey might be perilous due to the sheer quantity of Worms nearby, and you suspect that their numbers are greater also due to Princess Luna's… absence? But you know that you will be able to navigate to this place much more easily in the future, if you need to, since you now actually know where to go. And although you thought Princess Luna would be active and awake at night, she isn't right now, so you might be able to find her door here again if her recent situation means that she is sleeping at this time.

However, again, you still have a problem. And that problem has the shape of a cutie-marked door.

You approach it, cautiously. Her door is like any other, with the sole difference that it is her cutie mark which is emblazoned in it. You do not know if that is an effect of the laws of the Dreamlands, or if it is the way that your mind is interpreting it, or if it is just some sort of materialization of Princess Luna's humility, although you do not know her well enough to know if that might be the case.

But it is still a faintly glowing door, which appears to be made out of wood, with a doorknob over a regular-looking keyhole.

And yet, it is Princess Luna who is behind this door, the Princess of the Night herself, regent of dreams and guardian of ponykind, as the titles go.

She is behind this door, and you need to find her somehow.

So, you need to open this door.

You take a deep breath. You hope that this is not like a Mansus door, and that there are no tricks or laws or prices to it.

You hold your breath in, and put your hoof on the doorknob.


[The lock of a precious jewel box, "sunrise comes" period, CD 100]

[Roll: 90 + 13 (Intrigue) + 10 (KNOCK bonus) = 113]

[Well then…]


You let out a gasp, sharp and sudden, as you feel rather than you see or think.

It was faster than a flash, more sudden than a memory, and yet as deep as a dream that you might have had when you were younger, that you could somehow still remember to this day.

You heard her dream-door. It did not speak to you, it did not reach out to you, but you heard it like a pony might read an open book, or a pegasus might feel the passing wind in its wings.

The door, her door, it is… resolute?

It is hard to describe with words.

You wish to say that her door is mourning, as it has witnessed the Ritual, and it saw all the terrible memories of its master unleashed upon her once again. However, doors do not mourn.

You wish to say that her door feels violated, for its failure in keeping the outside things at bay was what allowed the Ritual to happen in the first place. However, doors do not feel violated.

You wish to say that her door feels determined. It feels determined to distinguish and impede passage, it feels determined to separate and to allow the entrance of none that would cause her charge harm. However, a door can feel nothing at all.

For it is just a door.

And yet, you felt all of that.

You know this door, now. You understand it intimately, although it is just a door. You know that you could force it open, that you could violate it once again, that you could slice through its lock and cross it by will.

However, you also share in the door's wish to not let in anyone who might cause harm. You share that feeling, both in principle as a pony, and in particular sympathy to the one you know is behind that door.

So, you promise the door that you do not come as an invader. Not this time.


"You can let me in," you whisper to the door, softly, using the words that have been used since the dawn of time, by travelers as they walked by crossroads, and by pilgrims as they crossed the gates of castles, and by locksmiths as they gave shape to keys.


And the door believes in you, and allows your passage.

You step into Princess Luna's dream, and the door closes gently behind you.



- - -



You find yourself in a dark room. Not the normal kind of darkness, as closing your eyes yields no results, but the purposeful kind of darkness. The darkness of nothingness, of non-existence. The darkness of sleep.

And you see a source of light, not far ahead, the clear indication of where you should go.

And much to your surprise, you see Princess Luna, her back turned to you, her body resting against the fence of a balcony, overlooking somewhere.

It almost reminds you of the marble balcony of her room, the one you saw in her dreams, however you know this to be a different place.

But, you realize as you approach her, she is… asleep? She is asleep inside her own dream…?

You approach her, slowly, cautiously, wary that you might both wake her up in her own dream, and that she might react at your sudden presence, as well as wary that you might somehow wake her up in real life merely by being here, which might cause the dream to simply end, or perhaps something worse.

But she gives no sign of movement, save for her soft and peaceful breathing.

You reach her, close enough that you could touch her wings if you wanted to. And feel… something.

But of course, this feeling, it is something close to… relief? Yes, it is relief. You are honestly relieved to see her like this, sleeping peacefully.

Even if you have never met her before in person, even if you might be a complete stranger to her… you still saw with her eyes and felt with her feelings, and then you saw what happened to her after that. So seeing her like this, finally at something close to tranquility is… soothing.

You do not want to wake her up. It would feel too wrong.

You look out towards the view then. She is asleep in a balcony, overlooking someplace that might be a forest or somewhere near a mountain.

And you immediately notice something.

You don't know how you know it, but this place… this scenery before her, it is real. It might be a memory that imprinted itself on her mind as she fell asleep or it might be a reminiscence but... Yes, you are sure of it. You know with the certainty that one feels while in a dream, this is a sight she must have been looking at as she fell asleep.

It is real, and more importantly it is recent, you can feel it as you might recognize that the smell of a flower is fresh, instead of being some bottled perfume.

You approach the balcony, taking the utmost care not to touch the Princess, but you get as close as you can from it to get as much of a view as you might be able to. You commit all of it to memory, a forest that might be a tundra, crossed by a serpentine river and with two hills in sight. You try to make out more details, perhaps some sort of specific fauna or flora that might be particular to a certain region, but as you search for those details you realize that the image is blurred in parts.

It might be because the Princess herself was not attentive to said details, or simply didn't look for them, but the more you look at the scenery before you, the more you realize that you might as well be looking at some sort of painting. Detailed in message and shape, but not exactly with the fine features of real life.

You look at it for as long as you can, to the point where you can still see it even when you close your eyes. You must look for this place, in the Wake, you must search for it and soon, for Princess Luna has clearly been here. And this might be the best lead anypony has in all of Equestria.

You take a deep breath, seeing that there is nothing else for you here, and you prepare to leave.

But before you do, you take one last look at the Princess, a thought suddenly coming to you.

What might be going on in her mind, right now? Has she recovered? Is she doing well? A part of you wishes to stay for just a bit longer, to keep her company for just a few more moments. You know you have no right or reason to do so, you do not share the bond she has with her sister, you have never met her in person and you know that if she were to wake up right now she might even feel threatened by your presence in here.

However, you can't help but worry, you can't help but to feel sorry for the pony who has been subjected to the fate she has. And you do not mean only the things that you witnessed, but her fate as a whole, considering the changes that have been forced upon her, considering the situation she was in when she returned from her banishment, as well as the situation she must be right now, whatever it may be.

And that in turn makes you wonder, what then? What if you do find her? What if you manage to come face to face with her? Will you know what to say?

If the very best possibility comes true, and you manage to explain her the whole situation, or at least as much as you know, will you know what to do next? Will you be able to tell her what to do next if she asks for your advice?

You are rambling, you realize. This is a dream. This is an alicorn's dream in the Dreamlands, Princess Luna's dreams, of all ponies. And although you can't feel the same subtle influence that you might feel in the Mansus, you can still tell that something is affecting you.

Even if it is just sympathy, or perhaps the familiarity of being inside Princess Luna's mind again, as you have been before during the ritual.

Still, you had better leave, there is nothing else to be gained here, although you dearly wish there was.

You whisper something in her direction, although you are not sure if it was a "good night" or something else, but you are sure that you wished her well by that.

And you head out to the door, and away from the Dreamlands.





Everything has a center, everything has a focal point, much like how the Mansus is at the center of the Histories and the heart is at the center of the body. You already knew that, but tonight you have experienced what it is to find one such place. Gained one scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

It is walls, and not doors, who only ever block and impede. Doors distinguish, doors test and keep watch, and most of all doors allow passage to the chosen few. Tonight, you have felt what it is to be chosen by a door. Gained one scrap of KNOCK Lore.

You have reached Princess Luna's dreams, and curiously found her asleep. But she was clutching tightly to a recent memory, and that memory might be the best clue you will ever have. You will gain the option of analyzing that memory, so that you may track that place in the Wake. Searching for said place, be it by mundane or esoteric means, is the only option you can think of going forward with this particular clue.



The QM is disappointed. The QM expected you to have to return on the next turn, armed to the teeth with Knock Influence and Knock "Attention of the Laws", in order to open that door. The QM does not enjoy seeing a whole turn of the search being shaved off like that.

The QM likes four o'clock in the afternoon, and the wise know this to be a threat.

But the QM, above all else, will follow the dice.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are sitting at your office chair, reading a letter.

Not just any old letter, mind you, this is a letter from Canterlot, straight from the castle. Royal seal, high quality parchment, everything that the upper nobility enjoys.

Even the ink seems to be of excellent quality.

The content, however, is… something that you will have to give a great deal of thought to.

"Esteemed Mrs. Velvet… your help in the Canterlot Camp… invaluable to our efforts…" you read it once again, for what must be the third time, just to make sure you are getting this right. "We would like to cordially invite you to participate on the nation-wide coordination effort, in the royal castle, for the period of two weeks, signed…"

You sigh. You definitely read that correctly.

Two weeks. They want you for two weeks.

Granted, the letter was extensive in thanking you, and you can sense that whoever wrote it feels like you have already done more than your share, so it certainly is within your reach to simply deny the request.

You wouldn't be able to simply say the letter never arrived, of course, it came by royal courier, although you didn't recognize the name of the pony who signed it, and it certainly wasn't a Princess.

Still. Royal courier.

But anyways, you certainly wouldn't lose much if you denied the invitation, however… well, you are a noble, albeit a lesser noble, but you still have common sense. There are opportunities you can let pass you by, and opportunities you shouldn't let pass you by.

And there is also the fact that the letter danced around the subject, but didn't really avoid it, in saying that they are really short in staff. Any help would be appreciated, and your help would be especially appreciated.

But half a month…

"I could go there and say I can only stay a week, for sure. And besides…" you nervously talk to yourself.

Besides, they really must be overestimating you. Of course, captain Chalkhoof was boundlessly thankful for your help in his camp, but whatever the hell did he write in his report to warrant you, a lesser noble in a backwater town, something that was the second best thing next to a royal summons?

"Oh dear…" you sigh, "well, I might be able to-"

When your train of thought is interrupted by your door being banged open.

The hairs on your coat raise to their ends, but any reaction you might have is immediately restrained when you see that the pony who literally barged into your room is the one pony in all of Equestria who could get away with it scot free.

"MOM!"

The brown and beaming blur that is your daughter zips through the room and lands in your desk. It is a feat of reflexes on your part that you manage to shove your things to the side with magic, clearing her a small landing spot.

You see Soft Sweeps by the door, face on the ground and hoofs outstretched as if she had just tried, and failed, to stop your daughter from nearly blowing your door out of its hinges only a few moments ago.

Well, you will forgive her for that. She clearly tried.

"Mom! Look mommy, look!" Silky Stream prances on your table, speaking through her teeth as she holds on to a piece of paper she has in her mouth, "lookie look look! Can we go? Can we can we?!"

You stop her mid-prance with a bit of floating magic, a smile coming to your face as you recover from your shock, and your daughter's presence immediately melts away any sort of emotion that isn't objective acceptance to her actions.

Sure, you would remind her to try and not interrupt you while you are working, and you might have to remind her to listen to Soft Sweeps, as she clearly tried to stop Silky from coming here in the first place.

But your daughter is happy right now, and she didn't do anything objectively wrong, bar perhaps be a little overexcited about something. So you can't exactly scold her for that, right?

"Canwecanwecanwe?!" she keeps prancing, or at least her legs keep moving as she floats in the air, and you take the piece of paper she has in her mouth.

"Can we what, dear? What exactly is it that happened?" you ask absent-mindedly, as you take the paper she is holding and quickly read it.

It is a flier to some sort of… local event in Ponyville?

"Sisterhooves Social?" you ask her.

"Yes! Its an event where sisters compete! And all of my friends will be there with their sisters, and-" Silky Stream goes on and on, talking in the excited rush that only a foal is capable of talking in, and that only a parent is capable of understanding.

As she speaks, however, you look pass her and towards Soft Sweeps, who has only now recovered from her face-first impact. You see her dust off her maid uniform, but you catch her taking a peek in your direction from where she stands by the door.

And she notices your smile, directed at her, as well as she hears Silky Stream's continuous clamoring.

And by the heavens, you can see her soul leaving her body in embarrassment.

"-and now I can go because I have a sister! So can I go? Please? Pleasepleaseplease?" Silky Stream finishes, waving her hoofs around while free-floating in your magic.

"Is that so…?" you ask, as if seriously thinking about whether if you should let her or not.

But of course, the only thing you are really trying to do is not let your smile show too much.

You look at Soft Sweeps who is still by the door, blushing furiously and trying to hide her face behind her hoofs. You smile a little more at that.

"And did she say she would like to go with you?"

"Yes! She did!"

You see the maid die a little bit more inside.

"Well then dear, of course you can go."

Her reaction to your answer, although there really wasn't any other possible answer, nearly melts a hole in your heart, and as soon as you let go of her with your levitation she zips back towards Soft Sweeps, nearly tackling her in a hug, the two of them yelling and yelping for very different reasons, although deep down you can see that the maid is also almost as happy as your daughter is.

However, your eyes still fall towards the royally stamped letter on your desk. It didn't specify when you should come, only the period they would like you to stay, but it seems that you will have a very busy month ahead of you indeed…





- - -
- - -
- - -





Last turn's shopping list

Spoiler

These are the items that you had the option to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 321

[] FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function." Costing 15 bits.

[] HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry." Costing 15 bits.

[] HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…" Costing 30 bits.

(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)



---



POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

Spoiler: On Suspicion Level and Ponyservant actions

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.

Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

[ ] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SPECIFT LORE] (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")



[] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)

-[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)

-[] A measured commitment: Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month. (6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)

-[] A desperate obsession: Everything is falling down, everything depends on this. You will not even sit on your office this month. (8 personal actions and 1 servant action. It is guaranteed that you will be called out for this.)



This turn's available bits: 441 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month



[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)

-[] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
--[] Go for one week. Half a month is too much. You will try to be as useful as possible, and leverage as much influence as you can, but although you had been given the option to not go at all, going for a single week is sure to leave a… less-sweet-taste in the mouths of everypony involved. (COSTS 1 ACTION)
--[] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS)

-[] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.



[] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)

-[] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna. The Mansus is the only advantage you have over the search parties, so helping her on this is surely the way to go.

-[] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
--[] Search in the libraries of Ponyville, which are incomplete and outdated, but you just might have luck. (Not much chance for success, but discreet.)
--[] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
--[] Search it in person, grab a train, take a tour around the countryside and go check your suspicions yourself. Nothing beats hoofs-on investigation after all. (Costs 40 bits in transportation, indiscrete.)

-[] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else. Not suspicious, but servants will take no proactive action other than bring back information. (You have received an invitation to participate in the Equestria-wide organization. It wouldn't do for you to volunteer to a lesser camp while this is happening.)



[] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)

-[] The cult now has an appropriate place to meet, but you could still use a discrete location that is all your own. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.

-[] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.



[] Ponyville politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. (Low chance for success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet) Moderately suspicious.

-[] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofes dirty among your own employees. Low chance of success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet). Highly suspicious.

-[] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.

-[]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.

-[] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.

-[] They're not the Royal Guard, but they're still guards, and as much as they might not have that much work on their hoofs, they're still the go-to ponies in case something worrying happens. Find out how the guard is structured in Ponyville, that will be the first step in getting to know them better. Moderately suspicious.

-[] A pony needs not to be a faithful of your cult in order to be useful, said pony needs only know what to report to whom, and when to keep one's mouth shut. Ponyville has an underworld, small as it might be, and their eyes and ears could be useful. Attempt to contact them. Highly suspicious.



[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
--[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
--[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.



[] On aiding the cult (options not related to your current task, but related to the cult or with interactions with its members)

-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
--[] He definitely is attempting to go deeper into the Lore of Edge. Help him.
--[] WRITE IN, for a specific way to approach him. Might yield bonuses.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her.
--[] She is supposed to get into the good graces of the local merchants, but you can't help but worry that she will be swindled out of her every bit during the whole thing. Give her a hoof.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit.
--[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.
--[] She has her plate full, this time, and trying to impede an official investigation is not something to be done lightly. Offer her your aid.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] He is setting up a new business, isn't he? Surely you can be useful on that front.

-[] Help Jade Whistle
--[] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[] She is attempting to devise a Ritual that will aid you in finding Luna. Help her. (Already an option as your current assignment).



[] On furthering your knowledge (actions directed at increasing your Lores, as explained in the Informational threadmark)

-[] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 4, gives a single scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)

-[]WRITE IN, to petition your Master for a question. (Mind you, however, that this will involve "trying" to talk to him, not a guaranteed audience, and he just might be very Moth about his answer.)

-[] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
--[] No artifacts available. (Unless if recently bought)

-[] 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! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".



[] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

Spoiler: On exploring the known Mansus

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as an Influence or a temporary buff. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[] The Woods
--[] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers
--[] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them.

-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind
--[] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] There are other parts connected to the Blank Plains. Look for them.

-[] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER)



[] On the matters of house and heart (actions directed towards your own family, the part that you care for deeply as well as… the rest)

-[] 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.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now, so it can't be seen as scandalous if you write a letter to your father requesting an increase in your share of the family's grants… right?

-[] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets. Highly suspicious.



[] On those who surround you (actions directed at your contacts and friends)

-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] Sit down and work on a letter. Reach out to nobles who do not live in Canterlot. They, much like yourself, might not be deeply entangled on the webs of politics that surround the capital, but that just means they can also act with more freedom, right?

-[] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity (will not deepen your connection with her, will probably not respond badly if you start attempting to convert her)
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)



[] 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.)

-[] ARTIFACT – MOTH Level 2, buy for 100 bits.



[] On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)

-[] "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)

--[ ] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
--[ ] To be performed at your own home, where the cult will not know of your actions, but you probably will be discovered or leave traces of it.
--[ ] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)



[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





Contacts who are "Good Friends" or better (currently only Rarity) have a better chance of reacting well or being useful if you include them in "Write In" options, although caution (and basic common sense on who to call for what) is advised. This might change if she is carpet-bomb called for everything.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

All voting will be in plan format. DO NOT INCLUDE actions you do not wish to take. No need to specify that "you will NOT buy X item" if you do not want to buy it. Merely do not mention it.

And one last thing that must be addressed. IF you wish to keep the results on your attempts to find Luna a secret, make sure you do it away from your fellow cult members. You cannot be expected to convincingly lie on your reports if you take Jade Whistle to tag along, for example, or if you ask help for anypony else on that matter. Considering the mixed stand you seem to have about the Master, I figure this is relevant for you all to know.
The above message will be repeated until one of the parties involved locates Princess Luna.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[x]plan Canterlot Socialite, Rarity edition
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of SECRET HISTORIES (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)
--[X] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)
--[X] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
---[X] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS)
--[X] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.
---[X] Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle is around your daughter's age if you remember correctly, surely she'll be at the event as well?
-[X] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)
--[X] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
---[X] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
----[X] Invoke the power of the SECRET HISTORIES to Help You Find Luna's Location.
-[x] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
----[x] servant action
-[X] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
--[X] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
---[X] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
----[X] You are about to help organize the search for Princess Luna from within the royal palace. You need any and all information your family has about the current politics of the capital.
---[x] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
-[x] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)
--[x] Offer to bring Rarity with you in Canterlot. This achieves multiple goals, explained below
---[x] We get to use her as an assistant and emotional/moral support while we go through our tasks
---[x] We get to introduce her to our family AND to the minor nobles we make contact with, both as a close friend AND a fashionista of great, if yet relatively unknown, talent, basically putting ourselves in the position of becoming her patron in noble society. If judged necessary we can also reveal her status as an Element of Harmony, though we'd want to ask her first if she's ok with that (and possibly come up with an excuse for how we know of it, though I don't think it's actually a secret)
---[x] Added to the Sisterhooves social this might just be enough to raise our friendship level to the next tier
---[x] We could learn get some GRAIL scrap of knowledge by seeing how she behaves in the presence of nobles, and we can have her make/sell/bring dresses suited for the situation to better impress. NOTE: we'd obviously pay for both the dresses AND the train ticket if needed
---[x] she might just get a few orders from other minor nobles and from members of our family.
---[x] Through talking with the nobles and our family there's a chance (low, as it's not the main focus of our visit and we don't have actions dedicated to it) that we might hear of a possible good location for a new boutique.

- - -

You take a final look at the draft you made on your work calendar for the month, a small lump forming in your throat as you take in the entirety of your schedule.

You really have your work cut out for you, this time.

But in the end, a part of you whispers that you don't really have a choice, all things considered.

You have received a summons from Canterlot, for reasons that you still do not totally understand. Well, of course you understand those reasons, but you still cannot really fathom what that captain Chalkhoof must have done to warrant this much attention being thrown your way. The only ideas that come to mind is that either that captain was incredibly out of his depth and desperate, before you got to that camp, or that he fell in love with you or something.

You let out a short laugh at that second idea. Focus, Velvet, focus!

Well… as you were thinking, you don't really have a choice. This is not the kind of letter that anypony in their right mind could refuse, let alone if they were a noble pony such as yourself, even if you are a "lesser" noble with a rather… convoluted familial situation.

Not that they know of those details anyways. And since you were (probably) talked up in a report by a member of the Royal Guard, this summons was most likely the greatest bit of meritocracy you would ever be awarded in your life.

The period that they want you to be there, as well, makes you raise an eyebrow. Two weeks still sound odd no matter how many times you read the letter. Either that was the polite way they had to say "we think you did more than your fair share, so even if you come here we don't want you to think that we are imposing anything", or…

Well, or they mean a "we are desperate for help and every last bit of it will be appreciated, no matter how small or temporary".

Thinking that the crown would be desperate for help, especially when it involves efforts in locating a Princess sure sounds odd. But when you think about the slight hints of gossip that you heard from your husband, well…

Enough dilly-dallying. You have committed to going to Canterlot, and as much as a part of your mind is still reeling at the thought that you will have half the usual time to do your monthly assignments, another part also knows that this will be a very particular opportunity to do some other things…

It has been weeks now, almost months perhaps, that you have been toying with a certain idea. You are an administrator, and much as your job involves a good deal of number crunching it has also ingrained and trained in you the duty… nay, the need to maximize the potential of all the endeavors that lie within your reach.

And although you might not know much about the art involved, not nearly as much as you know about agriculture or management that is, you can still recognize untapped potential when you see it.

So, you figure that your sortie in the capital will also be a great opportunity to rectify that.



- - -



You walk in without ceremony, the now familiar sound of the silver bell over the door greeting you into the slightly less familiar sight of the interior of the Carousel Boutique.

Less familiar, that is, because its owner makes a point of always changing the interior design. But not just rearranging mannequins or the presentation of the place, mind you, you have realized that she downright changes the whole display with new clothes and themes as the days go by. You drop by every other week and still you always have a lot of new things to notice every time. You reckon that a client who only comes once a month will probably find himself looking at a new store on every visit.

You sometimes wonder where she gets all her inspiration from, while other times you wonder where all the other clothing articles she rotates away go. A slight discomfort comes to you when you think that, probably, many of them go unsold.

And that is indeed an utmost waste. Not only because she clearly has talent, but also because she is your friend.

But that discomfort is nowhere to be seen on your smile, especially not now that you can hear the shop owner's approaching hoofsteps.

"Velvet, darling, what a pleasant surprise," she appears from the deeper parts of the boutique, "I was so focused on something I had in mind that the bell almost didn't register. What can I help you with?"

"I need a little bit of advice, Rarity," you say, the pleasant tone of your voice hiding a wry smile that wants to bubble on your lips, "there is this event of sorts that I'm going to, and the pony who is accompanying me simply must be looking her very best for the occasion."

She looks at you now with more interest in her eyes, a slight glimmer in them as she recognizes the call of a challenge. Rarity gives you an understanding nod and waves for you to follow her as the two of you head towards the deeper parts of her boutique, where the longer dresses and the measuring room are.

You almost think you can hear her mind working as she starts summoning up her ideas and inspiration, already bringing up an soon-to-be-filled blueprint for whatever scenario you are bringing to her.

"I'd be charmed to be of assistance then," she says, leading the way as you walk behind her, "but do tell me more. Where will this event be?"

Her question is broad, but you have already spent enough time with her to know what she means. The conversations that you have with her, whenever you meet, usually head towards the subjects of fashion, of course. Both because you don't particularly think your own life is that interesting, and because Rarity is just so passionate about it that it's a bit hard to avoid. Not that you aren't interested in it whenever it comes up, of course.

But it also means that you have picked up a few things from her. And by a few you mean "a lot".

You might not know the first thing about styles of cuts, the science behind the use of a particular needle, or any of that. But you do know that tidbits of information such as the location, company and even context of an event are of the utmost importance for the tailoring of a particular dress, or the subtle changes that must be made to an already existing one.

That's what stallions don't really get about clothes. It's not that mares have too many dresses, it's just that each and every one of them is a highly specialized instrument, to be used only on the most specific of occasions. If they realized it, then they would understand why using the same dress twice is so very difficult.

But that is beside the point. Rarity is asking you those little details and, just like you planned, you make sure to answer it in the same way you would tell her that the weather outside is sunny.

"Oh, you know, it will be in Canterlot. I have some business to address in the Royal Castle, as things go…" you say nonchalantly.

"Canterlot? The Royal Castle?!"

And her reaction is instantaneous, just like you hoped it would be. You see her freeze for half a second as she walks, ears perking up, and you are sure that you would see a sparkle in her eyes if she didn't have her back to you.

But, you think as you suppress your smile, the conflict in her posture is also clearly visible.

You made sure you said it in a sufficiently nonchalant way for her to think that she shouldn't pry, for her to think that this is a casual event for you, and that it would be inelegant for her to ask any more details about it. You make it sound like you are bored, almost, and that you really are here just for some small advices and maybe pointers for some dress.

Oh, how wrong she is. You double check that your expression is still pleasantly neutral and schooled, of course.

"Yes, the Royal Castle," you almost wave a dismissive hoof as you say it, instead eyeing the overcoat next to you as if it was much more interesting than the subject at hand, "you know, the usual. All the nobles and dignitaries, having to take care of some little things, maybe participate in an audience with a Princess… Dear heavens Rarity, I think Stormchaser would look stunning in this, don't you think?"

You made sure to turn your back to her as you spoke, inspecting one or another mannequin and trying your best not to give her any impression that you are bothered whatsoever.

And you can feel her eyes digging at you, feeling her wave of excitement and suppressed curiosity from where you are standing.

If ever you needed any proof of how disheveled she must be at your off-hoof remark, you needed to go no further than to remember that she didn't answer you a question involving fashion, of all things. And by the way, on the subject of said question, you really do think your husband would look terrific in that overcoat.

"But as I was saying," you finally turn back to face her again, "I need a bit of an advice involving somepony who is going with me."

You made sure to turn towards her rather slowly, but you still caught a hint of her struggling to reassert control over her own face. But you pretend you didn't notice that as you continue to talk.

"You see, there is this mare that I will have accompanying me, to Canterlot," you make sure to repeat that name, seeing her neutral expression balk a little bit every time you say it, "and she simply must look her absolute best for when we arrive there. You know how first impressions work, after all."

You watch as she nods to you, almost mechanically, and you know exactly what is going on inside her head.

But you still give her a push, for good measure.

"And I thought, who better to have such a dress made than my good friend Rarity?" you say, seeing the glint in her eyes double in intensity at that, "this will be, after all, that mare's first debut into nobility, and we are staying there for a few weeks. So I couldn't picture her wearing anything that wasn't made by you."

You finish with a smile.

And you can see her hoofs trembling.

Yes, you can almost read her thoughts like an open book, and you even make sure to blink a few times to make sure that there are no Lantern shenanigans at work.

But it all fits by logic.

As much as you trust Rarity, and you know her to be an honestly good pony, it is no secret that she is completely enamored by the charms of Canterlot and of noble life. You make sure not to go into any of the more sordid details, but some days, when you visit her, you almost feel like you are talking to a mare who is in love when you describe some of your experiences during your early life in the capital.

And you can't rightly say that you don't understand her either. You have no idea how it must be to grow up in a place like Ponyville, but you can imagine how utterly different it must feel when somepony born and raised in this place hears about the bigger cities. Of course, many ponies are happy here, you know Rarity is happy living here at least, but you can see all too clearly that she dreams of greater things.

So you have a very good idea of what is going on inside her head right now. Especially after you simply trotted into her boutique on a sunny day and said that you are going to the Royal Castle for a reasonable amount of time with somepony, and that you would like to commission something from her for this occasion.

"Why, Velvet I'd love t-!", she stops her empathic answer mid-sentence, freezing for half a second as she realizes how much of her excitement is showing. She clears her throat for a few moments, her cheeks turning a slight shade of red, before she tries again. "I mean, I'd be delighted to, darling. Please, tell me all you have in mind for this mare friend of yours."

The two of you reach the measuring room, and her horn glows as she floats her "working kit" towards her, scissors, measuring tapes, a notebook with an elegant quill attached to it, and all sorts of other things making their way to her surrounded by the soft blue of her magic. And you can see in her whole demeanor, from posture to eyes to tone of voice, that she is clearly rearing to go.

The excitement inside of you, at the little ruse you are playing her, almost gets the best of you. You almost just up and say it, the practiced line of "pack your things girl, we're going to Canterlot!" almost jumping out of your mouth when you see the determination in her eyes.

But seeing her like this, with all this excitement about her, you just can't help but want to keep this up a for a little longer.

And you let a little more of your smile show.



- - -



"And you think this color would look good with her?" you ask, continuing to spur her on.

"Oh, absolutely darling! You did say your friend's coat is white, didn't you? Well, this will look simply fabulous on her then."

It didn't really take much effort, all things considered.

"Yes, her coat is something close to… I'd say Sweetie Belle's coat, she has this lovely look about her, pure like a diamond," you say, to which Rarity nods in approval. Completely oblivious to yet another hint you just gave her.

You started slowly. A small general description about your "friend", saying that she is an unicorn, slightly shorter than you, so on so on, and soon enough you were picking a base dress from the half-finished bases she had in a back room.

From there it didn't take much for you to get her on the raised podium and in front of the mirror, wearing the very same dress that you two were preparing "for your friend" and making the changes and adaptations even as the two of you talked. Rarity is elegantly mindful about your (very slight and unimportant, thank you very much) "physical limitation", so when you suggested to her that preparing the dress on a mannequin simply wouldn't do she quickly volunteered that she would model for the dress herself, wearing it in a heartbeat and stepping up on the raised podium.

Besides, you are indeed a bit taller than her, and you assured her that your friend is just her height.

A little more careful prodding, followed by the increasingly thorough descriptions about your "friend", and voila, the dress that Rarity is already wearing is nearly completed. A small group of measuring tapes are floating around her, and several color palettes for comparison are waiting in the middle range of her glowing horn.

"And her mane's color?" she asks, bring the rolls of dark blue cloth closer to her again.

"I would say…" you rub your chin with a hoof, as if trying to think on how to best describe the color that is very obviously right in front of you, "the same color as Stormchaser's… No, wait, perhaps a bit lighter? But she always has it wonderfully well kept, so it has this elegant flow to it."

She nods, levitating a few of the rolls away, and bringing the others closer to her, a concentrated intensity in her eyes.

Rarity is certainly struck with inspiration, and once again you are reminded how proficient and focused a pony can be when she is doing what she was born to do.

She is so focused, in fact, that she didn't even realize when you told her that your friend's cutie mark is a precious stone, she just nodded with a professional understanding and floated a small box of gems towards her, initiating a short discussion of exactly what crystals should be used on the hems of the dress. Heavens, she even used her own cutie mark while trying to make a point.

You made sure to be a little bit more elusive on the details you gave, after that, but you had already given up most of your hopes that the mare would figure it out herself.

"Are you sure you aren't going to prick yourself with that?" you ask honestly, as Rarity gently starts sewing another layer into the dress. While she is wearing it.

"Oh please darling, this much I could even do with my eyes closed. Now, you did say your friend is an unicorn, right? Any idea on a head accessory?"

The two of you continue for the better part of… more than an hour in fact, until the final product is right in front of you.

When the two of you finally agree that it is done, both of you look at the large mirror by the wall.

And you see the satisfied expression in Rarity's face as she looks at herself, as well as you notice something else there.

You can see it in her eyes as she looks in the mirror, dressed in a functional, yet absolutely gorgeous, short dress. Perfect for "an important meeting, followed by official business" as you explained to her. You can see herself looking at her own reflection, imagining the day where she will be using one of her own dresses for such an occasion.

You see the determination in her eyes as she pictures that day, which she is sure will happen someday, in which she will finally fulfill her dream. The day when her art will finally be noticed, and when she will dazzle everypony that matters with her mere presence and fine clothing.

It is the resolute expression of somepony with a goal, and the will to reach it. The dress might be a bit loose on her right now. Of course, since it is not meant for her and has not yet been properly fir for the pony who will wear it, but those small details are not enough to bother her even in the slightest.

However, you also see in her eyes the slight tinge of sadness in her face, borne from the realization that her dreams are still so far away. She is, after all, making a dress for somepony else to wear, a pony who will wear it while accompanying you to the very place she daydreams of going to.

She is still, you can see the thoughts forming as her proud smile is marred by a slightly deeper breath, an aspiring fashionista living in a small town, far away from where everything that she wants to be a part of is happening.

Well, you had her excited for a good while, and you think you have already allowed this to go on for long enough now. Much as you enjoyed your idea of a practical jest, and you did manage to trick Rarity into making her own dress without realizing it, you most surely do not enjoy seeing sadness in your friend's eyes, even if it is just a hint of it.

"I think it looks perfect," you say, nodding to yourself and turning around to leave the measuring room, "and I'm sure you will be able to adjust it in time for tomorrow."

You can picture her puzzled expression as you say that, and you hear her turn towards you, even though she is still somewhat pinned in place by the floating measurers and rolls of cloths that surround her.

"Whatever do you mean, Velvet?" she calls for you, confusion clear in her voice, "I'm sure I can have it done by tomorrow, but didn't you say you had your friend's measurements with you? I will need them, or I'll need her to come by this afternoon for me to finish this."

You stop walking at that, discreetly taking a deep breath so as to make sure your expression wouldn't crack.

And when you turn to face her, you look like it is you who have no idea of what she is talking about.

"I need to… give you the measurements…?" you ask, as if she had just told you that it is raining chocolate or some other absurd thing. You stare at her for a few moments, wearing a confused expression as if honestly trying to understand what she means, before you finally shrug, "anyways, don't forget to pack for two weeks. I'll have somepony pick you up tomorrow morning, alright?"

You say as you leave the measuring room, and make quick pace to the entrance of the boutique, before she even has the time to process what you just told her.

It is only a few moments after you close the boutique's door behind you that you hear her excited shriek.

You let out a satisfied sigh at that.



I don't care if technically the voting period was extended for an additional 48h after the Contacts mechanics was further explained, or how much work life got in the way. I am personally disturbed with how long an update took to come out.

This doesn't really cover any specific action, but a mood has to be set. The following Canterlot sequence will have several actions woven into each other, as well as a single focus that will be two-actions long, so there will be some playing-by-ear.

Sortie into the capital of Equestria to follow.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[x]plan Canterlot Socialite, Rarity edition
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of SECRET HISTORIES (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)
--[X] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)
--[X] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
---[X] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS)
--[X] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.
---[X] Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle is around your daughter's age if you remember correctly, surely she'll be at the event as well?
-[X] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)
--[X] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
---[X] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
----[X] Invoke the power of the SECRET HISTORIES to Help You Find Luna's Location.
-[x] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
----[x] servant action
-[X] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
--[X] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
---[X] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
----[X] You are about to help organize the search for Princess Luna from within the royal palace. You need any and all information your family has about the current politics of the capital.
---[x] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
-[x] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)
--[x] Offer to bring Rarity with you in Canterlot. This achieves multiple goals, explained below
---[x] We get to use her as an assistant and emotional/moral support while we go through our tasks
---[x] We get to introduce her to our family AND to the minor nobles we make contact with, both as a close friend AND a fashionista of great, if yet relatively unknown, talent, basically putting ourselves in the position of becoming her patron in noble society. If judged necessary we can also reveal her status as an Element of Harmony, though we'd want to ask her first if she's ok with that (and possibly come up with an excuse for how we know of it, though I don't think it's actually a secret)
---[x] Added to the Sisterhooves social this might just be enough to raise our friendship level to the next tier
---[x] We could learn get some GRAIL scrap of knowledge by seeing how she behaves in the presence of nobles, and we can have her make/sell/bring dresses suited for the situation to better impress. NOTE: we'd obviously pay for both the dresses AND the train ticket if needed
---[x] she might just get a few orders from other minor nobles and from members of our family.
---[x] Through talking with the nobles and our family there's a chance (low, as it's not the main focus of our visit and we don't have actions dedicated to it) that we might hear of a possible good location for a new boutique.

- - -

The very air feels different, and you know that it is not the mountainous height. There is a certain quality to it that is simply hard to describe. A faint smell that might be akin to the slightest tinge of several different perfumes at the same time, just enough to feel pleasant but not enough to actually be a bother. Or perhaps it is the impression that everything looks just a little bit brighter and shinier, which might be because everywhere you look is spotless clean, or because of all the marble and gold that is so abundant in the architecture.

Really, it is not a single thing that you can point a hoof at, but Canterlot has this feeling about it that is unmistakable.

You had almost forgotten about it. Truly, it has been a while, several years perhaps...

The train finally starts slowing down, and a small smile comes to your face as you try to guess what the next stage of Rarity's excitement will be like.

It started this morning. Well, technically it had started yesterday when you heard her scream after you left the boutique, but you really only started taking note of it this morning.

You picked her up not long after the sunrise. The next train to Canterlot wasn't due for a while, and your ticket allowed you passage to any train heading to Canterlot, so even if you missed it there wouldn't be much problem. But you didn't specify when in the morning you would come by to pick her up, so you figured that there would be no harm if you arrived early and helped her pack if needed.

Unnecessary, you realized as soon as you got there.

Rarity was already waiting outside of her boutique, with a grand amount of luggage by her side and bags, the metaphorical kind of bags, under her eyes. But as much as she may have looked tired, she most certainly didn't act like it.

"Darling, you wouldn't believe how hard inspiration struck me yesterday, after you left," was all she gave you for an answer.

And you politely nodded away the fact that she probably did not sleep a wink last night.

But you did ask her as a joke, while your servants carried her luggage to the carriage, if she did not have her beauty sleep. To which she seriously replied that she very carefully considered it, before weighting it against the amount of work that she would be able to do otherwise as well as the fact that she would be able to sleep in the train, and deciding for the latter. The confidence with which she said that last part giving you the faint impression that she knew exactly how much time traveling to Canterlot took, down to the minutes.

Well, you could see that she certainly was committed.

And true to her word she slept like a log during the trip itself, only waking up just now as you gently prod her.

Which brings you to the present and, as you had been hoping to witness, the next stage of her excitement as she slowly opens her eyes and sees Canterlot staring back at her from beyond the window of your train cabin.

You see several different expressions pass through her face as she processes the scenery before her. First an enchanted glow comes to her eyes together with a dumbfounded smile as she looks out through the window, then an even wider smile, hoofs on her cheeks and all, with a sound that you can swear is a squeal. Her heavy breathing lasts far less than you thought it would, however, and soon enough she settles down on a more determined expression.

Confident, brave, hopeful. You can practically hear her thinking "this is it, Rarity!" in the privacy of her head.

You give yourself a nod at that, cogs already turning inside your head as a discreet part of your mind takes in her resolve as particularly good news.

After all, despite her already excited state, she still has no idea of what you truly intent to do by bringing her here. She did stay up all night, probably making the final touches on a few of her own clothes, and she did bring a respectable amount of luggage. But as far as she knows, and as far as you have told her, you are simply bringing her to a sort of noble excursion, the general idea that you gave her while your servants worked on carrying her trunk was that you wanted her help while you conducted official business on the Royal Castle.

As it stands, she doesn't even suspect that you will also work towards making connection, making her connections, while you are here. So, seeing her face this whole situation as a challenge, instead of a tourism trip, is already a particularly good indicator that she will have her wits about her.

Which is great, because despite your intentions you… don't really have a plan on how you are going to do it. In all honesty you are hoping that you will identify an opportunity when you see it, and that Rarity will be able to follow up on your lead.

The train comes to a complete stop, and you make your way out of your seat and towards the door of the cabin where the two of you are.

"Shall we?" you say as you open the door with a glow of your horn, realizing that the mare is still entranced with the sights of the train station.

"Oh, right!" she answers, with the clear tone of somepony who had just snapped out of a reverie, before following you.

You make sure to pass by Ponpon's cabin to double check that she knows where you are all heading, then you make your way out of the train with Rarity in tow.



- - -



"Rarity, you're gawking," you say in an off-hoof manner, not really being able to hide your smile.

"I am most certainly n-! By Celestia, would you look at the gems on that mare's necklace!" Rarity tries to answer you, only to interrupt herself with yet another excited cry.

The two of you are inside of another carriage, this one being much larger than the one you have in Ponyville. But you are alone with Rarity this time, as Ponpon and the rest of your entourage will be bringing your things after they are unloaded from the train.

You eye the mare as she continues to act almost like a filly, her face nearly glued to the carriage's window as she gawks (yes Rarity, you are gawking) at the streets outside.

Until she finally notices the amused attention you are giving her, her cheeks taking a rosed tone as she slowly inches her way back to the center of her seat.

And you see her eyes go a little wider suddenly, some sort of realization coming to her, posture changing as if a bucket of cold water had just been poured over her.

You see her look around herself, this time with a little more attention, taking in the rich interior of the carriage. She looks at everything for a few seconds, the dark wood gleaming with polish, the fancy cushion of the seats, the windows emblazoned with your family's symbol.

Until she finally looks at you, sitting opposite from her.

She seems slightly shocked all of a sudden, which makes you raise an eyebrow.

But you have known her for a little while now, and you think that this means…

"Velvet darling, I don't think I have properly thanked you for all of this so far," she says, her words coming out as if she was suddenly conscious about a lot of things.

Yes. You think that she has just realized that this whole situation isn't a dream. You think that the reality of her being here is finally beginning to settle in her mind.

"I mean, I know how I gush about Canterlot all the time, but I never really meant that I wanted you to do any of this so… thank you," she finishes, her expression honestly embarrassed.

And maybe just slightly uncomfortable.

Which, of course, will not do.

"Well, I would like you to believe me when I say that I am bringing you here because you are my friend. But if it puts you more at ease, you can just think that I'm bringing you here because this whole thing would be absolutely tedious otherwise, so you are helping me out far more than I am doing anything for you," you finish with a wink.

Being thankful is fine, as much as you don't think you are warranted any gratefulness from her part. Everything you are doing, almost everything you have in your life, in fact, is just by virtue of you having been borne in your family, so you are not really at ease with her feeling gratitude towards you. Not that you will ever let that show, of course.

But you really hope she knows that you are doing this because you are her friend. The time you spend with her isn't some privilege you are entitled to because you were borne a noble, instead it is something that is far more precious to you.

"Besides, we haven't even started day one of our visit here, so we can thank each other once this is all over," you finish.

And you can see her confident smile return with that.

"By the way, can you tell me exactly what it is that you will be doing here? You already told me about the letter and the efforts to locate the Princess, but is there anything more specific?" she asks, deftly changing the subject once the matter is settled.

"I don't know either," you answer honestly, "I did send a letter ahead letting them know we will arrive tomorrow, but I'm as lost about this whole thing as you are…"

You see her tilt her head at what you just said.

"We will arrive… tomorrow? But we are already in Canterlot."

"Oh, right, how can I explain… Well, travel around Equestria can be slow sometimes, after all Ponyville is the closest city to Canterlot and it did take us a few hours to get here by train. So it's common practice for the day you arrive to be reserved for settling in and all that," you try to explain it as briefly as possible, making sure not to go into details about hierarchy and order of arrival and all that, "unless the matter is urgent, of course. And that's good, isn't it? Refreshing as your nap was, I'm sure you'll prefer to be well rested for tomorrow."

You see her nod at your short explanation, and at the part about being well rested, a short "ohhh…" escaping her lips as you talk.

"But you are coming here to help in the search for a Princess. Isn't that the sort of thing that would be considered urgent?"

"Maybe. But it's not like we will find Princess Luna in a few short hours following our arrival," you answer with a shrug.

"Fair enough…"

You can see her thinking about the whole situation. As much as this whole thing is obvious to you, you ought to remember that this is really being Rarity's first time interacting with the higher workings of Equestria.

You make a mental note to be a bit more mindful, and maybe to give her a lot more of hints and tidbits of information whenever you have the chance. You can see that she has the wits to take in all of it, but there are is no small amount of pitfalls and subtle traps, or plain old conventions and cultural workings, that you should make sure to coach her through.

"It's the sort of thing you will have to get used to," you say, leaning back a little more on your seat.

To which she lets out a short laugh.

"As much as I'd love to get used to it, it's not like I'm a noble. It just so happens that I'm lucky enough to be accompanying you, Velvet."

"Be that as it may…" you say, with a tone that sounds like you are conceding her the point.

Little does she know, you think privately…



- - -



Approaching the Royal Castle, even you must admit, is an experience on its own. You have already been to the Royal Castle before, but not nearly enough times for you not to feel a little excited yourself.

Canterlot is a city built on the side of a mountain, and several architectural particularities inevitably follow that quirk. Surprisingly though, physical space in Canterlot is not exactly at a premium, thanks to the sheer industrial capabilities of earth ponies.

However, this does not mean that anypony can simply dig at the wall of the mountain whenever they want to make space for themselves. No, this is another thing that makes Canterlot what it is, the purposeful way in which it is built and expanded.

Habitable surface on the city will only come to be if it is deliberately carved, so whenever more space is needed, entire districts and levels will be carved out from the side of the mountain in great public projects.

But those newly expanded areas are not made available as "empty space", they are instead occupied with purpose and design in mind, with the end result being that the city as a whole grows in a planned manner, not being subjected to the haphazard growth that normal cities often suffer.

And you can see that clearly as your carriage makes its way towards the Royal Castle.

You pass by the great habitational rings, dotted with parks and fountains, houses built out of marble and the white rock of the mountain itself. Your carriage then passes by the great rivers of meltwater, that feed the grand waterfall and the valleys around the mountain itself, their calm yet steady streams spinning great watermills of the industrial district you go through.

Then the bustling economical centers give way to the small mansions as you get closer and closer to the castle itself, the eternal struggle to show off means and status causing the noble families to compete for the regions closer to the Royal Castle itself. Small mansions packed "tightly together" (by noble standards, that is) at first, followed by the larger and more impressive manors, their gardens sometimes larger than entire blocks on the lower parts of the city.

And finally, you arrive at the Royal Castle itself.

You do not mind at all, and Rarity even less so, the fact that you are asked to leave your carriage and proceed through the walkway after you are through the gates. The Royal Castle, after all, is a sight to behold.

Great towers adorned with gold and gems point towards the sky, with rich and colorful stained glasses on some of their windows. Entire platforms jut away from the mountain, supporting beautiful edifices and statues of heroic ponies, as well as gardens and other lovingly maintained places.

But its beauty, however grand, is also marred by the signs of the recent… happenings, involving Princess Luna. Some of the towers have scaffolds next to them, signs of repairs or outright reconstruction still visible even a full month after the occurrence, as much as great amounts of effort have obviously been poured to have the Royal Castle back to its original splendor as soon as possible.

Other small details also come to mind as you look with more attention. You had heard, for example, that Princess Luna was gifted an observatory upon her return, but you see no signs of any particularly tall tower with a telescope on top of it…

"Your accommodations will be in this building, my ladies," the armored mare who had been accompanying you snaps you out of your thoughts, "I will take you to your rooms, and will make sure that your entourage finds you as soon as they arrive."

You could see Rarity's ears perking up when she was called a "lady", but you simply nod at the royal guard.

"I will be making a short visit to some relatives after we are settled, we did send word that we would only be arriving tomorrow, after all, and our belongings have not yet arrive on our second carriage," you say to the royal guard, to which she nods curtly, "so if Rarity here decides she would like to take a stroll around the capital herself, could you kindly have that second carriage summoned for her?"

The armored mare gives you an affirmative answer, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Rarity, however, shoots you an outright questioning gaze.

A gaze that you simply answer with a wink. But you privately wonder what exactly she balked at. Was it because you just said you would leave her for a while, or because you just told her she would have a carriage at her own beck and call?

Whichever it is, you are somewhat curious at what she will do this afternoon without you.

And the part of you that is dreading to visit your family grabs at that curiosity even more tightly, willing the afternoon to pass quickly so you may return to the company of a friend sooner rather than later.





- - -
- - -
- - -





Whatever hesitation Rarity had, it dissolved quickly enough.

You accompanied her to the rooms the two of you will be staying in, and then you double-checked that the royal guards knew that they should send your servants that way when they arrived.

And then you simply told Rarity that you had to pay your home, your Canterlot home that is, a visit, and that you would (hopefully) return before nightfall. But of course, you also said that you fully expected her to do whatever she pleased in the meantime.

The part of her that thought she would be with you all the time was convinced of otherwise without much effort.

However, the part of her that outright refused to accept using the second carriage, when it arrived, required a little more convincing.

But after some careful wording, as well as some subtle hints that she "would make you look bad" if she just walked around, finally did the trick.

You must privately admit, though, that the last part was a bit of a lie. You couldn't care less about your image, truth be told. But you can't build a proper image of Rarity if she is seen walking around the noble part of Canterlot like some common pony. Word might not spread quickly about such mundane matters, but if you were successful it would still take as little as bumping into a single noble with a particularly good memory for stupid gossips to start flourishing later on, and that would not do.

So, that was something else she had better get used to.

But that was earlier today. Right now you have… other things to worry about.



The gates of your family's mansion open before the carriage. Your family's crest, and the stallions pulling the carriage, being more than enough to let you in without further ado.

You are being expected, you know. The letter you had sent ahead of you being both an indication that there ought to be chariots and servants waiting for you at the train station, as well as to signal that, as customs dictates, you would be coming to pay your respects.

You hear the gates being closed behind the carriage, and a bundle of memories come back to you in a slow and unpleasant trickle.

Early memories of a strict upbringing, the tutors not managing to be nearly as demanding as your father was, although you still had a good relationship with him back then.

Flashes of the ever-increasing weight of demands and expectations as you grew older, with two new ones being invented whenever you failed one. Four particularly disappointing attempts at entering the School for Gifted Unicorns coming to mind, under the disapproving gaze of your parents.

The echo of years bound to your bed with nothing but books for company, and even that only on the days when your leg didn't decide to simply cramp up for no reason, until the family's physician arrived and…

The carriage stops moving, and the doors are opened from the outside, you walk down the short steps and see a trio of maids is waiting for you, the large doors of the mansion itself open behind them.

"Lady Velvet Covers," the one in the middle says respectfully, and with a short bow, "the Master, Velvet Hill, is expecting you."

You nod and signal for her to lead the way.

But for all the finery of their uniform, the elegance of her curtsy and the pleasantness of her tone, you still can't help but feel a… heavy atmosphere as you walk into the mansion.

You wonder if these three maids are happy working here. You wonder if any of the servants you pass by are.

You recall Soft Sweep's history, and you wonder which of the maids around you are the ones who were kind to her.

You hope that the answer is "all of them", but with the weight that the walls around you are putting in your heart you can't help but think otherwise. This place, you know from experience, is… not a place where kindness is common.

Not long after you finally reach the great hall, the one that has less than two fireplaces and several comfortable sofas, cabinets filled with books, and all other pleasant material objects strewn around. But even with all the windows being opened, you still feel like there is some sort of shadow covering the place, as if you are walking here in the middle of the night.

You pass by a few… not exactly familiar sights, but you pass by a few things which you recognize anyways, even if only in part.

A large painting can be seen over of one of the fireplaces, your family painted on it.

Or rather, the Velvet family painted on it. You see your father, your mother and a young colt between them. There is no sign of you in it, or in any other picture in the great hall, whatsoever.

Over the second fireplace there is also something equally large, but here you see a woven tapestry showing your family's genealogical tree.

You let out an exasperated sigh at that, and you make a point to stop to give it a better look, the maids accompanying you stopping as well without a word.

You eye the names with contempt. Velvet Horseshoe, your great-grandfather, is the first name on the very top, and his painted picture dominates a good part of one of the walls nearby. A stallion known for his political capabilities and, above all else, his ruthlessness.

A few places down is your father's name, the father who raised you as he would raise his own successor, until you disappointed him one too many times.

Next to his name is your mother's, that seems to be misaligned almost as if it had been added as an afterthought. Your mother, who saw all of that happen and simply watched.

And what you don't see is several other names that should be there.

Your older brother is nowhere to be found, even though he is your father's firstborn. You idly think that you can remember the day in which your father finally convinced you that he was less important than you, simply because he had wings instead of a horn. You think you remember believing him, that having been in your younger days when you were still daddy's little girl.

Other family members, as well, are nowhere to be seen. But most of them were unicorns, and you can't exactly remember who they were or what happened, you can only recall that there were once more names there, and now there are less.

This is the Velvet family, you think. Merchants and manipulators who bought their way into nobility generations ago, and who are the very embodiment of what a pony with means can do if he is ruthless.

You eye the place in the tapestry where your name should be, and you cannot find it either. You see the name of Stormchaser's family written on the side of the tapestry, with a list of other families who married into the Velvets, and you can't decide if you feel offended or satisfied by the fact that your father had your name taken away from the thing.

Well, he did make it abundantly clear, through actions and demeanor, that after he had given up on "raising you properly" you amounted to no better than coin, one that he thankfully was able to use to buy a marriage.

And you don't see Stormchaser or Silky Stream there either. Of course they wouldn't be, he would never allow the faces or names of pegasi to mar his family's mansion…

You shake your head and move along, his office is not far now, and the sooner you get this done with, the better.

The maids finally reach the tall doors of the central office, one of them entering it without knocking, probably to let your father know you that you have arrived. You idly wonder if he will have you wait, just to waste your time, or if he also wants to get this over with.

"Master Velvet Hill will be seeing you now, Lady Velvet Covers," the maid quicky exits the door, signaling for you to go in.

Well, that answers at least one of your questions. You take a deep breath, and make your way into the office.



Velvet Hill is a unicorn of dark brown coat, much darker than yours, and greying mane. His aging features causes him to look like he has a permanent scowl about his face, or perhaps he is always scowling and his age merely accentuates it.

There are several other tiny things about him, that make him look just a little more intimidating, that signals that he is just a little more dangerous than he ought to be, from his posture to the way he glares without appearing outright aggressive.

But most of all, what causes a lump to form in your throat is the fact that you know he does all of this by choice.

You know that he can be the most pleasant stallion you have ever met. You know that he can be an amicable pony or a supportive father.

But only when he wants to.

He can be the most attentive and strict of parents, if he believes his daughter has the potential to be useful to him. He can be caring and amicable, if he believes that such a thing will yield the most preferable results.

The same way you know he can simply order everything a pony has to be taken away from them, with a word or a stroke of his pen or even a meaningful glance, if he has the mind to do it.

He has his forelegs over his table, hoofs together and supporting his chin. But his eyes are looking straight into yours.

"Covers," he finally says, his tone somber and serious.

"Hill," you answer back, trying your best not to show your discomfort.

Not that you believe he can't see it.

"I will be in Canterlot for a while, and have come to pay respects," you finish saying, doing a light bow as you speak.

It grates on you. Much as you tried imagining, you had no idea how you would feel when you saw him again, and above all else you can feel that it grates on your nerves. After all these years, with the life you built in Ponyville, the happy life you built in Ponyville, you thought you would be able to do this sort of thing more easily.

But instead, it just feels harder and more wrong. Knowing how easy it can feel to love somepony and have a healthy relationship just makes everything in this mansion, in your family, feel a little more twisted.

"I have read your letter," he answers back, dismissively, but says nothing else.

Leaving you unsure of exactly what to do.

But you already had an idea in mind, and it might be something he will acquiesce if you word it properly.

"I will be spending a good amount of time in the Royal Castle," you say, slowly, making sure that you do not trip in your own words or reveal something that you really don't feel like bringing into the light, "might I ask if you have information that might be useful?"

You can see him scrutinize you a little more, clopping his hoofs a single time while he thinks.

"You would know what you have to if you didn't keep your underachieving head stuck in your little world," he answers, with the tone of disapproval that you are well used to hearing. You think for a moment that he will simply stop at that, but much to your surprise he continues, "but…"


[Princess Celestia's second attempt at rallying the nobility]

[Roll: 29 – 10 (dissent) = 19]

[27 -> 19, things actually got worse]


"But Canterlot is in a quiet state of uproar, among the high nobles at least. The few of them who actually pledged to help were chased or pressured away by their indignant peers," his eyes narrow, as if he was saying something obvious, "I hope you understand what this means, and that you will reap benefits for the Velvet family with this… work of yours."

His tone makes it clear, of course, that by "Velvet family" he means "myself".

You digest his words for a few more seconds, before cautiously giving him another short bow and signaling that you will leave. Seeing that he didn't say or order you anything, you quickly make your way out before he changes his mind.



The doors of his office close behind you, and you feel… perhaps the best word would be "unpleasant", but only because you honestly lack for a better word to use.

Your father, this place, everything around you, have too many memories attached to them. Too much time wasted learning all the wrong things, too much misguided hatred felt as if it was natural, and far too much pressure and control for you to ever be able to breathe a single breath in here without feeling like there is something pressuring your ribcage inwards.

However, you also realize that you are not feeling an angry sort of confusion like you know you would have felt years ago. Instead, the storm in your mind is borne from the more mature point of view you are warranted.

You did not simply lock away all your memories from this place or your early life. Quite on the contrary, you actually had the time to think about all of it over the years. You had the benefit of time, and the perspective of having a daughter and a happy family, to be able to analyze a lot of your memories and simply come to the conclusion of how… absolutely wrong a lot of things were.

You have had that perspective for years now.



However, even though you know all of this, it still didn't make this meeting just now, short as it was, any easier… quite on the contrary.



But this still gives you an idea, involving your own family. Of course, you absolutely will not approach your father again unless you absolutely have to, but this doesn't mean you can't try and get in touch with somepony else.

They are still family, after all.

You think for a few moments, eyeing the several pictures around you as you walk away from the great hall, and decide that you will try to get in touch with…



[] Velvet Wings: Your older brother. A pegasus, as his name suggests, who despite being your family's firstborn was never truly its heir. He was kept close by for appearances sake, you realized only years later, so the two of you grew up together, but he left as soon as he was old enough. He never truly broke ties with the family, since being a noble, even if only in name, has its advantages. You are older now, and you have a better… understanding of his circumstances. Time to rekindle this old connection. (Velvet Wings is a traveler, so he might not know as much about Canterlot's current antics, and might not be too politically savvy. But never being in one place for too long might have given him other sources of wisdom.)

[] Velvet Steppes: Your uncle. Your father's younger brother who, now you realize, must have lived in your father's shadow his whole life. But let it never be said that he was bitter for it, as every memory you have of him paints him as a lively and agreeable stallion. You know he is in Canterlot, with everything that has been going on, but you are not exactly sure of what he has been up to otherwise. (Velvet Steppes is… you have no idea, actually, but by the hugs and jokes and general good humor that you remember him for, he definitely is the approachable kind of pony, especially for family.)

[] Soft Charm: Your mother… if a mare who allows your father to do what he does can even be considered one. She was already meek and absent when you were young, and that was only aggravated after your accident, added to the fact that hindsight can sometimes make you realize… unpleasant things. But you are a grown mare now, so maybe you just might be able to have something resembling a polite conversation with her. (If anypony in your family has influence and pull in Canterlot, it's her, barring your father of course. But approaching her will be… personally difficult for you.)

[] Velvet Pride: Your younger brother, although you are not even sure if he knows that you exist. You know that your father will be displeased if you try and contact him, and he all but told you more than once that he does not want you to get in touch with him, but said displeasure will only come to pass if he finds out, and you have learned a thing or two about avoid being caught… (Maybe you want to rebel against your father, and in some way hamper his work. Maybe you just want to be a good older sister, and make sure that he is not… going through what you did. He probably won't know much about anything outside of the mansion's walls, but if he is as bright as you think he is then he might be the very best source of what happens inside it.)





A short glimpse into Velvet Covers' personal life and family. Much was only indirectly mentioned or kept vague since she herself does not enjoy thinking about it too much. But the path you choose will certainly see more development and explanation.

And also, do let me know if this sequence was too… "indirect" for your liking. First person narrative has the disadvantage that the character must either notice something, or not, so having Velvet Covers not wanting to think about certain things might be hard to convey.

Voting will close by the next update, which will happen no earlier than 48 hours from now. However, the next update will not be your choice, you will meet your proffered family member some time later during this whole Canterlot sequence.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[x]plan Canterlot Socialite, Rarity edition
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of SECRET HISTORIES (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)
--[X] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)
--[X] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
---[X] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS)
--[X] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.
---[X] Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle is around your daughter's age if you remember correctly, surely she'll be at the event as well?
-[X] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)
--[X] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
---[X] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
----[X] Invoke the power of the SECRET HISTORIES to Help You Find Luna's Location.
-[x] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
----[x] servant action
-[X] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
--[X] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
---[X] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
----[X] You are about to help organize the search for Princess Luna from within the royal palace. You need any and all information your family has about the current politics of the capital.
----[X] Reach out to Velvet Steppes
---[x] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
-[x] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)
--[x] Offer to bring Rarity with you in Canterlot. This achieves multiple goals, explained below
---[x] We get to use her as an assistant and emotional/moral support while we go through our tasks
---[x] We get to introduce her to our family AND to the minor nobles we make contact with, both as a close friend AND a fashionista of great, if yet relatively unknown, talent, basically putting ourselves in the position of becoming her patron in noble society. If judged necessary we can also reveal her status as an Element of Harmony, though we'd want to ask her first if she's ok with that (and possibly come up with an excuse for how we know of it, though I don't think it's actually a secret)
---[x] Added to the Sisterhooves social this might just be enough to raise our friendship level to the next tier
---[x] We could learn get some GRAIL scrap of knowledge by seeing how she behaves in the presence of nobles, and we can have her make/sell/bring dresses suited for the situation to better impress. NOTE: we'd obviously pay for both the dresses AND the train ticket if needed
---[x] she might just get a few orders from other minor nobles and from members of our family.
---[x] Through talking with the nobles and our family there's a chance (low, as it's not the main focus of our visit and we don't have actions dedicated to it) that we might hear of a possible good location for a new boutique.

- - -

Your visit to your family's mansion took a lot less time than you thought it would, all things considered.

Well, you still wish you didn't have to come here at all. But you're already past that phase in your life. Nowadays you know what fights to pick, and what discomforts you would rather swallow than be stabbed by.

Still, not something you will be doing again anytime soon if you can avoid it.

And part of the reason for that is because even that little was enough to tire you out. You can feel your body heavy with the unpleasant weight of memories that the mansion invoked from the deeper parts of your mind. The large paintings on the walls, looking down at you disappointingly, the long corridors flanked by those tightly shut doors, the harsh words of your father, coupled with the knowledge that despite all the edge in them he was still being merely dismissive.

A memory of how your father is like when he is truly disappointed rears its ugly head from a corner of your mind, but you manage to smother it before the scene starts playing in your head.

You are back in your room less than two hours after you left, and the sun is still high up in the sky, but considering how worn out you are feeling it might as well be close to nightfall. You are somewhat pleased that you don't find Rarity, hoping that she took your unsubtle advice and went for a stroll around the capital. A carriage stroll, mind you. Because although you are sure that she would have picked up on your mood and helped you feel better, you honestly don't want her to. You brought her here, among many other things, so she can enjoy herself, not for her to see you sulk after a short visit to your estranged father.

So you decide to take it easy. You do a light check on your luggage and settle down for the rest of the afternoon. Nothing like a little time in your own company to help you forget about all that recent unpleasantness.


[Rarity's outing]

[Roll: 35 + ?? (Intrigue) = ??]


Rarity returns a lot later, not long before sunset in fact, and she is as giddy as you hoped she would be.

And for your own part you feel sufficiently refreshed, with no outward signs of your prior mood showing on your face or your demeanor. To the point where you can share in her terrific mood as she talks in depth about her first real impression of the capital, since she wasn't making a beeline from the train station to the Royal Castle this time.

You do notice, however, that from what Rarity is saying she most likely took the "scenic route" around the noble districts. And for all the excited conversation the two of you have, not even once does she mention actually leaving the chariot, so you can only picture her acting in the same excited-filly manner she was when you were on your way to the Royal Castle.

A bit of a shame, a corner of your mind thinks, that she didn't risk doing anything. But the part of you that just wants her to enjoy herself quickly quiets those thoughts down.

There will be time for that, you know, no need to rush it.





- - -
- - -
- - -





The two of you wake up in the following morning and a subtle tension settles over both you and Rarity, a silent anticipation that you share as you wonder what will come next. And that is because… well, how can you explain it?

The Royal Castle is an extremely large place, and it stands on the very center of a district-sized level that is unofficially known as the Royal District.

Unofficially because… actually, nopony really knows why Princess Celestia never officialized the name.

But that is besides the point. What matters is that although the Royal Castle IS hosting the core efforts of the search for Princess Luna, you and Rarity had no contact with said efforts so far, on your short stay here. The Royal Castle, after all, also houses the main garrison of the Royal Guard on its annexed barracks, a monumental library slash magical research complex, a royal court, and all other manners of places which are habitually populated by nobles and public servants going about their affairs. Said buildings are also, more often than not, connected to the Royal Castle itself by some underground passage, large corridors fitting for royalty which were carved out of the very mountain for convenience's sake.

And said passages make the subject of when the Royal Castle ends, and where the rest of the district begins, a complicated one. Some argue that the Royal Castle is in fact the entire complex of buildings, while others say it is only the main castle where the Princesses reside. You hear that such debates are a favorite classic among the higher nobility, in fact…

It strikes you as funny, you think, of how fitting all of this actually is. To the casual observer the Royal Castle, and the district around it, are a shinning beacon of organization and magnificence. However, for those in the know, it is a haphazard maze of underground corridors that "gets the job done", and a timeless source for dispute between opinions.

Which really makes it the ideal mirror of the heart of Equestria…

But the point is: none of you know what to expect because the castle is so unbelievably large that neither of you caught so much as a whiff about how the search efforts are being conducted.

"I know I'm asking you this more out of nervousness than anything else but… what do you think?" Rarity snaps you out of your musing, and you turn your perfectly schooled face to look at her.

Of course, you are maybe as nervous as she is, judging by her voice, but there is no reason for her to know that. It would only add to her own tension, after all.

"I think it looks wonderful," you answer honestly, "and not bringing out the big guns today, I see?"

Rarity is standing in front of a mirror, looking at herself with a tense expression for what must be the fifth time. She is impeccably dressed in a short black skirt and a modern looking white shirt with long sleeves, her mane bound in a ponytail.

In fact, you realize as you analyze her whole attire more carefully, the best way you could describe her would be as having a "secretary" look of sorts. Quite the opposite of what you expected, considering how she spent an entire night working on the dress you tricked her into making two days ago.

"Well, this will be our first impression, but I am here to help you out so…" she passes a hoof on her mane, "I thought it would be best to look the part, considering it will be paperwork from what you said."

You nod at that, pretending to ignore the fact that this is her way of saying she doesn't want to stand out.

Heavens, if Rarity doesn't want to stand out on her very first impression then she truly must be a pile of nerves. You make a mental note that you ought to keep an eye out for her.

"The both of us look ready enough then, shall we get going?" you gently ask her, while you slowly make your way towards the door.

Slowly enough to give her a final moment of hesitation, which she makes good use of before you finally hear a more determined answer from her.

"Yes, let's do this."



- - -



For all the size you know the Royal District to have, the two of you were indeed lodged in the castle itself, so it wasn't that long of a trek. Regal Effort, the armored mare of the Royal Guard who you can see will be accompanying you during your stay, quickly guided you to where the search for Princess Luna was being coordinated from.

You had your letter with you, of course, but the presence of the guard was more than enough to give you access to the deeper parts of the castle.

And you eventually arrive at a place that you think is normally used as a dining hall. Regal Effort opens a great set of double doors to reveal a grand hall, flanked by tall pillars and illuminated by windows of stained glass. On its very center stands a disproportionately long table, at least twice the size of the one you have on your own estate, and of far, far greater quality, you can see even from the distance you are at.

But you would only be able to surmise this place was once a dining hall from those things alone, in everything else it looks like what you would expect a barracks on war footing to be. The only exception being that there are more books and maps where you would have expected to see weapons.

The central table is covered in countless maps of Equestria, both of the continent as a whole and of its surrounding lands, as well as more detailed versions of specific regions. Several cabinets filled with scrolls and books can be seen almost everywhere, clearly indicating that entire sections of libraries were brought to this place, perhaps even at the slightest mention that a book or map on their collection could be of use.

And you see members of the Royal Guard, enough perhaps to fit an entire platoon… company, legion, whatever, you are not really savvy on their working. But you see a lot of them, armored or uniformed, most of them without their helmets and pouring over tomes and maps together with their peers.

"If the ladies will follow me, please," Regal Effort says without breaking stride, already used to the sight before her, it seems.

Her nonplussed reaction, of course, is the opposite of yours and Rarity's.

"By Celestia, it really looks like they are giving their all on this…" you hear Rarity whisper, as she follows behind you and the armored mare.

"By Celestia indeed…" you agree.

Much like in the Canterlot-region hub, the one where you met Captain Chalkhoof, the hierarchy of this place also makes itself clear as you take a better look around you. The older and larger cabinets seem to be closer to the central table, their contents clearly taken from more important libraries, with more ponies around them checking and cross-referencing maps.

And on the table itself, also, you see the great culmination of the search efforts. The maps over the table have various marks over them, ink and small banners indicating the location of search parties, supply lines and all things logistics. Around said maps, of course, are the ponies who seem to be in charge, the markings on their armor slightly more… larger than of those around them?

They look more important than the other guards, and you clearly need to brush up on your knowledge on the military of Equestria.

"Captain," Regal Effort salutes the pony on the edge of the table, confirming your suspicions, "Lady Velvet Covers and Lady Rarity are here, at the behest of your summons."

Of his summons? So, this was the guard that wrote you?

"Thank you Regal, I'll take it from here," he says, dismissing the mare and turning to the two of you.

You take a better look at this Captain, and you must say that… you don't really dislike what you see.

At the very end of the table, now walking towards you, is a large unicorn stallion. He must be almost as large as Comet Feet, and is dressed in an impeccable golden armor, his helmet forgotten back on the table in favor of letting his long cerulean mane flow freely. He is handsome, you must admit, and his chiseled expression is quick to express both his own confidence as well as the fact that he is clearly in charge of the whole place.

Not bad, you think. Not. Bad. At. All.

A slight look to your side reveals that Rarity is not gawking at the rather impressive specimen before you, much to your relief, but you can see that her eyes also have that small glint. A glint she is hiding well, but still a glint of…

Actually, what about you?! You mentally slap yourself out of it. Focus, Velvet, you are a respectable married mare!

"Thank you so much for answering my letter, I am Captain Shining Armor, and this is the place from where we are coordinating the search efforts on the kingdom as a whole," he says with a short bow.

"Charmed," you answer with a curtsy of your own, "you may just call me Velvet, if you don't mind, and this here is my friend Rarity," you introduce the two of you.

"I don't think I recall Chalkhoof mentioning your friend on his report," he says thoughtfully, "but anypony available to help is welcome, especially if that is a pony you think is good enough to bring with you. Follow me, let me show you how things are going."

The absolute unit of a stallion Captain Shining Armor turns around and bids the two of you to follow him to the central table, and you start making your way towards it, but not before…

Rarity lets out a muted yelp as you give her a subtle kick, snapping out of her own personal… "shock", and following after you as well.

"What about we get to work now," you whisper to her as she quickly trots towards you, "and leave the dreaming for later?"

"By Celestia," you hear her answer, as she discreetly nods an affirmation, "by all means but, lets… but talk about dreams, right?"

You allow yourself a slight not at that, but still put some effort into focusing yourself.



You make your own best to keep true to your words, and you slowly strangle the Grail!Velvet back to the dark corners of your mind, so that Winter!Velvet can get to the calm mindspace appropriate for the work to come.

Wait, when in the heavens did you start thinking like that…?



"So as the two of you can see," Shining Armor finally says, "the situation is rather… complicated."

It took him a good part of an hour to simply get the two of you up to speed about the whole situation.

At first this struck you as something strange. Yes, you did receive an invitation to help organize the national efforts of the search, but in all honesty you thought you would be tasked with a particular errand. After all, organizing logistical runs or filtering useful information from reports coming from several different search hubs already are, individually, daunting tasks on their own, even if you have a competent staff with you.

So you have to admit that you were somewhat taken aback when the Captain started putting you up to speed about everything.

The ponies who are with you around the table were his officers, and each of them seem to have an individual task that you personally would have given to a group of at least five ponies. It is no understatement to say that this is the very core of the search efforts, because from what you can surmise this is the place where everything…

Logistical supplies, distribution of idle volunteers, orders for search patterns, reports about dangerous sightings, filtering of useful information, relevant topographical updates, requests for specialized aid, emergency missives…

Where everything is concentrated, filtered, decided upon and then relayed back in the form of orders, decisions or support to the subsidiary hubs around Equestria.

Coupled with the fact that, this being Canterlot, this is also the greatest trove of up to date maps or other documents that could be of use.

So to put it simply, not only do they have a gigantic problem to tackle, they are also horribly understaffed.

It also doesn't help that, although you can see a small army of guards around you, there isn't a single poshly dressed pony in sight. There isn't a single civilian, noble or otherwise, lending their aid here.

And you think you can understand Shining Armor's words a little better. Of course any help is appreciated when you are working completely alone.

"Complicated doesn't even begin to describe it…" you say, trying your best to keep your voice level as you look at the maps laid out on the table, flanked by towers of reports, requests and other means of control and communication in the forms of scrolls and papers.

You look towards Rarity, sitting opposite to the Captain, and you see that she is having a bit more trouble in maintaining her calm. But you can't really blame her, in fact you feel like you should apologize to her for bringing her here at all. The mare is way out of her depth…

"Indeed…" the stallion looks at you, and then at Rarity, and you can see a glint of trepidation in his eyes, "but, well, any help at all is appreciated, even if it's just helping us think how to begin working around this whole situation."

You understand what Shining Armor means, he is asking you if there is a smarter way to do what they are doing. But what in the heavens does he expect you to do? What in the heavens did that blasted Chalkhoof wrote in his blasted letter to make Shining Armor think you have any hopes of helping here?

Sure, you can help, but as an individual mare. You can get a stack of reports and start turning it into information, you can organize the general efforts of a search party. But what you can't do is an amount of work that you would need ten ponies to get done!

You take a deep, long breath, trying to calm yourself down as you look towards the central map, the one detailing the current position of the search parties.

The one with a single marble statue, of a white alicorn, currently placed over the icy peaks of the Yaket Range.

She would have known what to do… of course she would, but Princess Celestia is not here, she can't afford to be here. You can surmise, if that statue truly represents her current position, that she has taken upon herself to search the farthest and most dangerous places, and that corroborates with the rumors you heard about the Princess not having been seen in Canterlot for weeks now.

You wonder if she actually weighted her options before making that decision, you wonder if she analyzed whether if she would be more useful organizing the search from her castle, or if she would be more useful out in the fields participating in the search herself.

Maybe she did, and came to the conclusion that her powers would be put to better use like this. Or maybe she didn't, and this is a demigoddess' equivalent of frantically trying to keep herself busy.

Well, she is not here right now. You are, and you will be damned if you return to Ponyville without saying you tried your best to do something, anything.

You take a deep breath, and close your eyes.

This problem, this whole operation, was already understaffed and overwhelmed before you arrived, so there is really no need to let it overwhelm you as well.

So you decide that you will…



[From Chaos, Order. Incremental +20 thresholds]

[Roll: 89 + 10 (Stewardship) + 5 (Rarity, out of her depth) = 104]



You will do this very… calmly.

"Rarity…" you say, massaging the sides of your head with your hoofs, "would you kindly ask somepony to call Ponpon here? I believe she was lodged in the Servant's Quarters… Tell her that I will be here for a while, she will know what it means…"

You take another deep breath, hearing the mare answer something before she trots away. You can tell that part of her was relieved for having something to do that she understands, that is within her reach of doing.

You have the impression that a lot of ponies here would feel like that too, if properly guided.

But this will not be as simple as organizing a small search camp, like you did with Chalkhoof.

No… this will take a lot more time…



- - -



The first problem you have to tackle is that of usefulness.

These ponies around you are Royal Guards, their cutie marks tell tales about skills involving combat, or about some intuitive desire to protect or to be there for somepony else. They are not suited for paperwork. The few of them suited for that are the ones already around the table, Shining Armor's officers, his lieutenants and the likes.

But even they are only… partly used to it, at best.

So you will have them do something they are actually good at.

"This map," you point at the great map where the search parties, all the search parties, are being tracked, small banners representing their next assigned area, around the small tents that represented their hubs, "I want three more of them."

That raises a few eyebrows, but you don't even bat an eye at that, and you see from the corner of your eye that somepony has already been signaled to bring you what you just asked for.

"Shining Armor, bring me your lead… sergeant? Your best pony, whatever you call it, of each species, bring them here. Pegasus, unicorn and earth pony. I want them each to draft me a map of where they think their own species is best suited for searching."

"But the search parties are already being segregated on each camp, what good would that be?"

"They are being segregated, yes, but they are still being used locally," you emphasize the last word, "if you look at the map, the search parties are basically focusing around their own camps and then expanding outwards. They are covering ground, but not in an efficient way."

You see the stallion eye the map, his face clearly trying to see what exactly you mean by that, or what exactly is wrong with that.

"There is also the fact that certain camps, like Cloudsdale for example, has a lot more pegasi than the others. And a pegasus, obviously, has better range on their search. So if we send out instructions on where each species is more useful, keeping the bigger picture in mind…" you prod him helpfully.

"You are thinking about having the camps cover each other's areas?" he says, eyeing the map more closely.

To which you simply nod, while you float a marker towards the map and start drawing up another grid over the already existing areas of the search camps.

"Almost. Earth ponies have more stamina, so we can leave the great outdoors and plains to them, mostly. Unicorn groups are better suited for whatever caves we find, or the forests we know aren't dangerous. Pegasi can get to places far beyond their camp's expectations. We need three maps, one for each species, and in the end we need to overlap their individual grids so they complement each other. No area left unsearched."

You see the Captain look at the map with a completely new expression. Good, he got the gist of it, then.

You can also see that he realizes that this will not be put into practice neither today, nor tomorrow. A plan will need to be hashed out, and then orders will have to be sent down the line. But this sort of thing is something his guards will know how to plan, and that is already a better use of their time than whatever else they might be trying to do right now.

He nods towards you, and goes in the direction from where the trio of maps you requested are being hauled from, and you hear him call for a few specific names as he goes about it.



- - -



You feel your eyes sting lightly as you read the report. What time is it again?

Irrelevant, Ponpon brought your tea the way you liked it, so you know you have a few more hours of fuel before your body starts feeling light and your leg starts to freeze up.

You let out a sigh, and you realize that your breath just now was cold enough to make your tea lose a bit of its heat… you should really try to learn how to control this.

"Ma'am, lieutenant Gale Speed is here," Ponpon shakes you out of your reading.

Oh, right, you called for the lieutenant, what was it about again…?

"Gale," you say curtly, "this report here. All of the reports, in fact, they are mostly filled with useless information."

You float the stack of papers towards him, and you can see by his expression that he actually agrees with you, but he also has the classic expression of a pony who has no idea of how to act upon said agreement.

"Progress on assigned areas. Number of volunteers, both arriving and leaving. Current stock of essential supplies. Those are the kinds of numbers that we need and…" you look at the stallion, his face visibly confused as he holds the piles of papers, "for heaven's sake, write what I'm saying down. Those are the kinds of numbers that we need. And if they want to give us small reports about topography or about how their maps are not up to date they can send us a new map annexed to the report, instead of their useless complaints. I'm sure there is one pony in every camp with a cutie mark for art or drawing, have your regional captains ask for their help."

The stallion nods as he desperately writes down what you are saying, being both relieved that this might just be the solution for the towers of reports that you receive… as well as being somewhat frightened at your tone of voice.

You see Ponpon put a few more sugar cubes in your tea, before offering it back to you, the mare for some reason wearing the quietly amused expression that she has whenever you are working on the late hours.

"Actually… Shining Armor," you turn around, facing the captain on the secondary table he had set next to your chair.

He looks up to you, his expression alert despite the bags under his eyes. The three other ponies around him, one of each species you note with satisfaction, still pouring over the trio of maps, several circles and paths already drawn on them in something approaching good order.

"Have somepony check if your regional captains are using the talents of the volunteers. I know it sounds obvious in hindsight, but I want to make sure we don't have a pony with a cutie mark about cooking stuck in regular search duty, when he could be helping to feed a whole camp. Things like that."

You see the Captain open his mouth, as if about to retort that such a thing is obviously not happening. But he quickly closes it right after, thinks a little, and nods towards you while getting up from his seat.

Goodness gracious. A pony's desire to help should not make them that blindsided, should it?

Well, but if you thought about it and Shining Armor agrees that it warrants a check, then…

You let out a sigh, a non-chilly sigh this time, and take a sip from your tea.

Pleasantly sweet, you think.



- - -



It's the… night of the… second day? You don't care anymore. What you do care is how utterly senseless some ponies around you can be.

"Send them a missive. Send everypony a missive!" the urge to bang the table does not come to you, but you can understand why some ponies resort to those sorts of crude expressions sometimes.

You look at the two trembling Royal Guard officers in front of you, as they dutifully take out their quills so as to write down anything you say.

"The search camps are of the royal and regular guard so I'm sure you will have no trouble with having your orders being followed," you groan, floating a gigantic pile of logistical requests to one of the less stacked book cabinets, and letting it un-float with a loud bang to make a point of how large it was. "Nopony else asks for anything anymore, they send us the number of volunteers they have, and they wait for supplies. Letters come up only if its an emergency, or else we will never read through the mountain of requests for materials, and get to the missives that are actually important."

Your tone of voice sends the two lieutenants running away, quills on their hoofs as they rush to see your orders fulfilled. You also notice that the chairs around you have been empty for a while, as well as the fact that very few ponies, Shining Armor, Ponpon and Rarity among them, have even approached you recently.

You brush away such petty concerns. The regular guards are still pouring over the maps, and the lieutenants are still keeping the flow of information (the much smaller flow of information, thank you very much) running.

You float your teacup towards you, only to realize it is empty.

"Ponpon?" you look around, searching for the familiar sight of your trusty maid.

Oh, wait, you dismissed her so she could sleep a while back…

No more tea for you then…

"Uh… Velvet Covers?" you hear Shining Armor's voice coming from behind you, and you turn to face him.

"What?" is all you can manage to answer him.

You glance over his table, noting with a satisfied nod that the maps are ready, several letters with instructions already being penned to be sent down to the search camps. As soon as those reach the ground floor, you know, the search will take up a much more efficient shape.

And you will finally be able to retire the boring old map you have on the central table, its progress as good as a crawl as each individual camp selfishly expands only on its own little assigned area.

Heavens, you think that the only pony who might have made good, efficient progress is Princess Celestia herself, the small statue that marks her presence jumping around all of Equestria by means that you can only guess is through some absurdly strong teleportation.

"Don't you think you should… you know…" the Captain hesitantly speaks, pointing towards you and then… towards the door?

Whatever he means by that?

"You want me to do… what?" you ask, wondering if there is something out of the room that can help organizing the search.

"Well, you've been here for a few… days now, so I thought…"

Heavens, the stallion can't even communicate? How did he even make it to Captain?

"I'll take it from here, Shining," you see Rarity coming towards you from her own stack of reports she had been helping you read through, "Velvet darling, come with me for a minute?"

Shining Armor, for some reason, looks relieved at that. In fact, you hear several ponies sigh in relief as they see Rarity push you away from the central desk.

"What are you doing Rarity?" you ask, trying to resist her push, "we have all sorts of everything to get done."

"Yes darling, but you need to sleep, and I won't take no for an answer."

"But the supplies! I need to check that letter before it goes down the chain, and we have another train leaving in a few hours to make its rounds and-!"

"And I'm sure our friends will be able to manage all of that for a few hours while we are away, don't you think?" she says calmly, effortlessly pushing against your meek attempts at resisting her, "you can face it as a form of training for them, even, to see how well they are taking to their updated duties."

That line of thought actually gives you pause as you think about it, and you only realize it was a trap when Rarity closes the doors to the hall behind you.

"Rarity, I'm serious! We have to…" you try to remember what you were about to say, but it simply escapes your mind… however, you insist on it regardless, "we have to!"

"Oh Velvet, please," she stops, holding you by the shoulders and looking into your eyes, "I understand how important this is, but you also have to rest, even if a little bit…"

And you see actual worry in her eyes, which really makes you pause for a few moments.

"Just a short nap? I'll wake you up in two or three hours at most… please?"

Two or three hours, you think, and she is worried about you… maybe you could go for it, after all…

"Alright… Promise you will wake me up?"

"Would I ever lie to you, darling?" she promises, with the most honest of smiles.

And you believe her.

Of course, after you hit your bed you only wake up way after midday, and only to receive a stern, but honestly worried, talking-to from Rarity.



- - -



It's a little past midnight of the fifth day, you take a last sip of your tea and float it back to the saucer next to you.

And this, the now empty teacup, is your signal that you are done for the day. Rarity went to your own room a few minutes ago, and you have already dismissed Ponpon as well, promising the two of them that you wouldn't take more than an hour to go to your own bed.

You sigh, thinking back to the… the entire week, now.

These last five days really did pass by in a flash.

And not in a good way, you think. There is still so much to do.

You optimized some processes, sure. The search parties are a lot more efficient now, the camps and hubs are now complementing each other's search sweeps, and the amount of paperwork involved was nearly cut down to a third of its original volume.

Honestly... this whole mess was borne from ponies having too many good intention, and not enough worry about planning on how to get things done. But ponies can be like that sometimes…

"Aren't you calling it a night as well? I hear there isn't really much to do during the night shift anymore," you hear a mare coming up behind you, the faint sound of metal against the floor betraying that she is using an armor. Probably a mare guard on duty, you think.

"Yes, I will… promised my friend I wouldn't do any more all-nighters and all, but" you float your writing quill and dip it in a little more ink, "I really want to get this letter done before I go."

You can hear her coming up from behind you, looking over your shoulder. You don't really care about it though, these last few days under the curious scrutiny of the guards has inured you against this sort of thing.

"A letter to the… cartographer's guild? Are you going to ask for more maps or the likes?" you hear her ask, curiously.

"Not really… going to ask for their help, sure, but they have already upended their archives for anything that could be of use to us. No… what I have in mind is asking their members for help."

You hear her let out an inquisitive "huh?", so you entertain her with an answer as you continue writing the letter.

"It's just that…"

But for some reason you feel lost for words. For some reason, you are suddenly feeling very tired.

"It's just that there is so much more we could be doing… Take the cartographer's guild for example, I'm writing them an open letter, inviting any of their members to join in the search to the most dangerous parts of Equestria, promising a full detail of guards for anypony who agrees to join. They are ponies with cutie marks for making maps, I am sure that one or two or ten of them will agree. This way they can get something out of it by mapping previously unexplored places, and we also gain something because we will have more specialists on the field, and…"

You let out a long, exasperated sigh, hoofs going to your temples as you realize just how exhausted you are. You would like to think that you are feeling something as simple as frustration, but it's not that. You are simply... too overwhelmed perhaps, the weight of this entire past week finally beginning to settle down on your body.

"I just feel like we could be doing so much more… we should be doing so much more…"

You hear the mare sit next to you, the telltale sign of a horn appearing in the border of your vision. A unicorn then, maybe one of Shining's officers?

"I… I honestly can respect how much dedication you are putting on this… Velvet Covers, wasn't it? But I honestly don't understand why… Why do you think like that?"

Her voice is pleasant, you think idly. Honest, understanding, you can feel something soothing radiating from the mare, to the point where she doesn't even need to say that she thinks that "you have done more than enough already". Something about her tone of voice, or perhaps her presence, already makes it implicit.

"It's because…" you think, trying to put it into words.

And for a moment you think you might not be able to explain her why you are feeling like this.

Until you realize how simple it actually is.

"I…" you start, although you are not sure why you are hesitating. "I have a daughter and a husband… and whenever I look at that map, and that alicorn piece. Whenever think about Princess Celestia, and how she has not returned to the castle ever since the search started…"

And the more you speak, the more easily the words come to you.

"Whenever I think about how I would be feeling if it was somepony of my family who was missing… Whenever I think of how it must be like, to be even as half as desperate as I think I would feel if that happened, well…"

You put your quill down, you don't think you will be able to finish the letter tonight anyways. Your mind is clear, for some reason, but you just feel too…

"I just don't think I have the right not to help. I just don't think it is the pony thing to do, to sit idly and do nothing… I don't mean to sound presumptuous, or superior to anypony else, but I can't help but think that anypony that is not helping is a pony who never in their lives felt…"

"Love?" the mare completes your phrase, saying the word as if she had just read your mind.

"Yes… love…" you sit back on your chair, looking at nowhere in particular, thinking about your family and about how long it will be until you are back home with them. "Love…" you say once again, almost as if talking to yourself.

And for some reason you feel a strange, yet welcome, warmth inside of you.

"Well, I can tell just by this you have a beautiful family, Velvet," the mare says, looking at you, "honestly, I hope one day I can have one like that," she says with a bashful smile.

"Oh, don't worry," you turn to face her with a smile of your own, "I'm sure that one day y- PRINCESS MI AMORE CADENZA?!"

You nearly fall back, your hindleg seizing up as you desperately try to stay on your chair, keep your balance, and bow down as low as you can all at the same time.

"My goodness Princess, I'm so terribly sorry for my manners" you stammer out, trying your best to reorient yourself while keeping your head towards the ground, "please, allow me to apologize an-!"

"Velvet, really, it's alright" she answers.

With a… smile? Is she laughing?

"And please, just call me Cadance. That full name always sounds a bit too much for me, as does the whole Princess title, if I can be honest."

You look up at her, seeing her honest expression as she keeps one hoof over her mouth, stifling a laugh.

You also see her wings, and her horn, and her regalia, and her everything. How the hell could you think that the elegant clopping of her golden horseshoes was something as dull as the sound of an armor?!

"I… am… Are you sure?" you tentatively get up, passing a hoof over your hindleg to make sure it won't embarrassingly cramp up at the worst possible moment.

"I am, don't worry. And I also came here just to… well, just to talk. Nothing official or anything," she says, looking around to the hall.

The totally empty hall, you realize, suddenly remembering that Shining Armor had changed the working hours of everypony so the night periods would be totally free.

You also realize she said she wanted to talk, not talk to you. Well, maybe she did come looking for you specifically, but you won't be as presumptuous as to assume you caught the attention of a Princess...

Right...?

Besides she… well, you have never met Princess Celestia before, and you have heard that she has a formidable presence to her. But Princess Cadance… well, Cadance seems extremely approachable, for some reason.

In fact, she looks downright normal, sans the whole horn-and-wings thing.

She just looks maybe like a tired mare, who just had a long day of work, and who is looking for something akin to a pleasant conversation.

Just like you.

And you do know that she has been holding court while Celestia is away, so heaven knows how tiring her day must have been…

"If that is the case…" you say, biting down another set of apologies, "you said you hope you will have a family one day? You?" you ask, trying your best not to sound too surprised at that, trying as much as you can to make it sound like some innocent mare gossip.

You think for a moment that maybe you shouldn't have asked that, a flash of horror coming to you as you chide yourself for even thinking that a Princess would do something as base as gossiping.

That is, until you see her expression turn into a soft smile at your question.

"Well yes. I mean, who doesn't?" she answers with another short laugh.

But wait, wait wait… you know that kind of laugh. You have seen it several times. Yes, you are sure of it!

That just now was most definitely the smile of a mare who is in-!

"Hang on a second," you say, studying her expression more carefully, "Princ-… Cadence," you bite down the title halfway through it, she did tell you not to call her that after all, "are you… do you have somepony you are interested in…?"

"What? Me? What makes you think that?!" she answers almost immediately.

But you see it, you know that expression too well. The way her eyes went wide open for a fraction of a second, the way she is smiling, almost stammering, as she answers.

She is.

And, you think as a knowing smile forms on your face, you have as long as she is willing to talk to figure out exactly who the lucky stallion, or the lucky mare, is.

Maybe Princess Cadence is still just a normal pony, underneath all of that alicorn part of her. Maybe, you think, she just might be somepony with whom you can be friends.





You have met Captain Shining Armor, and although he might not be the kind of stallion who can be quantified as an "Acquaintance", his allegiance already making his own intents clear beyond doubt, he is surely somepony who you will be able to approach freely from today on, your bond one forged in the fiery crucibles of... paperwork!

Your extensive efforts in helping to organize the search have given you great insight into the topography of Equestria, as well as knowledge of the places which have already been thoroughly combed. You will receive a +25 bonus for your personal search roll, to be accumulated with the second week's bonus. (Fifth Threshold search bonus)

Your dedication has attracted the attention of nopony less than Princess Mi Amore Cadenza herself. She is not the regular kind of pony who can be quantified as an "Acquaintance", but you can certainly say that you are on each other's contact list from today onwards. (Fifth Threshold contact bonus: Alicorn encounter. Princess Cadance now knows you, and that is something few ponies can boast)

After a whole week with you, Rarity is feeling more confident about her own ability to help. She will take a more active role on the next week of the search.

Looks like Velvet is quite proficient in managing large operations eh? Another one of these and she just might get herself a trait…

QM admits to have groaned an "oh my hecking god" upon seeing that roll.

"Contacts and Names" will be updated at a later date. And Thursday will be another offline day, so the next update might be around Friday or Saturday.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[x]plan Canterlot Socialite, Rarity edition
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of SECRET HISTORIES (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)
--[X] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)
--[X] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
---[X] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS) [1 out of 2 actions done]
--[X] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.
---[X] Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle is around your daughter's age if you remember correctly, surely she'll be at the event as well?
-[X] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)
--[X] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
---[X] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
----[X] Invoke the power of the SECRET HISTORIES to Help You Find Luna's Location.
-[x] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
----[x] servant action
-[X] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
--[X] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
---[X] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
----[X] You are about to help organize the search for Princess Luna from within the royal palace. You need any and all information your family has about the current politics of the capital.
----[X] Reach out to Velvet Steppes
---[x] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
-[x] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)
--[x] Offer to bring Rarity with you in Canterlot. This achieves multiple goals, explained below
---[x] We get to use her as an assistant and emotional/moral support while we go through our tasks
---[x] We get to introduce her to our family AND to the minor nobles we make contact with, both as a close friend AND a fashionista of great, if yet relatively unknown, talent, basically putting ourselves in the position of becoming her patron in noble society. If judged necessary we can also reveal her status as an Element of Harmony, though we'd want to ask her first if she's ok with that (and possibly come up with an excuse for how we know of it, though I don't think it's actually a secret)
---[x] Added to the Sisterhooves social this might just be enough to raise our friendship level to the next tier
---[x] We could learn get some GRAIL scrap of knowledge by seeing how she behaves in the presence of nobles, and we can have her make/sell/bring dresses suited for the situation to better impress. NOTE: we'd obviously pay for both the dresses AND the train ticket if needed
---[x] she might just get a few orders from other minor nobles and from members of our family.
---[x] Through talking with the nobles and our family there's a chance (low, as it's not the main focus of our visit and we don't have actions dedicated to it) that we might hear of a possible good location for a new boutique.

- - -


You wake up… slowly.

Actually, no you don't. You can feel it, the hoof gently prodding you and trying to wake you up in a delicate way, but you actively resist the call of the waking world.

And you don't mean it because you are in the Mansus or anything. Quite on the contrary, you are as unconscious as unconscious can get, except for the one part of your head that is only awake enough to try to keep it that way.

Besides, judging by the size of those hoofs, and the fact that they are not jumping on top of you, you are sure that it's not Silky Stream trying to wake you up. So the part of your brain that bears the most authority over your head, the one that pertains anything related to your daughter, couldn't care less.

"Shouldn't we… let her stay like that?" you hear a familiar voice, its tone worried, ask in a hesitant way, "I mean, it has been such a long week. She must be exhausted."

"Don't worry Miss Rarity," the second voice, more familiar but in an annoying way, answers confidently, "you can trust me that she prefers being woken up."

And with that, the shaking becomes more vigorous. Two hoofs pushing you back and forth, causing several red flags to be raised inside your head as the lower parts of your brain insist that you are about to fall off from a cliff, or some other form of equally illogical prompt that such a vigorous shaking can cause. You swat them aside with a hoof-slap of logic, of course.

But the fact that you are thinking enough to strike out with said logic means that the higher functions of your brain have already been woken up. You have already lost.

You let out a groan. You are not yet conscious enough to realize how unladylike said groan was, but you are nearly there.

"Good morning ma'am" you hear Ponpon saying, and you turn towards her in time to see that she is confidently nodding towards Rarity.

You see it through your closed eyelids, but that is a detail you make sure to correct right after.

"I have brought your breakfast, ma'am, and some correspondence from the main house," she calmly says as she heads towards the door. A few moments later she pulls in a cart, filled to the brim with several good smelling things, plates of expertly made breakfast delicacies, trays arranged in a way that look like a small castle.

"Oh my," you hear Rarity let out a slight gasp of surprise.

You also raise an eyebrow at that, definitely agreeing with your friend that such a thing is unexpected.

The sheer quality of the breakfast being brought to the side of your bed impresses even you. This is definitely several levels above the usual that is sent to your room, some voice inside your recently conscious head whispering that this might even have come from the royal kitchen itself.

You slowly recall the events of the previous night, remembering the pleasant conversation you had with the… with the Princess of Love, and you eye the delicacy-filled food cart.

You let out a "huh…". Definitely a sign of favors from high up.

Well, there is nopony present that you feel you must impress, so you let your own curiosity and surprise show, simply shrugging at Rarity when she asks you what this is all about.

"No idea," you say. And this is also probably just a morning-after compliment from the Princess, so you don't see the need to mention that you met the Princess just yet, "have you eaten already?"

She shakes her head at that, so you simply point towards the cart and float one of the masterfully baked croissants towards you, while you absent-mindedly make your way out of your bed.

You see Rarity eyeing the magnificent food cart curiously, almost with a sign of trepidation, as if worrying that perhaps this had been sent to the wrong room, and that the two of you might get in trouble for eating from it.

Really, the mare has a lot to get used to… Granted, it's obvious that this sort of thing is way above your own station, but she has to learn about opportunity, or about simply going on with things as if they were perfectly normal. But at least, seeing that you already took a bite out of it, she finally starts helping herself with the contents of the cart.

You turn your attention back towards Ponpon, and her pleasant smile that you are never quite sure if it means she is just content, or if she is being smug, and she nods, already knowing what you mean by that.

"Here you go, ma'am," she takes a couple of letters from her saddle bag, and hand them over to you.

You give the exteriors of the letters a once-over, seeing that they are all from Canterlot. Two of them are regular missives from your family, the kind of thing that would have been sent to you back in Ponyville anyways, but the third one…

You open that one first, your mind slowly starting to warm up as the name of the pony who had sent the letter reminds you of several other things.

"I was also a bit surprised by how quickly an answer came," Ponpon says, her tone making it clear that she also knows what is going on in your head.

"Answer?" Rarity asks, as she floats a napkin towards her, "did anything happen?"

"I asked Ponpon to look for a relative of mine during this week…" you say, as you read through the content of the letter, "an uncle I hoped would be in town. Didn't really expect a letter to come back for a while though…"

You finish reading the letter, finally reaching the state where you are fully awake, and no longer annoyed by Ponpon's exemplary behavior. Your focus, however, is now concentrated on the contents of the letter floating before you.

You idly nibble at the freshly baked croissant feeling the gaze of the two other mares on you, although you are still busy rearranging your thoughts.

What you are reading, after all, is something that can be very good news indeed. There will be a lot of variables and a lot of unknowns, your uncle who wrote you the letter being chief among them, but there will also be opportunities.

But it simply won't do for you to keep mentally chiding Rarity for her behavior if you don't act upon your own lessons as well. Being a part of high society, after all, also involves the habit of taking risks.

"Say, Rarity…" you fold the letter once again, putting it back on its envelope and floating it towards the nightstand by your bed, "have you by any chance brought a dress suitable for a noble party?"

The mare, who us munching at salad that you're not sure if even your cook back at home can prepare, simply freezes, her mouth slowly gaping open in a most inelegant way.

You let out a small chuckle, and float a few more things from the food cart towards you.



- - -



Even now, while you are walking through the courtyard and towards the place where your carriage is waiting, you are still looking at Rarity. You are still looking at her dress, to be more specific.

"You really weren't joking about staying up the whole night…" you say in a low, and impressed, tone.

"Of course I was not, darling. I never joke when it comes to this sort of thing."

You are dressed for the occasion, of course, wearing a dress you had brought for the more formal necessities, embroidered with the motifs of white flowers, an elegant necklace around your neck.

But Rarity is… on another level entirely.

She is wearing a wavy light blue dress, long enough to give the impression that it has a tail to it, but without actually dragging on the floor. The hems of her skirt and sleeves have a silk-like shine to it, further enhanced by the various gems inlaid on those spots, a sequential combination of small diamonds, rubies and several others whose colors only highlight the ones that came next, instead of detracting from their charm.

She also did something to her mane that would have made you think that she had a whole team of manedressers helping her, if you didn't know any better. Whatever trick she used, you make a mental note, she definitely has to teach you later.

But simply put, Rarity looks stunning. And if it wasn't for the very minute details on her posture and mannerism you would have honestly thought that she could have passed for a member of the high nobility. In fact, you are almost sure that any regular passerby will think that you are accompanying her, and not the other way around.

Not that you mind it, of course, and not that you will do anything to break that notion. But still, like you said, the regular passerby would have thought that. You are not sure if a more experienced pony will miss the signs, or rather the lack of… all the negative things, in your opinion, that marks a pony as a member of the high nobility.

She is smiling, for starters, also her chin isn't nearly as high as it should be while she walks.

But still, although you want to introduce her into this lifestyle, you honestly hope she won't go too deep into it and end up losing herself.

You will make sure to be extra careful, especially this afternoon…

"But the fashion magazines I read always depict these parties during the night," she comments, looking up towards the sun, seeing that it is nearly approaching midday.

"Well yes, but those are usually the get-togethers hosted by the high nobility. The grand parties near the holidays where celebrities get invited and all that."

"I have to admit, darling, I still can't exactly wrap my head around this whole high and low idea you keep telling me about…"

"To be honest, it really is a vague notion even at the best of times," you say, not really being able to hide your own disapproval of the whole thing, "you see, as Equestria grew it became somewhat easier for other ponies to have as much power and influence as nobles… Well, not easier, but it became less impossible."

You keep talking, feeling Rarity's interested gaze on you as you speak, while you recall the lessons you had when you were younger.

The lessons you had from your father, of course… but knowledge is knowledge, regardless of its source.

"So, centuries ago, when wealthy merchants started to build their own mansions on Canterlot, and started competing for Celestia's attention, this whole idea of high and low nobility appeared. Low nobles being those who didn't have any true titles, but had power and influence, and high nobles being those who hailed from families with authority, granted by Princess Celestia herself centuries prior…"

You make sure to omit the more colorful, and intentional, wording your father had used. But it still somewhat strikes you that you can remember his lectures almost perfectly.

"Of course, the whole thing became even more confusing when the low nobles started being knighted into nobility by the Princess, due to their own relevant feats and doings. And that hurt the pride of a lot of ponies, to the point where a whole hierarchy of noble titles was invented, although to this day Princess Celestia has not made it official, of course…"

Which gives two sides to the coin, of course. When in the presence of a Princess, the nobles will treat each other equally, since they are all "equally noble" by her royal decree. When nobles gather among their own peers, however…

"That sounds… quite complicated," Rarity says with a hesitant expression. And although you hope you aren't marring her enamored view about nobility, this isn't exactly the sort of thing you can shield her from. She has to know this, and a lot more, if she is to thrive in this environment.

After all knowledge is never kind, but it still necessary.

"Well, it sounds complicated, and the background that led to the current status-quo is indeed convoluted," you partially agree, "but if you think about the whole situation as a matter of pride then it becomes a lot more simple."

She nods at that, slowly, with the telltale sign that she is thinking deeply about it. Well, she certainly lacks the practical examples to help her form an educated opinion, but you think you have set her on the right path.

"And this uncle of yours invited us to a party with other… lower," you see her struggle with the word for a few moments, "nobles, and… And is that a royal carriage?!"

Rarity's eyes go wide as she freezes on the spot, her words causing your thoughts to do the same thing. You look in front of you, and sure enough you see it.

Right there you see your own carriage, the symbol of the Velvet family carved on its side and present on the stained glasses above the doors. Its well treated hard wood exterior gleaming under the sun, all the way down to its wheels, and the metal saddles around the servantponies ready to pull it.

But of course, right next it is something that makes you family's possession pale in comparison.

The spherical shaped carriage almost seems to emit a light of its own, details laid out in gold are woven on its side, drawing the shapes of hearts around it, with motifs of laurels in green and pink crowning its top. It is not as much a carriage as it is a work of art, engraved with precious stones and topped by statues of rearing ponies, their pose noble and proud.

Correction, the statues are of rearing alicorns, wings open wide and horns pointing towards the sky.

And if you had any doubts left of whose carriage it is, the symbol of a great crystal in the shape of a heart dominates the door, making it clear for all to see of who exactly a thing of such beauty is meant to transport. A trio of Royal Guard ponies stand next to it, the same crystal heart symbol dominating the centerpiece of their armors, and they are curiously talking to Regal Effort, the armored mare who has been acting as your contact in the castle.

But much to your confusion, as soon as Regal sees you and Rarity she points a hoof in your direction, nodding to the trio of guards.

And the Royal Guards come towards the two of you.

"Lady Velvet," the lead of the trio says, taking off his helmet and giving the two of you a short bow, "due to services rendered on the current search for Princess Luna, Princess Cadance has tasked us with escorting you when outside of the castle. If you would please accept her request that you kindly use one of her carriages while on your tours around Canterlot?"

You are surprised by the suddenness of this.

But Rarity is even more so, her eyes shooting wide, after all the lead guard has just...

"I… would… we would love to? But pardon me, she is actually Velvet Covers," Rarity says, an awkward smile on her face as she points towards you. The eyes of the lead Royal Guard, who had specifically referred to her, go wide open at that.

"Beg your pardon Lady Velvet!" the guards fumble to reorient themselves, "truly I have no words to express my shame. But if you would please allow us to do our Princess' biding, even after this slight of mine?"

You do your best not to chuckle, and that is quite the impartial indicator of how much better dressed than you Rarity is.

Still, your mind goes into full gear at the guard's words.

Princess Cadance had this arranged? You can't believe that a little bit of gossiping and light hearted conversation, admittedly pleasant as it was, would have been enough to warrant this much. Maybe the breakfast as a small treat of favor, sure, but the use of the royal carriage?

Well.. the use of "a" royal carriage. You are sure that she has more of those, and this one might be the least impressive at her disposal… but still.

When a thought occurs you… the guard mentioned that they are supposed to escort you while out of the castle, and Princess Cadance is the standing regent on the throne during Princess Celestia's absence. So what sort of message would she send if a small noble like you is seen trotting around Canterlot surrounded by her guards?

By her very well-dressed guards, you must add. You have seen enough Royal Guards by now to know a thing or two about them, and you can see that the uniforms they are using is not the regular duty-armor. No, they are wearing ceremonial regalia, the sort of thing that is meant to stand out. So what would it mean to have these stallions accompanying you?

Well, you think… it would be a message to anypony with eyes (and if nobles have anything, it is many, many well paid and gossiping eyes) that good little nobles who aid the crown are showered in favor.

You nod internally, saluting Cadance's political wile. There are many ways this can backfire, and many ways that this can be a success, but it is still a move made on the board, it is a risk taken. And you surely can respect that.

"There is no slight in your actions, please rise," you say to the bowing guard, "Lady Rarity has always been the better looking of us, after all," you say, winking at the mare for her to follow your lead.

You nod at the guards as they get up, their leader putting his helmet back on.

"And I am most humbled by our Princess' kindness. I would be delighted to have you escort us during our stay here."

You see the Royal Guards let out a sigh of relief under their armors, at your unoffended answer, and they turn to lead you towards the magnificent carriage.

Rarity, however, is still clearly confused at the sudden turn of events, shooting you yet another confused glance as the carriage doors are opened for the two of you.

You just give her a confident smile and bid her to be patient.

You will explain her everything as soon as you are on your way.



[You have gained the trait "Favored in Canterlot: Mi Amore Cadenza". Applies a +20 bonus to certain, but not all, rolls in Canterlot. You will be immediately recognized as a supporter of the Crown, and as a member of the "Royalist" faction during a dispute.]



- - -



"You had a chat with a Princess? And you didn't think it was something important enough to tell me about?!" Rarity's voice is a mixture of surprise, and a tinge of hurt.

Not real hurt, of course, and the way she is whispering to you, even while you were inside a moving chariot, is slightly amusing.

"Like I said, it was just a chat," you repeat the same thing you have just said, "and she seemed as reasonable and pleasant, and perhaps even as normal, as you and me. She was just a tired mare who wanted company, that's all."

Rarity crosses her forelegs, sitting on the soft seat of the carriage. Her expression is grumpy at first, but it soon softened out to something else, an expression close to worry perhaps.

"Well, she has been taking care of Canterlot all on her own during Princess Celestia's absence…"

"My thoughts exactly," you reply.

"But still, whatever did you talked about to warrant…" she waves her hoofs around herself, pointing at the carriage with an incredulous expression, "all of this?!"

You nod at her and take a deep breath. This will take some doing, especially since the two of you are heading towards what can potentially be a nest of snakes dressed in posh garments and colorful suits.

But your destination is still a good distance away, and you can see that your carriage is being pulled at a speed that seems to be, intentionally, only slightly slower than normal. Almost as if you were on a parade of sorts.

Yeap, definitely a lot you have to put Rarity up to speed about.





- - -
- - -
- - -





"And I'm not supposed to ask about their family's achievements, or how they got to their current station?"

"Right. But gossiping about other families is fine."

"And it's not rude to ask about their cutie marks?"

"Correct, but it can become something of a contest, so I would advise against it."

"Right…"

You drill Rarity one last time about the utter basics of noble interaction, the most important things and traps that she could fall into if she didn't know anything. Heavens, telling her all of this made you realize just how many unreasonable and confusing things there are to this whole mess. You just hope you aren't too rusty at this, with all the time you spent in Ponyville and all.

Still, for good measure, you had the Royal Guards take the carriage for one last stroll around the "block"… or whatever you call a particular concentration of mansions, just to buy the two of you a little more time.

And also to flare Cadance's carriage a little more, of course. No reason not to help her in spreading the message she has in mind.

But finally, the carriage comes to a stop, and you hear the clear clipping of the Royal Guard's horseshoes as he heads towards the door to open it.

A large gate appears beyond the open doors of the carriage. Canterlot is a safe place, and nobles want their possessions to be seen, so the tall gates and fences are just there for another chance to show opulence instead of offering security. Consequently, you can clearly see the garden beyond the gates.

A great fountain stands at its center, and countless well dressed ponies can be seen gathered in groups, drinking from fine glasses and nibbling from several delicacies carried around by well dressed servants, while they talk and gossip among themselves. You spy a group of musicians on one of the sides of the garden, playing from an array of classical instruments and lending the whole place an aura grace.

In short, it is a perfectly normal noble party. A sight that you are used to, even if you haven't been in one for quite a few years now. But definitely not something that another certain pony will be accustomed to…

Make sure that Rarity is not gawking: Check.

"And remember Rarity," you whisper to your friend, "elegance and confidence." You know she has the first to spare, so you make sure to stress the second word.

And with that you walk down the red-carpeted stairs of the carriage.



It is important to keep subtlety and nuance in mind, no matter what you are doing. That is doubly more important when, you confirm with a discreet glance, you have everypony in a noble party looking at you.

You walk down the carriage first. Unfortunately, there is little you can do about this detail. The most important pony is usually the first to leave a carriage or transport, but that becomes clearer the larger your entourage is. But since there are only two of you, you know that half the ponies there will think that you came out first because you are Rarity's servant.

And of the other half, the ones who thought you were more important than Rarity, will have many of their numbers convinced of the contrary as soon as they see the mare herself.

So, instead of trying to angle things one way or the other, you commit fully to the most convincing of the two options.

As soon as Rarity steps a hoof on the stairs leading down the carriage you offer her a hoof, gently helping her down. You allow yourself a tiny bit of relief as she accepts your hoof without a smidge of doubt or surprise crossing her face. This is sure to convince everypony present that Rarity is to be the focus of all this, which will both allow her to gather much needed attention and interest, as well as it will allow you to work undetected.

Well, that, or everypony present will think that you are in a relationship with her.

Nothing you can do about that, though.

Especially not when Rarity is looking positively stunning. The eyes that were fixed on your carriage become fixed on her as soon as she makes her appearance, the gems on her dress glinting with the sun, whispers and hushed comments spreading like wildfire as the two of you make your way through the gates, towards a specific uniformed pony by the entrance.

"Who shall I announce, my ladies?" he asks with no small amount of flare and bowing.

"Velvet Covers and Rarity," you answer simply, looking at Rarity as if asking for confirmation, and being delighted that she answers with a simple nod.

"Present: Lady Velvet Covers and Lady Rarity!" he declares towards the garden.

The subtle glances of the other ponies present becomes quite unsubtle at that, and the whispers seem to grow in intensity as information is exchanged and confirmed.

Here we have a Velvet, arriving with somepony else that nopony knows, but that everypony will try their level best to look like they do know.

You let out a smile at that. Let them whisper and gossip and create their stories all they like.

You thank the announcer, and flutter into the party with the grace of a Moth, hidden in the shadows made by Rarity's light.



- - -



The thing is, it is all about appearances. In places like this, everything revolves around impressions.

Consequently, everything is about misdirection and manipulation, deep down.

The most important thing is deniability. In no moment will you say that Rarity is your superior, much like you will not let slip that she is a simple commoner. You even made sure not to address yourself, or her, as "Lady" when you answered the announcer by the gates of the garden, because you are sure somepony will quiz them about it later and even that much could be a hint of status.

As long as you don't confirm who the mysteriously well-dressed, and gorgeous you must add, mare is, she will be whatever the nobles around her thinks she is. Consequently, she will be whatever you want them to think that she is, having the full intention of stoking the fires started by arriving in a royal carriage as much as possible.

And the most important part about this is the pride that nobles have about knowing things. Even if for some reason they do realize what exactly Rarity is, they will not immediately decry her. Quite on the contrary, they will first check what everypony else around them thinks, and act accordingly, any shame that they can feel by being fooled thus far being overpowered by their desire not to be further shamed if they make their ignorance known.

Even if everypony eventually realizes it, it will be just like the tale of The Noble With The Invisible Hat. Everypony will still keep complimenting his hat, even if there is nothing there, because everypony else is doing so. Everypony will keep deferring to her, because they think everypony else is none the wiser.

"Covers!" you are not three steps into the impeccably kept garden before you hear a pony calling out for you, "how're you doing kiddo?"

You look at the approaching stallion, his brown coat inked with a few spots of black, dressed in a well cut suit and with a trimmed goatee on his face. The small brooch he has on his neck, with the symbol of the Velvet family, already makes you almost entirely sure of who he is.

"C'mere, gimme a hug. By Celestia, you've grown up!" the hug he gives you right after dissolves the few doubts you still had.

"Uncle Steppes, it's been years!" you hug him back. Normally you would be wary about such intimate interactions, especially here, but Velvet Steppes has such a charming warmth to him that you simply couldn't care for those few moments. "And what you mean I've grown up, the last time we saw each other was at my marriage."

"Right, that Stormchaser fellow. Which makes me realize I have not yet met my own grandniece!" he says, letting go of you and turning towards Rarity, "and where are my manners. I am Velvet Steppes, lucky uncle of this mare over here, and I am utterly honored to make your acquaintance Lady Rarity."

He says, taking Rarity's hoof with his own and kissing it.

"Absolutely charmed," she answers back, with a giggling smile.

Not the most controlled of answers, but it can pass off as quite charming. And you are not exactly worried about your uncle catching up to anything anyways.

Although you… well, it's not that you don't trust your uncle, but to this day you have not yet figured out exactly what it is that he does. Still, you know that he is quite the affable stallion, and most of all he is family. That might not matter to some ponies, your father among them… but you know that it matters to Steppes.

"I was quite surprised when I got that letter from your servant, but I sure am glad it went through the main house without Hill disappearing with it. Also, lovely that you could be here as well, I was afraid you would be busy for the day," he says, signaling one of the waiters that is carrying drinks.

"You think father knows about the letter I sent you?"

"Kiddo, you're smart enough to know he keeps a tab on everything inside that house," he says as the three of you float the expensive looking glasses towards you, "at least he didn't disapprove of it, since you're here and all."

You take a sip from the drink. It has alcohol, you realize, not that you can't handle it, but it is another variable to keep in mind for Rarity.

Speaking of which, the mare has been eyeing the two of you with a curious expression as you talk to your uncle.

Oh, right.

"Rarity here hasn't met my dear father yet," you say signaling your uncle in the subtlest of ways.

Causing Steppes to take another look at Rarity, a more appraising look this time, and you see a small glint on them not long after.

Of course he realized it, he is a Velvet after all.

"Really? I figured my older brother would have been delighted to meet such a respectable mare," he says with a smile, causing your friend to blush slightly.

If only she knew what he really meant by that…

"I agree, he might even have had the idea of asking her to marry Velvet Wings," you answer, "he is my older brother by the way."

To which Rarity blushes even more, while your uncle lets out an understanding "ohh…".

Yes, uncle, it's exactly what you are thinking. Your father thinking somepony is "good enough" to marry your brother doesn't exactly mean... what it immediately sounds like it means.

"My, Velvet, don't go saying those sorts of things," she answers back, waving a hoof towards you. "Although you never mentioned you have a brother, what's he like?"

"Velvet Wings?" your uncle interrupts you before a single word comes out of your mouth, an excited tinge to his voice, "why he's the most proper and well bred pegasus stallion you've ever seen in your life. Tall and strong, with wings that can blow a hurricane and a voice as deep as the sea," your uncle goes on and on, painting a rather over-heroic image of your dear older brother.

But he always had a way with words, and you can see Rarity's eyes slowly going wider, small sparks appearing in them, as your uncle continues his tall tales.

"… and you know what he does with his fortune and free time? He goes exploring the far reaches of Equestria, that's what he does. No wonder he is still a bachelor, although I tell him every time that he should settle down."

"By the Princesses… and why didn't you tell me about any of this before Velvet?!" the mare turns towards you, nearly advancing in your direction.

Maybe because most of those things were blown out of proportion by your uncle's big mouth?

"Because he is so very busy with his travels," you answer with a level smile, "unlike a certain uncle of mine who seems to have way too much free time to make up stories," you shoot a glare towards Steppes right after.

"Be that as it may, darling, that is not the kind of thing you should hide fr-" she continues with her slightly indignant speech... which you hope that is not an effect of the alcohol, seeing that she hasn't even finished her first glass.

"Excuse me, Lady Rarity?"

Only for her to be interrupted.

You look behind Rarity, and you see a pair of young mares, both also dressed as nobles.

Well, "young" in the sense they are younger than you. They seem to be around Rarity's age.

"Yes, can I help you with anything?" she asks, quickly regaining her poise and adjusting herself to conform to all the small hints you had given her beforehand.

"Well, it's just that we couldn't help but see how magnificent your dress is," one of them begins.

"So we just had to ask you where you had it made," the second one continues.

"Yes! I don't think we've ever seen something like this in all of Canterlot! Is it from Manehattan?"

"Or do you have your own dressmaker, perhaps?"

The two mares start raining down their compliments on Rarity, at first slowly, but then with more and more vigor as they feel more comfortable.

And Rarity, for her own part, is clearly doing her best not to let her awe show. You wonder if it has already hit her that she is being openly complimented by nobility, in the middle of a party. Literally the thing that she has always dreamed of.

She looks towards you, as if asking if it is okay for her to go with the two mares, and you take the opportunity to also check her eyes. Yes, you see, the realization has definitely hit her.

"Ill be right here if you need me, Rarity," you say, in an ambiguous way that could be either subservient or just friendly.

To which she nods elegantly, and not gleefully much to your satisfaction, as she calmly walks away with the two mares.

You follow her with your eyes, sipping from your drink, but there is not really much you can do for now.

"So… care to tell me what that's all about?" you hear your uncle asking you, a curious smirk on his face.

You float your glass to your eye level, seeing that it is empty, and signal another waiter towards you.

"She is a sweet, kind, and talented mare," you say, floating another glass towards you, "and more importantly she is a friend. A great friend."

You see your uncle nod at that, a slow and understanding nod. He understands loyalty, so you know he understands what you mean by that.

"And you have been keeping to yourself in Ponyville all these years," he says, in a roundabout way telling you that he understand where exactly you met her, although with words that the surrounding bystanders wouldn't understand. "Coloratura?" he asks, meaningfully.

You think about it for a few moments, before nodding once again.

"Perhaps even more talented, on her own trade that is..." you answer, to which he raises an eyebrow, "although I don't particularly like the direction Svengallop is taking from what I read on the news, now that you mentioned the mare."

"Well, it's working. He knows how to garner the younger audiences."

You give him a point, still eyeing Rarity as a circle of interested nobles slowly forms around her.

You can see the way things are going, you almost think you can hear the machine clicking. An audience of younger nobles is around her, hanging on to her words and engaging in interested conversation with her. Each of them is a representative of some family, you know. Each of them is a scout.

And around that circle, in the far corners of the gardens and in the groups where they are gathered, the older and more influential members of the noble families are looking with interest, sharp eyes like those of hawks analyzing the situation. Judging, whispering.

Trying to measure if this is an opportunity, trying to measure if other families are thinking this is an opportunity.

You will let Rarity have her fun, but you know your place in this. You are also one of the faraway onlookers, keeping an eye on your charge as she drinks and mingles, searching for the angle you think will be the most advantageous and-

"Hah, you're being such a Velvet right now," you uncle interrupts you with a chuckle, halting your thought process.

"Beg your pardon, a Velvet?" you ask, shaking your head slightly and looking towards him, "well technically yes, but I take it you mean something else by it…?"

"It's an expression that's used around these circles. I mean, look at you, you come here with a…" he waves his own glass towards Rarity, "a literal diamond in the rough, better dressed than anypony else and in a royal carriage, Celestia knows how you managed that, I might add, and then you…"

He shakes his hoof in your general direction.

"Well, and then you do this."

"Our family name is a slang?" you ask, honestly surprised.

"Dear me, you really haven't been around in a long time have you kiddo…? You do know that our ancestor was called Velvet Horseshoe, but that he was actually known as Velvet Dagger, right?"

You let a conflicted expression show for a few moments, your minds switching into a slightly faster speed at that. You may be slightly estranged with your family, but you didn't expect your family to have this sort of reputation.

It could throw all sorts of cobbles into the gears of your plan, you think, as you eye the surrounding groups of nobles, around the Rarity-circle, with new eyes.

More worried eyes.

But your uncle sees that, and lets out a chuckle.

"Don't worry kiddo, your old uncle is here for you," he says, putting a foreleg around you in a side hug, "but we had better strike while the iron is hot and the stage is not yet set. Shall we get to work then?"

He asks, with a confident smile on his face.

To which you take a deep breath, although you are slightly more worried than you wished you were.

"Let's."

And with that, the two of you start walking around the party, drinks in hand and eyes, hidden behind pleasant smiles and calm expressions, on the lookout for opportunities.



- - -

[To Patron the Diamond, breakpoints 20/60/100/140/180]

[Roll: 73 + 12 (Intrigue) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) + 15 (Rarity) + 10 (A Dress to Impress) + 20 (Royal Favor) – 10 (She is a Velvet, though…) + 20 (Steppes, the Facilitator) = 145]


[The Search for Influence, CD 75]

[Roll: 60 + 12 (Intrigue) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) + 20 (Royal Favor) – 10 (She is a Velvet, though…) + 20 (Steppes, the Facilitator) = 107]

- - -



The sun is near the horizon now, the mood of the party having slowly changed as the hours progressed. The music is slightly faster now, the areas around the fountain being populated by the younger nobles as they dance, and the surrounding groups of the older nobles having now pulverized into a single large ring-like circle.

Alcohol has inhibited their usual antics, and the sight of their youngers, their heirs and scions, getting along so well has softened them into a more friendly and approachable mood.

You are not that old to be feeling like that, thank you very much, but your uncle is, so you are standing next to him as he fondly looks at the younger generations, the two of you slowly sipping from your beverages.

And granted, the two of you are somewhat tired. You and your uncle have been through no small amount of work now. For the last few hours you have deftly maneuvered through the circles and groups of nobles, staying for a pleasant conversation of two before letting out a few meaningful hints about your stay there, slowly building up a mysterious image about Rarity. "Accidentally" telling the older and more powerful ponies the information that would only reach them much later, through their young ones, that Rarity is an obscure yet extremely talented couturier, a fashionista of talent who has recently been toying with the idea of going out of obscurity, her talent great enough for her to think about that as she might consider idly taking up a new hobby.

You think the two of you did a reasonably good job. But as these sorts of things usually go, you have no idea if your efforts bore any fruit.

That is, until you spot a particular mare purposefully walking towards the two of you.

There is no outward change, you know, but you can feel the two of you slightly changing posture, gently pushing the tipsy ponies inside your heads towards a corner so you can think more clearly.

You and your uncle are in full business mode when the mare reaches you. It is clear that she has the same thing in mind, after all.

"Velvet Covers, Velvet Steppes," she says with a slight curtsy.

"Needle Pin," your uncle answers as the two of you slightly bow your heads in return, the older stallion helpfully giving you the mare's name without her realizing it.

"That mare, where have you met her?" she asks, taking up a glass from the nearby table and asking nonchalantly.

Of course, you know who she is talking about, you have had that same question asked to you countless time during the day.

But you can see that she means something… different, by it, so you give her the slightly less redacted version of the answer.

"Ponyville. I met her in passing while she was there, looking for inspiration as she said. We've kept in touch ever since, and I have been commissioning a few pieces from her every now and then."

The secret to not being caught in a lie is not to lie at all, and the trick to telling a good story is not telling the truth.

A gust of wind blows in the garden, and you think you hear the shearing of scissors in the distance, the buzzing of wings inside your head.

"I see…" Needle Pin nods, thinking deeply, "she is not… exclusive, is she?" she asks slowly, with purpose.

You know what she means by that, she is asking if Rarity does not have a contract with you, or if perhaps she isn't a reclusive artist who only releases masterworks as she sees fit, working on her own mysterious pace.

Equestria is, after all, full of the latter kind of ponies, as cutie marks are wont to produce such ponies every now and then.

"She…" you bite your tongue at the last moment, you almost said that she wasn't, that she was free and available, but you change your mind on the last second. "… has been feeling more industrious, as of late. I promised her my full support, of course, since I love her work."

"Yes, Covers, but I've been telling you. You have been so very busy as of late…" you uncle adds, sighing with his old stallion voice as if the two of you have had this conversation countless times before.

You follow up immediately, of course.

"And I've told you back, uncle, I'm not that busy. I'm sure I will be able to work something out for her in the next few months."

"Provided Dame Rarity doesn't lose her spark of inspiration, of course. You know how these masterwork craftsponies are," he retorts, a slight tinge of disapproval in his voice.

The two of you continue your mock-argument, but both you and your uncle are very aware that Needle Pin is listening to it intently.

And more importantly, the two of you can see the slight glint in her eyes, as she sees a golden opportunity presented for her.

"Perhaps… I can offer a different solution?" she interrupts the two of you.

She doesn't notice how the two of you go completely silent as soon as she does, engrossed as she is on her own thoughts.

She doesn't notice the smile on your uncle's face, obscured by his goatee.

She doesn't need to, you think, willing her to go ahead with your impassive stare.

"I have several venues in Canterlot," she continues, "and I'd be delighted if we could showcase Dame Rarity's pieces in them. Not wanting to step on the Velvet's patronage over her, of course," she adds hastily.

You eye her suspiciously, faking a slight bit of disinterest, or perhaps even aggressivity, while your mind is honestly rushing its gears trying to think about all the implications and angles on this.

"Now now, Covers," your uncle chimes in, giving you much needed advice while pretending to be a simple voice of reason, "the Needle family is one of the big go-to families when it comes to fashion and design. Dame Rarity's work would surely reach a lot of ponies if they started displaying her work…"

You nod internally at that, at his general approval of this.

The decision is practically made in your mind, but you still want to do one final check…

"Still…" you say, signaling your uncle to keep up for just a little bit longer, "father has been talking about investing in the clothing business himself…" you say, mostly to yourself, but with your whole attention focused on Needle Pin.

And you see it, the slightest hint of hesitation, the small gulp of trepidation as she realizes she might lose her catch. She wants this, not just as a side venue or as a small project, she is invested on this idea.

You let your eyes wander around you for a moment, seeing that your conversation has attracted the attention of quite a few other nobles. You won't risk losing Needle Pin, of course, seeing that you can't guarantee another such encounter if you dismiss her. But you can see that the mare is hoping this will work out for her, that she has been maturing the idea for as long as the party has been happening.

Heavens, you even see her look towards your uncle, as if hoping he will save her chances.

Which he does, after you give him the slightest of nods.

"Don't be a fool, Covers," he mock-chides you, with the verbal equivalent of a nudge to the forehead, "Hill says he is interested in getting his hoofs on everything. Don't worry about my niece, Needle Pin, she still has much to learn. Why don't we go to a quieter place, where we can discuss Dame Rarity's patronage in peace?"

Needle Pin lets out a sigh of relief, imperceptible to the common eye but glaringly obvious to you and your uncle, and she quickly waves for the two of you to follow her.

She doesn't notice the slight pat on the back your uncle gives you, as soon as she turns her back to the two of you.



- - -



These are the sorts of places where power is exchanged, pacts are agreed on, and promises made. These noble parties, opulent in their apparent decadence, are the places where the gears of Equestria are oiled, spun, and sometimes downright substituted.

And as if to prove a point, something like that is happening right here, right now. A name is being created, a brand is being borne, a possible myth is being birthed. Fame is being agreed upon and given shape through the exchange of favors and promises, and very real bits.



[] What have you agreed upon with the Needle family?

-[] Nothing: The deal was unmade before it was concluded. You can do better, and Rarity deserves better. (No deal will be made, Rarity will remain without a patron in Canterlot)

-[] Rarity is feeling rather industrious, as you mentioned: Rarity will be commissioned to deliver lines of clothing, frequently. Her work will be spread far and wide for all to see, and will be donned by many ponies. (Rarity's work will be incredibly well known among commoners, being displayed in every last shop available to the Needle family. Her work, however, will be largely ignored by the nobility and more influential ponies, who very much prefer exclusivity.)

-[] Rarity's works are not about clothes, they are about ideas: Rarity will be asked to deliver anything and everything that she works on, and the Needle family will see what those latest pieces are best suited for. Her pieces will not have a specific theme or tone to them, at least not until everypony starts realizing their clothes all have the "Designs by Rarity" printed on their tags. (The slowest and steadiest option, and surely the one that will give Rarity the most freedom to work with, but it is much harder to make a name for yourself when you try to have that name written everywhere at the same time.)

-[] Lady Rarity is feeling inspired: Rarity will be commissioned to expose her latest ideas seasonally. Her latest models will be the new thing, at least for the next few months, although she will be expected to deliver a "hit" every time. (Rarity's work will be relatively inconstant, at least by the sense of fashion designers, they will, however, garner to all publics. But you know that a single mistake can see this strategy backfire in the cruel world of fame and fashion.)

-[] Dame Rarity's works are exclusive: Rarity will work only for the highest payers, and only on the most exclusive dresses. She will have her most prominent work displayed on the greatest Needle boutiques, and her services will be by commission only. (Rarity's work will become incredibly well known among nobles and well-to-do ponies, but not much among the public in general.)

-[] WRITE IN: In which direction you believe Rarity's work is best suited to go in? More importantly, in what circles do you want to hear her name being talked about?



[] And what of her image?

-[] Rarity would be delighted to work on-site: You will not pledge that Rarity will live in Canterlot, but you don't say that she isn't willing to come every now and then either. (Give Rarity the option, and the obligation in some cases, to go to Canterlot. There will be more chances for her "commoner" trait to become known, and you most likely won't be able to accompany her every time.)

-[] Dame Rarity works best from her secluded boutique. The Velvets will make sure to relay her works to the Needles, though: Cut the problem from the bud, and invest in the image of a mysterious couturier who lives on an undisclosed location. (Rarity's common origins will remain unknown, and her eventual appearances will be all the more impactful because of it. She won't be living the dream anytime soon, though.)

-[] WRITE IN: You would like to keep her commoner background a secret, for the time being, since you feel it will make things that much easier. What sort of myth will you weave around Rarity's background?



[] And finally, how much of it will involve you?

-[] Not much: This much is all we really wanted. (No cost, but the Needle family will expect them to have great influence over Rarity, and will make a move for it in very little time.)

-[] A token effort: The Velvets are watching, but the Needles can have their fun. (Costs 60 bits. The Needle family will try to make a move on Rarity, eventually, but you will make sure to be there when it happens.)

-[] A reasonable amount: This will be an enterprise among equals. You hold the board with your shops, we hold the queen. (Costs 150 bits. The Needle family will be on equal footing with you, on this deal.)

-[] All of it: We will make sure Dame Rarity has everything she needs. Your shops can just wait for the next line of clothes. (Costs 300 bits. The Needle family will have no influence, or claim of influence, over Rarity.)



(All options will see Rarity busy, as she will either be working on several new pieces, or she will be under the great scrutiny of demanding nobles.)

(You may not consult Rarity on her opinion. These sorts of deals happen in moments like this, both time and opportunity being of the essence.)

(All options will be merely the kickstarter of her debut. Problems will arise and success is not guaranteed, but here you will shape what it might turn into given time. Return of investment will only become predictable as things advance.)



- - -



And with that, the night is finally over. The moon is already slowly making its way towards the center of the sky when you drag Rarity, an extremely tipsy Rarity, from a circle of courting stallions.

You are extremely satisfied that she has kept her composure, though, and that you have not found her doing anything unsightly. Both because she has an image to maintain, a budding and fresh image mind you, and because she is your friend, and you would hate to see her involved in that sort of thing.

But as you had hoped she is still elegant and regal, even while obviously inebriated.

Not that you are inebriated yourself. Not at all. You most definitely didn't have to struggle to grab her hoof, and you most certainly did not think she had four forelegs for a few moments.

You say your goodbyes to your uncle with a hearty hug, followed by Rarity hugging him as he promises to introduce Velvet Wings to her the next time you meet.

And with slightly less balanced steps that you hoped to have, you make your way towards your carriage.

Princess Cadance's carriage, you remind yourself as you help Rarity up the red carpeted steps, ignoring the impressed looks of the nobles who are passing by.

"Velvet darling, you wouldn't believe how this night was… how utterly unforgettable all of this was!" Rarity says, laughing to herself, as soon as she lands on her seat.

You are not even done closing the door behind you before she continues to talk.

"Where were you during my whole life?!" she thinks out loud, a gleeful smile on her face as the movement of the chariot starts to rob her of what little balance she had left.

Maybe she did drink a bit too much. Not that you mind though.

"Like I said, this whole thing would have been boring without you," you answer honestly, only slightly intending to calm her down, "so really, I'm the thankful one."

"Thankful?" her eyes shoot wide at that, "darling that doesn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling right now. Really, I can't say anything else other than that I love you!"

You laugh at that, an honest and loud laughter. She clearly had way too much to drink.

"Wha-? I'm not joking Velvet," she sits back on her cushion in an almost dramatic way when she realizes you are laughing, although she is almost falling to her side with her pitiful attempt at staying upright, "I mean, my whole life… ever since I was a filly I dreamt about this… all of this!"

A warm feeling comes to your chest, mostly because you know that she is telling the truth. You know that she is an honest and hard working mare, but knowing that you were able to do this for her…

Heavens, she doesn't even yet know exactly what you have in store for her. You think you will only tell her when you are back in Ponyville, after this whole royal search mess is over, but still. Knowing that you are doing something for a friend is quite a pleasant feeling.

"Really Velvet you are…" she starts droning off, her eyes threatening to close as she tries to focus on her thoughts, the moving chariot rocking her to sleep with each passing moment, "love of my life and…"

And look at her right now, you think. So gorgeously defenseless, so innocent, almost unable to focus on her own words, so…

Delectable.

You get up from your seat, moving towards her with purpose, your hoofs suddenly straight and balanced even despite all the alcohol in your head.

Or perhaps it is because of the alcohol that you are being able to do this.

"What…? Velvet what are you… Velvet Covers?!"

Rarity's eyes regain their focus as you go towards her, then they shoot wide open as you put your hoofs on her shoulders.

Then she nearly freezes in shock as you pull her face towards yours.


You will never really remember if you whispered something in her ear, or if you kissed her, and neither will she.

But Rarity will never, ever forget… the taste that you gave her that night.



[You have initiated Rarity into the secrets of GRAIL.]

[Having spent enough time with her, you have also noticed that she has a minor affinity with the Lore of FORGE. She desires to create, and she detests that which will not change. Although she only knows that in the form of the love for her craft, and the fascination she has for the changes in fashion… for now.]



- - -



This was the Moth way to navigate around a noble party. There is no Moth!Velvet, as much as there is no Grail!Velvet or Winter!Velvet, but since you only have a single chief achievement, and it is one (and the only one) that has crossed the Subtle Change threshold, it is currently helping the most in molding your thought process. Purely narrative, but still a delight.

Your "The Search for Influence, CD 75" roll was for your action of mingling with other lesser nobles. You succeeded, and the vote picking for that will come later. But Rarity's vote feels important enough for me not to want to mix two different votes on the same period.

You have rekindled your relationship with Velvet Steppes, "the Facilitator". You still have no idea of what he does, or why he is called that. You do know, however, that he is more than willing to help his family.

Voting will close on the next update, which will not happen before 48 hours.

And this turned out rather... large. Hard to believe it was written in a single day, but I didn't have the time to double-read and typo run it. Kindly forgive any glaring mistakes.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[x]plan Canterlot Socialite, Rarity edition
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of SECRET HISTORIES (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)
--[X] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)
--[X] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
---[X] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS) [1 out of 2 actions done]
--[X] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.
---[X] Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle is around your daughter's age if you remember correctly, surely she'll be at the event as well?
-[X] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)
--[X] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
---[X] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
----[X] Invoke the power of the SECRET HISTORIES to Help You Find Luna's Location.
-[x] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
----[x] servant action
-[X] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
--[X] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
---[X] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
----[X] You are about to help organize the search for Princess Luna from within the royal palace. You need any and all information your family has about the current politics of the capital.
----[X] Reach out to Velvet Steppes
---[x] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
-[x] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)
--[x] Offer to bring Rarity with you in Canterlot. This achieves multiple goals, explained below
---[x] We get to use her as an assistant and emotional/moral support while we go through our tasks
---[x] We get to introduce her to our family AND to the minor nobles we make contact with, both as a close friend AND a fashionista of great, if yet relatively unknown, talent, basically putting ourselves in the position of becoming her patron in noble society. If judged necessary we can also reveal her status as an Element of Harmony, though we'd want to ask her first if she's ok with that (and possibly come up with an excuse for how we know of it, though I don't think it's actually a secret)
---[x] Added to the Sisterhooves social this might just be enough to raise our friendship level to the next tier
---[x] We could learn get some GRAIL scrap of knowledge by seeing how she behaves in the presence of nobles, and we can have her make/sell/bring dresses suited for the situation to better impress. NOTE: we'd obviously pay for both the dresses AND the train ticket if needed
---[x] she might just get a few orders from other minor nobles and from members of our family.
---[x] Through talking with the nobles and our family there's a chance (low, as it's not the main focus of our visit and we don't have actions dedicated to it) that we might hear of a possible good location for a new boutique.

- - -



During the noble party, while you were subtly building up Rarity's image, you have met…

[] A group of noble merchants. Bit handlers and scions of families with a better hold on the economy of the capital… and beyond. They might not be family heads, but their families have enough assets that they are in "direct supervision" of quite a few things, much like yourself and your family's Estate in Ponyville.

[] A few officers of the Guard. Not the Royal Guard, and Equestria's military is not decadent to the point where only nobles may rise to the higher ranks of officers. But these ones in particular are nobles, and they might have a bit of pull in a lot of places thanks to it.

[] A few studious unicorns. Scholars and teachers, invited because of their prestige among some of the guests. Considering how much time they spend in classrooms and libraries, it is a bit surprising that they were there at all.

[] A group of more influential nobles. Call them sycophants, call them clever, but these nobles have managed to blend in with higher nobility despite their "low" status. You hit it off well enough with them to the point where they promised you to make some introductions if you would like.

[] Nopony in particular. But thanks to your uncle, you managed to… well, "clear your name" a little bit. (Lose the "She is a Velvet, though…" hidden malus. Yes, it will still apply for other encounters if you don't.)



(All picks, bar the last, will be a useful "first step" when cult-spreading efforts begin in Canterlot. The difference between them is what sorts of things you will be able to do more easily in Canterlot, whenever you visit again personally, and which segment of the population the cult will bite first, or at least will meet least resistance with, if you ever make a move towards Canterlot.)



- - -



"Uhmmm… my heeeead…" a low groan reaches you, finally. Not enough time had passed for you to start worrying, but she still took her sweet time.

Well, in all fairness that actually sounds like something she would do, beauty sleep and all.

"Why is the world so bright?..." Rarity tosses under her sheets, but you have a very good idea of what she must be feeling right now. You know for a fact that she won't be able to get back to sleep anytime soon.

Come to think of it, you wonder, has Rarity ever been through a hangover before?

"Mostly because it's already a bit past morning," you answer nonchalantly, not looking up from your book while comfortably sitting on a cushion, "there is a glass of water on your nightstand. It has some remedy in it, so don't worry if it tastes funny."

You hear another groan, followed by the sound of covers and pillows shifting, and finally the sound of something being floated.

You make sure to give her time, though, and also to stay quiet while you continue your idle reading.

"By Celestia… how come you are feeling so well Velvet?" she asks, after a few minutes, still sitting on her bed while she sips from her glass of water.

You also notice that she has a hoof covering her eyes, so with a slight glow of your horn you close the curtains a little more. Not enough for the room to get dark of course, she still needs that uncomfortable encouragement to get up after all, but enough for your friend to not be in as much pain as she was before.

"You get used to it," you answer simply.

You might have missed a whole lot of partying while you grew up, having been locked inside your family's mansion for a long time after your accident. But you have attended one or two after you were a bit older.

You also drink with your husband every now and then, so you certainly have more experience than her, or at least resistance.

"And I've been up for a few hours now," you continue, making sure not to speak loudly, "a good breakfast and a shower also help wonders," you say with a smile, seeing that she is slowly getting her bearings back.

You have dismissed Ponpon for the day, but you could have the guards outside call for somepony of the castle's staff. In fact, you get up and head towards the door to do just that. As much as you know Rarity is physically starving, her headache will probably stop her from realizing it anytime soon.

"You keep saying that I should get used to it but…" you hear her wince, although you already know where her thoughts are taking her, "this particular bit I wouldn't mind never having to experience again."

You let out a small laugh at that, slowly opening the door and asking the guards outside to have something brought up for her.

They are Cadance's guards, you realize. Ponpon had woken you up earlier, before you dismissed her, so you didn't realize this particular detail. Well, you don't exactly mind having her favor as a more permanent thing, at least while you are here for the search.

The guards nod at your request, their expression making it clear that this is something perfectly normal in the castle. One of them is gone down the corridor shortly after.

"Although… I can remember most of yesterday, but I can't remember us coming back. Did I doze off in the carriage or something?" you hear Rarity ask, still sitting in her bed and nursing her head, "my goodness, all that drinking did a number on me… I had the strangest dream, now that I think about it."

"A dream? What was it like?" you ask, your ears suddenly perking up.

"Well, we were in the carriage," she starts, talking slowly, since trying to remember it is clearly not being a painless experience, "but then we… actually, I was in the carriage, but it didn't have a roof? Goodness gracious, please don't get this wrong darling, but I'm pretty sure you were…"

You keep your expression neutral, perhaps even with a kind smile on your face considering your friend's sorry state, but you float your cushion in her direction and sit down in front of her regardless.

"I was…?" and you are honestly curious about this.

"You were on top of the carriage… I think? Looking down towards me, but you had this… it looked like a large barrel, that you were holding, and you were pouring down this drink on me."

"I was giving you a shower of wine?" you laugh, making sure to cover your mouth and keep your tone low.

"Oh believe me Velvet, it wasn't a shower, I was drowning in it," she says, laughing a bit herself, although you can see her wince in regret as she laughs.

Well, at least she has a bit of her humor back, you nod with satisfaction.

And more importantly… the Drowning Waters? You know you did something last night, but you are not sure what it was. Nothing unladylike, you are sure, at least not that you remember. But you are absolutely sure that it involved a secret.

And a dream about the Drowning Waters all but confirms it, although curiously you are not sure what it means yourself. You are not even sure why you are so confident that this… thing, has this particular name, now that you think about it.

Maybe it is something you heard from your Master once? Maybe it's because of some other reason..?

"Yes, but after that…" she trails off, her expression a little more nebulous now, "I was drowning, yes, but then I was… I feel like I was washed off on a beach?"

Your ears perk up again, and you make a conscious effort to keep your eyes from going wide open. You all but will her to keep talking with your stare, although you can see that she is struggling to remember what happened next as much she is struggling to put it into words.

"I was washed off and… the scenery completely changed, no carriage or wine anymore, no. I was on this… beach, but the sand was black, and there were these… these paths? Like these roads of blue stone and…"

A small shiver goes down your spine, but Rarity is gently shaking her head, and taking a generous gulp from her glass of water, before she continues to speak.

"Never mind, darling. It was just a strange dream," she says, waving a hoof and dismissing her thoughts.

"Yes, it does sound like you simply had too much to drink," you answer, summoning up a friendly laugher from her.

Inside your head, however, you make a mental note. This is definitely something you will circle back to talk about with her, later.

"So, you just make sure to rest for today," you say, getting up from your cushion and heading towards the door, "I'll go check on the breakfast thing with the guards. The search efforts will continue tomorrow, but I will not," you stress that last word, "let you help if you aren't in tip-top conditions."

You say with a wink, seeing her nod with a mixture of appreciation and defeat at that.

Good, you think to yourself as you head out through the door. There will be a time for everything else, but for now your friend needs her rest.



Rarity has had the Dream and, most curiously, did so through a method you do not know or understand. But you doubt that she will be able to do so again without help, yours or otherwise. And even then, the crossroads are only the beginning.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You and Rarity walk into the great dining hall that was converted into the heart of the search efforts for Princess Luna. The two of you spent the entirety of the last day doing basically nothing, except for a walk around the castle after the sun had set.

The place is enormous, and there was no shortage of routes and particular spots for you to pick from after asking a few guards for pointers about it. But still, it felt somewhat… empty. You are not entirely sure of why it felt like that, but maybe it was because Princess Celestia was not there, so the entire place felt rather devoid of life and activity, as much as Princess Cadance has been doing her utter best to keep the capital running.

Or maybe, it was because every time you looked out through a window, or passed by an open garden, you looked up to see the sky almost completely empty of stars.

All the more motivation to get back to work, you figure.

But this time you know what to do.



[A dazzling tour, breakpoints 40/80/120]

[Rarity's roll: 49 + 15 (Rarity) + 20 (Royal Favor) + ?? (Grail?) = ??]

[Second breakpoint crossed]



You finish your letter to the Cartographers Guild, and many others. The librarian's union, a few offices of accounting, heavens you even wrote to one or two low noble houses that you thought were more on the agreeable side during the party you went to. You ask everypony you can think of for help, but with every request you make you also hint about some potential reward.

Of course, you have neither the authority nor the funds to make good of those rewards, but you don't spell them out or make direct promises either. Again, you merely hint at them.

Potential opportunities of exploration for the cartographers, possible access to the less public parts of the Royal Library for the librarians, the obvious "it will really look good" for the nobles. All of those should be self-evident, you think, but you still feel that it warrants a try, for good measure.

But of course, you also know that a simple letter will probably not cut it, especially considering the efforts that the Crown has made to do the same thing. Almost everypony who can help has already either volunteered or has been summoned at least twice.

However, you think hopefully, the third time just might be the charm. Especially when you are using the card you have up your sleeve.

"And make sure you ask to talk to their director, or leader, or head of staff, or whatever. Oh, but don't shy from letting whoever you pass by, while in their building, know what you are doing there," you continue talking as you magically seal the final envelopes.

"Velvet."

"And for heaven's sake, using Cadance's chariot and guards is good, but don't use it when you head for the noble district. It might blow up on our faces without us even realizing," you say, ticking off more items from your mental list.

"Covers, darling I-"

"But also, don't waste an opportunity if you see one, follow your instincts and all that. The very worst thing that can happen is you getting a harsh 'no' thrown at you and-"

"Darling, this time you are the one who is worrying too much," Rarity interrupts you, her words cutting through a small curtain of nervousness that was hanging around you, one that you didn't even know was there, "I think I've picked up enough from you during my time here. I'll be just fine!" she says with a confident smile.

You look at her, seeing her expression that is equally determined and just a little bit amused, and you give her a nod, letting out a long sigh.

"I know, I know… I trust you," you say, sagging in your seat as you float the letters towards her, feeling her pick them up with her own magic and put them in her saddle purse.

Your eyes go over the enormous map in front of you, and then you raise them to look at the room around you, to the several armored and uniformed Royal Guards, each doing a specific task.

They are being as productive as they can possibly be, but you know that this is not what they are suited for. Neither their training nor their cutie marks being able to help them run through books and reports and maps and…

"Well... good luck Rarity," you say, your voice equally defeated and honest. You have given her the letters and the addresses, and she will have Cadance's guards to take her. There is really nothing else you can do.

"I won't let you down Velvet," she answers, with something that you think might even be excitement.

Well, you think as you watch her go, you couldn't find anything for her to do that really helped in the organizational part of the search, in all honesty. But this, trying to rally more ponies to the cause, more influential ponies that is, just might be the very best way to use her skills in this situation. Social skills are, after all, not exactly useful when it comes to pushing paper.

And Rarity has those skills to spare. That, and dressmaking of course. So this is really the best you can come up with to have her help as much as she possibly can.

It sure will be a little lonely, though. But you will have Ponpon for company, as usual, and by now you have quite a pleasant work relationship with Shining Armor.

It will have to do.



You don't see Rarity for the rest of the week, save during the nights when you finally return to your room, or during a few odd visits she does to the search hall, mostly to ask you or Shining Armor for some few details about Canterlot or a quick piece of advice.

However, you do notice the results of her efforts soon enough. A not unreasonable number of specialists, experts, and even two nobles, arrive as the days go by. They come directly to you, without even being pointed in your direction by the Royal Guards, and you quickly give them a good number of tasks that you think will suit them best.

Finally, this place is getting properly staffed, you think at one moment. If this keeps going on, you might even consider telling Shining that he should send some of his own guards to the front of the search parties.

In fact... yes, that thought has given you an idea.

Although you already know at first glance that putting it into practice will be extremely complicated...



[Rarity has gathered you some extra help in the form of bureaucrats, specialists, and more. Their arrival and subsequent efforts will accumulate to a +20 bonus on your own efforts as the week progresses.]



- - -



"Shining Armor? Could you come here for a second?" you call for the unicorn, seeing him dismiss two of his officers before he heads in our direction.

"What can I help you with?" he asks, coming to your side. He notices your concentrated expression quickly, and soon enough his own eyes go towards the direction that you are facing.

You are eyeing the map before you, the one whose surface dominates the central table, with a wrinkle on your brow.

More specifically, you are eyeing the marble piece of an alicorn, that is currently resting over the printed representation of the mountains towards the Undiscovered West, and a few moments later Shining realizes that as well.

"This is the main organizational hub of the search…" you start saying, almost as if you are talking to yourself, putting your own thoughts in order, "and our work here is about more than just distributing supplies, this is also about organizing efforts."

That same map has several marks and areas drawn over it, the most recent among them being the trio of interlocked grids, in green, blue and brown, indicating the places where the race-specific search parties are supposed to go. Organizing, on a greater level, how each hub is supposed to cover for each other's areas and deficiencies.

"But this whole time, that particular piece has been beyond out control. Well, not control," you snap out of your reverie, your etiquette and education taking the best of you, "Princess Celestia can very well do as she pleases. But still…"

You shake your head, pushing your half-formed thoughts to the side. You honestly hope that Shining will be able to help you with this.

"Is she really incommunicable? Princess Cadance is standing regent, but is there no way at all that we might reach Princess Celestia?" you ask, hoping that he might know something that you don't, mainly by virtue of being a captain of her personal guard.

And besides, she has been keeping some links to the castle. It might be a simple (simple by alicorn standards, that is) spell, but the small marble statue teleports on its own around the map, so you know she didn't just up and disappear in some desperate search for her sister.

"Well, she hasn't been keeping in touch officially but…" he looks around and lowers his tone, clearly wary about being overheard, "I know that I can tell you this, at least. Cadance has been keeping in touch with her, but the missives and letters have been short, at best. Princess Celestia is doing… fine," you feel the hesitation in his voice as he says that last word, "but things might stay the way they are for a while longer."

You nod at that. At least, you think, she still is in touch with her own kingdom and-

"Wait, hold on," your mind grinds into a halt at a specific detail.

Cadance?

Did Royal Guard Captain Shining Armor, the straight and narrow drilled pony, just name-dropped a Princess like that? Without the use of her titles? The very titles he has probably been drilled to use even on his dreams, since the very first day he joined the guard?!

You can feel your thoughts, the serious thoughts about the search, being totally derailed into a train wreck. But you can't stop yourself from…

"By Cadance you mean Princess Cadance, right? Princess," you stress that word in a very specific way, a very particular way, "Mi Amore Cadenza, right…?"

And you see his eyes go wide, as if he had just made a mistake that, on a personal level, he has been trying to avoid for the longest time. His shock only lasts a moment, but you see it.

"I uh… I mean, yes. Her highness, Princess Cadence," he answers quickly, tripping over his words for a fraction of a second before he corrects himself.

And that causes your own eyes, in turn, to go wide, a completely unrelated part of your brain connecting a set of ideas with an audible "click".

You recall your conversation with Cadance, and how the mare was able to completely dance around the subject of who she is interested in. As much as the conversation left her completely flabbergasted, your own assaults and insinuations growing bolder and bolder in their ridiculousness as the time passed and you realized just how approachable she really was.

But in the end, you had failed. You had been more than satisfied that you managed to make the Princess laugh, gossip, and maybe unwind a little, but you didn't manage to discover exactly who she is interested in.

At least... until right now?

"Ohhh…" a smile appears on your face. A wry smile, completely out of place in the serious environs of the search hall.

But you can't bring yourself to care, not during these short few seconds.

"So it's you," you say, giving him a look.

A knowing look, eyeing him up and down like on the first time you and Rarity saw him.

"Of course it would take somepony of her level to get a hold of all this, yes it all makes so much sense now…!" you whisper to yourself, but purposefully on a tone that Shining Armor will be able to hear.

And the stallion understands exactly what you mean, his cheeks lighting up and sweat appearing on his forehead. This all but confirms everything, as it becomes utterly obvious to you that Cadance must have commented about your own chat with her.

"I-I… have no idea what you mean, Lady Velvet and," he clears his throat loudly, taking a deep breath, and continuing to talk with the clear and commanding tone he has probably learned to use as a captain, "and we really should focus on our work, my lady. No time for horseplaying."

You let out a chuckle, still smiling while you stare a pair of holes into his own eyes. But to the captain's credit, his composure breaks down only very slightly.

You give him a knowing nod, all but whispering an "I see…", and you get back to what you were going to talk to him about.

"As I was saying," you do your level best to push those thoughts aside, forcefully bringing your ideas about the search back to the fore. The process takes longer than you hoped it would, and you shake your head slightly to try and dismiss your recent finding.

Not before promising yourself to tell Rarity about it, of course.

But you eventually reach the calm mindset that you know will be needed for all of this.

"Again… as I was saying," you say after a good set of deep breaths, "Princess Celestia. We have been tracking her progress, and we know where she has been. And it is probably a safe bet to assume that the parts she has been through can be considered properly, and thoroughly, searched," you look at Shining Armor, your eyes telling him that you hope he can confirm that.

He takes a quick look around, seeing that nopony else is paying attention to your conversation, and then he nods. Good, so Celestia has probably been keeping Cadance updated about that.

"But the places she has been to are all places we can't send our search parties," Shining says, turning his attention back to the map, "they are all too dangerous for the volunteers, and for good reason."

You nod at that. He is correct, and your own map reflects that. The three interlocked grids reach for almost every last part of the Pony Kingdom, but only almost, even the parts that are farther away, the ones marked to be searched later, are at a first glance places that can be reasonably or safely reached. But the places that the alicorn statue has been to are all out of those areas.

Mountaintops, deep forests, swamps, deserts, all places that Shining Armor's ponies have, unanimously, deemed too dangerous for the search parties be sent to.

"True," you say, "those areas are indeed far too dangerous…"

He raises an eyebrow at that, and you can see that he is already forming the question of what exactly your point might be, then.

"But what if we prepare a search party not comprised of volunteers?"

That freezes his question while it is still inside his throat, but you can see another, more obvious question, being formed instead.

"Before you ask me about the obvious safety concerns," you interrupt his nearly-spoken question again, "and the details about all of it, hear me out first."



- - -



[Celestia's finest, breakpoints 50/100/150]

[Roll: 73 + 10 (Stewardship) + 20 (Rarity's efforts) = 103]



It took some work… a lot of it, truth be told.


"Your best mares and stallion, your best gear, everything we can spare and maybe a few things we can't."

"Velvet Covers, there is a reason as to why Princess Celestia is going to those places alone. They are too dangerous!"


And the general efforts of the search did not stop while you were at it, of course. The greater scope of the parties of volunteers still had to be efficiently directed to their destinations, supplies still had to be distributed, emergencies, both big and small, still made their way to you.


"This is a dangerous idea, but it is not a thoughtless one. Look, there are places like those, out of the volunteer's reach, that practically touch their assigned grids. We can have support camps set up there, relief would only be one hour of flying away at most. I'm not suggesting that we send a team to the Dragonlands, I'm suggesting that we send ponies to the dangerous places within the Pony Kingdom. Take a few of those spots out of Celestia's plate before she gets to them, ease her burden even if just a tiny little bit."

"We are talking about mountaintops, Velvet! For the Princesses' sake, it's dangerous swamps! Filled with ruins, and beasts and all sorts of things. Those are the kinds of places that ponies disappear in. One hour of flying can be too long under those circumstances!"


But even while you were doing all of that, you slowly made preparations for your other idea. You had a list of the Royal Guard's best soldiers prepared, you marked the places that were within the Pony Kingdom and were close to the pegasus-specific assigned areas. You did everything in your power to prepare a team.

The search efforts were already on their way, and with the extra volunteers that Rarity was bringing in it would soon be able to walk on its own four legs. Soon enough everypony would be doing their very best, every last cutie mark and skill brought to your disposal would be leveraged on the most efficient way possible.

All of them, of course, except for those of the Royal Guard itself.

And you had no real authority over the Royal Guard, you had no real authority at all on the search efforts, in fact. No, the only way to bring your plan into fruition would be by convincing somepony who had said authority.


"But is that not the duty of the Royal Guard? Would you not die for your Princess?"


Perhaps you were too harsh when you asked him that. For a moment you even thought you had lost him as a friend. But the shock you saw in his eyes, the one you mistook for a recently borne animosity, slowly turned into…

A grim resolve…

Captain Shining Armor thought for a deep, long and silent moment. But in the end, after taking a deep breath, he nodded, saying then and there that he would lead the Royal Guard search party himself.

And you could see the reasoning in that. His cutie mark, his very name, Shining Armor as well as every last pony in the guard, royal or regular, had been borne with the innate desire to protect others. You just had to… remind him, remind them, of what that could really mean. But by the mark on their flanks, once they realized that you knew that they would not back down from their duties.

That certainty, that understanding of what one is supposed to do in their lives, is truly the gift, and the curse, of the cutie marks.

Shining Armor only came back after you… had a short note hurriedly rushed towards Cadance, by one of the guards she had accompanying you. You hoped you had not overstepped your boundaries with the Princess. But when you saw the captain return only a few hours later, with his still grim expression marred with a tinge of defeat and the clear signs of a prolonged and nasty argument, you knew she had agreed with you and taken the proper course of action.

The two of you… or rather, the three of you, knew that this idea was dangerous, but it seems Cadance agreed with you when it came to that last selfish detail about how it was supposed to go.



But right now…? Now there is nothing left to do. It is the night of the fifth day, and it has been more than forty eight hours since the Royal Guard search party, comprised by twenty four ponies hoofpicked by Shining Armor himself, left for the San Palomino desert.

A support team would be stationed on Los Pegasus around the clock, ready to head out into the blistering desert at a moment's notice should the search team call for help through any of the safeguards that had been prepared, magical or otherwise.

But still, no desert is a safe place, even less so when a pony is expected to search through every last underground cavern, to comb every last stretch of sand-filled land.

Still, this is the last stretch of effort you can possibly add to this whole search. You have improved the search efforts as much as you could, and the rest of the staff, now mostly composed of civilians and volunteers, is ready to continue the work come next week.

Progress has been made. You have no idea how it will turn out, but you are sure that everypony will be able to hold their heads high and say they did their very best.

You recall Princess Luna's sleeping figure, in her own dreams, and you hope that it will be enough.

Still, you take one last look around you, watching everypony do their part, and you allow yourself a nod of satisfaction. Shining Armor, too, has recuperated himself from his sour mood, and is pouring over the Royal Guard's report, personally supervising their efforts as they comb the deadly desert.

You could stay here for a while longer, but you are also acquaintanced with the sweet trap of overworking. You know that there will be always more work left to do, so you know when you are supposed to simply stop and leave.

Granted, you can overwork yourself just fine when you have the time. You almost didn't sleep during your first days here, after all. But that was at the beginning of it, when you still had endless hours ahead of you, and a mountain of work to get through.

But right now? Seeing the search effort progress like a moderately well oiled machine? You don't mean to pat your own back, but you do believe that you would need another two weeks to make this place any more efficient, and even then you would probably not meet with much success.

And you don't have two weeks anymore, and neither will checking the lists of a final supply run make any difference in the search so… well, there is nothing left for you to do here.

You idly look at the central map one last time and-


And you see the alicorn statue blink in a short burst of teleportation magic.

Only for it to land on the San Palomino desert, nearly tipping over the flag symbolizing the Royal Guard search party.


"Shining… Shining Armor, come here," you call for the stallion, not taking your eyes out of the map.

He is by your side moments later, and you can hear him mutter something when he notices the same thing.

"That is… unexpected. I will have word sent to them, although there is an enormous chance that we will hear from them first or th-"

The captain freezes, however, when the alicorn statue starts to glow again. The eyes of both of you, in fact, go wide open when you see that the statue is not preparing for another teleportation.

No, this time it starts to float, spinning faster and faster as it does, moving towards another part of the map.

And moments later it is floating right on top of Canterlot, the statue spinning like a wheel and shining with enough strength to look like a miniature sun.

You don't even have time to express your surprise before the statue disappears into a burst of light, the boom of pressurized air echoing through the room as a large sphere of pure magic materializes in the air.

You are bowing before you even realize it. Every last pony in the room is.

Princess Celestia is now floating over the table, her form gently falling down towards it until you hear the click of her horseshoes landing against its map covered surface.

You are breathless.

Never before, in your whole life, have you felt anything like this. Not while awake, at least, not while in a place like this.

Not in the Wake.

And you have not even looked up yet. You have not even confirmed with your own eyes that it really is the Princess, you just know. Her very presence feels like it applies a physical pressure on the very air. You can almost tell where she is looking at because it almost feels like heat is coming out from her eyes.

And you know that if you do look up you will see it all there. Presence, and power, and wisdom, and might, and all the other things that have guided ponykind for as long as history remembers.

The thing before you is old, you know. You have seen older things, and she is not as old as those, but you can feel that same weight and kinship about her.

"Everypony," you hear her say, her voice clear and calm, "leave us."

She clicks a hoof against the table for emphasis. The movement is unnecessary, you know, but it gets the point across regardless. Everypony, you included, is hurriedly standing up to make for the nearest exit.

"Not the two of you, Shining, Velvet," she adds.

You freeze on the spot, your mind stuck on the imperative that you are not supposed to leave, although you have no idea why, at the same time as your more rational side is wondering why in the heavens she could have possibly singled you out like that. You can understand her calling for Shining Armor of course, but you?

And more importantly, how in the heavens does she even know your name to begin with?

The door is shut close by the last pony leaving, before you turn to face the Princess.

And what you see is…

Well, you can safely say that now you understand what everypony means when they speak about the Princess of the Sun.

She is tall, taller than a pony will ever be, and then twice that. A single wing of hers is as large as a single pegasus' total wingspan, and you have the faint impression that her horn might be as long as you are tall.

But that is not all. The aura she has around her, that pressure that she seems to emit, seems almost like a physical thing when you look directly at her. Her mane gently floating on an invisible breeze, gleaming with the colors of an aurora borealis, her eyes steady and strong, absolutely sure of what must be done.

And those eyes, right now, are looking at Shining Armor. You are not sure how the captain is being able to meet her gaze so calmly.

"Hello, Shining Armor," the demigoddess speaks, her tone surprisingly… normal.

"My Princess," he answers back, with another short bow.

To which the Princess, that awesome avatar of power and order, answers with a… with a simple sigh.

A long, drawn out sigh, as if she is trying to completely empty her lungs of air, as if she is trying to empty her entire body until she becomes smaller, like a balloon might lose its volume as it is drained of air.

And as her sigh goes on and on you… a part of you swears that she is doing just that.

Princes Celestia is not becoming any smaller, or less powerful, or less tall, but she is definitely… you can't describe it in any other way apart from that she is "diminishing" herself.

Her awesome aura is disappearing like a setting sun, her gleaming coat is becoming utterly regular, perhaps even with a few dirty spots here and there that would have seemed unthinkable a few seconds ago.

Her eyes are… there are so many bags under her eyes, and she looks so very tired now.

And much like they were looking at Shining Armor, those eyes are now staring at you.

But you don't feel intimidated anymore. Quite on the contrary, you feel…

"Hello, Velvet Covers. I don't believe we have met before."

You feel sorry, for her.

"My Princess," you answer, bowing shortly as Shining Armor just did.

Her eyes then go to the table, and the map underneath her hoofs. She gives a single gracious flap of her wings, enough for her to jump to the ground without sound, but for some reason not disturbing a single piece of paper on the table itself.

You can see her looking at the work of the search efforts, and for all her tiredness you know that she is taking all of it in during those short few seconds.

"Cadance has been keeping me up to date about a few things," she says slowly, meaningfully, "but I honestly didn't expect to find our ponies out in such a dangerous place… Truly, your efforts here have been commendable."

She turns back to the two of you, and you know that she has completely processed the entirety of the search efforts in those few moments. You see it in her eyes, the satisfied expression of a teacher, the subtle look of a pony who is about to nod with approval.

"It was all thanks to Lady Covers, my Princess," Shining Armor says, much to your own chagrin, for some reason, "we wouldn't be doing nearly as well if it wasn't for her. In fact, although I am happy that you have come, I am a little grateful you have not visited us two weeks ago," he says with a small smile.

You think you hear the Princess chuckle slightly at that.

But not even that bit of good humor from her can take away your focus of just how utterly... how incredibly tired Celestia looks.

Ever since she did… whatever she did, that allowed you to see her normally, you have not taken your eyes away from her.

How can Shining Armor be treating her so normally? You can see evidence of how unwell she is everywhere you look. You see how skinny she is, probably from not eating properly during her searches, if she is even eating at all. You see the telltale signs of magical overuse, those slightly discolored veins spreading from the base of her horn.

Also her eyes… something inside of you whispers that she has not slept at all, ever since this whole ordeal started. That she can't bring herself to sleep because she dreads the thought that she will dream and not feel the presence of her sister, and that it would be too much for her to bear.

And as she faces you, you see it. You see that final piece of self-imposed cruelty, that final evidence that all your worries are well founded. Princess Celestia is looking back at you, and you know that she knows about her own state. You know that she is old enough to have that level of self-knowledge.

However, she continues to do this. Willingly. All of this, not just the searches. All of it.

She chooses to continue ruling ponykind, she chooses to keep raising the sun and moon, and to care for the mortal affairs of ponies. She chooses to carry the weight of the whole world on her back.

In fact, this whole search, her own efforts in it, might be the only bit of selfishness that she has allowed herself in centuries. The one defiance she has made against her own rules, because they involve the one pony she would be willing to break them for.

But that is simply not fair, and you know it. Perhaps in all of Equestria you are the only pony who knows it, bar the Princess herself. You know that she was borne into this world, you remember the bits of knowledge from Princess Luna's dream. You know that, alicorn or not, she is a pony the same way you or Shining Armor are, you know that this can't be easy or pleasant for her.

You know that, awesome mind or not, perfect body or not, age of wisdom or not, she still has feelings.

And no matter who you are, what she is going through is just too much.

"Well then," she says, her voice calm and nurturing despite the obvious dryness of her throat, her expression calm and collected despite the obvious exhaustion in it, "it seems that you have done me a great favor then, Velvet Covers. And I know that it must have been especially hard for you to do this, considering the current complications that Canterlot is living through."

You almost feel like interrupting her, you almost feel like shouting at her. How can she be so calm in a situation like this? How can she even care, about talking to you, or Shining, or to anypony else?! The more time you spend looking at her, the more it becomes glaringly obvious to you.

She needs to rest, and to eat, and to talk with a friend, and maybe she even needs to cry. And above all else, she needs her sister back. How in the heavens can she stand to be here, having a pleasant conversation with you, when you can't even stand to look at her after knowing what she is going through?!


But then...


But then you remember how the world looked like, through Princess Luna's eyes. The world itself looked like the same, of course, but you remember the rush she felt when she raised the moon, the emotions that rushed through her when she looked down on Equestria and saw everything she had to protect. Everything she needed to protect, that she was borne to protect.

And you realize that Princess Celestia must have felt that same thing, every day of her life, for the last thousand years. It must have been a beacon of motivation, right next to the aching wound that her sister's absence must have felt like, but…

You let out an internal, defeated sigh. This is not your place to chime in. She is too old, and too powerful, and has made a pact with something that was even older and even more powerful. You are a foal before her, and as much as you might want to help her, or want to see her be helped, you also know that this is not the time or place for that. That it is not your place to do it, either.

This, you realize, is why everypony thinks of her as a demigoddess. And this, you also realize, must be the weight that her cutie mark must have. The weight caused by having a life long calling to nurture and guide, when you are an immortal being capable of moving the very heavens. Asking her not to do this, all of this... asking her not to nurture and guide Equestria, would be the same as asking Cadance not to love, or as asking Rarity not to create.

"I cannot remain long, unfortunately," she continues, ignorant, or choosing to ignore, your plight. Ignorant, or choosing to ignore, her own plight, "I will keep the progress of the search efforts in mind, and move accordingly. However…"

She takes a step towards you.

"Velvet Covers, I can see that you have been very kind to me. Is there any way I may repay your kindness?"



[Voting options will be available at the end of the update]

[Velvet Covers has thrice overperformed during the search for Princess Luna, and has realized that she has a knack for the administration of large projects. Well, even more so than she already knew after years of administering her family's Estate. Gains the trait "Queen" "Mare Administrator: +2 Stewardship, +10 when organizing the projects that span large areas, or that involves the effort of several other ponies".]



And after that, the Princess of the Sun is gone, the same marble statue taking her place as she disappears into thin air, moving towards another dangerous and faraway place of Equestria.

Leaving you unsure about what you should even think about her… Princess Cadance seems normal and approachable, an affable mare that by some means ascended into alicornhood. Princess Luna, as well, felt understandable, although you realize that she was young during her dreams. That she is young even now, having lost so much time of her life.

But Princess Celestia? She might be the only pony who has actually lived all those centuries, with a mind capable of keeping track of it, and with a body and intellect capable of thriving and growing during that whole time.

Which makes you wonder how utterly lonely that must have felt like, watching everypony around her grow old and die, foals that would meet the same fate taking their place. Knowing that the only pony who would ever be able to keep her company was locked away in the moon, by her own hoofs…

You feel very sorry for Princess Celestia, and much like you hoped for Princess Luna when you saw her sleeping in her dreams, you hope that Princess Celestia, too…

You have no words for it, in the end.

For all the hate your Master seems to feel for her, you can't help but to truly wish her well.





- - -
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- - -





You wake up in the middle of the night, drawing a deep gasping breath as if you had been choking seconds earlier.

The room is completely dark, which makes you promptly close your eyes. Your heaving has not woken up Rarity, you see, but you also notice that…

That there is something utterly wrong with this place, not wrong in an intimidating or dreadful way, but still wrong nonetheless. You see it in a thousand small details, the half-opened cabinet that you swear you had left closed, the slightly different way your luggage is piled at the corner of your room.

You are out of your bed, and out through the door, moments later.

There are no guards standing outside the door either.

You walk through the corridors of the castle, feeling that there is something wrong with the whole place. You can't rightly place a hoof on what it is, though.

At least until you reach the doors that lead to the dining hall, the one where Princess Luna's search is being orchestrated from. And that is because you see another door, on the corridor by your side, slightly opened.

That door, you are sure, does not exist. Not in the castle you know, not in the corridor that you have passed through every day for the last two weeks.

You go through the door.

It is a small storage room, another one that had been repurposed for the search efforts. Something that must have been a pantry months ago, repurposed to storage book cabinets, and tables, and utensils for the search staff that had been or might be useful.

And on one of the tables, the one on the farthest corner of the room, you see an open map.

And a pen, a writing pen made from a bird's feather, laid on top of the map.

A chill runs down your spine.

You remember. Weeks ago, on the makeshift circle kept under Windy Flake's shop, you have performed a ritual. A small ritual, that could attract the attention of certain laws and powers.

The laws you wished to attract were those of the world itself, of the many paths that the world might take, and of the many secrets and histories that may or may not have happened.

And the price of that ritual was that you had to lose something yourself, a small offering to be forgotten by you, so that the world might, in return, allow you to remember something that it had forgotten.

The thing you chose to lose was a feathered pen, which you had buried on the center of the ritual circle. Which you had buried in a way that, no matter how much you dug for it, you knew you would never find it again.

And by all the stars in the sky, you swear to the heavens that the same pen you buried is now right in front of you, over that map.

You walk towards the map. You thought your steps would be slow, that your gait would be fearful, for surely something very strange is going on. But no, you walk with purpose and calm, because you know…

You know that this is how the world works, you know that this is merely a reaction for an action, a result of a law.

It really doesn't take any effort at all.

You look upon the map, and you find it almost immediately.

It is right there, it was right there all this time, in plain sight. So obvious in its location, so glaring in its signs.

This is so easy, in fact, that you don't even know what to do next, you don't know who to thank, or how to act. You have no idea of how you are supposed to honor these powers that look upon you, and close this circle that you find yourself in.


Except for one way. One incredibly obvious way.


A part of you thinks that this idea is delusional, that it will only present a risk. A part of you thinks that, although astronomically small, what you are about to do might just be enough of a hint that it may be found by somepony, and that said pony may have all your efforts and secrecy ruined if they realize what your action means.

But another part of you, a smaller yet resolute part of you, knows that such worries are not true. You know that this is how things are supposed to be, you know that these circles can only be closed in one way.

Circumstances like these may only ever be closed… with a paradox.

You take the pen in your hoofs, seeing that there is a trace of ink on its tip, and you draw a circle on the map. You draw a circle around that spot, where the river meets two hills, so small that they were almost not drawn into the map. You pen down in ink, for all to see, the location where Princess Luna is hidden, the place that many ponies would pay fortunes to find, the place that a demigoddess would do anything to discover.

You circle it, and leave it there, in that forgotten side-room filled with old maps.

Because you know that the only pony who will ever find that circle is yourself, in another History.

You know that the paradoxical question, of whether if that circle was drawn before or after Princess Luna was found, will never be answered by anypony in this History.

And you know that leaving behind such a question, such an unanswerable riddle, is enough payment for whatever powers brought you here in the first place.

You go back to your room, back to your bed, and you know that you will wake up where you are supposed to wake come next morning.

And you gently go to sleep, hoping that another Velvet Covers has left your bed warm for your return.



[Search bonuses: +15 (Learning, SH doubled) +20 (SECRET HISTORIES, doubled) + 15 (The First Search, third threshold) + 25 (The Second Search, fifth threshold) + 20 (The Third Search, second threshold) = 95]

[Your accumulated bonuses were enough to guarantee success, and that has attracted the attention of certai-]



You have located the place where Princess Luna is, and will be able to set out on a Expedition to reach it.

But… how did you do it? What exactly happened?

[] You have "skipped" into another place, one where you had already discovered where she was, and you merely followed your own breadcrumbs, and such passages are providence of a specific Lore. Gain 1 scrap of KNOCK Lore.

[] You became a linchpin, around which every possible answer rotated. Not the map, not the world, not even Luna herself knew where she was… until you circled it with your feathered pen. Gain 1 scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.





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- - -





And what might you ask of Princess Celestia?

[] Nothing, you being here is not even kindness, it is the right thing to do. (This will cause you to get into Princess Celestia's notice).

[] Nothing, I am but a scion of my family, it is them who you should look favorably towards. (Princess Celestia will favor the Velvet family. Give the fruits of the entirety of your efforts to your father, and win great favor from him… you hope.]

[] I would ask for a boon. (WRITE IN, ask Princess Celestia for a boon. Read below for details.)



Things to consider when Writing In for a BOON:

Spoiler

First of all, think about long term, not only when it comes to immediate apparent benefit. Asking for a job, specifically, will entail a dramatic change in your livelihood. It has been commented by one among you, who is very observant, that you will at least have to move to Canterlot, with all the changes that will entail to your family.

And also, you receive 120 bits per month, yes, but that is literally your "allowance". You live in an Estate, with servants, and handle far more money that you can't touch because it belongs to your family. Remind yourselves that a normal-working pony makes a little more money than that, but has personal expenditures that makes his net gain per month around 60 bits. Your noble trait has the mechanical effect of making double that at the start of the game, but mostly because you are exempt of paying for daily expenditures which you would have to pay if you were of non-noble background.

But regardless, voting is sacred. However, my suggestions when it comes to asking for a boon are on the lines of:

-Unrestricted access to forbidden archives: "I am a scholar, and I would be delighted if I could be trusted with passage into the deeper parts of the Royal Library".

-Permanent protection of the Guard: "It was a pleasure, your Highness, but… I must sadly admit that my presence in here made certain things… complicated. Being here is the right thing to do, but I no longer feel safe outside the walls of the castle…"

-An item of power (select Lore, unsuspicious due to "Royal Gift" status, up to Level 5 and with useful effect): "By all means, your Highness. In fact, pardon that I have not come to help sooner. You see, I missed the initial calls because, for the longest time, I have been looking for…"

-Other write-ins.

But the idea of cashing in the favor on the spot is that you will say: "You can't say I am NOT worthy of X without admitting that I wasn't helpful". Yes, it sounds cruel or cold, but it is the "practical" and "political" meaning of "transforming favor (her good opinion of you) into a boon".

Although being kind and going into her "good list" will be as immediately practical as… the zero rewards she has given to the Mane 6 during the series, as many have commented here.

QM will be honest on this. A good part of me wanted to just give you Celestia as a contact, as it was with Cadance. But she is old, knows politics, and to her first glance, exhausted as she is, you are but another noble who wants something. She will only see the kindness in your eyes if you act upon it, so instead of forcing you into gaining a contact, I will also give you the choice of doing something else since this is Celestia we are talking about.

It might be a moot point, like the "Witness Ritual?" vote, but I do not have the right to make certain assumptions.

How you will react to Celestia's appearance is important, but not nearly as complex as Rarity's vote, which involved three variables and was somewhat expected considering your focused actions for this turn. I also don't want to delay the noble contact vote another turn, nor do I want to inflate the thread with something that will look like one vote per update. Hence I preferred to have all of these votes on the same update.

Since the votes are not connected, voting will be in… that format where the most picked ones are selected, NOT in planned mode.

Voting will remain open until the next update, which will not happen before 48 hours.

Voting about Rarity's plan is now CLOSED.

Tallies will be officially drawn later, and Character Sheets and the likes will be updated later.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[x]plan Canterlot Socialite, Rarity edition
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of SECRET HISTORIES (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)
--[X] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)
--[X] You have a royal summons, and a "free pass" train ticket to Canterlot for this month. If you understand this correctly, they want your help in organizing the Equestria-wide searches for Princess Luna. This will be taxing and time consuming, but it will also be an opportunity both to learn useful intelligence, as well as to becoming acquaintances with very powerful ponies indeed. (Picking any of the sub-choices will take you to Canterlot for free, and any action that involves Canterlot, this month, will have no transportation cost.) (Picking any of the sub-choices will give you a better chance of "identifying the place in Princess Luna's dream".)
---[X] Go for two weeks. It will be time consuming for sure, but this is not the sort of opportunity that you should deny. (COSTS 2 ACTIONS) [2 out of 2 actions done]
--[X] Sisterhooves Social! Your daughter is going, and your name is not Velvet Covers if you are not attending it as well. Dear heavens, of course you couldn't do even the simplest of tests that you read in the flier, but there will be loads of parents there watching as well.
---[X] Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle is around your daughter's age if you remember correctly, surely she'll be at the event as well?
-[X] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)
--[X] You reached Princess Luna's dreams, and although you do not know why she was asleep in there, you did gleam some useful information. You have a mental image of a place, of a river in a forest next to some hills. It is time to hit the maps. (This action will receive bonuses based on how much you helped the search parties, as it strikes off from the map places that have already been searched, and said work gave you access to several up to date maps.)
---[X] Search in the libraries of Canterlot, they are bound to have the most updated information there. (Costs 20 bits in transportation, slightly indiscrete. Picking this while also answering the Royal Letter will be totally discrete, however you will still have to pick this option, and spend an action, as to conduct your private searches, which you will not do while performing your expected organizational work.)
----[X] Invoke the power of the SECRET HISTORIES to Help You Find Luna's Location.
-[x] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
----[x] servant action
-[X] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
--[X] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
---[X] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
----[X] You are about to help organize the search for Princess Luna from within the royal palace. You need any and all information your family has about the current politics of the capital.
----[X] Reach out to Velvet Steppes
---[x] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
-[x] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)
--[x] Offer to bring Rarity with you in Canterlot. This achieves multiple goals, explained below
---[x] We get to use her as an assistant and emotional/moral support while we go through our tasks
---[x] We get to introduce her to our family AND to the minor nobles we make contact with, both as a close friend AND a fashionista of great, if yet relatively unknown, talent, basically putting ourselves in the position of becoming her patron in noble society. If judged necessary we can also reveal her status as an Element of Harmony, though we'd want to ask her first if she's ok with that (and possibly come up with an excuse for how we know of it, though I don't think it's actually a secret)
---[x] Added to the Sisterhooves social this might just be enough to raise our friendship level to the next tier
---[x] We could learn get some GRAIL scrap of knowledge by seeing how she behaves in the presence of nobles, and we can have her make/sell/bring dresses suited for the situation to better impress. NOTE: we'd obviously pay for both the dresses AND the train ticket if needed
---[x] she might just get a few orders from other minor nobles and from members of our family.
---[x] Through talking with the nobles and our family there's a chance (low, as it's not the main focus of our visit and we don't have actions dedicated to it) that we might hear of a possible good location for a new boutique.

- - -

Spoiler: Other votes

On Rarity's future:

[X] Rarity's works are not about clothes, they are about ideas: Rarity will be asked to deliver anything and everything that she works on, and the Needle family will see what those latest pieces are best suited for. Her pieces will not have a specific theme or tone to them, at least not until everypony starts realizing their clothes all have the "Designs by Rarity" printed on their tags. (The slowest and steadiest option, and surely the one that will give Rarity the most freedom to work with, but it is much harder to make a name for yourself when you try to have that name written everywhere at the same time.)

[X] Dame Rarity works best from her secluded boutique. The Velvets will make sure to relay her works to the Needles, though: Cut the problem from the bud, and invest in the image of a mysterious couturier who lives on an undisclosed location. (Rarity's common origins will remain unknown, and her eventual appearances will be all the more impactful because of it. She won't be living the dream anytime soon, though.)

[X] All of it: We will make sure Dame Rarity has everything she needs. Your shops can just wait for the next line of clothes. (Costs 300 bits. The Needle family will have no influence, or claim of influence, over Rarity.



On the fruits picked in Canterlot:

[X] Nopony in particular. But thanks to your uncle, you managed to… well, "clear your name" a little bit. (Lose the "She is a Velvet, though…" hidden malus. Yes, it will still apply for other encounters if you don't.)

[X] You became a linchpin, around which every possible answer rotated. Not the map, not the world, not even Luna herself knew where she was… until you circled it with your feathered pen. Gain 1 scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

[X] Nothing, you being here is not even kindness, it is the right thing to do. (This will cause you to get into Princess Celestia's notice).

- - -

You stare back at her, looking deep into her eyes the same way she is looking into yours. You stare back at that awesome avatar of streng-… no, at the extremely tired and mortal mare before you.

She has just asked you a question, but for some reason you can't bring yourself to answer it. You almost can't even remember what the question is at all. She is asking what she can give you for your services? Even now, at the state she is currently in, she is asking on how she can give?

You look into her eyes, but as much as you want to, you can't find it in you to do anything else. You can't find the strength inside of you to answer her back, you can't find the will in you to ask anything of her, not like this.

And she notices it.

"Nothing at all…?" she asks, her head tilting slightly, "or is it that you…"

Suddenly, her eyes seem a lot more focused.

Focused on you, that is.

There is no real change to them, or rather, something about them is changing that you can't exactly place a hoof on. You can't explain what it is. But the way she is looking at you is completely different now.

As if this whole time she had merely been looking "through" you, facing your direction out of politeness while talking to you. But now… she seems to be looking "into" you.

Nothing changed, not the position of her eyes, not her posture, nothing apart from the slight tilt of her head.

Nothing changed, except for everything.

She is not just looking at you, she is not just analyzing you, she is not merely scrutinizing you. She is reading you. And you immediately feel like a fool, or a foal, for having thought that the bags under her eyes or the tiredness in her body might have done anything to cloud her judgement, let alone her millennia-spanning wisdom.

But still, you keep staring back at her, this time out of unwillingness to… To what? To be found lacking? To be found wanting?


To have your part in all of this exposed?


Your thoughts start to race, wondering if perhaps this is being a mistake. Wondering if perhaps, thanks to accumulated experience or some obscenely powerful magic she might wield without a smote of effort, she might be doing something like reading your mind. For an unbearably long moment you think that, maybe, being here with her is a huge mistake. Although you know you have no choice on the matter, not anymore at least.

"Ah, I see…"

Until she nods. A curiously satisfied nod, as if she had just appraised a work of art and concluded it to be of her liking.

"I'm sorry that I took so long to realize," she says, blinking and shaking her head a little, "and I am sorry if my question made you uncomfortable."

You feel something inside of you sag, slightly, as the Princess' attention on you becomes a lot less detailed, and a lot more friendly. Well, as friendly as you can dare to assume she is being, that is.

"Uncomfortable, my Princess?" you ask, hesitantly, "not at all, it's just that I…"

That you didn't know how to answer her question…? No, that's not it. The fact remains that you found her question absurd to begin with, and there is no hiding it in your eyes.

Not from her.

And as soon as you think that, the Princess nods as if agreeing with you, and you can't help but feel a slight shiver at the thought that, perhaps, she can indeed read thoughts.

"It would not be fair for me to say that other ponies have not been kind to me," she says, her words filling in the gap left by your own hesitation, turning her gaze towards Shining Armor as well, "not when considering how hard everypony is working, or how many are lending their hoofs. But…"

She looks down towards you, and once again you feel like you are being read like an open book. You can see her eyes taking in the deep, and maybe senseless, worries that you feel for her. You can tell that she is doing it with less difficulty than you would have to notice the dirty spots on her coat.

"Well, I think you get what I mean."

And she gives you a wink.

Before you can even react, you feel a small surge of magic coming from her, the reverse effect of what had happened minutes ago taking place before your very eyes. Her grimy fur is quickly becoming spotless and white, almost with a shine about it. Her posture is becoming more regal and royal, different in a way that you can't name, but that you cannot deny.

A halo of incorporeal power seems to slowly appear around her, coming into existence like a rising sun, covering her in a mantle of something that you can only describe as perfection.

Gone is the worried and tired mare that is looking for her sister, the very notion that such a pony existed becoming ridiculous to even think of, when you stare at the creature before you.

Now, you see only Princess Celestia, regent of Equestria, ruler of the Sun and immortal leader of ponykind.

Moments later, that same energy around her becomes more physical, her aura transforming into an expanding sphere of golden light. You can feel the telltale signs of a teleportation magic being prepared, although of a scale and strength that you know to be impossible for anypony other than her.

"And don't worry," she says, with an honest smile, weaving the incredibly potent spell almost as an afterthought while she speaks to you, "I promise I will take care of myself."

And you believe her, out of some instinct that you can't rightly name, as if it was in your very nature to trust her completely.

The next moment, she is gone, the inward puff of a vacuum being filled by air announcing her departure, leaving you and Shining Armor in the silent hall.



It would only be hours later, when you were back on your bed, that you would realize that you are not sure, in all honesty, if…

If Princess Celestia was telling you the truth, in her promise.

Or if she was merely comforting you, speaking a lie to make you feel better as a parent might do to comfort their foals.

But regardless of which option is the truth, you now know that, at the very least, that moment of clarity amidst her exhaustion has allowed her to truly commit your name into her memory.

You wonder if that is a good thing.





- - -
- - -
- - -





The last two weeks have been long. Way too long for your liking.

But they are not over yet, as much as it pains you.

You try to let out a sigh of relief, as your carriage (Cadance's carriage, that is) takes you to the train station, or as the last piece of your luggage is loaded into the train, or as Ponpon closes the door of your cabin behind you, or even as the train starts moving.

But you can't. You know that you will only feel true relief when you are back at home. Your proper home, that is, with your husband and your daughter.

Really, it has been so long since the last time that you were away for any relevant period of time that you had forgotten what it felt like… you honestly consider asking Stormchaser to come with you, if you ever have to do something like this again. Although not having to repeat this experience at all sounds like a far better option.

"Velvet, are you alright?" Rarity, sitting opposite to you, snaps you out of your reverie, "your expression looks dreadful, darling. From the moment you woke up, mind you," she says.

You look at her, and then up at the ceiling, watching the chandelier of the cabin sway slightly as the train starts to move.

"No offence about your looks, of course," she says, partly as an afterthought and partly due to some ingrained habit of hers.

"I'm just…" you try to articulate what you are feeling, but in the end you find yourself fumbling for words.

"Restless?" she offers, causing you to hit your hoofs together with a clop sound.

"Yes, that!" you let out an exasperated tone, "heavens, these past two weeks were tiring…"

You look out through the window, seeing the capital slowly become more and more distant, until the whole scenery is suddenly overtaken by the darkness of the tunnels that cross the mountain.

You look back towards Rarity, the light of the chandelier being the only illumination in the room, and as much as it is more than sufficient to allow you to see clearly, it surely is also accentuating her slightly puzzled expression. Her slightly worried expression, that is.

Right… you have been keeping certain things from her, after all.

You sag on your seat, allowing the exhaustion from this whole experience to wash over you. The mental exhaustion, the emotional exhaustion, the kind of exhaustion that no amount of sleep can cure, and that nothing but peace and time can truly wash away. You see your friend's expression raise to a crescendo of worry at that, as she realizes just how drained you actually feel.

You open your mouth, and you almost start talking.

Almost.

You nearly tell her about the visit you made to your family's mansion, and the minute-long conversation you had with your father, the one that might as well have lasted for hours from the way you felt afterwards. All of that before the two of you even began working on the search itself.

You nearly tell her about how you dislike the whole high-society thing. Sure, you might be skilled at it, and it might be satisfying at times, but after years in Ponyville living a happy life you can't help but feel like you are slowly being smothered when you are in a place where your every word is being measured and weighted. About how being in charge of such a large operation slowly, but surely, took a toll on you, especially during the few days where Shining Armor was in his… particularly sour mood.

You almost, almost, tell her about how conflicted you feel, to be aiding in the search for a mare, a Princess no less, that you were partly responsible for the disappearance of.

Especially after Princess Celestia said you were kind. You fell anything but kind.

But again, you almost tell her all of that. Almost.

You close your mouth at the last moment.

For a moment you think that this is being stupid of you, hypocritical maybe. Rarity is your friend, a great friend, and you honestly trust her. You trust her to the point that you know without a doubt that even if you were to tell her all of that, her reaction would be to honestly worry about you, and maybe try to comfort you or calm you down, or even try to help you with a few of your problems.

So why don't you just tell her? Why not just be honest? She is a grown mare, there is no need to shield her from anything. Granted, maybe omitting a thing or two to ease her into the noble life, but…

Why keep this secret from her?

Why?


Why not?


You shrug, maybe it's just the way you are, after all. And it makes a bit of sense when you stop to think about it. There's not really anything that Rarity can do or help you with, except make you feel better.

So why even bother the effort? You can shoulder your weight just fine, and asking for her help will not make it any lighter, it will just transfer some of that weight to her. The source of your problems would still exist. So thinking like this is fine, right? You're not giving her unwanted protection, you are just saving her a bit of trouble, and perhaps a bit of suffering as well.

Its fine! You will be fine. You will just choose to keep this little secret.

"Oh, forget I said anything," you say, recomposing yourself, straightening up and dancing around your own words to calm her down, "just homesick and all… can't wait to be home."

And you give her a smile.

One that is so honest that she… believes in you.

"I understand completely," she agrees, nodding to herself, "Canterlot is simply dazzling, but it can be a bit tiring if we don't pace ourselves."

She can say that again, you think idly.

"But… well," she says, looking out through the window, the train having left the interior of one of the tunnels a few seconds ago, arching around the mountain in an angle that keeps the capital in view, "I can't say that it wasn't everything I've ever dreamed of, either… It was far more than that, in fact, and different in many ways I would have never imagined, but still…"

She stares out through he window of the cabin, her chin on a hoof as she looks longingly towards the receding city. Her eyes exactly like the ones of a mare in love, gazing at somepony whom she loves, but that for some reason is out of her reach.

Which reminds you that you haven't had the time to talk to her about a certain something…

"Well, now is a good time as any," you say to yourself, shaking Rarity out of her lovestruck gaze.

"Pardon, Velvet? What was that?"

"Nothing, really," you say, floating your saddle purse towards you and taking out a few scrolls. A contract that the Needles had sent you a few days after your meeting, as well as some other things. "But speaking of something else entirely…"

You unseal one of the smaller scrolls with a flick of magic, and float it towards your friend.

"Rarity, have you ever heard of the Needle family?"





- - -
- - -
- - -





Those were two long and exhausting weeks, each day slowly chipping at your energy reserves. And your own (and rather insane, somepony might add) working schedule didn't help you in the slightest. But although some moments made you feel conflicted, and others were outright unpleasant, you can't say that it was a poor investment of your time now that you reach the end of it.

You are still dreading the mountain of paperwork that is waiting for you back at home, thought.

Well, at least you are also bringing back with you the good sort of papers. They are tucked somewhere inside your luggage, or at least the ones you purchased are.



[Book Hunting – Servant Action]

[Roll: 55 + 12 (Learning) + 20 (Royal Favor) = 87]

-KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.

-GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.

-SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.





You have introduced a pony to the RED secret. But, in some ways, you know so little about it that even by teaching you have learned something as well. Gain one scrap of GRAIL Lore.

You have talked to the right ponies, at the right moment, with the right company. Gain the "The good Velvet" status, which will cause you to no longer suffer from your family's… complicated reputation. Most of the time, that is.

You have mediated a deal with the Needle family, in which you will patron Rarity. 300 bits have been deducted from your personal coffers. And now you wait, and trust your friend…

You have seen something, or you have done something. Whatever it was, you know that it was not true, here, or that it was not real, in this world. But it happened regardless, and now you know where Princess Luna is thanks to it. Gain one scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

You have met Princess Celestia, the immortal ruler of ponykind. But perhaps, more importantly, she has seen something in you, giving you more attention than she usually would to the countless nobles she otherwise meets every day. You hope that she has seen something good in you… you hope that this means something good. Princess Celestia has been added to your Contacts list.





- - -
- - -
- - -





Your carriage comes to a complete stop, with you and Ponpon disembarking shortly after.

The differences between this carriage and the ones you had at your disposal in Canterlot are as stark as night is from day. This little carriage is smaller than the one of your family's main house, and trying to compare it with Cadance's own carriage is simply a bad joke.

But it is your carriage, the one that your family has, at your home. In Ponyville. And that makes it special.

By the heavens, considering how much you always disliked using it, with your husband's insistence and whatnot, you never thought you would miss this carriage. But here you are…

And also, "Just two weeks?", one might ask with a raised eyebrow? It was two entire weeks, thank you very much, and you are a mare of priorities. How would you feel about going two weeks without breathing?

As much as you dubiously missed the carriage, that thought is immediately forgotten as you take in the scene before you. A relieved sigh finally escapes your lips, long enough for you to think you see Ponpon looking towards you from your peripheral vision, but you don't really care.

This, right now, is a sight for sore eyes.

Your estate stands before you, the pathway flanked by trees and flowerbeds surrounded by leg-high fences. You practically stroll towards the front door, feeling the familiar scent of the grass and the particular way that the wind blows your mane after passing through the partial coverage of the greenery around you.

Of course, you can feel your pace getting faster and faster as you approach the door. A part of you even thinks that you would have run that last stretch if you were any younger, and if you didn't have a stark, and physical, reminder of why running is a bad idea in general.

But any last stain of restlessness you have in your heart is completely gone by the time you reach the front door.

You know what comes next.

Your horn glows with the familiar flow of magical energy, and the doorknob glows with the same light in return. You make sure to put some extra flare into it, so that the entirety of the thing, including the doorknob inside the house, glows as well.

And you hear the excited clamoring coming in the form of muffled squealing from the large wooden door, the one-filly storm that has surely been brewing up the entire morning in anticipation for this moment reaching its peak.

A smile crosses your face as you open the unlocked do-


"WELCOME HOME MOMMY!"


The brown blur hits you before you can even react, squeezing through the gap of the still-opening door as soon as it is physically possible, and zipping towards you right after, going straight for your neck.

"Silk-! By Celestia, didn't we agree we would do this together?!" your husband finishes opening the door right after, but his complaints about whatever agreement he had with his daughter immediately dies in his throat as his eyes finally meet yours.

You have your daughter tackling you from the neck, and you are all but tackling her back, rubbing your cheek against her small face, but as soon as you see your husband you immediately find room for one more pony in your embrace.

Of course, nearly immobilized as you currently are, he is the one that comes to you.

He looks at you with his honest and earnest eyes, and you immediately know that he missed you just as much as you missed him. His face is against yours moments later, in that familiar nuzzling that you love so much, and soon enough you and your daughter are surrounded by his wings, followed right after by the gentle and strong hug of his forelegs.

By the heavens, this is what you have been missing. The calm and warm sensation of your husband's fur, the nonstop movement of your daughter as she hugs you… you can practically feel your energy returning, slowly but surely, just by being here.

"Welcome home, sweetheart," he whispers in your ear, the quiet happiness in his voice being the perfect balance for your daughter's own excited squeeing.

And all of that, before you even step a hoof inside your home proper. The three of you staying like that for as long as you need.

This. This moment right now. This is peace. This is the sensation that makes you feel that you don't need anything else, that nothing at all is missing.

This is the one thing what you wouldn't trade for anything in the world. In this world, or any other.



- - -



"Sweetheart, are you sure about…" you hear your husband whispering next to you as you walk, subtly waving a wing in the direction of the two ponies he is referring to, "about all of this?"

"Of course I am," you answer matter-of-factly, "and just look at the two of them. They are as happy as can be! I'm sure that nopony would even be able to tell that they aren't actually sisters."

You are referring, of course, to the two fillies prancing in front of you, excitedly chatting and giggling as the four of you make your way to the Sweet Apple Acre.

Well, truth be told only one of them is a filly, and only one of them is prancing excitedly and giggling. The other pony is a grown mare, although she still has quite the young looks about her, but she is…

"Happy as can be? Look at poor Soft Sweeps, her wings look like they are glued to her sides!" your husband whispers back to you.

He has a point.

"Well, it's not my fault she is taking this so seriously."

And you mean it. From what you have heard from Ponpon, a few days after you returned home, you gathered that the mare has been going as far as to train in preparation for this day. You have to admit that it took a few moments for the idea to sink in once you heard it. She has been training. For a social gathering with a contest where ponies are supposed to have fun.

It doesn't help that your husband shoots a dubious glance at you, after your words.

"Well… maybe it is just a little bit my fault…?" you say hesitantly.

After all, you have been hyping your daughter up about this whole "sister" deal with Soft Sweeps. You should have known that, in turn, your daughter would respond to it with ten times the excitement she usually has about everything.

"But at least Soft is dedicating herself to it…? In her own way, that is?" you say with an awkward smile, seeing Stormchaser's unimpressed expression at that.

Well, whatever the result might turn out to be, there is no stopping it anymore. The arched entrance of the Apple Clan property appears at the end of the long dirt road, and you can feel your pace slowly hastening as you work to keep up with the increasingly more excited hoofsteps of your daughter.

By the heavens, you are practically trotting when you finally pass through the arched entrance and into the property itself.

The whole farm appears before you, and you can see that it has been painstakingly prepared for the event. Several stands with all sorts of foodstuffs are distributed along the place, all of them covered in banners and flags, both of Ponyville and of the event. You see several rather impressive obstacle courses further ahead, all of them organized so they are in view of the many wooden bleachers fixed to the ground.

And a whole crowd of ponies is here. Most of them are the expected pairings of mares followed by, or following, the younger versions of themselves. However, you also spy a good amount of parents, you must add, noticing the familiar figures of couples, or sometimes of a single mare or stallion, following their own offsprings from a comfortable distance, wearing satisfied smiles and postures not unlike the ones you and Stormchaser have yourselves right now.

Almost without a conscious prompt, you turn your experienced gaze towards the belongings of the Apples, gazing over the many hills around their property, filled to the brim with apple trees, and analyzing the quality of their produce. Moments later you are calculating the expected yield they might have, mentally scribbling what their estimated income and expenses might b-

You shake your head, forcefully ejecting your train of thought from the direction it was heading. Not today, Velvet Covers, today you are a happy wife and mother.

Today you are taking your daughter, your two daughters, to have some much-needed bonding experiences, while you rest and enjoy the day with your husband.

Speaking of which, where in the heavens are they? You look around, realizing that those few moments of distraction were more than enough for those two to disappear in the crowd. You are not immediately worried, of course, but still…

"There, by the participant's booth," your husband points with a hoof, and you are soon treated to the sight of your daughter dragging poor Soft Sweeps by the throat.

It is at the same time worrying and endearing to see how one of them is clearly hesitating, while the other is utterly oblivious to that fact.

"And by the looks of it," Stormchaser continues, with a short laugh, "I don't think there is anything else for us to do about them."

"Don't say something like that, there's still plenty for us to do about Silky," you chide him, which just makes him laugh a little more at your usual daughter-related antics.

"Well, I mean that there is nothing else for us to do right now, dear," he corrects himself, although the two of you know this is just idle banter, "now give me a few seconds, I'll go check for available spots on the bleachers."

He jumps skyward with a short flap of his wings, and you see him give the entire place a once-over before he lands by your side again.

And soon after, the two of you are heading towards one of the stands, having a pleasant conversation while idly keeping an eye out for your young ones.



- - -



[Sisterhooves Social!]

[Rolls]

[Team Apple: 97 + 20 (Familiarity) = 117]

[Team Dash: 89 + 20 (Competitive) = 109]

[Team Diamond: 58 + 0 (Having fun) = 58]

[Your team!: 65 - 10 (Half of the team is nervous to death) = 55]

[Several others: 38 -5 (This is the average performance of the others) = 33]



This is certainly being an interesting affair. Truth be told, you thought you would be excited just because this is something related to your daughter, but you have to admit you are getting invested into the event as a whole.

The preparations continued for the better part of half an hour, until a few calls for the start of the race were made and everypony headed either to the starting line or for the stands and bleachers, some pegasi even bringing a few clouds over to make more space on the ground for the earth ponies and unicorns present.

Then the aging matriarch of the Apple Clan said some words about what sisterhood means, her voice surprisingly strong and clear despite her age. In fact, she didn't just speak about sisterhood, she talked about the love between siblings, and of family, as a whole.

But nothing too deep, at least nothing that the younger competitors might notice to be deep. She soon led her words to the more competitive part of things, and in no time the dozens of pairs in the race were riled up and ready to begin.

And then a large red stallion kicked an even larger bell, and the race was on.



"Go Silky! Pump those legs! Squash those grapes!"

"Jump! Its easier if you jump!"

"Don't listen to your father!"

You and your husband aren't just shouting.

The two of you are clamoring.

And you know that neither of them can hear you, because you are sitting on a place that is a bit far from them of course, but mostly because the entire farm is a cacophony of shouting parents and cheering ponies.

This is not what you were expecting. You thought you would just spectate a game of sorts, from what you had read on the brochure of the event. Maybe cheering whenever a particularly difficult trial or obstacle was finished, at most.

But instead, you and your husband are being a literal part of the vibrant crown around the event, the extremely social nature of ponies all but infecting the two of you, heightened by the already friendly nature that the citizens of Ponyville possess.

"No! Don't drop the egg, don-!" your husband practically skips, his wings involuntarily flapping as the distant Soft Sweeps once again loses her balance, the egg falling from the spoon she is holding with her mouth.

You, for your part, can't stop laughing. And neither can your daughter, apparently, as she watches the older mare hurry back towards the box on the other side of the obstacle course, spoon on her mouth as she goes for her third attempt at it. This is one of the few obstacles that don't involve teamwork, so there is nothing the filly, or any of you, can do but cheer her on.

And you aren't cheering just for your girls, of course. The whole crowd is watching the event as a whole.

A veritable wave of encouragement sweeps through the crowd, you and Stormchaser included, as the leading pair finishes climbing an extremely complicated tangle of ropes, kicking the two bells at the top of the wooden edifice in tandem to mark their passing, and quickly make their way towards the next course. The second pair, a blue pegasus followed by her orange coated sister, is hot on their heels, and less than a minute later they do the same thing.

Another half hour passes before the first two pairs cross the finishing line, the pair of earth ponies winning first place by a mere full minute, and it takes another while for your own team to cross the finish line as well.

Losing to Rarity and her own sister by just a few hoofsteps, you must add.



You follow Stormchaser to the finishing line, where the four ponies are dutifully cleaning themselves from all the accumulated mud of the race, fillies giggling and talking between smiles as their older counterparts dutifully make sure they are getting cleaned.

By the heavens, you already feel a bit tired just from all the cheering, how can your daughter be prancing after all the exercise she has just been through?

"Really darling, you shouldn't push yourself too hard over it," and you arrive in time to hear what must be the ending of a conversation the older mares are having, "it is supposed to be a fun event after all. And it's just a game!"

"But still… we didn't win," you hear Soft Sweeps replying to Rarity, while the two of them practically hose down the younger fillies with a pair of water pumps provided by the farm, "we have been waiting for this day for so long, and…"

You and Stormchaser look at each other, and you see that he has a raised eyebrow himself. Well, that explains the mare's nervousness, although the two of you were already almost sure that this had been the cause of her plight during the day.

That said, she still has a lot to learn about loosening up and-

"I don't care if we didn't win, I loved it!" but your daughter is three steps ahead of you as she, either by innocence or design, interrupts the two older mares, "you're the best older sister I could have ever asked for!"

And before Soft Sweeps can react, the filly is already tackling her into a hug. A wet and mud-filled hug, but an honest one regardless. You smile at that, seeing the mare melt a little bit as well as she hugs your daughter back.

"Me and Rarity still beat the two of you though!" Sweetie Belle chimes in, jumping at her own sister and causing the four of them to start laughing.

You see Stormchaser stopping, and you stop right after, the two of you looking at the scene from the small distance you are at.

You face him with a curious expression, and you immediately recognize the look he has on his face.

And you don't even need to ask to know what is going on in his mind right now.

"Mhmm," you say, nodding to his unspoken suggestion, turning your back to the group and walking away, "let's give them this moment."

"Yeah," he agrees, following behind you, "this one will be a particularly precious memory."

You don't doubt him, not even for a moment.


You see, Stormchaser has always had a knack for noticing things. Not for noticing everything, of course, most of the times he is as dense as any other stallion can be. But he has confided in you that, sometimes, he can simply tell when something is important.

It was how he got his cutie mark, that image of a tornado seen from the top, that "eye" of the storm. It wasn't because he had been able to discern and predict changes in the weather from a young age, as most ponies thought had happened. No, it was because one day he looked up to the sky and noticed a single, particularly important cloud, that would start a hurricane if left unchecked.

He kicked it away, and never spoke of it to anypony, ever... except for you, years later.

And you believe him.

You believed him then, and you have already been reminded about this gift of him several times. Every now and then he simply stops, looks at something, and knows that the thing he is looking at is something of the utmost relevance. A doll lost on the streets, which was the heirloom of an aged mare who lived nearby, that had fallen from her window and been swept by a passing crowd. A key forgotten in a flowerbed, accidentally dropped by a travelling stallion who had not been home for so long.

And not just physical objects, but also moments. He once looked at a couple, two ponies sitting under the shade of a tree, and simply sighed with a smile on his face. Moments later, the stallion took out a ring from his saddle bag and proposed to the mare.

Why, he has already told you countless times that he had that same feeling, that particular knowing, the first time you met. You know that he says that more often than not just to be charming, but you still know he is being honest.

So when your husband says that something is important, you believe him.

And if he is saying that you should give your daughter some space, that you should allow her and Soft Sweeps that moment, that is exactly what you are going to do.

They will find you once they are done. And, in a good way, they will be a little different than they were before.



- - -



"I hate it here! I wish we could just go home."



You stop on your heels, having heard something quite out of place in an event like this.

"Something the matter sweetheart?" you husband asks at your sudden abruptness.

You look around, trying to find the answer yourself.

"I'm not sure dear, I think I just heard..."



"Why are we even here? We aren't even sisters to begin with and…"



Your eyes center on the source of the unusual conversation, and you see two foals, covered from snout to tail in mud, miserably walking towards nowhere in particular.

Wait, don't you recognize those voices…?

"Aren't those Silky's little friends?" you ask, feeling Stormchaser look in their direction more attentively.

"I think they are?" he asks as dubiously as you did.

By the heavens, the pair looks distraught. You quickly wonder where their parents might be, since two foals being sad in an event like this is the very opposite of what should be happening.

"Why don't you go ahead, Storm?" you wave him towards the food stands that you were previously heading to, "meet me after you get a few things for the girls? I'll go check out… whatever that is."

He eyes the two fillies for a few more seconds, still trying to piece together exactly who they might be, before he gives you a short nod and trots away.

And you head towards the two little muddied ponies, paying a little more attention to their conversation this time.

"For the same reason she has been going on and on about how we should do anything for a while now," you finally recognize Diamond Tiara's voice, as you slowly trot towards them from behind the two fillies, "and the same reason she also flipped when we told her about this even just yesterday. Well, when we told her who was coming, that is."

"What? So she's here because she's looking for her?"

"Yeah," the two fillies stop for a few moments, trying to shake away the caked dirt from their bodies with little success, Diamond Tiara's voice reaching a peak of annoyance "I bet right now she is all up and about fawning over and kissing the flank of-"

"Are you two girls alright?" you ask, interrupting Diamond Tiara.

"-Silky Stream's mom?!" she practically yelps as soon as she hears you.

The two girls turn to face you with a jump, the white of their wide eyes a stark contrast to the color covering their bodies.

Although you only find their behavior more confusing, and you are honestly worried about Diamond's tone of voice from just now.

"Yes, it's me. I'm surprised Silky didn't tell me that the two of you were coming," you think back to the past few days, trying to remember if your daughter mentioned anything of the like, "and where are your parents?"

You are also unsure if you have seen Filthy Rich today.

"Oh, she, they…" Diamond seems, for some reason, extremely uncomfortable. It is probably all the mud, you think, considering the upbringing she had, "mom is… she's around!"

"Yeah, Diamond's mom is uh… looking for a friend?" the other filly offers as well, also looking suddenly nervous, "and we didn't tell Silky because coming here was also a… last minute decision?"

You tilt your head at that. If you didn't know any better you would have thought that somepony had just up and decided that they would attend this event, by force, somewhere around yesterday in the afternoon, upon hearing a detail of particular importance that had previously gone unmentioned.

But of course, you know Filthy Rich, a little bit, and he doesn't strike you as that particular sort of unreasonable stallion. He surely doesn't look like the sort of father that would allow his daughter to be forced into any such situation, at least.

But more importantly, you think, waving that idea away, these two fillies are… well, this just won't do!

"Be that as it may, girls, I'll be taking the two of you for a while," you say, floating the two fillies with a flick of magic, "I'm sure Rich won't mind."

The two girls yelp at the sudden movement, but there is little they can do as you escort them towards the water pumps near the finishing line.

Only to find a familiar face when you arrive there.

"Oh, I'm surprised you're still here Sweetie. Where is your sister?"

You see Sweetie Belle, together with the yellow filly who was part of the winning team on the race.

"Hi again Mrs. Velvet! This is Silky's mom by the way," she says to the filly by her side after greeting you, "and Rarity went off with Pinkie, one of her other friends. She was on a cotton-candy spree, I think it's called, so Rarity went running after her to get us some."

"Hi there misses, I'm Apple Bloom. And those two… are those Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?" the yellow filly introduces herself, eyeing your two floating charges right after.

"Lovely to meet you, Apple Bloom, and yes," you put the two fillies on the ground.

And completely ignore their protests as you set two of the water pumps on them, giving them a good magical scrubbing while you are at it. "Yes, those two are your little friends."

The whole process goes about as well as you could expect it to go, and the cold water eventually has the two fillies acceptably cleaned up.

You can't, however, tell if Diamond Tiara's mood got a lot more sour during the whole thing, or if she was like that the whole time and you can just see her better now. Silver Spoon, however, took it in good sport, and you can tell that Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are doing their very best not to laugh.

Well, nothing you can do about their moods, and her current situation is a lot better than how it was a few minutes ago.

"Well, not something I ever though I'd see," you hear Apple Bloom say to Sweetie, which also causes Silver to giggle a bit, although it makes Diamond Tiara answer the three of them with a glare.

"Excuse me, then, if I don't live in a farm for you to see me covered in mud every day!"

"Hey, there aint nothing wrong with livin' in a farm!" Apple Bloom glares back.

The situation, however, suddenly takes a turn for the worse, as the two fillies start practically shouting at each other in a way that makes it clear that there is some older rivalry taking part in all of this. But before you can think on how to settle the situation down-

"Hey, the two of you, stop acting like that!" Silver Spoon jumps in between the two fillies, the movement almost looking like it had been practiced somehow, or at least repeated several times before.

"Yeah, you two fight like that almost every day, at least quit it during the holidays," Sweetie Belle adds, moving to block Apple Bloom just like Silver Spoon is blocking Diamond Tiara, "why don't we just enjoy the event? Besides, we are bound to meet up with Scoots and Silky if we do," she adds, hoping the two would settle down at that.

You can see the options flashing through the eyes of the pink filly, part of her wanting to groan loudly and simply walk away, while another part… well, another part seems to be thinking more deeply about it. Perhaps even recalling something else while she thinks.

"Yeah… and Silky always goes on and on about how we should all hang out together, when its just the three of us…" Silver Spoon says, adding her voice to Sweetie Belle and clearly trying to prod her friend towards a particular decision.

"Ahh… fine!" she says, still electing to let out a reasonable groan at that, "let's go, at least so this day won't be a total loss in the end."

And with that, you watch the four fillies walk away. There is still an air of tension about two of them, as the yellow and pink fillies make a point of standing at the opposite ends of the quartet. But you sigh in relief when you realize both that this was just foals enmity, as well as the fact that the situation practically took care of itself.

However, you still eye the pink filly curiously. On second thought, didn't she mention something about her mother? Could it be that she has… familial problems, of some sort?

You make a mental note to keep a closer eye on your daughter's friends. But something tells you that this situation right now will have a positive effect, as much as it might not have been by your intentional design.

The four fillies practically forget about you as they walk away, not that you mind, so you simple look around you and start searching for your husband.



You have become an acquaintance with Apple Bloom, the youngest member of the Apple Clan in Ponyville. She is your daughter's friend, and you can tell that there is some sort of rivalry between her and Diamond Tiara.

Although, in all honesty, you think you detect something worrying about the pink filly herself. Perhaps you should keep an eye out for that in the future... heaven knows you understand what sorts of problems being at odds with your mother can bring about...

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Stormchaser, and you and your wife are about to go to sleep.

Well, your wife is halfway there, truth be told, the smile she has on her face being the only indicator that she is still somewhat conscious.

But as much as you would love to keep staring at your beautiful wife, you are concentrating on something else right now. Specifically, on her hindleg.

You see, pegasi have very fine motor control on their wings. Some of the bones there can be considered quite delicate, of course, so it's not like wings can be used for all kinds of activities. But, you have learned many years ago, they are exceptionally good for massages. The strong muscles that allow for sustained flight pairing up perfectly with the delicate bones needed to apply the correct amount of pressure at the correct spots.

And Velvet, your dear and sometimes headstrong wife, spent a little too long strolling around today on the Sisterhooves Social. She may put up a front that almost everypony else falls for, but you know better. You can feel it, in fact, judging by the tension that the few muscles that still work on her leg are under.

But you also want her to sleep while you are at it, of course, so there is no need for you to apply too much strength. Just the slow and steady repetition of pressure and release, gently easing her leg into a more comfortable state, working in silence as her breathing grows more and more peaceful.

You have been doing this a lot more frequently, as of late. Not that you mind of course.

"How do you manage it…?" you hear her voice, half a whisper and half a moan, and you look up partly wondering if she is sleep talking.

"What was that sweetheart?" you ask her back, your tone low just to make sure.

"I said, how do you manage it?" she asks, her tone just a little more than a whisper this time, with the telltale signs that she is both nearly asleep and that she is very thankful for your massage.

"How do I manage what, dear?" you gently repeat the question, turning your attention back to her flank with a soft smile on your own face.

"All of it," she continues, "the traveling... the work... me…" you are not sure if she meant to say that last word out loud, but she probably didn't even notice it, "I mean, I was out for two weeks and I felt like I was about to lose it…"

You let out a gentle sigh at that, nothing that she would notice or hear, still with a smile on your face, but you sigh regardless.

You wonder if you should simply allay her wondering, if it would be better for you to simply stop working on her leg for five seconds, and just go towards her and give her a light kiss on her lips, whispering for her to sleep. You know that she will fall asleep right after if you do it, of course, you know her well enough.

But there is no need for you to do that either, and there is no harm in her question.

"Well, it helps knowing that you and Silky are waiting for me here," you answer her.

And you see her give the slightest nod in return, eyes closed and hugging her pillow with one of her hindlegs.

"I can't believe… how lucky I am…" she whispers tenderly, almost as if speaking to herself.

And a part of you melts at that.

You slow down your wings for a moment and take a long look at your nearly sleeping wife.

And you can't help but remember the first time you saw her.

She had always been stunningly beautiful, ever since the first day you met her. At first you couldn't believe that you were going to be forced into an arranged marriage, much less so with a noble family from Canterlot, but any thoughts about going against the idea evaporated from your mind the moment you set your eyes on the beautiful unicorn you were to be engaged with.

But she, for her part, couldn't have cared less about you.

You knew that it wasn't necessary, your parents even told you again and again that neither of you had any choice in the matter, so there wasn't any need for you to put any effort into it, one way or the other. But the moment you saw that mare, something inside of you clicked, as it sometimes does in your life. You knew that you had to, then and there. And because of that you spent every waking moment, every single day of the eight weeks prior to your marriage, since the ceremony's date had already been set for months now, trying to get to know her better.

You tried talking to her, outright courting her, inviting her for a stroll around the city, by carriage or hoof or wings if you had to carry her. You tried giving her gifts, although you didn't know the first thing about what she could possibly like, and despite the fact that buying a gift to a noble mare is exactly as hard as it sounds like.

You tried everything, and you failed, the mare's disinterest in you growing into abject dislike with every attempt. Giving up never crossed your mind, of course, but as the wedding ceremony approached you knew that you were fighting a losing battle.

But still, you didn't know why, but you simply needed her, you needed her to feel about you... the same way you felt about her.

Love works in mysterious ways, you know, and the appearance of a Princess dedicated to that single aspect all but proved to you that love is a force as real as the sun and the moon.

And you are thankful for it.

Your hard work, also, finally paid off. Not in the way you were hoping, or even expecting, but it paid off regardless.

It was three days before the wedding ceremony. You were resolute, and perhaps even a bit grim, as you walked towards your fiancée's room. You had a bouquet of flowers with you, several of them in fact, and you hoped that one of them was of the flowers that she liked.

You didn't even knock on her door, however, before you heard the muffled sound of her crying, coming from within.

The door was locked, of course, but you didn't care. The nearest window wasn't locked, and neither was the window to her own room.

And the mare, the beautiful and cold and elusive mare that you were to marry in three short days, was crying too much to care for your sudden entrance. In fact, she was crying so much that she went towards you and hugged you before you even had the chance to say anything.

She started talking, before you even had the chance to ask a single question.

You remember how she said, crying in your embrace, that she felt like she wasn't even a living being anymore. How her life up to that moment had been nothing but failure and criticism, up to the point where she was finally deemed no better than just an item to be trade off in exchange for something else. About how she said that she felt like she had no one, that she had felt like that for as long as she could recall.

And you remember how you answered her. You gently raised her chin with your hoof, and you said that she had you.

You will never forget the way she hugged you, after that. You immediately knew how scared she was, how alone she was, how lost she felt about all of that. But at least, from that moment onwards, she knew that she could count on you, as a friend if nothing else.

You married her three days later, of course, but you took things as slowly as she needed them to go. You already had your hoofs on the one thing you had wanted your entire life, the thing that you didn't even knew you wanted until you met her, that is. So there was no need to be in a rush about anything else.

You slowly learned about her love for books, and her need to have things in the chaotic mess that she claims to be organized.

You slowly learned about her familial… situation, hearing more and more details as the months went by, piecing together the puzzle of what led her to be eventually married off to you.


And once, only once in a snowy night, she told you about what exactly happened to her leg, and why she spent the following years bound to a bed, with nothing but books for company.


You knew that she was not happy most of the times. You knew that she had a lot of reasons not to be happy.

But still, to this day you are boundlessly thankful for the fact that you are one of the reasons that make her smile. It is your honest belief that, as much as she might think otherwise, you are the one who got impossibly lucky in all of this. You are lucky for the fact that this whole thing worked out, for the fact that she was able to bear your daughter, as much as the loose nerves inside her leg made part of the process excruciatingly painful.

And because of all of that, you really don't mind any of this at all. Not the travels, not the work, not staying up late massaging the unreasonably stiff hindleg of a sleeping mare. In fact, looking at the piece of fine work that she is, you even enjoy that last part. Perhaps a little more than you should, that is.

She always says that she is happy that Silky Stream has your eyes, but every time you look at your daughter all you can see is your wife's smile on her face. And thinking that, through her, she might be having a second chance at being a happy filly herself… well that is all that you really need.

"You know that you are my favorite horseshoe, right?", she asks, suddenly, her voice already droning off into unconsciousness.

You doubt that she even meant to say that consciously, but you don't care.

That is one of the many quotes she uses, from one of the many books she has read. A particular tale about a farmer who was stuck on her mundane life, until it was suddenly turned upside-down when she met a traveling merchant.

But regardless, that is the secret way that she uses, the secret phrase that the two of you share, for her to say that she loves you.

You don't even need to answer her, you don't even need to whisper back your part of the quote, like they did in the book. You don't even need to let her know that you feel the same, because she is already fast asleep and you know that your words won't reach her.

"And you are my favorite horseshoe nail, sweetheart."

But you do it anyways.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Rarity, and you are currently lying on your bed, looking at the ceiling of your room.

And there is a lot going on in your mind, right now.

The last few hours, the last few days, the last few weeks are still repeating themselves in your head, flashing in your memory as if on a loop, to the point where you feel dizzy whenever you try to focus on a single part of it.

And you can't help but recall that it all began because you simply bumped into her, months ago, without having any idea of who she was, and decided to compliment her dress.

Of course, you didn't do any of it out of interest. You wouldn't have, even if you knew who she was before you met her. But still, not even in your wildest dream you would have thought that…


"Uhm… I don't think I quite follow, darling. What is this all about?"

"Oh, that's just a short contract… a tab, of sorts? A letter of credit...? I forget the term."

She had simply asked if you knew who the Needle family were. Of course you knew, seeing that their work was displayed in almost every magazine that you subscribe to.

And she was simply saying nonchalantly about how…

"Well, call it whatever you want, but simply send a letter to that address with whatever materials you need, and they will be forwarded to you in a week. The middlepony is an employee of mine, so as to preserve your identity, but I hope you won't mind that little detail."

She handed you a contact list, a contact list that led to the Needle family, and a form detailing that you were holding the rights to more bits than you would be able to accumulate in several months of work. She did all of that almost as an afterthought.

And then she gave you the second, longer contract.

"Read it," she said, her tone serious, "thoroughly. Ask me if you have questions about anything. I can guarantee we can make a few changes, although it might take some days to do so by mail. But only sign it if you are absolutely sure about it."

You had never read a contract as complex as that, before. There were several clauses that you needed her to explain to you, some of them that she brushed off as "the usual legal talk", and others that were actually important.

But by the end of it, you understood what that was all about.

By the end, you were dumbfounded.


You look towards the ceiling, idly raising a hoof, your mind still slightly stunned by all of that.

Because you remember what you had asked her after you finished reading the contract.

Why?

And you remember her straightforward answer, the way she responded almost immediately.



"Because I believe in you," she said, as if that was utterly obvious.



Then she went on to complete that answer, of course. Saying that she believed you have talent, saying that you are her friend and that she felt honored in helping you pursue your dreams, and saying a lot of other things.

But that first, simple answer stuck to you. It struck deep into your core because the way she said it made it clear that it was the deepest, most honest thing she had in her mind.

You didn't know how to thank her then. Prancing like a filly wouldn't have done it, shouting in glee wouldn't have done it, hugging her, crying in emotion, none of that felt like it would have been enough, although you wanted to do all of those at the same time. You still do, whenever you remember that moment.

But you simply nodded, shell-shocked, as you signed your name in a contract to something that you never thought would be more than a wild dream of a small city mare.

However, when you finished signing it, something occurred to you. You said something that, you hoped, would help transmit at least part of how utterly serious, honored, dedicated and most importantly thankful you were feeling about that. Something that, at least in your mind, you hoped would pass on the message to Velvet that you… that you would make her proud.

Little did you know how stupid saying that would make you look.


"Velvet I… I will give this my all. I promise! As soon as I get back to Ponyville I will lock myself in my boutique, and I won't leave until I have done a whole year's worth of work!" yes, that was the very least you could do. The very least you had to do.

She had just given you the means and the contacts, after all, everything a pony in your line of work would ever need, and more. The full scope of the situation had not yet dawned on you, but she had just given you everything you would need from the outside world, so by Celestia you would pour your blood, sweat and tears into this. You would work yourself to the bone at the expense of all else!

It was the only way you could ever repay you, of course. The only way you could ever start repaying her for all of this.

And she simply answered you with a short laugh.

That is, until she looked into your eyes a little more carefully, and saw how serious you were.

"I… admire your dedication?" she said, somewhat awkwardly, "but really Rarity, what about everything else? You still have a life, after all. Sisterhooves Social is coming up, among several other things."

And you honestly didn't understand what she meant by that.

"Sisterhooves… what, that event for little fillies? Covers, darling, after all this I… I won't have the time for anything else! I simply can't allow myself to…!"

You tried to explain her the obvious, you tried to tell her that you didn't have the right not to give it your all, not after what she had just done for you.

But the more you talked, the more her expression grew more and more worried.

Until she got up from her seat, took your hoofs on her own, and looked deep into your eyes.


You remember what she said, almost word for word.

She told you, very calmly and very simply, that you had to calm down and take a few deep breaths, which you did.

And then she told you to forget about everything that just happened, even if for just a moment. About Canterlot, about the parties, about the work, about the Princesses, and about the contract most of all.

That took you a little longer to do, but she patiently waited until you, with your eyes closed, told her that you honestly did so. Or at least to the greatest extent that you were capable of.

And then, she told you to remember why you are doing all of this.

You have a dream, ever since you were young, of having your craft known. You do not dream about simple fame, or about acknowledgement. Those two things are inevitable to successful ponies, of course, but the thing you wish for is something far deeper and more complex than that.

You wish to be admired. But not in the base and vain way that might sprout jealousness, not in the ugly way that involves doing wrong things or tarnishing yourself. No, you wish to be admired because you know you can create things worthy of admiration. You wish to create dresses, you wish to create works of art, that ponies can look upon and immediately know that are good, that are inspiring and uplifting and so much more.

Not because you think yourself better than other ponies, but because deep down you know that you can create such things. You have that ability to turn cloth and gems and threads into something that is almost alive. And having that ability, without allowing it to sing and create, is something that you know to be at the same time tragic and maddening.

You know that you can create diamonds, you know that you have it in you to produce things that are sublime by their very nature.

You have those very same diamonds on your flank, after all.

But then, Velvet told you to remember about everything else you have already achieved.

At first, your mind drew up an enormous blank. You have your shop, of course, and quite a few pieces that you are proud of. But try as you might, none of the achievements you ever accumulated throughout your life really had the level you aimed for.

You kept trying to think about what she meant, until the ideas slowly eased themselves into your mind.

And you understood what she was saying.

You had not immediately thought about those things because they were on the background of your mind, because they form the background of your very life. Your friends, your hobbies, your own sister. The hundreds of little things that make you who you are.


"Rarity," you remember her saying, while you still had your eyes closed, "losing those things is far too easy. I know that you are not the kind of mare that, in the end, would make that sort of mistake. But I need you to know from the beginning that said mistake exists, and that it is a long path that you can step into without even realizing."


And you could see it happening. You also think, or at least you hope, that you wouldn't have actually lost anything or anypony dear to you along the way. But you could see how rocky that path might have been, how rocky it might still be, if you are not careful.

You can picture yourself fighting with your sister, because you put your work over her.

You can picture yourself losing some crucial moment or memory with your friends, because you were too engrossed chasing your dreams.

You can picture yourself, as much as it hurts, finally "making it" as you always dreamed you would, but looking around you and realizing you are alone.

You remember opening your eyes inside of that train cabin, and seeing Velvet Covers smiling at you, a slow and satisfied nod from her telling you that she was glad you understood the meaning behind her words.

And as much as you wanted to get to work immediately, the first thing you did when you returned to Ponyville was visit your friends, see your parents, and sign you and Sweetie Belle into the Sisterhooves Social.

And really, seeing your little sister beaming with joy, when you told her that, was something… that you will take care to remember as being priceless.



But despite all of that, here you are, on your bed. Still looking at the ceiling, still trying to put your thoughts in order. However... you think that you finally understand the crux, the very core, of your confusion.

Velvet Covers herself.

Your friend, more than that if you think about it, that you have met by chance in Ponyville.

You can't really understand her… well, you can understand her, but a part of you still feels some sort of conflict whenever you try to put a hoof on why you are feeling so conflicted about her.

That is, until you remember Sweetie Belle's own smile, after the end of that obstacle race. You remember the way your sister looked at you, and you remembered what your own dream is all about, and everything suddenly clicked.

You finally get it.

You admire her.



You admire her.



The way she always seems to be in control of a situation, only to whisper to you that she had no idea what something was all about right after. The way that she can be in charge of an operation that spans the entirety of Equestria, and keep her cool about it, until she collapses on her bed the moment she reaches her room. The way she can dedicate herself to her work, but somehow not lose sight even for a moment of how madly in love she is with her family.

The way she seems to have it all figured out. The way she took the time to look at you, a pony who she has not known for more than six months, and... simply did everything she just did.

You want to be like her. As much as she might be a grown mare like you… actually, she is a bit older than you, so the thought makes sense…

"I want to be like her when I grow up", you think, emulating the phrase that is usually used by foals. The thought makes you blush slightly, thinking that it is just a little bit immature of you, especially when you know how much of a very normal mare Velvet Covers is. Putting her on a podium won't do, you know, and she certainly wouldn't want you to do that. But still...

You want to make her proud.

"And by Equestria, that is exactly what I am going to do!", you say to yourself with a nod, some newfound determination coming to you as you jump out of bed and head to your workshop downstairs.

You have work to do, and all the tools and materials that you could dream of thanks to your… your idol? Icon? Inspiration?

Let's go with friend, you think, knowing that she would prefer to keep things simple.



Rarity has reached Confidant level, she is now personally loyal to you, and will follow you. You can trust her with almost anything now.

Come next turn, you will be able to guide Rarity's efforts or direct her to certain actions, as you would do with a Summoned Creature. This will remain so until she is no longer your Confidant, or personally loyal to you.



Rarity can be safely, and immediately, inducted into the Cult. Doing this now costs nothing, doing it at a later date will require you to dedicate one action (or dedicating her "focus" for the turn) into said action.

[] Do.

[] Do not.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Previous voting result:

[X] Do not introduce Rarity to the cult. You did it for her, and she has far too much on her mind right now. Let her have this moment.



- - -



You are sitting in your office, a concentrated expression on your face and your brow furrowed, as you finish checking the final lines of your monthly report. Needless to say that you are paying special attention to the numbers, which are in all honesty the most important part of the whole thing.

Normally you would have read through the whole thing, twice, and made sure that everything added up along the way, causing the end of the report to be an expected result rather than a point of tension. But this month you simply did not have the time to do such a thing, so, sloppy as it might feel from your habits and perspective, you have to employ this direct and much less secure method.

A long sigh of relief escapes your lips as you confirm that everything has added up properly. You have kept a tight hoof around your farmlands for years now, so you know (or at least hope) nopony will start stealing things or embezzling bits on the first sign that you have been a little more absent than usual.

But still, it's your job to make sure.

You start binding and sealing the reports, to be mailed to your family, already knowing that your father's accountants will find all sorts of little details to fuss over and report back to him. You are certain that you will receive a strongly worded letter telling you not to neglect your job, but considering how you spent the first half of the month on Canterlot said letter just might be the usual Velvet Hill formality of reprimand.

Something you can safely ignore, you hope. You will have to read it to be sure, of course, since by now you are already used to the tone and wording your father uses when writing you.

Specifically, you know that if he openly criticizes your work and actions, you are good. However, if he is circuitous about a certain subject, or fails to mention it in anything more than passing, that's when you know you ought to be extremely careful.

Point in case, so far all of his letters regarding Silky Stream have all but openly threatened to disown you if you don't have her moved to Canterlot for "better education", his disapproval and disappointment made clear through ink. That means he couldn't care less about her, and you usually rip those letters before you are even done reading them.

Bless your daughter and her wings, you suppose. Your life would be a lot different if your father had any actual interest in her.

A knock comes to your door, causing you to look up and momentarily pause the mechanical movements of levitating and wax-sealing the report scrolls.

"Excuse me ma'am," Ponpon enters a few moments later, "mail just arrived, and…"

She seems a little… puzzled? Disturbed might be a better way to put it. You can tell that there is some sort of conflict in her eyes, and this causes you to float the scrolls down.

"And what?" you ask, your voice becoming slightly curious at that, "did we receive some strange package or the likes?"

You are fairly sure you didn't order any… curious artifacts, so this isn't the case of a mummified claw of some large insect having arrived by pegasus-courier or anything.

Not that something like that has ever happened before, but you are mindful about not setting precedents to begin with.

"Not exactly a package, ma'am, and admittedly it isn't something… extremely strange but…"

You can sense that she is being as indirect and careful as possible with her words. And considering how you have known her for many years now, most of which she has been your personal maid no less, this sets off all sorts of flags inside your head.

"But it is rather… unusual?" she finishes, clearly conflicted, taking out a few envelopes from one of the pockets of her uniform, and placing them on your desk.

You eye the envelopes, four of them are regular letters which you immediately dismiss, but your eyes soon focus on the fifth thing jutting out from between them like a sore hoof. You can't help but feel like Ponpon even made sure to somewhat "hide" that thing among the envelopes, as she brought them here, as if she had been uncomfortable about even carrying the thing to begin with.

You quickly float it, whatever it is, towards you with your horn.

"I just find it weird, ma'am, because it specifically has your name written on it and..."

You eye it carefully.

It's a card, of sorts. An invitation, perhaps?

It's about half the size of a normal mail envelope, printed in a glossy black type of hard-paper, sufficiently thick for you to think the thing might actually be… plasticized? You're more used to using scrolls and ink-written paper, so you're not familiarized with the intricacies of that particular form of printed press.

The card looks like it is the expensive sort of thing to get done, for sure, and you think it even has a tinge of perfume to it. You are a reputable mare, of course, but you can't help but think that this looks like the sort of… invitation that nobles send to each other, when summoning their peers for events in which they might partake in less than reputable activities. Down to the last detail, the slight watermark that resembles a pair of glasses being clinked, and the way the borders have a pleasant imagery of vines and leaves printed on them... in red ink, contrasting against the black color of the card as a whole.

And because of that thought, and all those tiny details, the fur on your coat practically stands on its end when you read exactly what is written on the luxuriously made card.

"Esteemed Lady Velvet Covers

We of the Wildhoof Club would like to thank you for your extended patronage and membership in our book club, and cordially invite you to a final perusal of our new establishment before the grand opening takes place.

Upon your arrival you will receive your membership card, and complimentary drinks.

Kindly join us on the following date and address to…"​

You close your eyes, floating the card back down to the table once you realize you can still read the thing just fine, and you focus your willpower on your forelegs, keeping them locked in place and stopping them from flying towards your face to perform a much needed facehoof.

You also do your best to keep the… groan that is welling up inside your throat from escaping your lips.

Membership in our book club? Complimentary drinks? How in the heavens are you even supposed to start the damage control on the sorts of rumors that will arise, after you received an invitation to the "new space for your book club" that looks like the damn flier to something that sounds like a…

A blasted cabaret?

And worse, when the cursed thing says you have been giving it "extended patronage"?!

You think you can hear Windy Flakes in the distance, cackling, as you picture the damned card being passed from hoof to hoof through every last servant in your Estate until it reaches Ponpon, and much later your desk.

Doesn't that blasted unicorn know the first thing about subtlety?

Of course he does… you think. The question is, does he even damn cares about it?!

"Ma'am…?" Ponpon starts hesitantly, but a part of you already knows what she is going to say, "the servant who passed me the mail couldn't help but notice that the letter mentions it's from your… book club?"

You can see in the mare's expression that it is exactly as bad as you think it is, that even as you speak the gossiping must be spreading like wildfire, as the servants recall every time you left to go to your "book club". They are probably, also, starting to piece together the scant times they must have noticed when you were absent during the rather more suspicious times of the day.

You also recall that Ponpon meekly mentioned that the thing has been especially printed with your name on it. No chance for it to be a random sort of mass-printed pamphlet, then.

And you can see, from her expression, that even she has the slight glint of doubt in her eyes.

You take a deep breath, and picture yourself introducing Windy Flakes to a particularly beautiful ending, through strangulation of course.

"Thank you Ponpon, that will be all," you say, your expression still calm and neutral, but your tone sufficiently sharp for the maid to know she should leave.

And you quickly run a mental check list. You live in Ponyville, so there really aren't many ponies whose opinions actually matters, and the capital is too far for this sort of gossip to reach in any relevant way. The only ponies who matter are those whose opinions you personally value, so basically only your husband in your household. Ponpon as well, of course, but the damage seems to have already been done on her, so you will have to take the longer road to explain her what this is all about.

Your daughter is too young to understand whatever this might mean or imply, and the only maid who really has any contact with her is Soft Sweeps, who you trust, so there isn't much danger on that front either. Or at least at first…

And there is also…

"Great… so I only have to make sure that my version of this whole thing reaches Stormchaser first, and there is Rarity and possibly…" you start talking to yourself, your face on your hoofs and the half-bound reports forgotten on your desk.

As much as you love your husband, sometimes you are thankful for the fact that he travels around so much.

And by the heavens, you will have Windy Flake's coat for this.



- - -



You know the address by heart, the distasteful situation in which you read it on the first time having all but burned it into your memory, but you still bring out the invitation from your saddle purse to double check. You are somewhat close to the center of Ponyville, now, sufficiently close to the urban and commercial parts of it for there to be a reasonable number of ponies on the streets, that is.

It also helps that the sun is high up in the sky. It feels strange, to be heading for a cult meeting during the day, but the excuse you have for it seems somewhat reliable.

If not for the ridiculous way it was presented, of course, added to the kick that it gave to your personal standing.

You turn around the last corner, and… you are not quite sure how to feel about it.

You see it. It is a rather large building, something that would have taken most of an entire block if the buildings and roads in Ponyville didn't follow the characteristic habit of being spaced out in a comfortable manner. The thing is two-storied and has clearly been through large renovations, its painting fresh and gleaming, and the large signboard on its front having clearly been installed recently.

"THE WILDHOOF CLUB" is written on the signboard, in large grey letters, with the "W" being two large, interlocked metal horseshoes. A smaller, temporary, signboard is also visible next to it, the words "Grand Opening" written in bright red and flowy letters, next to tomorrow's date.

A part of you thinks it is somewhat impressive. This looks like a lot more than you thought anypony would have been able to do in such a small period of time, after all the building is quite large and has the looks of an impressive establishment.

But another part of you can't help but wonder about…

How is this even remotely close to subtle? How can this be a good idea, when you are part of a cult centered around the idea of subtlety? How could Windy Flakes even fathom that, when your master mentioned he was supposed to ensure the cult would have funds, that he was supposed to open a Clubhouse?



And most importantly, how are you supposed to keep the image of a respectable married mare if you are seen walking into that sort of establishment?!



You have seen places like this, but only in large cities like Manehattan and Canterlot. A bar slash restaurant by day, and a nightclub after dark. The sort of place, sometimes membership-exclusive, in which ponies can spend their time and maybe take their families.

Not that you trust the unicorn to make a place that is anything close to family-friendly, of course.

Granted, you have never actually been inside any of those, but you have heard from enterprising nobles about it, and your experiences with the things nobles come up to pass the time, be it parties or otherwise, more than makes up for anything you might see inside those sorts of places. Those sorts of places, from what you hard in Canterlot at least, can house anything from a theater to a gold course.

You let out a low groan as you remember that this place is now tied to the idea of your "book club"… you wonder if it will be better to come up with another cover story, or if simply insisting on it will suffice.

And also, you are somewhat worried that you didn't hear about this being built at all. As much as you have been a little more active in Ponyville, it seems that your own Estate and lifestyle are still sufficiently cut off from Ponyville as a whole for these kind of news not to reach you.

The double-edged blade of anonymity, perhaps…?

But that is beside the point. As you approach the building, you notice a familiar fiery-red coated unicorn stallion exiting through the front doors. He must have seen you from a window as you approached, because he immediately waves towards you, wearing a smile as if everything is right with the world.

A particularly insufferable smile, you must add.

"Velvet Covers, so glad you could come!" he says as soon as you are within earshot, "thank you once again for your extended patronage, come on in!"

You look around, checking to see if there are any ponies that could hear his incessant yammering, and you resist a small urge to zap him with a bolt from your horn.

Instead, you just glare daggers in his direction, walking through the double doors as soon as possible so as to get out of the streets.

"Eager for a tour, are we?" he follows right behind you, closing the doors with a flick of magic, "I will be happy to comply!"

By the heavens… this damned unicorn.



- - -



Extremely annoying club host aside, you must admit that…

You are somewhat impressed.

The place is deceptively large, enough for it to perhaps be considered a townhouse or a particularly small mansion. There are several large halls, especially on the second floor, which are completely empty, but Windy Flakes seems to have plans for almost all of them.

"This was an abandoned museum of sorts, owned by an old antiquarian. Not nearly as impressive as it is right now, of course. It looked like a haunted house, mind you, but earth pony industry sure is impressive."

The very first hall, right after you entered, is a large bar-like place, several tables strewn around to accommodate a small crowd of ponies. The place is brightly illuminated, even though there are no windows, but you also spy several red lamps on the walls and ceiling, and you can guess that the whole place will have a dimly lit red color once it switches to its night public.

"The Red Bar," he says, helpfully, "the names are a work in progress, of course. That door right there leads to the Rhythm Room. Dance floor and all other things for the younger ones, and I found this white coated unicorn that seems to be interested in working here on the musical front," he finishes, once again mumbling for you to let him know if you have any better suggestions for the ambient names.

"How in the heavens did you get the bits to do all of this?" you ask, turning your appraising eyes in every direction as you go, "I can tell this whole place has practically been renovated from scratch…"

"Oh, it was thanks to that wonderful Starry mare. No idea what she did, but the Rich and the Gleam families came here a few weeks ago and practically fought each other to get a partnership on this!"

He takes you over the other, empty halls, saying how he plans to turn everything into thematically fitting ambience.

His inspiration for said theme, of course, is obvious.

"But this really is supposed to be a club. Sure, regular clientele can come and go as they please, but I'll have other places set up to be exclusive for actual paying members. Great way to have our members meet up in an unsuspicious way, out in the open. Great way to launder money as well," he says nonchalantly.

To which your ears perk up almost as if you had received a shock, and you look around worriedly, dreading somepony else might be listening to your conversation.

"Oh, and if you're wondering about Edge, I had this wonderful idea of keeping an illegal fighting ring on the underground level," he says with a bright smile, "a shame that Comet said almost nopony in town is worth their salt for that, but I'm not giving up on it!"

How in the heavens can he say those sorts of things so calmly?

And your hoofsteps finally take you to the staircases that lead, as you expected, to the underground. A proper staircase, that takes you to a proper corridor and rooms, not an underground-dug cavern of sorts.

You do notice, however, that you had to get through a couple of locked doors to get here. This must be what he meant by the "membership only" part of the club. But he also mentioned most of the staff will be cult members proper, so at least this much shouldn't arouse suspicion.

You hope…

"Anyways, last door to the right. The others are all empty, mind you, so you won't find anything if you peek into them. White Room surely isn't ready yet as well. Off you go then, I'll go wait for the others to arrive!"

And with that the unicorn goes back towards the entrance, leaving you on the underground corridor, flanked by four doors.

You make your way to the last one on the right, as he instructed, and open it.

A curtain meets you, a long and grey curtain that goes all the way down to the floor. You part it, only to see that there is another one immediately after that one.

You think you know what this is about, so you lower your head slightly and start walking through the sequence of curtains horn-first.

As you expected, the amount of curtains seems to be almost endless, as you keep walking onwards and onwards. Either that, or this room is particularly large, but you just close your eyes and keep walking.

You focus your mind on nothing at all, taking special care not to focus on the curtains as they caress your sides each time you pass through another set.

And slowly, almost imperceptibly, the curtains stop feeling like cloth and start feeling like leaves. You dismiss the curious feeling, even as the branches of said leaves start to scratch you from unseen directions, even as you start hearing hints that the room will be much larger if you stop walking forwards and turn towards any other direction.

You keep walking, until at last you pass through the final curtain, and a dark forest appears before you, visible through your closed eyes. You cannot see the sky, as the dark leaves of the tall trees completely cover it, but you can feel that the moonlight would be shining down upon you if it could.

You have arrived in a clearing of sorts, and you see Jade Whistle sitting there, alone. You open your eyes for a few moments, being greeted by total darkness, and a part of you understands that this is what it looked like on the underground of your cult's previous gathering place.

With your eyes closed once again, you head towards Jade Whistle, her ears perking up as your hoofs disturb the leaf-like wings left behind by the countless that are flying just out of your sight, the noises they make curiously silent and buzzing at the same time.

"Velvet Covers," she says, with her usual apparently bored voice, as she turns to face you.

Her eyes, you see, have a small glint to them. Nothing visible if you open your eyes, but still you can see sparks that might one day become spotlights.

You shake your head, blinking as you wonder exactly why those thoughts are occurring to you, but the buzzing you hear around you soon makes you forget that such a thing should be odd to begin with.

"Yes. Good afternoon, Jade," you say.

Her eyes are following you, but they are slightly off, as if she can only see your shadow, and not you. So, you make sure to loudly sit by her side when you get close enough to her.

To which she simply nods, and stares back towards the dark forest around you.

You eye the mare curiously. A part of you just wants to stay there in silence, and hope that she finds your company at least pleasant. But you can't help but wonder about something else.

"I was wondering..." you start, slowly, for some reason being careful about your words, "I take it that you did this whole thing?" you say, referring to the place in which the two of you are.

You are not sure if you are really, physically within the Woods, or if this is an invocation of it, a reflection that you might see through a pool, or perhaps that you might see in the moon when its surface is like that of a mirror.

You think that it is the latter, since opening a portal into the Mansus doesn't sound like something that is even possible, but you still can't help but wonder how she did it.

"Yes," she answers simply, not even turning to face you.

"And you also did it on the cult's other meeting place, I take it?"

"Mhmm…"

You double-check your logic, just to make sure you wouldn't say something foolish, before you continue. Although trying to think in a straight line feels a little silly of you, right now, but you are sure that this Woods-like meeting place already existed on your cult's previous gathering place when you were first introduced there.

"But the Master taught us about the ritual circle a long time after that, I believe… so how exactly did you do it then, on that first time?" you finish you question, "how did you do it this time, again?"

You don't see any circles inscribed on the center of the clearing, after all.

However, the mare keeps looking towards the forest, to the point where a part of you wonders if she even listened to your last question.

Until you hear her take a deep breath.

And something inside of you freezes up, knowing that this much of a reaction from her means that she…

"The first time I did it was by pure chance," she says, her voice totally unphased despite the weight you can feel from them. "Doing it is… unpleasant," she finishes, and goes completely silent once more.

You do not understand what she means by that.

But you still feel like you have just asked something that you should not.



- - -



You hear leaves being stomped over, as the two final figures approach the gathering.

Windy Flakes still has his pleased smile about him, although the telltale way his eyes dart about makes it clear to you that he is utterly blind.

Comet Feet on the other hand…

"Is that noise… Comet Feet and Windy Flakes?" Starry Dancer, sitting next to you, whispers to nopony in particular.

And in return, the large pegasus looks towards her.

You have your eyes closed, and you know you have a particular advantage over everypony else in here. But it is precisely because of said advantage that you can see how Comet Feet is looking directly at her, more precisely than Jade Whistle even.

And his eyes seem somewhat… sharp.

But despite that sharpness, you detect no form of threat from him, although a small part of you whispers that maybe you should.

The two of them sit around the small circle the four of you had been forming, and Jade Whistle immediately begins to talk.

"I'll start," she says simply.

You think the winds might have grown a little quieter, on the upper part of the trees, but you are not sure. Still, much like in an earlier meeting, she can probably feel a certain attention on her.

"I have made some progress in searching for Princess Luna," she declares in her low tone, "the scrying ritual is ready in theory, but I haven't had the chance to test it for effectiveness or for things like false positives."

You can see her face turn in your general direction before she continues.

"I understand it if you can't, but I'd appreciate your help with testing it. But I know you have been busy yourself, so don't mind thinking about it as just a backup option."

She then goes completely silent. You think it would have taken a few moments for Windy Flakes to realize she was done, but he also starts speaking almost immediately, eyes opening wide as he certainly feels something about him.

"Our new front is done," he says, eyes darting around as if searching for something, "made it with having a place for our followers to meet in mind. Without it looking suspicious or being a place where they could only meet at night, that is."

He stops and looks behind his back for a few moments, before facing the rest of you once more and continuing.

"Starry Dancer also got us some incredible partnerships, so as far as bits are concerned, we shouldn't have a problem. I had just the income from regular clients and our cult members in mind, but I think it will go better than that. As long as the idea of something like this sticks to this small town, of course, but I'm confident that word of mouth from our own members can help us with that."

He shakes his head for a few moments, and you see the smile on his face disappear for a few seconds as if he is feeling disturbed by something.

But Comet Feet doesn't seem to join him on his concerned reaction.

"I grow," he says, his voice a low growl. "Approaching the fourth exercises soon."

He turns his face towards Jade Whistle as he says that.

"Will need you cadre to invoke an Influence, or else I will take longer than necessary."

You see Jade Whistle nod at that.

But you are not sure of how you feel about the pegasus' demeanor, in all honesty. His voice, although not actively threatening, definitely sounds as sharp as his eyes.

"On my part," Copper Secateur's voice interrupts your worrying, somewhat, "we managed to disrupt the investigations, and my followers managed to convert a few more of the population, but only a few. Couldn't get involved in it directly, though. Sabotaging the investigation very nearly ended… disastrously."

The mare shudders slightly at that, and you can tell that she is remembering a particularly close call of sorts.

She looks slightly rattled, as well.

"Uhm… it's my turn, right? Well, I managed to get close to a couple of wealthy families here in Ponyville!" she says brightly, "and I think I managed to point them towards Windy Flakes without a hitch, but uh... I don't think I managed anything else that is worth talking about."

You see Windy Flakes snort at that, whispering something about the mare selling herself too short.

But then, it is your turn to speak.

And you finally notice it.

Or rather, it finally turns its notice towards you.

It feels like a spotlight, of sorts, as if suddenly you have become very aware of your own body, and the position that every last strand of fur juts out from your coat, and the awkward symmetry of your teeth inside your mouth and the way your eyes can't see behind you and how your body feels heavy an-

And everything else. Except that the sensation is only getting stronger.

Far stronger, you must add, then the last time you have felt it, months before.

You feel like you are being submerged in water, a grey and heavy sort of water, with physical pressure covering you like a coat.

You feel like there are roots slowly growing around your hoofs, just shy from touching your coat properly but still scraping against your fur.

You feel like something old and large and terrible is right behind you, looking at you with its many eyes.

And a small part of you wonders how everypony else could have been subjected to that same scrutiny and not have flinched. In fact, you understand Windy Flake's reaction perfectly now, although you admit that you feel like displaying thrice the unease that he did.

But a greater part of you simply starts to talk, the words rolling out of your mouth mere seconds after you think about them.



It is a good thing, then, that you came with your story well-rehearsed.



[] On the search for Princess Luna, by means of hoof and hard work.

-[] You did not participate in the nation-wide searches for Princess Luna. (Lie, and omit that you had any part in it)

-[] You have lent a hoof here and there, and have a general understanding of how they are going. (Reveal that you took part in it, but downplay your role. A small lie, but one that allows you to explain how the search in general is going, and nothing else)

-[] You have taken a major role in the searches, and this is how things are looking right now… (Don't lie, specifically about the professional parts of the search. This will give your cult full disclosure about how the kingdom's efforts are taking place) (If you pick this option, you must pick one of the following two)

--[] Detail the places that Princess Luna has already been searched for. (This will help your cult, specifically Jade Whistle, on her own parallel search efforts).

--[] You only pushed paper and facilitated the process, you don't know about the results. (This will not help Jade Whistle on her searches)



[] On Rarity.

-[] Don't say anything about Rarity.

-[] You are a little close to one of the Elements of Harmony, but that's it. (Reveal that you are a reliable link to her)

-[] You believe that you have her dancing on your hoof, now… (Reveal that Rarity can be, to a certain extent, involved in the cult, and how much influence you have over her)



[] On Captain Shining Armor.

-[] Don't say anything about Shining Armor.

-[] You have met him, in passing.

-[] You dare say you are a little close to him, and have learned that he is in a relationship with the Princess of Love.



[] On the Princess of Love.

-[] Don't say anything about Cadance.

-[] You have met Princess Cadance, in passing.

-[] You dare say you can reliably contact her again, especially after you (possibly) saved her beloved from danger. A danger of your own design, mind you, but that is irrelevant. Oh, did you mention she is having a secret affair with the Captain?



[] On Princess Celestia.

-[] Don't say anything about Princess Celestia.

-[] You have seen her, once, and very quickly. But you didn't have any contact with her.

-[] You have talked to the Princess of the Sun, however quickly, but you can tell that she is tired and vulnerable. You are also, you hope, on her "good book", for now.



[] On Princess Luna, her current situation and dreams.

-[] You have made zero progress in searching for Princess Luna's dream door.

-[] You have located her cutie-marked door, in the Dreamlands, but failed to enter it.

-[] You have entered her cutie-marked door, in the Dreamlands, and can confirm that she is… alive, at least.



-[] On Princess Luna and her location. (Be wary to keep this in tandem with your reports about the search)

-[] You have made zero progress in searching for Princess Luna's location.

-[] Your efforts in the search have narrowed down, slightly, where she might be. But only slightly. (Reveal little information, only disclosing that she is not in the farthest and most dangerous of places)

-[] Your efforts in the search have greatly narrowed down where she might be. (Reveal that she is somewhere… nearby, but you are not sure of where.

-[] You know where she is. (Reveal her location, and immediately prompt an Expedition there)



[] Will you mention anything about how you approached the other cult members? (This is not necessary)

-[] Yes. (WRITE IN)

-[X] No.



[] Will you mention anything else, on any other subject? (This is not necessary)

-[] Yes. (WRITE IN)

-[X] No.





Voting will stay open for at least 48 hours, and is to be made in planned format as usual.

"Book club? Really?"
Your personal standing has taken a blow! Thanks to that blasted unicorn. Maybe this will come back to bite you later?

A tiny, but no longer insubstantial, part of Ponyville has been converted into the cult. Some rolls performed in Ponyville will now receive a "+3" bonus, as every now and then you are given knowing nods and small signs of obeisance.

Finally. Welcome to the Wildhoof Club proper. Your cult's status will now be tracked through a separate Informational post.

I have to admit this is a sight of relief from me. It "just" took us six turns to open it, but turns have been moving slowly as things go. Not that any of us are in a hurry, so no harm in that.

And just for the record, Starry Dancer rolled a 97 on her first month of her "entice the merchants" mission, followed by a 70+ on her second month. So yeah, she was a good mare. Filthy Rich hook included, and the Wildhoof Club will not have many immediate problems.

Your Master's reappearance, and what comes next, will be on the next update. For now, just focus on what is going on inside your own head.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] [Plan] Honest, but discrete.

-[X] On the search for Princess Luna, by means of hoof and hard work.
--[X] You have taken a major role in the searches, and this is how things are looking right now… (Don't lie, specifically about the professional parts of the search. This will give your cult full disclosure about how the kingdom's efforts are taking place) (If you pick this option, you must pick one of the following two)
---[X] Detail the places that Princess Luna has already been searched for. (This will help your cult, specifically Jade Whistle, on her own parallel search efforts).

-[X] On Rarity.
--[X] Don't say anything about Rarity.

-[X] On Captain Shining Armor.
--[X] Don't say anything about Shining Armor.

-[X] On the Princess of Love.
--[X] You have met Princess Cadance, in passing.

-[X] On Princess Celestia.
--[X] [Write-In] You have seen her, once, and very quickly, when you were reporting your results as part of the search. However, you didn't glean much insight from the conversation, and she left soon after.

-[X] On Princess Luna, her current situation and dreams.
--[X] You have entered her cutie-marked door, in the Dreamlands, and can confirm that she is… alive, at least.

-[X] On Princess Luna and her location. (Be wary to keep this in tandem with your reports about the search)
--[X] Your efforts in the search have narrowed down, slightly, where she might be. But only slightly. (Reveal little information, only disclosing that she is not in the farthest and most dangerous of places)

- - -



It is a very good thing that you had thought this out beforehand.

You can feel it. This is not like that other time, before the Ritual, but it is still overbearing in its own way.

You are not feeling like something is entering you, you are not feeling that anything is invading you, you are not feeling that you are being forced to do anything.

Not directly, that is.

You feel that something far larger than yourself is looking at you. You can feel that your image is being reflected in countless black eyes, looking from the darkness, and that all of them are interested in what you have to say. All of them want you to speak.

This is not the aggressive kind of strength, but it is pressuring all the same. You feel like a foal under the scrutiny of somepony older, you feel like a student being observed by your tutor. You feel like the only thing you can do, that you must do, is talk.

So you begin to speak, the disturbingly symmetrical teeth in your mouth scraping awkwardly against the inner side of your cheeks, the shadows around you, and the darkness between your coat and the inside of your body, itching madly.

You begin to speak, because you know that it will be the only way for this to end.

"I have helped the official search efforts looking for the Princess," the word feels wrong in your mouth, alicorn or perhaps outsider would have felt better, "and know the places where she has already been searched. This will help our own efforts," you say, specifically to Jade Whistle, looking towards her as you speak.

And you see her nod back at you. If she can see how exasperated your expression is, then she does not seem perturbed by it.

No, your expression is just fine, you know. It's the inside of your head, the shape of your skull, that feels-

"I have also seen the two remaining Princesses," you almost have to force that word out, now. You doubt you will be able to say it again, "but only in passing. They are still active, and somewhat present, and I have exchanged a few words with them, but nothing of importance for our purposes."

Copper Secateur seems interested in that, her ears perking slightly as you mention the rulers of Equestria.

"And on the final… sister, herself. I have located her dreams, although reaching them again might be extremely dangerous, and I can confirm that… that she lives." You can tell that you are speaking faster now, as if the interest that the many eyes have on your words has reached its peak, your body begging for you to speak as the pressure around you grows.

"My efforts have also somewhat made it clear that she is… within the country," you almost feel as if something is squeezing your chest, but you manage to let those final words out, "but the abstracts of her dream couldn't help me narrow it down any further."

You finish talking, and your mouth snaps shut, the pressure you feel still heavy around you.

Until slowly, painfully slowly almost, you feel it recede. As if every last flying thing, hidden in the dark leaves of the dark trees, has suddenly gone still and quiet, or as if the wind has retreated from this clearing like the tide might retreat from a beach.

You feel as if something very large has decided to stop squishing you with a clawed member, some sort of spectral talon made out of shadow and the attention of its eyes, something made out of strings and the scrutiny of something greater than yourself.

It is only then that you realize that you have not breathed in for a long while. That pressure, that agony you were feeling in your chest, being something very physical perhaps because of that. You have not breathed during your whole report, in fact, and you finally take a greedy gulp of air, feeling your lungs burn in protest of you having neglected them for so long. Although, disturbingly, you make no sound while doing so.

You are sure that you are gasping for air, your hoofs trembling as you recover from something that might have been close to suffocation, and yet you can't even hear yourself.

Nothing is making any sound at all, in fact.



SNAP.



Until you hear a noise, an ear-splitting crack that sounds like a tree trunk being twisted until it is broken, as if some gigantic creature as tall as a hill is walking nearby, and has stepped on a tree like a pony might snap a twig underneath their hoof. You see Starry Dancer jump up in surprise, and you can feel your whole body tense at the suddenness of it, adrenaline making your fur rise on its end as your instinct warns you about incoming danger.

You almost don't recognize the sound for what it is. In fact, you wouldn't have, going just by the sound itself, but the sensation that nearly overwhelms you right after is enough for you to understand what just happened.

It is a little like what you have just felt while giving your report, but not as intense. You can still breathe, but it is exactly because you can breathe that you detect… a taste of pressure in the air, a sour noise of sorts underneath your tongue. You can tell that it is the same weight as before, but it is now… covering the entire clearing, so to speak, and not just yourself.

But it is still a very large weight, and you can feel it bearing down on all six of you with every passing moment.

Everything around you slowly starts to fade into blackness, everything starts to go dark, as if some vast curtain is slowly being closed. You even blink, opening your eyes a few times, to make sure that there is still a difference, to make sure that everything is still totally dark when you have your eyes open. By the time everything stops changing you are nearly blind, even with your eyes closed, being barely able to see the form of your compatriots near you.

You know what just happened. Your Master, you somehow understand, has just extended his shadow over all of you. You can feel his eyes looking down towards you, high up from the treetops.

You can tell that he is very large. Larger than you ever thought he might be.

And that he has so many eyes...



"Your progress is commendable. All of you, in fact, are deserving of praise."



The voice seems to come from everywhere at once. From behind you, from the ground, from the center of the circle, even from the inside of your skull. Not being able to see where it comes from is a small agony all on its own, for some reason, and you realize a little too late that you may have become too used to being able to see at any given time, regardless of there being light or not.

You had almost forgotten what it felt like to be in the dark.



"Especially given how… absent, I have been. But let your fears be allayed, for I too was engaged in important work. And I have found something… enlightening."



And then you begin to see it, floating above the center of the clearing, some sort of… you find it hard to describe.

Everything around you is covered in darkness, to the point where you can barely discern the ponies standing next to you, let alone those who are standing opposite to you in the clearing. The shadow that engulfs you is not only covering the surface of things, it is also in the air, as if it was some heavy fog, as if its presence was not only the absence of light, but its disappearance altogether.

So, you cannot rightly describe what you are seeing, except that you can see it to begin with. That single characteristic is what makes it something out of place.

If everything around you is un-light, then the thing in front of you, floating in the middle of the clearing, is the absence of that oppressive darkness. That slowly expanding sphere is the only place unaffected by whatever is marring your vision.



"And I will share it with you, now, this thing that I have found while away."



And slowly, you realize that the thing you see has a … not a light to it, but a color. You have no idea how you can see that something has color without there being light, but you know that it is a color.

Perhaps it might be silver, perhaps it might be the color of your own eyes, reflected back as you stare intently at it.

Perhaps, it is a reflection of something that is not here.



"Behold: purpose."



The muted color reaches a crescendo of existence, it becomes so strong and maddeningly familiar that you can feel the name of that color at the tip of your tongue. It is something that you should know intimately, something that has been with you your whole life. Something that, perhaps, even makes you the pony you are.

Ah…

But of course, you realize. That is the color of a memory.

Spoiler: A Vision

You are…



You are.



You are great. You are great, and tall, and old, and thesnappingoftwigsthebu, and filled with visions that pass for memories, and memories that pass for visions. You are both lost and secure, you are both confused and certain, with a body that is zzingofwingstheflut a voice that is the buzzing of a thousand insect wings and the howling of the wind against terofleavesth.

But most importantly, you are yourself, and you are thinking about something of the utmost importance.

The ritual into the alicorn's mind has… already happened. Time sometimes works differently in the Woods, so nitpicking about dates can ehowlingofwindtheab. But the ritual is in the past, as certainly as the future has not yet happened.

Your mind, however, is still as abuzz as it was right after the ritual was completed.

Could it truly be that the alicorn knew nothing? Her view of the world felt like that of a mortal, and her thoughts lacked the echo of something greater, those echoes that are usual in senceoffor. It also seemed that she could mthelosingofthoughtth History at any given moment and…

It is clear to you that she is an unwitting paw of esheerringof, but is she truly that ignorant? Can it be that she is no more than a puppet, with the only markings of her power being those written on the very marrow of her soul by the thing that blessed her?

That raises worrying questions. The alicorn, as well as her sister, possibly, is too young to have witnessed when THEADVENTOFDAWNTHEUSAGEOFL, they can still be potentially useful, but not as immediate sources of knowledge. It is possible to thewhispersoflustth, but not yet, not now.

And that is what you need.

Knowledge.

There are too many unknowns. You know not about the status of the wards, you know not about the thepaththeroadthewayt, you know not about the thelawsofbloodthelesson the Worms in thefallingofsnowtheprancingo. You didn't even have any idea that they could now walk in the flesh and memories of those they consumed, although you know that they couldn't thewrongthewrongthewrongth.

You need to find something older, something more reliable.

You need to… find a secret.

So, despite the risks it involves, you decide to do something you have not done in a long, long time.



You decide to get lost.



The Woods are old. They were seeded when the Mansus was built, they came to be before anything else. They have tasted the blood sofpainthehowlingofs the downpour of time both, and such things have allowed it to grow like rain might feed a plant.

The nature of the Woods is not necessarily to take, but it certainly is not to give either. It reaches out for things, and then it hides them underneath its roots, and as time passes and the dark trees grow skinthechang, those secrets become the Woods' own secrets. Such has been its nature ever since thethreadsofth, and so shall it be until it is burned to the ground or its branches finally reach Glory.

However, every now and then, the Woods also produces fruits. Said fruits soon fall off from its branches and towards the soil, as fruits are wont to do, where they rot and are absorbed back by the forest around it.

But those fruits, those crystallized, physical secrets still exist, even if only for a short while. They exist for an eternity, by some measures, and eworldthewaysofourfa by others.

Perhaps it is the Woods' desire to taste of its own secrets again, forgetting it for a short while until it falls upon its roots. Perhaps it is the simple nature of ingofeyesthef.

Whatever the explanation is, you wished to find one such fruit.

And to do that, you had to lose yourself.



You roamed the Woods, in your own body, then in the shape of a pony, then in the shape of a snake, then in the shape of a moth. You roamed the Woods until you were shapeless, and had forgotten reedomofselft.

You roamed until you forgot who you were, theflightofamoththewa were.

Until you forgot what you were looking for, or why.

So, it was only natural that you had no idea what you were looking at once you found it.

It was a pool, a small and perfectly circular lake filled with silver water. The Woods is not a dry place, but there is no water in it either, every last drop being sucked by the greedy ysthroughthewin under the greedy soil, being lost under the black dirt or scattered in the winds.

And yet, you stood before a small lake, its surface growing shallower and shallower with every passing second as its water was drained by dtheformsofchaos.

But you could see its surface clearly, if only for a little while longer.



And reflected on its silver surface, was the Moon.



You had the impression that the Moon should have a hebridgethed surface, like a broken mirror might, but the Moon was unblemished and clear, its image so bright that you could not tell if you were looking upon a reflection of the one on the sky, or if you were looking upon a portal that led to a second sky, underneath oortheporta.

Perhaps it was both.

Because you could see that the Moon was close to the Mansus, on that reflection, and the Mansus was different.

You could not tell what was different about it. Glory was not brighter, the doors and floors and everything else thedancetherhythmthebeatingo, and yet it felt different.

Ah, but of course. The Mansus felt different because something still walked its halls. Something THELIGHTTHEWAYTHEVISION absolute, something that shone like the sun, something splendorous.

Something that had descended from Glory, and shaped the world THETRUTHTHEWILLT.

Yes…

Yes.

This was the Mansus back then, you could see it.

The world, around the Mansus, in its proper state. The Woods, surrounding everything as they were meant to. The sun and the moon fshapesthelaughterofsile, beautiful and unmoving.

HEBRILLIANCETHEOPEAll of that, that ancient and perfect configuration, was decreed into being from the very peak of the House of the Sun. So, it could be reshaped as such a second time, by one who sat upon the House as if it was a throne, and who wielded Glory as a king might wield a scepter.NINGOFEYEST

ncethewillofAll of that, that ancient and perfect image, was reflected and remembered by the Moon, the same way that it was reflected and remembered by you, through that silver pool. So, it could be brought back into being, if the Moon was to be turned inside out, and the world as it is today was to be swapped by the reflection on the Moon's surface.thedeadtheechooflive

You had no idea who you were, but you knew that you had found what you sought.

You would never, ever, find that place again, but that would not be needed.

Your conscience returns as the last drop of the pool is sucked by the black dirt, and you remember that you are thebarksofaforestthesnippingofscissorsthevoic

You heave in air, coughing in fits as the black dirt of the ground is sucked into your lungs.

Your whole body feels rigid, even painful in some spots, and your mind spins as the visions and memories try to settle down inside your head. There is so much of it, so much that you can't even understand. It was as if you had too many eyes, each looking at a different world, or as if your body was far greater than it was ever meant to be, and you could feel the world around you through your very skin.

You were not ready for that vision. Perhaps it would have been impossible for you to ever be ready, your mind stretching itself to grab what it can, at the expense of everything else. The echo of many inputs, a great number of them too alien to even register in your head, being forcibly shunted away from your mind.

It takes you a few more moments to realize that you are sprawled on the ground, and several more for you to be able to get on all four hoofs.

The other ponies around the circle are not faring any better, to the point where you shakingly walk towards Starry Dancer to help her get on her hoofs, her wings open in wrong angles as her body clearly misreads exactly what she needs to do to regain her balance.

You also finally notice that you can see them clearly, or at least almost clearly, the heavy shadow from before having turned a lot tamer and lighter.

You take a few more deep breaths, one of Starry's forelegs still hanging onto you for support, as you look around.

The other ponies seem to be doing alright. Jade herself, curiously, seems to have elected to keep lying down.

But she doesn't look dizzy, although she never looks like she is disturbed by anything, so you decide to trust her that she doesn't need any help. Or at least that she doesn't need more help than Starry clearly requires.

"Purpose," the Master's voice comes again, softer this time.

Almost pony-like, coming from a single unidentifiable direction, instead of as a chorus.

"There are still many things which are… better left hidden, for now," he says, her voice almost pleasant, "but no longer do we need to blindly fumble for power and knowledge. Four courses of action have presented themselves to us, and more might be revealed as we head along the way."

Starry Dancer finally let go of you, and right on time for you to focus on what your Master says next.

"Firstly, we may reach for Glory. The Mansus is a reflection of the world, as the world is a reflection of the Mansus, so if we acquire dominion over the Mansus we may be able to influence the world on a more general, intimate level. The very peak of the House is a goal as old as time, of course, but we are now sure that if we reach it then our goals might be fulfilled. That perhaps we may have the same… agency, as that place may have granted in the past."

"Secondly, we may reach for the Moon, instead. It is a long-lost knowledge now, but the Moon was once a reflection of the Sun, of Glory, and all that it bathed. Within the Mansus, that is. It seems, however, that said reflection is still one of the Mansus on its old form, from an era when the Mansus itself was different. There is a path, to the Moon, and if we find it and tread it then we may be able to rescue that image, and make it real."

"Thirdly, we may embrace what is new, and embrace Change. Harmony is to blame, for all of this, but it has power, and it has made covenant with the alicorns. It is passive and bright, but although it may not act it is still a power that be. We know not how it thinks, or if it thinks at all, but it has enough of a sentience to have communed with the outsiders, even if only to decree that they needed to enter by birth. The alicorns might be the only path to Harmony, as their scions, or there may be other paths we do not know, but if we reach for Harmony… we may be able to change it, and teach it to hide, as much as we may allow it to change us so we may better bend it to our will."

"And finally," the voice grows… heavier, "we may simply douse the flames. Better to have a cold world than have no world at all."

Their words weight heavy on the air, their voice charged with the slight tinge of...

"The outsiders are a problem," the voice says, with certainty, "the flames, are a problem. The detestable configuration that this world currently has is a problem, but above all else our goal is to ensure that this world survives. To ensure that the Mansus survives, first and foremost."

You feel… something, passing over you. You think it might be your Master's gaze, but it is such a small presence, compared to what you felt not long ago, that you cannot really be sure.

"And there is no need for commitment, as of yet. We will flutter around those four paths and jump between them. We will study them and give small steps as necessary, until we learn which is the quickest or the most needed. That is our way, after all. But keep those paths in mind, all of you, for the doors of the world are still wide open, and the flames are still strong and bright. The Worms… still see us all."


snap


A small twig snaps, behind you, but you see nothing when you turn around.

However, you can still hear his voice, whispering in your ear.

The whisper is short, shorter than a soft breeze, and as quiet as the sound that your eyes might make when you blink. It is there, and then gone, before you can even begin to interpret its words.

"Find me that alicorn," it says. Not in a commanding tone, not in a pleading tone, but in a strange tone that makes it clear that this course of action is the only one suitable for pursuit, right now. Opportunity and convenience both dictating that this window will soon be closed, so your efforts must be concentrated on it.

Much like how you hear the voice whispering for Comet Feet to continue his training, and for Windy Flakes to lay low and ensure his work produces fruit, and for Jade Whistle to keep on her efforts, helping or being helped by you if necessary.

The only things that seem slightly more complex are the ideas that Copper Secateur is not yet to expand to other cities, as they might be too riled up as of now, and that Starry Dancer should gently try to endear herself to the guardians and law enforcers of Ponyville, that last one with a tone that almost suggested an encouraging pat on her back. You also almost think you see Starry let out a sigh of relief at that. Almost.

Although, somehow, you swear that those ideas were conveyed in no more than four or five words, whispered with a brevity you would be hard pressed to even begin describing how it might have happened.

The Master is fading, now, what is left of his shadow following him deeper into somewhere far away, but their voice is still here, even if only a ghost of it.

"I will resume my supervision of the cult," they say. Although you wonder if that is a warning, perhaps to you, or if that is a comfort of sorts, perhaps for somepony else.

"And I must say," you hear a final whisper, one that you are sure only you can hear, "what beautiful eyes you have, little Velvet. If you keep on this path, perhaps, one day you might even find…"

But, with the maddening habit of a Moth, the whisper fades away, becoming inaudible before you can finish hearing it.

And then your Master is gone.



- - -



The six of you leave that place shortly after. You hear Windy Flakes mentioning that he is planning to build an antechamber of sorts, where you will all be able to discuss in comfort after such reunions, but such room is obviously not ready yet.

But that does not mean that there is nothing to be discussed.

Comet Feet leaves immediately, not bothering to talk to anypony, not even Windy Flakes, as he makes his way to the stairs. You are not sure if you feel more worried or more surprised by that.

The unicorn himself seems unperturbed, and quickly goes towards Starry Dancer and Copper Secateur to talk about how they will combine their efforts of dealing with the population of Ponyville in general.

You, however, stand there, looking towards the stairs, watching the large pegasus climb the steps and leave your sight.

Until you notice Jade Whistle doing the same thing you are, still standing by the door from which you all just came out of, watching Comet Feet with her impassive and bored eyes.

It surprises you a little when the mare walks towards you.

"That looks worrying," she says simply, her words making it clear that she is not worried, but that, just like she said, something is worrisome by its very nature.

You nod at her, your own expression conflicted. But the mare does not volunteer anything else.





The members of the Inner Circle have swapped the necessary information among themselves, and all future joint actions have been planned as necessary.

Your Master has not revealed why the world is as it currently is, but he has revealed to you how you might change it, either back into its old form, or into something else. The paths towards the final objective of your cult have been laid out. More might appear, and some may be discarded, but for now they are all that you have. Hopefully, they will be all that you will need as well.

A light has been shed, distant as if at the end of a tunnel, pinprick-bright like a star in the night sky. But still, it brings with it the revelation of purpose. It is unkind in its finality, seeing that there is nothing to be done but change and hide, or be consumed, but it is the only light you have. Gain one scrap of Lantern Lore.

Your Master was unusually absent these last few months, and maybe now you know why. They have returned now, and their presence is once again usual even on the small meetings performed by the Outer Circle members, even if only observing from a distance, making their presence known only through the buzzing of wings and the howling of the wind.





- - -
- - -
- - -





Last turn's shopping list

Spoiler

These are the items that you had the option to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 81


[] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.

[] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.

[] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.

(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)

- - -


POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

Spoiler: On Suspicion Level and Ponyservant actions

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.

Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

[] 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")



[] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)

-[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)

-[] A measured commitment: Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands won't just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month. (6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)

-[] A desperate obsession: Everything is falling down, everything depends on this. You will not even sit on your office this month. (8 personal actions and 1 servant action. It is guaranteed that you will be called out for this.)



This turn's available bits: 201 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month



CONFIDANTS AND SUMMONS

Spoiler: Options of Focus

-The ponies and creatures listed below can be given a "focus" for this turn. Not mentioning them will incur in their "default picks" being selected. Be wary, also, to the "expiration date" of summons.
-The ponies and creatures listed below may be safely taken for a single one-turn (five days) Expedition without hampering their "focus". Taking them for a two-turn (6+ days) or greater Expedition will cause them to not execute their selected "focus".



Rarity (currently an Enlightened, GRAIL Level 0, FORGE Level nonexistent):

-[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and Rarity will accompany you while you perform them, giving narrative advantages or mechanical buffs as needed)

-[] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)

-[] Call her. Give her tasks, and books, and lessons. Turn her into an Initiate. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own)

-[] Call her, you have a lot of things to tell her… and then a few introductions to make. (Induct her into the cult)

-[] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)

-[] Other (WRITE IN, in case you have a viable idea that I have not thought about. Certain ideas might even enter this list if they make sense)

[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)

-[] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)



[] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)

-[] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna. The Mansus is the only advantage you have over the search parties, so helping her on this is surely the way to go.
--[] Honestly help her. (There is a chance she will be able to execute the ritual before the month ends)
--[] Subtly attempt to sabotage her efforts and win yourself time. (This is not required if you set out on an Expedition this turn)

-[] You had second thoughts, after all…
--[] Send an anonymous letter to the Canterlot hub. You set up the protocols yourself, so you know the Royal Guard will eventually get it and send a search party. (Relinquish the knowledge of where Princess Luna is to the Royal Guard, anonymously)
--[] Go to Canterlot yourself, gather an entire platoon of guards, and go for the Princess. You can leverage enough favors to get things done, until the results speak for themselves and everypony forgets how hard-hoofed you were on your demands. (This will "jump" the expedition, by sheer weight of resources thrown at it, but Princess Luna will be found by the Crown. You will gain the credit for it, but you will probably not even be able to talk to the Princess)



[] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.
--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation) (applies "Royal Favor")
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)

-[] The cult now has an appropriate place to meet, but you could still use a discrete location that is all your own. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.

-[] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.



[] Ponyville politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. (Low chance for success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet) Moderately suspicious.

-[] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofs dirty among your own employees. Low chance of success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet). Highly suspicious.

-[] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.

-[]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.

-[] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.

-[] They're not the Royal Guard, but they're still guards, and as much as they might not have that much work on their hoofs, they're still the go-to ponies in case something worrying happens. Find out how the guard is structured in Ponyville, that will be the first step in getting to know them better. Moderately suspicious.

-[] A pony needs not to be a faithful of your cult in order to be useful, said pony needs only know what to report to whom, and when to keep one's mouth shut. Ponyville has an underworld, small as it might be, and their eyes and ears could be useful. Attempt to contact them. Highly suspicious.



[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
---[] Reach out to your mother, as much as it might be… complicated. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
---[] Attempt to locate your older brother, Velvet Wings, as much as it might be difficult. (attempt to locate him, at first, via correspondence)
---[] Go there yourself and try to talk to your younger brother, Velvet Pride, although getting caught will probably be bad. (costs 20 bits in transportation, involves invading your family's own mansion)

-[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.

-[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.



[] On aiding the cult (options not related to your current task, but related to the cult or with interactions with its members)

-[] The Bright Library! Windy Flakes mentioned he has a hall ready for it, but you still need to hash out the details with him, as well as prepare the books you have already read so they can be placed there.

-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company. And this time, you are worried.
--[] He definitely is attempting to go deeper into the Lore of Edge. Help him.
--[] WRITE IN, for a specific way to approach him. Might yield bonuses.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her.
--[] The mare seems to be on a good streak and in high spirits. This time, she is supposed to get on the good graces of guards and law enforcers, and you are interested in helping her.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit.
--[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] His business is all set up, and now he has to run it. And do you know who is good at running businesses? That's right, you are.
--[] Windy Flakes has messed with you, so now you will mess with him. (WRITE-IN HOW, specify if you will do it with good intentions [just to scare him] or with bad intentions [actually hinder him])

-[] Help Jade Whistle
--[] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[] She is attempting to devise a Ritual that will aid you in finding Luna. Help her. (Already an option as your current assignment).



[] Set out on an Expedition.

-[] The most precious treasure hunt ever. (already an option on the Fleeting Opportunities)



[] On furthering your knowledge (actions directed at increasing your Lores, as explained in the Informational threadmark)

-[] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 4, gives a single scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)

-[]WRITE IN, to petition your Master for a question. (Mind you, however, that this will involve "trying" to talk to him, not a guaranteed audience, and he just might be very Moth about his answer.)

-[] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
--[] No artifacts available. (Unless if recently bought)

-[] 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! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
--[] BOOK, FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
--[] Some other book (select a book you have bought this turn)



[] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

Spoiler: On exploring the known Mansus

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as an Influence or a temporary buff. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[] The Woods
--[] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers.
--[] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them.

-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind.
--[] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] There are other parts connected to the Blank Plains. Look for them.

-[] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER) (applies DIPLOMACY to traverse the Blank Plains, and SECRET HISTORIES to search, added to your WINTER Level)



[] On the matters of house and heart (actions directed towards your own family, the part that you care for deeply as well as… the rest)

-[] 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.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] You are on the good graces of Velvet Steppes, your uncle, although he feels like the pony who has his entire family on his good graces to begin with.
--[] Call him over! He hasn't met his own grandniece yet, after all, and better late than never when it comes to knowing him better.
--[] He is called the Facilitator. You have no idea why, but the effect is self-explanatory. Ask for his help regarding… (WRITE IN a favor you would like to ask, or COMBINE this action with another, to involve your uncle in it) (Your uncle is very good at making things easier)

-[] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now, so it won't be seen as scandalous if you write a letter to your father requesting an increase in your share of the family's grants… right?

-[] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets.
--[] Have a servant do it, having an actual scapegoat is ideal if things go wrong. Highly suspicious.
--[] Do it yourself, it's better this way.
--[] Wait, right, the Wildhoof Club. Get in touch with Windy Flakes, and see how serious he was when he mentioned the whole "laundering bits" thing.



[] On those who surround you (actions directed at your contacts and friends)

-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] Sit down and work on a letter. Reach out to nobles who do not live in Canterlot. They, much like yourself, might not be deeply entangled on the webs of politics that surround the capital, but that just means they can also act with more freedom, right?

-[] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Teach Rarity, and have her turn into an Initiate
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)


[] 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.)

-[] ARTIFACT – MOTH Level 2, buy for 100 bits.



[] On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)

-[] "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)

--[ ] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
--[ ] To be performed at your own home, where the cult will not know of your actions, but you probably will be discovered or leave traces of it.
--[ ] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)



[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





Contacts who are "Good Friends" have a better chance of reacting well or being useful if you include them in "Write In" options, although caution (and basic common sense on who to call for what) is advised. This might change if a contact is carpet-bomb called for everything.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

All voting will be in plan format. DO NOT INCLUDE actions you do not wish to take. No need to specify that "you will NOT buy X item" if you do not want to buy it. Merely do not mention it.

And one last thing that must be addressed. IF you wish to keep the results on your attempts to find Luna a secret, make sure you keep it away from your fellow cult members, or other entities interested in searching for her. You cannot be expected to convincingly lie if you take Jade Whistle to tag along, for example, or if you ask help from anypony else on that matter. Considering the mixed stand you seem to have about the Master, I figure this is relevant for you all to know.

The above message will be repeated until one of the parties involved locates Princess Luna.

Voting is getting more complicated. Kindly observe a SIX HOUR MORATORIUM before suggesting your plans, so as to avoid editing them too much, and to have enough discussion to know what you intend to lay down.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.

- - -

You have purchased the three books, 60 bits have been deduced from your personal coffers.

You have given Windy Flakes the information regarding the currently available MOTH artifact, and he promised to keep it in mind. However, due to the Wildhoof Club having only recently opened, and the lack of an existing library (which he may or may not have stated, with an insufferable grin, is your responsibility), he mentioned that he is unlikely to think about purchasing it anytime soon.



The search effort for Princess Luna continues, and in fact seems to have reached a crescendo of activity. You only keep in touch with its progress through the newspapers, now, but you already know more than enough about it to be able to read the fine print. In fact, you think you might be able to draw up a map of Equestria from memory, and simply update it with the projected progress caused by your own organizational hoofwork, if you really wanted.

There is, however, one thing you read from the newspapers that you… well, not that you didn't expect, but that you find a little sobering nonetheless.

"Princess Cadance has issued a Royal Ordinance, noting the sorrowful passing of the guards who, these last few weeks, have…"

You purse your lips as you continue to read it, and you slowly realize that you recognize all of the names. All of them, you see, were on the initial draft of the list you had asked for.

And you know that there will be a lot more notes like this, on the newspaper, before this is over...



[The Wolf's Due]

[Roll: 12 – HALF (the dangerous searches began in the middle of the previous month) = 6]

[6 Royal Guards have been consumed by the San Palomino desert, while performing their duty.]



- - -



[GRAIL Book, Level 2, CD 60]

[Roll: 21 + 20 (Level 2 source) + 10 (Lantern) + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) – 10 (Respectable Married Mare) = 70]


That was certainly… interesting.

The book was a lot more contentious than you thought it would be, and a lot more graphical than you expected. It appears that you have missed the entire section of… "referential illustrations" that the book has, on the first time you skimmed through it before deciding to buy it back in Canterlot. You didn't have any trouble learning from the book itself, your whole problem was "when" you could read the thing.

You usually do your reading while working or walking around the house. During the odd minutes when you have to wait for a particular report to arrive, whenever you have to go out to the farmlands for one reason or another, those moments.

But you soon realized that this was NOT the sort of book you could just casually bring with you, so out through the window went that time. Sometimes you almost felt like a foal, trying to do something you weren't supposed to be doing in the sneakiest way possible.

You will also have to figure out, you realize as you examine the now-read book one final time, where you will store it, since this is the sort of thing you don't really want anypony else to know that you have in your collection, especially not your daughter.

Oh, and the book also has an amazing recipe for whipped cream in one of its chapters… You ought to make sure that Stormchaser isn't allergic to any of the more unusual ingredients, but it will surely be worth a try.

But anyways, on to the more important aspects of your reading.

As much as you were rather shocked at some moments, it was somewhat curious to learn the… extents, that ponies are willing to go. You are equally impressed that somepony was willing to commit such things to paper, or even publish it, and in that you feel there is a lesson. Ponies, it seems, are capable than more than you thought they originally were, for the satisfaction of certain desires.

However, you are a respectable married mare, so in the end this surprise might be unwarranted. This could be some innocence that you had, due to your sheltered upbringing perhaps, and it might not be that much of a surprise after all.

But regardless if it was something obvious or not, you have learned something, and that is what matters.



A small lesson. Not about Birth, not about Blood, but about the Feast. Maybe you were just too naïve, and merely had a few notions shattered, or maybe not. But in the end, a lesson nonetheless. Gain one scrap of GRAIL Lore.

GRAIL is now level two!





- - -
- - -
- - -





You patiently wait, already hearing the signs of an answer after having knocked on the door.

Your saddle purse is a little heavier than normal. Not overbearingly so, of course, but still a little more than you are used to.

Of course it is, you have come prepared after all.

"Afternoon," the door finally opens, the small purple dragon having to look up to speak with you, "can I help you with anything?"

Thankfully, you are a lot less shocked than you were on the first time you met him. But still, seeing a dragon up close, even if he is smaller than you are, is something you find extremely unusual. Frightening, almost.

But you don't let it show on your face, obviously.

"Good afternoon Spike," you greet the small dragon back, "is Twilight Sparkle here? I would like to talk with her if she is."

You know she is, you saw her reading on the balcony of her… tree… house… library? Well, you saw her as you approached the building, and you could tell that she was deeply engrossed in whatever she was reading. And you know from Rarity that that's usually what she does the entire day, so you knew you would catch her here.

However, the small dragon's expression turns somewhat conflicted at your question.

"Uhh… Twilight is a little… busy? She is in the middle of some research and…" he says, clearly trying to be careful with the words he picks.

A mixture, you can tell, of him trying to say that the mare is busy, while being uncomfortable over the fact that she is probably busy for the same reason every single day. You get the feeling that Spike must have turned away other ponies, these past few days, for that very same reason.

Didn't Rarity say that she moved to Ponyville to make friends? That doesn't sound very productive of her…

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, but I have something that I think she might be interested in. I came here to ask for her help, in fact," you feign some slight exasperation, even floating the bound scroll you are carrying out from your saddle purse, so he can see what you are talking about.

And you see that, with that, Spike becomes even more conflicted. Twilight must have told him directly not to let anypony disturb her, then, for him to be this resilient.

But you can tell that he is wavering. Maybe just another push and he might…

"And Rarity did say you are especially close to her, so I'm sure she won't have any problems if you ask her nicely…?" you ask, drawing from what you know to cover your words in a tinge of hope.

"Well… wait, you know Rarity?" Spike says, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Bingo.

"Do I know Rarity? Why, you're better off asking if I know you by proxy. She talks to me about you all the time after all," you say with a smile.

You lie with a smile. But you see his expression melt at that, his prior conundrum completely forgotten.

Boys… you think with a chortle.

"She also told me you have a sweet tooth for gems, and asked me to pass this along to you," you say, this time speaking the truth, as you float a small box with gems from your saddle purse.

Which he accepts with one of his clawed hands over his chest, a truly dumbfounded smile on his lips as he opens it and sees the tiny hoard of precious stones. No larger than his opened hand, mind you, but probably worth a pile many times its size, in his eyes.

"Make sure not to snack on them all before you call Twilight?" you ask, gently reminding him of what you are asking him to do to begin with.

To which the dragon nods without even looking at you, eyes fixed on the small gemstones and at the thought that those were a gift from Rarity to him. He doesn't even remember to close the door as he retreats back into the library, his feet taking him up the wooden stairs in leaps before he disappears from your view.

You nod to yourself at that, thankful that you didn't have to mention the whole "Spikey Wikey" thing.

Should you feel bad about this whole…? Ehh, probably not, you quickly conclude, just a little misdirection won't hurt anypony. Or anydragon, for that matter.

The dragon is soon back, still smiling and carrying the small box as he welcomes you inside.

The library is just as you remember it, books neatly stacked into the wall-carved shelves, showcasing a collection as large as a small town like Ponyville will probably ever need. Spike guides you to the stairs, pointing you to the glass door that will take you to the balcony, and you leave him with his treat, thanking him as you ascend the stairs by yourself.

And you find Twilight Sparkle, as you expected, sitting on the balcony and surrounded by books.

"Excuse me?" you say, as you gently open the glass door to the small balcony.

"Oh? Velvet Covers? Spike didn't mention it was you," she says, getting up from to greet you, expertly negotiating her path through the many books that lay open around her as she makes her way towards you.

There are a lot of books around her, though, and you mean a lot. Neatly stacked piles of untouched books stand to one side of the balcony, and other, less organized stacks, are on the other side. You also spy several notes on the ground, some old and some freshly inked, which you realize at a glance that are about…

"Studying teleportation?" you tentatively risk, thinking that a few of the magical matrixes you see might be close to what you have studied on the theory of matter transportation.

Theory, mind you, teleportation is a magic that you have never really tried your hoof with.

"More like getting pushed about by teleportation," she answers with a small frown, "I can teleport around short distances without a problem, but I just can't get the details of how to make it stable over longer distances and…"

You stare wide-eyed at the mare, as she casually chides herself over… that. Teleportation is already an incredibly complex magic on its own, and not only did she just casually remark she can do it, but she is also trying to enhance her spell even further?

Several questions come to your mind. "Why?" being one of them, "what is wrong with her?" being another. But you shove them aside, less you lose your focus as to why you are here to begin with.

"That sounds complicated," you remark, getting Twilight's attention once again before she goes back to mumbling about her formulas, "and unfortunately I don't think it's something I know the first thing about. At all," you say with a short laugh. "But…"

You then float the scroll out from your saddle purse once again.

"Could I perhaps ask for your help? Perhaps something to get your mind out of whatever mage-block you are currently in, if nothing else?"

Twilight Sparkle eyes the scroll curiously, raising an interested eyebrow when she hears you mention you would like her "help".

And she nods shortly after.



- - -



"No, this word actually means that the crystal ponies first resisted his rule, and then he shattered the Crystal Heart," she says, causing the words on the scroll to glow with a flick of her horn.

"What…? No, it clearly says here," you go back a few pages, sure of what you are saying, "no, wait… you're right," you concede, seeing Twilight smile at that.

This mare…

"But what about turning Princess Amore into stone? Where does this puts her imprisonment and eventual shattering?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure it happens here then."

This mare is a genius.

Twilight Sparkle was interested in the scroll. Not impressed, you could see, as she probably had access to this sort of thing routinely, being under Princess Celestia's tutelage, but she was interested nonetheless. Even more so when the two of you realized how convoluted the text was, being faithfully transcribed from its original ancient grammar.

But that is the point, once you mentioned that you would have difficulty reading it, she simply passed you a reference book for classical Pony Language. A single copy, that is, heavily marked and with signs of great use. She didn't bring a copy for herself because she didn't need one.

She could basically quote the book, sometimes even telling you the number of the page you would need to check to see if she was right or not. And right she was, almost every time.

Impressed doesn't even begin to describe how you feel. You are unsure if the best word to describe the young mare is "genius" or "savant", but you can tell after but a few hours of interaction that she has a near-perfect memory, and the mental capacity to actually use the information she stores.

But you weren't about to let yourself be overtaken by such a young mare, genius or not.


[Impressing her, of all ponies, is a tall order, CD 80/120/160]

[81 + 14 (Learning) + 20 (SECRET HISTORIES Level 2) = 115]


In fact, you smile as you confirm a particular detail on the text, you are about to introduce a little chaos into that genial, perfectly ordered mind of hers.

"Exactly, that would put Princess Amore's demise there," you nod with her, "and that is why we are wrong."

Twilight tilts her head, and turns towards you with an almost disgruntled expression.

"Wrong? How so? The temporal implication of the text is clear, this is the only possible sequence of events."

The two of you are in front of a blackboard, one she had brought down from her own room and placed in the balcony so you could better follow your studies of the scroll. There, you and Twilight have basically written the chronology of the events described by the scroll.

It was a simple necessity, at first, given how utterly confusing the language on the scroll is. But eventually the two of you descended into an amicable research of sorts, dissecting the text down to its fine print to get every last detail out of it. Now, a few hours later, you effectively have a summarized timeline of King Sombra's short reign of terror, with an impressive quantity of notes written on the blackboard itself and several pages worth of notes neatly stacked around you.

And despite being years younger than you, Twilight has already proven to be more than a match to your academic knowledge, to the point where you are basically fact-checking her assumptions and sometimes, albeit rarely, pointing some small flaw or suggesting some small correction.

Until now, that is. And that is because you have a distinct advantage over the studious mare.

She knows a lot more about history than you, but you know a thing or two about Histories.

"See? There is no other way things could have happened," she repeats herself after quickly reviewing the short timeline, taking in the entirety of the notes on the blackboard in less than a minute.

"Do you have a copy of Ancient Equestria Historiae?" you ask with a small smile on your face, seeing her nod back at you, still wearing her doubtful expression.

"Of course I do, it's a must-have from Henri Caballus," she says matter-of-factly, walking out of the balcony and down the stairs towards the library without a second thought.

"Unedited edition?" you throw the question at her before she is down the third step, watching her pause for a few moments.

"What difference does it make?" Twilight asks, curiously.

But you simply nod at her to entertain you for a few minutes more, watching her go upstairs towards her room instead, returning not long after with a battered and old tome of a book, the letters "AEH" printed on its cover.

The book has clearly seen a good mileage. You can tell that this is either an old copy she got from a library in Canterlot, or a personal issue that she has read and reread several times already. You wouldn't be surprised if it was a combination of both, in fact. Regardless, you accept it with a gentle nudge of floating magic.

"Well, you seem to be familiar with our good friend Caballus," you say as you open the large book, quickly rolling the pages aside with magic until you reach the, comparatively short, chapter about the Crystal Empire, "then what have you to say about this?"

You then give the book to her and watch her read through the page you are pointing at.

Twilight Sparkle's expression becomes focused at first, and then doubtful, and finally confused as she turns back to you.

"I don't see your point… it says the same thing. The short revolts, the Crystal Heart being stolen away, and then the shattering of Princess Amore," she reads back from the book, "the order of the events is the same, so why are you saying our timeline is wrong?"

"Yes, sure it's the same, but isn't there a tiny detail that is different?" you ask, causing her to float the scroll towards her as she compares the two texts.

Goodness gracious, you can't even read the scroll at the speed she is reading, and yet she can do it while comparing it to another book.

"Look Velvet, I don't really see… what…" she starts talking again, but her words slow down as she squints at a particular word, "what…? Wait, the Crystal Heart was stolen away?" she says to nopony in particular, eyeing the unedited book, "and here it says it was… shattered?" she reads from the scroll.

And then she turns her doubtful eyes towards you.

"Well, so it seems," you agree, a mischievous smile on your face as you see her confused expression.

"Then one of them clearly is wrong," she says simply, laying the two texts down, "I mean, Caballus was notorious for having famously accurate books, the difference between his unedited and edited works is largely in the grammatical part, mostly making his work more understandable for contemporary readers, not correcting his actual study."

You nod at her. Good, she knows her authors, so that means you won't have to explain that particular piece of trivia to her.

"So the scroll must be wrong one," she says, pacing around the small balcony as she thinks, eyeing your scroll suspiciously, "but…"

"Yes. But." You say, still with an amused smile of sorts, "but we checked what we found on the scroll, didn't we? I'm pretty sure Introduction to Ancient Pony History over there all but says that the Crystal Heart was shattered, no? We even marked it with the other references, after all."

Twilight looks at the blackboard, seeing the small list of references the two of you drew upon as you read the scroll, her eyes focusing on the small line under the entry "Crystal Heart shattered" in your tentative timeline, a single straight chalk-drawn arrow connecting it to the two books you confirmed it from.

Yes, she remembers it. You can practically hear the cogs of her possibly perfect memory summoning up the image of the book, confirming what she read on that particular line of text. She doesn't even need to physically re-check it, even though she easily could.

"So then…" she bites her lips, nervously now, "some of the books are wrong? A lot of them are wrong?" her pace becoming faster as she walks in circles around you. "Books can be wrong?!"

You cover your mouth with a hoof as you let out a small giggle.

"How can you be laughing at this? This is important!" she finally sits down, a hoof going towards her forehead as several books float in her direction with an absent-minded surge of magic, "granted that there are few surviving pieces of evidence when it comes to the Crystal Empire, but these are history books! They must draw from reliable sources! We can't have them spreading misinformation."

You watch as she simultaneously opens four of those books, checking the pages written on the blackboard so as to cross-reference the pieces of literature that she is holding.

You laugh a little more at that, but you tone yourself down a little when you realize that she is actually starting to get worked up over this.

"Twilight, calm down, there really is an explanation to this," you say, watching the books freeze in midair, her attention immediately focusing back on you.

You do realize, though, that she only paused her efforts because you said that you know why this is happening. You can tell that anything else, any simple attempt at smoothing her distress, would not have worked, especially if it was based solely on emotions.

Twilight, you can see, is indeed very… interesting.

But she might be the kind of pony who need somepony else to hold her back. If she gets this exasperated with just some small error in a few books, you can't imagine how she must be when facing actual difficulties in life.

"Here, allow me," you say, floating the several books away from her, "and I know you know that all those books have reliable sources. I'm sure that if you really try you will find exactly why they claim what they each claim. Some of them might quote an ancient mural, depicting the Crystal Heart being shattered, others might quote some oral tradition or foal's lullaby about the Crystal Heart being stolen away."

It is usually something like that, you know. After all, you have already heard about other such… loopholes, so to speak, told to you by your Master as the years went by, in a few of the cult meetings.

You had checked each of them, of course, and all of them had this duplicity of sources, two reliable pieces of historical evidence pointing at different directions.

It was sheer luck that you noticed this one, right now, but nonetheless it is something that you feel sharing with Twilight will be… well, let's go with "interesting".

"So instead of trying to figure out which of the two versions is wrong, why don't you entertain the thought that both of them might be right?" you ask, a knowing expression on your face.

To which Twilight Sparkle, not unexpectedly, answers with a skeptical expression of her own.

"Both are right? Velvet, this is history. His-to-ry," she says, her tone serious, "only one thing could have happened, and these books are supposed to tell us what," and you can hear a tinge of tension returning to her voice.

"Well then, if that's what you are so sure of," you turn your back to her, facing the blackboard, and you float a piece of chalk to one of its free areas, "then why don't I leave you with a bit of homework?"

You can feel her inquisitive gaze against the back of your head as you slowly write down the few occurrences you can remember, but soon enough you have a short list of five historical moments on the blackboard. "Who won the third edition of the Equestria Games?", "Which cousin of the Greenhoof family forged his wife's Letter of Ladyship?" and a few other questions neatly laid in order.

All of them, you know, have ambiguous answers. Checked, well-documented, evidence backed ambiguous answers.

You recall how you spent entire months checking all of those, when you first heard about them. Each of them little footnotes in history books, each of them requiring further investigation that sometimes went all the way to the dusty archives of a Library in Canterlot, or even a letter to some famous historian.

Something tells you that Twilight Sparkle will have them all checked in two weeks, or maybe three. But still, you know she is in for a ride.

"I'm not sure I will have time for this… I mean, I'm still trying to improve my teleportation spell," she says, rubbing her chin as she reads the five small historical entries. But you can see you caught her attention if nothing else.

"Then just check one of them, and if you can't find anything interesting forget about it," you say with confidence, seeing the mare's doubtful expression, "and think of it as a pastime. Really, I'm sure that if you stop your teleportation studies for a few days you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes once you return to it," you try prodding her just a little more.

To which she finally nods.

"Well, I guess I could go for some idle researching for a few days…" she says, still a little conflicted, but clearly coming to a decision.

"I look forward to hearing about your findings then," you say, collecting your scroll and floating it towards your saddle purse.

You have been here for a few hours now, after all, and the muffins you brought have already been eaten by the two of you.

And your saddle purse will be, thankfully, all the lighter thanks to that.



You have given Twilight Sparkle something to think about.

There is definitely a little Lantern in the mare, you can see, but you are not sure how intense it is. You might be able to see how much it is if you get back to her and ask how her research went.


Yes, but have you learned anything yourself?

[SECRET HISTORIES Book, Level 3, CD 70]

[Roll: 41 + 30 (Level 3 source) + 10 (LANTERN bonus) + 14 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) = 100]


Gained one scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

SECRET HISTORIES is now level three!

And it seems that you have had a brush with a situation in which you applied your Knowledge Bonus for a Lore. These are rare, or at least harder to come by than Application Bonus situations (which are much more broad and general), but remind yourselves that "Knowledge Bonus" is "your knowledge and intimacy with a Lore, as well as how much of its power you carry", so it stands to reason that while specifically trying to "teach" or "prod" somepony else about it, you will apply it.

You nearly gave her… something "more interesting" to think about, but it was a high CD to begin with given how this is a book reading action coupled with a little bit of social.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are standing in the middle of the room, at the heart of the triangular representation of the Mansus that forms the centerpiece of the Ritual Circle.

This is one of the underground rooms that Windy Flakes had prepared, and perhaps this might be one of the most important rooms in the entirety of the Wildhoof Club. The Club itself is already open, and with quite a good number of ponies that you don't know already present at the Red Bar. But several others, including the entirety of the staff, are cult members, so you were able to make your way towards the "restricted" stairs without any curious glances following you.

It is, in fact, a little strange to be treated with this much deference. You are treated with respect by your own servants, sure, but you already have a somewhat informal relationship with them after so many years, especially with Ponpon and the other maids who are closer to you. Being in Ponyville, also, means that most of the time you are simply a regular mare while out in the streets.

Not that you dislike that, quite on the contrary. The peace and calm of social anonymity, or perhaps the disregard to nobility as a whole, is one of the good points of Ponyville.

But still, the way you are treated by your fellow cultists is a curious reminder that you are, indeed, one of the six ponies of the Inner Circle.

However, that is besides the point. You are here today to perform a ritual, not to wonder at such social intricacies.

Fifteen ponies stand around you, at the edges of the outer circle, silver cups at their hoofs as they await your prompt.

A larger grail, filled with a red liquid that has been prepared prior to your arrival, is on the ground before you.

You sit down on your hinds, take the grail with your hoofs, and you say the words.

And the attendants around the circle repeat them.


[30 bits have been deduced from your personal coffers]

[The Calling of Influence: GRAIL]

[7 + 20 (GRAIL, Level 2) + 10 (Jade Whistle's Cadre) + 12 (Magic) = 49]

[You have not reached any intensity of GRAIL Influence]


You finish drinking the contents of the grail, whispering the names and the words and the calls between every gulp, the last cup of the last attendant is also emptied as you drain the last drop from your own part. And you feel…

Nothing…

You feel the pleasant aftertaste of the wine, heavy with alcohol and other things. You feel the slight tinges of inebriation on the corners of your mind as your body reacts to it. But nothing else.

Perhaps Grail has failed you.

Perhaps you have failed the Grail.

The ashen taste of disappointment comes to your tongue shortly after.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Your eyes focus on the problem you have been searching for the last ten minutes, an "Aha!" coming from your lips as you circle the offending numbers, everything else clicking into place as you correct it.

A fourth of a granary's worth in produce (an entire fourth!) would probably not have been shipped out this month if you had not followed your guts, hunting for the nagging sensation that something was not adding up. Literally, in this case.

You press your large "REWRITE" stamp against the scroll and float it towards the "RETURN" pile of documents. Heavens know that you won't re-do that entire report, especially when it was somepony else's mistake to begin with, and you let out a rather tired sigh.

And as usual, your eyes idly drift towards the other documents and reports on your "IN" pile. That ever tall, ever increasing pile.

Well, everypony has their lot in their lives, and you surely won't start complaining about yours, all things considered.

A knock suddenly comes from your door, snapping you out of your thoughts as you look towards it. Your thoughts disentangle themselves from your work as you wonder who it might be.

Ponpon usually knocks, but being your personal maid she lets herself in without further ado, so its not her. However, everypony else in your house knows not to disturb you while you are working, and they wouldn't even have bothered to knock if it was an emergency, so who…?

"Come in," you say, your expression serious and your voice even more so, watching as the door slowly opens.

"Uhm… mommy?" and your expression immediately softens as you see your daughter's small face, hesitantly peeking in, "sorry to interrupt."

She is not interrupting you, of course, especially not when she is looking so apologetic. Really, you think, she is such a well-behaved daughter!

"There is no problem Silky, what can mom help you with?" you ask, your voice mellowing down as you speak over the fawning voices inside your head.

"I know it's something silly, and that I'm not supposed to bother you but…" she says, and you have to force yourself not to put your two hoofs on your cheeks and awwww at her, "I looked everywhere, and I can't find my homework. Have you seen it anywhere?"

Ah, so it was just that.

"Have you asked Soft Sweeps to help you look?" you gently ask.

To which your daughter replies by opening the door a little more, revealing the figure of Soft Sweeps, an uncomfortable and clearly forced smile on her face.

"She couldn't find it either," you daughter says, as the maid mouths a mute apology when your eyes glance over her.

"Well, have you tried asking daddy?" you try.

To which she, once again opens the door a little more, and you see your husband standing there, his eyes wide open at the fact that Silky tattled that he was listening in so easily.

For some reason you can see Stormchaser shiver slightly as he sees you looking at him. You idly wonder how your expression must look like right now, but you discard the thought soon after.

Really, those three…

"Well, as it might happen, I think I have seen it," you say, much to their shared surprise.

Yes, you recall it clearly, you were going up the stairs of the main hall when, by chance, you think you saw a small notebook… forgotten on top of the chandelier, near the ceiling.

"And I think mommy told you not to do your homework anywhere other than the desk inside your room, no?" you ask pointedly, seeing the filly's eyes shoot wide open as she connects the dot.

"Oh, right… thanks mom!" she says, quickly closing the door.

You think you hear something akin to a hushed conversation, and you let out a low chuckle as you hear what sounds like blaming accusations being thrown around among the three of them.

But you phase that noise out, slowly concentrating on your work once again.

As much as seeing your daughter is a good way to have a short break of sorts, you still have a lot to do. Focusing on your horn once again, you float another one of the sealed reports towards you, quickly opening it to-



Another knock, shattering your focus before it even finishes gaining shape.



You look up, this time seeing Stormchaser's face, an extremely uneasy smile on his lips as he interrupts you.

Again.

"Excuse me sweetheart, really sorry to be disturbing you," he says, making it clear that he wished he wasn't, "but have you also seen Silky's feathered pen? It wasn't with her notebook and…"

A short neigh akin to a grumpy snort escaping from your nose, as you glare at your interrupting husband. He very nearly crumbles under your stare, not enjoying the same adoring protection your daughter has from your work-self, cringing under the pressure of your scowl.

You see him try to retreat, maybe step back into the corridor and close the door behind him, but two pairs of hoofs, pushing him from behind, keep his cowering form firmly in place.

"Under the dinning table," you say, your voice sharpened into a blade by your diminishing patience, "she let it fall there earlier today, during breakfast."

You remember it clearly. Silky had brought her studying material to the table this morning, and let the thing fall to the ground between bites on her pancakes. You idly wonder why you didn't point it out to her then, but the thought seems unimportant next to the burning question of why your husband is still standing there.

"Thanks sweetheart, loveyouexcuseme!" he says, disappearing behind the door and nearly slamming it shut behind him.

You let out a small sigh. Peace, finally.

Once again, you bring the report to the center of your office desk and unseal it, doing your usual checks.

Names, dates, addresses, work field, assigned earth ponies… you idly float last month's ledgers towards you as you check if the very first lines of the report matches the last lines of the ledger, making sure that the spot where you had left off from the previous period has the same information. Soon, you are making your way down to the figures and numbers as-



Another knock.



Your patience, your concentration, your very calm cracks like brittle glass as somepony hurriedly knocks on your door. Only this time they knock, open the door, and throw in a terrified Soft Sweeps who falls on the ground hind first, slamming the door shut behind her right after.

The maid is trembling as she looks up at you, not even being able to stand up from her awkward sitting position as you glower at her.

"What?" you ask, to which the maid practically presses her back against the door, forelegs to her side as if she was a small animal being stared down by an angry predator.

From the maid's perspective, in some points, she might as well be.

"Y-young miss'… Silk-ky's…" she stutters, which only causes your mood to grow darker as she wastes your time, "backpack, Mrs. V-Velvet, her b-backpack!" she finally squeals.

You take in a long, deep breath, wondering how anypony could miss something so obvious.

Silky went out through the window to go to school, early this morning, and then remembered today is a weekend. She then doubled-back and left her backpack in the roof of the estate, and Soft Sweeps didn't notice it because she didn't fly after her. You saw that, all of that, from your window earlier this morning.

Heavens, you just looked out through your window, seconds ago, and confirmed that her backpack is still there. You remember it clearly an-



Your mind grinds to a halt with that thought. You… remember it clearly…?



A shiver runs down your spine.

"T-terribly sorry Mrs. Velvet, I… I'llbe takingmyleave now,pleasedon'tfireme!" the maid quickly excuses herself, mistaking your sudden shift in expression for something far, far worse.

But you… you couldn't care less right now.

Well, you do care for her, annoyances aside, but right now you can't really bring yourself to give it much thought. Something far more concerning is slowly coming to your mind, as you slowly piece together several disconnected thoughts.



Something far more disturbing, that is.



You try to piece the memories back together. When did you walk up the main stairs again? When was it that you looked up and saw your daughter's notebook?

It was during the afternoon, it had to be. You remember how the sunlight was angling into the hall, after all.

But you haven't left your office since lunch time. You haven't been at the entrance hall since this morning.

And her… was it her quill? How did that play out again…?

Yes, you remember… but the breakfast you have in mind, Stormchaser wasn't there. But…

Well, but he is home right now, simply put. You definitely ate breakfast with him and your daughter this morning, so why do you remember that you were too busy floating a napkin to your daughter's mouth to tell her about her fallen quill? Why do you recall that the chair next to her, the one where your husband usually sits, was empty?

Your eyes are wide open now, your thoughts running as you try to make sense of what the hell is going on. These things, these images, they are clear as day, fresh as a memory might be, except…

Except you can only recall the images. No sound, no taste, no smell, nothing that a normal memory would have, but you still recall them as if you had been there yourself, as if you had seen those moments with your very own eyes.

You can feel your heartrate getting faster.

What in Equestria is going on?!

The more you think about it, the more you can see. Glimpses of you walking with your husband through the farmlands, on a rare occasion that you called him to accompany you, images of you talking to Ponpon, as she hands you your mail.

But the fields around you and your husband are the same as they are today. The letters Ponpon is carrying, in your memories, are the same you have received a few hours earlier from another servant.

More images, more memories. You close your eyes, uselessly, as you try to calm yourself down.

You see yourself, you see through your own eyes. You are in the entrance hall, looking at the central clock.

The time, you are looking at the time right now. You are at the central hall of your estate, looking at the time, even though you are sitting on your chair in your office.

Your breathing grows faster, shallower, you are very nearly having a panic attack.



The time, the hands of the large clock of the entrance hall, is the same time that you can see on the small clock on your office desk. You press your head against the hard wood of your desk, hoping for even a smidge of darkness, hoping to be able to see nothing for at least a few seconds as you try to recollect your thoughts.

You fail, of course, your closed eyes being able to see perfectly even as you cover them completely with your hoofs.

You can see perfectly, you can see the clock of the entrance hall perfectly, the image of its small hands counting the seconds going in tandem with the sound of the small clock right in front of you.

You are there, right now, the same way that you are here.



What the hell are these things? Glimpses? Insights? Hallucinations as your mind slowly fractures?

Whatever it is, you can see… you can damned see.

You float an empty parchment to your desk, nearly throwing the other reports aside, and you take out your quill.

"My name…" you hurriedly write, mumbling to yourself as you go, worried that perhaps you might slip away if you don't do this, "is… Velvet Covers…"

You write that down, and stare intently at your own rushed hoofwriting, trying to focus on that image as if you were searching for… something.

And soon enough, you find it. A memory, so recent that it might have been from a few seconds ago, a recollection of you looking at that same parchment.

But much to your terrified surprise, or perhaps just as you expected, you can see that something very different is written on that same parchment, in your seconds-old memory.



"So am I. So are we. Relax." You read, or you remember that you read, from a memory that you are sure is not exactly yours, but you can tell that is from a few moments ago at best.



It takes you a long time to actually calm down.



You have achieved the third level of Secret Histories, and have come to a Realization. You can now see glimpses of your own memory, from other Histories. Memories, flashes of visions, and nothing else. You are terrified by it, and will avoid doing it whenever possible, but you have noticed that whenever you are "looking for something" the memories of how you found it (or rather, how you may find it) come unbidden.

Your "Book/Artifact Search" action has been upgraded. These actions will now yield books and artifacts in greater quantities as a rule, and will have their "reward table" updated, even when performed by a servant. However, servant actions will continue not to enjoy your other personal bonuses.

If those actions are performed by yourself, personally, they will not cap at the 100 mark.

You have taken to wearing a necklace, with a picture of your husband and daughter. Whenever the images get too strong, and you are not sure if it's your own eyes that you are seeing through, you take up the locket and look at it.

You hope no other Velvet Covers copies that habit.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

- - -

You are standing in front of her house, wondering if perhaps you should call out for her. You have a nagging impression that she habitually sleeps until very late, or at least that's what you gathered from the last time you have been here, so perhaps she is still asleep.

Or perhaps you should throw pebbles at her window? The childish thought idly crosses your mind, and you entertain it for a few moments before gently suppressing it with the more adult logic that you would probably break her old windows by accident.

But would that really be that bad a thing? It would force her to do some sort of maintenance in her house, after all, and of course you would both help her and pay for any damage you caused and…

No, wait, better not. She would probably keep her broken window, and her house would fall into further disrepair, only this time it would be your fault.

"But still…" you whisper to yourself, eyeing her front door with a complicated expression, "I did write her. Several times, in fact, and…"

You have been trying to get in touch with Jade Whistle for a while. You probably sent her the first letter on the beginning of the month, you think. And then you sent her a second letter, thinking the first didn't reach her by some freak accident.

And then the third letter, since the last two went by unanswered…

The same way you have already knocked on her door, several times, without even a hint that the mare might be in there.

"Maybe I should just go inside?" you think out loud. It probably wouldn't be that hard, you think, just a little Knock and some prodding with your horn and you could open her locked door jus-

"Hello Velvet," Jade Whistle says, standing next to you, and you nearly jump in surprise at her sudden appearance.

You stare at her in disbelief for a few seconds, but the mare, as usual, seems totally unperturbed by your surprise or by your presence, much like she seems unperturbed by everything else.

"Jade!" you yelp, shaking your head and getting a better grip of yourself shortly after, "I mean, Jade, good afternoon. How have you been?"

The mare stares at you, and you take the opportunity to have a better look at her as well.

She seems… normal, if such a description can be applied to her. Light blue coat in its usual tone, grey mane perhaps a little unkept, but that's it.

You also see she is carrying a saddle bag, with what appears to be packages of food jutting out of it. You have to admit you are not too savvy when it comes to that sort of thing, your own shopping and cooking being handled by your servants after all, but it looks like she is carrying nothing but instant food.

That definitely doesn't look healthy, you think.

"I see you were out?" you try again, seeing that the mare will probably not answer your first question. To which she just stares at you for a few more seconds.

A few more long, drawn out, silent seconds.

And then she walks by you, and heads to her door. You suppress a shiver, your whole body going rigid as you hold back whatever physical response you might be wanting to perform, until the mare finally says something.

"I woke up and realized I didn't have any food left," she says simply.

And you jump at that answer like a drowning pony might grab hold of a floating log.

"I see, I've only been here for a few minutes, so I suppose I'm in luck that you got back home now," you say.

Immediately groaning, internally of course, at your own phrasing.

She usually is already silent when you directly ask her something. How in the heavens can you expect her to volunteer anything after you just make an off-hoof comment like that?!

"By the way," you continue after a few moments, not breaking stride, "did you get a letter I sent you? I'm not sure if I got your address or your cutie mark wrong, or if there was a problem at the post office and you didn't receive them, but… well, is there any chance we could do something today? Have a nice chat or the likes?"

Jade Whistle has her back to you, while she fishes her keys from the saddle bag and slowly unlocks her door. But it is good that she can't see you, you think, because you are not sure how genuine, or downright uncomfortable, your smile is right now.

Regardless of how your smile is, though, you are sure it is not getting any better as the mare wordlessly opens her door.

"May I perhaps come in?" you ask, taking a final risk. Hoping for something, anything that might-

"I'd rather you didn't," she answers in her monotone voice, passing through her open door and closing it behind her right after.

Leaving you alone in the empty street.

…

You finally let your jaw drop, your shock taking the better of you.

Did she just…? What was…?

She didn't slam the door on your face, but she might as well have. You feel like you have just been struck, as you are left alone in the quiet street, staring at the silent shape of her front door.

Is she alright? Should you be worried? Was that response from her supposed to mean anything?! You like to think of yourself as a reasonably social mare, and sometimes you even entertain the thought that perhaps you know a thing or two about reading ponies. But you have no idea of what to make of this.

Was she annoyed by your question? Does she not want company, yours or anypony else's?

Several ideas come to your head, ranging from forcing your way through her door and following after her, to trying to reach her through the Mansus, to simply doing… well, nothing. She is a grown mare after all, as much as you might know she has her… situation, so to speak.

You sigh, the more immediate and radical ideas quickly dying out in your head, smothered by the veils of common sense. She didn't give you any clues that she needs immediate help of any kind, although she never gives any clues about anything, so you better just give up and leave.

"Allright…" you slowly recompose yourself, surprise still clear on your face, "that just happened…"

That question was a risk, after all. You knew it was a gamble. The only thing is that you never imagined you would lose like that. But shocked as you might be, it doesn't change the fact that you are alone now, in an empty street, with nothing but your thoughts to keep you company as you make the long trek back home.

You turn away from her house, still feeling a little defeated, but soon enough you start walking, your thoughts starting to think of what else you might do with your free time now. Maybe you could salvage this? Salvage the afternoon, you mean. Try and meet somepony else, or visit Rarity? Or perhaps-

Your thoughts once again grind to a halt as you hear the sound of a door being unlocked, and you turn to see Jade Whistle calmly closing it behind herself and walking towards you.

Her expression, of course, totally unphased as she looks at you.

"Oh, you're leaving," she says nonchalantly, eyes empty as usual despite her words, "you are actually busy then."

To which your mind does a somersault, the reflexive prompts to facehoof and let your jaw fall being both held back by conscious willpower as Jade Whistle finishes approaching you.

"I… I thought you were the busy one?" you ask, or you try to ask, not sure if your question even makes sense at all. "I mean, you went into your house and closed the door?"

Her head tilts slightly at that, almost imperceptibly.

"My house is a little…" she starts, her voice trailing off as she looks towards her door, then back towards you, "I'd rather if you didn't enter it," she finishes simply.

But of course, you mockingly chide yourself, how didn't you realize that's what she meant in the first place.

She never asked you to leave. Well, she didn't tell you to wait for her either, but she didn't ask you to leave, did she? Go you, Mrs. Socially Wise!

By the heavens, this mare…

"I'm sorry, I did something wrong again, didn't I?" she cuts through your thoughts, although her voice doesn't make it clear if she actually feels sorry about anything. "I am annoying you."

"No! I mean, not at all Jade," you quickly correct your tone, remembering how disturbingly observant the mare is, hoping basically that she can't read your mind as you hurriedly banish the image your reflection mocking yourself, "you are not annoying anypony."

Although you can't tell if your words are having any effect.

"Anyhow, like I said, did you get any of my letters?" you ask again, hoping to change the subject.

She looks at you for a few more moments but, thankfully, she opens her mouth to talk.

"I thought it was a dream," she says, "I'm not sure when was the last time I received a letter."

You nod at that, slowly starting to walk, and admittedly feeling relieved when the mare follows you without you needing to actually tell her to.

"But I receive less letters than I have nice dreams, so I thought it was the latter," she says simply.

She says it simply, but you can't help but feel a warm something on your chest at that.

You ought to write Jade more frequently, if that is the case.

Or, you think rather hopefully, you ought to do something better, then. Being her "friend" sounds a lot better than being her "pen pal". If she is willing to, that is.

You hope she is.

"Do you know anyplace nice around here?" you ask in an off-hoof manner as the two of you walk, "I'm not really used to this part of Ponyville."

You see her look down at that, something that hopefully means she is thinking about your question, not overthinking about something else.

Although you can't help but notice that you are doing a lot of overthinking yourself, it seems.

"There is this park I usually go to, this way," she says, pointing the two of you in a certain direction.

Very much to your surprise, you have to admit. You really didn't think you would get any answer from that, and you already had a nearby tea house you were planning to take her.

But well, you are not about to turn down her offer, you think as you follow after her.

And indeed, the two of you arrive at a park shortly after, a nice patch of greenery, even by Ponyville standards, stretches for a good while at the end of the dirt road. Several flowerbeds dot the place, some of them surrounding tall trees, and wooden benches painted in several colors can be seen on its edges.

You see a few foal's toys near the center of the park. A small assortment of slides, climbers and whatnots, some of them already occupied by a group of colts as they laugh and shout at each other.

"I'm always surprised at how Ponyville manages to come up with places like this," you say, mostly to yourself.

But you see Jade Whistle looking at you, so you hope that means she is wondering what exactly you mean by your comment.

"I mean, Ponyville has the feeling of a small city, but it has a surprisingly large number of inhabitants," you say, drawing from the information about the city's statistics you read once, "but still, the houses and buildings are spaced and they manage to almost hide these sorts of places here and there."

You follow her as you talk, seeing that she is leading the two of you to a particular bench, with a good view of the park as a whole and of the playing foals.

"I'm glad that real urbanization has not gotten its hoofs here, at least not yet. I think Ponyville would lose a lot of its charm if it became a place like Vanhoover," you finish.

And it makes you glad to see her nod at that.

"Yeah, I think its good when things stay the way they are," she says as you sit down next to each other.

The two of you then look towards the playing colts, you in particular with a bit of a smile on your face.

To be honest you are not entirely sure of where to go from here. You had planned something along the lines of what has already happened, so to speak, you are sitting with her in a pleasant place after all, but its not like you thought ahead of exactly what you would talk about with her.

After all, so many things seem rather… too touchy, to say the least, to be a good subject. Far too many things, now that you think about it.

You have a loving family, you live in a nice house, you dare say that you have healthy friendships and relationship.

And Jade Whistle… well, those are not particular subjects you felt you should bring up, so you didn't plan ahead on any of those lines.

Still, you absolutely don't want to talk with her about cult things. It would feel like the equivalent of "talking about work", and you both don't really need that sort of thing right now, as well as you very much prefer to try to actually bond with the mare.

"Any other places you know about?" you ask, focusing back on the present, the wind softly blowing on your manes as you talk.

However, you don't think she heard your question, still looking towards the playing colts. Until she finally blinks a few times, as if she had snapped out of a thought, before turning towards you.

"Hm? Oh… not really," you notice how natural she sounded for a few moments, while she was somewhat surprised, before reverting to her usual tone, "I like this park, so I don't really bother to look for other places."

"Really? That's a bit of a shame, Ponyville has all sorts of wonderful places… Which makes me want to ask: have you ever visited another city?" you say, in the most amicable way possible.

"Not that I remember," she shakes her head, her eyes following one of the colts as he slides down on one of the toys.

"Aren't you even curious about visiting them?"

You expect an answer akin to a "not really", but in all honesty you are still happy with this. You are not sure why but Jade Whistle seems far more approachable then she usually is.

"That's a good question," she says, following up with something rather surprising to you, "I sometimes am curious about other places, but… if I already like it here, why would I need to go someplace else?" she asks, turning to look at you.

This was… not the sort of thing you were expecting, but you don't really feel any sort of second intentions from her.

So this is just idle philosophy? You can do that without any problems.

"Well, to have some new experience, perhaps? To grow as a pony?" you say, not really intending to go anywhere with it, but trying to rise to the occasion that her question brought nonetheless, "there is no problem in liking a place in particular and staying there, since…"

You very nearly say that those sorts of places, the ones we like, are the best places to build a home, for example. But you think that might not be the best sort of wording to use with her.

"Well," you continue, "I just think there is nothing wrong with wanting to see new places either."

You think you hear her let out a "Hm" at that, but you are not sure.

"Well, I always really wanted to visit Cloudsdale, it looks nice. A shame that we non-pegasus can't really go there…" she says, her voice somewhat bored, but…

Your ears perk up. Do you hear a tinge of something else in her tone? Could that be an actual, honest, longing of hers, small as it may be?

"You do know that there are spells for that, don't you?" you say, drawing from the memory of the time you have been to Cloudsdale, "in fact, I think I recall that they rent enchanted horseshoes on the balloon airports."

"You have already been to Cloudsdale?" she asks.

And maybe for the first time since you met her, you actually think her voice resembles a questioning tone, and not a monotonous drone.

You even think her eyes are fractionally wider in surprise!

"Jade, my husband is a pegasus," you answer with a short, honest laugh, "and yes, I have been to Cloudsdale. Here, let me tell you all about it. The place is wonderful."

Much to your delight, Jade Whistle actually shows that she is paying attention as you tell her about the Capital of Clouds.



- - -



The two of you are still sitting on that same bench.

The colts are gone now, they went away a short while ago. But the two of you have been sitting there the whole time, while you told Jade Whistle everything you remember about Cloudsdale.

She didn't say a word the whole time, but you could tell that she was really interested in it.

You two are sitting in silence now, but it's the sort of silence that you aren't uncomfortable with. It's the silence of pleasant company, perhaps, and you genuinely hope that she is feeling the same way right now.

"I really didn't know we could go there," she finally says.

"Maybe you would have known if you went out more?" you try saying in the gentlest tone you can muster.

And it is a bit of a relief when you see her nod at that.

"Maybe I would…"

You allow yourself to relax with that. In all honesty, this whole afternoon went far better than you hoped it would. Jade Whistle was mostly quiet the whole time, and inexpressive as usual, but you feel that this time it wasn't in a distant and disconnected way.

You feel like she was simply quiet, not distant. She still felt like she was there, sitting right next to you.

"Can I ask you something?" she says, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Sure," you look towards her, curiously.

"I…" she starts talking, only to stop before long, looking towards the foal's toys on the center of the park for a few moments.

Picking her next words, or maybe something else.

"I sleep a lot," she says, suddenly, "but I don't really go into the Mansus that often."

You slowly nod at that, your eyes narrowing slightly, but you don't say anything, for some reason afraid that you might discourage her of continuing if you do.

"I didn't use to, that is. But I have been there more frequently, ever since… a few months back."

You don't need to think too hard to know what particular event she is talking about.

"And not long ago, I…" you see her take a deep breath.

And your smile immediately disappears from your face.

"I reached the Blank Door," she says, looking towards the ground.

Of course, you understand the several things she means by that.

Jade Whistle said she reached the Blank Door, not that she crossed it. But still, she mentioned it as being "the Blank Door", by name. A part of you instantly understands that she has learned exactly what is behind the Blank Door.

Maybe she even had the same vision as you. Vision, dream, glimpse of the past, or whatever else that was.

She knows, then, that behind the Blank Door is…

You realize she is looking towards the foal's toys, on the center of the park, once again.

"And…?" you force the word out of your mouth, your throat for some reason feeling dry. The meaning behind it implicit.

She said she wanted to ask you a question, after all.

"And I wanted to ask…" her voice has not changed one bit, still monotonous. Her expression has not changed one bit, still neutral, or perhaps bored.

But for some reason you can tell… you can feel that there is some sort of weight forming around her. Inside of her, or on her back, or maybe on her soul. You don't know where it is, but you can tell that something is pushing her down as she takes another deep breath, eyes still fixed on that same place, before she finally asks her question.

"… Master says you have already crossed it. So what is it like, behind the Blank Door?"

She might as well be asking what time it is, from her tone of voice.

But you know that this question is something that has been tormenting her. Deeply.

And perhaps, you think, it has been tormenting her for far longer than she even knew about the Mansus or the Blank Door.



[How does it feel, to feel nothing at all? - Breakpoints 40/60/80/100]

[Roll = 97 + 14 (Learning) = 111]



You feel a knot inside your chest. You feel it tighten a bit more every time you look at Jade Whistle.

You feel it tighten every time you follow her stare, and realize she is looking at the foal's toys on the center of the park.

You feel it tighten every time you look back at your memory, and realize she had been watching the colts play during that whole time, while you told her about Cloudsdale. While you explain to her how was it like to visit it with your family, and how excited your small daughter was at this and that.

But most of all, you feel that this thing inside your chest, this gripping sensation akin to a strangling rope around your heart, is only an echo of whatever the mare sitting next to you is feeling right now.

And you can't help but purse your lips at that.

You are sitting right next to her, so close that you can reach her if you stretch out a foreleg.

But the way you are feeling, she might not even be there at all. The way you are feeling right now, she might as well be back in her house, behind her locked door.

Alone.

You open your mouth to answer her. It is not a simple question, but it is not a complicated one either. You know what it is like, behind the Blank Door, you can describe it perfectly to her if you really want to.

You know what is like to be dead.

But…

"Jade… this is not…"

But that answer would have been too wrong. Too cold, too sharp, too kindly soothing, too dismissively calm.

It would have felt, at the same time, like silk and like splinters against your tongue.

Instead, what comes out of your mouth is what is really going through your heart, right now. The only thing that truly makes sense in your mind.

"This is not what you really want to know, is it?" you ask.

You honestly tried your best to keep that… that hollowness out of your voice, that tinge of sadness. But for all you tried, you really couldn't. The question came out the way it did, with the same tone you might have used to ask her about…

And with that, when she hears your tone, or your words, or perhaps even your intention, her expression simply crumbles.

As if she had just taken off a mask, or as if she had just woken up from a dreamless sleep and into a miserable life. Jade Whistle suddenly looks…

She shakes her head, answering your question, confirming your honest suspicion, and with that movement from her you understand why she says she sleeps so much, and why she mentions her dreams so often.

Suddenly, Jade Whistle looks very tired. She looks tired, and many, many other things.

And you know the expression she has right now very well.

"Me and my brother used to come here all the time," she says, looking towards the several toys on the center of the park.

A chill runs down your spine, but you don't say anything. There is nothing for you to say.

And what can you say anyways? What can you possibly ask? If she doesn't mind coming here? If she doesn't mind the memories? Or maybe ask if she comes here because of those very memories?

There is nothing for you to say, and the mare is not done speaking anyways.

"And I'm…" she tries to continue, but the words get stuck in her throat.

It happens without warning, to the point where you can't hide your surprise when it does.

Her voice, her calm and serious and monotonous and maybe even bored voice, it simply crumbles, just like her expression did a few moments ago. Her tone shifts, in a split second, to the heavy, rasping voice of somepony who…



"… I'm scared?"



Of somepony who is very closed to crying.

She asks. She doesn't affirm, instead she asks, and she does it with that sort of voice, her eyes fixed on the same place they have been this whole time.

"Jade…?" you say, without conscious prompt, the distance between the two of you stretching even further, almost as if something is stopping you from moving, from even trying to approach her.

You dearly want to reach out to her, you really do, but you feel as if something is paralyzing you. The utter knowledge, perhaps, that if you move even a single inch she will clamp up again and not speak another word.

There is nothing you can say, nothing you can do but watch, wordlessly, as she continues to stare towards the toys at the center of the park.

"I… I realized what that door is… it's the afterlife, the Mansus' afterlife at least, but…" her words become faster, maybe even with a tinge of desperation to them, "I… don't know what to do?"

You can tell that her tone is pained, almost as if she is pleading to herself.

You know that she is begging, almost imploring to herself, to discover what the question she wants to ask is. You can see that she doesn't know what it is that she wants to know, but that she understand that it is causing her all this pain. And she needs to discover what that question is, she needs to ask it, otherwise the knot inside her own chest won't stop becoming tighter and tighter.

Her posture bends, slightly, almost as if she is slowly curling up.

"And I don't know if I'm scared of who I might see if I cross it…? Or who I might not see if I cross it and… and…?"

Her hoofs starts to tremble under her, you see her breathing becoming sharper and faster, and you can-

And you can't take it anymore! Tension be damned, her own possible silence be damned, you immediately cover the small distance between the two of you.

And you bring her into a tight hug.

But you were right. You immediately feel her clamping up at that, you feel her words dying inside her mouth when you hug her, as if she had only been able to say them before because she had forgotten you were sitting right beside her. As if she had only been able to let those emotions show because she thought that she was by herself, and you approaching her immediately dispelled that illusion.

As if she had only been able to feel her pain because she was alone with her memories. The image of her younger self, sitting on that same bench and looking at her younger brother play on the small toys, being the only catalyst she had to cope with that.

As if the only place she can be herself, the only place she can do or feel anything at all, is in her past. You immediately understand that that is how she deals with all of this.

But that feels so lonely to you.

So you keep her in your embrace, but as much as it pains you there isn't anything you can really say.

You hug her tightly, because there is nothing else to be done. As much as she might come to this park every week, there will never be anything else here but her memories. As much as she might try to sleep and dream, maybe about her past or maybe about nothing, she will still wake up on that same abandoned house.

Saying the Blank Plains is empty won't bring her peace, it will only make her realize that she will never see… who she wants to see, ever again.

Saying the Blank Plains is a calm place won't make her feel any better. You can tell that, deep down, it's not the peace of somepony else that she is looking for, it's her own peace that she desperately wants.

She didn't tell you what her question is, and you know that she is still in pain because of that, but you also know that the answer will never be the one she is hoping for.

"I'm sorry," you whisper against her ear, your own eyes downcast as you press her against yourself.

And with those words you feel her forelegs slowly, hesitantly, close in around you.

You are not sure how long it takes her. It somehow feels like the seconds are stretching, becoming longer and heavier the more you stay there with her, but you keep holding her firmly regardless.

You can feel the conflict inside her head, or maybe inside her heart, as her forelegs hover an inch away from your coat, hesitating on that final moment.

You can tell that part of her feels like this will be a betrayal of sorts, as if she was not meant to ever hug anypony else. After all, she is to blame for what happened all those years ago. She knows now, down to the precise moment, when exactly she should have acted to stop that from happening, she definitely knows it after so many years of living and reliving that past. But she didn't stop it from happening, and she lost everypony who ever loved her, so it stands to reason that she is not worthy of being cared for by anypony else, ever again.

You can tell that another part of her feels scared. She has been alone for so long, after all, that she has forgotten what anything else feels like. She has been by herself for so long that the only thing she can think of, in a situation like this, is that she might be going back to the first step, on the long road to all the pain and suffering and loss and everything else that will inevitably be waiting for her at the end of the road.

You can tell all of that… because that is what you felt the first time you hugged your own husband. Not nearly as intensely as Jade Whistle must be feeling right now, of course. You feel a little bad for being thankful for that, but you know that your plight when you were younger was not nearly as heavy as hers.

However, you still have some… experience, of sorts, to draw from.

That is why you know exactly what she is missing, so you keep hugging her without letting go.

And eventually, finally, you can feel her hugging you back, her forelegs crossing that final distance and reaching for your back. Trembling, uncertain, without much strength, but still hugging you back.

She doesn't say anything, she simply nods.

Maybe she is agreeing with you, saying that she is sorry as well, for all of this.

Maybe she is thanking you.

Or maybe it's nothing. Maybe it means nothing. After all you can feel that she closed herself tightly once again. You feel it by the way she is trying her best not to move or say anything. You feel it by the way that she has not cried a single tear, her eyes stubbornly holding back against a pressure that would have broken you with but a fraction of its weight.

But whatever it is that her nod means, you also know that she has not hugged anypony else in a very long time.



She doesn't say a word as the two of you finally let go of each other, you are not sure how long after. She doesn't look you in the eyes as the two of you walk back to her house. She doesn't even say goodbye as she closes her door behind her.

That weight, that thing around her is still there, and you know that you have done nothing but make it more evident. You realize that you have done nothing but remind her that it is there, with all its crushing grip of loneliness and blame.

The only thing you did was reopen an old wound, make it more evident in all of its pain, and grief, and throbbing weight, and everything else that it entails.

But you also know that, as much as it might hurt, you have helped her feel something. In a life in which she has not felt anything in a very long time, you have helped her experience something that is not the lonely memories she has drawn around herself like a blanket.

You are not sure if this was good, you are not sure if this was bad, you are not sure if this was kindness or if this was cruelty. But in the end, Jade Whistle hugged you back.

And that has to count for something.





You have helped Jade Whistle.

Have you helped Jade Whistle?

You hope you have helped Jade Whistle.

Spoiler: The Blank Plains? Well...

40: ...it is cold there.

60: ...it is empty there.

80: ...it is peaceful there.

100: ...this is not what you really want to know, is it?

This, as much as it hurts, was the best possible scenario. Or at least you dearly hope so.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

- - -

It wasn't exactly easy, finding out where Comet Feet is.

You almost had to do a tiny investigation of sorts. At first trying to track down where he lives, then trying to figure out where he works, since nopony knew the answer to your first question.

But in the end, the only thing you really learned was that almost nopony knows anything about him. Or at least nopony had ever seen him before the cult was founded, and that he is only seen during cult meetings or when going about doing cult business. Granted, his presence became more usual during the last few months, up until the point where the Master ordered him to lay low, but nopony you talked with knew anything about his life before that.

So, it all comes down to simple logic, and following the only hunch you really have. Comet Feet is mostly seen about and around the cult itself, which makes you think he is either uncommonly dedicated to it, or that he has little else to do.

Or both. Which in turn makes you wonder about what his sources of income might be, but that is beside the point.

You recall Jade Whistle mentioning that he came from out of town, so considering that everypony saw less of him after he was ordered to stay out of sight…

"And considering that he has remained suspiciously absent, even after the investigations were over…" you whisper to yourself as you walk.

It should have been obvious all along, especially considering that the Master had not given him a new assignment, telling him instead to continue his training. You should have known from the very beginning that he simply wouldn't change anything about how he was going about his task.

This is the hunch that brought you to where you currently are.

Once again, you are on the narrow path that leads to the small abandoned house, far on the outskirts of Ponyville. The Mansus-shared memories you had of this place are nearly gone, but now you have your own recollections from the last time you have been here to draw from, so you managed to make your way here once again without any problems.

However, you can already feel a slight… difference, in the air.

It was almost imperceptible at first, just a strange sensation you started feeling when you were somewhere around the middle of the trail. A slight impression you couldn't shake out, something that told you not that you were being watched, but that instead you should be more attentive to your surroundings.

That you should be more wary, perhaps, looking at the trees as cover instead of as hiding places. You couldn't consciously say what the difference between those two things was, but you definitely caught on to the subconscious difference, the more interpretative difference between those two points of view.

The feeling only got stronger as you went deeper through the trail, not heavier or oppressive, but more noticeable nonetheless. And as you finally force your way through the last overgrown bush, the abandoned shack finally coming into view, you realize what this sensation is.

A slight coppery taste somewhere inside your mouth, the sensation that the trees around you are obstacles in some sort of grand arena the size of the forest, and that the abandoned house is a particularly poorly-defensible fortress, the impression that shouting in anger at somepony might not be so difficult, or wrong, after all.

This is the effect an EDGE Influence. Maybe you are simply not used to Edge to begin with, maybe Comet Feet succeeded in summoning a particularly powerful one, or maybe he has simply been here for so long that it has permeated the entire area.

Whatever the case might be, you can clearly identify that this is the effect of an Influence. A strong Influence.

You wonder if this will make your presence here a more… complicated matter.

You very nearly open your mouth to call out for the pegasus, seeing that wandering around here feels like a rather poor idea. But you don't even have time to formulate them, or even to properly breathe in with your lungs.

Because something interrupted you. Something from within you, that is.

It feels like a… as if a blade of sorts has been drawn. You don't hear anything, but the insides of your ears still hiss, mutedly, as if a sword or something else has just been drawn from its scabbard somewhere nearby. You don't feel like it's hovering against your coat or your neck, but you can somehow feel that a blade is near you, and very much so. It's a sense, although one you can't rightly explain, that is somehow telling you with the utmost certainty that said blade is being pointed at you. You feel the same way that a paranoid pony might feel while insisting that someone is watching them, only that you know you are right.

You have never felt this before, and yet you recognize it immediately, almost as if it is some part of your instinct, something that your brain never had the need to use before but knows how to do regardless. And that thing, that shapeless presence that you "know" is there, can only be described as a "blade" because the one and only purpose of a blade is to cut or to harm something.

So that means that somehow, you purse your lips as you finish interpreting your own irrational thoughts… somehow, you know that you are feeling that something whose only purpose is to cut or to harm is pointed at you, and…

No, that is not yet exactly right, you think as you continue to parcel this recently-discovered sense.

Not "something", but "somepony". And not "pointed", but "looking at". Your thoughts click, and as naturally as you might hear through your ears or see with your eyes, you suddenly understand it with a keen clarity.

You turn in the direction that the drawn blade is looking at you from.

And you see Comet Feet, as you knew you would. His very presence allowing you to hear him, although he didn't make a sound, or see him, as much as he was not in your line of sight.

You felt him. You felt his attention on you.

And now, your own attention is directed towards him as you look at the stallion.

He looks… sharp. Sharp is the only word that can do him justice right now. His eyes are narrowed, but you know that it is not because of the darkness cast by the trees all around you. His lips are closed in a tight line, and his wings are slightly open as if they were an extra set of limbs that could be used.

He has the gait of a predator as he walks towards you, his body fractionally, almost imperceptibly, coiled and lowered, constantly prepared to pounce at a moment's notice.

But despite all that, you don't feel any particular aggressivity or threat coming from him. Not in the sense that he does not make for a threatening view, quite on the contrary, but in the sense that he is not directly threatening you.

You hear a part of you whispering that you feel like that because he truly is not making any effort to intimidate you.

While another part tells you that he does not need to in the first place.

After all if he wanted to hurt you, if he wanted to kill you, he could do it. You know that he could do it, that he can do it. The two of you know that he is be able to do so without any real effort, that he does not need to use enough of what he knows to appear threatening towards you to begin with. Much like he doesn't need to apply his full weight to snap a twig, needing only to step on it as he walks if he wishes to see it broken.



And that, seeing him in the flesh, knowing all of that, being capable of feeling his very presence with a sense you didn't even know you had…

Is terrifying.

To the point where you are suddenly very much aware that you are here with Comet Feet, alone, and that most likely nopony close to you even knows where you are.



However, for some reason, you don't feel nearly as scared as you thought you would. The thought that everypony eventually dies presents itself to you, as a way to calm you down.

But you decline that thought. You don't need calm to smother you fears. Because for some reason…

For. Some. Reason…

You are feeling fear, the certain fear that you can be in danger at a moment's notice if the stallion so wishes, but that doesn't scare you.

Well, at least not nearly as much as it is making you feel thrill.

"Velvet Covers," he says, his voice a low growl, "you didn't mention you would come."

True, you didn't leave him a note on the Woods as you did last time.

But mostly because you were almost sure he wouldn't have answered, if you did.

"You didn't really give anypony a chance to do so, leaving right after the meeting like you did," you answer.

And you see his eyes narrow even further at that.

"And what are you here for?" he asks, in a tone that very nearly does not sound like a question at all.

"I am here to talk to you."

"Not interested," he says quickly as he turns to walk away, and you are sure his words would have interrupted yours if your sentence had been any longer.

"I'm not asking," you answer back, walking after him.

To which you see his wings bristle, slightly. The sort of movement you know you can notice only because you live with two pegasi yourself.

But that just brings a small smile to your face, knowing that you got to him.

So, naturally, you press him further.

You open your mouth to let fly another, more barbed phrase. Something to get another reaction out of him, something that will hit him an-

When you suddenly stop, both talking and walking, a realization coming to you from a corner of your mind like a slap to the cheek.

You… you are enjoying this. You realize that you very nearly let yourself slide down the slippery slope of taunting him, for the mere sake of taunting. For that sudden glee you know you will get if you see his wings bristle even further, for the joys of having him denying you again, more sharply or aggressively, only for you to scale it further. From conversation to argument, from argument to something else.

For no other reason than to make conflict for the sake of conflict.

You swallow your words and try to shake those thoughts from your head.

It's the air, you can tell. It's the air, and it's Comet Feet himself. His very posture seems to be inviting your taunts, his previous words seem, in hindsight, laced with openings and traps and offense so that you might jump into it as easily as you just did.

And something tells you that he is not even aware of that, as if it is a natural part of him to act with all those tiny, Edge-sharp details.

You didn't imagine that the Influence would be like this, with this effect, strong and subtle at the same time. You had come prepared for it to be like an overbearing presence of sorts, some wall of barbs around Comet Feet that would make interacting with him nigh impossible, not this… subtle change, as if the entire world was a canvas that was usually painted with one brush, and the Influence was instead the change of that brush for another one that drew thinner and sharper lines. Still the same drawing, and yet not.

Nothing feels different, unless you stop to really think about it, and that's why it is so easy to fall into it.

"What I mean to say is…" you take a deep breath, stilling your thoughts and analyzing each word before it leaves your mouth, "that I am here to ask for your help."

It felt strange to say that, it felt a little more difficult than it should have been. Not the way you worded it, but the way you said it.

The words almost sounded a tiny little bit muffled, as if the very air was somehow resistant to them. And you are sure, although you have no idea how, that your words would have sounded a lot better if they had been said in a more demanding tone. As if the air would have carried them more easily if you had been more forceful about it, instead of having used your… "conceding" tone of voice.

But still, your words give him pause. He does not turn around to face you, but something tells you that he doesn't need to. You have his attention once again, point in fact that he has stopped walking.

"I have realized," you continue to say, slowly, your words coming out with a nigh imperceptible, but still annoying, difficulty, "that the day might come when… when certain actions will be inevitable."

However, they do become easier to pronounce as you slowly realize how to weave your way around them, if that even makes sense.

"And I would rather know how to perform them, than to be caught unprepared," you continue, keeping your gaze steady on his back.

Not in a pleading tone, but in the disciplined way a student might ask for a lesson.

Not aggressively demanding, but still showing that you won't back down either, even if he denies you.

The air is still clinging to your coat, trying to goad your muscles into growing taut, trying to whet your words until they are sharp. But you just might be able to dance around those allures and traps, or at least lessen their effect on you, although you are sure you will not be able to use them to your advantage. Not with how little you know, at least.

"So I would like to ask for a lesson, if you have the time," you finish.

And you allow the seconds to drag on, the fact that Comet Feet has not yet walked off and ignored you being enough of an indicator that at least he is still listening.

"Asking the Master for a lesson will be a better use of your time," he says, turning his face slightly towards you, but not yet moving his hoofs.

"But he has also told us to help each other, and I have realized recently that teaching somepony else about something, even if it's just the basics, is a great way to also learn," you answer quickly, almost as if you were giving a return blow in a duel of words, using the call of conflict in the air to speed your thoughts.

Cautiously, less you fall into its trap again.

And with that, he finally turns in your direction and faces you.



No, he doesn't just face you, he glares at you.



His eyes are… sharper still than they were before. This is not a glare of hate, this is not his contempt being aimed at you, but this…

You freeze, and the only possible motion your body is capable of performing is to take a step back, and then another, and then a third as your heart starts first to beat harder inside your chest, and then tries to hammer its way out of your body.

This is him directing his attention to you, in all its implied threat. He is not looking at you, he is studying you. Seeing the way your pupils are dilating, even though it is dark and your eyes are closed. Noticing the way your hoofs are unbalanced as you hesitantly retreat. Seeing the imperceptible change in hue on your horn as you store a sliver of magical energy at its base.

Noticing your limp.

Your hoofs stop moving, but more out of the knowledge that no matter how much you walk back, you still won't be out of his reach.

Your fear still has you paralyzed. You don't feel "like" a small animal under the gaze of a predator. Right now you "ARE" a small animal, under the gaze of something very large and very deadly.

You very much regret asking him for this, any spine or courage you had beforehand being completely forgotten as you stare up towards something that can kill you if it so much wishes it.

And the meaning behind his eyes is that…



[To catch a sharp Comet, breakpoints ???]

[Roll: 68 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) – 20 (A Rousing Air) = 70]

[She has a point, of sorts…]



The very air around you becomes sharp, almost gripping, with the scrutiny of his attention.

Until it becomes so sharp that the aggressivity in it actually…

... starts to bleed out?

There is no physical change on the stallion, he is still looking at you from snout to tail, still reading your flaws, still calculating how many steps you would be able to make before he caught up with you.

But now it is just… idle observation. It is no longer him preparing.

And there was a world of difference in that.

"You may have a point," he says, somewhat grudgingly. But he still turns back towards the way he came from, simply waving a wing to signal that you should follow.

You feel that the thought of bleeding the air even further, perhaps enough to dry the Influence altogether, crossed his mind, but that in the end he decided not to.

Well, at least he didn't turn you away this time.



- - -



It feels somewhat strange to be without a dress. Most ponies only wear simple accessories, as cultural consensus mostly views clothing as pieces of formal attire, but seeing that you wear one almost during every waking moment of your life, you feel rather exposed without it.

But still, you had to take it off. Impracticalities have no place here, especially when you need to make a point that you are being serious.

Much to your surprise, though, he didn't even look at your hindleg, to the point where you thought that either he could not see it, or that perhaps he knew about it all along.

"I realize it's a weakness, and that I have to be conscious about it," you said at some point, in the middle of his instruction.

"It is not a weakness," he replied, almost as an afterthought.

You recall eyeing him, making your disagreement clear with your expression, although you did not voice it.

"It is only a weakness if you allow it to be," he then finished.

During the whole day, your interactions with him were more or less like that.



Still, you managed to get the stallion to talk. Although you had to be precise with your wording, and you still had to focus on the knowledge he was imparting to you.



"But how do you even survive here?" you asked after a few hours, while you focused on floating the several dulled knives in the pattern that he had drawn on the ground, a three-faced formation meant to minimize the angles that a defending pony would have to block them.

"Nothing in this forest is threatening," he answered without much thought, eyeing your magic with sharp eyes.

"Not survive as in… how do you live here? I hear you don't even step a hoof in Ponyville, but you still need basic sustenance."

"I have supplies brought to me regularly," he mentioned in an off-hoof manner.

"Nopony mentioned it when I asked about you."

"Not by somepony of the cult," he said.

You recall that your eyes went slightly wider at that, but he waved your curiosity away as he continued talking.



Hours passed, long and exhausting hours.

He refrained from grilling you physically, saying it would have no purpose since it would only be for a single day. But still, he was very particular about showing you "the correct way" that a unicorn is meant to fight, according to him.

You were surprised about how knowledgeable he is on that matter, since you thought that, if there are different styles for each pony species, he would have focused fully on whatever was more suited for pegasi.

But he scoffed at that notion, critically, when you voiced it, saying that it was obvious that one had to master combat as a whole, and not just a particular facet of it.

You also noticed that what he was teaching you, although he made it sound obvious and natural, is entirely different of how you have heard that ponies (magical users or not) fight. While talking specifically about what you are meant to do as a unicorn, he was much more focused on principles and stances that focus on precision, ways to take advantage of pony physiology and the likes, instead of talking about clever ways to use spells as most unicorn mages are wont to do during fights.

The things he showed you, also, involved a lot of knifes. You weren't able to do it, of course, but he drew on the ground a dizzying pattern of knives, fanned around a user with the help of magic, and how each of them is meant for a specific spot and purpose.

A pony, he said as he drew the unicorn lesson, only needs to kill his foe once. Overkill is waste, zapping off a limb, when cutting an artery suffices, is a waste. This, he mentioned in an off-hoof manner, is murder-making, not fighting.

His lesson went something like that.



"And these are the Three Identifiable Wounds," he says, jamming the third dull knife into the throat of the wooden mannequin. It spoke volumes of his strength that he managed to sink a dull knife deep into the solid wood. Much more so when you see that there are several other marks like that one near the same spot.

"A pegasus will have more ease with the Second, if he can properly use the blades he has attached to the underside of his wings, but a unicorn can more easily reach the Third, between this muscle of the hindleg and the abdomen itself, although precision is required, as it goes with unicorns," he finishes pointing at the three jammed knifes in turn as he speaks.

The First Wound, of course, being the one he had just put the knife through, although he was clear when he mentioned that knifes are not required to reach the throat since everypony has teeth.

You nod, your mind somewhat hazed and tired due to the constant use of magic and his words. You feel a rather sore headache building up, but it has not hit you just yet.

The air of this place, you know, is helping you wonders with keeping up with Comet Feet.

"But ultimately, this knowledge will be of no use to you," he finishes, his tone annoyed in its certainty, although something tells you that said annoyance is not directed towards you... exactly.

And your ears perk up slightly at that, your face tilting at the suddenness of his statement.

"Why?" you ask the obvious.

"Conflict on behalf of the cult is my burden to bear," he says simply, moving to take the several dull knifes from the wooden mannequin.

Although for all of his… Actually, scrap that thought. You realize you can't judge his demeanor from his body stance, not the with way he is under the Influence.

But still, you can't help but think about how particular his wording was just now.

"You won't always be there," you say matter-of-factly, hoping your tired mind is not veering into offence too sharply.

But you can tell that your words disgruntled him, regardless. You can only hope that you have not annoyed him enough for him to choose to speak no further about it.

"And I have been given the task to further our knowledge on the Lores," you continue, trying to be more amicable about it, "so it is also my duty to learn, even if there will be somepony else there to put it into practice."

You hear him grumble at that, a sound that is at the same time a low snarl and something that might be close to an "I suppose…"

His mind, however, is still clearly focused on your last comment.

You watch him in silent for a few more moments, as he takes off the last knifes, wondering whether if he will add anything to his lesson, if he will perhaps dismiss you in some way, or if he will simply ignore you until you leave on your own.

It is somewhat surprising when he does something that is neither of those three.

"Well, have you ever failed before?", he asks suddenly, almost in an accusing manner.

You are taken aback by that, until you… well, until something tells you that his aggressivity might not be aimed towards you, as much as his tone might suggest.

It is only a hunch, but still…

"Of course I have," you say, trying your hardest to dose your next words so they won't sound like the trap they really are, "who hasn't?", you ask, throwing the bait, hoping to dig a little deeper into your hunch.

He moves his eyes towards you, his expression surprisingly unthreatening for all the clear contempt that are within them. Of course he realized what you are trying to do, his Influence-soaked senses clearly capable of sensing a prodding question as easily as he might have noticed an approaching foe.

"And how did it feel?" he says in a low, angry tone, "how did failure taste?"

But contemptuous as he and his words might be, he is still talking. He is still telling you something, or trying to tell you something, consciously or not. You just need to understand what it is.

You meet his stare, and you hold it. He knows what you are trying to goad out of him, so backing down now will only result in certain failure.

You might be angering him, but he is already in a mental state that is quick to anger. This might quickly turning into the more aggressive variant of a conversation, but the two of you are still exchanging words.

It is only a matter of how deep you can go, then, before the Influence makes him decide he has had enough.

"Bitter," you say, almost tasting the word as it leaves you mouth.

To which he grunts, a noise that, as much as it sounds aggressive, still manages to bear an undertone of agreement.

"My duty," he says, slowly, almost menacingly, "is to protect. And I will make sure I do not taste that bitterness again. Ever."

But before you can process his words, Comet Feet has already tucked the last dull knife on the makeshift straps he has under his wings, their worn grips bound and tied, while their rusted blades were free and uncovered like a set of extra feathers, hidden between his body and his wings.

"Now leave me to my training," he says, as he walks deeper into the forest, and its many punished and slashed trees, without looking back.

You nod towards his retreating form, uncertain of what to make of those last words of his, and you make your way towards the path, something telling you that distancing yourself from the effects of his Influence will surely cause your headache to finally rear its ugly form.

Spoiler

[Talking and Teaching 60/80/ 100/120 A Rousing Air surrounds him]

[Roll: 70 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (GRAIL Bonus) + 5 (The Colonel's Favor?) = 93]

You have… perhaps learned a thing or two about Comet Feet.

He is a dedicated stallion, and seems unperturbed by his current solitude, although said solitude might not be as absolute as you first believed.

He also seems to believe that he has a duty to... protect?

It is hard to parcel out what might have been him, and what might have been the Influence. Furthermore, you recall how he was during the last time you met him, but you saw no trace of his prior annoyance. That, too, may be smothered under the overbearing mantle of Edge he currently has around himself.

You worry if he will lose himself, like this...


Yes, but did you learn anything?

[Scrap of Lore? CD 60]

[40 + 8 (Martial) + 30 (The Three Identifiable Wounds) = 78]

It was a day of theory, any practical part of it being mostly for the sake of demonstration and for you to "feel" how things ought to be done. He knows a lot, and he spoke a lot, but you were all too focused on keeping your eyes on the stallion himself for you to learn any more.

Gain one scrap of EDGE Lore.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

The hour is late, your husband is asleep in your room, and all the servants have been dismissed or have already turned in for the night.

You are sitting in your office, your eyes idly resting on the large pile of reports you have finished approving.

Things are, right now, as ready as they will ever be. Now it's time to get your hoofs dirty.

You take a map of Equestria from your drawer, going over your mental check-list one final time. You got as much of your work out of the way as you possibly could, even pulling two all-nighters over the last three weeks to make sure nothing will pile up while you are away. You have instructed the servants that generally work directly with you, and over the course of the month slowly seeded the cover story that you will use to justify your absence. You made stock of everything you will need, and the several utilitarian items you will take with you, mundane or esoteric, are ready to be silently packed at a moment's notice, to be put inside a "final" luggage you will "nearly forget" and prepare at the last minute.

Your excuses are ready... your lies are ready. Everypony that needed to be lied directly, those who are closest to you, believe in you implicitly, so there was not a smidge of suspicion in their eyes.

Although that didn't make lying to them any easier. Quite on the contrary, in fact.

You let out a sigh, wondering how this happened... wondering when your idle hobby of a club became something that would prompt you to do... this.

But the answer comes to you immediately after, in the form of the memories of a demigoddess.

Your sigh dies inside your chest.

Time to draw a plan.



Expedition: The most precious treasure hunt ever.

Difficulty: ???/Low

Expected dangers: Unknown / Rough Terrain

Expected amount of actions required: 1 (5 days)

Base cost: 5 bits (5 bits per pony per day. 25 bits must be available per pony sent)

Current available funds: 111 bits


[] Expedition Leader: WRITE IN (must be either yourself or a Confidant)

[] Accompanying team: WRITE IN

[] Artifacts and Curios taken: WRITE IN

Spoiler: Available Contacts

Confidants:
-Rarity (GRAIL 0, FORGE none)
-Generic cultists

Good Friends:
-Stormchaser (unknown variable)
-Soft Sweeps (unknown variable)
-Inner Circle members (wildcards, or depending of your current social situation)

Friends:
-Twilight Sparkle

Spoiler: Available Artifacts and Curios

-HEART Level 3 (STUDIED)
"The skin of a furred animal worked into a large blanket, or perhaps a thick carpet. The salespony insists that whoever sleeps under it (or over it) will wake up feeling refreshed."
Appraised cost: 200 bits
Special properties: +30 on tests to recuperate health or cure lasting debuffs. Applies on contact.

NOTICE 1: This is our first expedition, both mine and yours, so certain mechanical effects still lie untested. However, Velvet Covers is a smart cookie. DO NOT worry about "adventuring gear", the cost for whatever you might need to traverse terrain will be purchased by her "as needed" and applied as necessary, and is included in the Base Cost. Expeditions on the Frozen North might be more expensive because of that, for example, but for now it is this low 5 bits.

NOTICE 2: This expedition is currently "Totally Secret", you are currently the only pony (that you know of) who knows about Princess Luna's location, and the only one who knows about this caper. Including a Confidant will not break secrecy, including a Good Friend or lower may cause information leak, and including a Cult Member will cause an immediate reaction that will range from "stopping your expedition and turning it into the Cult's" to a possibly very delicate situation once you reach your goal. Secrecy will only apply to this Expedition (I hope).

NOTICE 3: Unless things grow socially out of control, and the "suspicion" around you is incredibly high, your Expeditions will be mostly you going out on "short trips". So for now taking artifacts and rather strange objects is not impossible, and your only artifact will not incur suspicion if taken. That might change up ahead if you collect more, and more suspicious, items, but for now there is no problem in taking your artifact. Bar the fact that it may be stolen, damaged or lost, as is the case with everything else you are taking with you.

NOTICE 4: (Boy, I hope these don't compound too much) Kindly detail the "level of explanation" you will give to anypony you decide to bring with, since Rarity is not yet in the know about the occult, or your situation, and other contacts (Stormchaser, Soft Sweeps, Twilight Sparkle) know even less.

Kindly observe a 6 hours moratorium, and voting will be open for 48 hours unless a crushing majority is observed by the end of 24 hours.
This will be a learning experience for the QM as well, so let's all be amicable. Ask anything you feel like, and I will try to answer to the best of my abilities.

But ultimately, Expeditions are risks, and this one in particular you neither have somepony/creature to send on a "scouting" mission beforehand (which will be possible if/when you gain such capacities) as well as you are on a time constraint.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Expedition: The most precious treasure hunt ever

Spoiler: Expedition plan

[] Quest for Knowledge, absent Stormchaser
-[] Expedition Leader: Yourself
-[] Accompanying team: Rarity (GRAIL 0, FORGE none)
--[] Explain the very basics of the lores and occult, and promise a complete explanation once we reach our destination. Please. This is very important.
-[] Artifacts and Curios taken: HEART Level 3 (STUDIED)

- - -



"Goodbye mom!"

"Take care sweetheart, you know how I… well, if you need anything just send a letter! We can have somepony with you by the end of the day if you need!" you husband says shortly after, still clearly uncomfortable at the idea of you going out on a trip, short as it may be.

You dislike this.

"Goodbye, I love you too! Both of you!" you answer them from the window of the carriage.

Correction, you hate this.

You wave back to your daughter and husband until they are blocked from your sight by the walls around your estate, and your smile disappears from your face the moment that happens.

You close the window, and sag back into your seat.

Alone.

Stormchaser is uncomfortable, yes, and he even asked you privately if you were absolutely sure that you didn't want to bring a couple of servants with you, or at least Ponpon. You assured him that there would be no need, that you would give Ponpon the entire week off and that you were simply going on a trip with your friend for her to "look for inspiration" for a new line of dresses. The latest contract you set up for Rarity, which Stormchaser already knows about, only made your story more believable.

It will only be a short trip to somewhere different, you told him, so your friend can get her eyes into a new scenery.

You lied to him, that is.

And he believed you, his greatest worries being your hindleg, and the fact that you would be going unaccompanied. No greater suspicions, no other plights but his usual loveable care for your wellbeing, no sign of anything that could even hint that he was doing more than worrying about his beloved and fragile wife.

The taste of the words you said, as you allayed his fears and assured him that you will be just fine, still feels bitter inside your mouth.

You thought about this for the longest time during this past month, about whether you should do this or not, about whether you should bring him or not. He is your husband, after all, and you love him. You trust him, it also goes without saying, but...

Well, but telling him about this, at least right now, just doesn't feel like the best time. You know where Princess Luna is, or at least where you hope she still is, but then what? Were you supposed to simply go up to Stormchaser and say "I know where the disappeared Princess is, please follow me"?

His common sense would come to the forefront, of course, and he would immediately say the two of you should go to the Guard, at the very least. After all, Princess Luna disappeared after an "attack" against the castle. Speculations of why she disappeared range everywhere from "she was kidnapped" to "she believed she was the target, and exiled herself for everypony's safety".

There have been crueler rumors that the Princess herself orchestrated the attack, of course, but those are heavily frowned upon. Ponykind's nature for goodness usually discarding those theories as soon as they are borne.

Anyways. If you then told your husband you could not go to the Guard, or any authority, and that you needed to find her yourself, what then? It would only sound suspicious, and you could only ask him to trust you so many times before you had to give him at least a partial explanation.

But this whole situation is… not something that can only be partly explained. You would either sound mad or…

You sigh, looking at the ceiling of the moving carriage. It's during moments like these that you really miss the ability to close your eyes, and have a minute of calm and darkness.

But your eyes don't work like that anymore, so there is nothing to soothe your mind away from all these thoughts.

And what if you did find the Princess with Stormchaser in tow? What would you tell her? What could you tell her that you shouldn't have told your husband months, or maybe years ago?!

Telling him you had a hunch, but not one you wanted to bother the guard with, was also an idea that crossed your mind, but… well, in the end if you found Princess Luna, you would still have a lot of explaining to do, in a very delicate moment. So in the end, it is better to only have one pony to explain things to than having two.

There really wasn't a correct answer for this, there really wasn't an easy way to go about this. Both would involve lies, both would involve the story that you have been weaving around yourself all these years. You are in a cult, after all. You are in contact with… whatever your Master is. You are dealing with the knowledge of the Lores, which for some reason are both true and valid, and have been forgotten for heaven knows how long.

You just hope you have not picked the worst of the two poisons, with this decision.

It doesn't help that you feel a slight nudge of a memory, from a corner of your mind that you have been actively avoiding as of late. That memory, that glimpse, is from a few seconds ago.

And in that memory you are inside this very same carriage, with the sole difference being that Stormchaser is sitting right next to you.

You float up the small necklace you have around your neck and smell that soft perfume that you keep on it, focusing on the scent.

It also doesn't help that this is a perfume your husband gifted you, and that you have a picture of him, and of Silky, inside the locket.

You dearly hope you are making the correct decision.



- - -



The train starts moving, slowly but surely building speed with the familiar sound of its steam engine revving into life.

You are sitting opposite to Rarity inside the train cabin, its door locked shut.

She is looking at you with a worried expression.

And you know your expression is even worse.

"Well, darling," she says after taking a deep breath, "here we are. Inside the train, as promised. So what exactly… do you want to talk to me about?"

You let out a sigh, making Rarity look even more worried.

Yes, this is what you asked her to do. You asked her to please, please, quietly set aside a few days of her month, pack for a trek of sorts, and wait for you at her boutique today. You asked her this as a favor, an important favor, but that you would explain her the reason for all of this when…

Well, when the two of you were here. Inside the train, alone, as she just mentioned.

You try to regain your balance, slowly. No reason to make her worry over the wrong reasons, after all.

You are indeed distressed, you admit, but more because of your doubt over whether you should have brought your husband or not. You are not distressed over being here, or the reason behind this whole outing.

And you are certainly not distressed for having called her.

So, you think as you take another deep breath, you ought to make your peace with your decision, and ensure that you do the best you can now that you are here.

Better, you think. At least a little bit.

"I'm sorry Rarity," you begin, shaking your head a little and propping your mane up a bit, "I have a few things going on in my mind. Nothing really big, mind you. But it's usually the small things that get to us, isn't it?"

You let out a small smile. Not a forced one, not a strong one, but the best you can do while being honest about it.

And you see her nod, and smile a little herself, at that.

Good.

"Now, to the thing I wanted to talk to you about…" you absent-mindedly look towards the window, focusing more on your thoughts as you clop your hoofs together, "well, for starters, what do you know about magic?"

She tilts her head at that. Clearly, she was expecting something else.

"About magic? Well, maybe as much as any other unicorn knows? Except for Twilight, of course," she says with a short laugh, to which you wholeheartedly agree, "but I do know the basics of how to do it."

You nod at that, taking special notice of the way she worded it.

She knows how to "do it", not "how it works". Well, she probably knows the theoretical basics that everypony learns while in school, but you are almost sure she is not really privy about the more arcane parts about it.

Run of the mill unicorn know-how, you think to yourself, years of practice and day to day usage of a horn.

"Sure, but why does it work? What makes magic work?" you ask, focusing your eyes away from the window and back to her.

"It just does, Velvet," she answers, her expression still curious, "magic exists in all of Equestria, and inside of everything. We unicorns simply manipulate the energy we have inside of us using our horns."

You let out a soft "mhm". She didn't mention the manipulation of the trace-energy that exists in the air or in other things, but that's not really the goal of your conversation right now. That sort of thing is something you would discuss in more depth with Twilight.

"And what about gravity, then? What makes it work?" you ask, making sure to keep your face as calm and serious as possible.

"Why, darling, you can't really be asking me these sorts of things. It's gravity! It just is," she answers, her expression starting to slip from doubt into… something else.

No more beating around the bush then.

"Well, allow me to tell you a few things then," you say slowly, but it's a long train ride and you have plenty of time in your hoofs. "It might sound strange, at first, since nopony really knows or talks about it, but I ask that you hear me out, and that you please trust me on this, at least during the beginning."

You see Rarity's expression grow serious at that.

"Please," you say, looking deep into her eyes.

But you can see it's not the skeptical sort of serious, nor the disbelieving or bored sort of serious. She has the expression of a pony who will listen to you, even if she has her own reserved thoughts and doubts, but that will honestly consider what you are saying nonetheless. Because you are asking her to.

Because she trusts you.

And right now, that is all that you need.



[Confidant. No rolls required.]



You give her the long explanation, the slow explanation. The shallow explanation.

The same talk that Copper Secateur gave you years ago, over the course of several meetings and conversations, over the course of months. You had to condense and omit a lot of it, of course, and you had to ask her to trust you in a lot of other things.

But now she knows.

You left out the parts of how you came to discover all of that, and by the end of it she had so much on her mind that she didn't even remember to ask you. You left out everything about the cult, and the Master, and the Mansus, and the worms, and everything else more complicated.

But now she knows.

"And this…" she says, her eyes somewhat unfocused, aimed at the floor, "this is how the world…?"

You nod, already knowing what her question is.

"How a part of it works, at least. These principles are…" you try to think of a term that she might be more familiar with, "well, real. As real as love or gravity, and definitely as real as the Elements of Harmony. The Elements themselves, the ideas they represent, not the physical artifacts."

She looks at you, an awkward confusion of sorts clear on her expression.

Confusion, yes, but not disbelief.

You think you did a good job explaining her, all things considered, although you have only given her a glass of water when there is still an entire pool to dive into.

And you are a little relieved about how well she took what you were trying to tell her. Most of it, you know, she was able to listen to at first because she trusts you, at least until your arguments slowly started to build around each other, until something resembling a logical pattern of sorts was available for her to think about.

But she was also, so to speak, less shocked than you thought she would be. That surprised you at first, although in hindsight you can understand why this is the case.

Equestria is, after all, a place full of magic, so finding out about unknown things, finding out that unknown things exist to begin with, is not really something mind-shattering.

But maybe that might be a double-edged blade, so to speak.

Knowing that you live in a world full of magic can help you accept that "there are things that you do not know", so accepting that you don't understand something is a little bit easier.

But not knowing about why something is the way it is, not being able to understand something "because it is magical", can also be a sort of bubble. A comfortable veil of ignorance, so to speak. So learning that there "is" an explanation can be a little bit of a shock, or at the very least can be something that is hard to wrap your head around.

Well, whatever is going through Rarity's mind right now, at least she doesn't think you are crazy. Or if she does, at least she might be entertaining the thought that maybe she is crazy too.

All in all, you think this conversation went as well as it could possibly have.

"And this place that we are going," she says, as if looking at the floor of the cabin for long enough had suddenly reminded her that the two of you are still inside a train, "why… what does it have to do with all of this?"

"Well, that's the favor I'd like to ask you," you say, giving her the best, most reassuring smile you can, "there is a lot more that I still need to explain, about all of this, but I know that this sort of thing takes time to understand. So, I promise you I'll explain it better once we find this thing we are looking for."

You see Rarity purse her lips at that. You can tell that she is confused at everything you just told her, at the same time that she wants you to tell her more. But you can also tell that she…

"Please. This is very important," you say, "I promise."

For all her hesitation, she still nods at you.

"Alright Velvet, lets do this then."

For all the other feelings you see in her eyes, you can tell that she sees just how important this is to you. You can clearly see Rarity shoving her doubts aside, her hesitation turning into mettle as she decides that helping her friend, helping you, takes priority over all else.

Her determined smile is infectious, even, and soon enough you start feeling more courageous about all this yourself.

You definitely do not regret bringing your friend.



- - -



[Expedition – Day 1]



The two of you arrive after several hours, the sun being already well on its way to the opposite side of the horizon.

And unlike what your maps and books had suggested, the train station, a small wooden platform in the middle of… well, in the middle of nowhere, to be honest, is quite far away from the village itself.

Lucky you that you told Rarity to pack lightly, and for a trek. Between the two of you, you managed to float the large baggage with the thick carpet, as well as the backpack with the equipment you brought with you, in a somewhat comfortable pace.

Praise the heavens for your horn, though. You are particularly thankful that you are a unicorn, or else you would have to carry all of this on your back.

After what must have been almost an hour, a long and nervous hour in which you followed a dirt road with no signs to guide your way, and with no indication that the village even exists, you finally reach the settlement proper.

It is a small settlement, that's for sure. The frontier kind of thing that take decades to grow naturally, unless there is an influx of immigrants looking for a new life. You can picture how Ponyville was once a place like this, rows of wooden buildings laid out in a long corridor, inhabited by hard working ponies and tightly knitted families.

Centuries ago, mind you, but still this is what Ponyville must have been like long ago. This is what a settlement, on the purest meaning of the word, looks like.

However, as soon as the two of you lay a hoof on the village, you notice the… stares.

"Covers, darling, are you absolutely sure that this is the place…?" you hear Rarity whispering towards you, her voice also tense as she notices the poorly concealed animosity of the few passersby near you, "I mean, this place doesn't look exactly… inviting."

You slowly nod at her, seeing the curious… effect, that your presence is having in the place.

You see ponies looking at you with doubtful eyes, then with open disapproval. Foals being hushed towards homes or out of your sights, while some of the elderly outright glare at you while mumbling something under their breaths.

And you finally realize that the villagers, every last one of them, are earth ponies, and that their shocked stares are all directed at yours and Rarity's horns, and the floating objects you are carrying with you.

Oh… so it's this sort of thing.

It takes the two of you a… substantial amount of talking, which is made harder by the fact that almost nopony wants to speak with you to begin with, to get anything done.

It also takes several assurances that you will not be here for more than a few days to get any piece of information out of anypony. You also promise that you will not go about the village itself, and that you will most certainly not approach any foals, and many other things, to get anything close to a useful answer out of the single pony that somewhat agrees to speak to you. You also had to gently suggest the fact that, if you don't get any reasonable help in finding what you are looking for, you just might have to stay there for a little longer as you continue your search.

But you are eventually pointed towards an inn, of sorts, from which you will be able to set out towards the forest. You are also able to gleam the general direction in which "the hills by the river" are, in the forest itself, which will spare you the pains of having to explore blindly.

You and Rarity still agree, though, that it will be best if you two leave before the sunrise, come tomorrow.



[Day 1 hurdle: Xenophobic village]

[Roll: 48 + 12 (Diplomacy) + 10 (GRAIL bonus) + 1 (GRAIL bonus, Rarity) = 71]

[Success]



- - -



[Expedition – Day 2]



The two of you made sure to avoid the farming fields proper, less you accidentally stumbled upon one of the less friendly villagers, but you made your way towards the direction you were pointed at. Hoping, in all honesty, that their interest in seeing you gone outweighed the blatant dislike they were feeling over the fact that you were unicorns.

Well, hoping that their animosity only meant that they wanted you two gone as soon as possible, not dead. You dearly hope they didn't point you towards the lair of some forest beast.

But even if they did send you in the right direction, this is still not being easy.

The two of you are carrying the smallest amount of things possible. Basic supplies in rustic saddle bags that you brought with you, enough water (you hope) and food to last you some time in case you get utterly lost, and the full list of equipment you gathered from several camping manuals, from compass to a large knife you dearly hope you will never have to use.

But the fact that the two of you are hopelessly unused to this sort of activity doesn't help in the slightest.

Thank the heavens for magic, once again. You have no idea how harder this would be if you had to cut your way through the dense foliage with knives or whatnots, instead of the magic you two are using.

Your long and uncomfortable trek eventually leads you to a bridge, and that is actually a good sign. The grumpy villagers had mentioned that there would be a bridge somewhere along the way, so at least the two of you are going in the right direction.

"Oh thank Celestia, darling. I was beginning to thing we were going to have to double back and start from scratch," Rarity says, looking at the bridge with the same relief as you are.

"I couldn't agree more… although this bridge doesn't look exactly… safe?" you ask.

It is a rope bridge. Well, not a simple bridge made out entirely of ropes, it looks well made and has wooden logs on the walking part. But it still is terribly old, and the ravine over which it passes looks deep and uninviting.

The two of you look at the bridge, and then your eyes go down and down and…

"I don't see any other way across, though," Rarity says, clearly trying to convince herself as much as she is trying to encourage you, "so I don't think we really have a choice."

You gulp something dry, before nodding as well. Although…

"One at a time?" you ask, seeing the sorry state of the old ropes holding the bridge together.

"One at a time," she agrees, "but I will not admit any weight jokes once we are on the other side," she says.

Managing to get a chuckle out of you.

You float your part of the equipment closer to you, trying to remind yourself that floated objects don't transfer their weight to the caster, and slowly place a hoof on the bridge.

Putting more and more of your weight on it, seeing if it will hold, nervously watching the old thing remember its old purpose as the wood creaks and the ropes grow taut.

And then you put another hoof, then a third, and finally your fourth.

Until, with sweat coming from your brow, you make your way through the thing.

Breathing a sigh of relief when you reach the other side.

"Alright, I think it's a little more resistant than we thought," you shout towards Rarity, as she slowly starts making her way through it as well.

With a little more confidence, seeing how you managed to do it just fine.

"Thank goodness some things still retain their functionality then," she says back to you, as she slowly makes her way over the old bridge. "But still, this old bridge looks absolutely terrible. It could certainly do with a retouch or-"

And it happens in less than a moment.

You feel, rather than you hear, the word Rarity used.

And so did the bridge.

On the next instant, the ropes that held the bridge are cleanly snapped, the entire bridge being cut in two as if a gigantic invisible scissor had divided it in the exact point where Rarity's hoof had touched the wooden log, as she said what she said.

You can only hear her yell in fright as she tries to grab hold of the bridge before she disappears from your view.

"Rarity!!!" you jump towards the limit of the ravine, looking down and searching for your friend, your heart hammering against your chest almost painfully as you once again realize just how deep the damn thing is.

"Rarity, hold on!"

The gear she had floating around herself is gone, but you couldn't care less. Your mind tries to feel relief for a split second, but that relief is shoved to the side by a second surge of adrenaline as you see Rarity hanging on to dear life on the remains of the bridge.

It takes a good amount of effort to help her up, first with as much floating magic as you can until she is within your reach, and then with your hoofs, but after heaven knows how long she is finally out of the ravine's clutches and by your side.

The two of you sit next to each other, heaving from the effort and fright, for a long time.

"Are…" you break the silence after a good while, your eyes still shot wide open as you speak, "are you all right?"

You see her get on her hoofs, slowly, and you notice when she winces at something.

"I think I hit the wall of the ravine too hard when the bridge fell against it…" she says, feeling the side of her chest with her hoof, and wincing a second time as she does it, "but thank goodness the bridge didn't fall down after it," she says.

You nod at that, feeling utterly guilty for your friend having been hurt, but thankful beyond relief that she is still alive.

You were not ready for this sort of thing.

"Here, let's take it easy for a while," you say, looking towards the now-broken bridge, wondering how you will make your way back.

There has to be a way around the ravine, you hope, but the trek will be… far longer on the way back it seems.

"I brought this with us for a reason," you say, trying to shake your shock away with action as you unpack the larger container you brought with you, bringing out the heavy carpet, "lay down on top of this and drink some water, I'll go take a quick look around to see where we can put up the tent we brought."

She looks at you with a slightly confused expression as you lay down the carpet on the grass, but something in her side makes her face double back into pain, and she quickly agrees with you.

She will feel its effect soon enough, you know, so you don't mind her skepticism.

Well, at least she is still alive, you think, shivering slightly.



[Day 2 hurdle: Rough terrain]

[Roll: 1 + 8 (Martial) + 1 (FORGE bonus) + 0 (FORGE bonus, Rarity) = 10]

[Critical failure. Rolling malus]

[Rarity has received one wound, 2/3 health remains]

[The return trek will take far longer than expected, you will "lose" an action from the next turn, for the time it will take to make your way back]



- - -



[Expedition – Day 3]



At least the carpet had a positive effect. Rarity still winces whenever she moves in a specific way, or whenever she pokes at the side of her chest.

But by the heavens, she is feeling energized.

"And that thing by the bridge, you are telling me that…?"

"I am not sure, in all honesty, I'm not that privy about it either," you admit as the two of you make your way through the increasingly sparse vegetation, "but I can tell you for certainty that it was something to do with Forge."

"But wasn't that…" she stops talking for a few moments, as if trying to remember, "but don't forges have to do with creating things?"

"Or destroying them, or remaking them. These things can have a lot of different interpretations."

"Ohhh…"

She woke up as well as the carpet salespony promised, at least. Not healed, not by a long shot, but with the attitude of somepony who was ready to press on regardless.

So the two of you continued your journey. You had considered doubling back and maybe focusing on finding a path back to the village first, depending on how Rarity would be feeling, but the mare herself convinced you that now more than ever you had to make your way onwards.

And there was sense in that. If the way around the ravine is long, then making your way back to the village for her sake, only to make the entire trek back alone, would be… difficult, to say the least.

You make your way through the forest, then. And a few hours later you hear the sound of water running.

You hear a river. It has to be a river, and your heart skips at the thought that it might be your river.

When you finally reach it, you confirm that it is indeed the river you are looking for. Two small hills can be seen right beyond it, and you think you remember the view from Princess Luna's dream well enough to be able to figure out where her vantage point must be from here.

The two of you quickly locate a shallower part of the river, enough for you and Rarity to comfortably make your way through it and refill your water supplies.

You double your pace as you make your way to the nearest hill.



[Day 3 hurdle: Rough terrain]

[Roll: 61 + 8 (Martial) + 1 (FORGE bonus) + 0 (FORGE bonus, Rarity) = 70]

[Success]

[All hurdles have been overcome. Expedition successful]



- - -



You find it. You finally find it.

The sun is still high up in the sky. You and Rarity are tired, with have scratches and sore spots all over your bodies, your hindleg hurts, Rarity is wounded, and your manes are in a state that they absolutely cannot be seen by anypony else.

But you found it.

There was a third, taller, hill hidden behind the smaller two, and it aligned perfectly with the angle that the two hills had in the dream. You made your way there until you saw an old trail that led upwards. You followed it, and soon enough you chanced upon a clearing.

A very large clearing, a pony-made clearing with all the signs of earth pony hoofwork, the sort of place that the very trees agree not to grow into anymore for as long as the curious magic of earth ponies persists in Equestria.

And right there, you see it.

A house.

The remains of a house, the ruins of an ancient house, thick wooden walls all but consumed by time and the elements, the signs of ancient stonework toppled by the wind and heaven knows how many years, decades or even centuries of rain.

But it still has something approaching a barely held second floor, and you can already tell that from that vantage point you just might have the same view that you saw on Princess Luna's dream, of the two other smaller hills with the river flowing around them.

"This is the place," you say, as much to yourself as you do to Rarity, your heart starting to beat faster and faster, tension coming to your body as you realize that this is it.

After all these months, after everything that happened since the Ritual, you will finally be able to speak to the Princess herself. You will finally be able to…

You swallow something dry, knowing that as hard as reaching this place might have been, what comes next might be even harder.

The two of you slowly walk into the clearing, and towards the ancient and crumbling house.

"Listen to me, Rarity. This is very important. If everything goes well, what we are about to do inside that house is…"

But suddenly you feel something... out of place.

Something is... something is definitely off, you realize suddenly, you heart beating faster for a split second as your eyes go wide open.

"Rarity?!" you turn around towards your friend.

And you see-

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You breathe in, as if you had just woken up.

Your mind is in some sort of haze, and… you are lying on the floor? How did that…?

Yes, you can clearly see the ground right next to your face, the sensation of grass against your cheek, and the whole side of your body, coming to you right after.

Were you pushed, and fell down into this position? Did you fall asleep? Did you perhaps hit your head or something? Your memories, or at least the last few seconds, seem somewhat disconnected, and you try t-

"Rarity!" you suddenly remember everything, and you snap into an upright position as you face Rarity and… wait…



Where is she?



"Rarity…?" you look around, searching for her, "where did you…?"

But your words die inside your mouth as you look around.

You don't recognize this place.

You realize you have no idea of where you are.

"Rarity? Where are you?!" you shout, eyeing your surroundings and looking for her, looking for anything that might be remotely familiar or resembling the place you were at moments ago, your heart starting to beat faster as you take in the scenery and try to understand exactly what the hell just happened.

You can see the limits of a forest in the near distance, just like in the place you were with Rarity, but it feels different. The trees look different, the soil itself feels strange.

In fact, you feel incredibly stupid for not having realized it before. You blink twice, confirming that you had your eyes closed this whole time, and the moment you open your eyes everything around you is immediately covered in shadows and darkness.

It is night.

The thought that something might have happened, the ridiculous notion that perhaps you hit your head and passed out, and was simply left there, presents itself as a logical option, but you immediately rebuke it. Rarity would never do that to you after all.

But... you feel something else. This sensation of strangeness is coming from… well, from all around you truth be told, but it feels especially strong from one direction in particular.

You slowly look up, sensing that, although it is dark, the night is a lot brighter than it should be.

And you can also feel a… or rather, you can also hear? It is strange, to the point where you almost can't describe it. You know that this isn't normal, that this whole situation isn't normal. Not necessarily wrong, you can tell, but it is not right either. And this thing you hear… it sounds like a message, of sorts.

It sounds as if a message had been whispered to the wind long ago, and the wind still remembers it. The faint whisper of the wind against your ears almost sounds like a voice, of sorts, and you can almost make out the words.

You finish pointing your eyes up, and as you look towards the sky you see an ocean of stars.

But above all else, you see that the moon is very, very large in the sky.

Larger than it should be, larger than it could ever naturally be. So close that you think it might fall down at any moment towards you, and crash against the earth. It is covering perhaps an entire third part of the skies, its normally peaceful and distant glow radiating down to Equestria with many times its calm intensity.

The countless stars, also, are arrayed around the moon as if they were a grand crown of silver jewels, or perhaps a mantle of royalty.

Your eyes go wide when you see all of that, when you finally finish taking all of that in, and you immediately understand what it is that the winds are whispering.



"The Moon is here, and all of the stars have gathered in reverence."



But you don't just understand the words, you understand the deeper meaning of it as well.

The moon is here, high up in the sky and mantled in an infinite array of stars, because the Moon is here.

You understand, immediately, that the moon is centered exactly on this place, and that it is here for a very particular reason.

That doesn't exactly calm you down, not in the sense that it gives you any more certainty of where you are or what happened. But it does tell you that something happened to begin with, something very strange, and yet not wrong.

And that is something you can work with, perhaps. That is something your mind can comprehend, even if your rationality cannot.

You face the moon for a few more seconds, before allowing your eyes to go downwards. Until you are looking once again at the abandoned house, bathed under the moonlight.

Only it is not abandoned anymore. In fact, it is not even close to falling apart.

The ruined house… it is a house, now, that looks lovingly well kept even, made mostly of wood with some signs of stonework here and there, on one of its walls and on the tall chimney from which a small amount of smoke is coming out. You also see a small garden in front of it, with some flowers, everything being surrounded by a short fence.

The fence's gate is open, and you feel like you are being invited, although you do not know why. So, you walk towards the house and pass through the gate.

It feels… you feel… There is surely something very wrong here, although you are not sure if the wrongness is in your mind, or in your soul, or in this place as a whole.

But somehow, you feel a sense of… of nostalgia?

As if this place, this house, had been the house where you have lived a loving childhood. Everywhere you look at, be it the small flowers or the scratches on the window or even the trees in the nearby limit of the forest... everywhere you look you can feel memories, you can feel a small flutter in your heart as if you had just found something precious, something that you had forgotten you had even lost, long, long ago.

Even the air, this breeze-like smell you can feel, even this is something you can almost recognize, although you have no idea from where or when.

You are walking towards the door, but your hoofsteps become slower and slower, each shorter than the last. Until you find yourself in the middle of the small garden and just… stop. You are breathing quickly now, through your nose, your mouth closed shut less something escapes through it.

You know this place. You know this place. And you have been wanting to see this place again ever since… ever.

This place… this is your… this is your…

The door, that rustic yet lovingly crafted wooden door, slowly opens up. You first see the warm glow coming from the inside of the house as the door opens, and then you see…



You missed her so much.



A… an aged mare is… you feel your eyes burn, the hint of tears that are not far away coming from them.

It's her.

"Ah, you arrived!" the aged mare, an elderly earth pony with dark blue coat, appears from behind the door, looking at you with a warm smile.

And you… you just…

"What are you waiting for dear? Come on in, you'll get sick if you stay out in the cold like that," she says, beckoning you with a wave of her hoof.

You were frozen solid, hit by a wave of memories that was almost causing you to take a step back under its pressure. But that simple wave of a hoof, together with that smile, was enough to dispel all of that. Or rather, not to dispel it, but to compel you to walk towards the house with an even stronger emotion.



The unmistakable emotion of returning home.



"She's here love," the mare says towards the corridor, closing the door behind you as you step into the house, "I told you she would come," she says as she walks.

You follow behind her, trying your hardest to hold back your overflowing emotions, trying not to notice the… trying not to notice everything.

The faint and comfortable heat coming from the living room where you are following her to, the soft smell of something freshly baked, the slight noise of the wind coming from the outside as it caresses the walls. You feel the urge to not follow after her, to take a turn into the open door the two of you are passing by just now, to explore the entire house and feel every feeling, see everything.

Remember all the memories.

But you can't, you know you can't. You would not make it through the first hoofstep before you were overpowered by your own emotions.

"Mhmm…" you hear the answer coming from up ahead, from a voice that you know all too well.

The two of you then arrive at the living room, and you take in another sharp breath without any conscious prompt. What you see makes your body feel so light that you almost forget how exactly you are supposed to walk.

The roaring fireplace lends the entire room a calm light, the occasional snap from the timber coming like a familiar melody to your ears. The rustic leather sofas, worn from age and use and maybe too much jumping on it by foals, feels exactly as you know they will. Everything else, also, is… The paintings on the walls, the wooden carved figures of ponies made by inexperienced hoofs, the mementos and several small objects, the cabinet filled with a few books.

Everything is…

The old stallion, his coat white like fresh snow illuminated by the morning sun, is sitting on his couch, reading from a book.

As he almost always was.

The elderly mare, her fur the color of the night sky, sits next to the old unicorn.

You sit opposite to the two of them, the sensation of the couch against your hind and back maddeningly familiar and impossibly comfortable. You feel like you could sleep here if you but closed your eyes. After all, there is no better place to be than here. Nowhere else in all of Equestria, in any point of time, is better than… safer than…

Than home.

You watch as the elderly mare takes up a pair of needles, and slowly resumes a crochet she was working on, her smile content as she begins to hum a small tune.

You know the notes to that tune, to that old lullaby. You could hum with her if you wanted to, or maybe even sing the lyrics to the song if you really searched your mind for them. You know that song, because you had it softly hummed to you countless times on countless nights as you gently drifted off to sleep in your bed, in this very house surrounded by forest in all directions.

And that… that memory, that certainty… That is what makes you realize…

This. All of this. All these memories, all these feelings of nostalgia, all of this love even.

They are not yours.

You can feel them, though, as if they were your very own. And you know it immediately. You understand that this place is so… so absolutely precious, so unique and exceptional and impossible, that the very air is charged with these feelings. It is what brought this place into being, after all, it is why those two are here.

They are here because she needed them. They are here because, if they weren't, she wouldn't be able to sleep safely.

They are here because their presence is what makes this place what it is. Not the wooden walls, not the noise of the wind outside, not the warmth from the fireplace, but those two. It is the utter knowledge that they will be there when she wakes up, as they always were, that makes all of this possible.

And your arrival… the fact that you are here means nothing but…

You swallow something wet. These feelings might not be originally yours, but you can still feel them very keenly and deeply. A tear nearly comes to your eyes as you finally realize that your presence here means that this is all about to end.

But that is so…

Ending this would be so… so unfair, and quick, and cold, and painful and everything else. It would be so right, and yet so wrong.

You very dearly wish for this not to end.

But it must.

You open your mouth, but the words are stuck in your throat. You know the words, as well as you know that you must speak the words, but they simply won't come out.

Something deep inside of you is asking, begging even, for you to wait just a minute longer, just a second longer. Something inside of you very dearly wishes for this not to end, just not yet.

So, you say something else. After who knows how long you manage to force words out of your mouth, but they are not the words that must be spoken. Instead, you ask something else. You ask the question that has been burning inside your chest, constricting your throat, this whole time.

You ask the question that, somehow, you already know the answer to.

"Who… are you?" you ask the two ponies sitting opposite to you.

You ask the elderly earth pony mare, as you remember she would always be the one to which questions were asked.

And she looks up from her crochet.

"Who am I?" she laughs, "oh sweetie, you already know who I am. And I can't answer your question, not when you word it like that."

You see the old unicorn nod, slowly, his eyes still on the book.

"Simply because I no longer am," she finishes, emphasizing that last word. "I belong in the past, dear. We, both of us, were left behind. And that is exactly how things are meant to be."

She looks towards the fire as she says that, and as she does that you can tell that she looks small, and very old.

"But… I had to come back," she continues, still looking at the fire, "when I heard her, in the state she was in… Well, we simply couldn't leave her like that. We had to come back."

You immediately understand what she means by that.

You feel something coming up from deep inside you. You don't want to, you dearly don't want to, but you have to.

This time the words are forcing their way out of your mouth, but it is you who are trying to hold them back.



"I'm…" your voice breaks as you start saying the words, trembling and quaking under the weight of your emotions.



You don't want to.

You can't.



"I'm here to…"



She is safe in here.

She is happy here.



"I'm here… to take her with me…"



But you finish saying the words regardless. They force their way out of you, leaving a wound in your heart, regardless.

The two elderly ponies look towards you at that, and you know that there is nothing else that you can do now.

But the elderly mare also sees that in your eyes, and you see her smile gently at that, as if she knows everything that is happening in your heart and in your mind.

"Oh dear, we know… Don't make that face," she says lovingly, soothingly, as she lays her crochet down, "we all have to say our goodbyes someday, don't we?"

You nod at that, but the movement causes a tear to jerk free from your eye, slowly making its way down through your cheek.

"Won't you go wake her up, love? You know how groggy she can get after she sleeps for longer than she should," she says towards the unicorn, who nods and walks away from the living room.

The mare, for her part, goes towards you, taking your hoofs on her own as if she was consoling a child.

"Don't be like that, dear. Think of it this way, we came back one last time, for one last night," she says, her voice tender and warm, "isn't that what we say sometimes? That we would give anything for just one more moment? Well, try and see it this way, that dream came true!"

You nod, not being able to answer with the ragged way you are breathing.

But you understand what she means, and she sees that you understand.

"I... I know, and…" you try to answer, but you can't hold back the tears anymore, "and I know I would do the same thing and… and if Sil... if my own dau... if she asked, I would come back no matter what, and…" you almost can't speak properly, but you know that the mare understands you regardless, "… and if she called me I'd…"

The old unicorn returns, heading to the elderly mare and whispering something into her ear.

To which she nods, pulling your hoofs gently and helping you out of the couch.

"Yes, dear, I know you agree. We are both mothers, after all, it's in our nature… even if we have to break certain rules, every now and then," she says, giving you a gentle, and somehow mischievous, wink.

And you wholeheartedly, from the bottom of your soul, agree with her in that.

"But our time here is up, and I think you know what you are supposed to do next."

You nod back at her, although with far less enthusiasm, your eyes downtrodden as you walk out of the living room.

Alone.

You don't want to go alone, though. You want them to come with you, you want them to promise that they will be right behind you and never leave.

But you know that you can't ask for that, much like they can't promise that.

The same way that you can't promise that to your own daughter.

It's how things go, after all.

You hear the two of them walking behind you, from a distance. You hear them whispering something to each other that you can only guess what is.

You slowly go up the stairs, one step after the other.

And you realize that you have committed a grave mistake.

That step you just placed your hoof on, you know, was the point of no return. And you just crossed it.

You know the two old ponies are still right behind you, you know they are still looking at you, lovingly, as you go to a place where they cannot follow, to do something that they cannot help you with. You know that they very much wish they could, but that they also know they cannot.

You breathe in, sharply, trying to say something… anything. You are not ready to say goodbye, you know you will never be.

But even in that, the elderly mare is quicker than you. The benefit of age and wisdom, it seems.

"And Velvet Covers?" she asks, almost as an afterthought, a question that she already knows the answer to, but that she will still make anyways, perhaps as a parting gift.

You also realize that not once you have told her your name.

"Please…" she says, her voice suddenly sounding very tired, although you can still hear she is talking through a smile, "promise you will do what is best for my daughter?"

And you can't hold in your feelings anymore.

"I promis-!" you say, turning around to face them one last time.



But the word dies in your mouth as you realize they are not there anymore.



Nothing is there. You are facing a crumbling ruin, and your hoofs are stepping on the precarious skeleton of a ruined stair. You can see that it is day, as well, the sun creeping in through the several holes on the walls and on the roof. Everything is gone.

The only thing that remains the same are your emotions, and with trembling hoofs you slowly clear the tear that is falling down through your cheek.

They are not here anymore, perhaps they never were.

Except that you are sure they were, and you... or maybe whoever called them, misses them very much.

With a heavy heart you finish climbing the stairs.

The second floor is in ruins, but you know where to go. You avoid the large hole on the ground as you pass by the empty opening, the one that would have led to the master bedroom. You walk by the entrance to the broken place that was once the room of the older, and you enter the room of the younger.

And there you see her, still lying somewhat groggily on a… on a small mount of lovingly crocheted blankets, their appearance pristine and new in stark contrast with everything else in this entire place.

You see her, coat as black as the night sky, the same color as the elderly mare's.

You watch her as she looks around, her mind still trying to piece together exactly where she might be.

Until she finally sees you, and…

And looks at you with the innocent eyes of a pony who has no idea of where they are.

Or of who they are.

"Where…" she says, stopping to let out a short yawn, "where are they? Where did they go?"

Your heart sinks with that question, as you continue to take a long look at…

At a pony who might be only slightly smaller than you. A pony without wings, without a horn, and who does not even have a cutie mark on her flank.

At a pony who, you know, is Princess Luna, at the same time that you know she is… not. Not anymore, or maybe just not yet.

You understand without any logical prompt. You understand as if somepony had told you, just a few moments ago, that she… was put to sleep. That she is still sleeping. That if you go into her dreams, right now, you will still find the sleeping demigoddess, resting peacefully.

You also understand that this was the only way, after the other and more powerful solution had been so utterly broken.

"They had to go," you answer with the only words that you can. "But they were just here… they stayed until…"

You can't finish that phrase.

But she slowly nods at that, regardless. You know that she is not thinking too hard about it, you know that something is helping her not think too hard about it, perhaps some final mercy of love, or maybe just the odd way she is slightly leaning towards the crocheted blankets underneath her.

But still, you know she understands. She might not understand exactly why or how, but she understands that it must be like this.

"And who are you...?" she asks, innocently, completely ignorant to... everything. "I'm... I think my name is Selene...? But who are you? What is your name?"

You feel something tighten around your heart, only for another, gentler emotion, release you from that grip.

This is for the best, you know. This was the only way, after...

"I am Velvet Covers," you answer.

"And are you here…?" she continues, looking to the walls around her, then to the blankets underneath her hoofs, and finally into your eyes once again, "are you here to take me somewhere else?"

You look into her eyes, her innocent and waiting eyes, and you know what you must do.

Your lips set into a line as you decide that…





[You have witnessed something which was both sacred and secret. It is impossible, however, to witness such moments and not be seen yourself, as well.]

[This is Selene, and she will follow you, wherever you wish to take her, until she is Selene no more.]



- - -



It is seldom that fate presents itself in such a pure way. It is rare for the world itself to reach such a clear crossroad, holding its breath as a single pony stands upon its crux.

After all, it is usually the world, and its many Histories, that guides Ponykind.

But sometimes, on very rare and unique occasions, the world and its Histories follow the guidance of another, of a single pony perhaps. Sometimes, the hoofs of every last pony in Equestria, and the strand of every last History that forms the tapestry, aligns themselves and follow after a trail left by a single track of hoofsteps.

The ponies who leave behind such tracks might be called heroes, or perhaps monsters. Such ponies might be called fated, or perhaps just extremely lucky. Such ponies sometimes are not even aware that they stand upon such a moment at all.

And yet, right now, the world is holding its breath, as it waits and watches.

What path, then, will those hoofsteps leave a trail into?





[] The Moon shall be taken to the Sun, and Equestria shall be crowned by the halo of an equinox as they reunite.

-You will walk out of the house with Selene in tow, determined to reunite her with her sister;
-You will be given the option of how to explain the situation to those who await you outside;
-You have no way of knowing how Princess Celestia will react to this;
-If your Master finds out about this, it will surely be seen as a grave betrayal;
-You do not know for sure if Princess Celestia can bring Princess Luna's memories back;

-But… even if she somehow manages to, can you trust how Luna will react to them? Like opening a box without knowing the contents, won't Celestia just repeat this all over again?



[] The Moon shall heed your council and hide itself within the embrace of a dark Wood. Its light will not emerge unchanged, but that will surely be for the best of Equestria.

-You will walk out of the house with Selene in tow, determined to bring her to the cult;
-You will be given the option to explain the situation to those who await outside;
-Your Master will surely reward you for this, and the options for said reward will be presented later, as well as they will favor you greatly from here on;
-If Celestia finds out about this, it will surely be seen as a grave betrayal;
-Your Master has the means to bring back Princess Luna's memories;

-But… can you trust her, as vulnerable as she is, to your Master?



[] The Moon shall be stolen away, the most precious jewel of the heavens will disappear without leaving a trace. But it will be safe, with you, and you will help her return to her full splendor.

-You will walk out of the house with Selene in tow, determined to take her back to your own home;
-You will be given the option to explain the situation to those who await outside;
-Selene will immediately become a Confidant, and you will be given options (both with her actions and your own, each turn) on how to educate her and help her retrieve her memories;
-This will happen in the form of Lore lessons. As she grows in certain Lores she will safely recuperate her memories and powers, and will slowly be eased into fully accepting them while also learning about the occult;
-You have no way of knowing how your Master will react to this, if he finds out;
-You have no way of knowing how Celestia will react to this, if she finds out;

-But… can you trust yourself with such precious a jewel?



[] The Moon will stay where it is, and wait, and hope.

-You will wish Selene the best of luck, and tell her to stay where she is, and to go back to sleep if she can;
-You will not have to explain anything to anypony. The Expedition, and your hunch, will simply be brushed off as wrong;
-You will leave, and allow History to decide its own path;

-But… if you were the one who first arrived here, is this really the correct option?



[] The Moon will be shattered. Its blood will fall down to the earth as a rain of shooting stars, and Equestria will weep. But after all she has been through, and knowing all the pain that still awaits her, you know this to be a mercy.

-You will kill Princess Luna. She will not resist, and it will be done quickly and mercifully;
-You will not have to explain anything to anypony. The Expedition, and your hunch, will simply be brushed off as wrong;
-Nopony will ever find out about this, unless you tell them. Anything or anyone else that might know, or eventually discover, will either agree with your decision or not be in a position to punish you;
-You will gain the permanent trait [Blood of the Outsider]. This trait is not a Malus;
-You will gain two scraps of EDGE Lore, and one scrap of every other Lore;

-But… will you be able to live with your own conscience?





By the laws of the harsher of the two universes, she is in this state. She is Selene, and she is lost.

By the laws of the kinder of the two universes, it is possible for her to recover. She will, if helped correctly, once again be Princess Luna.

She will, if helped correctly, perhaps even be more. Certain experiences can change us, but growth is a natural part of life.

I will have no discussion about the nature of souls and conscience, or about personality. This is so.

So please, kindly decide what course the moon shall take.

Spoiler: The flowing of Time, the Fates that were Not

100 – Alicornae: They are the epitome of creation, the guardians of Harmony. Princess Luna has mastered her memories and returned all the stronger, standing as tall as her sister and just as mighty despite the thousand years gap of experience. She knows what her enemy is, now.

99-96 – Grim, but firm: There is a darkness in her eyes, now. By strength of will did she emerge from her own personal hell, but it has marked her. A demigoddess still, but one now with a new point of view.

95-86 - Shaken: Shivering like a foal. Afraid of her own shadow. Afraid to even close her eyes and sleep. She remembers everything, but it is clear that she wishes she didn't.

85-66 – Selene: The moon has many faces, and many names. Equestria needs it to be full, but right now it is waning, soon to be totally hidden and lightless. But she is still in there, you know it, in peace. And she can be brought out again.

65-51 - A fumbling hermit: Mouth frothing with madness, insane babblings and incoherent thoughts, so many tears amidst hysterical laughter. At least she forgot all about her powers as well, it seems, and you might be able to bring her back with you. She needs help, though, as much as can possibly be given.

50-36 – (Un)awakened: You can see it in her eyes, the desperation. She does not yet believe she has woken up. Perhaps she never will. Her horn glows with the barely leashed power of creation, though, as she searches for the direction that her torment will come from next. Better not make any sudden movements… (Lose one sanity point, willing to talk if found this turn, re-roll if not)

35-05 – Not yet: She is still in there. Alone. With the Worm of her memories. (Lose one sanity point, re-roll after a full month)

04-02 - Worm-found: The Worms nearly got to her, and she took the only way out she could think of. Not that fate. Never again. Bringing her body back will be a grim affair, though…

01 – Worm-touched: The Worms have found her before anypony else did. Equestria will surely suffer.



[After-chase, first roll: 67]

[Fate sealed]



These are the fates that were Not. This was devised the moment Luna rolled her 100, and the story would have turned out very different indeed if, back then, any other threshold had been landed on.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] The Moon shall be stolen away, the most precious jewel of the heavens will disappear without leaving a trace. But it will be safe, with you, and you will help her return to her full splendor.

- - -

[This is important, but will be spoilered for brevity]

Spoiler: Selene

Selene will come with you and will live in your house for however long she needs to, and you thank the heavens that you live in Ponyville for that. For several reasons, in fact.

For starters, you are the only noble in town, so there is nopony else you need to impress, and there is no source of intentional and evil gossiping directed towards you.

You also live in a somewhat isolated estate. So far that has been useful for your anonymity, but it just might be all the more important now.

And finally, this is Ponyville. You can't think of a more peaceful and inviting place. Being away from the intrigues of nobility has never been so good.

You do, however, have certain ponies that you will have to do some explaining to, but that is beyond the point right now.



Selene's recuperation will follow a certain mechanic, as follows:

MOTH – will help her deal with remembering about her blood and the changes of her body. The secrets of the earth, wind and magic will come back to her through it.

EDGE – will help her master her own powers, and the overbearing intensity that sleeps in her blood. An alicorn is a being beyond a mortal pony, and coming to terms with that is no simple task.

KNOCK – will help her unearth what is within her mind, be it her dream access or her memories. It is what will allow Princess Luna, the one on the Dreamlands, to slowly wake up to who she is.

WINTER – will help her come to terms with all of the above, as well as with other things. Calm, patience, fatalism, they will all be necessary, and it will be folly not to acquire them.



-Selene will start with all Lores at Level 0.

-You will be the one who teaches her, and her lesson on a Lore will be "complete" once she reaches Level 3 in a Lore. Each lesson will give her a "Level up" on a single Lore (she will not follow Scrap of Lore mechanic).

-Teaching her when you are the SAME level as the lesson will proc a dice roll, which can fail. Teaching her while you are ABOVE the level of the lesson (teaching her Moth 1 when you are Moth 2 or greater) guarantees success.

-Her lessons will be "complete" once she reaches Level 3 in all the above Lores, but Princess Luna will only return once you successfully perform a "The Incision of the Heart" Ritual on her. You have no idea, as of yet, of how Selene's mind might (or might not) change as she learns, or if she will start to "remember" things or not.

-You may cast "The Incision of the Heart" at ANY moment, even before reaching Level 3 in all the Lores. But that is unadvised.

- - -



"Yes," you answer, after taking a deep breath, "I am here to take you somewhere else."

The answer is obvious. What you have to do is obvious.

So obvious that you might say there was no other option to begin with.

"Where?" she asks, partly timid and partly curious. You can tell that she is slowly waking up, that she is slowly starting to understand where she is and…

No, you can tell that she is slowly starting to realize that she no longer is where she was before. She is no longer there, with them… She is here now.

"I will take you with me, to where I live," you say, gently, as you walk towards her, taking her hoofs on your own, "and I promise…" you continue, looking deep into her eyes as you speak.

You say it, in the way you wish you had been able to promise to them.


- - - - -

[] "I promise I will take care of you. For as long as you need, and even after that," you say, you promise, you swear, while looking in the eyes of the lonely filly. And she slowly, but honestly, nods back at you.

-Selene is a filly, she even looks to be the same age as your daughter.

-This is the easiest way for her to avoid notice. Almost nopony will be suspicious of a filly, and foals are already usually overlooked as a rule. The fact that she lacks a cutie mark will be seen as natural.

-Her "Confidant Focus" options will only be "to learn a Lore lesson" that turn. Apart from that, she will live a normal life.

-As a filly, Selene will only be able to learn a single Lore lesson per turn.

-This is the slowest option, and perhaps the safest. But deep down, you know that this is the only option in which Selene will experience innocent happiness.



[] "I promise I will be here for you, and I only ask you to trust me in return," you say, you promise, while looking at the young mare's eyes. And she slowly, but surely, nods back at you.

-Selene is a young mare, the equivalent of a "teenager" perhaps, reaching for adulthood.

-This will draw some suspicion. Her age will make a few options for explanation less likely, and her lack of a cutie mark will draw some attention. You are sure some of your older dresses might fit her, but that trait will surely be noticed at some point.

-Her "Confidant Focus" option will allow for more actions, mainly those that involve accompanying you while you perform your own actions. But she won't be able to perform actions by herself in your stead, and taking her to do certain things might draw attention.

-As a young mare, Selene will be able to learn two Lore lessons per turn (by using her Focus and one of your actions, or two of your actions), but it is better not to do it that often so as to avoid burnout.

-This can be quicker than a filly, but you can see by the confusion in her eyes that this haste will make her need more of your help.



[] "I promise I will help you," you say, while looking at the mare's eyes. And she slowly, perhaps even hesitantly, nods back at you.

-Selene is a grown mare.

-This will draw the most suspicion. An amnesiac adult is already something that causes whispers to flourish. Her lack of a cutie mark will only make things more contentious, especially since it is known (at least by those who have studied a little) that amnesiac ponies do not lose theirs. Wiser or more attentive ponies might even realize that there are "dots" to be connected, even if they don't connect them.

-Her "Confidant Focus" will be equal in possibility as Rarity's.

-As a grown mare, Selene can safely learn two Lore lessons per turn, and three if that is done judiciously.

-This is the quickest option. But that will also mean you will have less time to simply get to know her. Quick changes, also, makes for more confusion, and you can tell that she is already a little confused.

- - - - -



You say that to Selene and she nods a second time, more certainly now.

But you also see her looking towards the ground.

And then towards the walls.

And then to the small pile of crocheted blankets on which she just woke up.

You can see that she is piecing it together, that she just realized what all of this means. That she just understood exactly what it means to wake up. You can see that she somehow understands that, from now on, it will only get colder and more difficult.

After all, no place will ever be as warm and happy as the place she just woke up from.

"I…" she says, downtrodden, "I don't… want to go…? I know I have to, but…"

She is still looking at the ground, as you hold her hoofs, but you can tell that she is slowly leaning towards you.

Maybe she doesn't even realize it, but she looks like a pony who is completely lost. A pony who does not know anypony or anything, one who can't even recognize where she is. A pony who has nothing, not even memories of her dreams, only the faint impression that she was somewhere safe and warm.

Somehow you can see it. She doesn't even know where she was, she only remembers the how it felt to be there.

Consequently, she only remembers what she just lost.

"But I…" she tries saying once again, not even knowing anymore what it is that torments her.

And you open your forelegs just as she is about to reach you, bringing her into a tight hug.

Selene is not even trembling, she doesn't even remember that she can feel like that. She is hollow, right now, and the only thing that hollowness does to her is make her feel scared.

So you whisper something in her ear to help her, even if only a little bit.



- - - - -

[] You tell her that she does not need to be afraid of change, and that you will teach her to hide until she is ready. (Raise her MOTH to Level 1. You will cut her mane short as you speak those words, and Selene will be naturally more subtle, decreasing her detectability.)

[] You tell her that this is the beginning of a new adventure, and that you will help her every step of the way. (Raise her EDGE to Level 1. Selene will be less meek and more sociable, decreasing her troubles with certain difficulties of life.)

[] You tell her that she will be fine, and that she will remember that good feeling every time she sleeps and dreams. (Raise her KNOCK to Level 1. Selene will be naturally calmer, and will usually wake up well rested, decreasing her fatigue depending on what Confidant Focus she engages in [this is less useful for Filly Selene])

[] You tell her, in few words, that everything will be alright. And she understands you. (Raise her WINTER to Level 1. Selene will be a quiet and observant pony, who is harder to knock down than normal. This will help her, once the nightmares start.)

(This First Lesson will be her very first outlook about her new life. The "observation" described in each possible vote will apply to her.)

- - - - -



You keep her in a tight hug. You keep her in a hug until she finally understands what this all means. You keep her in a hug until she starts to tremble and hugs you back, and then until she stops trembling.

You only let her go when she gently indicates that she is ready to be let go.

"Now, it will be a bit of a trek back, but I'll have to ask you to bear with it," you say, slowly shifting your mind back to the factual parts of how this will have to happen. "But I'll tell you all about the place we are going to, while we are at it," you finish, hoping to at least give her something to look forward to, even if only slightly.

Trying to encourage her curiosity about the future, since she has nothing to look back to in her memories, feels like a good way to go right now.

"And also, I'll have to ask you something… I have a friend outside, and I need to have a short talk with her before I introduce you. Can you please wait for me here? I'll be as fast as I can," you ask, still trying to keep a warm smile about your face.

Selene looks slightly uncomfortable at that, at the thought of being alone so quickly after waking up. But you see her look at the crocheted blankets from the corner of her eyes, and she takes a deep breath right after that, nodding that she will be fine.

Or as fine as she can be, considering her situation.

"Thank you," you say, as you slowly make your way out of her room.

Looking at her during the whole time, to make sure she doesn't have any second thoughts about it.

This will be hard, you can already tell… but right now, you have to decide what to tell Rarity.



- - - - -

[] Everything. Selene is Princess Luna, you will help her, and you need Rarity's help in return, if only to keep it a secret.

[] Part of the truth. Your occult knowledge has led you here, but you have no idea of who Selene is. You only know that she needs your help. (Rarity understands enough of the Lores to the point that claiming you came here due to the occult will not cause more confusion)

[] A lie. You expected to find something else here, and in that the Expedition failed. But you found Selene, and she clearly needs help.

[] Something else. (WRITE IN)

(There are no mechanical comments to be offered here, nor will I comment on "how does Velvet think Rarity will react?". Velvet considers her a Confidant, and she trusts Rarity. How much of that trust YOU are willing to impart, though, is really up to you.)
(You will talk to Rarity away from Selene's presence. There is no need to worry about telling one something, and telling another thing to the other.)

- - - - -



- - -



It was a long trek back. Long, but at least free of complications.

Material complications, at least.

You saw Rarity off to her boutique, still nursing her wound, and you lent her your Heart Artifact. It didn't even cross your mind not to. She is your closest friend, so it is the absolute least you can do.


[HEART Artifact has been lent to Rarity. It will be unavailable until she is back to full health.]


However, another thought crosses your mind right now.

You are in front of the gates to your estate. You didn't schedule the carriage to pick you up on the station, but you lost enough things when the bridge broke that you actually didn't have to carry much weight at all as you walked home from the station on hoof.

But still. You are in front of the gates to your estate, with Selene standing next to you, and you are about to go in.

Lucky you, then, that you had enough time to straighten your story.



- - - - -

Who is Selene?

[] An abandoned filly who you could not leave to her own fate. You will officially adopt her, paperwork and all. (To the public's eye, this will be nothing but a kind, even if eccentric, whim of a noblemare)

[] An amnesiac pony who you saw all by herself, and you firmly decided to take in while you search for her family. (Family is sacred, and having spent so much time helping look for Princess Luna has mellowed you down to it. This is, however, a story that inevitably "draws attention", as other ponies might try to "help you search for her family" with the best of intentions)

[] A relative from the Velvet family. Her family situation is currently… complicated, so you will be taking her in for a while. (Those in the know of the inner workings of the Velvet family will know this is a lie. Nopony else will doubt your word, though. Suspicion based on age and lack of cutie mark still applies.)

[] A relative from your husband's family. Her family situation is currently… complicated, so you will be taking her in for a while. (Those in the know of the inner workings of your husband's family will know this is a lie. Nopony else will doubt your word, though. Suspicion based on age and lack of cutie mark still applies.)

[] A pony who was in desperate need for help, and who you decided to employ as a maid. Bad luck can hit anypony, after all, and helping each other is what being a pony is all about. (You will employ her as a maid. Unavailable for filly Selene, obviously. This has its own sets of opportunities and complications.)

[] Something else. (WRITE IN)

(Selene will go with your story. You told her to be cautious and to keep that small secret, so she will, to the best of her abilities.)

- - - - -



"Well then, Selene," you say as you open the front doors to the entrance hall. "Welcome home."

And you immediately see your family.

Maybe you caught them in the middle of going somewhere and this is just a coincidence, maybe they saw you approaching from a window, or heard that you have arrived from a servant, and rushed to the entrance hall to greet you.

You will never know which it was, because whatever expression they had in their faces immediately disappeared as soon as you open the front door.

You know that expression.

It is the expression that Stormchaser has whenever something clicks inside his head. Whenever he is looking at something extremely important. He is wearing that unmistakable expression as he looks at Selene.

But to your surprise, so is Silky Stream.

The three of you stay utterly still, and utterly silent, as your husband and daughter look at the pony who is shily standing next to you. You can tell Selene is meekly balking under their stares, but you too are unsure of what to do next.

You see Stormchaser take a deep breath and open his mouth.

But before he can say anything, Silky Stream slowly spreads her wings, and flies towards Selene.

And as if the entire world was in slow motion, you see her gently take one of Selene's hoofs with her own, as she looks her in the eyes.

"I'm Silky Stream, but you can call me Silky," she says, in an unbelievable kind tone, "do you want me to show you around the house?"

You hold your breath while that happens, your eyes fixed on your daughter, wide open in surprise, as you see Selene slowly nod back at her, following behind Silky right after.

Both you and your husband only move once again after the two of them have left the entrance hall.

And your next movements, both yours and Stormchaser's, is to face each other.

The two of you don't need to say anything as you silently make your way towards your room, and lock the door behind you.



- - -



You sit down on your bed, after Stormchaser helps you up.

You are tired from the last few days, you are hungry, and you certainly don't look very pleasant right now.

But you absolutely have to have a talk with your husband, no matter what.

You take in a deep breath, and you open your mouth to-

"Sweetheart, I have to tell you something."

But he interrupts you before you do.

You look up from the ground, towards Stormchaser, and you see that his eyes are fixed straight ahead. As if he was looking beyond the walls of your room, to somewhere far away.

He is thinking deeply, you can tell. And you are not about to interrupt him if that is the case.

"I don't honestly mind… a lot of things," he starts talking, slowly, but you can tell that his words are coming from somewhere very deep. "I don't mind my job, because it lets me do a lot of things. I don't mind having been forced by my family to marry somepony, because otherwise I never would have met you."

He emphasizes that last word, and you can feel the meaning behind it. You can feel all the love, and promises, and honesty he has dedicated to you throughout the years when he says that word.

You know that he is telling the truth.

"I don't mind it when we have our small arguments, because they are a part of life. I don't mind…" you see him look towards his hoofs, trying to think of what else he might pick from an enormous list of small things, that enormous list of unreasonable things that life throws at him, at everypony, throughout their lives.

He then looks at you, and you nod at him.

You understand.

"But I know something just happened, and… I know, whoever that pony is, that there is something about her. And I…"

He walks towards you, taking your hoofs on his as he looks into your eyes.

But there is more than honesty on his face. More than just his trust and love for you.

Perhaps what you are seeing is confusion in his eyes.

Perhaps you see fear.

You feel a small knot in your chest, as you realize that you have no idea of how he might react if you tell him everything. Will his fear evolve into terror? Will his confusion evolve into betrayed shock? Will his trust and love for you win over everything else?

You do not know…

"I don't mind. I really don't mind whatever it is that life throws at me, as long as I can be here for you and Silky. I don't mind whatever cost I have to pay, as long as I know that I am being the very best pony I can be, for the two of you. As long as I know that I am doing what is best for the two of you. But…"

You see his lips tighten, his expression somewhat lost as he searches for the words to say.

"The moment I saw her, I knew that… I know that I have to do… something!" He nearly shouts the last word, and you can tell just how maddening the sensation must be to him, "I just have to… but I don't… I don't have the first idea of what the hell that is."

He says, before looking into your eyes again.

And you slowly nod at him, before you take a deep breath and say your own piece.

You will…



- - - - -

[] Tell him the truth. The whole truth. The years since you met Copper Secateur, the cult, the Ritual, Luna, Selene, everything. And dearly hope that he doesn't come to the conclusion that he "has to" go to the Royal Guard, for yours and Silky's safety. You also dearly hope he doesn't take all of this as a… betrayal, of sorts. You fear he honestly might. (Much like before, while deciding to bring him to the Expedition, you have no idea how he might react)

[] Tell him part of the truth. Tell him who Selene is, but that you are the one who has to help her. You absolutely cannot take her back to Princess Celestia like this. (WRITE IN your explanation of "why" you are the one who has to help her.)

[] Tell him a small lie. You were out on a trip with your friend, you found Selene, and you have decided to take care of her. You might not have his "sight" but you can also tell that… well, you really hope he understands that he "has to" help you, the same way you know that you "have to" help Selene. And from the possible fear you see in his eyes, this might be the best option.

[] Something completely different. (WRITE IN)

(ALL options can be changed or altered, especially to adapt to your "cover story")

- - - - -



This is important, this will be write-in heavy, and this in a small part is technically a "character creation" for Selene. There will be 48 hours of voting, with the first 6 hours being a moratorium, and QM will do his best to answer questions and correct stray interpretations of the mechanics.

ALL options are subject to write-in, and write-ins are actually encouraged. Think of the current options (with the exception of which Lores Selene will need, and the three age options) as mere suggestions.

Good luck.

Spoiler: FOR EASE OF PLANNING

[] Selene's Age
-[] Filly
-[] Teenager
-[] Grown mare

[] First Lesson
-[] Moth
-[] Edge
-[] Knock
-[] Winter

[] What to tell Rarity
-[] Everything
-[] The occult brought you here
-[] Nothing, this was not what you expected
-[] WRITE IN:

[] Selene's cover story
-[] Officially adopted (Filly only)
-[] Taken in
-[] A stray Velvet
-[] She is from Stormchaser's family
-[] Make her a maid (not allowed if filly)
-[] WRITE IN

[] What to tell Stormchaser
-[] Everything, and pray
-[] Tell him who she is, but only that (WRITE IN why you can't bring her to Celestia)
-[] Nothing, you found her and you can feel she needs to be helped
-[] WRITE IN

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X]Plan What Needs To Be Said
-[X] {Age} Filly
-[X] Moth
-[X] Everything
-[X] Officially adopted (Filly only)
-[X] Not everything, but enough. Tell Stormchaser that there is more be said, but this is what he needs to know:
--[X] The Lore; enough to demonstrate the hidden nature of the world, and how we now have abilities beyond the typical.
--[X] The Worms; enough to convey the cataclysmic threat they pose.
--[X] The Moon Princess; enough to show how she has suffered, how she cannot bear the weight of her memories, and how Celestia tragically appeared in those memories.
--[X] The Cult and the Master; enough to explain where we learned what we know, and to caution that while you are largely on the same side, the Master is unlikely to treat a vulnerable Alicorn with the kindness and gentleness she needs.
--[X] Selene. How she used to be Luna; how her memories and nature have been sealed until she can deal with them; how you have made a promise to help her.
--[X] ...And your goals for her. How you intend for her to be hidden and taught and loved. Stormchaser should have enough context to understand, by this point. Why you can't bring her to Celestia - for she needs to be taught, both to recover and to face what was and what is still to come. Why you can't bring her to Master - for she needs to be cared for, and not merely used. Why she needs to be here.

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan: Maximum GRAIL power
-[X] Shopping list
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
--[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
--[X] At the end of the cult meeting, tip off Windy Flakes about the MOTH artifact we found.
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of GRAIL
--[X] Apply to talking to Luna when we find her
-[X] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month?
--[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] On invoking the Lores
--[X] "The calling of Influence" for GRAIL
---[X] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
----[X] If anyone questions why we're doing this, claim that we're trying to smooth over the reputational knock caused by Windy Flakes invitation and maybe help some business deals on the side.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Study books
---[X] GRAIL Level 2 – "It's a book. About food. It has food on the cover, so that's what it is. If your daughter ever finds it, that's what you'll tell her. If your husband finds it, however…", costs 15 bits.
---[X] SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 – "A curious scroll, a copy from the original of course, detailing the appearance of King Sombra, centuries ago.", costs 30 bits.
----[X] Invite Twilight for book study with tea and biscuits. Try to pique her curiosity with the scroll's topic and allude to possibility of unearthing unusual non-explicit, implied knowledge.
---[X] Do both of these before casting "The calling of Influence"
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] You have everything you need, or at least everything you can muster. Due to your knowledge of how the searches are going, you can guarantee that the Royal Guard will find Princess Luna soon, you devised their routes yourself after all. Time is of the essence. (Normally, Expeditions do not "expire", but thanks to your insider's knowledge you know that Princess Luna will be located by the Crown at the end of Turn 8 in two month's time. Jade Whistle might also detect her, with her ritual, from the beginning of the next month, so this action is marked as a fleeting opportunity) (Voting for the details of how you will plan the expedition will be done when it begins. See "On Expeditions" for more details)
-[X] On aiding the cult
--[X] Help Jade Whistle
---[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[X] Help Comet Feet
---[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company... again.
----[X] Ask for a lesson in EDGE. Tell him we've come to realise that we may find ourselves having to use it in the future, and we'd like to be prepared. If necessary, be willing to talk about how we got our scar and the fear that has been with us ever since, and how we think we need to overcome it.
-[X] Ponyville politics
--[X][Servant action] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she wont dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

- - -



You are Ponpon, and you are…

Well, you are basically doing your job.

Although you have not done this particular aspect of it in a long, long time. Neither you can say that it is a part of it that you enjoy doing.

But as much as you might not like doing it in general, you are especially willing to do it right now. At least in this household.



"… like this? All this time?!"



You hear another bout of shouts, coming from a distance, and you grimace a little bit more at that.

You are on the second floor of the estate, standing a few hoofsteps away from the main stairs itself. To put it in a few words you are literally blocking the corridor, more specifically you are impeding access to the very last door on the corridor which leads to the master bedroom of the estate. But you are blocking the whole corridor because, well…



"… years, Velvet. YEARS. And… older than our DAUGHTER…"



Because raised voices, and outright shouts, can carry over very long distances.

To be honest, everypony has problems in their personal lives, and everypony deserves their privacy. However, you have found out, as the years went by, that this is something especially important to be mindful of in your career. Everypony has problems, yes, but not everypony has dozens of servants working in their house, and the absolute power to simply fire a lot of them if they are in a particularly bad mood, or if they hear a small offhoof comment about this or that. Be that comment imagined or not.

And you have seen that happen before, especially the "imagined" variation of it.

So as the longest-standing maid in the mansion, as well as because you are Lady Velvet's personal maid, it is an unspoken understanding that these sorts of more delicate situations fall under your jurisdiction. Most of the other servants, especially those who have already served in other houses, understood what is happening almost immediately, as soon as they saw you planted on the spot where you are right now.

The others, less experienced ones, simply took the clue and avoided being anywhere near the entrance hall altogether.

But this whole situation has started a while ago. As it currently stands, a few of the other older maids have already come to you for instructions about this and that, and helped spread the word that everypony was to complete their assignments as soon as possible and simply leave. You also told them to make sure that the cook had tomorrow's meals ready as well, just in case that it turns out to be "better" that as few ponies as possible come to work tomorrow.

You also told them to have somepony call for Soft Sweeps. The mare was having a day off today, by Stormchaser's leave, but… well, it is safe to say that things have changed.

Speaking of whom, as you think that you finally see her arrive, closing the large doors of the entrance hall behind her and looking around at the unusually empty place. Moments later she spots you, and makes her way up the stairs.

"Ponpon, did something happen?" she asks as she walks towards you, "Bins came to your house and called for me, saying that-"



"That is NOT what I meant, and you know it. Would you please LISTEN…"



Lady Velvet's shout, muffled by the distance and the thick wooden door, interrupts Soft Sweeps.

Her reaction is instantaneous, wings slightly opening and freezing in shock, her eyes going wide open and aimed at the door to the master bedroom.

"I… is everything…" she looks at the door, and then at you, "what's happening…?" she asks, and you hear a tinge of fear in her voice.

You let out a small sigh, and gently pat the young mare's wings back into place while you think.

Some of the other maids have already worked in other houses, you recall, as has Soft Sweeps. But her situation is rather different. She has probably seen nobles fighting, of course, but you know that she was rather… young, during her time in Canterlot, so you know she didn't have the necessary perspective to face that sort of situation.

Well, she already told you she had plenty of nobles shouting at her, but that's another thing entirely.

"Alright Soft," you say, your voice gaining the slight ring of focus it usually has when you are ordering the other maids around, Soft Sweeps included, "listen closely to what I'm about to say."

Causing her posture to immediately straighten up, knowing that you are being serious. And you smile a little at that.

Soft Sweeps is a good girl, you know.

"First of all, I think you agree when I and the other older servants say that Lady Velvet is a good boss, right? She and her family, that is."

"Of course they are!" she answers, her posture disarming a little bit at that, her expression growing slightly worried as she wonders where you are going with that.

"Yes, good. Trust us on that. But just so you know, not more than two hours ago Lady Velvet returned from her trip, and she brought a filly in tow with her. Nopony knows what the hay this is all about, but not a minute after she arrived she and her husband locked themselves in their room and have been there since then. And it looks bad."

You see Soft Sweeps look towards the ground at that, her expression thoughtful, before she looks back at you and slowly nods.

"And I… well, take it from me, this is a really good place to work at. I think it's the very best house I've ever worked in my entire life, in fact," you admit, after thinking for a few moments, "but I need you to keep in mind that this is the sort of situation that must be handled very carefully."

You say those words slowly, determined to make sure that Soft understands exactly what it is that you mean by that. You have already seen situations like this, after all. Places that were good environments turning sour because a noble family started having problems of that sort, and it usually follows that when the higher ups are in a bad spot, those below them suffer even more so. You have already seen ponies being mistreated or outright fired because of simple, even stupid, things, during moments like these.

And you know just how infatuated Soft Sweeps is with this place. You're happy for her, in fact. But you need to remind her that your employer is still a noble mare, and that this is not the sort of thing that one should mess around with.

"Listen. I trust Lady Velvet, you trust Lady Velvet, and all of us dearly hope that this will blow over in a few days, or hours if Celestia wills it. But I have a feeling that it won't. And as much as I trust our Lady, I have no idea how she might react to this sort of thing, do you understand?"

After all, your boss and her husband have practically been the quintessential lovey-dovey couple through all these years, and this sort of situation has never happened before. You have no idea if she will turn aggressive, or sour, or simply break down due to… whatever the hell just happened. You don't even know if she will simply brush it off, and walk out of her room with a pleased trot as if she just had her mane done.

What you do know is that you have to make sure that everything in this house is running smoothly, regardless of how Lady Velvet reacts.

"I… I understand…" you see her answer with a pained expression.

She is worried for them. Good, so are you, but you have the years of experience to hide it and to know how to act.

"But what do we do then, Ponpon?" she asks, as many other ponies have, throughout the day.

Of course she is asking you that. You are the head maid after all.

To some, you said that they should simply go about their duties, quietly, for the next few days. To others, you asked that they be especially attentive to rumors, after all it won't do for certain things to start being whispered about the house. You know how certain words can be the spark that makes a powder keg explode.

But you and Soft Sweeps, especially, have a few more things to be mindful about.

"You leave the two of them to me. Actually, try to interact with them as little as possible," you say, looking her in the eyes. "You have to focus on Silky, and whoever that other filly is. I know they will eventually catch up to this, we know Silky has a sharp eye for her age, but right now you can't let them come anywhere near the second floor."

Noble or not, it's always ugly to see a foal hear their parents having a nasty argument like that. You would very much like to spare them that, if you can.

"But how am I supp…?" she starts to ask, but the words die in her mouth.

And she thinks for a few moments, before nodding back to you, her expression determined.

She really is a good girl, you think with a tinge of relief.

"Any idea of where they are?" she asks, to which you shake your head.

Soft Sweeps then gives you a nod, a worried yet focused nod, before she flies down the stairs in the search for the two foals.

Leaving you alone, once again, on the beginning of the corridor of the second floor.

You hear another muffled bout of shouting, but although you can't make out the words this time you know that it doesn't sound any better than the last few ones.

You really hope this turns out alright.



- - -



It has been a while now.

The shouting has died down, but you are worried about the silence that settled on its place.

You silently approached the door when that happened, putting an ear against it to see if they were still talking, but you couldn't hear anything. You didn't hear crying, which was good, but you didn't hear anything else either.

Lady Velvet's husband is a pegasus, so you have the strong impression that she was alone in her room, now.

But experience told you that it would be better if you didn't knock on the door. You were close to her, but unfortunately not close enough to be able to help her with that.

So, you did the next best thing. You went to check on how Soft Sweeps was doing.

And you found her on the garden, with the two fillies.

"Oh, that's Ponpon! She's the maid that works with mom," you hear Silky's voice as soon as you find them.

And for the first time since this entire ordeal started, you lay your eyes on the filly that might very well be the cause for this whole situation.

"Good afternoon," you say, with a gentle smile, "I am Ponpon. What is your name?"

"I'm Selene," she answers, rather shily.

She is… well, she is a perfectly normal filly. Her coat is dark, a color that you can tell isn't exactly black, but some shade of purple or blue, and her short mane is a lighter color of that. But other than that, she is a perfectly normal earth pony filly.

Her expression is somewhere between overwhelmed and confused, but not in a way that you feel you should be worried about, so you safely attribute her current feelings to being bombarded by Silky Stream's usual excited antics, since you can also see that Soft Sweeps looks normal and unperturbed.

Outwardly unperturbed, that is. You don't miss the look that the maid sends your way while the two fillies are not looking.

"It's lovely to meet you, Selene," you say, then turning towards the other maid, "and I just came to ask if any of them would like to take a bath, since little Selene here just came from a rather long trip from what I've heard. I can have it ready in a few minutes if that's the case."

Soft Sweeps slowly nods at that. You being here is already telling, but the main bathroom is also on the second floor, so that all but confirms that, for better or for worse, she can let them go to the second floor now.

You also see a tinge of relief on her face, and you wonder if it is because she knows that the worst of the fighting must be over, at least for now, or if it is because subtly making the two fillies stay away from the mansion itself must have been extremely hard.

Probably a mixture of both, you conclude.

"Oh! Lets lets lets! I think the three of us can fit in the bathtub without a problem!" you hear Silky Stream answer, while she starts jumping in place.

To which you laugh a little bit, while Selene takes a step back from the other filly, and Soft Sweeps quickly starts saying something rather diplomatic about personal space.

You leave them at that, making your way back towards the mansion. You still have work to do, and a lot of it.

You had all the other servants dismissed for the day, after all. A slight overextension of your authority as head maid, but one that you are sure nopony will mind given the circumstances. But you still have things to take care of, so you better make sure everything is accounted for in case Lady Velvet decides to come out of her room.

You doubt that she will though, but still…



[Contact the Merchants – Servant action]

[Roll: 80 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 3 (Cult presence, Ponyville) = 94]

[You have successfully introduced yourself to the merchants of Ponyville. More options to interact with them have become available.]



If she does, at least you have a slight bit of good news to deliver to her, in the form of a report that awaits her at her desk.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Covers, and a lot of things have happened recently, in a very short span of time.



Due to your lateness, the Expedition cost its full price. 50 bits have been deducted from your personal coffers.

You have had a nasty argument with your husband. Your marital situation can be currently described as "strained" because of that.

You have chosen to harshly reveal a truth, with no thought of how that could affect the receiving party. You have gained one scrap of LANTERN Lore.

You have NOT told Stormchaser about the following:

-The more unsettling details about your Master's nature, or at least what little you have interacted with them (your husband does not know that your Master is... well, he thinks they are a regular pony);
-The murders you believe your cult has committed;
-The cult's actions about Princess Luna's ritual and eventual disappearance;
-Details about the cult itself, and details about the Lores.

Your husband is now aware that the "book club" is a cult, that a reasonable amount of ponies are a part of it, that the Lores exist and are real, that the Worms exist, that Selene is Princess Luna and the reason as to why she cannot be taken to Princess Celestia.

Your husband was shocked, and feels betrayed that you have hidden that for so long. He will be absent for a few days, but will return before your turn properly "starts". He was also shocked that you told him that "there is more to be said", but not telling him more than you did was better than telling him everything.

Your daughter will realize something is wrong as soon as her father returns.

Due to your good standing with your servants, your daily life will hopefully not be very much affected by this latest turn of events. Ponpon, especially, will watch your back from behind the curtains.


[And how well did you take that? Breakpoints 30/60/100]

[Roll: 51 + 8 (Martial) + 10 (WINTER bonus) = 69]

[First breakpoint reached: You will NOT be forced to take an action regarding Stormchaser]

[Second breakpoint reached: You will NOT receive a general "-10" malus during this round due to stress]

[Third breakpoint failed: You WILL receive a general "-10" malus due to stress if you do not devote an action to addressing this situation, this turn]



- - -



Things… did not turn out the way you hoped they would.

Stormchaser left.

That is a combination of words you never thought you would think about, much less witness, but he left. He looked around the room, looked at you, as if he couldn't recognize any of it, and simply said he needed time to think as he went for the window.

The worst part was that you could tell that doing that hurt him as much as it is hurting you right now.

And a part of you thinks you deserve this pain.

You stood there, facing the open window, for a long time. Your bed felt very cold and empty after that.

But you can't let that shake you down, you still have important things to do. First and foremost, you have a daughter to take care of, and make sure that she doesn't… well, you don't really expect to be able to hide that from Silky, seeing how awfully clever she is. But you fully hope that you will be able to tone it down as much as possible.

Actually, you have two daughters to take care of now, don't you? Three if you count Soft, but she's a grown mare so you will actually be relying on her a lot for this whole situation.

Anyways. Yes, two daughters. It is strange to think that you are doing this to Princess Luna, but…

When you think that you are doing this for Selene, a small and frightened filly who is the very opposite of an immortal alicorn, and when you think about the experience you had on that abandoned house… When you think back on the promise that you made, it feels a lot more obvious and clear to be doing this. It feels natural, even.

You promised her parents you would take care of her. You promised her that you will take care of her.

So now you have two daughters.

With that in mind, you make triple sure that you are presentable as you look at yourself on the mirror, before you head towards the door and gently unlock it with a flick of magic.

You had the whole night to wallow in your own misery, but you keep that part of you inside your room as you close the door behind you. It might be waiting for you there when you return at night, you know, but right now you have things that are more important than yourself to take care of.

You are also very hungry, seeing that you have not eaten in more than a full day.

"Ah! There are my girls, good morning," you say, as you step into the dining room.

"Mom! Good morning! Welcome back!" Silky immediately jumps in your direction, wings buzzing as she zips towards your chest, enveloping you in a hug.

"I missed you too, dear," you say honestly as you hug her back, not really finding it in you to remind her that she shouldn't fly in the dining room.

Rules are important, sure, but so are exceptions.

"And good morning Selene, did you sleep well?" you ask towards the other filly, who is nervously sitting on one of the chairs around the long table.

It is rather curious, now that you look at her more calmly. She is looking rather meek, for a lack of better word, and you can only imagine how utterly intimidating this whole ordeal must be to her. Not to say frightening, even.

But more than that, there is something about her that… that makes her hard to notice?

Maybe it's the way her mane is cut short, lending her an even smaller frame. Maybe it's the way she is sitting, a posture that is neither one in which she is crouching or trying to hide, nor is it one that is exactly outgoing and comfortable.

That particular trait, that strange impression you had just now, makes you immediately worried that she might be the kind of filly that is especially easy to lose in a crowd, of course.

But considering her situation… that trait of her might actually be for the best.

"Hi Mrs. Velvet…" she answers, still looking towards her food as she talks, her tone low, "and I slept fine…"

You gently nod at that, while you hear Silky excitedly say how she showed her around the estate yesterday.

"That's very good to hear. From the two of you," you say with a smile as you float your daughter back to her seat with a flick of your horn. "But I have something important to say, so I would like you to listen carefully," you continue.

Which gets the attention of the two fillies.

"Actually, I have something important to say to all of you," you also address Soft Sweeps and Ponpon, who are standing on the sides of the room, "and I'd like to ask you to relay that to everypony else in the house, Ponpon."

The two of them nod at you, their expressions somewhat curious as well.

Well, if they are curious then that shows you that Selene probably did not mention it to anypony yesterday, since she is the only one, apart from Stormchaser and Rarity, to whom you have disclosed the information you are about to reveal.

"Well," you say, mostly focusing on the two fillies, on Silky specifically, as you speak, "I found Selene while I was travelling, as you probably realized, and she is a filly who very much needed help when I found her. And I know that you must have noticed that as well, when you met her yesterday, so I really hope you can help her with whatever it is that she needs from now on."

You see Selene cringe a little bit at the sudden attention being directed at her, but Silky nods at that, her excited smile giving way to something a little bit more focused.

Something close, perhaps, to the focus you saw on her face yesterday when she first saw Selene. But not quite that, obviously, not quite a "click".

"Now, I don't mean what I am going to say next in a mean way, and I would like to ask that this particular tidbit stays between us. Everypony in this room are ponies you can trust, Selene," you continue, gently saying towards the other filly, "so letting them know this will help."

You then turn towards the two maids for a few moments, seeing them nod as well.

"But I need you all to know that Selene here unfortunately has no memories of how her life was, before I found her. All she could remember when we met was her name. So I hope we can all be especially nice to her, while she is here."

You face the two fillies again, as you finish what you need to say.

"Especially because me and your father are going to adopt Selene. I know this kind of thing takes time, and everything will happen as slowly as they need to happen," you say towards Selene, your voice even covered with a tone of experience as you recall how your own marriage started, as you recall how important it is to pace this sort of thing, "but from now on, the two of you are sisters." You finish with a smile, saying those last few words to Silky.

It is safe to say that Silky Stream is overjoyed when she hears that.

It is also rather ironic how it can be said that she is beaming like the sun at that, since from now on she will officially be Selene's sister.

The other filly, however, simply nods in a rather uncomfortable way.

But you know you really can't blame Selene for her reaction, you think.

After all, you have not told her who she is, neither do you plan to do so for a long time. So, she is nothing but a filly without memories, who woke up one day on an abandoned house with nothing but a strange mare promising to take care of her.

With all your heart, you hope that you will be able to slowly show her that you will make good of your promise. You hope that, above all else, she can be happy here.

You also privately hope that, much like how you were "forced" into marrying Stormchaser but slowly turned into the happiest mare in the world yourself, that your decision right now is one that will allow Selene to be equally happy.

At least for as long as she stays here with you.

And you don't even finish thinking about all of that before Silky throws herself at her newfound sister with a tackle hug.

To your surprise, however, Soft Sweeps is already upon them before you can even finish charging your horn with magic. That sort of thing must be habitual from your daughter, you realize, if Soft has already developed such a reflex.



- - -



Last turn's shopping list

Spoiler

These are the items that you had the option to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 61


-There are no items to be bought from last turn.


(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)



- - -



POSSIBLE ACTIONS


Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

Spoiler: On Suspicion Level and Ponyservant actions

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.

Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

[] 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")



[] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)

-[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)

-[] A measured commitment: Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands won't just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month. (6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)

-[] A desperate obsession: Everything is falling down, everything depends on this. You will not even sit on your office this month. (8 personal actions and 1 servant action. It is guaranteed that you will be called out for this.)


This turn's available bits: 181 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month



CONFIDANTS AND SUMMONS

Spoiler: Options of Focus

-The ponies and creatures listed below can be given a "focus" for this turn. Not mentioning them will incur in their "default picks" being selected. Be wary, also, to the "expiration date" of summons.

-The ponies and creatures listed below may be safely taken for a single one-turn (five days) Expedition without hampering their "focus". Taking them for a two-turn (6+ days) or greater Expedition will cause them to not execute their selected "focus".



Rarity (currently an Enlightened, GRAIL Level 0, FORGE Level nonexistent):

Current Health: 2/3

-[] Focus on getting better. (This will regenerate her health fully without the need to throw a dice. Since she currently has your HEART artifact, picking this action is probably not needed)

-[X] Focus on her work. She has a contract with high-end merchants and a noble family, after all. (DEFAULT PICK) (Picking this focus guarantees her to succeed, not picking will still have her working throughout the month, but since she won't dedicate herself to it she will roll a test for success) [QM advises this pick. For a few months, at least.]

-[] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick HALF of your own personal actions, rounded DOWN, and Rarity will accompany you while you perform them, giving narrative advantages or mechanical buffs as needed)

-[] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)

-[] Call her. Give her tasks, and books, and lessons. Turn her into an Initiate. (This will level her up, at the expense of her own focus action instead of an action of your own)

-[] Call her, you have a lot of things to tell her… and then a few introductions to make. (Induct her into the cult)

-[] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)

-[] Other (WRITE IN, in case you have a viable idea that I have not thought about. Certain ideas might even enter this list if they make sense)



Selene (MOTH 1; WINTER 0; EDGE 0; KNOCK 0):

As an alicorn, Selene has TWO actions.

-[X] Go play. (Selene will live a normal and happy life. This option costs one of her actions, it will always be picked, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.)

-[] What might be learned from a simple game of hide-and-seek? (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of MOTH)

-[] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them. You will always have us, so don't worry. (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of WINTER)

-[] Life is an adventure, so go live it! (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of EDGE)

-[] There is always something more to be learned from our dreams. (Subtly teach Selene a lesson of KNOCK)

[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)

-[] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to. (WRITE IN how you will breach the subject, or don't if you want Velvet to do it herself)



[] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)

-[] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna. The Mansus is the only advantage you have over the search parties, so helping her on this is surely the way to go.
--[] Honestly help her.
--[] Subtly attempt to sabotage her efforts and win yourself time.



[] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. All sub-choices not suspicious.

--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost) (HEART, FORGE)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation) (applies "Royal Favor") (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation) (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)

-[] The cult now has an appropriate place to meet, but you could still use a discrete location that is all your own. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.

-[] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.



[] Ponyville politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. (Low chance for success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet) Moderately suspicious.

-[] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofs dirty among your own employees. Low chance of success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet). Highly suspicious.

-[] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.

-[]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.

-[] You now have a better grasp of the merchants in Ponyville, having had several letters of introduction sent around in your name. But what would you like to do next?
--[] Meet a few of them in person, and ingrain them to your cause. (WRITE IN if you will try to win them as personally loyal to you, or if you will point them in the direction of the cult)
--[] They are bit handlers, and that means they are a source of income. "Borrow" a few bits from your family and do a few quick investments. Everything will be back to its place by the end of the month, and you will be a little richer for that. (Attempt to gain a few more bits on the side, using your family's fortune as a lever) Highly suspicious.
--[] They know somepony who knows somepony who knows somepony. Use that to your advantage. (Ask them to search for an artifact. Specift LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal) Not suspicious.
--[] Something else. WRITE IN.

-[] They're not the Royal Guard, but they're still guards, and as much as they might not have that much work on their hoofs, they're still the go-to ponies in case something worrying happens. Find out how the guard is structured in Ponyville, that will be the first step in getting to know them better. Moderately suspicious.

-[] A pony needs not to be a faithful of your cult in order to be useful, said pony needs only know what to report to whom, and when to keep one's mouth shut. Ponyville has an underworld, small as it might be, and their eyes and ears could be useful. Attempt to contact them. Highly suspicious.



[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
---[] Reach out to your mother, as much as it might be… complicated. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
---[] Attempt to locate your older brother, Velvet Wings, as much as it might be difficult. (attempt to locate him, at first, via correspondence)
---[] Go there yourself and try to talk to your younger brother, Velvet Pride, although getting caught will probably be bad. (costs 20 bits in transportation, involves invading your family's own mansion)

-[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.

-[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.



[] On aiding the cult (options not related to your current task, but related to the cult or with interactions with its members)

-[] The Bright Library! Windy Flakes mentioned he has a hall ready for it, but you still need to hash out the details with him, as well as prepare the books you have already read so they can be placed there.

-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him.
--[] He definitely is attempting to go deeper into the Lore of Edge. Help him.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Now that you know her a bit better, you can always just spend time with her.
--[] The mare seems to be on a good streak and in high spirits. This time, she is supposed to get on the good graces of guards and law enforcers, and you are interested in helping her.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit.
--[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] His business is all set up, and now he has to run it. And do you know who is good at running businesses? That's right, you are.
--[] Windy Flakes has messed with you, so now you will mess with him. (WRITE-IN HOW, specify if you will do it with good intentions [just to scare him] or with bad intentions [actually hinder him])

-[] Help Jade Whistle
--[] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
--[] She is attempting to devise a Ritual that will aid you in finding Luna. Help her. (Already an option as your current assignment).



[] Set out on an Expedition.

-[] You don't have anywhere interesting to go, currently. Look for one. (Attempt to locate an interesting place to prepare an Expedition to. WRITE IN, if any specific theme is in mind.)



[] On furthering your knowledge (actions directed at increasing your Lores, as explained in the Informational threadmark)

-[] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 4, gives a single scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)

-[]WRITE IN, to petition your Master for a question. (Mind you, however, that this will involve "trying" to talk to him, not a guaranteed audience, and he just might be very Moth about his answer.)

-[] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
--[] No artifacts available. (Unless if recently bought)

-[] 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! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).

--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
--[] BOOK, FORGE Level 2. "A book about ingenious farming equipment, and how they function".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
--[] BOOK, KNOCK Level 2 – "An absolutely boring encyclopedia about how the tunnels, on the mountain in which Canterlot is perched, were dug. Reading this will be a challenge…"
--[] Some other book (select a book you have bought this turn)



[] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

Spoiler: On exploring the known Mansus

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as an Influence or a temporary buff. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[] The Woods
--[] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers.
--[] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them.

-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind.
--[] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] There are other parts connected to the Blank Plains. Look for them.

-[] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER) (applies DIPLOMACY to traverse the Blank Plains, and SECRET HISTORIES Bonus to search, added to your WINTER Level)



[] On the matters of house and heart (actions directed towards your own family, the part that you care for deeply as well as… the rest)

-[] 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.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] You are on the good graces of Velvet Steppes, your uncle, although he feels like the pony who has his entire family on his good graces to begin with.
--[] Call him over! He hasn't met his own grandniece yet, after all, and better late than never when it comes to knowing him better.
--[] He is called the Facilitator. You have no idea why, but the effect is self-explanatory. Ask for his help regarding… (WRITE IN a favor you would like to ask, or COMBINE this action with another, to involve your uncle in it) (Your uncle is very good at making things easier)

-[] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now, so it won't be seen as scandalous if you write a letter to your father requesting an increase in your share of the family's grants… right?

-[] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets.
--[] Have a servant do it, having an actual scapegoat is ideal if things go wrong. Highly suspicious.
--[] Do it yourself, it's better this way.
--[] Wait, right, the Wildhoof Club. Get in touch with Windy Flakes, and see how serious he was when he mentioned the whole "laundering bits" thing.



[] On those who surround you (actions directed at your contacts and friends)

-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] Sit down and work on a letter. Reach out to nobles who do not live in Canterlot. They, much like yourself, might not be deeply entangled on the webs of politics that surround the capital, but that just means they can also act with more freedom, right?

-[] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Teach Rarity, and have her turn into an Initiate
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)



[] 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)

-[] ARTIFACT – MOTH Level 2, buy for 100 bits.



[] On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)

-[] "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)

--[ ] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
--[ ] To be performed at your own home, where the cult will not know of your actions, but you probably will be discovered or leave traces of it.
--[ ] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)



[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





Keep in mind you have ONE LESS ACTION this turn due to the Expedition nat 1.

Contacts who are "Good Friends" have a better chance of reacting well or being useful if you include them in "Write In" options, although caution (and basic common sense on who to call for what) is advised. This might change if a contact is carpet-bomb called for everything.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

All voting will be in plan format. DO NOT INCLUDE actions you do not wish to take. No need to specify that "you will NOT buy X item" if you do not want to buy it. Merely do not mention it.

Velvet Covers is devoted to taking care of Selene. Actions that may ultimately lead to said duty being threatened will be extremely difficult to pull off. QM will comment if anything like that is being voted on.

Voting is getting more complicated. Kindly observe a SIX HOUR MORATORIUM before suggesting your plans, so as to avoid editing them too much, and to have enough discussion to know what you intend to lay down. These six hours are included in the first hours of the 48 hour period.

I hope I don't have to say that all actions are subject to writing-ins. Don't feel constrained by the abovementioned options, but keep in mind that they might be vetoed for in-character reasons.

Spoiler: For ease of planning

[] The Attention of the Laws [SPECIFY LORE]

[] Number of actions
-[] 4+1
-[] 5+1
-[] 6+1
-[] 7+1

[] Rarity
-[] Heal
-[X] Focus on her work.
-[] Accompany you.
-[] Act as your emissary.
-[] Level her up.
-[] Induct into cult

[] Selene
-[] Moth.
-[] Winter.
-[] Edge.
-[] Knock.

[] A fleeting opportunity
-[] Talk to your husband (Write in?)

-[] Help Jade Whistle on her Ritual.
--[] Honestly help her.
--[] Subtly sabotage.

[] Shopping
-[] Books
--[] In Ponyville.
--[] In Canterlot.
--[] In Manehattan.
-[] Search for a place to buy in Ponyville.
-[] Search for Artifact

[] Ponyville politics
-[] Look for muscle-for-hire in town.
-[] Look for muscle-for-hire among your employees.
-[] Scout for cult candidates among your employees.
-[] Scout for cult candidates in town.
-[] Merchants
--[] Interact
--[] Attempt to raise bits for yourself.
--[] Ask for specific Lore artifact.
--[] WRITE IN.
-[] Contact Guard and law enforcement.
-[] Contact underworld(?) of town.

[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)
-[] Your family
--[] Contact your mother.
--[] Look for your older brother.
--[] Contact your younger brother.
-[] Reach out to other minor nobles.
-[] Reach out to higher nobles.

[] On aiding the cult
-[] The Bright Library
-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] Contact him.
--[] Help him with his task.
-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task.
-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task.
-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] Contact him.
--[] Help him with his task.
--[] Get back at him.
-[] Help Jade Whistle
--[] Contact her.
--[] Help her with her task. (already on Fleeting Oportunities)

[] Set out on an Expedition.
-[] Look for a place to go.

[] On furthering your knowledge
-[] Lesson from Master [SPECIFY LORE]
-[] Ask Master a question (risky)
-[] Study artifact (none availabe)
-[] Read book (write in which)

[] The Mansus
-[] The Woods
--[] Explore.
--[] Look for other places connected to it.
-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore.
--[] Visit Baldomare
--[] Look for other places connected to it.
-[] Go higher in the Mansus

[] Personal life
-[] Family
--[] Idle interaction
--[] Attempt to teach Lore.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)
-[] Velvet Steppes.
--[] Call him over.
--[] Ask for help (Write in on what)
-[] Ask your father for a raise.
-[] Ask your father for a one-time boon of bits.
-[] Steal bits from your family
--[] Have a servant do it.
--[] Do it yourself.
--[] Do it through the Wildhoof Club

[] Contacts
-[] Try to meet someone new.
-[] Contact other lesser nobles away from Canterlot.
-[] Interact with Known Contact
--[] Level up Rarity
--[] Induct Rarity into the cult
--[] Twilight Sparkle
--[] Cheerilee
--[] Mayor Mare
--[] Filthy Rich
--[] WRITE IN

[] Buy previous aratifact.
-[] ARTIFACT – MOTH Level 2, buy for 100 bits.

[] Rituals
-[] "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)
--[] To be performed your cult's gathering place
--[] To be performed at your own home

[] Something else? (WRITE IN)

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

You are sitting in your office, which much to your annoyance seems to be the only place inside your house that seems unaffected by the recent everything that has been going on. There is still an ever-increasing pile of reports piled on your "IN" box, there are still disappointed letters written by your father arriving by mail.

You don't even bother to read them anymore. The letters, that is. These last few days you have been throwing them all into a fireplace as soon as they reach your hoofs. Ponpon seems worried, although she is doing her best to keep a professional attitude, but you don't really care.

Your hoofs are massaging your temples, eyes open but not looking anywhere in particular. Better than to have them closed, you have learned. But it is not any sort of regular pain that you are trying to banish, in fact you wish this was just a normal headache. Instead, what is bothering you is something else, something far deeper and more agonizing than a headache could ever be.

It has been four days now.

Four days with a cold bed, and an empty chair in the dining hall. Four days having to lie to your daughter about a business trip. Four days not knowing when, or if, this will end.

Four days now, of keeping your emotions locked inside your room every time you leave it to start a new day. You can't have Silky or Selene suspecting of how utterly delicate the whole situation is, and you sure hope that you have been able to so far.

You have been trying your best. You are taking care of the adoption papers yourself, you took Selene to her first day in school with Silky and had a discrete conversation with Cheerilee, and you are doing everything in your power to be as good as you can. To both of them, of course. It won't be any good if Silky Stream suddenly starts feeling any complicated emotions over this sudden change in her life. But so far you see no signs of it, much to your relief, although you do realize that it has been less than a week so far.

But still, as much as you are trying to continue with your life the best you can, every time you return to your room at night you... you can feel that it is a little more full in there, a little more heavy, the very air a little more overbearing, weighting down on your covers as you try to sleep.



You just wish you could just see your husband again, like you did ten seconds ago when you were in your room and-



You jump with a start at the sudden flash of unwarranted memory. Unwarranted but not unwelcome, that is, as you are out of your office and nearly running down the corridor moments later.

You open the door to your room with an almost violent surge of magic.

And there you see him.

Stormchaser seems frozen on the spot. But not because of your sudden entry, he doesn't even react as you close the door behind you and… just stand there, not really daring to get any closer.

After all, he has his back turned to you, the nearest window but a few hoofsteps away from him, and even though it is closed you can still remember how it felt like when you saw him fly out of it the first time.

And by the heavens you don't want to see him do it again a second time.

"Storm?" you ask tentatively, almost in a whisper, the knot that has been in your chest these last few days getting slightly tighter at that.

He doesn't answer, but you can tell what is going on inside his head.

He has his back to you because he is facing the large cabinet, the one next to the tall mirror.

The cabinet on which the two of you keep several pictures of your family. Pictures of you, him and Silky.

You don't need to look at his face to know what he is thinking, seeing that he is looking at one of your pictures.

"Storm dear?" you try again, the silence between the two of you slowly growing to become unbearable.

Until he finally turns to face you at that.

He seems… fine. Or at least he seems to be doing his best to appear to be fine. And that is at the same time a relief of sorts, knowing that he is… well, and also a slight jab against your chest.

You know that him being fine is a lie, after all, you can tell from the countless small details.

You can see from the slight damp rustle of his feathers that he has been sleeping in clouds these past few days, you can tell from the bags under his eyes and the gauntness of his cheeks that he probably hasn't been sleeping or eating well, if at all.

You can tell from his expression that he has been…

That he has…

You are glad that he is here, that he has returned, that you are looking at your dear Stormchaser.

But you can't bring yourself to smile. You don't deserve to.

You don't deserve, you know, to feel happy.

Not after what you have done.

You see his lips purse as he looks back at you, as he looks into your eyes, until he finally takes a deep breath and opens his mouth.

"I married," he starts saying, slowly, "a mare called Velvet Covers."

He slowly turns his head towards the cabinet for a few moments, as if sneaking another peek from the pictures there. As if he is checking if it really was you and him hugging Silky on the centermost one.

"But are you her?" he asks, turning back to face you. "Did she ever even exist? Or was she just somepony who I thought…?"

He doesn't finish the question, and you feel your heart ache at that.

But he has a point. More than that, he is right.

You, on the other hand… you have nothing to say, really. No clever words, no denying. All your desperation and anger already spent from the last discussion the two of you had, days ago. You have nothing to offer him, no explanation that would magically make this all understandable.

"I'm sorry," is all you can say, not being able to even look at him anymore, casting your eyes downwards at that, your heart too heavy for you to be able to do anything else.

And since you can't bear to look at him anymore, you don't even realize how pained his own expression is, as he sees you like that.

"When did this happened?" you hear him ask, his voice tense as if he was being choked, the words coming out of his mouth with obvious difficulty. "All of this? When did we go wrong?"

You nearly close your eyes at that, as if you had just been hit by something. But you slowly let out a sigh when he finishes speaking, in part because you already know the answer to that.

"Not we," you say, dejectedly, "you didn't do anything wrong. I... I swear to you, that you did everything right."

You think you see his lips purse, from the corner of your eyes, but you still can't really bear to look at his face.

"You married Velvet Covers," you continue, your tone low, "you were there for her when nopony else was, you loved her when nopony else did. You tried your best to give meaning to her life and…"

You take a deep breath, slowly raising your eyes to meet his as you do, as much as it takes all of your courage to do it.

It takes all your courage to do it because you are scared. You are terrified, because you don't know what you might see in his eyes.

But it scares you that you might never see love in them again even more, and because of that you raise your eyes to face him.

"And you succeeded," you say, for some reason feeling a smile come to your face. A smile you can't explain, but that you can't smother down either, so you keep it there, "I was no one before I met you, and I… I became somepony thanks to you."

Your voice has started to fail, for some reason, but you continue to talk anyway, and he doesn't move as he listens to you.

You keep talking. You have to keep talking. Because if it is your words that are keeping him here then you have to continue saying them, for the next second, for the next minute, forever if it's what's keeping him here. You are not sure why he is even here, listening to you after everything you have done. But if he is here, and you can keep him here, then this is what you absolutely have to do, no matter what.

You can feel that a part of your mind has stopped making sense, but you don't really care anymore. You don't even need your mind, something inside of you saying that your words are coming from your heart now.

"And how could I not become somepony? After all you were so inspiring. You were always there, and always spontaneous, and always loving, and always so certain of everything. You were even certain that you loved me, from the moment we met."

You see his expression crack a little bit every time your voice fails, but still you can't help but smile at those memories.

It's strange, even, to feel all these conflicting emotions at the same time.

You feel a kind of warmth, as you remember everything you love about your husband. And at the same time you feel something stabbing your heart, as you also remember how betrayed he looked, how betrayed he felt, as it dawned on him that you had broken his trust. You are smiling with an expression that is both happy and sad, but the two emotions are not really mixing into the bittersweet thing that would usually come from that.

You can't make sense of anything anymore. Not of your words, not of your feelings, not even of your thoughts. You are feeling so overwhelmed that you don't even notice the tears that are coming down through your face, that have been falling from the moment your voice started faltering.

You just continue to pour your heart out, your voice shaking.

"But I was the one who took that certainty for granted. I… I hope you know that I love you, from the bottom of my heart. I really do, but," you breathe in a long sniff, although you don't know why, "but I never stopped to think how… how it must be like… And I know, or at least I hope I know, how maddening this whole… thing can be for you. I think I can see it your eyes, sometimes, how utterly… how powerless you feel? How scared you are sometimes? How frightening it must be?"

The words get stuck in your mouth, the part of you that simply wants to let it all out fighting some small vestige of reason that is telling you that this is not about you, that you should pick your words better.

But as they fight, the pressure that is building up inside your heart only grows stronger. You even think you feel the pressure going to your head, now, and you bring a hoof to your forehead as if holding your head would make the world stop spinning.

"I think I saw it, I mean, but I never really did anything and…"

You stop, eyes going towards the floor again, your whole vision fogging up for some reason. You pass a foreleg on your eyes, not really connecting that the strange liquid there is tears. Your mind far too preoccupied with a thousand other thoughts at the same time, none of them that makes any sense.

They say you only realize how much you love something when you lose it. But you already know how much you love him, so you can't have that lesson, not that way.

"Please," you think you say, both to yourself and to the world.

You try to open your mouth again, to say that you are sorry again, to say that you love him. But you don't manage even that, only a strange breath that is the mixture of a hiccup and a sob coming out.

You want to tell him that you are sorry, that you screwed up, that you were caught in the moment, anything that will make him understand that this is none of his fault.

But you are also terrified of saying what would come next. You are frightened of admitting to him that…



That you don't know who that Velvet Covers is.



You can't bring yourself to say that the mare he married is… well, it's not that you hate her or that she doesn't exist, but you don't even know her that well to begin with. You can't say when you "changed" or when things started to go wrong, because for you the whole process was like getting to know yourself for the first time.

Before marrying Stormchaser, you were nopony, and before being nopony, you were a filly who you can't even recognize anymore. Just a foal being groomed into a tool by a ruthless pony, just a child who didn't know anything about anything.

You are not even sure if you know yourself now.

All that you have are a few certainties, all that you have are a few anchors that keep you steady in place as you try to live your life.

All that you know is-

"That I love you," you say, your trembling hoofs covering your eyes, "and that I love Silky, and"

You try to breathe in, but all you can do is cough and sniff and-

"And I'd do anything for the two of you and-"

You are breaking down now, there is no other way to put it. You are not even sure if he is looking at you anymore, you are not even sure if he left a while ago, seeing how you have your hoofs covering your eyes.

All you feel is alone, and sorry, and cold, and terrified that one of those anchors that you have might be disappearing from your life.

Until you feel his forelegs come around you in a hug, and for the first time since the beginning of this conversation, you really cry.

You don't have the energy to hug him back, you don't have the energy to say anything else, you simply cry.

But this time, in genuine sadness.

"A-and I'm s-sorry and…"

Because this is not the hug he usually gives you, the kind that he has given you throughout all these years. This is not the warm wing-hug that he envelops you with every time he returns from a trip. This is not the slightly-too-strong hug that shows just how much he loves you.

No. This is the hug… of a friend. The kind he used to give you, years ago, before your daughter was borne. The kind that showed that he cared… but also that he didn't know you that well yet.

You know that you are crying because you realize now how much you have lost.

Because this time, you are not some lonely mare that he has fallen in love with, and that he will try his damned best to get a smile out of.

The two of you are back to being... less than you were before.

And this time, you know it's your fault.



[Are you still there, Velvet? Breakpoints ???]

[Roll: 53 + 12 (Diplomacy, GRAIL doubled) + 20 (GRAIL bonus, doubled) = 85]

[Second breakpoint achieved]





You have passed the first and second breakpoints. Stormchaser feels less conflicted about this, and might even understand. He also knows you well enough, and you were honest enough, for him to pick up even on the words you left unspoken.

You have failed to pass the third and fourth breakpoints. Stormchaser is not yet willing to compromise about some of your secrets, and is not yet willing to accept some of them. He is also not yet willing to be a father for Selene.

You decide that it is better to wait a little bit before you bring this up again. It will be a tense and awkward month, but honestly you are just glad he is back. (The passage of time will decrease the CD of the further breakpoints for the next time you talk, next turn, if you so choose to).

Further options will be available next turn. You will be able to choose to "prove him something" (i.e.: reveal him a secret, present him somepony of the cult, or something else) in order to "skip" the third breakpoint about compromises and secrets.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

This last week has been… complicated? Tense?

Well, who are you to judge anyways? The whole situation you are currently in is your doing, after all, and a good part of you still regrets it. You regret telling Stormchaser what you told him, you regret realizing that you lost something.

But you regret those things the same way you regret allowing the situation to go on for all those months, all those years even, to begin with. And all those different forms of regret ache in your heart like your hindleg aches every time you walk around too much.

However, regret is not the only thing you have been feeling ever since your husband returned home.

As much as you might have committed mistakes, as much as you might have messed up, at the very least you stopped with the lies. You told him the truth, you bared out your heart to him, with all the ugliness that it entailed, and you are honestly happy that he has not walked away from what he saw. He was hurt, of course, because you hurt him, but he is still there. It may have taken you a good few days of calming down, but you have come to realize that this is all that matters.

And although you have not yet heard him say that he loves you even once, ever since you returned home with Selene, you were indeed being honest when you told him that he changed you over the years that you have been together.

One of those changes, in particular, being that you have learned from him how to be determined about something. Especially when that something matters to you.

So you have decided, you have made the resolution in your mind that...

That you will get him back. You will make it up to him, and you will turn into a mare who is deserving of his love again. The same way he toiled for years to make you fall in love with him, you will toil even harder to earn his trust and love back.

But that said, determined as you are, this is not being easy in any way. Especially to those who are being caught in the non-literal crossfire.

Namely, Silky Stream and Selene.

This was not the first impression you had hoped to give Selene, of course, but you also know that Silky is being even more affected by the current situation. You know that she is a smart filly, you realize that she can tell something isn't right, that she can see the absence of the thousand small things that you and your husband used to do every day for each other. The small interactions that used to happen naturally before… all this.

And although she has not yet approached you to ask what is going on, you dread the day she decides to do it.

You dread the day that you will have to look at you daughter's innocent eyes and explain that… well, that mommy and daddy are passing through a complicated time right now.

But as much as you might be worrying about the future, as much as you might be weary from the present, at least you are back on your hoofs again. At least you can think again, and function like a normal pony.

You can finally walk out of your room without feeling like you are putting on a mask of sorts.

It's far from perfect, of course, far from even the normal that you were used to, but at least you can go back to handling your life, and your other responsibilities.

And all that they… entail.



That said, you still let out a sigh as you look at your own reflection on the mirror, gazing at your own tired eyes with the empty bedroom serving as a background.

Well, at least your bedroom is empty because it is supposed to be, for a normal reason. Stormchaser really left for a business trip earlier today, so you being alone right now is something perfectly normal.

If not for the fact that he didn't kiss you goodbye as he left, instead giving you a long and tense look, his eyes making it clear that he was wondering what exactly you would be doing during his absence. And it doesn't help that he was right to have that doubt, you think as you eye the small pair of scissors floating an inch away from your mane, covered in the same glow that your horn is giving off.

And you can't help but feel a small stab of guilt in your heart as you cut a lock of your mane with he scissors.

Doing this sort of thing while he is at home is stupid, you know, especially right now.

But it still doesn't change the fact that you waited for him to leave, that you chose to do this in a way that he wouldn't find out.



It takes a while for you to fall asleep, those two thoughts warring against each other inside your head. Because as much as you know that you are doing the right thing, you still can't help but fear that, perhaps, you are not doing it the right way... if there even is a right way to begin with...

And it's with that sort of worried, and perhaps even confused reasoning, that you make your way to the crossroads, and then to the Woods.



- - -



"Your mind is abuzz" the voice comes from somewhere nearby.

With that, your thoughts comes back to focus almost with a sharp pain, your legs jerking under you as you move, almost making you trip as they struggle to remember how they are supposed to do it correctly. Your body for some reason sending you the nonsensical message that maybe, just maybe, you had not been walking this whole time.

Nonsense, you dispatch the thought as soon as it manifests itself. You had obviously been walking, and not fluttering around through means that you can't rightly explain.

You look around. Not searching for the source of the voice, as you know it to be pointless, but wondering where you…

Well, you know where you are, and how you got here. You are in the Woods, and something tells you that you have been here for a while now. The trees grow thick in every direction, and you know you will see nothing if you open your eyes. The light of Glory does not reach this place, and you can only see the faintest hints of moonlight piercing through the treetops.

You are very deep in the Woods, it seems.

"Your thoughts scraped against the winds adequately, but not in a pleasant way," the voice continues, almost as if musing to itself, "too heavy with the Wake. Confusion borne… from something, not from nothing, not for its own sake."

Do you hear interest in the voice? Or is it disappointment?

You shake your head, throwing away the stray thoughts from your head, and the idle notion that perhaps you were hearing worry in that tone, as you might shake away some pestering insect that had landed on your mane.

And with that, you are finally back to your faculties.

"Greetings, Master," you say towards no direction in particular, with the same tone of voice you would use to talk to a pony that was right next to you.

"Velvet Covers," the voice answers, unnerving in how natural it sounds, considering the other variations of it that you have already heard.

It almost sounds like a pony. It almost sounds like a ventriloquist who was particularly tired during a puppet show, and decided to speak with their natural voice for once.

You also realize… that there was no snapping this time, no breaking of twigs to herald their presence. No dying of winds, no falling of leaves.

You almost feel as if you would be able to see your Master, if you but searched behind the tree that is right in front of you…

"I would have left you to your own devices if I did not know you any better," the voice continues, and you can swear that it sounds like… like who? "After all, I have yet to see you enter this hallowed place for idle pursuits, as so many others already have…"

It almost feels like somepony you know, the sensation of having a name right on the tip of your tongue almost driving you crazy as you search your memory for something you know is not there.

"Then I thank you for your attention, Master," you say, sitting on the ground, feeling the black dirt of the soil mar the fur of your dream-body, "and indeed I come with a purpose. I would ask for a lesson, if you would teach me."

"But of course," she answers, definitely a she, "and what might you be interested in learning about?"

"About the Lore of Lantern, Master," you say, trying to narrow down from where, or when, that voice was from.

You feel as if you have heard it before. Although only once, and in a moment that you would never forget...

And that makes no sense at all.

"Lantern… an interesting choice," she muses idly, "we all strive for its light after all, don't we? However… that does not sound fair, nor does it sound adequate, don't you think?"

You tilt your head slightly at that.

"I do not follow Master, what do you mean?"

"Well, you wish to learn about that whose very nature is to reveal. But..." you can sense something in her voice, now... something else, "is it fair that I alone reveal secrets to you…?"

Something worrying, from the way she is picking her words and saying her piece.

You repeat her last phrase inside your head several times, trying your best to not let your eyes go wide in surprise and sudden restlessness.

But you can't control your heart, and you feel it starting to beat slightly faster as you hear her speak.

"Is it not fair that… you reveal me something else, in return?" you think you can almost hear her asking through a smile.

That voice… that blasted voice that sounds so familiar to you, but that you just can't quite yet place from who it is. You hear her say that, and you immediately understand exactly what it is that she means.

How did she...

How does she know?

How did she find out about her?!

A part of your mind knows that if this was not a dream, and if you were not in a dream-body, there would be droplets of cold sweat on your forehead.

However, you also know that being in a dream does not equate to being in safety.

You suddenly feel very exposed, being pointedly aware that you are surrounded by a sea of black trees that stretch on forever in every direction.

And that you are being watched by something you would never have any hope of outrunning to begin with.

"Then why don't we do it like this?" the voice asks, its source slowly changing its position as if she was walking in a long circle around you, always right behind the trees, always moments away from appearing in your sight, "why don't I ask you a question, and if you can answer it correctly, then I will teach you your lesson?"

She is definitely enjoying herself as she asks that, and you have several guesses as to why that must be.

Some of your guesses are less pleasant than the others.

"As you wish, Master," you answer, doing your best not to gulp down on whatever it is that is sticking inside your throat.

And you hear a chuckle at that.

"Well then, Velvet Covers… tell me, what does it mean… to be lost?" she asks, with clear amusement.

To which you furrow your eyebrows.

You feel confused, seeing that this was not the question you were expecting. But you do not dare to feel relief.

After all, it dawns on you that you do not exactly know how to… answer that question.

You know how being lost feels like, but you do not know how to describe it.

You are not even sure if there are words for that, to describe what it means to be lost. At least in a way that might satisfy her, of course. Summoning up the literal definition of being lost would earn you a soft reprimand at best, and her unamused disappearance at worst.

But this just means that…

"I… am not sure how to answer that, Master," you concede, somewhat wondering if this is being a trap, a long game of cat and mouse in which you are being toyed with.

After all, this whole "asking questions" thing, you are almost sure, can only really mean one thing.

Your Master never really sounded like the kind of pony who would ask a question to which she did not know the answer.

Which in turn means that, if she comes about to ask what you are thinking of… that she knows.

That she knows about…

"Then another question," she says, interrupting your thoughts, "what… does loyalty taste like?"

You freeze, very real tension spreading through your un-real body, the memory of adrenaline surging through your limbs as you take in the full meaning of that nonsensical question. Is she reading your thoughts? Can she read your thoughts?

You do your very best to keep your breath steady, remembering too late that you don't need to breathe in here to begin with. This is a dream, after all.

But her question right now, that question, something inside of you is practically screaming that…

"I… I do not know, Master," you answer, saying each word slowly so that you will not stutter or give away any other telling sign of your nervousness, "I was not aware that it had a taste to begin with…"

"Oh, but it has, Velvet Covers. Everything has a taste," you hear her voice, now coming from somewhere behind you, "a taste, and a shape, and a color. It is always merely a matter of having the proper tongues, and limbs, and eyes."

You hear the sound of leaves being crushed underhoof, coming from behind you. The telltale sound of hoofsteps treading softly on the dark soil of the Woods, making their way towards you.

A chill runs down your spine as you feel something brush against your back, although you have no idea if it was the wind or an insect or the tip of a long mane.

What you do know, however, is that you can feel her breath against your ear, as she whispers against it.

"Another question then," her breath smells like old things, like hard wood and dust, like the air during a gust of wind or perhaps during a refreshing breeze, "what… am I?"

It feels like a threat.

It feels like a threat, and a reassurance, and a vote of confidence, all at the same time.

It feels like all of that, and so much more.

A reminder, perhaps, of who you are dealing with. A promise, you know, of terrible knowledge and power, to be given both freely and at a price. A declaration, this you are certain of, that the thing speaking to you is something very large.

And for some reason, you can't help but to think that this is also an... invitation, of sorts. Perhaps even an invitation to know her better.

That last thought sticks with you, although you are not sure why. But for sure, the more you think about it the more it feels like an invitation.

After all…

"I do not know, Master, for I have never seen you."

After all, that is the only answer you can give.

Why would she ask you that, if she already knew that this was the only answer you could give?

"And that is your problem," she answers sagely, the whisper right next to your ear disappearing like a fading mist, "Lantern is about revealing, about knowing, and yet you cling only to certain aspects of it…"

Her voice, the voice, is slowly reverting to its usual erratic way. You can hear the wind growing in strength around you, howling its way through the trees, and it is slowly coming to the point where you no longer can tell where their voice ends and the buzzing of insects begins.

But a part of you, now, honestly feels relief at that, as your Master reverts to their teaching tone.

As that terrible, and somehow knowing scrutiny, decides to leave you be... for now. Allowing you passage for some enigmatic reason.

"After all, am I not here right now? Do you not feel my presence? Do you not know that I am all around you, and do my words not fill your head? So obsessed you are with the idea that Lantern is about seeing, that you forget that not once you have laid your eyes upon me," the voice says, its tone like that of a patient mentor, "and yet, here we are…"

You nod at their words, slowly, trying to piece together exactly what they mean by that.

But little by little you begin to understand the point that they are making.

"Do ideas have shape, little Velvet? Can you see them? Can you taste them? You cannot… and yet, you can touch them, feel them, with your mind. You cannot carry them with your hoofs, but you can do so with your words and your dreams… And this knowing, this taking, this giving, those are also places where Lantern resides."

And with that, the idea clicks in your mind. So sudden it is in its obviousness that you open your eyes as if a light had been lit in the Woods.

But the moment you do that, everything is gone. The sound of the wind, the noise of the insects, your Master. Even the Woods are gone, and you are staring at the dark shape of the ceiling above your bed.

However, you decide not to sleep for the rest of the night, as much as you might regret it come morning.

Your dreams don't exactly feel… private, right now.





You have gained a scrap of LANTERN Lore.

LANTERN is now level three!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

There was once a Sky-Pirate named Galleon.

He had a ship, a dream, and ten strong and brave ponies who would follow him everywhere.

But Galleon wasn't your old and cold Sky-Pirate, he didn't go a-looting every balloon he found, or every cloud village that he passed by.

No, no no no. He wasn't like that, because he also had a dream. You see, what Galleon wanted more than anything else was to steal a certain jewel. A jewel, so rare and so precious, that he knew he would never find out in the open skies, no matter how much he searched for or how brave he was.

More rare than the pure ice of mountaintops, more rare than the first snowflake over the open ocean, and even rarer than the crystallized lightning that was spoken of in legends, the kind that could only be found in the eye of a raging hurricane.

Nay. The jewel he searched for was more precious than those, and rarer still, for it was not a jewel that was rewarded to brave and daring ponies. It was much more subtle and well-hidden than that.​

"Mommy, what does subtle mean…?"

"It means that something is hard to notice."

"Ok…"

It was much more subtle and well-hidden than that.

And so rare it was that even his friends, loyal as they were, thought that it didn't exist. They thought Galleon to be so great that he had taken to search for a treasure that could never be found. They thought their brave captain had invented that jewel, so he could continue adventuring forever in a search for something that could never be found.

But Galleon knew that jewel existed, though. He had seen it. Even if only once, he had already seen it.

He had seen that great and rare jewel long ago, when he was but a young stallion, reflected in the eyes of…​

You keep looking at your daughter as you read, watching as her expression turns from drowsy to sleepy. Until she finally…

"Reflected in the eyes of a mare called…" you say, with a voice so low that it might as well be a whisper.

And with that, your daughter closes her eyes.

You douse out the lights with a gentle flick of your horn, watching as Silky relaxes under her covers as the room goes completely dark, and you place the book on her bedstand.

"Good night sweetie. I love you," you whisper softly towards her, as you slowly lean towards her face and kiss her on the forehead. You hear her mumble something under her breath, but you know she is fast asleep now.

You keep looking at her, as she gently floats off to the kingdom of sleep, while a few stray thoughts run through your head. A part of you wants to go check on Selene as well, to see if she is sleeping. But as usual, you ponder to yourself if that is really a good idea.

After all, you gave Selene her own room precisely because of this. This is a new life for her, everything is new and maybe even intimidating, aggravated by the fact that she has no previous memories to fall back to. So, you have decided a while ago, it won't be good for anypony if you don't give her space.

After all, you remind yourself, as much as you care for her you are also something new in her life. As much as you are trying your best you, and even Silky, are still strangers to her.

So, you gave Selene her own room. It might be right next to Silky's, but it is still something you made very clear that belongs to her.

And as much as it pains you, you know that going there right now, even with the best of intentions, won't have any effect.

Any positive effect, at least.

At best you will find her sleeping soundly, something which would only serve to make you feel better, not her. At worst, she will be awake due to some problem, but you can tell that you are not on the level that your presence would help her in any way…

You are not on that level yet, you sincerely hope.

So, as it happens almost every night, you once again come to the conclusion that it's better to not check on Selene… Every day you do this, you know, is another small brick of trust you hope you are building a house with. Every night you do this, a part of you sincerely hopes, is another night that she is either resting peacefully, or slowly taking her time to think that…

Well, nopony said it would be easy. But you do hope Selene will open up, even if at her own pace.

You get on your hoofs and go towards the door, when something strikes you as odd.

Huh… curious.

You look at the book on Silky's bedstand, "The Tale of Galleon", and you realize that it's still in its wrappings. A fine red lace is still tightly bound around it, showing that it had been recently bought from a bookstore.

Silly of you to have forgotten about that, you think, as you take the book with your hoofs and bite away the wrapping.

You keep the book closed as you do that, and give it another once-over to make sure that there aren't any tragic or scary parts that you should be careful of while reading.

Well… there is an action scene where some of his friends are imprisoned… then the escape from the castle… then the noblemare… and finally he remembers that the rare jewel, which he once again sees in the noblemare's eyes, was love all along.

Cute, you think, as you place the unopened book back on the bedstand, and considering how quickly Silky falls asleep when you read to her, you doubt you will reach the part where the pirate falls in love with the noblemare before you have resolved your situation with Stormchaser.

It will spare Silky from asking a question she might not like the answer to, after all.

With that, you silently walk out of her room, noiselessly closing the door behind you as you leave.

You walk down the corridor towards your office, not bothering to turn any of the lanterns on. It's already late at night, so none of the servants will come here anytime soon. And more importantly, you will be able to get some work out of the way in peace.

You sit down on your chair, and float one of the reports to you.

And you start reading it, with your eyes closed.

But for some reason, you don't go very far in it.

There is something… annoying, about this. The calligraphy of whoever wrote this is horrible, for starters, but more importantly, you are taking too long to simply read.

And how are you supposed to find the mistakes in the math like this? Reading the final parts of the reports will simply reveal if there is something wrong, but not exactly where the mistakes are. Which means that every time you find something not adding up you will be forced to do everything again from scratch in order to correct it.

You let out a sigh, and float the report towards you, taking it with your hoofs.



Better.



The words flow more easily like this, and you can see the mistakes in the numbers like you would be able to notice that a line that was supposed to be straight suddenly turned in a sharp angle.

And most importantly, you no longer have to flip the pages. Heavens, you don't even have to open the report to do this.

But still, you think idly, no reason to be sloppy about it. As much as you can do it more comfortably, it won't do for you to be hasty for haste's sake. So, with your usual methodical attention, you make your way through the reports, until you feel like you are getting too tired to do this.

When that moment comes, you put the report you currently have on your hoofs down, and make your way out of your office, ready for a restful night of sleep.

It idly crosses your mind that you just did something there, but you don't really give it much thought.

In fact, deep down the thing that impresses you the most…

Is that you are not frightened at all.

And maybe, a small, dwindling part of you thinks, this is exactly what you should be the most frightened of.





You have achieved the third level of Lantern, and have come to a realization. You can now gleam the secret of things with more than just your eyes. For now, you can only do it with your hoofs, but you feel like you are starting to pull at something more…

You can now read three books per turn, or study two artifacts. You will also generate slightly less suspicion towards the Family Head if you neglect your work, by nature of it being more precise now. However, you have not gained enough efficiency to gain another "action" from neglecting your work. Suspicion towards close relatives remains unaffected, since they do not gauge how strangely you are acting based on how good your work is.

You can "learn" about things you touch. Although so far you have only been able to do it reasonably well with books, not even needing to open them anymore since they are meant to store knowledge. But you can feel something even when you step on the ground. Because of that, you have started to wear simple metal horseshoes, since the details of your usual hoofwear was starting to give you headaches.

You are not frightened at all.

You are not even surprised.

And perhaps that is what you should be most wary of.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

There are several unpleasant things going on inside your head, right now.

The first of them came to you this morning, in the form of a newspaper. It was another royal missive, from Princess Cadance, officially mourning the passing of more Royal Guards while they searched for Princess Luna.

The thought weights down on you, to the point where you have been avoiding to think about it as of late. Those happenings… those deaths, as it feels disrespectful to try and sugarcoat it with any other word, would at least have had a good consequence. After all, they are motivating the search to go on with more vigor, and you have heard that the previously rowdy nobility has started to chip in on the search as well, after seeing that ponies have started to lose their lives.

Well, again, they would at least have had a good consequence… if you didn't know for a fact that finding Princess Luna is now utterly impossible.

The number of Royal Guards on the news was more than you had hoped for… and you did not recognize a few of the names from your initial list.

Not a pleasant thought to have, knowing that your initial list probably has very few names not crossed out now.

But, you try to push your thoughts away from that particular place, you are also having another unpleasant sensation right now. And although it is admittedly one that is far less pressing, it is still somewhat annoying.

Specifically, you are having the uncomfortable feeling that you are about to do something you are not looking forward to.

Especially, you think with a tinge of annoyance, when that "something" involves talking to Windy Flakes.

But needs must. After all, this project that you have been thinking about, and delaying for a long time now, will indeed benefit the cult as a whole.

In fact, it could very well be said that what you are about to do is your primary duty as the Loremaster, although you don't feel particularly guilty for not having put your hoofs to it until now. After all, these last few months you have been working under direct orders of the Master, so it is perfectly understandable that you have had little time to…

Well, to interact with the cult proper. It even strikes you, now that you think about it, that you are probably the member of the Inner Circle who has had the least contact with the Outer Circle. You even start to think about your fellow Inner Circle members, as you walk down the streets of Ponyville.

Comet Feet did make a recluse out of himself, but you know he tried to search for ponies who had affinity with Edge among the other members… Copper Secateur and Windy Flakes obviously must have the most clout among the Outer Circle, and Jade Whistle trained her cadre. It also wouldn't surprise you if Starry Dancer also had a following of sorts, even if by simple virtue of being able to "facilitate" certain things in town, thanks to her current job as assistant to the mayor.

All of them are probably well known within the cult, most likely. Well, you think that you are also "known" in the cult, in the sense that you are recognized by your fellow members, but other than that your influence within it feels pretty limited.

And while you are distracted wondering if any of the earth ponies who work in your family's land are members of the cult, the Wildhoof Club itself finally comes into view.

Which in turn makes you realize that you have not yet been here after the club itself was inaugurated. The last cult meeting with the Master happened one day before the inauguration, and you have been rather busy ever since.

But looking at the large and well-kept two-storied building, that indeed looks like respectable social club that you might find in a larger city, you can't help but remember that… well, that your fellow Inner Circle members also work as hard as you do.

In their own ways, tackling their own assignments, but still…

You have to admit that you are experiencing a somewhat unexpected feeling. That is, you regularly walk into an eldritch place like the Mansus, in your dreams, and you regularly speak to… whatever your Master is. But it is right now, seeing a large and very real building that is used as a front, that you feel like you are actually part of a cult.

You know how to handle a business, you know how hard it is to run operations and handle bits, how complicated it is to organize large groups of ponies. And ironically, seeing this place with your own eyes is hammering down the fact that you are part of a cult, a secret society with maybe even a few hundreds of members, more than witnessing a ritual or speaking to your Master ever did.

This is certainly not what you had expected that would be crossing your mind when you left your home earlier today, you think as you make your way to the double front doors.

"Lady Velvet Covers," you are not two steps into the club itself, passing through the open doors, before a doorpony is already greeting you, "it is a privilege to have you here. May I help you with anything?"

You eye the staff member for a few moments, seeing that he is neatly uniformed for his post, and then you turn your gaze to the interior of the club itself.

This hall where you are, the very first hall of the club, is the Red Bar, as you already know. But apart from the name, there is nothing to be seen that would remind you of a "bar", except for the counter made of polished wood on its opposite end, of course.

For all intents and purposes, the place is basically a restaurant. Or at least is currently set to be one. You see dozens of tables, noticing that most of them are filled, with ponies going about their meals, waiters wearing the same uniform as the doorpony walking here and there as they attend to their clients.

You idly wonder how much work it must be to "convert" this ambient into a bar as night falls, as well as you wonder how much movement this place sees from the night life of Ponyville.

But more than that, you wonder how many of the ponies here are cult members. Truth be told, you thought you would see nothing but cult members everywhere you looked, quietly going about their days and using simply enjoying the conveniences that being a member of a club would bring them.

Now, you are not so sure about that. And not because you are out of touch with the Outer Circle, not being able to recognize too many faces here, but because… well, you see what looks to be entire families in many of the tables.

"I would like to speak to Windy Flakes," you say, still looking around you as you do.

"Right this way then," the pony answers without batting an eye, guiding you to one of the many doors that lead out of the Red Bar. Curiously, he doesn't take you up the flight of stairs as you had expected, but instead guides you to a rather more "administrative" part of the building.

You would describe it that way because you can feel that, after a certain threshold, the corridors you are passing by distinctly feel less adorned. You can tell that the desire to impress and please is less present around here, with more focus given to function over form. You can also hear the noise of quills scratching against paper, as well as the characteristic "tack" sound of calculating machines coming from some doors you pass by.

The sound of bureaucracy.

However, you begin to hear another sound as you approach the last door on the corridor, the one with the name "W. Flakes" written on its front. And you must admit that the thing you are hearing is not exactly what you had been expecting.

You are hearing music, a faint melody that grows louder as you approach that final door.

The pony opens the door without knocking, and waves a hoof for you to enter.

"After you, Lady Velvet," he says politely.

You thank him, entering Windy Flake's office right after.

"Velvet! Just the mare I was thinking about," and you are immediately greeted by the unicorn himself, the fiery red of his coat and the yellow of his mane, which curiously give him an almost bonfire-like appearance, excitedly turning towards you.

However, another unexpected impression hits you, as you take in his office.

Much like how seeing the club itself made you think about the fact that you are part of a real cult, the sight before your eyes also… well, not exactly surprises you, but it also strikes a particular spot that you had not thought about before.

Namely, that Windy Flakes, apparently, is surprisingly competent.

This is a work office, you can tell at a glance. This is the place from which a reasonably complex operation is administered. You see it in all the small details.

The ledgers spread over his large desk, with a few scrolls scribbled over that clearly tell about the bean-counting scrutiny that they are being poured over with. The large architectural blueprints laid out against on one of the walls, speaking of future projects that have not yet been tackled by contracted engineers and builders. The several cabinets already filled with files that, you assume, must be copies of the profiles of club members, for bookkeeping.

You notice all of that in an instant, and a lot more. From the way the quill on his desk already seems to be slightly worn, to the fact that the candles on the lanterns by the walls are already half-spent.

And seeing all of that, you can't help but think that he is competent, because… well, basically because this place reminds you of your own office.

The only exceptions, of course, being that you have a lot more of already-filled ledgers on your archives, for obvious reasons, and the fact that there is a gramophone next to his desk, humming the faint wordless melody that you could hear from the outside.

Music was definitely not something you expected him to… enjoy?

"How have you been? What brings you here today?" he says, setting aside a few papers he had been reading and making his way around his large wooden desk. "And thank you Penny, I'll take it from here," he gives a wave of the hoof to the pony who had been accompanying you, dismissing him.

"I could be better," you say, as the doorpony gives the two of you a short bow before leaving.

You want to say that you are impressed, or at least surprised, by how well things seem to be going on his side. Of course, you know that appearances and numbers can sometimes tell very different stories, but he doesn't have the looks of a pony who is constantly writing numbers in red on his ledgers.

But you bite that remark of yours, since you are not sure that you would be able to deliver it in a way that wasn't close to "it's good to see that you can get things done when you focus your… creative energy on being productive instead".

You still haven't forgotten about the thing with the invitation, but you really aren't in the mood to bring that up.

"And I'm here to talk about that idea of making a library for our," you slowly turn your gaze towards the door, and then towards the gramophone, and-

"For our cult," he says, interrupting you, "so finally our Loremaster is going to start edging away from the Master part of the word, and work on the Lore eh? Well, I'm glad you are finally thinking about us other lowly ponies!"

He says that with a smile, mind you.

To which you answer with a frown.

"Oh, I'm just pulling your leg," he says, chuckling a little bit, "I know we've all been busy, and goodness gracious do we have our work cut out for us, right? I'm just glad we'll be able to make some of our fellows more useful with this. The Master can only teach so much during the lesser meetings, after all."

"So long as we all remember that we are still not supposed to draw attention," you say, "and I like to think of this more as sharing knowledge. These things are, after all…" you search for a word that could describe what you have in mind. "Well, these things we learn are real. They work. They are the truth," you say, for some emphasizing that last word.

"In that, we are in agreement," he answers with a pleased smile, "so, care to follow me upstairs? I'll show you what I have in mind for the reading room, and we can go from there."

You give him a nod, to which his horn starts to glow.

You think he is about to open the door with his magic, but for some reason he focuses his eyes on another part of the room.

The gramophone next to his desk starts to glow, and you watch curiously as he slowly, almost gently, floats the needle away from the disk. His expression almost makes it look like he is enjoying something about it, from his pleased smile to his… you are not sure how to describe his eyes.

You are not sure how to describe any of this, in fact, since he is taking far longer to preform that simple action as it would ever be normal.

Until the music finally dies down, and he is back to his usual smile as he makes his way out of the room, excitedly beckoning you to follow behind him.



You have no idea of what just happened.



- - -



"And are you sure that nopony will be able to get here?" you ask, after he finishes showing you the hall that he had separated for the library.

"Absolutely. Second floor is for club members only, and membership to the club by invitation, as you can gather. Besides, the really juicy stuff is on the underground, so even if we have some curious pony sneaking here they probably won't find anything contentious here," he says with a pleased smile, "you do plan not to put anything contentious in the library, right?"

You are somewhat surprised that he is asking you that, and not the other way around.

With an expression that you would have thought was genuine concern, if you didn't know him any better.

"Of course not," you say the obvious. You also very nearly give him a retort about whatever it is that he is doing on the underground level, but again you bite it down.

This place is his assignment, after all. It won't do for you to start stepping on his hoofs and giving him a reason to start stepping on yours.

"But I really have to ask you to make sure this place is… safe? I'll be bringing in a few things I have read, together with some interpretative texts I'm planning to write down for ease of understanding. If we do have somepony sneaking up here who is not in the know, it will definitely be enough to raise some eyebrows at least."

"Dully noted," he nods back to you.

"Well then, I'll get things done on my end and will bring my part over around next week. You did mention that you still want to get the furniture for the place ready, after all," you say, looking around at the still empty hall, but starting to imagine how it might look like with the renovations Windy said he has planned.

"Right-oh. Oh, but before you go," he calls for you, as you made your way out of the room, "could I ask your help with something?"

That actually gives you pause, so you stop and turn towards him, raising an eyebrow at that.

"You see, from one business manager to another, I wanted to ask you for, well…" he says, as if trying to pick his words, "you see, I'm planning to build a pool for the club, the sort of convenience that really gives the place a more family-oriented allure."

"Oh," you are honestly surprised at that. This is both not the kind of help you thought he would ask you for, as well as it sounds like something you can really help him with, if it involves the managerial part of things of course, "and what exactly could I help you with, then?"

He gives you a satisfied smile as he continues to talk.

"I believe you have a husband who works with weather?" he asks, which makes you tilt your head, and his own smile grow wider, "so I was wondering if you could introduce me to a few ponies. You know, the usual, tell me whose hoofs I could grease to make the weather hotter so the pool will be more attr-"

You are walking out of the room with a loud and annoyed sigh, even before the blasted unicorn can finish his sentence.

And the last thing you hear before you descend the staircases to the ground level is the sound of his cackling laugher.





You have arranged for the construction of the Bright Library!

The Bright Library is now considered built, and its bonuses will become available to the cult as a whole as stated in the Wildhoof Club informational threadmark.

The Bright Library will be updated for activation shortly.

[THE WOLFS DUE]

[Roll: 15]

[Fifteen brave ponies were devoured by the Hayseed Swamp, while searching for Princess Luna]

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

You have been worried about Jade Whistle, this last month.

A lot of things have happened, and a lot of important things have demanded your attention and energy, so it wouldn't really be honest of you to say that you were thinking about it "every single day".

But you were still worried. Every now and then your idle thoughts would still gravitate towards her, every other day you would stop and hope for a few things.

You would hope that she was doing well, or at least better than when you last saw her.

You would hope that she had managed to sort out her own thoughts, and maybe even her feelings.

You would hope that she wouldn't try doing anything stupid.

And you made a promise, of sorts, with yourself, after you last saw her. She did say that she liked receiving letters, right? She might not have said it directly, or at least you don't remember if she did, but you are sure that she implied that.

So, you started writing letters for her, and looking back you are pretty sure that you managed to send at least one every week. There wasn't really anything of great importance in those letters, they were just the written equivalent of an idle chat. But still you hoped that… well, you hoped that she liked receiving them anyways.

Or at least that, even if only during the few minutes she would take to read them, her thoughts would be in a less dreadful place.

But well, that's what you did this last month, these last five weeks to be more precise.

However, something happened recently that made your simple "worrying" grow into your current "worried sick" mood.

Namely: nothing. Nothing happened.

At first, you thought it was just Jade Whistle's usual aloofness, so everything was fine. You were just sending her letters, and that was it.

Then the weeks went by, and you are pretty sure that by your third letter you said very clearly that it would be nice if she wrote you back. You worded it as gently as possible, of course, but still you made it clear that you wanted to hear from her. And yet, you received no response.

Heavens, it even grew to the point where you said she could just drop by your house at any moment if she felt like it. You did your very best not to let your nervousness show in your words, but still you were getting increasingly distressed as the weeks turned into a full month with no answer coming from her.

Until finally, when you went to the Wildhoof Club yesterday to talk to Windy Flakes, you asked some questions to the club staff before you left the place, and everypony who you talked to said that they had not seen Jade Whistle in a very long while. Which, they also said, was rather strange, since she would usually come by every few days, or at least once a week, to address her cadre.

A few more questions and a quick calculation later, and it became obvious. Nopony has seen Jade Whistle ever since you talked to her on that park.

You remember that a chill ran down your spine when you realized that.

And that is why you are here right now, standing before the front door of her house.

Her house is still in the same state of disrepair as you saw it the last time you were here.. The plants around it are still growing wildly, the old paint is still peeling off, and everywhere you look there are cracks and other signs of wear. This is the third time you come here, but for some reason you are now, more than ever, aware of just how much this house seems to be the very reflection of its sole inhabitant.

And it doesn't help in the slightest that you are under the impression that the house is on the verge of crumbling. That does not help your worrying self at all.

You don't want to say it, you don't even want to think about it. But you can't help but have the impression that something might happen very soon if you don't do anything about it.

With that in mind, you nod to yourself and head towards her door.

To hell with knocking on her door or calling for her, you have a gut feeling that she won't answer anyways and that the only thing you are going to do is make is a scene on the street she lives in.

Your horn glows to life for a few moments, the precision required to push certain parts of her door's internal mechanisms being foal's play at this point. Her door unlocks with an audible click after a few seconds of your magical nibbling, and you are closing it behind yourself shortly after.



Darkness, and the heavy smell of dust and age, immediately greets you as you step inside Jade Whistle's house.



Both of them stop affecting your eyes as soon as you close them, but the same cannot be said about your lungs. You make sure to breathe in slowly, and only through your nose, but still the place is unkept enough to the point that even breathing is slightly uncomfortable, both due to the dust in the air as well as the heavy smell of… the smell of what exactly?

An unwarranted though creeps into your head, that you have just walked into some sort of tomb. It doesn't help that the place is deathly quiet. Your own efforts to be silent, also, only accentuate it, since you can't even hear your own breathing or your heartbeat.

Slowly, almost gently, you realize that the only thing you can really hear is a ringing of sorts, in your own ears. The disturbing sensation that what you are listening to right now is truly "nothing".

More uncomfortable, however, is the thought that Jade Whistle lives here regardless, even despite all... all of this.

You walk in through the entrance corridor, an open door to your left revealing the abandoned living room and the entrance to the study room where you talked to her a few months back.

But you can't find any signs of her. You quietly make your way to the study room just to make sure, but you don't see anypony there either, everything being covered by spiderwebs or a disquietingly thick layer of dust. Or even both, sometimes.

You make your way back across the living room and through the entrance corridor, only to find yourself in a dining room, a flight of stairs leading to the second floor on the opposite end of it, and the entrance to what might be the kitchen on the side.

You head towards the kitchen, and the stench hits you before you even step a hoof on it.

The place is… well, by your standards it is absolutely filthy, but you can see that it is more due to neglect and lack of care than excessive use. The place doesn't look like a tornado has passed through it, but what very little usage it has seen certainly was not cleaned up. You see half-finished plates of food on the sink, the smell of rot already overtaking a good part of it.

You step back from the kitchen, the awful smell following you for a short while until you put enough distance between yourself and its source.

By the heavens, you think. This place… this whole place is… you nearly let out a delayed gasp from what you just saw, but for some reason the very silence of this place manages to mute you. It almost feels as if the atmosphere around you is slowly seeping into your body, its heavy influence quietly easing its way through your coat.

You look around the dining hall one last time, taking in the small table with four chairs neatly kept around it. Only one of them seems to have been moved or used for the last few years, the rest of them are…

You realize that you are grimacing, that you have been grimacing this whole time. In all honesty, the more time you spend here the more you wonder how in the heavens Jade Whistle can live here all by herself.

The house is quiet as a tomb, but in a way that you almost feel like your own thoughts are echoing inside your head. The air itself feels heavy, and you are not sure if it's because of the dust or because of everything you know about this house and her life.

And you also realize that you know very little about her. You know very little about her, and already you feel like this. So how can she bear to live here when she… when she is herself? When she is the Jade Whistle, to whom this house is a…?

You stop your train of thoughts before it can go any further, focusing back on what you are here to do. And with that, your eyes slowly drift towards the stairs.

It feels wrong, for some reason. Even looking at the stairs feels more wrong than everything you have done here so far, which can basically be summed as "breaking and entering". You can tell, although you are not sure of how, that whatever is on the second floor is more personal and private than everything else you have already seen here. You know by some gut feeling that if you walk away right now you will be able to continue your life as if none of this had ever happened, but that if you go up that flight of stairs, you will be doing something that you will never be able to take back.

But just like how you are slowly getting used to the heavy sensation of dust in the air, you are slowly getting more and more inured to… well, basically to how much you are willing to break her privacy with all this.

Doing this is not right, and you know it. But you also can no longer ignore the fact that Jade Whistle needs help. And if you have to do something this questionable to give her that help, then so be it.

You know that taking a deep breath is a bad idea, so you steel yourself mentally as much as you can, and slowly ascend the staircase.



And you are greeted by another corridor, equally badly illuminated by windows covered with old curtains. However, all the doors in this corridor are closed.



You purse your lips at that. The place is so noiseless that the silence feels like a physical wall by now, but you still don't enjoy the idea of how much the doors might creak and groan if you attempt to open them.

Still, you can't think of any other option. You hope to find her, after all. You have to find her.

So, you go to the nearest door, your horn glowing with the faint hum of magic for a few moments, before you think better and do it with your own hoofs.

And you slowly, achingly slowly, open the door, wordlessly whispering the syllables that you know will help hinges move as if oiled, and pushing it with the same soft weight you would use to stalk through the Woods.

You step in through the gap of the door as soon as it is large enough for you to do so, not wanting to push your luck. And as soon as you stick your head in through the gap, you see-

Your mind freezes when you see it, a choked sound escaping your mouth, your eyes going wide open in shock and tears forming on its side without prompt.

NO!

Oh no, no, no, no no no nononono.

You see the one thing you had been absolutely dreading that you would find. Your heart immediately starts beating like a frantic drum in your chest as you swing the door open and run into the room.

You have found Jade Whistle, her body hanging limply from a noose tied to the ceiling, her eyes-


No.



No, no, no.



Calm down, Velvet, calm down.



Wait... calm down...



You blink a few times, forcing your terrified imagination back into its reins.

And you force that damned, cursed memory into a deep corner of your mind, hopefully to a place where you will never see it again.

You don't see Jade Whistle.

The room is empty. There is nopony else here but you.

Everything is fine.

You can stop trembling now, you think to yourself. Or at least you try your best to.

You are breathing in heaves, your heart still thumping inside your chest as a slight headache comes to you due to the sudden peak of adrenaline. Your hinds collapse on the ground, a hoof going to your forehead to clean away the cold sweat as you just try to calm down.

You take a deep breath and look up again. There is only a noose there, an empty noose hanging from the ceiling with a wooden chair underneath it.

By the heavens…

You pry your eyes away from the… from that, and you know that they would be wide open in terror if they weren't closed shut. But still, you force yourself to look at the rest of the room, and you immediately understand that this is Jade Whistle's room.

The fact that she has this right in the middle of her room, though, is…

You see a bed on the opposite end of the room, a closed cabinet, and a small table next to another chair. A study, of sorts, with several papers on it.

You don't see many personal belongings, or anything that might clearly indicate that this place is her room, but you can tell that she spends a lot of her time here precisely from the lack of such details. That, and the fact that this place seems less dusty than the rest of the house. By virtue of her walking around here more frequently, you are sure, and not because she has cleaned the place recently, which she obviously has not.

But speaking of it… a particular detail catches your eye, something that your initially terrified vision did not allow you to notice before.

The noose, you can tell, seems to have been here… for quite a while now. You tentatively touch it with a hoof, and although you can only mostly tell that it is made of rope, you do get a glimpse of sorts that this thing is also "old" in a way.

As shiver runs down your spine as you realize that it has definitely been here for a few months now, at least, perhaps for as long a time as a full year, or maybe even more. You are absolutely sure of it. And you can't tell if that makes you more or less horrified.

Shaking your head, and trying to banish those dreadful thoughts, you head to the wooden desk.

And finally, you find at least a trace of something you have been looking for.

You find your own letters, the ones you have sent her, and all of them are opened, neatly tucked into a corner of the table.

The rest of the table's top, however, is far less organized than the corner in which your letters are.

Several other pieces of paper and parchments of scroll are strewn haphazardly over the hardwood surface. You eye them for a few moments, seeing that they all have something written on them, and you realize that… that they are drafts of letters. You see a bottle of ink and a pen next to them, together with a few unused envelopes, and you see that these were… answers, or at least attempts at answers.

Drafts of answers to your letters. So many of them…

And you can't help but read some, as your eyes glaze over them.



"Dear Velvet Covers, I'm not good with words…"



"Dear Velvet. First of all, thanks,"



"Lady Vevl"



There are several of them, perhaps even dozens. Some of them are only a few words long, others have been scratched over to the point where you can't make anything out.

Others are longer. Or at least longer than the others, comparatively.



"I've been feeling really weird these last few days, but I managed to get out of bed when I heard the mailpony so I thought I'd also write you back. I still haven't read your letter yet though, I'll do it while I eat since I havent done that in a while as well. By the way do y"



And some of them… some of them have blotches on the paper, spots where the ink has been marred by a drop of some transparent liquid.

Exactly like how a letter might turn out, if a pony had been crying while writing it.



"I haven't had a good dream in a while now. Its still the same dreams that I always had, but I dont like them anymore. I dont like dreaming about him anym"



You look away form that last draft, the heavy feeling of the air around you finally finding its way to the inside of your chest. Or at least you think that just happened. After all, you can distinctly feel that something is squeezing your heart, making it ache a bit every time it beats.

You shake your head and look around her room one last time. Reading these drafts is not why you are here, and you... you still have to find her.

So out of her room you go, gently closing the door behind you, and you make your way to the second room.

You realize, as you stand before the next door, that you feel a lot heavier than you did before you came up the stairs to the second floor.

And after a deep breath, the dust not irritating your nose nearly as much as you thought it would, you once again pry the door open as slowly as you can. But this time, you see something that surprises you.

In fact, more than seeing it, you smell it, you even feel it. Whatever is on the other side of this door, it is totally different to the rest of the house.

You squeeze yourself through the door as soon as you can fit the gap and… and you realize you are in her brother's room.

And the place is spotlessly clean.

The paint on the wall is unmarred, the wooden floor doesn't have a smidge of dust on it, you see a small open chest on the corner of the room filled with toys, all of them polished to a shine, and everything has the pleasant perfumed smell of a cleaning product. You see a cabinet, its drawers closed, and you wouldn't be surprised if all the clothes in it were clean and ironed.

And you finally find Jade Whistle herself.

You see her lying on the bed at the opposite end of the room. The bed is so small, or perhaps she is so large for it, that she is curled up on it, but something tells you that she doesn't mind that. Her back is turned to you, but as uncomfortable as her posture looks, you can tell that she is sleeping, and…

No, she is not sleeping.

You have no idea of how you know it, but you can tell that she is not sleeping. She is just…

Lying there.

And you…

And she knows you are here. As silent as you were, opening the door still leaked some light into the otherwise totally dark room. As subtle as you might be, you are still breathing, and your heart is still beating.

And in this room, those sounds are almost deafening.

"Hello, Velvet Covers…" you hear her say, her back still turned to you, after the two of you stayed like that for… you are not sure how long.

At least, you think, her voice sounds normal. At least she still sounds like she might just be slightly bored. You hope that means that she is doing well...

But you can tell from a glance that... she isn't.

"Hello Jade," you answer, as there is no other answer you can really give.

"This is not a dream."

Your purse your lips at that.

She was not asking or wondering. She was affirming.

"But I don't remember when was the last time I had a nice dream, so I guess it's all the same…" she says, still facing the wall.

And then she turns to face you.

"But what are you doing here?"

It takes a good amount of willpower for you not to let your shock blatantly show.

Jade Whistle is… she is not well. Her voice might still be in her usual monotone, but everything else is not. The white of her eyes is a deep red with heavy and dark bags under them, which you can see are both because she has probably cried too much, and because she has been sleeping far too little, if at all.

Her face is thin, her entire body is thinner than when you last saw her, actually, and from the slight crisp on her lips you have the impression that she might not even have drank anything in a while now.

She looks weak. She looks exhausted.

And she looks very, very tired.

"Jade, you are…" you try to say something, but you don't really know what to say.

Were you supposed to ask her what happened? You already know the answer to that.

Should you ask her why? You also know that.

You wrack your brain trying to think of what you can say, of what you can do, but…

But nothing really occurs you.

You don't have the life experience to know what to do, you don't have the social skills to simply say something that would make her feel better. Heavens, you are not even sure if anything exists that could be said to achieve that effect.

You don't have the knowledge, esoteric or otherwise, that could you aid you in… in helping her.

You… you feel lost. You can see that she is wasting away before your eyes, that she has been for a long time now, but you…

"Jade… I…" but you have no idea what to do.

So you simply walk towards her, her eyes accompanying your movement although the room is pitch dark, and you simply sit on the floor next to her bed.

"I came to see you, Jade… I was worried…"

She nods at that, with an expression that looks like she might drop unconscious at any moment. But she doesn't say anything else.

So you just sit there, in silence. Not even knowing if your company is registering in her head.

You dearly hope it is, though, but you are honestly not sure.



- - -



"I already tried it before… killing myself," she says, although she is not looking at you while she does, "it was how I first got to the Woods, how I first met the Master…"

You are not sure how much time has passed, you are not sure of how long you have been here.

The only thing you know is that you have been trying to think of what you could do during the whole time.

So, her suddenly speaking caught you by surprise.

A… well, you wanted to say that it was a grim surprise… but in all honesty, you already had your suspicions about that.

It is still very sad to hear her say it out loud, though.

"And I was the first," she continues, her empty eyes looking at the opposite wall, her monotonous tone sounding as if she is talking to herself, "the very first pony to step hoof there in who knows how long. And the Master… well, he said everything he needed to say to convince me to… to stop me from doing what I was doing. To help him instead. I can tell it, now. I can see it was the Grail talking. But honestly, I really don't care."

You are looking at her while she speaks, and you think you see a small tear run down from her eyes.

There is a faint smile on her face now for some reason, but you can hear that her voice is tearing up, the monotony on it slowly fading away with each word.

"It was nice, you see, to finally have something to do. I finally had somepony to talk to, finally had a reason to get out of bed, and take a shower, and breathe, because I had a purpose. I had somepony counting on me, and a list of things to do, so I couldn't be looking like beggar when I went out in the night to find more ponies who could help and..."

There is a bittersweetness to her voice. Something that tells you that she still cherishes those memories, that ember of happiness she had found. She still cherishes the memories, that is, but not what her reality turned into as time passed.

It squeezes your heart a little more, to realize it. Maybe it's because she has an excellent memory, but you can see that she can almost feel the joy she had back then as she tells you about how it was.

But knowing that said joy has ceased to exist… that is what must really weight down on her.

"I suppose I was lucky that Copper was the first one I found. Master sniffed her out, still don't know how, but she made the talking part easier. I could focus on… the other things, but I was still doing fine for a while. I was doing fine, that is, till I realized that I…" she takes a deep breath, holding it in for a few moments before letting it out, "that I really wasn't."

The tiny smile she had on her face vanishes, and you see what you can only describe as misery slowly appearing on her expression.

The tears, as well, are also starting to flow more and more.

"Master is not really a pony. He can't really relate, he can't really care, so as the months went by, I realize that I… that I really didn't have anything again, really, that I… that nopony needed me, and that I wasn't important or useful and…"

Jade Whistle starts to breathe more frantically now, and she looks around the room as if searching for something.

Until her eyes settle on yours.

"The Worms are scary, but I just don't care anymore," she says as if she is confessing to a crime, her voice getting more erratic as she speaks, "I tried to care, I tried to… but I just don't."

You can see that she is trembling now, the red in her eyes slowly starting to convey something that you have never seen in her before.

"And it has been… years now…" she says, slowly, agony evident in her voice as she says each syllable.

"It."

"Has."

"Been…"

"FUCKING. YEARS!", she suddenly shouts, hoofs going to the sides of her face in a sudden burst of anger that takes you by surprise.

You even hear the sound of wood creaking, as she kicks the tiny confines of the bed she is on with her hindlegs.

"Fucking YEARS that I've been like THIS! YEARS that I can't feel anything and…! And…"

And as quickly as her anger came, it fades, although her hoofs still remained on the sides of her head.

You hear her breathe for a few more moments.

Only to realize that she has started to quietly sob, a slow and whimpering sob that cracks as she tries to form words.

"What… what do I do Velvet? Where do I go…?" she says, now covering her eyes with her hoofs. And you can tell that she is…

That she is empty. Absolutely empty.

You can tell that there is no energy left in her, you can tell that she has lost all of her motivation, you can tell that even the small reprieve she would find in her memories now feels utterly wrong and draining to her.

She is lost. Quietly sobbing while lying in the bead of her long dead brother, within a house that has nothing but sorrowful memories, in a life bereft of meaning and happiness.


She is... completely alone.


You have your forelegs around her a few moments later, standing up from the ground and sitting next to her on the bed so you can hold her better.

And she hugs you back without hesitation.

Jade Whistle is trembling, soaking your chest with her tears, as she continues to speak almost as if she was talking to herself, crying uncontrollably while she does it.

"I don't want this anymore. I don't want to be me anymore. I can't take being tired anymore. I can't take living in this house anymore." Her grip on you grows tighter as she says those words, her voice choked with tears and, maybe even more frighteningly, honesty.

"I just want this all to end."

And you know that you have to do something. That you have to do something exactly now.

You softly pat her mane as you hug her back, and then you decide that you will…



[] Accompany her to the Blank Door. It will be a grim business, walking Jade Whistle back to her room, but at least she will not be alone when she does it. (This will be a mercy, and Jade Whistle will never have to feel anything ever again. Gain two scraps of WINTER Lore. This will be considered a death committed by your own hoofs, but there is no need to worry about investigations or law enforcement.)

[] Become her new reason to live. She needs something to focus her energy on, somepony who will give her a purpose, and the Master lacked the necessary empathy to do that. You will not commit the same mistake. (Jade Whistle will immediately become your Minion. A Minion is a Confidant who will never betray you, and will always obey your every command. This will not be healthy.)

[] Tell her that you are sorry, and that you have no idea of what you can do to make this any better. But you promise that you will always be there for her, as her friend, and that you will do everything you can. (There is no quick way out of a rut, but she has opened herself to you. And now that you are in, you can at least keep her company.)
-[] And you will take care of her for the day. Make sure she eats, stay with her until she sleeps. She is in no condition to be left alone in this house, after all. (Gain one scrap of HEART Lore.)
-[] And you will take her back home with you. Your husband is out of town, you have plenty of guest rooms, and she will not stay for more than a few days. (Gain one scrap of WINTER Lore.)





None of the choices will have any negative "fallout" or consequence. For you, at least.

Voting will remain open until the next update, which will not be posted before 48 hours have passed.

There is no planning to be made, so no moratorium will be observed.

Spoiler: Roll

[Outpacing the Wolf, breakpoints 60/80/100]

[Roll: 75 + 12 (Intrigue) + 15 (MOTH bonus) = 102]

[His tracks are fresh in the snow, the air is thick with his smell, but you found her before He did]

And I'd rather not reveal the breakpoint margins this time.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Silky Stream, and you can't sleep.

You are... you feel confused. There is a lot going on in your head, but the really bad part is that... this thing that you are feeling, it's not really something recent, you are not feeling it just now. To tell the truth, you have been feeling like this so often that sometimes, like tonight, you can't even sleep. You simply lay awake, looking at the ceiling.

It's a strange feeling, one that you really don't like. It's like your head is spinning and you can't focus on what you are thinking about, or like there is a weight inside your chest that won't go away… It feels like you are a little bit worried, and a little bit scared, and a little bit sad, all at the same time.

But the worst part, confusing as it might sound, is that it's not a crushing feeling, it's not even a strong one. You don't feel like crying, or hugging somepony. But the problem is that you feel that ache all the time, like a sprain on the wing that simply won't go away no matter how many days or weeks go by. Sometimes you even wish that you this emotion would grow stronger, just so it would go away faster, but it doesn't.

It's simply... there. All the time.

There must be a word that describes exactly what you are feeling, you are sure, but you don't know what word that might be. You don't know how to describe this feeling, only that it hurts.

You have been trying your best to not let it show, after all you don't want to worry anypony else. Well, you may have been trying your best, but you know that every now and then you can't really help it.

Miss Cheerilee has noticed, or at least you think she has. She did call you during recess this week, and asked you if everything was alright in a very meaningful way… and you messed up while trying to answer. You didn't want to lie to miss Cheerilee, but you didn't want to tell her anything either.

So, you are sure she noticed. She wouldn't have told you that you can tell her anything, no matter what, if she hadn't noticed that something was… that something is wrong.

Your friends have probably noticed as well, maybe Apple Bloom did, or Sweetie Belle. They have been giving you a few strange looks these last few days, but you can't really be sure.

Everything feels strange nowadays. Your mommy looks like she is more tired, and you can tell that she has been trying her best to pretend that she is ok. But she is not, you know that she is not. Daddy, as well, hasn't smiled in a good time now, and even though the two of you promised long ago to always tell the other everything you… you just haven't been brave enough to ask him why he is looking so down like that.

Hay, speaking of your mom and dad, you don't even remember when was the last time you saw them kissing each other, or saying the sweet things they used to say to each other all the time!

And it's not just them. Soft Sweeps seems to be more worried, or at least it feels like she has been watching you a lot more closely. Ponpon as well has…

You grimace in the dark of your room. Everypony, everything has changed. And it really isn't hard to say when this started.

Everything started feeling weird, everypony suddenly started looking worried or sad… the day Selene arrived, a few weeks back.

And you know it's very, very wrong to even think about it. It goes against everything that you have been taught, about being a good pony, about being loving and kind to others, and about helping those who are in need, but...



But a part of you really wants to feel angry at Selene. Even though you know it's not her fault, even though your mommy said that the two of you are sisters now, a small part of you really wants to be mad at her, and blame her for everything that's happening.



You can tell, although you don't know how, that it would make everything easier. Having somepony to blame would make everything more simple.

After all, not only this whole thing started happening after she arrived, but also… what the hay is wrong with her? What is her problem, even? You are not sure why, but from the moment you saw her you knew that… that something was going on. There is something about Selene, something very strange and wrong about her, but you simply don't know what it is.

Still, no matter how you look at it, she is really weird.

She barely speaks with anypony, she hasn't made any friends, she won't even talk to you as much as you try getting closer to her. She doesn't want to be your sister, you are almost sure of it, and maybe she doesn't even want to be here at all.

So, since she is being mean to everypony and making everypony around you worried, why not be mean to her? Why not pay her back for-

You hit your head against the pillow, groaning at yourself. You know that you just thought about something very bad and ugly, you know that everything you just told yourself is wrong. Being mean to others is not what good fillies do, it's not what good ponies do.

It's not what you want to do.

But then, what can you do? This is another question that has been chewing your heart for a while now.

Mommy and daddy are certainly… not well, but you don't have the first idea of what you could do to help them. In fact, even thinking about why they are not well to begin with makes you scared, as you become honestly frightened whenever your thoughts turn to the direction that, perhaps, what might be happening is that they don't love each other anymore.

And what can you do about Selene? You realize that she is also going through something, but you have no idea what. Your mom said she doesn't have any memories, but you can tell that there's more than that. You have this strange feeling… you think it's called an intuition? You have these thoughts that… that she looks like somepony had hurt her, or that there is something scaring her, even if Selene herself doesn't know what it is.

But just having that feeling doesn't help you with anything. She still won't talk to you, she still won't play with you, she still won't try to make friends at school. And even though you come back home with her every day, and try your best to stay with her as much as you can, you still don't feel like you are getting any closer to her.

You softly hit your head against your pillow again, just raising your head and letting it fall down. For sure, this is the most frustrated that you have ever been in your entire life. You keep staring at the dimly lit ceiling, not really being able to focus on anything…

When you hear something.

You just heard something, a muffled scream of sorts, a muted yelp that sounded too much like somepony being bit by a monster. Your eyes shoot wide in surprise as you look around your room, immediately curling up and covering yourself as you try to understand just what exactly that scary noise was.

Your heart hammers inside your chest for a few more moments. You are not afraid of the dark, normally, but you certainly are afraid of hearing things in the middle of the night!

Until you notice that you are hearing another sound, but you can't exactly tell… what it is…

Or can you?

You don't know why, but it sounds like somepony is… crying?

You slowly unfurl the covers that you have around you, ears perking up as you try to understand exactly what is going on. Your ears swish around until you can faintly tell from what direction the sound is coming from, and you can hear that the source of the noise is one of the walls of your room.

You purse your lips, but you are out of your bed a few moments later, your mind connecting the dots as you silently make your way to the door.

You heard a scream, of sorts, and now you think you are hearing somepony sobbing. You think you do, but you are not sure. However, those sounds definitely came from the room next to yours.

Which means they came from Selene's room.

You stare at your own door, your mind still spinning and hazy with all your worries and fears. But cutting through all that is the shaking conviction that you should at least check what that sound just now was.

Of course, this would mean entering Selene's room, which is something your mom has explicitly forbidden you from doing, unless Selene invited you in. Still, this has to be an exception to that rule... right?

You gulp down as you open your door and step out into the corridor.

You don't know if what you are about to do is the right thing.

Then again, you haven't been sure of anything this past month.

But at least doing this feels right. Or at least, it doesn't feel wrong.

So, although you are scared of it, this is the best you have right now.





- - -
- - -
- - -





You are Selene, and you are scared.

You are hugging yourself under the blankets, trembling, because you just had a terrible dream.

And you can remember it clearly, although you wish you didn't.

You were on the shore of a lake, of sorts, a very large lake of pitch black water, it was night and you were alone.

You were alone.

There was nopony else on the shore with you. There was nopony else on the side of the lake that you were. Period. Everypony else, everypony in the whole wide world, was on the opposite side of that lake. You think you could almost see them, at the far distance, pinpricks of light that could be bonfires on the far shore, or perhaps even streetlamps of a city.

You couldn't make it out, you were too far away. And that was the problem, that was what scared you so much.

You had no idea of how you ended up on that far shore, away from everypony else. You had no idea why you were there.

The only thing you knew was that, for some reason, you had the nagging impression that being there was your fault, and that the only way to get across that lake was by walking through it.

Not swimming through it, not going around it, not even flying over it, since you don't have wings. No, the only way you could ever get across that lake was by walking through it. By holding your breath and taking one step after the other, as your body submerged into the water, and walking through the floor of the lake until you reached the other side.

It didn't any make sense, of course. You knew you couldn't do it, you knew you would drown before you made it to the other side, you knew the water would be too cold and too heavy around you for you to take even a single step.

But you also knew that you had to. The other option was being on that side of the lake… alone. Forever.

You remember trying, you remember taking a meek step towards the dark lake. You remember seeing the moon reflected on its surface, even though there was no moon on the night sky when you looked up.

You remember that you realized the lake was wriggling, as if it was made not of water, but instead of countless writhing worms.

You remember waking up, screaming into your pillow.

And that's why you are here right now, awake, huddled under your blankets and trembling at your most recent memories.

Alone.

That is the worst part.

As much as the dream was scary, as much as remembering how the lake wriggled and shifted with those worms might be terrifying, for some reason the fact that you are still alone even after waking up is the worst part.

Maybe it's the worst part because you know that this detail is real, because even though you know that there was no shore, and no lake, and no worms, you being alone right now is something that has accompanied you back to the waking world.

And it is also something you can't do anything about.

That, too, is something that makes you feel very guilty. You somehow know that it's your fault, but there is nothing you can do about what is going on, be it your dream or... the things that have been happening ever since you arrived at this house...

Mrs. Velvet is a nice lady, and you realize that you are very lucky that she found you. You shudder every time you think what might have happened if you had woken up in that place all by yourself, and you are thankful that she brought you in.

But still, she is…

She is not your mom.

You don't remember your mom. You don't remember your family, or even if you had one. You don't remember the house where you woke up, and you are not even sure of why you like the blankets that you brought back with you. But as much as you realize how kind and caring Mrs. Velvet is, you still know that she is not your mom, you still can't connect with her.

It doesn't help that you know that something is going on, you know that bringing you with her has caused her a lot of trouble, so you can't really bring yourself to talk to her, or to even do anything towards her simply because you don't want to cause even more problems. You feel too guilty about it to even try.

And Mr. Stormchaser… well, you haven't really spoken or seen much of him. And even when he is in the house you avoid him.

You can't help but feel bad whenever you look at him. You know that he and Mrs. Velvet used to love each other very much, until you arrived, but now…

You close your eyes shut, feeling that you are still trembling slightly. You don't want to go back to sleep, but you don't want to stay awake either. You don't want to go back to that scary dream, but you don't want to keep thinking about how everything is your fault.

You don't want to be alone, but you have no idea of what you can do t-

"Selene? Are you awake?"

Your thoughts freeze inside your head as you hear a voice, one that you immediately recognize, coming from the door.

You completely missed the sound of it being opened, but you can tell from the volume of her voice that she must be peeking her head inside.

"Selene…?" you hear her asking again.

You really want to hold your breath and go still. For a moment, you really want to pretend you are asleep so she would go away.

You don't dislike Silky Stream, but you don't want to talk to her either. Not after everything you have done, that is. You might not be close to Mrs. Velvet or Mr. Stormchaser, but she is. She is their daughter, after all.

And knowing that your arrival caused such a ruckus in her life makes you feel…

"Selene, I know I'm not supposed to come in if you don't let me," you hear Silky whisper, her voice honestly apologetic, "but I heard you… screaming? Is... is everything alright?"

Her voice is apologetic… and truly worried.

You sag under your covers. You don't know who you are, you are causing all sorts of trouble to her parents, and now you are causing problems to Silky herself. You are making her worry, and you really wish that...

"I'm sorry," you finally answer, letting go of the breath you were holding for a few moments.

"Sorry? For what?"

For making your mom and dad fight, for making everypony worried, for taking away the time you would usually spend with your friends after school.

"For waking you up," you answer, almost in a whisper. Not really sure of how much of it was a lie.

Well, it surely wasn't the whole truth.

You hear the muffled sound of her hoofsteps tentatively getting closer to you, a slight creaking noise telling you that she closed the door behind herself. Silky Stream, you know, is now inside your room.

You don't want to be alone anymore. But having her here is also frightening, because you are almost sure that this just means something you are going to regret is about to happen, and that it will be your fault.

"It's ok, I… I couldn't sleep. You didn't really wake me up," she answers, her voice also low and meek.

But that catches you a little bit by surprise.

"You couldn't sleep? Why?" you slowly uncover yourself as you turn to face her, what little moonlight that passes through the curtains letting you at least make out her silhouette.

"Well… stuff," she says vaguely, and you can see that she just sat on the floor.

You frown at that, as you are almost sure that you know exactly what she means by "stuff".

But just like how you are unsure about everything else, you don't have the slightest idea of what you can say to make her feel better…

Still, you tentatively get out of your bed, and sit in front of her. You almost think you can see the dim moonlight reflecting from her eyes, although you are not sure. But if you can, then you can tell that she is looking at the ground.

Something tells you that her expression is… not sad, but something very close to it.

"And what about you?" Silky asks her, "why can't you sleep?"

"I had a bad dream."

"Do you… want to talk about it?"

You really don't, but saying that out loud feels somehow wrong...

Still, you know that she understands it, from the silence that hangs between you two.

You and Silky Stream stay a long way like that, sitting on the ground in front of each other, not saying a word.

And you don't know what to do next. You are scared of not knowing what to do, you are scared that by not doing something you are somehow annoying her or making things worse. You really want her to leave, but only because you know that if she leaves then this won't turn out any worse than it has so far.

You want her to leave, at the same time that you really don't want her to leave.

"You know what? I'm sorry too," she snaps you out of your thoughts, even giving the ground a light stomp with her hoof.

But for some reason, her voice seems determined at something. Her voice sounds the exact opposite of how you feel, in fact, as if she is sure of something, although you have no idea of what that is.

"You are… sorry?" really, you have no idea of what she means with that, "for what?"

Silky Stream, you know, has absolutely nothing that she is to blame for.

It is you who has.

"For not thinking about you," she answers, much to your confusion.

But she continues before you can say anything in return.

"I really don't know… a lot of things, I really don't know why a lot of things are happening right now," she says, her voice halting for a few moments, and that tells you exactly what she means by those 'lot of things'. However, her words still have that determined hint to them, "but as much as things might be strange right now, I didn't really stop to think how it must be like for you."

You purse your lips at that, a part of you is very afraid of what she might be getting to, of what she might say next.

But for some reason, another part of you is feeling… something you don't really know how to describe.

Some kind of… warmth?

"And I… I know it sounds stupid, and it might even sound insensitive from me. But when mom said we were going to be sisters, I was so excited that I… well, that I really didn't think about how you might be feeling about it. This whole time, I didn't even ask what you think about this whole thing, especially since you…"

She stops for a few moments, but you understand what she is talking about.

Especially since you don't remember anything at all, she was probably going to say.

"I know that…" she says, then stops for a few moments, "I really hope you don't think that I am saying something mean, but I really don't know you."

And then she takes a few steps towards you, putting a hoof on your shoulder.

"But I want to know you. I really do. And I really understand if you don't want us to be sisters, but I really, really would like us to be friends."

Her hoof pass from your shoulder to your foreleg, and a few moments later she is holding your hoofs on her own.

And despite the near total darkness, you know that she is looking straight into your eyes.

"There's a lot of things that feels like they are changing. I'm confused, and a little scared, and I know that whatever I'm feeling isn't even close to what you might be going through, but… if you're ok with it, I'd really like you to know that we can be here for each other if you want."

You feel the part inside of you, the one that was afraid of whatever she was going to say, crumble when you hear her say those words.

"Or at least, I'd really like you to know that, whatever happens, you can count on me," she says through a shy smile.


Neither of you knew that Silky Stream had just repeated, almost word for word, the promise that another pegasus made to a certain unicorn, many years before she was borne.


And after that, she simply begins to talk.


It was something of an unspoken understanding. You might not remember anything about yourself, you might not have anything to say, but that doesn't mean that you can't get to know her better.

She speaks about her parents, and about Soft Sweeps, and about her friends. And then about what she likes doing, be it after school or at home, and many, many other things.

You don't really remember when the two of you sat down on your bed, but you keep on talking anyways.

Eventually, and perhaps naturally, you even try telling her what little you know about yourself, or at least what comes to your mind. You tell her about your dream, and about how you are afraid of the moon, since you always feel like it is staring at you, and how you think that Mrs. Velvet is indeed a nice mare, and about your struggles with learning certain things in school despite miss Cheerilee's best efforts.

The two of you simply chat, exchanging secrets and whispers, with nothing but the total darkness of your room as witness.

And in the end, the two of you make a promise.

It is a simple promise, an innocent promise between two foals, but still one that, you know, the two of you make from the bottom of both your hearts.

You and Silky Stream promise that, no matter what happens, you are going to look after each other.

The two of you might not know each other yet, the two of you might not even be friends yet. You might still be slightly scared of her by sheer virtue of you having met her less than a month ago, and by sheer virtue of you not remembering anything at all about your own life. But still, you promise each other that whatever happens, from this moment on, you will face it together.

After all, isn't that exactly what sisters do? Isn't that what sisters are?

Aren't sisters just two ponies who, by chance, are borne into the same family? Who have been thrown into the world, together, by sheer luck?

You don't know. You don't even know if there is a right or wrong answer to that question. But you don't feel like you are exactly wrong when you think that, if sisters are really paired by chance, then it's up to you to turn that coincidence into a blessing.

The two of you are woken up on the next day by Mrs. Velvet and Soft Sweeps, who are wearing a warm smile on their faces that you don't quite know the meaning of. You and Silky must have dozed off at some point, but you don't really mind.

After all, you definitely don't feel like you are alone anymore.





Selene has... has she regained something that she had lost? Has she instead just been given something she never had before in her life?

Whatever it might be, she is calmer now, she is surer now. She is no longer alone. The world might be a large and frightening place, but there is now somepony else with her, on the edge of that lake.

Selene's WINTER Lore is now level 1.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Current plan

[X] Plan Pittauro
-[X] [Work] A measured commitment (6 actions available, -1 due to Expedition penalty)
-[X] [Selene] Whatever happens, there are always certainties in life, and family is one of them (Winter Lesson)
-[X] [Attention of Laws] Grail, to assist in talking to Stormchaser
-[X] [Servants] Book search in Manehattan
-[X] You have a marriage to… well, you hope it doesn't come down to "save". But you have a husband to talk to.
-[X] Petition the Master for a Lantern lesson.
-[X] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna.
--[X] Honestly help her, at least insofar as the ritual is searching for Luna-that-was. Don't provide any additional information that would point it towards Selene.
--[X] If the ritual successfully detects Selene, tell Jade the truth and try to convince her to keep it secret.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] Jade Whistle is a very interesting mare, even if not one of many words. Spend some time with her, and try to goad those few words from her with the help of a pleasant time.
-[X] The Bright Library!

- - -

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Tell her that you are sorry, and that you have no idea of what you can do to make this any better. But you promise that you will always be there for her, as her friend, and that you will do everything you can. (There is no quick way out of a rut, but she has opened herself to you. And now that you are in, you can at least keep her company.)
-[X] And you will take her back home with you. Your husband is out of town, you have plenty of guest rooms, and she will not stay for more than a few days. (Gain one scrap of WINTER Lore.)

You have gained one scrap of WINTER Lore.

- - -

It wasn't easy, in all honesty.

You didn't know what you were supposed to do, or how you were supposed to answer her question if such a thing was even possible. But at least you knew what you could not do.

Specifically, you could not let her stay in that house for another instant, if at all possible.

You knew you had to take her out of there. You didn't know what you ought to do next, but you were sure of that much at least. Sure enough to be willing to drag her out if needed, but luckily that much was not needed. She didn't exactly object when you told her that she was coming with you.

Although, truth be told, she didn't answer anything at all when you told her that.

She just followed you.

The two of you attracted a few curious and worried glances as you walked through the streets, but that wasn't exactly the hard part about it. Jade lived near the edge of Ponyville, so any such attention was short-lived enough for you to not really worry. No, the hard part about taking her back home with you was when…

When she just stopped.

It happened a few times. There were moments, while the two of you walked towards your home, when Jade Whistle simply… stopped, dead on her tracks. Sometimes she would even sit on the ground, sometimes she would just lower her head, but every time she did that… it was as if she wasn't capable of doing anything anymore. She would simply stare at nothing, looking towards nowhere at all.

She wouldn't answer you when you tried talking to her, she wouldn't even acknowledge your presence. You would have carried her, if your floating magic or your body were strong enough, but since they weren't there was nothing really you could do.

Nothing you could do, that is, but keep her company, whispering a few words every now and then that you honestly prayed that she was listening to.

It was a long trek, back to your estate.

And you sometimes wondered, seeing how little life the mare still had in her, if you had really arrived in time to save her.

But still, the only thing that seeing that could do was fill you with certainty that you were doing the right thing.

Eventually, you arrived at your home, Ponpon's face going through several different emotions when she greeted you on the door and saw Jade with you. You saw concern on her expression, for sure, since the last time you brought a stranger with you less than a month ago things didn't exactly end well, then you saw worry when she finally took a good look at Jade, and then understanding.

After a few quick words with her you had Jade settled on one of your guest rooms, and two of your more attentive maids instructed to be extremely careful when attending her. You, for your own part, didn't leave her side. Not until you saw her eat and, much, much later, finally fall asleep in the room she would be staying.

You only realized how utterly exhausted you felt, both physically and emotionally, after you closed her door behind you.

But above all else, you couldn't stop your heart from beating just a little bit more frantically, at how close this whole affair had been.



- - -



The following days are… rather hectic, so to speak. But eventually everything calms down.

Not before causing you a good few days of headache-inducing worry, but now you can take a long deep breath and say that everything is fine. Or at least that things are as good as they can get.

And that is because, basically, Jade Whistle woke up terribly sick on the following morning after she arrived on your house.

In hindsight, that was something that you should have realized that could have happened, considering the state she was in when you found her. After all she was practically malnourished, and most likely had not slept a wink for several days. Also, heaven knows how much her mental state was mining what little energy her body had available, so all things considered her body was was several steps below "fragile" when she finally arrived at your home.

Of course, you were beyond worried during the first two days, and in practice you were the one who took care of her, while your maids merely aided you in nursing that burning fever out of the poor mare. But now that you can think about it with a more level-headed mind, a part of you can't help but wonder why it was that you did not find her sick like that back in her house to begin with.

But finally, and thankfully, a normalcy of sorts was returning. You are not glad that she had to suffer like that, and you are still worried about how she might be recovering mentally, but at least you can say for sure that physically speaking she is doing well. Jade Whistle has gotten plenty of sleep, even if part of that was encouraged by the medicine she is being given, she is eating well, and she is being generally well treated and pampered by attentive maids during the few bouts of consciousness she has.

Heavens, if you didn't know her any better you would have even said that she looks like a perfectly normal and healthy pony, and you almost swear that her coat looks to be a shade brighter now.

She should be out of her bed soon enough, you think. But right now, there is nothing else you can do but wait, and perhaps hope that, if nothing else, these last few days of recovery will help her feel at least a tiny bit better once she is back on her hoofs.

Thinking that, you idly float another report towards you.

Of course you do. You kept up with your work, after all, once you had deemed Jade to be well enough to be trusted to your maids. Never mind that you are keeping the door to your office open as you work, and that you have been stealing glances at the far away door of her guest room every now and then. Never mind any of that, you are definitely still doing your work!

So to speak...

You snap back to attention once you realize the report you have floating in front of you is not related to the farmland, and is in fact a missive from one of your servants in Manehattan.

Oh, right. You had nearly forgotten about that.



[Book search: Manehattan – Servant action]

[Roll: 47 + 12 (Learning) = 59]

KNOCK lvl 3, "An encyclopedia about poisonous snakes, with several artful illustrations", 30 bits.

FORGE lvl 1, "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire", 7 bits.

MOTH lvl 1, "A poetry book. Amateur work, really, but one of them talks about masks…," 7 bits.



You read the short missive with a raised eyebrow. This was a test, you recall, of how your servant might go about his duty if you gave him a few hints about "a bookstore you remember going to a long time ago". It was a lie, of course, and you were relaying what you could glimpse from your memories. But still, the results might speak for themselves once you actually get any of those books and check if they are indeed worth it.

Well, you will think about it later, you think to yourself as you fold the report and leave it at the side of your desk.



- - -



"Hey there… how are you?" you say, your tone gentle, as Jade rubs her eyes awake.

She answers by looking at you and blinking a few more times, and then looking around at the room.

However, you can already tell, and with no small amount of relief from your part, that there is something about her… something good, that is. Or at least you think that her usual "bored" expression has a more healthy tone to it, to the point where she looks like she is simply "sleepy" instead of her regular dispassionate expression.

Well, you hope that is the case, and that you are not seeing things and being optimistic.

"I don't think I've ever seen a bed so big," she finally says, looking at the bed she is laying on.

To which you can't help but let out a short laugher. This might be a completely honest and clinical observation from her, but you take it as a tiny attempt at a joke.

Which is good, you think.

"Well, wait until you see the one in my room," you answer her with a smile. "By the way, do you remember… anything? I ask that because, well, you were pretty out of it for a while," you say, your tone still low and soft, hoping that you are not prodding too soon at something that you should leave alone for a little while longer.

But in a rather refreshing display of her usual self, she simply looks at you in a neutral way, her head tilting slightly in something that you can only interpret as the mare actually thinking about your question.

"Yeah, I remember everything," she then says nonchalantly, "well, everything until two days ago, when you brought me here. After that everything is a bit hazy," she trails off.

Oh, that's how it is then. She does remember you… finding her in her home, and then bringing her here, but you can confirm that she was as good as unconscious, not to say delirious, while she was sick.

And you can say that with confidence because she has been out of it for six entire days, and not just two. But that's a detail you decide not to tell her right now.

It was also a bit of a shame that you didn't have your Heart blanket with you, when Jade needed it. But it is being put to very good use by Rarity, so there's nothing you can do about it.

All of that said, you decide to take the day off as well, seeing that she is finally feeling well enough to get out of her bed, so you can keep her company.

And the two of you have a pleasant day. You properly introduce her to your house, for starters, and then you introduce her to a lunch that isn't soup. You even consider having somepony bring out the carriage so you can take her on a short stroll around the farmlands, but you decide against it once you realize how hot it is outside.

But most importantly, and again you hope that this isn't just you being optimistic… you think that… You think that you can actually understand her better now, you think that you can read her expression and gestures a bit better, or that she is expressing herself a little bit more, perhaps.

You are not sure how to describe it, but something inside of you is saying that Jade Whistle seems to be a little bit more… "awake".

Although, as the day goes by, you also think that you detect a little bit of awkwardness from her, and then a little bit of tiredness in her mannerism.

You are not sure if this (very slightly, of course) more "outward" behavior is being a front that she is putting, or if her memories and shadows are slowly managing to creep back to her.

You are also absolutely sure that her problems have not disappeared, and that you will have to keep an eye on her for a good long while from now on.

But it finally feels like you are finally getting to know the mare called Jade Whistle. And, if your intuition is right, you can say that this makes the two of you happy.

Heavens, you even manage to prod a few words out of her, as the two of you sit down on the large balcony by your room. You can't say that you are surprised when she starts talking about the occult, though, but at least she is talking.

And she is talking about it in an academic, if such a word can be used to describe the Lores, so at least it is a topic of conversation. Even if you still throw a few long glances towards the glass door that leads to your room every now and then, while the two of you talk, just to make sure that you are not being overheard.



[A helpful conversation – Aiding Jade Whistle on the confection of a Ritual]

[Your roll: 13 + 30 (SECRET HISTORIES, level 3) + 14 (Learning) = 57]

[You were… helpful, so to speak]

[Her roll: 90 + 10 (Learning) + 0 (SECRET HISTORIES, level 0) + 5 (Velvet Covers' Insight) = 105]



"Oh…"

She lets out the sort of sound that would usually be followed by a raised eyebrow or something like that. But that would be asking too much from her, of course.

"Is something on your mind?" you ask, as that sort of reaction from her, even if small, is still considerable.

"Could you repeat what you just said? About the strands and all that?" she says, reclining back at her cushion and looking up, and you can tell that she is trying to recall a particular detail in her mind.

"Alright…" you say, wondering where she was going with that, "I said that the Histories, I think, are like strands, in the way that they can interact with each other, but still retain their individuality," you say, trying to recall exactly which words you used to form an analogy about knots and sewing.

You continue to retrace your words from memory, saying that no matter how complicated a knot is, as long as the threads remain uncut they are still individual lines, even if they are entangled in a chaotic mess. And they still will, eventually, be "free" again to follow their own individual directions.

However, your words slow down as you are more curious about Jade's expression while she listens to you. It gets to the point where you fall completely silent, but the mare doesn't even seem to react to that, so focused on her thoughts that she is.

"Oh." She finally says, once again that same sound with that same, her eyebrows still unmoving, "I think I got it."

"Got what, exactly?" you ask, not sure on what you had just helped her with, although you are sure it must not have been that much help. At least you don't feel like you just told her anything especially eye-opening.

"I was struggling on how I was supposed to interpret the search aspects of the magic itself…" she begins to say, still looking upwards as she tries to put her own thoughts in order while she speaks, "the Lantern part was easy, but I wasn't sure of how to set it to look for something, and…"

It finally dawns on you that she is talking about the ritual she was trying to devise.

To search for Sel… for Princess Luna.

A very slight chill runs down your spine as you remember that whole thing. You had intended to help her with the ritual, of course, but you thought it would have a more research-like approach to it, and that you would be able to, so to speak, tamper with it as needed so as to make sure that the ritual did not consider Luna's current state as a valid target.

You definitely did not expect to help her like this.

"And the analogy you used about strings," she continues, finally turning to face you, "made me think that perhaps those strings might also coil around things… perhaps important ponies or important occurrences, in a way that… actually, do you have any paper? I think I might be able to explain it better if I could draw what I have in mind for the circle."

You do your best to keep your expression calm as you nod at her and head to your office to bring some quills and blank scrolls.





Jade Whistle has finished devising the ritual she was attempting to create, a small nudge given by you on the nature of the Secret Histories bridging a final gap she had been lacking.

You did not roll nearly high enough to be able to alter its function in any way.

The ritual "The Reflection of the Tapestry" has been added to your cult's grimoire!



- - -



Jade Whistle has been working, you will give her that.

Seeing her work laid out in front of you actually makes you realize that the search for Princess Luna has indeed been going on for months now. You can't say for sure of how dedicated she had been to this project recently, given her current predicament, but there surely is at least two and a half months of work written in several scrolls before you.

"This is actually very impressive," you honestly say, as you finish reading the last few details about the ritual circle she drew for you.

A small version of it, of course, that she drew on the papers you brought her, and that you are making sure is not visible to any ponies who might chance upon the glass doors of the balcony.

"I don't think it is, really… actually the whole thing feels really obvious now that I'm taking a better look at it," she says, her tone neutral.

"Obvious? Don't say that," you wave a hoof in her direction, not even bothering to look up as you give the esoteric inscriptions you are holding another full inspection, "it's the sort of thing that looks obvious in hindsight, sure, but that is because it is elegant. Because it flows gracefully, so to speak."

You speak your mind as you finish reading the invocation, noticing how the inner circle invokes the strands of Histories right underneath the iconic representation of Glory, thus calling for Lantern to reveal that which the caster desires to learn about.

"Saying that this is obvious is just like saying that teleportation magic is obvious," you say, looking up and facing her, "and I'll be damned if you sell yourself so short an-"

Wait. Your words grind to a halt inside your throat as you take a better look at Jade, seeing that she is looking at the ground while listening to you.

And she, in turn, notices your silence, and hesitantly looks in your direction as well.

"I… well…" she struggles for a few seconds, before finally blurting out in an awkward manner, her voice so low that it is almost a whisper, "thank you…"


Is that a slight blush you see on her face?!


A smile slowly comes to you, as you finish coming to terms with what you are seeing, and with the fact that this sort of reaction from her is even possible. You immediately feel several different reactions fighting for supremacy inside your head, as a part of you wants to simply continue talking normally, so as to not embarrass her any further, while another part of you desperately wants to keep fawning over her so you might see a little bit more of that blush.

But those reactions, and a few others that were beginning to present themselves in your mind, crash to a halt as somepony knocks on the glass door of the balcony. You jump up in surprise for a moment, before you quickly light up your horn and collect the several scrolls around you with skill borne from years of pushing papers.

You also notice, with a slight tinge of annoyance, that Jade Whistle's expression is back to its usual neutral self.

Well, nothing you can do about it for now.

"Come in," you say towards the entrance to the balcony, after you have the scrolls safely folded and stowed away under your cushion, watching as the doors open a few moments later.

In all honesty you were expecting to see Ponpon or another maid, but in walks Silky Stream, followed closely by Selene.

You smile at that, seeing how close they got recently. You were worried that Silky might start feeling affected over your current… situation with Stormchaser, and that Selene might take a few more weeks, if not months, to open up. But a few days ago, while Jade was still recuperating, you found the two of them sleeping together in Selene's room, and your heart couldn't have felt any warmer at that sight.

But the fact that they are here also means that school is over for the day, and that you may have been talking to Jade for longer than you thought you had.

"Good afternoon mommy, we're back from school," Silky says, with a lot less excitement than she usually greets you with after returning home.

And the reason for that is obvious, as you see her eyes alternating between looking at you and then at Jade. You made sure to tell them not to disturb Jade, in practice forbidding them from even entering the guest room she was in, so this is the first time they are actually meeting the strange mare that has been keeping the maids busy for almost an entire week now.

"Welcome back Silky, welcome back Selene, and I hope the two of you had a good day at school," you say as you get up from your cushion, "and this is aunt Jade Whistle, she is mommy's friend," you say simply.

You watch as Jade also gets up from her cushion to stand next to you, the two fillies greeting her back, although you can see Selene shily fidgeting her way so as to hide behind Silky.

"Good afternoon," the mare says to the two fillies, her expression deadpan as ever as she looks at them, "your mom is a nice pony," she says a few moments later.

To which Silky nods, whatever nervousness she had melting away as she… well, it wouldn't surprise you if your daughter understood Jade in a few moments better than you did after months of knowing her, but you surely hoped that wasn't the case.

And then Jade's gaze goes towards Selene herself, as much as she is trying to hide behind the other filly.



[Lantern-sight]

[Jade's roll: 100 + ?? (LANTERN, level ??) = ???]

[Jade Whistle has rolled a "Detection: YES"]



And she stays quiet for a short while.

"Oh…" is all she finally says.

But your eyes shoot wide open as you realize that, this time, you see her raise an eyebrow.



- - -



Your daughters left shortly after, Selene following close behind Silky, Jade Whistle's eyes following the two of them the entire time.

And then Jade Whistle turned to you.

And then she looked into your eyes.

You were worried that you might see confusion there. You were worried that you might see certainty there.

You were worried that you might see hurt or betrayal in them.

But it terrified you that you saw… nothing. She seemed as unperturbed as she might have been if you had told her that the two of you ought to go downstairs to eat something.

But considering that she also had that same expression when she told you about how her entire family abandoned her or died, seeing her calm and collected like that was the very opposite of relieving.

Your thoughts started to race then and there, wondering what she might be thinking, or how she might react, or what she might do. You care for Jade Whistle, you really do, so you couldn't help but to honestly dread what might happen next, your mind immediately reminding you of how badly Stormchaser himself reacted when you told him about a secret that you had been keeping.

However, Jade Whistle reacted before you could, even as you opened your mouth to try and say something, anything, to get a feeling of what in the heavens might be going on in her mind.

"I need some time to think," is all she said.

And then she left.

You could have tried to stop her, of course. You could have followed behind her, and tried to say… something.

No matter what it was, you could have at least tried to say anything at all. You could have apologized, even if that made you sound guilty. You could have tried to explain yourself, even if that made it sound like you were betraying the cult. You could have asked her to help you, even if that risked making you sound like you were trying to get close to her just to use her, although heavens forbid her actually interpreting it that way.

But in the end, you did nothing. As much as it had gnawed at your heart then, as it gnaws now, you did nothing.

Because a tiny, minuscule part of your mind, the one that thought you had finally started to understand Jade Whistle better, told you to trust her.

After all, she said she needed to think.

So just like how she slammed her door on your face after saying she'd rather you not enter her house you think, or at least you dearly hope, that she meant exactly what she said with her words.



Still, that didn't do anything at all to help you calm down, especially as the days went by.



Especially as, right now, you are in the underground of the Wildhoof Club hearing your fellow Inner Circle members report on their progress, and you don't see Jade Whistle anywhere.

The worst part being that your Master bid the meeting to start without her, as if she was not at all surprised by her absence.

So you hear their reports, trying your best to keep your expression neutral and your breathing calm, while your mind frantically wonders about what might have happened since you last saw her.

Several ideas come to mind, and none of them are encouraging.

But still, you do your best to wait for your turn to speak, if only to have this meeting end sooner.

You hear about Comet Feet's progress, and about how he has made a breakthrough and reached the Fourth Intensity, but will need help if he is to progress any further.

You hear about how Starry Dancer has personally met a few important members of the regular Guard in Ponyville.

You hear from Windy Flakes that the club is going well, his pet project of a "White Room" being nearly finished, and from Copper Secateur that the cult's presence in Ponyville as a whole is growing.

And when it is finally your turn to speak, you feel the subtle presence of your Master cover you, like a rather large spider-like insect might put its long legs around its prey. Not exactly touching it, but still surrounding it.

You feel like you have just been put inside a cage, though, as if coming here was a mistake.

Your words are caught in your throat for a split second before you can begin to speak.



"Jade Whistle has told me…" and then your Master interrupts you before you can regain your balance and say what you planned to say.



Your feel your heart hammering inside your chest, almost making its way to your throat.

She knows.

Jade Whistle reached out to her, and told her everything, and now she knows.

You feel a single drop of cold sweat fall from your forehead, making an achingly slow trail through the side of your face, and then your neck.

It this how you die?



"That the two of you have been hard at work, and have finished a ritual that might aid us in locating the alicorn," your Master continues speaking, almost absent-mindedly.



It takes your utmost effort and willpower to not let out a sigh of relief at that. At least you were not outed right here and right now.

But of course, this being your Master, this could mean anything.

After all, didn't she know already? Can you really be sure, or were you just being paranoid the last time you met her, when you beseeched her for a lesson? Is your Master even a she?

With confused thoughts that border on agonizing, you feel every last certainty you had crumble to the ground as you try to think about them with reason, as you try to hear any sort of hint or clue about anything at all in your Master's voice, be it about what they might or might not know, be it about their identity or anything else.

A fool's errant, you know, considering their very nature. But still, you can't help but…

You can't help but worry. And you say "worry" so you won't say "suffer".

This is not at all how you thought this meeting would turn out. This is not how you thought any of this would turn out.

"And I have heard from out Outer Circle initiates of your efforts in educating them in certain Lores, through books."

You clench your jaws, just to make sure that your mouth is not hanging slightly open in nervousness.

"And I gathered Jade's cadre not long ago, to attempt said ritual… and it fizzled. There is no other way to really describe it. The ritual did not fail, it simply bore no fruit."

You feel your Master's attention expand once again towards the other ponies present, the wind unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of the dark trees around you disturbingly stilled.

"Something is going on…" your Master muses, "and I wished to discuss this with all of you, so that you may understand it better and properly guide your efforts…"

You take a deep breath, doing it slowly so as not to make it obvious, but you can feel that your nervousness is slowly draining away.

There is certainly a scrutiny, of sorts, in this meeting. There is certainly an aura of unease and confusion. Your Master is certainly thinking very deeply about something.

But that attention, that focus and thoughts, they are not focused on you.

And that makes all the difference.

"The searches continue, the older alicorn still reaching aimlessly for the far corners of the world, but… the younger seems to be beyond even our own methods of detection. That means… that something has reached her, or covered her in deeper shadows than simple physical disappearance."

And then you hear a sound that, if you didn't know any better, you would think that amounted to a honest shrug.

"Or she might be dead," the Master says dismissively, "but whatever circumstance it might be, we have an opportunity to act more brazenly now, while the rulers of Ponykind fumble in their desperate efforts, too unfocused to notice more overt movements."

With that, you feel that rather… musing and wondering tone disappear, a totally different voice of a totally different creature taking its place.

Certainty and purpose taking over thought and wonder.

Edge eclipsing Moth, even if only temporarily.

"Comet Feet and Copper Secateur, your labors have borne fruit. Ponyville is already steadily falling into our grasp, and your own followers will be able to pick up from where you left. Head to another city and found a cell. Not as grandiose as what we have here, but we need those who are faithful in other places. Specifically, head for a city that might be rich in blood and Edge."

It goes without saying that Comet Feet will follow her for her safety.

"Starry Dancer, tighten your grip. Comet Feet's absence bodes somewhat ill for us, as idyllic as this town might be. Being in the good graces of the guards is one thing, but it is better to have them indebted to us. Help her as you must, Windy Flakes, but otherwise continue your own duties as well."

You see the two of them nod at that, but moments later your attention is focused on the presence you feel around you.

This is… not at all how you are used to feeling your Master near you.

You don't feel as if she is weary or worried, but you don't feel as if he is close either.

You have no idea of what to make of this.

"Velvet Covers, the alicorn's… rather curious fate means that our treading down the path towards its patron is stymied, for now. We require more power in order to search her, as well as we must also tread the other paths towards our ultimate end. Scaling the Mansus does well for both. Jade Whistle has been instructed to further train her cadre, for the efforts that awaits us, but you must reach higher into the House itself. Bring me the third circle, the bridge-maker and door-opener that will allow us to summon servants to do our bidding."

And with that, you feel your Master's presence… lessen, even further than it did before.

A part of you thinks that this might not even be your Master at all, that it is a completely different creature.

"I will delve further into the alicorn's disappearance," they say, "for now, this is my will. See to it."



And then, your Master is gone.





Cult presence in Ponyville has grown to "Small". You will now receive a +6 bonus on certain actions within the city's area/influence.

Jade Whistle is nowhere to be seen. It will not be possible to interact with her until she reappears, or until you locate her.

Your original intention, if Jade Whistle's ritual detected Selene, was to tell her the truth and try to convince her to keep it a secret. But she rolled herself a 100, so the initiative on how to guide that situation was hers/for her benefit.

Comet Feet and Copper Secateur will leave for Manehattan this month, interaction with them will become more difficult, or at least costly, starting at turn 10.

Turn 9 choices will be posted shortly.